An opportunity of designing a modern yet elegant three-storey residential building in Liberia, West Africa was presented to a dynamic, young Mumbai-based architectural firm, Atelier ARBO. With a particular range of requirements, the client collaborated with the design team to create an inviting, soothing, and contextually relevant apartment building on a vast plot of about 2,100 sq. m. area located close to a beach in a small town in Liberia. 

A country known for its beautiful beaches, dense rainforests, and exotic species of tropical birds, Liberia has a population of around 50 lakh people. Considering the natural context of the site and the dominant tropical climate of the area, the design revolved around creating a structure that would seamlessly blend with its surroundings and exude a calming, soothing appearance. 

The apartment building encompasses a ground floor, dedicated to social gathering events, a spacious rental residence, optimal for a family of four to five members, on the first floor, and a lavish personal abode of the client and his family, on the second and third floor levels. A systematic segregation of the spaces led to specific design considerations for each level of the building. 

Becoming a serene space for informal gatherings and social community events, the ground floor portrays an open layout carefully crafted by implementing modern architectural strategies. The rental residence on the first floor is a consciously planned abode showcasing a uniform and seamless separation of spaces, where the common areas face the south-west direction to avail abundant sunlight and ventilation, while the private areas are soaked in the tender morning rays and cool breeze coming in from the north-east direction. 

A palatial double-height living room with a central circular staircase becomes the primary focal point of the client’s personal home on the two upper floors. A self-contained master suite, three bedrooms with attached bathrooms, and several recreational zones are uniformly planned around the central, lavish living space. A mindful design thought process led to effective spatial configurations that created a harmonious bond between the public and private zones of the house, significantly encouraging interactions between the family members. 

The incorporation of a striking roof form adds a distinctive character to the building while becoming an overhead cover for the open terrace. The facade displays a subtle, monochromatic, and soothing aura through a combination of plastered concrete and traditional brick. A perforated brick facade becomes an avenue for the passage of free flowing winds into the stairwell. Large fenestrations help in flooding the interiors with abundant daylight and cool coastal breeze, while also providing a visual connection to the natural beauty of the outside landscape. 

With picturesque vistas of the sea enveloping the site, the design naturally creates a welcoming feeling in the minds of the residents, persuading them to experience an elevated and blissful living experience.