Connect April 2021

This is an affordable housing project located in the extended peri-urban township of Boisar, a couple of hours away from Mumbai. This master planned development is conceptualized to meet the client's mission, in creating a positive ecosystem and providing a sense of place & community life. The final result is a collection of Low-rise high-density development interspersed between green walkways and a network of landscape and natural slopes leading to a seasonal river. Amenities at the site master plan level include community centers, parks, clubhouse and play courts.

The units are efficient and compact, between 250 sq ft to 450 sq ft with the building layout planned to share costs of structure, mep and services between units by virtue of compaction and consolidation. Architecturally, the L shaped and Linear blocks, that form courtyards and quadrangular spaces between them are loosely inspired by the traditional Mumbai Chawl typologies where social cohesion and sense of community is strong.

The facades have a distinct horizontality and clean lines which are broken by the vertical circulation core which pops out to serve as an identity marker & signage for the building. Inspired by the colors and patterns of India, the building facades use bold color in feature elements like the entrances and screens. The main colors are monochromatic whites and greys with accent elements in a color of fire and orange for visual balance and vitality. These colored blade walls also animate the 'face' of the typical block and go above the terrace level to form a Mohawk hairline like roof form, that lends a sense of character to the building.

Overall the composition of humane scaled blocks, landscape, planting and water harvest and recharge strategy make this project sustainable in the truest sense.