Sheikh Sarai Housing Complex in New Delhi, designed by architect Raj Rewal in 1982, consists of 550 housing units arranged around shared courtyards in clusters. The complex draws inspiration from traditional Indian cities through its dense urban fabric organized around narrow, shaded streets and pedestrian pathways. Housing units are grouped around intimate courtyards and connected by a central spine, providing cross ventilation while maintaining privacy through perforated walls. The complex fosters community through its structured arrangement of shared outdoor spaces at various scales.

1. POST INDEPENDENCE
ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA
SHEIKH SARAI
HOUSING COMPLEX,
NEW DELHI
Guided By:
Prof. Jaikishor Pandit
Prof. Meghna Parkar
Presented By:
Siddhika Chichani
309105

2. SHEIKH SARAI HOUSING COMPLEX

3. Introduction
▣ Project Name: SHEIKH SARAI HOUSING
▣ Location: New Delhi, India
▣ Year of Construction: 1982
▣ Area: 35 acres
▣ Total No. of Units: 550
▣ Density: 100 apartments/ha
▣ Climate: Semi arid with high variation in
summer and winter. Monsoon in summer
months.
▣ Client: Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
▣ Architect: Raj Rewal

4. Design Inspiration
▣ The design finds a connection with the
historical realities of cities of Udaipur and
Jaisalmer in Rajasthan.
▣ It has the characteristic of urban fabric of India
and which are distinguished by the density of
the town and for the close relationship
between open and closed spaces.

5. SITE PLAN

6. Orientation & Spaces
▣ Orientation
□ Prevailing direction accesses northeast southwest
orientation buildings Northwest Southeast
(perpendicular to the prevailing direction)
▣ Spaces
□ Area of intervention :38195 sq. meters ~ 3.82 ha
□ Build up Area : 12740 sq. meters ~ 1.2 ha
□ Surface parking lots: 6622 sq. meters ~ 0.66 ha
□ Green Areas : 3931 sq. meters ~ 0.39 ha

7. Floor Plans
▣ Dwelling units are grouped around a
courtyard
▣ Ground floor and First floor units are more
spacious and have two bedrooms, while the
upper flats have only one bedroom
▣ Each unit have some kind of terrace for
essential activities of Indian domestic life.

8. Ground Floor

9. First and Second Floor

10. Front and Third Floor

11. View of Sheikh Sarai Housing Complex

12. SHARING COURTYARD

13. GARAGE

14. PERIPHERAL ROAD NETWORK

15. Design Aspects
▣ URBAN FABRIC
□ The peripheral roads are connected to parking
squares
□ The central spine of the layout is reserved for
narrow, shaded pedestrian pathways
□ The layout plan follows traditional methods of
creating shade and cross ventilation
▣ STREETS
□ The plan of Sheikh Sarai is based on narrow shaded
streets linking variety of clusters
□ The streets are broken up into smaller units, so
there are pauses, points of rest and changing vistas

16. Design Aspects (contd.)
▣ CLUSTERS
□ Raj Rewal designed Sheikh Sarai as a series of
clusters which are interrelated.
□ The buildings are unified by means of similar façade
treatment using sandstone grit render, piercing of
parapets, proportions of doors, deep set windows,
and stone flanking walls for the courtyard
▣ ROOF TERRACES
□ Private roof terraces and courtyards are an integral
design component of housing for the Sheikh Sarai
Complex

17. Design Details
▣ An important aspect of this scheme is the pattern of
interrelated squares of an intimate scale that has been
created
▣ While there is clear demarcation between pedestrian and
vehicular spaces within these, the movement of people within
the enclosures has been closely aligned with the access
points for vehicles on the periphery
▣ The scale of the various squares has been adjusted to
encourage and to serve different community activities
▣ All the units have been provided with wall or parapets which
have narrow slits ensuring privacy and good ventilation
▣ Although the structure is of reinforced concrete posts and
beams, the walls are of brick infill with roughcast plaster
▣ This is customary for economical mass housing in the region
and allows for some modification by the users

18. Urban Scape and Community Spaces
▣ Urban Scape
□ At site level, architect developed the project by
employing urban strategies of articulated flows,
segregated spaces and applied the same on the site
level, resulting in a structured urban settlement
▣ Community Spaces
□ Fostering shared spaces for community by creating
intimate courtyards connected to each other,
representing the traditional elements of Indian
architecture. The scale of these courtyards has been
manipulated towards increased social activities and
interaction amongst the resident community,
serving as a social facilitator.