Towards Architecture for Sustainability & Happiness
The escalating climate crisis urges us to design for more with less. We believe every project — and every person behind it, designer and client alike — holds the power to shape the earth for the better.
Architecturebeyondthe box
Scroll to exploreA studio of architects & urbanists
We design buildings that give back more than they take — spaces of lasting value, made to outlive trends and tread lightly on the world that holds them.
Who we are
Designing for more, with less.
Sustainability and climate-responsive architecture means solving complex, interwoven problems — circular design, energy efficiency, climatology and holistic thinking — all at once.
To be truly impactful, we work alongside material manufacturers, engineers, scientists, biologists, cultural experts and policymakers, pooling knowledge and perspective to meet the complexity of our time.
12Disciplines
3Continents
∞Less waste
As architects and urbanists shaping the earthscapes of the future, we know the work is shared.
— We pool skill sets across disciplines and build as one team
What guides us
Three principles, one ethos
01
Sustainability
More with less. Every decision is weighed against its impact — on energy, on material, on climate — so that beauty never comes at the planet's expense.
02
Circularity
From date-palm waste to reclaimed materials, we design within the circular economy — regenerative, bio-circular systems where nothing is wasted and everything returns.
03
Happiness
Architecture exists for people. We design spaces that lift the everyday — healthier, calmer, more human places to live, work and gather.
Selected Projects
01 / 06
Work
Doing more does not mean taking more. Each project is an experiment in living well while giving back to the place that holds it. Scroll to travel through the studio's recent work.
We create spaces that refuse passing trends — choosing craft, local workshops and sustainability in service of the people who inhabit them. Places of calm, made also to be shared.
Recognition
News & milestones
Nov 2022
Our Palm Pavilion was installed at the D3 during Dubai Design Week, showcasing date-palm waste as part of the circular economy.
Oct 2021
Shortlisted among ten firms across the MENASA region for the ABWAB commission.
Jun 2021
Our design for public rest spaces from recycled materials was showcased in the India Pavilion at the London Biennale.
Mar 2021
Awarded second place in the L&T Innovation Hub Competition.
Jul 2019
Selected to design a pavilion in the D3 district for Dubai Design Week 2020.
(Contact)
Let's build something that lasts
Whether you are shaping a home, a campus or a city block, our studio is here to help you build with intention. Tell us about your project — we'd love to begin.
A memorial to the civilian victims of the Korean War — a reminder that the tragedy of war extends far beyond the battlefield.
LocationSouth Korea
Period2020
ConceptExperiential
ProgrammeWar Memorial Museum & Ecological Park
TypeCivic & Culture
StatusConcept
This memorial honours the civilian victims of the Korean War, reminding visitors that the tragedy of war extends far beyond the battlefield.
The design separates the site into two distinct realms — a quiet, contemplative Memorial Park, and a vibrant, ecological Recreational Park — with the Konyreong Stream forming the natural boundary between them.
The Memorial Park
Set beside a widened stretch of the stream, the Memorial Building offers a powerful, immersive journey:
Memorial Hall — sculpted like a war trench, with floor-to-ceiling projections of historical imagery that convey the harsh reality of conflict.
Exhibition Hall — twisting walls and interactive displays tell the story of the war’s impact on civilians. Decks project outward toward the surrounding hills and excavation sites, grounding history in its true location.
Education & Administration — placed on the upper level with a separate entrance, preserving the hall’s solemn atmosphere.
Beyond the indoor exhibits, meandering Memorial Paths are lined with name-story plaques linked by white string elements — a garland of unity and peace. Wooden decks overlook the excavation sites, preserving them as places of remembrance.
The Recreational & Ecological Park
On the eastern side, the recreational zone invites both active and passive recreation:
Active areas for sports such as soccer and basketball.
Passive zones with natural gravel paths, wood-chip trails and wheelchair-friendly concrete edges for family walks.
Community facilities — an event space and a café with a stream-facing deck and a rooftop viewing platform.
Paths follow the natural topography, encouraging visitors to engage with the landscape, with shaded seating beneath randomly planted native trees.
Sustainability
Environmental stewardship shapes every aspect of the design:
Integrated storm-water management and habitat corridors that maintain ecological diversity.
Minimal disturbance of existing topography and habitats.
Native planting and enhanced wetland systems that filter runoff and support biodiversity.
On-site materials for paths and structures, reducing transport and waste.
The tragedy of war extends far beyond the battlefield.
MUTUC — a sculptural museum that turns Turin's centuries-old chocolate heritage into an experience, from cocoa's ancient myth to modern indulgence.
LocationTurin, Italy
Period2018
ConceptKinetism
ProgrammeChocolate Museum — MUTUC
TypeCivic & Culture
StatusConcept
Turin is a city of rich history and disciplined character, defined by landmarks such as the Piazza Castello and the Mole Antonelliana. Within this context, a disused site near the renowned Shroud Museum is poised for renewal — transformed into MUTUC, the Turin Chocolate Museum: an architectural and cultural destination celebrating one of the city’s most beloved traditions.
Envisioned as more than an exhibition space, the museum’s craft workshops, cafés and community gathering areas create a vibrant hub for residents and visitors alike — linking Turin’s progressive spirit with its centuries-old chocolate heritage.
Design Story — “Amaze”
Our concept, Amaze, is designed to captivate from the very first glimpse. Playful, sculptural forms build anticipation before visitors even step inside, turning the building itself into a storyteller.
Bold architecture turns museums into cultural icons that draw global attention and strengthen the local economy — exactly the impact we envision for MUTUC.
Chocolate has fascinated people for centuries; here, the museum becomes a living narrative, inviting guests to follow the journey of cocoa from myth to modern indulgence.
The Visitor Journey
Foyer & Hall 1 — Introduction. An immersive overview of chocolate’s universal appeal and its deep connection to Turin, set by dynamic installations and multimedia displays.
Hall 2 — Food for the Gods. The global history of cocoa, from its Mayan origins to its role as currency and “food for the gods,” told through projections and interactive exhibits.
Hall 3 — The First Chocolatiers. How Turin became a pivotal centre of chocolate making — through 3D visuals, historic props and lifelike wax figures, including the beloved Gianduja.
Hall 4 — Bean to Bar. A working chocolate factory where cocoa beans become rich bars and flow into a dramatic chocolate fountain — tasting included.
Café & Chocolate Boutique
The visit ends on a sweet note — a coffee and chocolate shop placed just beyond the live production area, inviting guests to savour and take home Turin’s world-famous confections.
An unforgettable finale to the museum’s story, and a daily destination in its own right.
The journey of cocoa — from myth to modern indulgence.
A place of community worship and a quiet reminder of the Creator — an enduring rock of refuge and strength.
LocationRwanda
Period2019
ConceptSculptural
ProgrammeCommunity Chapel
TypeCivic & Culture
StatusConcept
This chapel is conceived as a place of community worship and a quiet reminder of the Creator — an enduring rock of refuge and strength.
Its form draws from the dramatic hills that embrace the site: dynamic, yet steadfast.
Concept
The architecture mirrors the strength of mountains and the gentleness of faith.
The sculptural form echoes the surrounding hills — dynamic in silhouette, steadfast in mass.
Patterned lattice screens incorporate Star and Dove motifs — symbols of hope, peace and kindness — reflecting the Clarion Sisters’ life and mission.
Architecture & Materials
Vernacular brick masonry walls provide mass and thermal comfort.
In place of large glazed openings, woven-reed and metal lattice grills allow constant cross-ventilation and dappled light.
A corrugated metal roof on lightweight steel frames, topped with a thin cement screed, with generous eaves shading walls and walkways.
Ceilings of hand-woven reed mats celebrate local craft and simplicity.
Climate Response
The lattice system creates cool, filtered interior light and vents hot air near the roof line.
Deep verandahs and shaded courts keep the envelope protected and comfortable year-round.
Site Strategy
Set on a hilltop, with radial footpaths winding down the slope to connect homes, classrooms, workshops and markets.
Mid-slope terraces support community farming.
Simple cut-off drains and contour channels harvest rainwater while protecting the slope.
Community and Making
The result is a humble, durable and uplifting place of worship — one that strengthens social ties while sitting lightly on the land. The chapel honours local materials and skills, inviting the community into the weaving, brickwork and assembly of their own sanctuary.
The strength of mountains, and the gentleness of faith.
A dynamic cultural landmark for Banja Luka — where the clarity of modernism meets the opulence of the past, and culture and technology coexist.
