Chennai: SJK Architects design a building that intrigues with distinctive architectural appeal

For architectural projects, along with the brief provided by clients several other factors come into play that shape the design and influence the narrative.SJK Architects, founded and led by Shimul Javeri Kadri, was brought on board to design an apartment building with an integrated multipurpose space, in Adyar’s Boat Club Road neighbourhood in Chennai. Taking into account Chennai’s Development Control Rules, site constraints, climatic considerations andVastuprinciples, the firm skilfully conceptualised a structure that not only addresses each of these factors but also exhibits a distinct architectural appeal.

A Fascinating Exterior

“With a by-law that allows only 50% of the building perimeter as weather shades, it meant that you had to math your building in a way that you are able to achieve 50% of weather shades and still be able to provide as much opening as was needed for this building to bring in light, wind and enable connections with the outdoors,” says Sarika Shetty, Design Director at the firm. “Although balconies were not free of FSI, we actually scooped into our main building shell to avail deeper balconies to protect & connect with the outdoors.”

Each window has been carefully designed keeping in mind several factors, including its location and use and, also on the basis of wind movements in the area. These diverse window designs have lent the exteriors a distinguishing and pronounced appeal. “Chennai is hot, dusty and mosquito ridden; despite this we wanted the space to be bright and airy and allow the coastal winds to flow through,” says Kadri. “We created these varied mechanisms of openings, depending on need, use, location and I find that this variation of window typology has created a very interesting façade. We didn’t set out to micromanage it, we actually set out to ensure these issues of light, ventilation and privacy. The outcome has been a very interesting, playful façade.” The facades are clad in a grey granite called Sadarhalli and meshes have been provided for the openings to tackle the issue of mosquitoes.

Villas in the Sky

The site is a trapezoidal corner plot surrounded by leafy trees and measures approximately 10,000-square-feet. The firm adhered to the specified setback of four metres on all sides and a height limitation of seventeen-and-a-half-metres. The structure was then conceived within the resulting volume. “With this constrained corner plot of land and the by-laws that came in with it, we had to churn out the most optimal solutions and the best possibilities arrived at were four of these duplex apartments which range from roughly about 3,500-square-feet to about 4,500-square-feet,” informs Shetty. The two interlocked duplex apartments give the interiors an interesting spatial character and a total of four duplex apartments wrap around a mechanically ventilated atrium that is closed at the top.

The atrium contains the lifts and the staircase. This illuminated central core has been designed as an inviting space where neighbours can commune or simply enjoy the light pouring in from above. The stilts cater to parking requirements while the multipurpose room, which can be used for gatherings and other activities, is positioned on the terrace level. As the clients intend to rent out these duplex apartments, the firm was required to design only certain parts of the interiors, like the bathrooms and kitchens, among a few other things. In terms of the colour scheme, the interiors as well as the exteriors are completely immersed in monochrome hues.

风水原则

“客户非常particular that Vastu is respected from its science perspective and certain crucial tenets of Vastu were particularly followed and benchmarked while planning this building. For instance, although the four duplex apartments are interlocked and staggered in their planning, they are hinged at their southwest corner with the master bedroom being a constant there. Other aspects of Vastu werekitchen(fire/agni) in northwest and east only, entry into each apartment is from north or east only, and so on,” explains Shetty. Consequently, all other rooms were laid out around the aforementioned functions whose positions were fixed as per Vastu rules.

Contextual Considerations

Kadri also shares her insight on what should be a few important considerations that should ideally reflect in the Development Control Rules. “One of the most important considerations should be the use of balconies and terraces and to allow weather shades freely. Here, there was such a constraint on weather shades, which, in a coastal climate can be one of the most important design elements that one can create to protect windows and walls. Rules should be used to encourage certain things and discourage others, and I think encouraging balconies and terraces is extremely critical,” she concludes.