MORENA
HOUSE
Morena House, nestled in the verdant Carmichael Road, is a historic dwelling amidst a dense canopy of rain trees, gulmohars, and tall palms. The area is renowned for its charming colonial-era bungalows and art deco apartments constructed between the 1920s and 1950s. The architectural design of Morena House aims to optimize the advantages of tropical living, ensuring abundant sunlight and ventilation on all floors. The building is divided into four distinct sections, offering functional independence for various purposes.
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Key Roles in the project:
- A part of the design development of the project
- Working on the drawing set
- Illustrations for client meetings
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*Renders produced by Dezest Design in collaboration with Serie Architects
HIGH-END LUXURY RESIDENCES
Fairfaced concrete edge bands, reminiscent of the Art Deco language, wrap around each floor slab punctuating the envelope and emphasizing the curves at the southwest. The tower façade has been extended up three meters above the roof floor, crowning the tower and concealing the services in that area. By eliminating the edge band at the roof floor this extension adds height to the massing of the duplex.
MATERIAL PALETTE
The envelope comprises structural walls (RCC), non structural walls (blockwork + cladding), service stacks (perforated screens), balconies, flower beds and fenestration (slim line aluminium window systems). The materials and systems are designed to suit the architectural intent while optimizing the thermal capacity of the building, securing it against rain, wind and salinity while minimizing the floor space consumption.
LANDSCAPE
Lush tropical landscape fills the terraces and natural ground, while feature trees adorn the courtyards. An understated palette of hardcover paves the pedestrian and vehicular paths, responding to the geometry of the podium and tower envelopes.
SITE DEVELOPMENT
Approaching the building on carmichael road, we see the tower facade extend down across the podium to meet the site, camouflaging the infrastructural quality of the parking levels to present a more human scale to
the visitor. A warm volume of wood, glass and lush tropical planting sits lightly within the east entrance court breaking out of the whites and buff s of the building’s material palette.
The architecture of the lobby comprises a slim wooden glazing system and cherry oak panelling on the beams. Diff used daylight washes the interior, reflecting off the white terrazzo floor. The space will be minimally furnished.
We have designed a variety of outdoor, indoor and semi-open spaces at the amenity floor. Natural lawn, covered decks, a water filled west court and an intimate east court with thick tropical landscape. The pool features an infinity edge, meeting the planters of the podium facade.
