Camac Street Residential Tower

Kolkata India
Year - 2016,
Type - Residential, Heritage,
Themes - Density, Flexibility, Concrete, Typology,
Status - Under Construction,
Design Team -
Architecture BRIO
Size -
15,000 sq.m.
Program -
26 four bedroom apartment, 4 duplex apartments, retail, fitness centre, club lounge

The Camac Tower is a proposal for a residential tower located in the heart of Calcutta. The existing heritage structure
previously owned by Sir RN Mookerjee, will be renovated. The narrow footprint that is left between the boundaries
and the bungalow, results in an elegant and slender volume for the apartment tower.

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While the parking is placed in a seven floor volume on top of the double height lobby floor, 17 residential floors
contain a total of 4 duplexes and 26 apartments. While generally the availability of high end apartments is limited to
standard 3 to 4 bedroom apartments which don't allow modifications in the layout, the wide diversity of family types
and sizes in India would suggest a different requirement. Therefore the structural system is designed such that the
supporting columns and walls are only taken on the exterior and the internal walls are flexible. This allows for various
permutations and modifications to happen over time and makes the structure more durable. This flexibility is
expressed in the faade. Within the continuous column beam framework the deep recessed windows which form
semi verandah's are positioned differently on every floor, generating an abstract irregular pattern on the elevation.
While the purist exposed column beam structure responds to the rationality of the surrounding tropical modernist
towers, the variety in the verandah and glass elements mark a vibrant city on the move. Topped by a common pool,
fitness centre and lounge on the roof, the terrace becomes a place to relax and enjoy the historical panorama of the
city of Kolkata.

Residential Tower Under Construction

Panorama of Heritage Manor and Residential Tower
Kolkata Map 1893- Once home of sprawling bungalows for Kolkatas nouveau riche, the area between Park Street
and the esplanade has a diverse mix of seventies office towers and fragments of nineteenth century Kolkata.

Esplanade 1859
While the city densifies. Kolkata's heritage fades away. Many bungalows fall in disrepair and ultimately give way for
commercial high-rises.

The Heritage Manor was built by Sir Rajen Mookherjee, who with his construction company built the famous Hooghly
Bridge and the Victoria Memorial, in a typical British Colonial style. It was restored as part of the residential
development
Remnant of the days of Ranu Mookerjee
The deep incisions in the faade emphasise its verticality and allow light and ventilation to pass through the center of
the floor plans.
Night View
model - view from heritage bungalow
model - view from camac street
Site plan
Ground Floor Plan
East Elevation
South Elevation
Section 1
Section 2
interior layout flexibility