Siprabhaya Housing

Setting Itself Apart in the Neighbourhood Fabric Through Its Unique Character 

For the facade, the idea was to borrow from Newari architecture by using locally sourced terracotta brick on the facade of the building. A horizontal brick band sandwiched between a metal border along the tower profile characterises the facade.

The built-form moulds into soft-curved edges to reduce the visual overwhelm of the structure. Varying parapets line the balconies depending on the functionality of the interiors. This constitutes an interesting visual composition. Curved glass and varying enclosures and openings add transparency, opacity, and height to the design. Composed of curved angles and varying parapets, these balconies, smooth glass, and textured metal provide variability to the facade. The elaborate curvilinear balcony flanks the family living area. The design reduces stark visual connections through the lower levels, closer to the densely congested neighbourhood.

A statement reception table, inspired by the Newari windows, sets the tone of the reception lobby. Subtle lighting emphasises the intricate wood detailing in the reception backdrop. the multipurpose activity hall, with its Dhaka fabric panelling, displays the essence of Nepal and thus provides a cultural identity. By incorporating such modernised elements, it calls back cultural identities while presenting a future-ready design.

In Search of the Common Ground Between Shared and Private Spaces 

Optimising the site’s permissible footprint of over half an acre, the resulting floor plates emerge as an almost square, articulated tower rising ten floors above ground. The ground-level porte-cochère features a striking metal and glass entrance canopy, encompassing the reception, interactive pockets, and the community multipurpose hall. With its floor-to-ceiling windows, the ground floor blurs the boundary between indoors and outdoors, tactfully connecting the drop-off zone to the grand reception. From there, it unfolds into the service cluster, forming the core. A landscaped periphery lines the ground floor as it spills into interstitial spaces. 

Sunken Light as a Means to Imbue Character  

Leveraging the towering height for a lowered dependence on artificial lighting 

The sunken central courtyard, stacked over the amenities block on the ground, becomes an anchoring light shaft. A decorative trellis showcasing the contemporised Nepalese motifs crawls up the entire cross-section. The four-bedroom units occupy the extreme corner of the site, claiming the southeastern facade. The design leverages the absence of harsh, direct sunlight to open up the facades for longitudinal balconies that flank the living and dining spaces and two of the four bedrooms. The three-bedroom units are stacked on the northeastern facade at the opposite corner. The enveloping balconies on all three facades ensure abundant natural light and ventilation while maintaining the privacy of the lower floors.

The courtyard, acting as the light well, runs through the section, using natural light to prevent the facing balconies from becoming a site of disused fringes. It becomes an animated space as residents occupy it throughout the day. The terrace, featuring a pool, optimises the open space by integrating landscaping elements and offering unobstructed 360° views, fully embracing the seasonal natural light. The infinity lap pool on the terrace level and the landscaped garden present serene islands in the middle of the city for the residents. 

Designing for a Developed Kathmandu 

Balancing futuristic aspirations with its vernacular identity 

For Siprabhaya Housing, the advantageous location amidst the densely populated city fabric ensures convenience. Moreover, owing to its 40+ meters height, the tower is not required to contest for natural light on any of its facades. Clad in exposed brick, the building takes cues from the context and appropriates it to a future-focused design. The skin of the building boasts pronounced brickwork and interesting articulations formed by the parapets and walls of varying heights. Glass and metal trellises add curious accents to the brick-clad facade, preventing it from turning into a monotonous mass. The overall design integrates green patches throughout the tower, featuring wide balconies that serve as independent green islands and a lush green courtyard. This thoughtful greening harmonises seamlessly with the valley’s natural topography.

The tower is rendered timeless, accounting for the expansion and development of the neighbourhood fabric. Siprabhaya Housing’s value-driven response is a hyper-local design that is not based on fleeting, generalised trends. Instead, it explores the latent reserves of the traditional nuances of the city and serves as an aspirational, up-to-date design for its residents.