Articles by Hana Abdel

A small plot size should never be an excuse for compromising on good architecture. The client of this residence received a 12′ x 22′ plot as a share after the demolition of his ancestral property. The requirements were to have two commercial units on the ground floor and one household unit on each of the other two floors. Located in one of the busiest neighborhoods in Tiruchirappalli, this residence, situated in a wall-to-wall zone, faced numerous challenges right from the design stage.

Madhura is a home designed as a response to the client’s wish for a home reminiscent of their ancestral home in Kampli, Karnataka – a quaint town near Hampi with old dwellings built in mud and stone. The challenge was to re-create a similar experience but one that is set in the current premise of the dense urban context of Bengaluru that they now call home. The brief was to create two 3 bhk homes, one for each sibling with shared common spaces. The homes are designed to be a connection to their roots and one that supports their traditional way of life. Based on our initial interactions with the family, we understood that they wanted several formal and informal spaces in the homes where they could socialize and host gatherings, like chamber concerts and religious meets. Having built on a site area of 3000 sft, we decided to stack the houses one above the other so that the built footprint is judiciously managed and also the two houses can be independent and private. The planning of these two east-facing homes strictly follows the principles of Vastu.

Located on a prominent, yet coveted, corner block in the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy North, this was a rare opportunity to elevate an archetypal Victorian terrace to something statuesque yet precisely site-specific. Acknowledging the adjacent buildings at the rear and the original structure retained at the front, the lower level of the new addition is constructed of traditional red brick.

July draws inspiration from the breezy outdoor spirit of Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, where leisure, lifestyle, and experience enrich the built environment and everyday life. Set amongst the distinctive, tropical vernacular of the James Street precinct, July is conceived as an oasis for its customers. Its design reflects the capacity of travel to evoke meaning and memory through discovery and adventure, referencing the iconic, poolside photography of Slim Aarons and drawing playful parallels to the July brand.

Few projects allow as much experimentation as an architect’s own home, Connected House is no exception. Fifteen years ago architect/client, Albert Mo and his family moved into a 1950’s mid-century home designed by Peter Mcintyre. For more than a decade they ruminated on design philosophies that would become the driving force behind the extension. The conceptual framework for the project balanced the restoration of architectural heritage with a new approach to outdoor connections and a growing floor plan to accommodate teenage children. The resulting home is as much about the garden as it is about building, the daily ritual of living interacts with nature at all levels – from the cantilevered lounge room in the canopy of a mature elm to the dining table’s microcosm courtyard garden.