Plot 33 by playball studio: A Climate-Responsive Live–Work Residence in Rajkot

Located in a dense residential neighborhood near the university campus in Rajkot, India, Plot 33 by playball studio reimagines the possibilities of a compact urban site. The 402 m² mixed-use building is an exploration of balance—between work and home, privacy and openness, climate response and contemporary living, reused and new materials.

Designed by architects Ronak Gangdev and Celia Fernandez Duque, whose backgrounds span South Asia and Southern Europe, the project synthesizes two cultural sensibilities into a unified architectural expression. The narrow 10 × 24 meter plot, facing a park to the north, becomes the foundation for a thoughtful experiment in climate-first design and vertical programming.

Climate as the Starting Point

Before addressing programmatic needs, the architects began with the climate. Northern light, park views, and prevailing breezes shaped the building’s orientation.

Key moves include:

• Opening the building toward the north, capturing soft daylight and framing views of large park trees.
• Cavity walls on the east and west to buffer heat.
• Circulation core placed strategically on the south, reducing heat gain and creating efficient vertical movement.

These decisions laid the foundation for a responsive building that protects itself where necessary and opens generously where beneficial.

Section-Driven Organization: A Vertical Live–Work Diagram

After establishing the climatic strategy, Plot 33 was resolved sectionally—stacking programs vertically in a clean, diagrammatic logic:

• Ground Floor – StudioDirect street access for work, clients, and independent functioning.
• First Floor – Living AreaOpen public spaces—living, dining, kitchen—facing the park through a stepped north courtyard.
• Second Floor – Private AreaBedrooms and more intimate spaces protected from street activity.
• Third Floor – Multipurpose LevelFlexible rooms that accommodate guests, hobbies, or future program changes.

As the plates move upward, they cascade back, shaping a tiered courtyard volume on the north. This results in a sequence of green terraces that visually connect all floors while balancing openness with privacy.

A Breathing Metal Skin and Solar-Integrated Roof

The entire stepped courtyard is wrapped in a perforated metal façade, designed for:

• Zero material wastage
• Climate control
• Security
• Visual permeability

Above, solar panels are installed so their substructure shades the courtyard from intense sun, creating a cooler microclimate for daily use.Two planters articulate the facade: one softening views from the living floor, the other concealing solar infrastructure while blending with the skyline.

A champa tree marks the ground-level entry, dividing access to the studio and the independent stair to the residence.

Structure That Disappears Into the Architecture

The building’s structure is intentionally concealed to preserve the clarity of volumes:

• Columns are embedded within cavity walls on the east and west.
• All plumbing-heavy “wet areas” sit adjacent to the circulation core for efficiency.
• Beams and sunk slabs are absorbed into bathroom ceilings, allowing the rest of the slabs to remain uninterrupted.

Exposed soffits reveal the texture of 300 × 3000 mm reclaimed wood shuttering, turning structural elements into subtle, tactile design features.

Light, Air, and Flexibility Through Open Plans

With no internal walls except those required for bathrooms, all floors follow an open-plan configuration, where furniture defines space. This ensures long-term adaptability for changing family or professional needs.

Openings and skylights on the east and west maintain cross-ventilation and allow daylight to penetrate deep into the interior—ensuring privacy even if neighboring plots are developed in the future.

A lightweight metal staircase in the circulation core pulls air and light upward, binding all levels together.

Material Reuse and Craft: A Sustainable Urban Practice

Sustainability and craft play a central role:

• Floors are finished with handmade terrazzo tiles (300 × 300 mm) using marble chips and recycled glass.
• Terraces use in-situ flooring made of waste kota stone pieces arranged in organic patterns.
• The metal skin is designed for zero waste optimization.

These materials reinforce the architectural values of honesty, reuse, and low environmental impact.

A Building in Dialogue With Climate, Context, and Future Use

Plot 33 successfully merges urban density, climatic intelligence, and cultural duality. Every floor maintains a visual connection to the park and sky, fulfilling the project’s original aim: to create a building that consistently negotiates inside/outside, work/life, and openness/privacy.

It is an architecture that is adaptable, breathable, and deeply rooted in context, offering a model for sustainable live–work urban living in contemporary India.

All the Photographs are works of Atik Bheda