Rooted in nature

At a time when the modern urban landscape is defined by concrete and glass structures, Home of Penda’s Magic Breeze in Hyderabad is a treat to one’s eyes. The residential complex — a series of stacked skyvillas — is heavily inspired by the traditional Indian stepwells and watermazes. This project received a lot of attention earlier this year for its ecological design. The staircases, influenced by stepwells, are used as planters filled with flowers, herbs and grasses. The watermaze inspires their private garden or space for a larger gathering. Alternatively, there are two more lanes for “different speeds of moving.” Chris Precht, co-founder of Home of Penda, explains, “A wide, straight road is for runners, fast walkers and serves as an emergency lane for fire-trucks. Residents who want to get quickly to their apartments but also enjoy a walk in the park can use a narrower walking path. A third trail is mainly for strolling through the landscape in the evening or walking the dog.” This is just one of the many projects that has put the team in the spotlight.

Dayong Sun, co-founder of Home of Penda, says that their ecological approach to growth is partly because of his fascination with landscapes. He says, “Growing up in the countryside, I am deeply fascinated by the extensive plain and field landscape. I still crave for that kind of lifestyle today. That’s why we’ve been pursuing green environment in our design.”

One of their most ambitious projects remains the San Shan Bridge, which spans across the Gui River in China and will be an important part of the Olympic Winter Games 2022 in Beijing. This year, the organisation won recognition as the Emergent Firm of the Year, which is dubbed as the Oscars of architecture.

It was only in 2013 that the co-founders set up their design practice. Since then, Home of Penda has had a successful run in the industry in only a short span of time. Their most talked about projects remains One with the Birds, an eco-hotel constructed in key locals across China. This treetop hotel is made from sticks of bamboo. These bamboo grids can be tied with rope — no screws or nails are used to construct this structure — and can be expanded horizontally or vertically. Dayong says, “It only takes three years for the bamboos to be made available for building. Bamboo has the strength and tenacity of steel.”

For the team at Home of Penda, design is about using inspiration from the local environment. Their philosophy, therefore, is to let their work adapt into their immediate surroundings. Dayong says, “Our design values life. We want to create spaces that mitigate the barrier between people and nature.”

Danish architect, the late Jørn Utzon, who was famous for designing the Sydney Opera House in Australia, remains one of Dayong’s inspirations. He says, “Jørn Utzon incorporated many Chinese elements into his designs and, transformed those elements into wonderful architecture. The Sydney Opera House, for instance, responds to the site and context and also expresses the emotional feelings of the architect.”

After having built bridges, eco-hotels, museums and even a library, Dayong wishes to design a temple next. He says, “I wish to design a temple, where people can seek inner peace and feel the aura of the universe.”