LAP MARINA RESIDENCE

The challenge is to demonstrate to the world that also here it is

possible to bland and take away the best from the synthesis between
invention and tradition, luxury and ecology, globalization and local
culture, enjoy life style and respect for human dignity

ll villas are divided into 3 different typologies and are treated as cubic
blocks, where the centre part is emptied to generate a three storey space
resembling enclosed shaded courtyard of traditional north African houses.
Name: LAP Marina Residence The villas are of high level quality and they span from 350 to 600 sqm in
Location: Cotonou, Benin order to meet the requirements of healthy families or diplomatic
Architects: Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia, Peia Associati headquarters.
Structural Engineering: Stefano Migliaro
Services Engineering: AI Studio, AI Engineering
Housing Area: 367,000 sqft (34,100 sqm)
Green Area: 473,000 sqft(44.000 sqm)

The main target regarding the LAP residential complex is not only to
provide a luxury compound of modern villas with all the full residential
services, allowing a sophisticated and environmental way to live in the
growing town in a peaceful, tranquil and familiar way. The main issue
that substantially stays back the idea of this plan is the reinterpretation
of the African identity, reinventing the local and the continental roots
in a contemporary elegant style.

ground floor plan first floor plan

The towns of the African deserts such as “Gath” and “Gadamesh” in

Libya, fortified oasis of Morocco or the villages in Mali, have been re-
elaborated in strong expression of a unique jagged red wall, the colour
Housing plots of African land. This contrasts with the “white” end essential
architecture of the residences, contained inside the wall-system.
In the centre of the system, two buildings
contain public functions and are designed
with an organic shape surrounding a public plots
public garden and square. These two
elements become the focal point of the
public buildings, the main entrance to the green plots
north and the public beach to the south.

main plots

roads connection The red wall, sometimes reaches 12 meters of height and other times
thickens to become an entrance tower for the villas, becoming the
relationship between public and private identity itself. It unifies from the
outside of all the buildings
“The wall is the two-dimensions transposition of a story telling
together the matericity, the colours, the craft tradition and African
landscapes, the primordiality of the earth, the antique strength of
minarets, the steamy mutability of the dunes in the desert: these are
chapters in history that the wall profile tells to passers-by.” AF

wall profile

ARCHITECTURAL STUDIO
CLASS CODE EAAQ/2015
YEAR 5-SEM 1 residential profile
MERCY MWENDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
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 CASE STUDY
TARA GROUP HOUSING Site evaluation
The concept
Tara Apartments, the concept of low-rise high density
housing reflects the vernacular form that was popular in
India in 1970‘s.
The character is achieved by stacking the dwelling units in
two decks, with upper ones stepped back to form a terrace
for each family. This configuration resulted in a central area
Inverse public (light)-private Porosity
which allows the units to shade each other against the hot
Figure (dark)
location dry climate of North India. The central community area is
landscaped with trees; running water and trellis were Ground
proposed along with trees so as to humidify and cool the dry Gradient
Location: New Delhi, India winds.
Date: 1975-1978
Site: 1.48 ha
Car Main site Main site
Program: Social housing with 160 unitsof
circulation entrances entrances
two and three-bedroom flats
Client: Tara Housing Society spatial organisation
Architect: Charles Correa the dwelling units are organised in a row whereby the central street
site is develeoped as a multifunctionsl landscape serving as a major
circulation area, community space, chldren playground and visual
green affecting the micro climate.
Description: The project is located along Guru Ravidas Marg
Street which leads to two big residential areas in the North and
theSouth. It is in the suburb of middle class.Therefore, it creates
a harmonious and balance volume with the existing fabric due
to limited height and the form of the building.More than that,
the project also plays an im- portant part in linking these other
buildingswith the adjacent park.
Evaluation: The building turns its back onthe street to
prevent noise, dust from thehigh flow vehicles. Being staked
as a row,central garden, big overhangs and sharpedges, all
give these buildings a sense of In-dian characteristic under hot
sun, full of lightwithout suffering from high temperature.
private space
Description: The duplex units are accessed either at ground the extension of the living area into the green spaces in the ground
floor or second floor levels by outdoor stair cases. There are floor and the partially shaded 10sqm terraces open into visual
two kinds of flat: the two- bedroom flats with 84 square greens and are not connected into active greens hence the privacy
metres (3 metreswide, 6 metres high with two floors and 15 is retained.
metreslong, the three-bedroom flats with 130 square me-tres public space
and have the shape of L, there are just only 16three-bedroom
flats were built. Each unit is pro-vided an open terrace which is the open staircases and their landing are interactive zones.the central
protected by a per-gola and big overhangs. Two sides of the spine is an active enclosed space and provides winter sun to the
projectare connected by staircases individual terraces and central spine.
overall masterplanning
orientation and micro climate
The site has five major zones; the built dwelling units aligned North-South, the n-s orientation of the narrow built-up provides thermal comfort to the users in the
peripheral parking area along North-West and North boundary walls, enclosed central community space and also provides winter sun to the individual terracesa dn spine.
community space, children's play area on the South, and passive recreation area majority of the private open spaces on the SE get optmum sun in the morningand
on South-East. afternoon during winters.
The services, water tank and power house are concealed in the 3m level the majoriy of te surface and har surface which absorbs and reflects the solar radiation
difference of site contours and are visually enhanced as a feature by landscaping. and reflects the solar radiation and radiates heat later.
The parking area on the NW is on the lower level following site contours and is the interlocking of the two longitudinal staggered decks provide mutual shading and
visually separated from the Dwelling Units. provides thermal comfort to the in the central spine.
This organisation is functional; due to lack of active usage along the South East
and South periphery the areas leave an impression of left out spaces. The central
space overlooked by the dwelling units make the space more usable.The
deliberate isolation of the car parking reduces the luxury and supervision.