LocationBanja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Period2020
ConceptContemporary
ProgrammeCongress & Cultural Center
TypeCivic & Culture
StatusInternational Competition
The Banja Luka Multicenter is envisioned as a dynamic landmark that captures the city’s forward-looking spirit while celebrating its rich multicultural heritage. Drawing on the traditions of three nations, the design balances the clarity of modernism with the opulence of the past — a setting where culture and technology naturally coexist.
The architecture itself seems to move: sweeping forms sway, twist and dance, inviting visitors into a world of art and innovation.
A Landmark in Motion
The concert hall’s façade is framed with vertical elements that recall the strings of a harp, while the theatre features dramatic billowing glass panels.
Approaching the complex, guests pass through landscaped courts planted with Banja Luka’s native wildflowers and shrubs — an experience that engages every sense before entering the soaring, light-filled lobbies.
The Concert Hall & Theatre
Inside, the concert hall and theatre interiors borrow from the city’s cultural richness, rendered in vibrant contemporary materials that heighten the drama of music and performance.
In contrast, the exhibition halls embrace a crisp, minimalist modernism suited to science and technology displays — together offering excitement, wonder and discovery.
Courts & Connection
The master plan integrates concert hall, philharmonic workspace, theatre, exhibition halls and offices through seamless vertical and horizontal connections.
Visitors can move throughout the complex without stepping outdoors — a practical response to Banja Luka’s cold winters. Shared service areas optimise scale and economy, and the buildings can be constructed in phases, with the concert hall and theatre blocks able to stand independently.
Masterplan & Sustainability
Sustainability is integral to the concept. Generous glazing captures natural light to reduce heating and energy costs, while geothermal systems support efficient climate control.
The front piazzetta is reserved for pedestrians and landscaped seating, with vehicular access confined to the rear and side — aligning with existing and planned parking.
A harmonious meeting ground for all cultures and generations — a new, inclusive Banja Luka.
A dynamic India in perpetual motion — a sculpture of twists, turns and shifting vistas, driven by rapid growth and constant transformation.
LocationIndia
Period2021
ConceptNationalistic — India in Constant Momentum
ProgrammeIconic Sculpture & Public Realm
TypeCivic & Culture
StatusConcept
A dynamic India in perpetual motion — driven by rapid growth and constant transformation. The built form expresses this energy through a series of twists, turns and shifting vistas, revealing continuously changing views and perspectives as visitors move through the sculpture.
The design seeks to create an immersive experience of kinesis, where movement becomes central to perception.
Kinesis in Form
This dynamic journey extends beyond the visual. The sculpture is complemented by a sensory layer, where wind chimes sway in kinesis with natural forces.
The result reinforces the dialogue between architecture, motion and environment — for those experiencing the space from within and without.
Spiraling Up, Rooted in Values
A helical, DNA-like spiral spires towards the sky while remaining tied to the Chakra at its base — an India that aspires to new horizons yet stays rooted in her formative values.
As visitors ascend the winding staircases and arrive at multiple platforms, the relationship between form, space and landscape is in constant flux — each step offering a new visual encounter.
An organic, flexible pavilion that blends into the landscape — a place for children's workshops, performance and gathering, drawn from the undulating contours of the hills.
LocationBangalore
Period2023
ConceptWith the Hills
ProgrammeWorkshops · Performance · Events
MaterialsBamboo · Steel · Coir
TypeCivic & Culture
The client brief called for an organic, flexible space to host hobby-based workshops for children from nearby low-income schools. Beyond this community role, the space was envisioned as a performance venue for dance and adaptable for corporate events — allowing for multiple modes of occupation.
Set against the scenic backdrop of the Nandi Hills, the site offered expansive, spectacular views.
With the Hills
The design approach was guided by a sensitivity toward the surrounding landscape: the intent was for the structure to blend seamlessly with its context, avoiding intrusion through either form or material.
As a result, the built form draws its language from the undulating contours of the hills — a green roofscape that rises and falls with the terrain.
Open, Fluid, Multi-functional
The spatial layout is conceived as open, fluid and multi-functional — accommodating a range of activities while creating generous vantage points that frame the surrounding scenery.
Children’s hobby & skill workshops
Dance & performance venue
Adaptable corporate & community events
Material & Craft
Materiality plays a key role in reinforcing the connection to nature. A carefully considered palette of bamboo, steel and coconut fibres (coir) balances sustainability, structure and craft.
From the Hand
The undulating roof took shape in the studio, worked out through hand-built physical models — each one testing how the surface could fold down to meet the ground, then lift to open generous views toward the hills.
The structure does not sit on the land — it moves with it.
A wetland visitor center that merges with the dunes — a green-roofed habitat for both birds and people at the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve.
LocationAbu Dhabi
Period2020
ConceptSustainability · Green Architecture
ProgrammeInfo Hub · Café · Displays · Training
StatusCompetition — Dubai Design Week
TypeCivic & Culture
South-east of Abu Dhabi, the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve — a 5 km² protected area since 1998 — hosts over 260 species of birds and wildlife including shrimp, scorpions and lizards. Each autumn through spring, as many as 4,000 pink flamingos migrate here to breed and spend the cooler winter months.
Dubai Design Week invited concepts for a new visitor center — an information hub, café, terrace, souvenir shop, specimen displays, training rooms and parking — that would demonstrate sustainability and constructability while preserving the reserve’s delicate ecology.
Design Concept
Inspired by the rolling sand dunes, the proposal blends seamlessly with the landscape — ensuring the building merges with the natural habitat rather than intrudes upon it.
A green roof, planted with native drought-tolerant bushes and pockets of dry straw, expands the reserve’s habitat by providing additional nesting areas for birds, while naturally reducing cooling loads and carbon emissions.
Immersive & Non-Intrusive
Elevated bird walk extending into the wetlands
Rooftop viewing deck to observe nesting birds on the green roof
Shaded verandahs with uninterrupted views from lounges, training rooms, café and kitchen
Raised on stilts to minimise excavation and ground disturbance
Shaded parking integrated beneath the building
Merging with the dunes — sustainability, climate & environment
Primary structure fabricated from recycled wood composites
Green roof irrigated with treated grey water from the café
Local wood lattice screens enabling natural cross-ventilation in cooler months
Wide verandah overhangs shielding the glazing from direct sunlight, lowering heat gain without sacrificing views
The center connects children and adults with the reserve — offering school programs, guided walks and immersive encounters with wildlife. Its architecture invites people to experience the wetlands up close while reinforcing the importance of environmental stewardship.
The building does not intrude on the habitat — it becomes one.
Façade concepts for a retail-and-office building — each guided by an elegant, timeless architectural language.
LocationBangalore
Period2021
ConceptTimeless · Elegant
ProgrammeRetail + Office · Rooftop Helipad
TypeRetail
StatusConcept
Façade concepts were developed for this retail-cum-office building, which also includes a rooftop helipad. Each design option was guided by an elegant, timeless architectural language — ensuring the structure remains visually relevant for decades without the need for stylistic updates.
Façade Studies
A family of façade options explored proportion, depth and shading — each a variation on the same restrained, enduring vocabulary.
Re-imagining brick-and-mortar retail as a social experience — a network of shaded experience squares for Dammam's climate.
LocationDammam, Saudi Arabia
Period2020
ConceptExperiential Retail
ProgrammeRetail · F&B · Public Realm
TypeRetail
StatusConcept
Re-imagining retail spaces — rethinking the future of brick-and-mortar. As e-commerce grows at a rapid pace, physical stores face shrinking profits and an identity crisis. Traditional formats — large, enclosed outlets with little room for interaction — are no longer enough. To remain relevant, retail spaces must offer time-resilient experiences that draw people even when they have no immediate need to shop.
Retail as a Social Experience
Historically, market squares thrived because they were places to meet, converse and relax — not just to buy goods. The design embraces this tradition, making community engagement and human connection central to the retail experience.
Design Vision
A network of rich experience squares — pedestrian streets at ground level linked to vibrant terrace plazas above.
