SPL Debonair | Shatotto

SPL Debonair: Public space in a private building

The landowners of this apartment building project are four siblings in number and their requirements regarding the number of apartments were very high. On the other hand, the demand from the client’s end was also substantial. Moreover, some parts of the plot do not get abundant sunlight in winter because of being a corner plot on the edge of two roads. To negotiate with all of these things, the design of this apartment building was developed in a different way. The client’s demand has been fulfilled by allocating the required amount of space in the first nine floors in a block with larger size apartments and to meet the demand of the landowners’, two more floors have been built in the other block as the apartment size in the block is relatively smaller in size.

The roof of each block has been designed in such a way that it becomes a charming community space for the dwellers. The brick made high boundary walls with spike and barbwire of the houses near the plot not only has limited the eyesight, but also severed the connection among house, street, and pedestrians. The intention was to bring back the connection by offering a gratifying landscape on the ground floor of the apartment building. The use of glass walls is an expression of showing trust and respect to the pedestrians. While passing the house, the permissibility of glass walls not only welcomes the pedestrians to enjoy the delightful view of the greenery and water body but also starts dialoguing with them which strengthens the relationship among the house-owner and pedestrians and results in social harmony.

While landscaping the apartment building, the green areas, water bodies, and rock gardens have been placed on the ground floor very carefully through critical scientific analysis of the sun path and wind flow diagram. The effort was to place the courtyard on the eastern and western edge of the ground floor to ensure abundant sunlight for the greeneries. The same strategy has been applied for creating green space and placing water bodies & rock gardens on the roofs. Using exposed concrete in combination with bricks has been opted for dealing with regional climate and resistance against earthquakes. The project has created an example that it is not impossible to create a space for the city in a private project if the strong will and the relentless effort are there.

Written by Sultan Md. Salauddin Siddique