Riversong

The site being a hillock challenges the design to minimize the disturbance and yet create with flair. The central mound has the villament and the villas placed around it. There are 6 such villas. All the dwelling units are oriented in such a way that the valley view is captured. The villas are designed as split level units and planning is open , a hide and seek in the treatment of space within the units. Villament units are single level units at the central portion of the site. A centrally located space form the common zone. Exposed brick and textured masonry forms the fabric which envelops these units. A harmonious merging of built space within the natural environment.

Elements

Good Earth Elements is published as a case study for Energy Efficient Multi- Storey Residential Projects by BEEP (The Indo-Swiss Building Energy Efficiency Project). BEEP is a bilateral cooperation between the Ministry of Power (MoP), Government of India and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) of the Swiss Confederation.The project also won NDTV Award 2015 in the Premium Project of the Year – South category.

Florican Hill

With every project undertaken, new insights are gained. A linear site with distinct sloping terrain demanded a site responsive solution. The builders requirement together with the need to uphold the values od community living led to the creation of Villament – individual housing units placed around a central courtyard – a green space for each home. Since the linearity of the site did not permit a central court, macro and micro level courts were used to serve the same purpose. Fifteen units on 55 cents of land, a mix of Duplex and single level units with sky gardens and green walls.

Hamlet

Good Earth’s first venture into community housing was ‘Good Earth Hamlet‘.An attempt at community housing which bridged the existing gap between independent houses and the urban stereotype block of flats. The emphasis has been on community spaces to encourage interaction while at the same time providing for individual privacy.

Hermitage

Good Earth Hermitage is an elevated site surrounded by greens, slightly off Mavoor Road, Calicut. The use of the terraced site profile enabled segregation of the vehicular movement and living spaces above. The arrival is to the children’s play area from which one moves on to the central court.Based on the ‘Naalukettu’ traditional planning, a central court is the focus and transitional access space to all the 4 blocks around it. A multi dwelling unit with Duplex unit in each block. The central court becomes the rendezvous for children and grown ups alike.

Hymns of Life

Hymns of life was our first innovation in going vertical. In the past, most of our developments were low rise, and emphasized on the relationship to land, the importance of community spaces.At “Hymns” we have tried to recreate the same character, which has been transformed through what we call “sky gardens”, in each apartment. These are open green terraces which besides creating a bit of the outdoors even at the higher floors break the severity of the scale, making it more human.The design of the sky gardens minimize the heat and moisture on the lower floors, by virtue of protecting the walls below. The landscaped garden, acts as a buffer from the dust, heat and the lashing rain.

Reflections

The search for a land that can carry our dream ended when we saw this property. We can’t figure out what stopped us- may be the waters that whispered with the banks; or the swaying palms that lined up on the shores; or the country boat that went by; or the sight of Chinese net the fishermen use; or the wooden boat jetty on the other side that wore the marks of aging…

Aangan

Aangan is our latest addition to the villa communities in Cochin. On a contoured landscape, the attempt is to create a development that minimally affects the terrain while ensuring unique identity to individual homes. Homes look in to the central courtyard (Aangan) that is inundated with a treasure trove of native flora that is home to a variety of butterflies, cuckoos, squirrels and more. Individual homes also have its own private landscaped areas that are connected to the homes with large verandahs.

Melange

Good Earth Melange is a tropical high rise apartment building, a green alternative which responds to and takes advantages of the climate and location. The design minimizes the common walls between apartments. The units are designed as homes that open up to the outside through verandahs and sky gardens. The cavity walls capture the hot air which is expelled using air vents on the roof keeping the indoors cool. The lobby also has been designed as an extension of the landscape with sky gardens. The design attempts to break away from the typical apartment plan to bring in elements of a home in space planning.

Malhar Patterns

The Malhar eco-village’s fifth community, Patterns, maintained the aesthetic traditions of the development. The streets in Patterns were friendly and wound leisurely around cluster parks, green gardens, and community areas. The homes had open spaces that seamlessly flowed into lavish courtyards, gardens, verandahs, and balconies. These open spaces blended in with the streets, parks, and opened out to the playfield and jogging trail surrounding the neighborhood. The design departures that had become characteristic of the Malhar development were once again present in Patterns.