Excellenseaa 126 by Sanjay Puri Architects: A Micro Sustainable Environment

A perfect blend of luxury and sustainability 

Creating spaces that engage people holistically and foster social interaction, evolving spatial relationship that are contextually responsive, forms the essence of our design philosophy.

-Sanjay Puri

Sanjay Puri Architects are one of the most influential architecture practices of India. It has gained recognition for incorporating climate responsive designs and traditional Indian architectural elements splendidly into its projects. The firm constantly attempts to design each project as a unique response to its context and brief by creating spaces to be perceived in new ways.

Site Planning 

Excellenseaa 126 is a housing project designed by Sanjay Puri Architects in the city of Surat. It is a conscious effort to create a comfortable micro-climate and lower the carbon footprint to make the project self-sufficient and sustainable. The project consists of a total of 126 apartments spread across six buildings. The design solution is an excellent response to the site condition. The climate of Surat city is tropical, with hot summers and moderate winters. For such an extreme climatic condition with a temperature exceeding 35°C for almost eight months of the year, the design follows a specific brief and set of parameters. The project stands on a 29,600 sqm site, with buildings laid out along the perimeter. Doing so creates an opportunity of having a central community space. With consideration for the height restriction of 40 m, each building is 11 stories high.

Another goal achieved by site planning is the restriction of the vehicular movement to the peripheral road in the site. The parking is designed in the basement to utilize maximum ground for communal spaces and public activities. Which results in 80% of the plot area is a vehicle-free space. The ground floor also has a temple, children’s play area, life-size games, amphitheater, outdoor court, and separate jogging and bicycle track along with the large central garden.

Individual Design

The apartments are in three different sizes of 750, 850, and 950 sqm. Each apartment comprises a large living area, five bedrooms, a study room, gym, home theatre, office room, and cantilever balcony space. The entrance lobby of each building has an 11 m height, delicately designed to create a magnificent experience at first glance. The typical floor plan consists of 2 apartments on each floor, which allows the houses to be open on all sides for cross ventilation and sufficient natural light throughout the day. The 11th floor accommodates penthouses. 

Another remarkable feature in the design of the apartments is the large cantilevered deck provided in each house. The deck measuring almost 84 sqm connects the inside and the outside effortlessly. The deep cantilever prevents the passage of direct sunlight from higher angles to reduce the heat gain. Spanning across the width of the apartment, connecting with two bedrooms and central living space, the deck provides a luxurious outdoor space. The variations in the angles of the subsequent floor plates create different

Community Spaces

The central space is a focal garden of 13,000 sqm. The area has two levels; the upper level is a landscaped garden, while the lower is a recreational hub. The Design for a large landscaped area has angular planes. The central area accommodates different design elements such as a mini-golf course, acupressure garden, senior citizen garden, skating rink, pavilion, and water bodies. The angular planes then reveal a subterranean recreational space after walking down a series of steps. The steps in themselves are designed as an experience, having different angles and waterbodies.

The lower area of recreational and entertainment facilities has a creative design for minimum heat gain while simultaneously being open to natural light and ventilation. The landscaped area above acts as a green roof to prevent heating of the ceiling. As the club takes place at a lower level, it prevents the entry of direct sun to reduce the heating while still getting reflected natural light into the spaces. The floor houses activity spaces such as 3D theatre, discotheque, gymnasium, swimming pool, banquet hall, café, indoor sports, library, and salon.

Sustainability

The shared amenities and community spaces are designed considering the people belonging to all age groups. The activities provided on the ground level have various opportunities for interaction through semi-built and open spaces. The extensive landscape has many trees and plant species with small water bodies throughout the site. These elements add aesthetic value to the site while also providing the climatic benefit of passive cooling to generate a comfortable micro-climate for the residents.

The design also accommodates various features to make it sustainable and self-sufficient. The project is an active effort to create the least wastage of water through designing the system for water recycling, rainwater harvesting, and sewage treatment. Solar panels are also accommodated in the design to contribute towards energy efficiency and reduction of the carbon footprint of the project. 

Excellenseaa 126 by Sanjay Puri Architects has set a new benchmark in the residential architecture in the region. The project seamlessly blends with the urban fabric of the city but also creates a distinct design language and micro-climate inside the site. Despite a very subtle appearance, the project conveys the signature style of the firm. Angular forms and layering of geometries are very peculiar to the designs of Sanjay Puri Architects. The project also successfully highlights the ideology of the firm. It fosters social interaction and creates beautiful spatial compositions while staying highly relevant and efficient towards the local climate of the site.

Online Sources:

• World-Architects (2020). Excellenseaa 126. [online] 

Available at: https://www.world-architects.com/en/projects/view/excellenseaa-126 [Accessed date: 21 October 2021].

• India Art n Design (2020). A Sustainable micro-environment is the hallmark of this Surat Building by Sanjay Puri Architects. [online] (Last updated: 02/07/2020)

Available at: https://www.indiaartndesign.com/a-sustainable-microenvironment-is-the-hallmark-of-this-surat-building-by-sanjay-puri-architects/

[Accessed date: 21 October 2021]