2020 - Ongoing
Project Type: Commercial | Geography: Nepal
This mixed-use development sits in the southwest area of the Kathmandu Valley looking at the majestic mountain range on the north and a beautiful Chovar Hill on the west. Facing the Ring Road, the building commands a prominent frontage. The three predominant uses – retail, office and rooftop cafe – are organized and clearly expressed in a cubic volume. The name and branding of this development springs from this very shape of the building and its location.
While the retail floor is set back for weather protection, office floors extend out to maximize the individual floor plates. The office volume is composed of a striation of balconies that also function as a shading device while providing access for cleaning parts of the facade. The rentable areas defined by these balconies are recessed asymmetrically and stacked in an alternating manner – creating a multifaceted and dynamic frontage. The exterior glazed walls maximize daylighting and the outward views. The heat gain and glare are controlled by the frit layer sandwiched between highly reflective glasses. The frit design originates from the solar exposure pattern of the facades – thicker vertical frits are where the exposure is most intensive and thinnest frits are the areas where it is the least – forming ‘smiley’ shapes punctuating the extensive glass wall.
The rooftop is dedicated to a common café that commands the best views of the city and the mountains beyond. The generous outdoor area of the café is landscaped to provide shade and create an appeal of garden in the sky, literally crowning the building with greenery.
FACTS
Site Area: 15,400 SF
Landscape Area: 8,167 SF
FAR: 2.46
Super Built-up: 68,316 SF
Substructure: 17,332 SF
Retail: 4,075 SF
Office: 30,702 SF
Rooftop Cafe: 4,567 SF (indoor 1,141 SF + Outdoor 3,426 SF)
Design Director: Kiran Mathema
Consultant Team: Ajaya Mathema, Dipesh Shrestha, Bipin Niraula, Bibek Shrestha, Anu Maharjan, Aastha Shrestha, Sareena Manandhar