Brick-paved pedestrian streets lined with greenery and outdoor seating
Terraced urban squares connecting the north, east and south roads
Flexible spaces for retail, services and F&B, alongside smaller kiosks and coffee stands
Climate-Responsive Strategies
Passive cooling — extensive shading, native trees and canopies; seating oriented to the cooler north and east, with extra shading and local stone to the hotter south and west
Humidity control — plantings that absorb water vapour, plus coal-briquette and salt beds near seating clusters
Mechanical aids — discreet breeze and exhaust fans integrated into the canopies
Sustainable & Local Materials
Locally sourced brick for walls and paving, concrete roofs and low-E glazing
Cooler local stone to the south and west façades to limit heat gain
Crushed-stone (pea gravel) parking bays to reduce the urban heat-island effect and improve rainwater absorption
Treating socio-economic needs as the driver of design, the project reinvents how people socialize and do business in public arenas. By merging commerce with community, it ensures that offline retail remains vibrant and indispensable in the digital age.
The revitalization of a long-abandoned commercial building — adaptive reuse on a constrained budget.
LocationKerala
Period2022
ConceptRenovation · Adaptive Reuse
ProgrammeRetail Complex
TypeRetail
StatusRenovation
This project involved the revitalization of a long-abandoned building in a prominent commercial district. Closed and unused for several years, the structure presented both a challenge and an opportunity for adaptive reuse within a constrained budget.
A Renewed Identity
By introducing a strategic palette of paint treatments, landscape interventions and minimal structural modifications, the building was reactivated with a renewed identity and presence.
This targeted approach transformed the complex into a desirable retail environment — ultimately attracting high-end retailers for long-term lease agreements.
Say it with flowers — a compact, modern kiosk that brings elegant floral experiences to every corner.
LocationBangalore
Period2021
ConceptTimeless · Elegant
ProgrammeRetail Kiosks
TypeRetail
StatusConcept
A modern, minimal and inviting flower kiosk, designed to create meaningful connections through elegant floral experiences. Compact yet impactful, it brings beauty to every corner — a bold, modern structure with a transparent, inviting display and a smart, efficient layout built for high visual appeal.
A multi-level supermarket with a street-front café and corporate offices above — shaped by evidence-based retail research.
LocationNagercoil, Tamil Nadu
Period2021
ConceptRetail · Multi-Use
ProgrammeSupermarket · Café · Offices
TypeRetail
StatusConcept
We were commissioned to design a multi-level supermarket featuring a welcoming street-front coffee shop, with corporate offices on the upper floors.
Evidence-Based Retail
Extensive retail research and user-flow studies informed the concept. The design incorporates evidence-based guidelines — from circulation patterns to merchandising zones — ensuring a smooth shopping experience and efficient operations.
Façade studies for a flagship retail complex — arched masonry, sculpted stone and a luminous diagrid skin.
LocationBengaluru
Period2022
ConceptFaçade Studies · Flagship Retail
ProgrammeRetail Complex
TypeRetail
StatusConcept
A family of façade concepts developed for a flagship retail complex — each exploring a distinct architectural language for the street frontage while sharing a common two-storey volume and a stepped entrance plaza. The first study pairs a brick base of generous arches with a veined-stone upper level; a second sets a single monumental arch against tall arched apertures; a third wraps the upper storey in a faceted diagrid glass skin, a crystalline counterpoint to the masonry below.
A mixed-use landmark stacking retail, offices and residences behind a playful, cantilevered façade.
LocationBengaluru
Period2023
ConceptSustainable Commerce
ProgrammeRetail · Offices · Residences
TypeMixed-Use
StatusConcept
This project began as our proposal to the client: a mixed-use building combining retail on the first two levels, offices in the middle floors, and residences on the top.
The architecture creates a playful, eye-catching façade of cantilevered box forms that draw visitors toward the retail spaces. On the lower floors, angled glazing increases visibility of merchandise for both pedestrians and passing traffic.
Passive Climate Strategy
To manage the region’s intense sun, most glazing is oriented north, while west- and south-facing windows are shaded by projecting balconies. Upper office levels open to generous landscaped decks, offering breakout spaces and natural shading that reduce heat gain and significantly lower energy use.
The result is a community landmark — a dynamic building that blends shopping, work and living while setting a new standard for sustainable urban design.
A high-end retail frontage built on simplicity, flexibility and cost efficiency — premium presence without premium cladding.
LocationBangalore
Period2021
ConceptSimplicity · Flexibility
ProgrammeHigh-End Retail
TypeRetail
StatusCompleted
The structure was designed for high-end retail, with a concept rooted in simplicity, flexibility and cost efficiency. Rather than relying on expensive cladding systems, the design prioritises easily renovatable paint-based finishes that offer high visual impact while keeping initial investment and future modification costs low.
Cladding materials were deliberately avoided in favour of a restrained palette of textured paints and slim-profile glazing systems, allowing the architecture to achieve a refined, premium aesthetic through proportion, detail and material articulation. This approach ensures the retail space remains adaptable over time — balancing luxury with practicality.
A corporate campus designed as a living ecosystem — to connect, collaborate and conserve, targeting LEED Gold / IGBC.
LocationChennai — SEZ Centre
Period2021
ConceptGreen Architecture
ProgrammeCorporate Campus · Innovation Hub
TypeOffices
StatusCompetition
Competition brief — designing innovation hubs. Create a commercial campus that functions as both a workplace and a community hub, inspiring innovation and cultivating a healthy company culture. The programme spans offices, canteen and amenities, a customer experience centre, a product development centre (the innovation hub), service buildings, parking and security blocks.
The master plan embraces a modern, urban work environment guided by green-building principles. Targeting LEED Gold / IGBC certification, the design optimizes energy use, minimizes waste and reduces long-term maintenance — with international benchmarks for landscape and planning that foster community and interaction.
Connect · Collaborate · Conserve
Large corporate campuses often struggle to balance human connection with resource stewardship. The concept addresses both through the 3 Cs:
Connect — zoning links departments and public spaces to encourage inter-department interaction
Collaborate — intimate collaboration zones and informal gathering areas woven through offices, lobbies, stairways and corridors
Conserve — sustainable architecture and landscape strategies reduce energy loads, reuse resources and support biodiversity
Sustainable Architecture & Campus Planning
Low-impact materials — fly-ash brick walls, engineered timber for openings and floor slabs
Passive design — naturally ventilated spaces and abundant greenery for cooling
Renewable energy — rooftop solar and wind to reduce dependence on city utilities
Two development centres and their parking flank the site, converging at a central Amenities Hub of dining, recreation and meeting spaces — minimising walking distances and encouraging unplanned encounters. An outdoor waterway with semi-shaded seating and enclosed pavilions supports informal collaboration.
Landscape & Water Management
The site’s natural gradient filters all grey water through bamboo groves, reused for landscaping and restrooms
Quiet zones host community vegetable and fruit gardens, supplying the common kitchens
An aquaponics system provides fresh fish and nutrient-rich fertilizer, reinforcing self-sufficiency
The proposed campus is a living ecosystem — a place where employees connect, collaborate and conserve, setting a benchmark for sustainable workplace design.
Office interiors built on two ideas — less is more, and green is more.
LocationTechnopark, Thiruvananthapuram
Period2021
ConceptGreen Interiors
ProgrammeOffice Interiors
TypeOffices
StatusCompleted
Office interiors for Press Ganey (now Forsta), an American software firm based in Technopark, Kerala. The design embraces two guiding principles — “Less is more” and “Green is more.”
Less Is More · Green Is More
Clean, minimalist elements paired with lush indoor greenery — bringing freshness and calm to the workspace
Decorative cladding and heavy finishes avoided — letting natural materials and open space lead
The result is a bright, uncluttered office that promotes focus and well-being while reflecting the company’s modern, forward-thinking ethos.
A compact travel-agency office where brand expression and space efficiency lead.
LocationPathanamthitta, Kerala
Period2023
ConceptBrand-led Interiors
ProgrammeTravel Agency Office
TypeOffices
StatusCompleted
A compact office designed for a well-known travel agency in Kerala, where space efficiency and brand expression were key.
Agility & Adventure
A bright, brand-aligned colour palette enlivens the space and reflects the agency’s spirit of agility and adventure — a welcoming workplace that communicates a dynamic identity while making the most of every square foot.
Playful, brand-aligned office environments for Technopark software firms — and a compact retail office in Nagercoil.
LocationThiruvananthapuram · Nagercoil
Period2019–2021
ConceptPlayful Office Spaces
ProgrammeTech Offices · Retail Office
TypeOffices
StatusCompleted
A selection of office environments designed for software companies in Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram. Though each client had unique requirements, the briefs consistently called for open layouts with generous breakout zones to encourage collaboration and creativity.
We responded with vibrant, brand-aligned colour palettes and playful details that help employees step away from the routine and stay energized through the day.