Building material and finishes

01-CONNECTING BRIDGE 02-SCOOTER PARKING 03-GUARDS ROOM The unusually refined exposed brick and concrete construction reflects the architect's prevailing
04-ROAD 05-LAWN 06-SEATS 07-PLANTER 08-AMPHITHEATRE commitment to the modernist idiom. The concrete pergola accentuates the jagged break down
09-CHILDRENS PLAY AREA 10-ENTRANCE of the building surfaces rather than forming an effective continuous parasol.
Open Space System
The open spaces are derived from the configuration of horizontal and vertical base planes and
the character is defined by sense of enclosure and texture.
There is hierarchy of open spaces due to the alteration in the planes in response to the climatic
conditions and to achieve the desired visual character.

1-ENTRY 10-SWIMMING POOL Conclusions

2-GUARD ROOM 11-CHANGE ROOM Based on a comparative study of present
3-SCOOTER PARKING 12-COVERED SEATING housing designs and Tara Apartment, it can
4-HOUSING BLOCKS 13-SERVICE ENTRY be concluded despite changed scenarios,
5-SEATS 14-SERVICE ENTRY lessons from tara need to be
6-AMPHI THETRE 15-STRUCTURE ON STILTS continued.these include;public
7-LAWN 16-CAR PARKING interaction,security,physical
8-PLANTERS 17-PERGOLA ON PARKING comfort,community space and view.
9-CHILDREN PLAY AREAAREA Elements providing social interaction need
to be incorporated cocerning site and
context such as economy of services, floor
ARCHITECTURAL STUDIO space index, service ares and parking
CLASS CODE EAAQ/2015 requirements.
YEAR 5-SEM 1
MERCY MWENDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
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 Les Habitations Saint-Michel Nord

The shared street includes pedestrian and vehicle zones with sustainability
permeable pavement, while the landscaping plan features Another design goal for the project was
rainwater retention and bio-retention basins optimal energy efficiency, both for
building envelopes and mechanical
systems.

waste management
The site is equipped with an innovative
waste and recycling management
system using large, partly in-ground
containers. Numerous trees on the site
were protected.

Safety and community

The shared street is very important to
the project because it allows for open
pedestrian paths with no dead ends,
improving residents’ sense of security
Architects: Saia Barbarese Toupouzanov Architectes
Area: 22800 m²
Year: 2020
Photographs: James Brittain
Manufacturers: AutoDesk, Demilec, Soprema, Glen-Gery
Brick, Qualum, Versa-Lam
Contractor: Construction Cybco inc.
Landscape architects: Vlan Paysages
The architectural firm of Saia Barbarese Topouzanov started revitalizing Les
Habitations Saint-Michel Nord, a 185-unit social housing complex in Montreal’s
Saint-Michel neighbourhood. Designed by Montreal architect Philip Bobrow in the
early 1970s, when brutalism was in vogue, the complex now features plenty of light
and colour. It has become a joyful part of the landscape, a dignified and respectful
environment for all residents.
The proposal entailed a remodelling of the entire complex, including the creation of
a street in the centre of the block and the addition of a third floor to the existing
two-story buildings. The project brief included the re-use of the buildings’ wood
framework and a requirement to maintain the same number of units as before. master plan
Openings and light
The architects made three strategic choices: .
More colour,
Adding balconies and spiral staircases to give
all residents direct access to their apartments
Creation of openings on the buildings’
previously windowless sides

