MARIAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING – THESIS 2019
THESIS SYNOPSIS
Student Name: Sibin Sabu Year: 2019
TOPIC: Vertical Living: Home of the future
Towards better vertical communities; achieving residential satisfaction in high‐rise buildings
Source: https://marckoehler.com/project/sunny‐side‐creates‐a‐vertical‐garden‐city‐for‐a‐thriving‐urban‐community‐in‐sloterdijk/
OVERVIEW:
Mankind’s first venture into vertical living could be said to date back to the days of ancient man, with
cave‐dwellings becoming the first improvised high‐rises of an ancient society. These days, vertical
living remains the norm, especially in densely‐packed cities, providing residents with the maximum
number of living spaces over the smallest possible footprint. Tall buildings are perfect for this owing
to their increased density. If anchored by the right infrastructure, vertical structures can create real
communities or add to existing ones in a truly meaningful way.
Apartment buildings have technical and economic advantages in areas of high population density, and
have become a distinctive feature of housing accommodation in virtually all densely populated urban
areas around the world. In contrast with low‐rise and single‐family houses, apartment blocks
accommodate more inhabitants per unit of area of land and decrease the cost of municipal
infrastructure.
The project seeks the possibilities of transformation of residential towers into "vertical communities"
providing aesthetic, unusually designed silhouettes on the skyline, comfortable private spaces and
attractive public spaces. The aim is to achieve residential satisfaction in high‐rise buildings in terms of
efficiency, flexibility, and diversity through communication, public service, knowledge exchange,
networks, and management. Residents feel a strong a sense of ownership here, with the freedom to
customise their dream homes, and as a collective, they co‐design and work, meet and play at the lively
floor spaces and gardens.
MARIAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING – THESIS 2019
Tall buildings having smaller footprints consume less land area, leaving more room for green and
communal spaces. Having good views is one of the positive attributes of social spaces in high rise
buildings. This is itself is substantial enough of a reason to bring people into outdoor social
environments. High‐rises usually have controlled, single entrances that act to reduce crime and the
fear of crime. This encourages people to use common facilities with other resident families. The social
spaces cater to a variety of populations and functions achieving dynamism to the place. Additionally,
many occupants would save on energy and time by living and working in the same building, paving the
way for a sustainable future.
SITE DETAILS:
Location: Marine Drive, Kochi
Distance to:
Edapally‐ 8.6 km
Kaloor‐ 6.6 km
Kakkanad‐ 11.4 km
Fort Kochi‐ 17.3 km
Vyttila‐ 11.2 km
Vypin‐ 16.4 km
MARIAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING – THESIS 2019
Site plan:
Site area: Urban area; Total site area= 16.7 acre
Client details: SOBHA Ltd
RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY/ PROJECT:
The total urban population living in cities and towns in India has increased consistently due to the
stable and balanced pattern of urbanization throughout the last century. It has been estimated that
by 2030, 41.4 percent of India’s population will be living in urban areas, which would mean an
additional population of 300 million people will be added to India’s cities. The cities are organic and
growing and we need to design for it. The development is restricted to high rise towers due to the
shortage of available land and increased land revenue. How we navigate this housing crisis will define
the city`s identity and future. To tackle this challenge, we need to embrace vertical living.
Considering the Kerala perspective, its unique settlement pattern of individual houses in independent
plots enabled a sense of privacy to the families along with active neighbourhood socialisation.
Urbanisation and migration to high rise apartments are leading to loss of values which were seen in
past times in Kerala. The challenge is to provide equal environments for social interactions in tall
residential buildings thereby keeping up Kerala`s culture and values.
The future high‐rise community will represent a version of “vertical city” which could completely be
gated (only for occupants) or it could be made semi‐public with restricted entry to certain common
areas. It will be a vertical community space that could satisfy the immediate needs of people living
there. The vertical building must be designed in relation to social demand. It will have facilities like
offices, shopping areas, play courts, clubhouses, concert halls, immediate medical care unit, schooling
facilities, and immediate service facilities that support human life. Facilities may not be in its large
scale, but will be able to meet the immediate needs of people there. Such designs results in more
interaction between the residents and could reduce the effective cost of all services.
The de‐densifying will be done by creating more public spaces within the vertical volume of building
with scoops and cut‐outs. All these facilities will be made accessible to all sections of the society
without differences. The living units differ according to people’s affordability. A more intimate
connection is going to be developed between building and its users. Each unit will have their individual
garden spaces, viewpoints and common platforms (interaction spaces, social spaces) for such multiple
living units within the vertical volume.
MARIAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING – THESIS 2019
The main aim of future high rise will be to bring back “living” aspect that one experience in the ground
level to vertical levels by means of good design and ensuring safety to the living environment. The
building and its campus will be developed in a sustainable way by incorporating green concepts. The
building will be turned to powerhouses and generated power could be used to satisfy human needs
and comfort.
It also creates nice, different dwellings where people are a part of the neighbourhood and have places
to visit. This spaces in the sky will give a quality of life and vitality that will make high‐density urban
living desirable with attractive places to live and socialize in.
EXPECTED ARCHITECTURAL OUTPUT:
Built and unbuilt area (For 750 families)
Built Area: 30,000 sq.m
Unbuilt Area: 35,000 sq.m
Functions / programmes – tentative area.
Outdoor Public Space:
Parking: 2‐Wheeler, 4‐Wheeler
Administrative Office‐ 15 sq.m
External Semi‐public Space:
Open Plaza
Gardens
Ramps
Play Areas
Walkways
Swimming pool‐ 125 sq.m
Game Courts
Internal Semi‐public Space:
Corridors
Club House/ Recreation Zones
Health Centre
Library
Café‐ 160 sq.m
Gymnasium‐ 200 sq.m
Inner Private Space
Dormitory‐ 150 sq.m
2 Bedroom Unit‐ 200 to 250 sq.m
3 Bedroom Unit‐ 300 to 400 sq.m
4 Bedroom Unit
Service Spaces
Electrical Substation
Water Treatment Plant
MARIAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING – THESIS 2019
METHODOLOGY:
Project Brief
Literature Review Case Study Site Study
Data Standards Literature Live Case Site
Collection Case Study Study Analysis
Analysis, Inference
Site
Concept
Zoning
Design
LIMITATIONS:
CRZ Zone
CASE STUDIES: 1. Amanora Future Towers, Pune
2. SNN Raj Serenity, Bangalore
LITERATURE STUDY: 1. Barbican Estate, London
2. Kanchanjunga Apartments, Mumbai
KEYWORDS: vertical living, high‐rise, future home, sustainable, community development, energy
efficient, climate responsive, housing
