RAGHAVA IRIS
Project statistics:
Client: Raghava Group
Size: 6.9 Acres
Built-up Area in Sq.Ft: 3.1 Million
Building Configuration: 4Basements+ landscaped Stilt +45 Floors + two level sky deck at top. Lower-level decks on 3 towers connected by floating bridges.
Number of Units: 540
Structural Consultant: Buro Happold Consultants
Landscape Consultant: STX- Singapore, and Integral Design, India.
MEP Consultant: AEON Consultants
The project is in Rai Durgam area of Hyderabad, the fast transforming unban precinct of the metro city. (17.42128733219803, 78.38370123961776)
Inspiration was a drawn from our experience of dealing with very unique and distinct projects and the longing to deliver a project that would stand out and make a strong statement on its own without any similarity of the completed, landmark project that are in the region. The landscape concept was to create an urban oasis where the urge to own a private garden along with the home was addressed by allotting the entire podium and 2 sky decks as lavishly landscaped spaces with forest theme.
A direction was set once the building program was conceptually completed after several iterations, refinements, and critical insights, that would guide the performance of the built spaces. The regional setting, socio cultural context, climate, stringent framework of vaastu, compelling need for integrating greens into the project for bringing nature into the proximity of residents as the growing urban demands of housing has been affecting the delicate balance – were critically evaluated, inferences drawn, analysis and synthesis formulated the direction.
This is a limited competition project with 3 reputed firms competing and the firms were selected by the client.
Our design was selected for its impact, dynamism, vibrancy, practicality, innovation, concern for sustainability, aesthetics, performance and impact, and creation of ample number of green spaces with highly innovative concepts like “urban oasis”, “garden in the clouds” and “walk in the cloud.”
Vaastu, the ancient Indian wisdom of Architecture, allows for a frame work of spaces in rectilinearity, thus shaping the built form into rectilinear forms and prohibiting any other forms which also might not be accepted in the socio-cultural context where the developer has to sell the flats.
After several iterations and brainstorming, one concept was felt to be the most suitable design that successfully synthesized the site factors and use factors and architects’ innovation. And this concept was evaluated for its readiness to address and perform in the multifaceted challenges, its continued contribution for the wellbeing, longevity, suitability for facing the conflicts that might arise in generational change of ownership etc. and adjudged as the culminating result of the efforts of the design team.
Apart from the above, practicality of execution, financial framework, market trend for quality spaces, design visibility to impart identity and status, and business equations were thoroughly examined in the design and detail, by which the client was impressed before approving the final concept.
*Building style, aesthetics and performance:
Immediate surrounding of this site is marked by non-descript architectural style of forms, with a disjointed visual affect. Most of them fall into either residential or commercial or mixed type of uses, all closely packed without any serious concern for light and ventilation or any response to the prevailing climate. New large developments that dot the neighbourhood mostly are gated communities where these issues are being resolved to a possible extent. So, the Raghava iris project has emerged as a contrasting project with its own established values and principles, that is supposed to have set a precedent for such environments.
These concerns are seriously addressed in Raghava Iris design and the emerging edifice stands testimony to the wisdom and innovation of the sensitive designers.
Apart from context, site and use factors, we have followed the stringent framework of ancient wisdom of Indian architecture “Vaastu”. Vaastu is an esoteric science of architecture that elevates design into intangible dimension.
From this science, physicality of space is carefully crafted to present a plan and form, site planning, open space and built form relations in the public realm while significantly allowing the intangible dimension to work on the physical and mental wellbeing.
Other regulations followed are the building regulations of the local government body and planning regulations.
Thus, the Architecture is a fusion of the wisdom our ancient Indian architecture “Vaastu” and that of the modern cotemporary.
Site planning showcases the response to the climatic setting where the vernacular “court yard” concept is used along with the treatment of edges and incidental spaces forming extensions of the central greens, and an envelope of green boundary is formed to help create a microclimatic setting to the community both physically and visually.
Spaces:
We have adopted “the green” and forest concept apart from the rest of iconic architectural and landmark components.
This is achieved by allotting total podium at entry level to a grand and sensual landscape experience.
Secondly, the land that could not be landscaped where building footprint covered, is taken up to the 50 Th floor as sky terrace landscaped like a sky forest. Building footprint covers only 20% of the land and the rest of the area is treated with essential circulation systems integrated into finely crafted landscape.
Entire podium is treated as vehicular free zone containing lush landscaped tropical forest theme treatment. Reading deck, senior citizen corner, hogging/walking track loop on the edge, experiential gardens with themes, active play courts, children play areas senior citizen courts amphitheatre, etc., activity areas have been curated on the podium level. Entire stilt is kept open and integrated into the surrounding landscape.
3 towers are placed strategically in the site planning to offer maximum ventilation and unhindered views.
Each living unit id designed as a large format individual villa that suits the wishes and aspirations of present and future lifestyle.
*Architecture and Flat design:
Every tower has 4 large format flats in each floor. While the general 3-bedroom flats are around 1600 sft to 2200 sft in the vicinity, in Raghava iris the flats area range from 5425 sft. to 6605sft. all being 4-bedroom flats. Semi public and private spaces of the home are well segregated for privacy and comfort, while the transitions happen through well designed lobby spaces and common use spaces.
Total 10 number of lifts, segregated as owners lift and visitors’ lifts add to the convenience and luxury and individual privacy. Each main entrance is approached through a spacious transition lobby that enhances the quality of personalisation. Two lifts directly open into this exclusive lobby space. Each flat has a maid room outside the flat with a privacy provision.
