Over the decades, Mumbai’s urban landscape has transformed drastically to accommodate the growing needs of its residents. Once home to low-rise structures and palatial bungalows, the residential districts now find themselves dotted with concrete towers. Rapid urban densification has transformed these neighbourhoods, creating an invisible tension between the buildings, the people, and the ecosystem. Often designed to satisfy the FAR requirements and reap generous profits, these towering edifices have caused a deterioration of people’s well-being and quality of life. The poor quality of light and ventilation on the uppermost levels is coupled with an equally abysmal response to the streetscape. The ground level—reserved for multi-level parking—is usually encapsulated within opaque frontages, eliminating dialogue with its surroundings. However, the J-House resolves to change this woeful trend by reimagining how high-rise buildings function.
Located in the affluent suburbs of Khar, J-House is an anomaly among the buildings sprawling across Mumbai’s urban landscape. Designed by the local firm Malik Architecture, it offers a novel blueprint for apartment blocks in coastal regions.
A trailblazer in its own right, it redefines the typology by creating a sustainable and interactive structure that blurs the boundaries between the built and unbuilt. An elegant blend of traditional and contemporary design, it responds fittingly to Mumbai’s temperamental climate.
One of the major design criteria was to re-establish a strong, effectual dialogue with the street and eliminate the presence of an overbearing mass at the street eye level. Consequently, the structure is set back from the edge of the road and is cantilevered on reinforced concrete stilts. The ground level is cleared by pushing the parking to the basement level and wrapped with a lush garden filled with water features, trees, and native plants. This ensures a cooling microclimate that effectively combats the urban heat island effect. It also blurs the boundaries between the built and unbuilt, thus establishing the primary point of mediation between the people, nature, and the streetscape.
Designed for a multigenerational family, the J-House consists of multiple residential units stacked above one another with various access points. The core binds the units by creating a common access point, working against the differentiative stratification of high-rise structures. This is imperative to sustain the public-private interactions between the joint family. This ensures a smooth transition between the different levels while maintaining privacy between its residents.
Reinterpreting vernacular elements within a contemporary setting facilitates climate-responsive, sustainable spaces that enrich the living experience. The house embodies the idea of “sustainable living” through the incorporation of the following elements/concepts:
- Courtyards
- Verandas
- Jali screens/mashrabiya
Each residential unit, or “bungalow,” is planned around a north-facing courtyard, serving as the heart of the home. The openness of the design dissolves the distinct boundaries between the interiors and exteriors. During the hot and humid months, it functions as a thermal stack, drawing the cool air upwards and creating an airy ambience while allowing the cool diffused sunlight to permeate the interiors. The courtyards, punctuated facades, and skylights create a riveting network of voids, producing a dynamic interplay of light and shadow within the spaces. The courts extend towards the private spaces—relegated to the east-west sides—softening the interface between the private and public realms of the house.
Veranda—another integral design feature—facilitates the seamless transition between the interiors and exteriors. The proportions for each apartment are adjusted in relation to the layout, providing a unique profile for each bungalow. The western end of the J-House is placed close to the sea, exposing it to harsh sunlight and the monsoon rains. The deep, shaded verandas installed provide a buffer between the building and the natural elements. The western façade is enclosed with operable, weather-resistant, perforated aluminium screens. These are reminiscent of traditional Jali screens or Mashrabiya found in vernacular architecture. This creates flexible semi-covered spaces that offer a panoramic view of their surroundings. They also provide privacy while filtering the airflow and the harsh Western light. This ensures that the verandas are usable year-round, eliminating the necessity for artificial lighting & air-conditioning.
The aluminium panels used inside the bungalow filter light into the cavernous spaces. They function as bannisters for the stairs, and the operable screens act as partitions to expand or divide the space accordingly. The coppery-hued screens set a striking contrast against the exposed concrete walls and the warm, locally sourced teaks, oaks, and limestone used in the interiors.
The confluence of traditional and contemporary elements transforms the J-House into an impeccable design that exemplifies harmonious urban living, rooted in sustainability and eco-consciousness. Unlike its peers, it prioritises the well-being of its residents by presenting an environmentally sensitive and resilient design that is bright, airy, and comfortable. It redefines the typology by fostering connections between the surroundings and itself. The J-House pays homage to the timeless principle of architecture and local traditions while defining itself as a model of healthy living. As Kamal Malik, the founder and director of Malik Architectures, quotes, “It is a contemporary interpretation of indigenous wisdom.”
References List:
- ArchDaily. (2024). J-House / Malik Architecture. [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/1022063/j-house-malik-architecture [Accessed 6 Feb. 2025].
- Bradford, A. (2025). This Mumbai skyscraper by Malik Architecture lends a human touch to apartment living. Architectural Digest India. [online] doi: https://doi.org/10T142818.338.
- Theplan.it. (2025). Malik Architecture – J-House, designing human-scale streetscapes amidst urban densification | The Plan. [online] Available at: https://www.theplan.it/eng/award-2024-Housing/j-house-designing-human-scale-streetscapes-amidst-urban-densification-malik-architecture [Accessed 6 Feb. 2025].
