Given the limited frontage for this apartment building, the organization of the facade becomes a critical design solution for providing adequate light and ventilation, outdoor spill-outs and giving the building it’s identity. Located in a moderate climate zone and with a south facing frontage, the spill-outs of various apartments balance the depth of balconies with the winter sunlight into the rooms. This results in carving the deep balconies into a semi-circular form.

The curved balconies serve as stacked porches in the air and thus landscaping each of them is essential for providing privacy, immediate view, and personalization opportunities. In addition, the planter beds edging the balconies serve as a stormwater retention system before overflowing into the municipal drain. Bougainvillea, an indigenous plant is pest-free and disease resistant. These hardy, drought-tolerant plants are easy to grow even in limited planter box widths. Bougainvillea flowers with their variety of colors changing the appearance of the building from season to season. Here, the landscape becomes the architecture, playing a key role in defining the building’s identity.

Design Director: Kiran Mathema

Project Team: Ajaya Mathema, Dipesh Shrestha, Parmila Maharjan, Dinesh Bhatarai, Chandani Shakya, Bibek Shrestha, RK Malik, Umesh Agrawal, Ram Shah