Arati III

Forming part of a larger community of apartment buildings, Arati III is the 'outer face' of the community. Carrying the role of an interactive building on the streetscape, the design goal has been to enable street side interaction with the residents. All living room balconies face the street while the quieter areas such as the bedrooms and study face inner gardens. Passers-by can chat to friends on the balconies. An open central staircase opens the building to both the inner gardens as well as the outer street. One of the key features of this project is the multiple levels at which the apartments are set, creating for each apartment an individual landing foyer without having a neighbour directly opposite. The other key features are its box balconies which allow just enough space to open the long French windows and sit out. The boxing of the balconies also gives additional protection against the harsh sun and monsoon rains, preventing either from entering the rooms.

Integrating other infrastructural features such as storm water management, waste water recycling and re-use, and a low maintenance garden, Arati 3 encourages interaction between people without compromising on privacy or noise intrusion.

Total built-up area: 1,740 sqm

Total number of apartments: 12

Architect: Shama Dalvi