STUDY OF A HOUSING

PROJECT
Course No: ARC 4107
Course Name: Housing
Student Name: Ishraha Azima
Student ID: 16.02.01.002
Year/Semester: 4th/1st
Session: Fall-2019
 SHEIKH SARAI
HOUSING
Sheikh Sarai Housing Complex is the first experiment performed by the
Indian architect Raj Rewal on the issue of social housing applied to a site
of such a large scale. It fits in a context marked by the absence of
symbolic elements characterizing the site since the peripheral to the
center of New Delhi. Rewal works in the expansion south of the city,
building a complex that consists of 550 apartments.

Sponsored by the DDA (Delhi Development Authority) the Sheikh Sarai

is structured according to the currents regulations that aim to self-housing
residential as well as compliance with technical standards set.

Sheikh Sarai Housing Complex, New Delhi

 CONCEPT
From a conceptual point of view, Raj Rewal was inspired by the
historical realities of the cities of Rajasthan, Jaisalmer and Udaipur, and
he molded that into his project to interpret the urban fabric of India and
which are easily recognized by the density of the town and for the close
relationship between the open and closed spaces.

 PLANNING AND LAYOUT OF THE PROJECT

The planning and layout of the Sheikh Sarai Housing Complex can be
divided into follow-up points that include:

 URBAN FABRIC:
-The peripheral roads are connected to parking squares.
-The central spine of the layout is reserved for narrow, shaded
pedestrian pathways.
-The layout plan follows the traditional and age old techniques of
creating shade and cross ventilation.

Site plan of Sheikh Sarai Housing Complex

 Layout of Sheikh Sarai Housing Complex


STREETS:
-The plan of Sheikh Sarai Housing is based on narrow shaded
streets linking variety of clusters.
-The streets are broken up into smaller units, so a person can
experience pauses, points of rests and changing vistas.

 CLUSTERS:
-Raj Rewal designed this housing as a series of clusters that are
interrelated.
-The architect unified the buildings by treating the facade in a
similar manner using sandstone grit tender, piercing of parapets,
door proportions, deep set windows and stone flanking walls for the
courtyard.

 ROOF TERRACES:
-The roof terraces designed are some of the most integral part of the
design of Sheikh Sarai Housing and Raj Rewal made sure to
express their importance through their presence in each apartment.

The design details of this housing project are fascinating as well:

-Each of the courtyards created are of an intimate scale that is easily
perceived by the residents and are important aspects of the design
phase as well as the final outcome. They also serve various
communities and as festivals are important part of the Indian
culture, these squares also act as their venues among the community
people.
-The pedestrian and vehicular accesses are clearly distinguished, the
movement of people has been closely aligned to the access points
for vehicles on the periphery so that it is easier for them.
- Parapets and walls are present in all of the units and they are
designed with narrow slits to ensure privacy as well as allow for
cross ventilation to take place.
- The brick walls with roughcast plaster are customary for cost
efficient mass housing in this region and also allows for the users to
modify at their convenience.

Garage View from the road

Courtyard for the resident Peripheral road network

community

FLOOR PLANS:
-Dwelling units are concentrated around central courtyards.
-Ground floor and first floor units are more spacious and have two
bedrooms, while upper flats have only one bedroom
-Each unit has a terrace with it in which essentials activities of the
Indian domestic life can take place.

First and second floor

Ground floor plan