Taking a cue from this element of traditional architecture, a mix of screened decks & open deck spaces front each room of each apartment to mitigate heat gain & provide transitional spaces between the indoors & the outdoors. Each apartment has 5 balcony spaces fronting the living room & the 4 bedrooms. Some of these are open and some are screened with sliding screens which are perforated with a traditional pattern. The screened decks can be opened up partially. One of the decks in each apartment is 20 feet high .
The residents have the option of using single height 10 feet high decks or 20 feet high decks which can be completely open, partially open or completely screened depending on the weather. Based upon the clients brief and the governing rules , a total area of 20,000 sqm is permissible on the plot of 3,690 sqm. The height restriction of 70 m & the mandatory open spaces on all sides 14m necessitated a building block of 36m X 30m in plan with a height of 70m. Within these restrictive parameters the apartments are designed with minimal internal circulation spaces and all rooms facing the external views facilitating natural light & ventilation throughout overlooking the hills.
Community spaces including a gym, swimming pool, community hall & games room are located at the ground level & the roof top terrace with a roof top garden. Parking areas are planned in a single basement. The entire perimeter of balconies & the roof top terraces are collectively drained to a rain water harvesting tank. In addition water is recycled & reused for gardening. These measures serve to reduce the need of external water supply. All the internal walls are made of fly ash brick. Locally sourced sandstone is used for the perimeter walls of the site and within the landscaped spaces.
The entire labor for the construction was sourced locally. All these factors render the building sustainable. Screen 504 is designed contextual to the location & climate taking cues from the traditional architecture of the region creating an apartment building that is energy efficient & offers a variety of different outdoor spaces to all its residents.