Every flat is treated as an individual villa, positioned along a connecting corridor, and skilfully segregated to eliminate sharing walls, following the “Vaastu” principles. At the same time, maximum length of exposed walls has been treated to have maximum cross ventilation and light. Effort was made that every possible room has at least one window on the exposed side, so that two windows on two directions facilitate cross ventilation.
Connected balconies, deep outdoor decks are designed responding to the climatic setting, which also double up as functional spaces and maintenance components spaces, while providing for the connect with outdoors.
Each functional space/room placement follows the ancient wisdom of Indian architecture “vaastu” by adhering to the cardinal directions prescribed and all fenestrations ,openings, and connectivity also have strict compliance to the ancient science while amalgamating the modern architectural principles.
*Sky deck (Garden in the clouds):
The sky terrace garden is a 21st century innovation connected to overall wellbeing.
The concept was generated from the idea of utilising the open terrace that is at the highest in Hyderabad metropolitan city. As the design evolved, we visualised that the top floor is almost touching the clouds from ground up and transformed the design into one that connects such unique situation. So, the “garden in clouds” evolved.
The sky deck is created in two levels, on the 48th floor, meticulously treated in landscape to present a setting of a sky forest. All the three levels are connected at this level with connecting bridges that unifies the decks on the three towers into one single sky deck garden.
The connecting bridges are a technological innovation. These are planned in metal, having 32 m. and 20 m. length, fixed in special structural systems, that respond to the lateral loads at 50 floors high in the sky. The sky deck is designed to give a soil depth of about 1.5m, all through, so that the sky forest concept can be seamlessly developed on it. The sky deck is envisaged as a “garden in the clouds” that gives a respite in the densely developing built environment of the region.
Spread in about 1,00,000sft. of area, this sky deck has a modulated form of curves and parabolic form taking inspiration from the clouds, as opposed to the rectilinear form of the built mass, with an edge walkway, that is synonymous with “walk in the clouds” on the periphery offering inward view of the activity.
Skydeck garden in clouds is composed if cosy social decks, party zones, star gazing areas, fitness zones etc.,
Both levels of garden in clouds are joined by a gradually raising walking/jogging ramp that unifies both levels to complete the experience. Circuitous edges are treated with parabolic fins that provide the necessary safety from “wing burn” to planting and imparts required iconic character to the form that is derived from the inspiration “Clouds”.
It is a multi-faceted terrace that protects the building from negative weather conditions exposure, acts as a sustainable component having all related aspects covered. Effective storm water management is another inherent character of the landscaped sky garden. Apart from providing for socio cultural, visual, and wellbeing concerns, the sky deck forms part of the ecological balancing component.
These exclusive terraces have been treated with biophilic design bringing nature close to the high rise living there by manages stress levels and offer environmental benefits of co-existence with nature.
Several innovative design components have been made part of the concept, which are summarised below.
1.In the urban pressure of building more in less, the project boosts of skillfully balancing the urge for nature connect and satisfying the ownership of larger built spaces. This is an innovation of creating an urban oasis, where every family owns a large amount of landscaped space at ground as well as at Skydeck garden in clouds, collectively. This is the innovative part of the design in the urban context.
2. Creating large format flats without compromising on privacy, light and ventilation, strongly prevailing socio-cultural demands.
3.Sky deck as garden in clouds
To provide an exclusive outdoor setting at the highest point in Hyderabad city, the sky deck is planned as a garden in clouds with green forest theme.
4. All 3 sky decks have been connected with two floating bridges to facilitate the continuation of terrace landscape and activities. These floating bridges are planned in metal, having 32m and 20m length, which responds to all types of loads,is an innovation by itself because of its height and span.
5.Linking of 5200sft of club house at the podium level that forms a continuous green core.
6.Establishing a visual link to basement landscape from the podium landscape.
7. Provision of special activity zones, socializing spaces, fitness areas, sky walks or sky jog paths at top terrace level that leaves a memorable experience which is privilege for the community
8. Flats designed as independent villas with no sharing walls.
*Environmentally friendly and sustainable construction materials and techniques:
1- Climate contextual design that reduces exposure to extreme radiation ther by reducing total energy consumption. Deep balconies and decks to deter direct sun exposure.
2- Use of prevailing material and established modern techniques of construction methods for fast and easy workability of construction.
3- Employing specialist consultants like façade consultants, vertical transport consultants, etc. for effective design solutions.
4- Use of local and adopted species for resilience and less maintenance.
5- Automated irrigation systems for landscape for water management.
6- Complete harvesting of rainwater by collection, routing, storing, and percolating into natural ground.
7- Sewage treatment plant to handle all sewerage for recycling and reuse.
8- Highly ventilated built spaces that reduces the load on electricity usage.
9- Low VOC paint finishes for building interior and exterior.
10- Ceiling gypsum boxing to cover services as per design. Single coat putty + 2 coats of luxury acrylic emulsion of low VOC.
11- Utility Door: Factory made aluminum doors with premium hardware as per design.
12- Sliding Doors: Aluminum double-glazed sliding doors with performance glass as per relevant IS code with premium hardware and provision for mosquito mesh track.
13- Windows: Aluminum double-glazed sliding windows with performance glass as per relevant IS code with premium hardware and provision for mosquito mesh track.
14- Ventilators: Aluminum glazed ventilators with premium hardware and integrated with insect frames.
Maid Room / Toilet Door: Factory made flush doors.