Tropical Townhouse at Nawala

The project was to design two side by side town houses for two siblings on their sub divided parental land. The subject of this discourse is one of the two town houses.   The design explored an innovative approach to counter the typical narrow town house typology with dark interiors resulting from the short frontage, long depth and common blind boundaries on either side.   The parking roller door opens to reveal the complete depth of site in an unobstructed linear shaft of space up to the rear boundary. One encounters a courtyard with lush greenery, flooded with dappled day light before the house unfolds; the car park floor extends through the entry fore court to the living to ease up the flow of linear space. The sliding glass panels of the living and dining space allow for greater permeability through space and better engagement with the outdoors. The dining volume is taller connecting the pool deck and staircase with upper floor.   Rooms needing privacy are stacked against the south boundary in alignment with the spaces they serve to function. This allows for the rest of the space to be unhindered by dividing walls. Although the upper floor contained spaces needing increased privacy with three of the four bedrooms and bathrooms the design enabled a permeable flow between the front and the back at upper using common space.   This simple spatial formation allows for an active remake of user engagement with the outdoors and among the family.