Across the Tech Floors
Across Cinch, Apolis and Revyrie, the same approach carries through — bold brand colours, playful breakout zones and graphic detailing that keep each Technopark workspace energised, while a cohesive, modern aesthetic ties the spaces together.
A healing urban landscape that cools the city — an elevated native-planted park and a high-albedo public realm designed to soften Abu Dhabi’s urban heat island.
LocationAbu Dhabi, UAE
Period2020
ConceptSustainable Urban Landscapes
TypeUrban Design
StatusOpen Competition — Government of Abu Dhabi
An open competition by the Government of Abu Dhabi sought innovative ideas for sustainable landscapes capable of reducing the Urban Heat Island effect caused by extensive modern concrete development. The model area is envisioned as a healing urban space, shaped by proven sustainable strategies.
At its heart is an elevated park planted with native species, creating a cool, green canopy. Beneath this bridge-like structure, shaded gathering zones offer inviting places for leisure and recreation, while establishing a dialogue with the surrounding buildings — fostering cooler microclimates and strong visual connections.
The Elevated Park
A bridge-like green spine carries a canopy of drought-tolerant native planting across the site. The shaded ground plane below becomes a cool, walkable public room — comfortable even at peak heat.
A Hybrid Cooling Strategy
After extensive research into mitigating the Urban Heat Island effect, the proposal adopts a two-part approach:
Extensive Green Cover — carpeting the model area with dense, drought-tolerant greenery.
High-Albedo Interventions — integrating reflective, light-coloured materials into the existing built environment to reduce heat absorption.
Together, these measures create a sustainable, restorative landscape that offers comfort, beauty, and measurable climate benefits.
HEAL — Reinventing the Garden City. The 2018 “Re-Imagining the Garden City” competition, held by the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation and managed by RIBA Competitions, sought master-planning concepts for a new 45-hectare residential development — the first expansion of the original garden city in decades — based on the founding principles of Ebenezer Howard’s movement. Our design was among 9 shortlisted in the semi-finals.
Garden cities were originally imagined as green, community-focused neighbourhoods with affordable housing. Over time, some of those ideals faded. HEAL re-examines the concept — identifying what worked, what failed, and strengthening the vision for a healthier future.
Heal the Land
Tree-lined streets burst with fruit and flowers. Hedgerows are preserved, while meadows invite picnics and nature walks. Community farms replace large, unused lawns, creating active landscapes with rich ecological diversity.
Heal the Community
“Living streets” in front of homes are free of automobiles and safe for children to play.
Buddy benches along pedestrian paths foster friendships across generations.
Fruit trees reconnect residents with the simple pleasure of picking fresh produce.
The community centre hosts farmers’ markets, artisan bakeries and cafés — chain outlets are intentionally excluded to support local commerce and traditional skills.
Heal the Young
Teens and young adults gain vibrant places to gather and create.
Living streets encourage positive interaction and the sharing of traditions.
The community centre features an open-air stage for music and dance, plus walls for guided graffiti art.
Studios for dance, painting and music nurture creativity, while farms and tree-lined avenues invite youth to connect with nature.
Heal the Mind
Loneliness and isolation are countered by mixed housing types — homes for families, singles and seniors on the same street.
Sun-dappled avenues and large modern windows ensure abundant natural light.
Cars are parked in peripheral garages, reducing visible wealth gaps and improving air quality.
Cafés, open markets, concerts and artisan events provide countless opportunities for social connection and mental well-being.
Heal the Body
Health is built into daily life.
Residents walk or cycle to the common garages, turning natural exercise into routine.
Automobiles remain at the edges; golf buggies serve seniors or heavy loads.
Community farms and fruit trees supply fresh, nutritious snacks, replacing processed foods.
HEAL transforms the garden city into a thriving, self-sustaining neighbourhood where land, community and individual well-being are all nurtured — delivering on the original promise of greener, more connected urban living.
KINENIN — a self-sustaining highway bus shelter: off-grid, passively cooled and universally accessible for India’s national highways.
LocationNational Highways, India
Period2022
ConceptKinetic Sustainable
TypeUrban Design
StatusDesign Concept
KINENIN — Sustainable Highway Bus Shelter. India’s rapid expansion of National Highways and accelerating urbanisation reflect the country’s dynamic growth. To match that momentum, highway infrastructure must evolve — especially the bus shelters that serve millions of travellers. KINENIN proposes a new generation of shelters that are inclusive, people-friendly and naturally sustainable, offering comfort across diverse climates while operating independently of the electrical grid.
Challenges with Existing Shelters
Current highway bus stops struggle to meet today’s needs:
Not self-sustaining — requiring frequent maintenance and outside power.
Dependent on grid electricity, unreliable in remote stretches.
Heat build-up from adjacent asphalt makes waiting areas uncomfortable.
Limited accessibility for seniors and visually impaired users.
Heavy use of high-carbon materials such as concrete.
Lack of recessed access roads, creating safety hazards for boarding passengers.
Our Design Response
The KINENIN shelter addresses these issues through:
Passive cooling and shading to stay naturally comfortable in any climate.
Off-grid operation with integrated renewable energy and water-harvesting systems.
Inclusive design elements for the elderly and visually impaired.
Low-carbon construction using sustainable, locally sourced materials.
Recessed entry bays to protect travellers from highway traffic and improve safety.
This reimagined shelter keeps pace with India’s fast-moving highways — creating a network of safe, self-sustaining and universally accessible rest points for the country’s growing population of road travellers.
Regenerating the central square of a vineyard city — a sustainable, inclusive civic heart linking historic quarter and vineyard landscape.
LocationRahovec, Kosovo
Period2020
ConceptVernacular Sustainable
TypeUrban Design
StatusCompetition — Municipality of Rahovec & UN-Habitat
International design competition for the Central City Square of Rahovec. Launched by the Municipality of Rahovec and supported by UN-Habitat, the 2020 competition sought to regenerate the central square into a high-quality, sustainable and inclusive civic space, emphasising participatory planning and a vibrant urban heart that reflects the city’s heritage.
Design Vision
Rahovec, celebrated for its natural beauty and historic vineyards, has the potential to become a global destination and a beloved gathering place for residents. The design positions the city centre as the nucleus of recreation, commerce, tourism and culture, while strengthening pedestrian and cycling links to both the historic quarter and the vineyard landscapes.
Two primary routes — each with wide footpaths, cycling lanes and one-way vehicular traffic — extend from the new plaza, activating intersections with colour-coded paving and converting adjacent public properties into spaces for exhibition, curation and education.
Three Interconnected Zones
Intimate Park — greenery, seating and play furniture for quiet reading, intergenerational sport (table tennis, board games) and children’s climbing frames.
Central Plaza — anchored by a water channel from the Tony Mici Monument; vineyard icons, a vibrant amphitheatre, fountains, adult swings, dancing circles and a mini sports arena. The amphitheatre stage doubles as an ice-skating rink in winter.
Marketplace — flower stalls lead to a lively farmer’s market, cafés, offices, an innovation centre and permanent retail, creating a hub for local enterprise.
Water as a Connector
A continuous water channel links all three zones. Its widened, deepened north-east end forms a man-made lake that captures excess rainwater and prevents flooding; during dry periods, the lake’s shallow, sloped segments transform into a skateboarding arena — ensuring year-round use.
Architectural Integration
Hardhia Bar Complex — reimagined with arched brick and local marble, hosting seasonal market stalls, exhibition halls, small-scale recycling units and terraces for informal collaboration.
Indoor Stadium & Hotel Park Plaza — upgraded with metal or wood screens and local marble cladding; broad, planter-lined stairs double as amphitheatre seating facing the plaza.
Sustainability, Comfort & Outcome
Native trees and plant beds provide thermal comfort and reduce cold wind currents.
Vibrant yet subtle street furniture — shaded seating and play equipment — animates the public realm.
Basement and multi-level parking are integrated into the natural terrain, keeping the ground plane pedestrian-friendly.
The design transforms Rahovec’s central square into a vibrant, inclusive city centre rooted in sustainability and local heritage — weaving parks, plazas, markets and cultural venues into a dynamic destination that supports economic and social growth.
Urban regeneration of the Cibin Market — a vibrant, climate-responsive complex that bridges Sibiu’s historic core and the Cibin River.
LocationSibiu, Romania
Period2023
ConceptVernacular Sustainable
TypeUrban Design
StatusInternational Design Competition
2023 International Design Competition — Urban Regeneration of the Cibin Market Area, Sibiu. The site sits on the north-western edge of Sibiu’s historic core, encompassing the market itself, its adjacent streets, and key links to the old town and riverfront.