Interior layouts were modified, particularly in

the buildings that were given an added floor.
A second improvement was to equip the
apartments with overhanging rather than
recessed balconies, creating added living space
that is much appreciated in hot weather,
particularly by people of modest means.
before renovation after renovation

Architectural challenge.
In keeping with the stated objectives, the architects’ first task was to
develop a strategy that would open up the block, keep the same number of
units,rectify building-envelope and safety issues and, lastly, create a more
community-oriented living environment.
facilities
The addition of a shared central street in the heart of the site, necessitated
the demolition of six of the complex’s original small buildings. Three community spaces were redesigned from the
ground up and relocated to larger, better-lit spaces.
The redesigned Habitations Saint-Michel Nord
complex now has a more accessible community
hub, with all organizations having street frontage

There is a community restaurant, a daycare, a

play space (Petite Maison) for children ages 6-
12, a youth centre (Maison des jeunes) for ages
before demolition after demolition 12-17 and a multipurpose room.
The designers were able to maintain the same number of units as
before by adding a third floor to eight of the complex’s two-
story buildings Identity and materiality
public space The architects drew inspiration from the work
The demolition became an opportunity to infuse the development with of a great Venezuelan artist, Carlos Cruz-Diez
a sense of place by adding small public squares – piazzettas – along the (1923-2019)
shared street
The use of two similar colours to create a
third made it possible to produce seven
distinct colours using four base tones, from
very pale yellow to a rich brick-red.
public squares along the street

cluster neighbourhood

ARCHITECTURAL STUDIO
CLASS CODE EAAQ/2015
YEAR 5-SEM 1
MERCY MWENDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
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 DESIGN BRIEF AND CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
Problem statement
Masterplan frame work 2. creating mixed use neighbour
Kenya is a populous and growing country with close to 50 million
vision and objectives hood to foster visual and
people,. As the economy continues to expand, more Kenyans are
Concept physical interaction
leaving rural regions for more urban areas in search of higher paying
Design strategies
careers.
-Open space
Recognizing this need, the Government of Kenya (GOK) identified
-Network 3. creating comfortable connections
Affordable Housing as one of four top priorities and has a goal of to different places within the
-Built form scheme.
adding an additional 500,000 homes over the next five years.
kaloleni being one of the least dense areas of Nairobi provides just the concepts
right opportunity to create an affordable housing scheme 4. a walkable network pathways
1.well connected and safe and green pockets to create
mobility for all a sense ofcommunity.
Design recommendation/ Improvements
1. Adequate proper business spaces - for small businesses and proper
working spaces for the jua kali.
2. Housing units of different sizes affordable to different groups of
lower income earners.This can be achieved through maximizing on
densities using modular designs/prefab building and community
involvement like jua kali steel fabricators, community leaders to
understand theMcomunity needs and plan appropriately e.t.c
3. Open public spaces and courtyards - Design and educate of locals on
the importance of open public spaces and courtyards to prevent future
encroachment and pollution. Design strategies
4. Improve on water distribution and sanitation in the area. open space network
The foundational
organizing feature of the
spaces to accomodate master
plan will be a network of
Residential studio, 1 bedroom, open spaces and cultural
2 bedroom and 3 bedroom amenities that make up
apartments 65%
the public area of the
project
public school
amenities health centre
sports facilities 7%
community centre Mobility and transport for
inner development
commercial shops A fine grain network of roads
jua kali indstry 3% will be created for easy
restaurants mobility.
Inorder to prioritise public
circulation road network realm experience a shared
pedestrian pathways 10% street along the green corridor
will be created for
open spaces green 'corridor' 14% pedestrians.
private courtyards
creating a hierachy
zoning of public spaces with
pedestrian spines
bubble diagram

jua kali
commercial centre
low density

open space

medium density

high density

institutions

commercial centre
high density
commercial centre low density
medium density commercial centre
open space key
school
high density
low density
medium density jua kali
school
open space MERCY MWENDE
jua kali
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 HOUSING TYPOLOGIES

3 BEDROOM
0. Ground Floor (4) 1:50

2 BEDROOM
0. Ground Floor (4) 1:50

STUDIO
1 BEDROOM

0. Ground Floor (4) 1:50

0. Ground Floor (4) 1:50

MERCY MWENDE

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