AKA was successfully selected through a limited design competition as the lead consultant for design and contract administration for the Embassy. The development comprises of a chancery, ambassador’s residence, recreational area and staff accommodation. Based on the cascading Banaue rice terraces, the chancery roof mirrors the eighth wonder of the world making the context relevant to the land.
The Chancery is a 2 level office building designed to fulfill the functions of consular, diplomatic relations, trade commissioner, attaches, admin and the ambassadorial secretariat.
The building is equipped with its own cafeteria and underground parking facilities. The entrance provides an overwhelming facade that hides the amenities courtyard from plain view and casts cool shadows on the recreational courtyard. The chancery maintains optimum orientation inside. The north facing curtain wall lets in ample daylight and provides views. the double height atrium has a magnificent skylight that runs along the emergency exits to orient users in an an emergency situation. The building complies with the most stringent of fire, life and safety regulations and also fulfill 60% of the site’s irrigation requirement by harvesting storm water.
The Ambassador’s residence is designed to act as a perfect getaway despite its proximity to the office. It offers a contemporary living lifestyle split on 2 levels. The ground floor is a formal living space to entertain guests or retire to the study. The upper level is designed to serve as a family unit. An open plan in its entertainment areas, the spaces enjoy views of the pool, the bar and the landscaping spine.
The university is a joint venture by ROOTS IVY and DHA Bahawalpur. It consists of academic blocks for local and int’l programs, 500 person capacity auditorium, sports facility and is an overall purpose built campus.
The campus is designed around a street that acts as a promenade, connecting the local and international students. The liminality of the walkway allows the users to simultaneously experience the indoors and outdoors, as they come together at the heart of the campus for social and recreational activities. The sensitivity towards the climate and culture of Bahawalpur play a key role in guiding the design process to ensure that the result is sustainable, climate responsive and contextually rooted. The academic blocks feature lecture theatres and rooms, libraries, exam halls, faculty offices and meeting rooms. The central lobby connects all the spaces through bridges and voids, shaded and naturally ventilated through brick and wood screens. The northern grounds are shaded by trees and landscaping to offer the users with zones of activity.
People have an innate affinity towards nature.
The desire to be within the proximity of
natural landscapes has been extremely well
documented and proven to play a positive role
especially for people with special needs.
The aim of the architect’s brief is to amplify
the positive effects of proximity to the natural
environment. To utilize it as a design tool with
an emphasis on sensory experiences to make
children with learning disabilities feel accepted
and included whilst improving the learning
experience.
Being surrounded by nature also supports
cognitive function, physical health and mental
and emotional well-being which helps create
an environment that is conducive to learning.
The design for the school focuses on the
quality of multi-sensory experience and ease
of journey for users between the indoor and
outdoor spaces to invoke a sense of inclusivity,
empathy and understanding.
The project features a ramp that acts as an
architectural feature providing access to all
levels. The connectivity achieved through
the ramp embodies inclusivity and freedom.
Natural elements are woven in and around
the spaces through visually and physically
accessible gardens and terraces. These green
voids bring in natural light and ventilation,
and curate experiences that evoke sensory
playfulness and exploration.
AKA competed in a limited design competition for the Scandinavian Embassy Facilities.
The vision for Statsbygg’s Scandinavian Embassy Facilities was to endeavor in providing an objective, safe and efficient architecture. Public amenities have been placed inside or around the apartment building. The private residences have their dedicated entrances and front and back lawns. Two options have been provided for the ambassador residences to respond to future expansion plans. Amenities include covered parking, event spaces, roof garden, pool, barbecue area, tennis and volleyball courts.
Salient features of the development included:
• 20 apartments (3380 sqm.)
•Outdoor swimming pool.
•Transient semi covered spaces for future expansion.
•Barbecue area.
•Covered parking.
•Assembly area for emergency evacuation.
•Efficient garbage disposal/source sorting of recyclable waste.
•Tennis court
•Volley ball court
•3/4 bedroom ambassador’s residences
Embassy of Algeria Ambassador’s residence with Chancery building. The design was driven by Moorish architecture. The residence has a private entry and the private and public zones are divided by a semi covered pool.
Our vision for the proposed headquarters of SRSP features a design that is equipped to provide best practice guidelines for work spaces and is grounded to respond favorably to the region’s requirements whilst following SPSP’s work place ethics of a peoples centered participatory approach.
Sustainability forms a vital part of our core values. We constantly endeavor to improve our footprint in the building construction industry. SRSP office building project has been designed keeping the following sustainability initiatives in mind.
– The site has been documented for prevailing winds, sun direction and Hayatabad’s climate.
– A double skin facade has been incorporated to minimize heat gain and cools warm air infiltrating the space.
– The courtyard uses prevalent summer winds to cool circulation areas and reduce heat gain in air conditioned spaces.
– The use of local materials has been encouraged in the design to reduce the carbon footprint of material transport and off-site construction.
Our vision features design that is equipped with best practice guidelines for work space design and is approach from a regional perspective to fulfill the requirement of regionalism and sustainability. Inevitably the result is responding favorably to the region’s requirement whilst following SRSP’s workplace ethics or a people centered participatory approach.