Competition Context
The regeneration of the Cibin Market site sought to:
Redesign the market precinct to complement its agri-food focus with a variety of community-oriented functions.
Celebrate the area’s historic value, enhancing the dialogue between new interventions and the heritage fabric of Sibiu.
Strengthen connections between the market, the historic city centre and the Cibin River, while upgrading public spaces.
Design Solution
Our proposal creates a vibrant, climate-responsive complex that blends contemporary needs with historic character.
Climate-Responsive Form — buildings are oriented and massed in response to the sun path, with sloping tiled roofs that block harsh summer sun and a glass canopy that shades while keeping a bright, open atmosphere.
Visual Connections — a viewing tower, open terraces and riverside decks establish strong sightlines to the historic centre and the Cibin River; elevated platforms invite visitors to read Sibiu’s skyline from many vantage points.
Mobility & Parking — hydraulic parking for 250 cars, supplemented by on-street parking for 100 vehicles, ensures access without overwhelming the pedestrian realm.
Community & Recreation — generous public spaces host pop-up libraries, art galleries and outdoor markets; floating river decks and open plazas encourage year-round events.
Architectural Language — new structures echo the surrounding heritage with roof profiles and materials that complement Sibiu’s historic fabric.
A Lively Civic Destination
The design transforms the Cibin Market into a lively civic destination — reinforcing Sibiu’s historic identity while offering modern amenities and welcoming public spaces for residents and visitors alike.
A nature-immersive boarding school where children stay connected to the outdoors — built from local Erode brick.
LocationErode, Tamil Nadu
Period2023
ConceptVernacular
ProgrammeBoarding School
TypeEducation
StatusConcept
Commissioned by the school’s principals, this campus was envisioned as a nature-immersive learning environment — where children remain connected to the outdoors, both visually and through direct sensory experience.
Learning with the Landscape
Every space is designed with strong visual links to the surrounding landscape, while individual classrooms open to private courtyards that support multi-sensory activities and hands-on learning.
A Vernacular Material
Façades are crafted from Erode’s locally produced brick, reducing transport impact and blending with the verdant setting. This warm, vernacular material gives a timeless character that painted surfaces could not achieve — keeping the campus rooted in its environment.
The result is a school where students spend their days constantly aware of nature and its value, fostering respect for the environment as an integral part of their education.
A windowless basement crèche made bright, open and cheerful — a place toddlers love while parents work.
LocationTechnopark, Thiruvananthapuram
Period2019
ConceptExperiential
ProgrammeCrèche · Daycare
TypeEducation
StatusCompleted
Designed for a major IT park, this crèche provides a safe, stimulating environment where employees can check in on their toddlers during breaks.
Light Without Windows
Located in a fully enclosed basement with no natural light, the space was intentionally crafted to feel bright, open and cheerful. Colourful finishes, reflective surfaces and playful lighting create an uplifting atmosphere that offsets the absence of windows.
Learning Through Play
The layout encourages learning through play and sensory exploration — with touch-and-feel features and interactive elements to keep children engaged throughout their waking hours.
Special care was given to the nap rooms, designed to feel warm and inviting so toddlers settle in comfortably — easing the often-challenging transition to rest time.
A small, accessible reading room for rural Tamil Nadu — a circular pavilion of curved rammed-earth walls and interlocking S-block masonry, gathered around a tree-shaded courtyard.
LocationTamil Nadu
Period2020
ConceptVernacular
ProgrammeCommunity Library
TypeEducation
StatusConcept
The Reading Circle brings an inclusive, accessible reading room to rural villages in Tamil Nadu — a low-cost learning and gathering space planned from the ground up around the needs of residents with disabilities, including wheelchair users and those using crutches, canes or walking frames. Its circular plan turns the building into a community circle, drawing villagers in around a central, tree-shaded courtyard.
Low-Cost, Inclusive Construction
Hand-pressed, interlocking “S”-shaped bricks are made from mud mixed with 10% cement — requiring 30% less mortar than conventional brickwork, with built-in perforations for airflow and conduit routing
A rammed-earth foundation carries continuous, curved walls with no sharp corners — keeping circulation along every internal space safe for wheelchair users
A bamboo roof structure, layered with canvas sheeting, shades the deep surrounding verandah and keeps interiors cool
The result is a welcoming, climate-responsive pavilion that fosters both learning and a genuine sense of community — designed to be transferable to villages well beyond its original site.
Low-rise luxury apartments built for space and daylight, not density.
LocationBengaluru
Period2022
ConceptMulti-housing
ProgrammeBoutique Apartments
TypeResidential
StatusConcept
Commissioned as a boutique residential development, this project focuses on spacious layouts and abundant natural light rather than high density.
Light, Air, Privacy
Each home features generous private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows — inviting fresh breezes and daylight while offering expansive views. The result is a low-rise block that combines the privacy of a standalone residence with the conveniences of modern urban living.
A city-centre family home on a trapezoidal plot — a courtyard oasis, an inverted roof in motion, and cedar-warm interiors.
LocationBangalore
Period2017
ConceptWarm Contemporary
ProgrammeFamily Home — 3,000 sft
TypeResidential
StatusBuilt
In the vibrant heart of the city, this family home occupies a distinctive 3,000 sft trapezoidal plot with an unusually long road frontage. The design embraces the geometry — using the extended frontage for an open, flowing plan that blurs the boundary between inside and out, organised to capture daylight and cross-ventilation.
A Private Oasis
At the rear, a secluded courtyard is carved out as a private oasis. Landscaped with native plantings, it becomes the family’s informal gathering place — for leisurely meals, children’s hobbies or quiet evening conversation — drawing daylight deep into the home and offering a calm contrast to the city.
A Roof in Motion
The roofline introduces a striking gesture — a series of playful, inverted, inclined planes that lend movement and drama to the long, narrow volume. These dynamic forms break up the massing and create changing silhouettes through the day, while discreetly handling rainwater drainage and natural cooling.
Warm Contemporary Interiors
Inside, extensive use of cedar wood infuses the rooms with a soft red hue and natural fragrance — a tactile warmth that complements clean modern lines. Generous glazing frames views of the courtyard and street trees. The result is a city-centre retreat that balances privacy with connection, and compact urban living with moments of serenity.
A residence for entertaining — a sleek, textural palette and a drought-tolerant landscape that honours its environment.
LocationBangalore
Period2024
ConceptContemporary · Sustainable Landscape
ProgrammeResidence + Landscape
TypeResidential
StatusConcept
For this Bangalore residence, the brief called for sophistication and flexibility — generous seating clusters, a bar counter for entertaining and a cohesive modern aesthetic.
Texture & Journey
The solution pairs a sleek material palette with rich textural contrasts in paving, structural elements and the rejuvenated façade. Winding paths framed by statement planters lend a sense of journey and grandeur.
Landscape that Belongs
Every plant selection reflects the client’s wish — and our principle — that landscapes honour their environment, relying on hardy, drought-tolerant species that flourish with minimal upkeep.
A bright, breezy family home on a triangular plot — warm, modern, and a much-photographed local favourite.
LocationBengaluru
Period2011
ConceptWarm Modern
ProgrammeFamily Home — 1,900 sft
TypeResidential
StatusBuilt
Set on a 1,900 sft triangular plot, the TA Residence presented both challenges and opportunities. The long road frontage became a key design advantage — allowing a home that feels open, bright and connected to the outdoors.
Light, Ventilation & Climate
Large glass openings along the narrower edges enhance the sense of space and flood interiors with daylight
Generous cross-ventilation keeps the home cool and airy
Mature trees and vibrant bougainvillea on the west shield the house from harsh afternoon sun while adding colour and texture
Warm, Flowing Interiors
Minimal internal walls create an easy flow between living areas, while several decks and terraces extend the living space into the garden for year-round outdoor enjoyment.
Today the TA Residence is a beloved family home and a visual favourite — often requested by Instagrammers as a backdrop for reels and shoots, proof of its welcoming charm and enduring appeal.
A home built around conversation and entertaining for the founders of Bangalore's first pub chain.
LocationBengaluru
Period2023
ConceptWarm Modern
ProgrammePrivate Residence
TypeResidential
StatusBuilt
Our clients, Gilbert and Suja, are well-known Bangalore entrepreneurs who pioneered the city’s first chain of pubs under the “Gilly’s” brand. Their brief called for a home designed around conversation and entertaining — with intimate group settings that reflect their sociable lifestyle.
