US Embassy- ACSA Facilities Centre

The American Community Support Association (ACSA) is a co-operative, which manages the Facilities Centre for the US Residents within the US Embassy Complex in New Delhi. The ACSA facility has been redesigned in entirety and the new design includes a 150-seat Restaurant, a Bar, Party Rooms, a totally refurbished Kitchen, Video Library, Health Club & Changing Rooms.

US Embassy- Senior Diplomat Housing

The housing for Senior Diplomats of US Embassy is located within Embassy premises at New Delhi. The project involved the renovation & refurbishing the townhouses as per modern international specifications. The Architects seeked to collate a design using tropical design elements which would suit the climatology of the City as well.

Elements such as trellises, courtyard spaces, chhajjas etc. have been used extensively. In doing so, the project has been able to naturally regulate the temperature of its interiors whilst also flushing natural daylight indoors. These design elements are functional as the City’s temperatures vary on extreme fronts while a well-thought out incorporation of the same translates into an idyllic space for the residents. 

The residences are fronted by well-landscaped green spaces which double up as private and shared outdoor lawns. The design of the residences comprises of two floors. While the lower floor comprises of public areas such as the kitchen, den, dining room and living space, the upper floor is reserved for private areas such as the bedrooms. The residences are constructed using brick and mortar – which, again, complement the City’s climate and check the absorption of heat into the interiors.

A distinctive design element for the project is a continuous trellis which envelopes the residences, acting as a second skin for the buildings. It not only shades the residences but as it extends from the vertical façade into a horizontal plane, it helps to create semi-covered outdoor recreational spaces, perfect for spilling over from the private confines of the indoor spaces. The creepers and foliage interspersed between the trellises help provide a visual buffer for the residents, safeguarding the view from visitors, whilst the dense nature of the same absorbs noise and screens the overall sound within the residences. The idea to allow a membrane of louvers become an integral part of the entire project was an unheard concept, blanketing the residents with a warm embrace, especially in the winter months of the City.