Residential structures

People often say, “There is no place like home” because it’s a place where we laugh, play, relax and grow as an individual. It reflects our thoughts and desires as we mould the space according to our preferences.

Residential architecture consists of two distinct zones- the public and private realms. The public realm caters to the interests of the community and acts as a buffer area between the city and the private spaces of the individuals and maintains the privacy of the users. (How the Meaning of Home Influences Residential Architecture)

As users enter, a prominent compound wall ensures filtering of people entering the structure. This boundary may grant visual access into the structure if it faces the communal areas of the society. However, in most cases, these edges are opaque to define a clear boundary between the street and public realm of the residential complex. When the communal space is segregated from the general public, the members of the society feel a sense of community and security.

In residential architecture, distinction between private and public spaces needs to be maintained at all points. Elements such as trees, voids, doors, etc. decrease the permeability into private areas. However, if these elements are used in strategic places, they can frame views of the communal spaces while approaching the entry to the main structure, always ensuring eyes on the street, and creating an interesting journey for the user.

FIGURE 49: EDGES AND BOUNDARIES IN RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE (SOURCE- AUTHOR)

Sai A. Pradhan l L. S. Raheja School of Architecture Traversing Through Architecture

To ensure that the user at the ground level is about to see and measure the size of the building before entering, a minimum height to distance ratio of 3:1 must be maintained. It ensures enough Sky Viewing Factor (SVF) to the user which creates a perception of openness and freedom while keeping him involved with the built form around him. When the height to distance ratio is more than 4:1, the users within the building lose a connect between one another.

To safeguard and strengthen the hierarchy of spaces- city, public realm, semi-public area, and private area (residence), vegetation plays a key role. They block the view of the private spaces, thus directing the users into the public spaces. When the landscaping areas are interspersed with the built residential structures, pockets for interaction are formed where people can come together to celebrate various festivals.

Vegetation and materials work in harmony to safeguard the visual hierarchy of spaces in a housing complex. A change in materials ensures that the pedestrians and vehicles movement don’t overlap with each other while guiding them to the entry of the main building. Parking areas on the ground floor often add to the ‘tiring length perspective’. Architects can use vegetation and a range of materials to conceal the monotony of the parking spaces.

FIGURE 50: SEGREGATION OF SPACES IN A RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE (SOURCE- AUTHOR)

FIGURE 51: SPACES SEGREGATED BY OATHWATS AND VEGETATION WITHIN THE RESIDENTIAL PREMISE

Sai A. Pradhan l L. S. Raheja School of Architecture Traversing Through Architecture

When the landscape areas are interspersed with the pathways, the pedestrians within the residential complex get a visual buffer from the built form. These landscaped areas can frame multiple views of the structure or form open spaces where users can reflect on the structure. When the ratio of height to distance is more than 3:1, the user would be able to approximate the scale of the structure but when this ratio extends beyond 4:1, the user loses visual connect with the floors above their eye level.

Spaces in a residential complex have defined areas for varied user groups. Although these spaces flow into each other, their permeability keeps diminishing as one moves between these spaces. Elements such as voids, doors, etc. add layers of security to reach the private spaces. Occupants of the residential areas can interact with each other through the common passages and communal areas. Chanced interactions between the users can be increased with a suitable integration of served and servant spaces, such as staircases, passages, etc. which can also act as community areas.

In the recent times, the ground floor of residential structures is activated with the addition of shop fronts that connect with the pedestrians on the street. They are provided after leaving a set back from the footpath which acts as a spillover zone between the shops and the moving traffic of the footpath. The accesses for the shops and the residential areas is segregated to maintain privacy and security of the residents.

With advancement in technology and the knowledge of construction materials, the interaction between the user and the built form can increase by engaging the user with a vibrant and pleasing colour palette, textures, and materials. The users’ associations with the difference in materials would aid in creating a nested place out of space.

By using varying scales and heights of structures, the user can view activities at various levels. Elements such as balconies, bay windows, etc. allow interaction among the occupants and the people on the ground floor. With the introduction of lifts for vertical transportation, the use of staircases has diminished. However, if these servant spaces are integrated with the connecting passages, chanced interactions between people would increase. With the introduction of interactive walls, the occupants can get real time information about the number of people in the building, the surrounding temperature, timings of activities in the community, etc.