Aavash is a design response to Nepal’s rising urban housing demand, envisioned as a socially inclusive and environmentally responsive neighborhood. The project rethinks conventional housing by integrating mixed-income groups into a shared, walkable community with layered public spaces, diverse housing typologies, and sustainable infrastructure. Designed as a living habitat rather than just a collection of dwellings, Aavash promotes equity, well-being, and belonging through spatial planning that encourages both privacy and interaction. Its modular housing blocks, context-sensitive materiality, and integration of nature aim to create a resilient and adaptable urban model that serves a spectrum of family types and economic backgrounds.
Design Intent
- Promote social inclusion by integrating lower, middle, and higher-income groups within one cohesive neighborhood.
- Ensure affordability while maintaining architectural dignity and functional quality.
- Design public spaces as active, engaging zones that foster interaction and well-being.
- Use modularity and simplicity in housing units to respond to construction efficiency and evolving family structures.
Planning & Typology
- Five housing clusters arranged around shared courtyards and central green zones.
- Typologies include:
- Detached Housing (6 Anna)
- Row Housing (4 Anna)
- Mid-Rise Apartments (2BHK, 3BHK)
- Low-Cost Units for economically weaker sections
- Units designed using modular grids for spatial efficiency and flexibility.
- Central spine road with secondary pedestrian lanes and minimal vehicular intrusion.
Sustainability & Infrastructure
- Passive strategies: orientation, ventilation, courtyards, and shading for thermal comfort.
- Rainwater harvesting and greywater treatment for landscape use and irrigation.
- Rooftop solar integration to reduce energy demand.
- Street lighting using metal halide fixtures for better night visibility and safety.
- Fire hydrant network and water storage system integrated for emergency response.
- Landscaped central parks, community play areas, and outdoor activity zones.
- Defined transition between private, semi-private, and public spaces.
- Multipurpose gathering areas and recreational zones woven throughout clusters.
Conceptual Framework
- Mixed-Income Philosophy: Encourages cross-subsidization and reduces economic segregation.
- Leave No One Behind (LNOB): Inspired by the UN SDG principle of social equity through design.
- Architectural Determinism: Built environment as a tool to shape behavior, inclusion, and well-being.
Final Takeaway
- A scalable model for future neighborhoods that balances affordability, diversity, and sustainability.
- Prioritizes empathy, function, and identity in residential design.
- Reimagines housing not just as shelter, but as a catalyst for community and urban transformation.