Designed Around Conversation
The layout features multiple interconnected seating areas and generous openings to the surrounding garden — a seamless indoor–outdoor flow that supports relaxed gatherings and lively discussion in a lush, natural setting.
A light-filled tropical bungalow for a family returning to Kerala — open volumes under monsoon-ready sloped roofs.
LocationKottayam, Kerala
Period2021
ConceptContemporary Tropical
ProgrammeBungalow
TypeResidential
StatusBuilt
Designed for a family returning to Kerala after many years in the Middle East, this residence reflects their wish for a spacious, light-filled bungalow suited to the region’s tropical climate.
Open to the Tropics
The plan features generous double-height living areas, expansive decks and wide glazing that open the interior to surrounding greenery. In response to Kerala’s heavy monsoon rains, gently sloped roofs reduce long-term maintenance and waterproofing costs — while giving the home a distinctive profile.
A modern retirement retreat built for hospitality — open, luxurious, and tuned to Cuddapah's climate.
LocationCuddapah, Andhra Pradesh
PeriodOngoing
ConceptContemporary
ProgrammePrivate Residence
TypeResidential
StatusOngoing
Designed for a respected couple seeking a peaceful retirement home, this residence reflects their wish for a modern, spacious retreat that can also welcome a large circle of family and friends.
Made for Company
The plan emphasises open, interconnected living areas with multiple indoor and outdoor seating alcoves that encourage conversation and nurture strong social bonds. Interiors are luxurious and contemporary, aligning with the clients’ clear preference for a style free of traditional references.
Climate-Responsive Hospitality
Generous verandahs, garden gazebos and drought-tolerant plantings suit Cuddapah’s hot, humid climate. More than 90% of glazing and verandahs face north and east — shielding interiors from harsh southern and western sun while capturing breezes for cross-ventilation and abundant daylight.
A bold, kinetic Bangalore home where dipping rooflines and cantilevered volumes meet stark red-and-white surfaces — open, light-filled rooms carved from a single simple volume.
LocationBangalore
Period2021
ConceptKinetic · Bold
ProgrammePrivate Residence
TypeResidential
StatusBuilt
The house is sited with its longer axis running east–west, minimising harsh western exposure while drawing soft north light deep into the interior. Dipping lines and cantilevered volumes give the elevation a sense of motion, and a stark red-and-white palette amplifies that dynamism.
Open, Carved Interiors
The plan is a simple twenty-foot-wide rectangle running the length of the site, allowing direct cross-ventilation and consistently well-lit rooms. Living, dining, kitchen, the master bedroom, decks and a library are carved from within this single volume using minimal internal walls — creating open, continuous spaces that make the most of the views the site offers.
A “more for less” community of 100+ villas — spatial generosity, daylight and comfort delivered within compact plots and a budget-conscious framework.
LocationBangalore
Period2025
ConceptContemporary · Sustainable
Programme100+ Villa Community
TypeResidential
StatusIn progress
This 100-plus villa development was conceived around the planning principle of “More for Less” — an approach focused on delivering spatial quality, environmental comfort and functional completeness within compact plot dimensions and a budget-conscious framework.
More for Less
The primary design challenge was to create homes on relatively small sites without compromising the perception of openness, daylight access or livability. In response, the villas were planned with a strong emphasis on efficient space programming, visual continuity and indoor–outdoor integration. Carefully positioned openings, well-proportioned decks and transitional semi-open spaces extend the perceived volume of the interiors and improve natural light and ventilation performance. As a result, residents consistently describe the homes as feeling significantly larger and more spacious than their plot sizes suggest.
At the unit level, the design process focused on high-efficiency planning and fine-grain functionality, with each area calibrated to support everyday domestic use. The layouts were developed so that every square foot serves a clear purpose, while still maintaining spatial clarity, comfort and flexibility for family life.
A Community Scaled for Well-Being
At the community scale, the master plan supports both social interaction and individual well-being through a hierarchy of shared open spaces. Parks for adults and children are planned as multi-use landscapes, with seating zones arranged to accommodate both quiet, contemplative use and informal social gathering. The clubhouse precinct anchors the shared amenities and sits along the edge of a man-made water body, where an open-air performance stage and decked audience seating establish a strong communal focal point and event space.
The landscape strategy places equal emphasis on ecology, experience and community participation. Multiple nature-oriented zones create varied resident experiences, and orchard planting areas are incorporated as productive landscapes — enabling community harvesting and strengthening collective stewardship of the site.
A concept luxury residence where warmth and greenery meet a modern, contemporary language — architecture that feels inviting and life-affirming, not austere.
Location—
Period2021
ConceptWarm Contemporary
ProgrammeLuxury Residence
TypeResidential
StatusConcept
This concept home showcases expansive living areas with double-height ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto generous decks, creating a seamless indoor–outdoor experience.
Warm, Not Austere
While the architectural language is modern and contemporary, the design places a strong emphasis on warmth and natural greenery. We believe a true home should feel inviting and life-affirming, not austere.
Comfort & Nature
Minimalism has its place in certain building types, but a residence is a space where people thrive in comfort and nature. Through this project we demonstrate that contemporary architecture can be both elegant and welcoming — offering a dynamic, immersive living experience that nurtures well-being.
A flood-resilient vacation home amid paddy fields — an iconic stilted form built for premium short-term rental appeal.
LocationKerala
PeriodConcept
ConceptResilient · Premium Rental
ProgrammeVacation Home · Airbnb
TypeHospitality
StatusConcept
The client envisioned a vacation home in their hometown that could also function as a high-quality Airbnb rental. Located amidst expansive paddy fields, the site offers a serene and picturesque setting that strongly influenced the architectural response.
Resilience as Identity
To address the area’s susceptibility to flooding, the house was designed as an A-frame structure elevated on stilts. The iconic form not only ensures resilience and safety but also establishes a distinct architectural identity.
The A-frame typology was intentionally chosen to impart a premium character — enhancing the property’s appeal and positioning it to attract discerning short-term rental guests.
A café design portfolio across Bangalore — warm, subtle interiors built for comfort, not spectacle.
LocationBangalore
PeriodOngoing
ConceptWarm · Subtle Hospitality
ProgrammeCafé Interiors
TypeHospitality
StatusMultiple · Built
We have designed multiple cafés across the city, many of which have become popular neighbourhood destinations. Each project followed brand-specific guidelines while creating warm, welcoming interiors that encourage visitors to relax — whether alone or with friends and family.
Subtlety Over Spectacle
Unlike our museum projects, these cafés were intentionally subtle — prioritising a calm, soothing atmosphere over bold architectural statements.
From consistently positive Google reviews, we know that the design goals of comfort and immersive hospitality have been successfully achieved.
A stadium that becomes housing — an adaptive arena and residential community that keeps New York's waterfront park alive after the 2026 World Cup.
LocationNew York, USA
Period2018
ConceptAdaptive Reuse
ProgrammeStadium + Housing Hybrid
TypeSports
StatusCompetition — Archstorming
Archstorming international competition entry — New York City. Archstorming invited proposals for an adaptive stadium that can also function as a residential building — operating both uses simultaneously, alternating between them, or converting permanently to housing after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The indicative programme: a soccer field, 45,000-seat stands, residential units (30–100 m²), restaurants, offices, shops, multi-purpose spaces, gardens and public areas.
Our concept envisions a year-round destination where sport and urban living coexist — keeping the park active long after tournament days.
Dual-Use Masterplan
A 45,000-seat stadium integrates cafés, children’s play zones and match-day facilities at park level — lively even with no game scheduled
Public entry on three sides stays open year-round; players’ and service access is restricted
After major events, the main pitch transforms into smaller arenas with movable equipment
Residential Integration
Apartments of varied sizes — including larger family units — overlook the surrounding park
Stadium-side apartments house staff and are designed to minimise noise
Solar tubes in the stadium steps (one per four seats) bring daylight into corridors; ventilated risers provide airflow
Access-controlled corridors ensure privacy and security during matches
Envelope & Climate Strategy
A faceted prism of coloured glass panels wraps the structure, reflecting the New York skyline and the energy of football
Operable panels allow natural ventilation in humid summers, insulate in winter and screen the residences for privacy
A retractable roof protects spectators and residents in inclement weather
The result is a sustainable, mixed-use landmark — a dynamic arena and residential community that keeps New York’s waterfront park active, vibrant and economically viable long after the World Cup ends.
