Within Birla Arika, the development is designed to encourage exploration and celebrate activity. In Gurugram’s Sector 31, 30 kilometers southwest of New Delhi, where high-rise towers border a forest preserve, the new residential community spans 13 acres, prioritizing flexible greens and pedestrian corridors, bringing accessible greenery into a densely situated urban setting.
The community, developed by Birla Estates over two phases, with phase one spanning four towers and over 300 residents, is anchored by “The Walk,” a 200-meter promenade through the heart of the development. The landscape links residents to four clubhouses that anchor the site, blooming with specialized amenities such as a resort-style pool, sports courts, an event lawn, and a children’s playground. The clubhouses create distinct environments that encourage residents to explore the variety of entertainment options available to them within Birla Arika.
SWA’s scheme draws on regional species, including neem, banyan, and golden bamboo, to establish distinct zones for recreation and quiet reflection. Elevated pathways connect residential towers to communal areas, while native habitat pockets create continuity among green spaces, restoring ecological function while offering shaded retreats from the surrounding density.
Gotham West
Gotham West is a residential development west of Times Square that nearly encompasses a full city block. The space between two mid-rise buildings and a market-rate tower forms a signature courtyard accessed from the tower’s lobby. A sculptural Japanese maple, floating within a reflecting pool, serves as a focal feature. Other courtyard elements include illumin...
Revisiting SunCity Kashiwa
Elderly residents at SunCity Kashiwa are no longer at a loss for dinner conversation: an underutilized terrace outside their extensive ground-level common spaces now features a dramatic pond and mountain-inspired rock formation with multiple cascading waterfalls. Everyone wants a window seat. The striking water feature crowns a new four-season view garden desi...
Stanford Branner Hall
Branner Hall is a three-story undergraduate dormitory built in 1924 by Bakewell and Brown, prominent architects of the time who were also responsible for San Francisco’s City Hall. The renovation design creates two significant courtyards: an entrance courtyard flanked with four-decades-old magnolia trees shading a seating area and an interior courtyard with a ...
Crest Apartments
Situated within the suburban context of the Los Angeles Valley, Crest Apartments provides 64 residences for the homeless, including 23 reserved for disabled veterans. The building’s striking geometry is complemented by a flexible, multi-layered, and multi-textured landscape that support social, experiential, and environmental programs. The ground cover plant s...