Innovative Densification

This thesis project looked at developing a catalyst project with the intention to form a new building typology capable of providing city-wide densification for the city of Kochi, Kerala.

The project looks at densifying the urban environment through Transit Oriented and Infill Developments in order to adequately accommodate for future projected populations and by way of rainwater harvesting power generation and solar rooftop. The catalyst project provides 100% of its residential electricity needs to help alleviate strain on the states central electricity grid during these times of over-population.

Kochi, Kerala, in recent decades has experienced an exponential turn of urban sprawl and a sub-optimal electricity grid supply for local residents. With projected populations set to increase by 962,075 by 2031 and a United Nations prediction of 70% global urbanisation by 2050, there is an overriding need to densify our cities responsibly, using revised FSI policies within a wider containment strategy.

Current stigma surrounding high density residential blocks in Kochi has led local Keralites to desire individual plots of land and detached, low density housing with garden provisions. As such, approaching a densification scheme resulted in the development of a continually unique floor plate at each level through the building, giving a sense of journey and dissociation from typical blocks of flats. The scheme form resembles a vertical journey between a series of stacked townhouses with private and semi private intensive green terraces suspended via a consistent 6m centred primary steel structure. Each dwelling has been designed to have a unique approach to their respective front door, furthering the uniqueness of each unit.

An ventilated exoskeleton anchored to the primary steel structure provides a semi-conditioned internal environment which promotes solar shading through setback units and passive cross ventilation through ventilated panels. The exoskeletal facade uses set back recycled cable trays to house edible crops that are irrigated by way of rainwater pipes that fall vertically down the steel columns. A water collection and redistribution strategy then redirects the filtered rainwater down through the building and into nearby canal systems, alleviating potential flooding during monsoon seasons.

By way of solar rooftops and rainwater harvesting, a total of 271,671kWh per annum is generated on site, meeting and surpassing an average demand of 169,682kWh per annum (4,039.2kWh per household - as per the Liveable Urbanism 2021/22 Survey).

A proposed replication of the catalyst development typology of an FSI increase to 375% and an urban space standard of 36sqm per capita, will successfully accommodate Kochi's projected population of 962,075 within the municipal boundary. National flexible FAR Policy (URDPFI Guidelines) have been used to appropriately and responsibly rationalise the proposed increase in FSI in specific locations.