Category: (GH) GROUP HOUSING

Type: Community Housing Development
Location: Yelahanka, Bangalore
Built-Up Area: 14,930 sq m / 1,60,715 sq ft
Client: Radiance Realty Developers India Limited

INSPIRATION – Mass Housing is the need of the hour in the World’s fastest growing city, Bengaluru. Within an urban concrete-jungle, Iris seeks to be a green refuge from the ever-growing pressures of development. We had to achieve this within the housing market pressures to make the project affordable. Iris focusses on a community centric-design incorporating natural vegetation and social spaces which simultaneously achieves the major challenge of high built-up area and low selling price. 

CLIENT BRIEF – The Developer approached us with an expensive parcel of Land located in a well-developed residential neighbourhood in close proximity to several IT Parks. The brief was to achieve a Financially Successful Residential Housing project with the Maximum possible built-up area in the lowest possible cost. Detailed market research suggested that Affordable Villa Housing will be the Best possible product for the micro-market. 

ARCHITECTS CHALLENGE – Negotiating with the real-estate developer and achieving a good community based green-design was the hardest part. Developers focus on maximum profit whereas the Architect has to achieve this by designing the best possible combination of units which offers the best possible quality of life to the users. The weight of the success or failure of the project lies on the shoulders of the designers and we are glad to have succeeded.

RESEARCH ABSTRACT – Detailed research was carried out to in the city to make the design commercially successful. The research focussed on what makes a successful home. Detailed studies and simulations were done to understand how to maximise natural light and ventilation inside each home. Land usage was critical for achieving the high built area. Existing trees were mapped and the buildings were planned around them to preserve the native vegetation. 

DESIGN DESCRIPTION – Iris was built on a large 4 Acre site with many mature trees. 90 percent of the existing trees on site were preserved through careful planning. The project achieved a built up area of 1,60,715 sq ft to be financially viable. It has 77 row-houses planned around shared courtyards. There are 6 types of units ranging from 160 sq-m to 250 sq-m. A semi-open 15,844 sq ft community clubhouse was planned at the entrance with a steel parasol providing shaded terraces for recreation. 

Iris is a series of row-houses planned along a central spine path with ten branches. Each branch is a common courtyard shared by 6 homes forming a micro community. Each home has a private garden with mature trees. Services are clubbed along the shared walls to minimise costs and hide it from view. The community club-house sits at the head of the spine near the road. The tail-end is a large open park with an amphitheatre and play areas. 

MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS – Iris was a low-cost project. Hence economy of construction was essential. Conventional earthquake resistant R.C.C framed structure were infilled with light-weight autoclaved blocks. The Ground floor was recessed and clad with quarry waste slate stone to provide a tactile feel. The first floor cantilevers as a white mass shading the ground floor. The second floor has a terrace steel-pergola providing a light feel. Each floor expresses itself amongst the built composition.  

SUCCESS – Radiance Iris has the capacity to transform the lives of the families who chose to call it home. It has emerged as a financially successful model of social housing development through sensitive and sensible design. Clusters of row-houses interspersed with social spaces and shared facilities forms the project. Basic aspects like natural light, ventilation, ease of access and service have been thoughtfully resolved along with the pressure of density. The project is a successful case-study in the Indian housing sector and has WON International recognition for the same.