THE BIG ROOF

THE BIG ROOF The Deccan Plateau that has witnessed multiple kingships gave way to a land rich in culture, religion, art, language, and commerce. ‘The Big Roof is an architectural ode to the legacy of this land. The site in Gachibowli is part of a rapidly developing suburban area in the northwestern zone of Hyderabad. It is in close vicinity to residential areas, commercial zones, and an active IT hub, making it a potential urban node for public congregation. The design revolves around the ambition of capturing the calm and chaos, the energy and buzz, the highs and lows – the ‘everydayness’ of an Indian street. The canvas is divided into multiple grids with the length divided into three zones, where the event/entertainment arena is sandwiched between retail and food court zones. The design at the ground floor navigates through a series of open green courts, water pods, and a vibrant streetscape. The working grid of the shop modules makes it flexible enough to multiply and divide as per the end user’s requirement. As the retail block is extruded vertically, it gets punctured with masses scooped out at strategic locations to attain interesting volumes and playscapes. The terrace level becomes ‘the other ground’ with an active green layer interspersed between bustling food courts. The length is punctured by a blue-green corridor which runs between the farthest ends of the site, becoming the major movement path for the user. The multiplex block is lifted off the ground creating an all-weather amphitheatre which becomes the heart of the campus. The folded grid roof topped with photovoltaic glass sits as a marquee layer defining the streetscape, and protecting the internal courts from the harsh Hyderabad sun.