Sky Courts The Showstopper!

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By Savitha Hira

Photography: Sanjay Puri Architects

Ar. Sanjay Puri does India
proud as the only Indian architectural firm to win ‘across categories’ at the
MIPIM 2014 Awards…

The
name says it all – ‘Sky Courts’. Assimilating native architectural
sensibilities into the contemporary fabric, Ar. Sanjay Puri has designed this
high-rise residential building in the heart of Mumbai, without compromising on
natural light and city views; creating instead an introverted design typology
that exhibits an organic character, in absolute contrast to other vertical
buildings in the vicinity and to generic skyscraper perception.

Sky Courts, Mumbai by Architect Sanjay Puri

Proposed
on a site bustling with mushrooming high-rises in a district ruled by mills-redeveloped
buildings for residential and commercial use; also with a large fly-over in close
proximity, the building footprint challengingly follows a layout that
incorporates the traditional Indian courtyard principle and has greenery in
every apartment. Solar power, water recycling, etc., are catered to for energy
efficiency – the biggest plus point being cross ventilation.

Housing
only a single apartment on each floor, the 22-storey building, which may appear
dwarfed amidst its much taller brethren – 60-80 plus storey towers
in-the-making, is marked for the luxury segment with 3 bedrooms, living,
dining, utilities and servant’s quarters. Besides, each room is proposed to
open into a pocket terrace garden.

Mumbai
skyline views have been maintained by raising the residential quarters to level
4, with the lower 3 levels earmarked for parking. The exterior of the building is no fancy
organic form, but the monolith retains Sanjay’s sculptural musings via its systematically
punctured façade.

Inside, enclosed and semi
enclosed volumes shift on each floor creating a different layout on each level,
in absolute contrast with the generic repetitive character of vertical
buildings per se; each apartment designed to retain its sense of privacy amidst
its imposing surroundings.

Considering
the volatility of the estate market, this is a bold move by both, the developer
and the architect. It is also a refreshing approach – much-needed – in the current
scenario of mindless vertical growth, where natural light and ventilation are ignominious
concepts and space planning leaves one with little imagination.

MIPIM,
the world’s largest real estate convention, in its 12^th awards
program of celebrating future architectural projects in 12 different categories
including master planning, big urban projects, retail and leisure, offices,
residential, mixed use, tall buildings, sports and stadiums, old and new
,retrofit and sustainability, had participation from several of the largest and
well known architectural firms from across the world.

Sanjay
Puri Architects have been previous winners at MIPIM in 2009, 2010, 2011 &
2013 having won a total of 8 commendations and one category win earlier. This
year, however, the firm has etched its name in MIPIM with the overall win
across categories making them the only Indian architectural firm to achieve
this distinction.

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