This multi-housing project in Alibaug, India is situated on a steeply sloped site of 8093.71 square meters. The architect designed the project to merge with the natural landscape by placing housing units and terraces organically along the existing slopes. This minimized disruption to the land and created usable outdoor spaces. The units are oriented for optimal climate response, with north-facing aspects to reduce heat gain. Staircases and lifts connect the housing units placed at four different levels, preserving the natural contours of the land.

1. THE VILLAGE

2. LOCATION - Situated on a hilly land in Alibaug, a
low urbanized area close to Mumbai in India.
Alibaug has essentially been a holiday home
destination for people living in Mumbai city and is
predominately low rise with individual villas &
small houses.
SITE AREA - 8093.71 SQ M
ARCHITECTS - SANJAY PURI
CLIENT - TANASH ENVIRONMENTS
COMPLETION DATE - 09/2018
SITE CONSTRAINTS- The site is steeply
contoured with a 36 level difference in the 30m
width of the plot making it very steep.

5. Taking a cue from the organic
development character of old Indian
cities, the planning is fragmented &
laid out organically along the existing
slopes of the land while creating
usable terraces & garden for each one
overlooking the sea & facing north.
the houses step diagonally or frontally
and merge with the terrain creating
minimal intervention with the land.
CONCEPT
multi housing project that fragments the structure to merge with the landscape

6. The southern side of each house rests against the contoured land
and is thus totally protected from any heat gain.
ORIENTATION AND CLIMATE RESPONSE
This city has a tropical climate. The summers
here have a good deal of rainfall, while the
winters have very little.
The temperatures are highest on average in May,
at around 29.2 °C. January is the coldest month,
with temperatures averaging 23.3 °C
This is a very important aspect creating
energy efficiency & cooler internal spaces
since the climate is dry & hot with
temperatures in excess of 30 degree celsius
for 8 months of the year.
North facing units to gather diffused light with
least heat gain

7. The design creates a sustainable environment with minimal cutting of land (placed on natural contour levels )
EXISTING CONTOURS
FEATURES
Channeling all runoff
water to water harvesting
tanks from the profusely
terraced structure.
Built mostly in the local basalt stone
available on site
Generation of landscape
gardens and terrace
spaces equivalent to site
area
The units are placed at 4 diff levels with a difference of 5 m in each level

8. BLOCK AND SINGLE UNITS

9. PLAN AT LVL +140M
Lifts Light voidStaircase External staircase
The structure to merge
with the landscape
creating a similar look to
the existing bungalow
urban language rather
than typical housing blocks
External staircase is
connecting all the levels of
the site externally and
connecting the landscaped
area

10. PLAN AT LVL +136.35M
Core area- 50 sqm
1- Living area 2- Kitchen
3- Bedroom 4- Terrace
Lifts Light voidStaircase External staircase

11. PLAN AT LVL +132.7M
Lifts Light voidStaircase
1- Living area
2- Kitchen
3- Bedroom
4- Terrace
Open terrace gardens
outside each room
which are sheltered by
pergolas
External staircase

12. PLAN AT LVL +129.05M
Carpet area is same of all the units.
Size of terrace is varying in units at
different levels.
1- Living area
2- Kitchen
3- Bedroom
4- Terrace
Lifts
Light void
Staircase
2BHK units
Area -190 sqm
Living and dining area

13. PLAN AT LVL +125.35M
Lifts Light voidStaircase External staircase
1- Living area
2- Kitchen
3- Bedroom
4- Terrace
Placement of staircases change on level 2 and 3
to minimise alteration in site terrain

14. INFERENCES
● The design focuses on preserving the natural contours by minimizing the
cutting of land
● The units are strategically placed according to the climatic conditions
● Light voids are provided to bring natural diffused light in the core area
● Locally available material is used
● Integration of gardens and terraces cascading down along the site slope
,merges the building with the landscape .