Surya Signature, Patna

DFI | Project Text | Surya Signature Housing, Patna
A holistic residential complex expanding the idea of a ‘home’.

Surya Signature Housing is a residential complex in Patna, Bihar developed around the idea of experiential living. This one-of-a-kind project comprises four hundred and fifty-two dwelling units and a wide array of amenities on a 4.8-acre stretch of land. To encompass the idea of a ‘home’, Design Forum International focused on designing a holistic campus with amenities and open spaces connected through pedestrian-friendly pathways.

The concept that dictates the design philosophy of this housing project is that a home exceeds the 1500 sq ft apartment one purchases. The first tower features mixed-use, with the first three floors dedicated to commercial activity and others consisting of 4-BHK tenements. The rest of the campus consists of homes with three and four bedrooms and a tower that houses EWS housing. A contiguous landscape connects the open spaces with the ground floor of the towers through meticulous stilt-level planning. The towers are interspersed with public spaces and various amenities throughout the site.

A water body and luscious greens welcome the user at the entrance plaza, serving as a notional reminder to unplug from the outside world and unwind in the experience that awaits. It has been designed as a threshold that exudes calmness and peace. The plaza connects to the drop-off points provided at the entrance lobbies of each tower, ensuring a peripheral vehicular network and making the majority of the campus traffic-free. Ramps are introduced near the entrances, thereby improving accessibility within the campus and encouraging walkability amongst kids and senior citizens.

The design approach is inspired by the five natural elements—Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space—represented by various provisions detailed in the complex. Amenities such as a clubhouse, banquet hall, gym, sports courts, swimming pool, lounge, and other play zones further enhance the intended idea of experiential living offering a sense of community and belongingness for all age groups. Cabanas and decks surround the swimming pool that is positioned at the rear end of the housing complex.

The project features carefully designed, Vastu-friendly tenements that prioritise both functionality and comfort. All towers come with dedicated refuge areas and other mitigation measures such as accessible evacuation paths and a central open area. Apartments on the ground floor are ‘Garden Villas’ with covered verandas that serve as a terrace garden for the residences on the first floor. Balconies are generously designed to incorporate sit-outs that provide a more meaningful interface between the indoor and outdoor. Larger terraces between the residential blocks serve as decks for certain apartments, thus breaking monotony and adding an organic touch to the site.

Located at the forefront of the campus, Tower 1 is a premium tower with only eighteen 4-BHK units, an exclusive drop-off and a separate clubhouse. Two units are planned in each wing so as to provide every apartment with panoramic views on all four sides. Duplex penthouses make up the apex of each tower. This project manifests the notion of luxury through various tangible elements realised in the form of amenities and sensitive design. Spacious parking in naturally lit basements serves the 14-storey residential towers.

Crafted on the idea that ‘home’ is an experience that extends beyond one’s house, the Surya Signature Housing embodies experiential living, calmness and community and offers respite to the inhabitant from the chaos of the outside world.