Glass-enclosed buildings often create nature-deficient, sterile environments that disconnect users from their surroundings. In contrast, traditional buildings in Pune frequently featured planters projecting into the street, celebrating nature in transitional spaces like balconies and windows.

This spirit has been reinterpreted in the design to evoke nostalgia—placing plants within reach of windows so they can be touched, watered, and maintained from the inside, fostering a direct, personal connection with nature. These integrated planters bring vibrancy to interior spaces and a sense of belonging for users, while also enlivening the neighbourhood with a natural, animated façade. The semi-permeable stone skin serves a dual purpose—as both a planter structure and an effective shading device.

A peripheral column system has been adopted to enable flexible, multifunctional interior spaces. The façade is divided modularly to reduce visual bulk and scale, and to simplify construction using locally handcrafted components. This approach not only makes on-site assembly more efficient but also supports a circular economy by involving local labour and materials.

A notable structural innovation lies in the integration of services into the façade elements: the stone fins rest on two vertical metal members that also accommodate water supply and drainage systems. The asymmetric arrangement of planters forms a dynamic visual rhythm, enhanced by the growth of vegetation. Because the fins are structurally independent from the main building, there is also flexibility to alter the architectural expression over time.

Instead of relying on energy-intensive glass façades, the project uses natural Indian red sandstone—chosen for its water absorption, durability, and long-lasting performance. Stone dimensions were optimised to minimise waste, with offcuts repurposed in the parking areas and compound walls.

A gravity-fed drip irrigation system supplies water and liquid fertiliser to each planter, ensuring low-maintenance upkeep. The modular design allows easy access to the planters from each floor. The semi-permeable stone envelope filters light throughout the day, while the vegetation helps reduce solar heat gain—enhancing indoor comfort and lowering energy demand.