The Light Cubes: 3 generations in 3 floors
When sunlight enters the space through the perforated facade, small light cubes are created on the interior walls. That is why they named the project ‘The Light Cubes’
Above three rental apartments, stands the triplex unit. The indoor and outdoor terraces, as well as the plants and greens throughout the vertical structure, promote openness and seamless transition between the levels - fostering a healthy living environment for the family.
This ensures that all family members, from grandparents to grandchildren, can live together comfortably, while still having their personal spaces.
The unit's staircase features a custom-designed perforated screen made of concrete blocks. Primarily used to improve airflow, this facade allows balanced sunlight to brighten the interior spaces. But the magic happens when sunlight enters the space through the perforated facade - small light cubes are created on the interior walls.
In the heart of Dhaka's bustling Bashundhara neighbourhood, a family envisioned a dream home that would transcend generations—a place where grandparents, parents, and grandchildren could share their lives under one roof. This vision was turned into reality with the help of Shafique Ahmed, the lead architect and founder of Trikon Architects.
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Thus, 'The Light Cubes' was created - a residential masterpiece designed to foster togetherness and enduring family bonds across three generations.
Spatial limitations and connections
Situated in the residential neighbourhood of Bashundhara's K block, 'The Light Cubes' is located on a modest three-katha site and seamlessly blends in with its surroundings. The project commenced in 2019 and was successfully completed by 2023.
"Despite its limited space of 200.67 square meters, this 11,200-square-foot building stands as a testament to thoughtful design and efficient use of space, while ensuring sustainability and meeting our client's expectations," said Architect Shaifque Ahmed.
When asked about his clients' visions, he said, "When our clients approached us, their first request, like every other client, was, 'I want my home to be unique.' They wanted their home to stand out and tell their story. They envisioned a sanctuary that embraced the warmth of tradition while welcoming the modernity of urban living."
"To turn our client's vision into reality, we had to integrate several design elements that promote family unity, privacy, and convenience altogether," he mentioned.
The ground floor accommodates community spaces, parking facilities, and electro-mechanical services. The lower levels have three rental apartment units and above these levels stands the triplex unit. The triplex unit has one common living room for family time and private rooms for individual use.
Apart from a communal staircase, allocated for the floors of the triplex unit, a shared house elevator enhances functionality even further, oriented to the needs of older residents and children.
These features ensure seamless mobility and convenience for all occupants, regardless of age or physical capabilities, which is indeed a thoughtful inclusion.
"While implementing the wants and needs of our clients, we encountered several challenges. We faced technical and construction difficulties, as we already had a limited space to work around," said Shafique Ahmed.
They had difficulties setting up the plumbing line, and the mixture of concrete and steel work was pretty challenging to work with as well. To overcome the challenges, the architect reviewed the building layout to create an efficient space plan. They had to use special designs to provide a way for the drainage system so that rainwater does not get clogged.
Customised concrete block to the rescue
Painted metal frames and glazing define the exterior, and ceramic tiles and exposed concrete blocks are among the variety of materials used in this project.
One of the most unique aspects of this project was the use of customised concrete blocks. It was an experimental block that they created and implemented. Special waterproofing admixtures were added to the dense concrete block to make them more water resistant than common blocks. This makes it sustainable in rainwater and sunlight.
From the exterior to the interior, the architects used exposed cast concrete textures. This cast concrete, painted metal frames and glazing define the exterior, while ceramic tiles and exposed concrete blocks create monolithic surfaces, which gives the interior a raw character.
Incorporating sustainability through light and ventilation
To ensure a sustainable living space, it was designed strategically to ensure ample natural light and ventilation. This is achieved by orienting the building to allow maximum exposure to the southern side, which typically receives consistent air flow in Dhaka.
The building has extended balconies and open terraces adorned with tropical plants, which create connections with the neighbourhood and offer captivating views.
Shafique Ahmed designed the building's external crevices to collect rainwater, which is then used to irrigate the terrace greenery. This conserves water and ensures that the plants thrive, further enhancing the cooling effect of the greenery.
The design incorporates tropical creepers, bushes, and terrace greenery, which enhance the building's visual appeal and play a vital role in regulating its microclimate.
"They provide natural shading, helping to decrease the urban heat and creating a more pleasant outdoor environment. Additionally, the greenery aids in improving the air quality around the building, making it a healthier and more sustainable space," architect Shafique commented.
The building also incorporates concrete walls, screen enclosures, and projected shading elements to minimise internal heat gain. These features help reduce the building's reliance on artificial cooling, thus promoting energy efficiency. The shading elements are particularly effective in filtering and controlling the amount of sunlight entering the spaces, ensuring the interiors remain comfortable even during peak sun hours.
"I feel the residents get to live in harmony and peace, they have the opportunity to cut down on a lot of electricity costs. The clients shared that their apartment stays at an optimum temperature most of the time and barely requires a fan or a cooling system or even lights sometimes during the day" the architect concluded.