A 100% community-built pavilion for Tottenham's artisans — a grassroots model for temporary public space.
LocationTottenham, London
Period2021
ConceptCommunity-led Placemaking
ProgrammeTemporary Pavilion
TypeCommunity
StatusCompetition
An architecture-led placemaking project proposing a new model for temporary public space — inspired by the distinctive culture and self-organized ethos of the Harringay Warehouse District.
Developed as an open competition entry, the proposal envisioned a pavilion to host the works of local artisans, temporarily transforming a disused Tottenham car park into a one-off, inclusive space for the wider community. Amid rapid gentrification, this part of London has become increasingly unaffordable for many of the area’s long-established artisans.
Built by the Community
Conceived as a community-led initiative, the pavilion was designed to be entirely self-built by local residents — fostering collective ownership, mutual support and shared capacity-building. Through creating, programming and managing the space together, the project sought to strengthen economic resilience and offer a grassroots response to displacement.
An Alternative to Top-Down Change
With 100% community construction and curation, the project positions itself as an alternative to the top-down urban change prevalent across London. It draws directly on the co-creation principles of the Harringay Warehouse District — a rare, self-shaped enclave of artists, makers and performers — replicating its collaborative spirit as both method and message.
Rapid, affordable, self-built housing from waste materials — a flexible kit-of-parts for a fast-changing Bengaluru.
LocationBangalore
Period2022
ConceptExperimental · Sustainable
ProgrammeAffordable Self-build Housing
TypeRegenerative
StatusConcept
An experimental, visionary project exploring alternative approaches to rapid, affordable housing through the reuse of waste materials and self-build construction. The intent is to address a growing housing crisis in a city where real-estate costs keep rising sharply — pushing lower-income communities toward expensive rentals and cramped conditions.
Affordable & Adaptable
The proposal positions housing as both affordable and adaptable, responding to two critical challenges: increasing access to dignified housing, and reducing the landfill burden of non-compostable waste.
At its core, a human-centred approach equips residents with the skills to build their own lightweight, portable dwellings.
Designed for a Fast-Changing City
Using cement–plastic fibre boards and bamboo framing, the system is a flexible kit-of-parts for easy assembly, repair, expansion or dismantling as needs evolve. Designed for a city as dynamic as Bengaluru, the model embraces impermanence and adaptability — recognising that urban conditions and housing needs shift rapidly year to year.
The Color Blob Bench — a vivid, climbable community perch from reused materials, quarter-finalist at the LFA Pews & Perches 2020.
LocationRoyal Docks, London
Period2020
ConceptBio-circular
ProgrammePublic Bench
TypeInstallation
StatusQuarter-finalist — LFA
The London Festival of Architecture’s 2020 Pews & Perches competition invited benches that celebrate material reuse and draw on the Royal Docks, its waterfront and community. Our entry reached the quarter-finals.
The Color Blob Bench injects vivid colour into the grey dockside — like a splash of paint on pavement. The sculptural form seats two, with an elevated mound for children (or adventurous adults) to climb and slide, plus a small integrated planter.
Material & Fabrication Options
3D-printed plastic, smooth — recycled industrial/household plastic; self-cleaning, quick-drying; mound doubles as a slide
3D-printed plastic, mesh frame — framed mesh texture with foot-holds for playful climbing; low-maintenance
Upcycled pine planks — reclaimed from shipping containers; slatted to drain rain, with gaps as natural climbing grips
Benches arrange in a wide “V” to encourage conversation while keeping distance. The Color Blob Bench turns leftover materials into a vibrant community perch — encouraging interaction, play and sustainability on the Royal Docks.
A portable, self-built community for migrant-labour families in Bangalore — built from mud and bamboo, designed to be dismantled and rebuilt as land tenure moves.
Migrant Labourers Housing — Overview
LocationBengaluru, India
Period2020
ConceptBio-circular · Sustainable
ProgrammeMigrant-labour community
RecognitionHolcim Awards 2020 — Shortlist
PartnerDiyaghar
MaterialsBamboo · Hand-pressed ‘S’ bricks
TypeRegenerative
LafargeHolcim International Awards 2020. Our entry — Portable Community for Migrant Families, Bangalore — was shortlisted for the 6th International Holcim Awards for Sustainable Design and Construction, which recognises bold ideas across architecture, engineering and urban planning.
Context
Bangalore is expanding rapidly, and more than 1.3 million residents live in informal settlements — many of them migrant labourers from across India, Bangladesh and Nepal. These families often move from site to site, living in temporary blue tents with no sanitation or childcare; children play amidst dangerous construction equipment while their parents work.
Partnering with Diyaghar, a non-profit that runs childcare classrooms for migrant workers, we envisioned a portable, self-built community that provides safety, dignity and opportunity.
Ethical Standards & Social Inclusion
Design Vision
A human-centred approach trains residents to construct their own homes from mud and bamboo, creating a settlement that can be dismantled and rebuilt when land tenure expires.
Typical unit — a home for 4–5 members, plus a 30 m² crèche / study and a 45 m² market space at the community entrance.
Landscape — bamboo planters and community garden beds integrated throughout.
Innovation & Transferability
Materials & Sustainability
Walls & floors — hand-pressed ‘S’-bricks made from excavated soil with 10% cement; grooves in each brick carry electrical and plumbing runs without chiselling.
Structure — bamboo for doors, vents, privacy screens and upper floors; canvas or polycarbonate for lightweight, portable roofs.
Carbon impact — minimal: soil is sourced from nearby construction sites or landfills, and bamboo grows quickly and regenerates from its roots.
Comfort & energy — natural cooling through bamboo vents and brick cavities; future-ready for solar as subsidies allow.
Sanitation — composting toilets with portable seats and tanks, producing bio-gas and reducing open defecation.
Resource & Environmental Performance
Community Participation
The settlement is built and maintained by residents themselves:
Men press bricks and lay foundations.
Women and elders craft bamboo roofs, vents and partitions.
A community market provides vending space for goods from their home regions — a circular economy that helps fund maintenance and rentals.
Diyaghar operates a daytime childcare centre that doubles as an evening study hall.
Economical Viability & Compatibility
Economic Viability
Typical rent is around $30 per home per month, partly offset by income from the market.
The flexible construction lets the entire community be relocated without material loss, ensuring long-term affordability.
The project creates safe, sanitary and vibrant living spaces built from low-cost, low-tech methods. Residents gain:
Secure homes and shaded play areas for children.
A self-sustaining economy through the community market.
Training in sustainable construction techniques and long-term environmental stewardship.
This portable, regenerative neighbourhood offers a replicable model for urban centres across India and beyond — proving that design and community empowerment can transform the lives of migrant families.
Built, carried and rebuilt by the community itself — a neighbourhood that moves without leaving loss behind.
A self-sustaining cyclists' shelter clad in solar fabric — for Dubai Design Week's Urban Commissions.
LocationDubai Design District (D3)
Period2019
ConceptSustainable · Multi-sensory
ProgrammeCyclists’ Shelter
TypeInstallation
StatusCompetition — Urban Commissions
Created for the Urban Commissions open call during Dubai Design Week (D3) 2019, the brief invited large-scale public installations that engage the community through participatory, multisensory design. Our concept focused on encouraging cycling to work in Dubai.
Cycling shortens long office commutes, improves productivity, keeps the air clean and reduces fuel use. Our design supports Dubai’s bike-friendly ambitions with an inviting rest-and-recharge shelter for cyclists.
A Self-Sustaining Shelter
Clad in photovoltaic solar fabric, the shelter generates clean energy to power on-site amenities — air pumps, water dispensers and bike-charging stations. Beyond comfort and utility, it acts as a visual statement, celebrating a citywide shift toward sustainable, active transportation.
A Mashrabiya reimagined in date-palm fibre and recycled plastic — heritage geometry meeting bio-circular innovation, for Abwab 2024.
LocationDubai Design District (D3)
Period2024
ConceptBio-circular · Sustainable
ProgrammePavilion
TypeInstallation
StatusConcept
For the 2024 edition of Abwab — Vernacular Futures, designers were invited to explore vernacular architecture’s role in regenerative design. Vernacular traditions — local materials, climate-responsive techniques and community-centric thinking — were the starting point.
A Reinterpreted Mashrabiya
We reinterpreted the Mashrabiya as a pavilion for ambient outdoor gatherings that shields visitors from the Middle East’s intense climate. The structure combines naturally cool date-palm fibres with recycled plastic — abundant regional waste products, yet durable enough for long-term use.
