Hillside and Coastal Masterplanning Designs
We approach hilly and coastal sites not as obstacles, but as the primary inspiration for our designs. Our masterplans utilize natural contours to minimize earthwork and maximize view corridors.
A perspective of the Dona Paula masterplan, showing how the villas are nestled into the sloping terrain. The dynamic, shifting roof forms are designed to create a unique skyline while providing shade and capturing sea breezes for passive cooling.
This view highlights how the road network in the Dona Paula masterplan follows the natural contours of the hill. The architecture steps down the slope, ensuring that each home has an unobstructed view and a direct connection to the surrounding tropical environment.
An aerial view of the Dona Paula homes, showcasing the unique hexagonal cutouts in the roof structures. These openings allow for rooftop gardens and light wells, bringing nature directly into the home and breaking down the mass of the building.
The Moira Homes project, seen here at dusk, sits atop a gentle slope in Goa. The design uses the elevation to its advantage, creating terraced levels that give each home privacy and an expansive view of the landscape.
The entrance road to the Moira Homes winds along the base of the slope. The retaining walls are built from local stone, grounding the modern architecture in its context and managing the level differences across the site.
This rendering shows the seamless connection between the interior living spaces and the outdoor pool decks at the Moira Villas. By stepping the villas down the slope, we created private outdoor areas that feel like a natural extension of the home.
This sectional drawing of the Dona Paula masterplan reveals how the homes are embedded within the hillside. The design minimizes excavation by splitting the levels and stepping the foundation, a sustainable approach that respects the site's natural form.
A detailed cross-section of a villa in the Dona Paula masterplan. The drawing shows how we use carved courtyards and split levels to bring natural light and ventilation deep into the lower floors, even on a steep, challenging site.
The site plan for the Dona Paula masterplan shows the arrangement of modular house typologies along the site's contours. This strategic placement ensures that every plot benefits from the natural slope and views towards the sea.
A satellite image indicating the location of the Dona Paula project. The site is a prime coastal plot with a significant slope, providing the perfect canvas for a masterplan that cascades from the mountain to the water.
About Harmony with the Land: Hillside & Coastal Designs
When working on slopes, the biggest mistake is fighting the terrain with massive retaining walls. Instead, we use a 'stepped typology' approach. By split-leveling our housing modules to match the natural gradient, we significantly reduce civil excavation costs while ensuring that every unit captures an unobstructed view of the valley or sea.
Architecture on sloping terrain requires a delicate balance between structural integrity and site sensitivity. Our process begins with a detailed topographical analysis, mapping sun paths and wind directions to determine the precise placement of each module. Rather than leveling the land, we design 'stepped' masterplans where the architecture cascades down the hill. This not only creates dramatic, cascading rooflines but also serves a practical purpose: it minimizes costly earthwork and excavation.
Our masterplanning service for hillside sites includes specific hydrological planning to manage natural water runoff, preventing erosion on steep inclines. We treat the terrain as a partner, integrating split-level housing concepts that allow for terraced outdoor decks and deep-shaded courtyards. Every design choice is documented with sectional diagrams, ensuring that builders understand how the volumes step down the slope. By utilizing steel construction and lightweight materials, we reduce the building's structural footprint, preserving the land’s original character while creating high-density communities that feel expansive and airy.
SAV Architecture and Design
We are SAV, a team operating between London, Mumbai, and Goa, obsessed with the way architecture intersects with natural terrain. We don’t believe in cookie-cutter developments; we believe that if you look closely enough, every slope and coastline tells you exactly how it wants to be built.
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