Residential spaces inspired by Green Architecture. Photograph by Ed Gohlich. Image via Better Homes & Gardens.
One of the most direct responses to the climate crisis in the world has been the advent of Green Architecture in the architectural industry. A modern sustainable solution, that has also created a newfound aesthetic for the architects of today, Green Architecture advocates for the building environment by using sustainable sources of energy as an effort to reduce the overall carbon footprint. The advent of residential buildings that have been merged with nature has picked up considerable pace whereby architects have been able to put forth innovative architectural designs. With the intent of creating homes that are environmentally conscious and aim to minimize the impact on the environment, homes are being restructured to celebrate nature and how they influence modern living spaces.
Islamabad, as a modern-day metropolis, where a myriad of architects are also exploring this design domain, enjoys being an iconic green city with its surrounding views of the Margalla Hills and its lush greenery. As such, the green urban landscape acts as a direct source of inspiration for the local architects to incorporate ‘Green Design’ within their works, particularly in the residential buildings, for which construction has escalated tremendously in the past few years within the capital city.
JD House, a minimalist abode merged with nature in Islamabad. Photography by The Third Architectural Photography. Thethirdap
One such example is JD House, a national award-winning project located in Islamabad, Pakistan. A collaborative design between DB Studios and Israr & Associates, this single-unit residence celebrates the concept of communal living through the presence of a centrally anchored aged Ficus Tree. Due to the provision of an ample foreground to the house and picturesque views of the Margalla Hills, the architectural design visually contributes and amalgamates within the natural beauty of Islamabad, which it is known for.
The house celebrates the concept of communal living merged with nature. As the client’s father is an active member of the local politics of Islamabad, hosting influential political figures as guests is also a functional requirement that was fulfilled architecturally through a house that is grand in scale, yet sober in its overall outlook. This was further enhanced through a U-shaped house with a central courtyard alongside Travertine cladding. The outcome is a cozy home for the client’s family that promotes a tightly-knit family culture while integrating it with nature.
JD House, central courtyard. Photography by The Third Architectural Photography. Thethirdap
The house has been designed specifically around an old, robust Ficus tree acting as the visual anchor. Utilizing the innovative technique of manually placing an aged tree in the central courtyard in a bespoke RCC planter, this space grounds the architectonics of the house altogether. The main living spaces on the ground floor surrounding the anchor tree house are the client’s parents and guests. These spaces include the main lobby, living room, drawing room, dining area, and master bed.
JD house stands out due to the modern architectural language highlighted through the play of geometry and nature. It is an emblem of the interplay of material and texture with the aged Ficus tree and Travertine, which is the mainstay of this residence, as it has been utilized in various methods all over the house. By playing with the surface of Travertine in different arrangements, the user experience is complex and varies in depth in every aspect of the house. Landscape design is another feature amalgamated with the house to bring about the concept of connectivity and communal living. The main landscape feature is the artificially installed Ficus tree around which the entire building envelope has been humbly designed. This initiative is the first of its kind in Pakistan whereby the conventional boundaries of landscape design have been surpassed. This has not only given inspiration to local peers in the market as a design aesthetic, but it has also channelized a local economy with the local nurseries and labor force in the capital city. By using seasonal plants and artificial contours in the lawn, the landscape aspect is further enhanced visually along with the installation of multiple outdoor decks to facilitate the client's guests.
JD House uses Travertine with natural elements and sculpture. Photography by Sidra Khokhar.
The significance of this project lies in the fact that it sets the tone for the reintroduction of the modernist style and efficiently integrates it with green architecture in Islamabad. The usage of vernacular passive cooling techniques such as the courtyard effect via the central courtyard also makes the house energy efficient and relatively cool in a hot climate.
This project primarily entails two main natural aspects from the site and utilizes them sustainably to make the JD house function efficiently i.e., natural light, ventilation, and thermal comfort.
Addressing the concept of natural light and ventilation, the structure is essentially a courtyard house whereby it gets naturally ventilated and produces an efficient indoor micro-climate. Double-height spaces have been given that allow hot air to escape through the rooftop area thereby cooling the house.
Sunken patios are also given, along with tall fenestrations that maximize natural light in the house generously. The architect also makes use of cavity walls to ensure the thermal comfort of the residence along with the use of Travertine which is a highly resistant material that needs little or no maintenance over time. Moreover, wasted wooden blocks have been reused around the house to develop decorative screens.
11-ButtonWood: Pakistan’s first SEED Certified residence in Lahore
11-ButtonWood: Pakistan’s first SEED Certified residence in Lahore. Image credits: Banjaiga Pakistan. Banjaiga_11 ButtonWood
Another example of a contemporary residence also using intelligent green design in its overall aesthetic is the 11-ButtonWood House in Lahore by SR Design Works (SRDW). As a historic city that enjoys a distinctly established architectural identity over centuries in comparison to Islamabad, which is still younger in contrast, this unique building holds the title of being one of the first houses in the country to hold SEED Certification by the Pakistan Green Building Council.
With Rashid Rasheed as its principal architect, the aim was to build a house that was contextually relevant, user-friendly, and most importantly sustainable. The architectural design revolved around producing a domestic space that could potentially hold a zero-carbon footprint.
11-ButtonWood: interior spaces with punctures of green elements. Image credits: Banjaiga Pakistan. Banjaiga_11 ButtonWood
A house that adapts itself based on the needs of the user, the element of nature has been intelligently blended into the residence by bringing ‘the outside, inside’. The house has been punctured with interior courtyards and terraces whilst integrating a massive Conocarpus tree towards the south façade of the house giving it privacy and shade during the hot summers. The Northern façade of the house faces the outdoor garden, towards which the majority of the windows of the house are open to promote cross ventilation and gain maximum daylight.
11-ButtonWood: rooftop garden. Image credits: Banjaiga Pakistan. Banjaiga_11 ButtonWood
11-ButtonWood: interior spaces of the house making use of natural light. Image credits: Banjaiga Pakistan. Banjaiga_11 ButtonWood
11-ButtonWood: interior living space making use of vibrant colors with a contrast of warm earthly tones. Image credits: Banjaiga Pakistan. Banjaiga_11 ButtonWood
The sustainable aspect of the house is truly celebrated through the choice of materials used in the house. The usage of vernacular yet breathable materials such as operable metal screens to control daylight, wooden textured concrete for the external cladding of the house and wooden veneer for the ceiling cover has also been utilized. The house is also retrofitted with solar panels and a solar thermal geyser system to avail the Lahore Sun. A rainwater harvesting system has also been installed to make use of the torrential rainfalls in Lahore during the monsoon season as well. A rooftop garden has also been made where the residents grow their own food which in turn uses water from the rainwater harvesting tanks.
References:
1. Banjaiga Pakistan, Banjaiga Pakistan.
2. Mc. Guirk, K. (2022). What is Green Architecture? Better Homes & Gardens.
3. The Third Architectural Photography. Thethirdap