Heritage Meets Innovation
While the form is contemporary, it draws on familiar traditional geometries — showing how ancient ideas can meet modern technology. The concept is threefold:
Highlight the potential of sustainable, bio-circular materials
Reference historic architectural forms in a forward-looking way
Show how these methods can regenerate today’s urban landscapes
Three pop-up pavilions for D3, Dubai Design District — a sculptural, flat-pack streetscape of folded copper and golden-triangle geometry.
LocationDubai Design District (D3)
Period2020
ConceptUrban · Sculptural
ProgrammePop-up pavilions / kiosks
EventDubai Design Festival
MaterialsAluminium composite · Plexiglas
TypeInstallation
StatusConcept
The Dubai Design Festival is a celebration of ideas, art, music, food and architecture that draws thousands of visitors to D3 each year — a rare platform where design, art, fashion and cuisine converge into a single immersive experience.
Capturing the Festival Spirit
To reflect that energy, we developed three distinct pop-up pavilion concepts:
Two bespoke models for exclusive or luxury brands seeking a unique identity.
One modular system that repeats across the site — flexible, while avoiding visual monotony.
Golden-Triangle Geometry
The modular unit is based on golden-triangle geometry, producing two differently sized interior spaces plus integrated storage. By varying the arrangement of these triangular modules, the design builds a dynamic streetscape — with pockets for outdoor seating, cafés and landscaping — while keeping a clear pedestrian flow along the central path.
Design & Construction
Climate-responsive — roof extensions and Plexiglas wraps give shade and natural ventilation.
Flat-pack assembly — panels fold or hinge for quick install and removal; wall sections slide into floor-deck channels and store flat, minimising waste.
Efficient geometry — triangular elements combine into standard rectangular panels (8-foot ratios), reducing off-cuts.
Flexible display — single mesh shelves (4′×1′, GRP or metal) configure for hanging merchandise or art.
The V-shaped larger modules host restaurants, outdoor cafés or pop-up venues for talks and presentations. Each pavilion carries dedicated signage space and tucks storage into its triangular corners; the bases are wider than the upper sections, giving the structures inherent wind resistance.
Materials
All models are built from lightweight aluminium composite panels — durable, cost-effective and available in a wide range of UAE-sourced colours — paired with scratch-resistant Plexiglas glazing, the same material used for aircraft windows.
A streetscape that folds flat and unfolds anywhere — geometry doing the work of ornament.
A home that floats with the flood and anchors when dry — community-built resilience for coastal Bangladesh.
LocationBangladesh
Period2018
ConceptResiliency
ProgrammeFlood-resilient Housing
TypeInnovation
StatusCompetition — Resilient Homes
Coastal Bangladesh experiences frequent, severe flooding — waters often rising 10 feet or more, rendering conventional stilt housing ineffective. Prolonged inundation contaminates farmland and freshwater wells with saline intrusion, driving food insecurity and loss of livelihoods, while groundwater contamination spreads waterborne disease. Floods here do not merely destroy homes; they threaten the social, cultural and economic fabric of entire communities.
Adapt & Embrace the Flood
Rather than resisting floods, the model adapts to them. As many families are unable — or unwilling — to abandon their homes, the design lets residents remain safely inside even in extreme conditions: the house itself floats during floods and stays anchored during dry periods, offering security, dignity and continuity of daily life.
Adaptable floating structure that rises with floodwaters while keeping interiors dry
Self-sufficiency — a small vegetable garden and filtered rainwater storage
Aerodynamically tapered form and roof to minimise cyclone wind loads
Storm-secure, wind-resistant shutters preventing uplift and roof failure
Integrated structural envelope with overlapping roof and wall systems
Floating sewage and wastewater tanks that stay operational and prevent contamination
Salt-tolerant planting supporting alternative livelihoods and ecological resilience
Community Resilience
Beyond the individual dwelling, floating interconnected pathways link homes — enabling movement, access and social interaction, vital for elderly residents living alone. A shared floating community shelter adapts alongside the homes, strengthening collective safety.
A peripheral trench-and-bund system guards against smaller floods, with both stabilised using reused fishing nets for erosion control.
Buildable by the Community
The system is intentionally low-tech and community-buildable — chain-link mesh, aluminium or GI sheets, mud–cement mortar (10:1) and bamboo or steel poles, depending on local availability. With basic training, residents build the homes themselves: roughly 20 days, two people per dwelling, no contractors required. Material choices invite traditional craftsmanship and artistic expression, building local capacity and supporting skill development — particularly among women and marginalised groups.
The result is a hybrid model — rigid in dry conditions, safely floating during floods through a pillar-anchored system — reframing flood-prone regions not as zones of crisis, but as places capable of long-term habitation, resilience and dignity.
An immersive walk through colour — three sensory tunnels of light, sound and energy, part playground, part classroom.
LocationDubai
Period2023
ConceptExperimental
ProgrammeInteractive Installation
TypeInnovation
StatusConcept
Kaleidoscope is an interactive installation exploring the multidimensional nature of colour and its tangible relationship with the physical world, through a choreography of playful, sensory experiences. Conceived as a sequence of immersive environments, it invites visitors to move through colour as a lived, participatory phenomenon.
Three kaleidoscope-shaped tunnels each offer a distinct exploration of colour — through light, sound and energy — supported by QR-linked digital content and explanatory screens.
Colours & Light
Angled mirrors and reflective, multi-hued surfaces generate constantly shifting kaleidoscopic effects — immersing visitors in a dynamic visual field that changes with movement and perspective.
Colours & Sound
Linking musical notes to specific hues, interactive panels let visitors strike notes that trigger illuminated LED rings in corresponding colours. A vocal-input system turns sounds from a microphone into colour responses, while chimes add a tactile acoustic layer.
Colours & Energy
The third tunnel interprets colour and kinetic energy: a responsive surface where physical impact activates illuminated glass panels in varying colours, representing differences in energy levels. Symbolic rather than scientifically exact, it makes abstract concepts intuitively accessible. Across all three, QR-enabled interpretive panels provide expanded explanations — so the installation works simultaneously as a playful environment and an educational platform.
Homes from upcycled chain-link mesh, slotted beneath flyovers — turning waste and residual space into dignified shelter.
LocationUnder a flyover — anywhere
Period—
ConceptExperimental
ProgrammeModular Social Housing
TypeInnovation
StatusConcept
As awareness of carbon emissions intensifies, the construction industry — responsible for over 60% of global emissions — faces scrutiny, and steel is often seen as neither sustainable nor economical. Meanwhile the industry’s most fundamental responsibility, providing shelter, has been neglected: rising homelessness, even in the wealthiest nations, reflects a systemic failure.
This project reframes steel as a pragmatic response to homelessness — a modular housing system derived from discarded chain-link mesh, a material routinely landfilled for its lack of scrap value. Upcycling it turns waste into a structural asset.
A Self-Build Kit
Units are modular, lightweight and self-build–friendly — assembled by the urban poor with minimal supervision. The chain-link mesh forms a skeletal framework; polycarbonate panels bring privacy and diffused light; openings cut for cross-ventilation; cement boards or timber slot in as floors and roofs. No welding or bolting — just strong metal ties securing mesh to outer steel frames.
Activating Residual Space
Placed beneath urban flyovers, the units address a major barrier to homeless housing — resistance to shelter locations — while the infrastructure offers weather protection and activates neglected space. Units stack, suspend or cluster into a dense yet flexible arrangement, forming a vibrant pedestrian corridor with seating and planting.
Mesh fencing doubles as a framework for shade-tolerant, drought-resistant climbers, turning the undercroft green; bold, colourful compositions create a lively urban collage beneath the flyovers.
Renewable energy reimagined as public art — a LAGI response for Germany's Federal Garden Show (BUGA).
LocationGermany
Period2022
ConceptSustainability
ProgrammeLand Art · Energy
TypeInnovation
StatusCompetition — LAGI
Founded in 2008, the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) engages designers, artists and communities worldwide in exploring how art and architecture can actively contribute to a sustainable future. By reimagining renewable-energy infrastructure as a meaningful extension of human culture, LAGI challenges conventional perceptions of sustainability-driven design.
Net-Zero, Culturally Woven
Through the creativity of its competition participants, LAGI inspires new ways of thinking about net-zero–carbon futures — demonstrating how sustainable infrastructure can be seamlessly woven into the cultural and public realm of our cities.
Featured here are our design responses for the Federal Garden Show (BUGA), exploring the intersection of energy, landscape and public space.
