Crafting around the trees

When a structure spanning 17,000 sq. ft. needs to be accommodated within a 7,500 sq. ft. site already occupied by over 20 Gulmohar, Mango, Silver Oak, and Christmas trees, the task becomes challenging. It is heightened when the aim is to retain the dense, mature trees, and integrate the building seamlessly into their midst. Yet, architect Arjun Nambisan of Balan and Nambisan Architects (BNA) accomplished just that, designing a multi-dwelling complex that winds through the trees, some of which are incorporated into the building’s interiors.

“The design was a response to what existed on the site, the context of the location, the prevailing site conditions”, says Nambisan, elaborating on the approach adopted in his project Vaishnavi Rhapsody, to retain the existing trees and build around them. “A couple of trees had to be moved, but we successfully relocated them in the site”, he adds.

Needless to say, this endeavour required meticulous mapping of the trees, with guidance from a horticulturist, to ensure the best conservation strategy within the limited space.

Based on the inputs gleaned from the horticulturist, the foundation was laid around the trees, with the roots, stem and branches mapped using a LiDAR survey. “Through the LiDAR survey, the growth path of the trees was ascertained including their existing boundaries. This helped to steer clear from this growth path and prevent their suffocation by the ensuing structure”, explains Nambisan. “A detailed study of the root system and how it works was done to ensure the bulk of the roots are not cut or penetrated by the upcoming structure.”

A tree intrusion

While need a sensitive design, addressing the massing, Nambisan also ensured the building complied with vaastu requirements. Interestingly, the initial concept that he floated was more unconventional and bolder than the final iteration that was executed. “We envisaged bringing in the trees on a much larger scale into the structure in the form of skylit courtyards where each unit of the multi-dwelling would house a tree, the structure built around it”, he elaborates.

However, given the multi-dwelling model solicited instead of being a single dwelling, the concept adopted had to be more practical to conform to a community residence. What emerged was a structure housing a series of balconies and decks that serve as courtyards where a tree is permitted to pierce through their space and into the vertical expanse of the building. In one of the dwellings, given the existence of a tree in the space where the toilet was to be built, the walls of the toilet were craftily sculpted around it, the tree reaching in and dictating the size and shape of this toilet.

Challenges galore

Even though the existing trees were meticulously mapped to understand their root structure, and future growth patterns, before designing the building and working on the foundation, many challenges were still encountered at the time of construction, says Architect Janice Rodrigues, who worked closely on the project. “While executing the foundation, one of the existing trees fell, and this happened after meticulous mapping and planning had been completed. The tree was then saved with the help of a horticulturist”, she recalls.

The other challenge Nambisan and his team faced was the requirement to fit a built area of 17,000 sq.ft. into the tight site of 7,500 sq.ft. “This meant every inch of the space had to be efficiently used”, points Nambisan. “It called for a high-level planning to ensure there was value-add in every segment of the site.” Thus, an open plan prevails at ground level with the setback spaces and tree cover converted into community relaxation and interaction zones. At the conceptual level, this also blurs the boundaries of the inside and outside spaces.

The challenges encountered did not stop with the design and execution but extended to educating the workforce to take appropriate care of the existing trees during the construction. This called for a strong barricade around the trees to prevent cement, nails and construction debris from ruining them. Where trimming of branches was required, it was addressed scientifically after consultations with the horticulturist on “what could be trimmed and what could not be.”

Glass, steel and greens

In tune with the abounding greens in the site, the façade of the building is kept simple, speaking a language of steel and glass that is interspersed with brick and wood, the cover of greens lending a sense of warmth and earthiness to the structure. “We adopted a composite structure of RCC and steel to permit the trees to fuse into the decks of the individual units in the complex”, explains Nambisan. The step-out decks of each dwelling are thus a cantilevered steel structure that plugs into the RCC frame. The individual dwellings also display a deft blurring of boundaries between the interiors and exteriors, creating a visual expanse in the spaces.

This openness in the design keeps the interiors naturally lit and ventilated, negating the need for artificial lighting.

Large overhangs over the openings and decks further reduce heat ingress while visually opening the interiors to the greens. Interestingly, this sensitive approach in the design of the structure around the trees also prompted dispensing with a basement car park and instead assigning the parking organically between the trees in the front section of the building.

The terrace of the building houses a large common area that is once again suffused in greens, along with a kitchen and bar counter to serve as a community gathering space. The canopy of greens covering this terrace space lends the feel of living amidst thick woods rather than on a tight site in a dense urban neighbourhood. The four-level structure houses five single-level units and two duplex units. Because of its unique design, the project received the IIA Award for Excellence in Architecture 2021 under the category, Residential Projects B.