Studio Symbiosis

By Author: Britta Knobel Gupta
Total Articles: 6
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"Design Brief: Villa KD 45 – Urban Living in the Lap of Nature

Villa KD 45 in Ghaziabad was conceived as a contemporary home that blends modern urban living with the tranquility of nature. The client’s brief centred on creating a villa that maximised green space and framed uninterrupted views of the neighbouring park. Designed for a joint family, the residence needed clearly defined private zones for each generation, while also providing common areas that would bring everyone together.

The spatial requirements were carefully structured: the client’s brother, his wife, and the grandparents would reside on the ground floor, while the client, his wife, and son would occupy the first floor. A home theatre, bar, and gym were positioned in the basement, connected to the outdoors through a wide staircase and patio that bring natural light deep into the lower level.

The site itself presented both opportunities and constraints. Surrounded by villas on three sides, its only open view was along the shorter edge facing the park. Three existing trees—one at the entrance and two at the rear—were important to ...
... the client, who wished to retain them within the design. These natural elements became central to the project, informing visual corridors, shading strategies, and the placement of outdoor spaces.

Design Solution: Architecture Emerging From Landscape

The design takes inspiration from the growing urban need to reconnect with nature. The villa appears to rise organically from the landscape, establishing a visual and functional dialogue with the surrounding greenery. The site’s irregular shape and southern park views became the main design drivers. Green streamlines metaphorically flow from the park into the property, guiding the arrangement of built form, water bodies, hardscape, and softscape.

Positioning the villa along one edge of the plot allowed a generous west-facing landscaped garden that opens visually into the double-height living and dining area. This outdoor space acts as an extension of the family living zone—an open-air room shaded by existing trees. A stepped, meandering walkway extends from the ground level to the terrace, creating a continuous green spine. Along this path, shaded outdoor seating on the first floor and a lush terrace garden offer distinct micro-environments usable throughout different seasons.

The design creates a dynamic contrast on the façade: a transparent, lightweight ground floor with glass opening into nature, and a heavier concrete upper volume with carved window openings to minimise heat gain in direct sunlight. Internally, a double-height living, dining, and open kitchen zone links both floors, strengthening family interaction while respecting privacy.

Sustainability and Climate Responsiveness

Delhi-NCR’s climatic conditions shaped the villa’s passive design strategies. Shallow water features on the ground floor enhance evaporative cooling along wind corridors. Deep cantilevers protect interiors from harsh south-west sun, while recessed windows on the upper floor reduce heat gain. The retention of existing trees provides natural shading and adds to the microclimate. Green roofs and elevated landscape areas further mitigate heat and soften the built form.

Cross-ventilation principles, shaded outdoor zones, and integration of nature at multiple levels contribute to a resilient and comfortable living environment year-round."