Sheikh Sarai housing, a complex of 550 units in South Delhi, is a low-rise, high density scheme that

combines diversity in units with axial pedestrian networks for a range of spatial and visual
experiences, is the first experiment performed by Raj Rewal on the issue of social housing applied to
a site of such a large scale. It fits in a context marked by the absence of symbolic elements
characterizing the site, since the peripheral to the centre of New Delhi.

Rewal works in the expansion south of the city, building a complex that consists of 550 apartments
and will find its fulfilment only in 1982. Sponsored by the DDA (Delhi Development Authority) the
Sheikh Sarai is structured according to current regulations that aim to self-housing residential as well
as to compliance with technical standards set.

1. Project Name: SHEIKH SARAI HOUSING

2. Location: New Delhi, India
peripheral (south of town), Latitude 28 ° 32'15 '', Longitude 77 ° 13'20 '' ZONE
3. Year of Construction: 1982
4. Area: 35 acres
5. Total No. of Units: 550
6. Density: 100 apartments/ha
7. Climate: semi-arid climate with high variation between summer and winter, characterized by
the seasons of the monsoon in the summer months and with an average annual temperature of
25°
8. Client: Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
9. Architect: Raj Rewal
10. Orientation: prevailing direction accesses northeast Southwest orientation buildings
Northwest Southeast (perpendicular to the prevailing direction)
11. Density: 100 dwellings / hectares distributed based on the following data:
• Area of intervention has 38195 m²
• Built-up area 12740 m²
• Surface parking lots 6622 m² has
• Green areas 3931 m²

Design Inspiration – The design finds a connection with the historical realities of cities of Udaipur
and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. It has the characteristic of urban fabric of India and which are
distinguished by the density of the town and for the close relationship between open and closed
spaces.

The design is based on clear pattern: connecting movement to space, from person to neighbourhood
and pedestrian to vehicular. The individual-to-community equation was structured through a
progression of private spaces to squares of varying sizes with shaded paths running throughout. The
vehicular to pedestrian zones flow from the outer margins to the inner areas of the scheme,
overlapping accordingly to create access points along the periphery. All the units have been provided
with courtyards or roof top terraces.

VARIOUS ASPECTS OF DESIGN:

URBAN FABRIC
• Low-Rise High-density walk-up apartments, clustered to create internal shaded streets linked by
gateways and open courtyards (traditional Indian architectural elements) for public use to
resemble a traditional urban settlement, and as an expression of style of the architect.
• The gateways, a common feature within the project enabled high level of transparency despite
being a high-density development rendering it legible for the users.

STREETS:
• The plan of Sheikh Sarai is based on narrow shaded streets linking variety of clusters
• The streets are broken up into small units, so there are pauses, points of rest and changing vistas.
CLUSTERS:
• Raj Rewal designed his housing schemes at Sheikh Sarai as a series of district clusters which are
interrelated.

The buildings are unified by means of similar façade treatment, using sandstone grit render, the
piercing of parapets, proportions of doors, deep set windows, and stone flanking walls for the
courtyard.

ROOF TERRACES:
• Private roof terraces and courtyards are an integral design component of the housing for the
Sheikh Sarai complex. Inner courtyard Streets in Sheikh Sarai Complex
DESIGN DETAILS:

• An important aspect of this solution is the pattern of interrelated squares of an intimate scale that has
been created.

• While there is a clear demarcation between pedestrian and vehicular spaces within these, the
movement of people within the enclosures has been closely aligned with the access points for vehicles
on the periphery.

• The scale of the various squares has been adjusted to encourage and to serve different community
activities.

• All the units have been provided with a courtyard or roof top terrace, the wall or parapets of which
have narrow slits (jalis) ensuring both privacy and good ventilation.

• Although the structure is of reinforced concrete posts and beams, the walls are of brick infill covered
with roughcast plaster.

• This is customary for economical mass housing in the region, and allows for some modification by
the users.

Design Aspects

Urban Scape and Community Spaces

Urban Scape

• At site level, architect developed the project by employing urban strategies of articulated flows,
segregated spaces and applied the same on the site level, resulting in a structured urban settlement
Community Spaces

 Fostering shared spaces for community by creating intimate courtyards connected to each other,
representing the traditional elements of Indian architecture. The scale of these courtyards has been
manipulated towards increased social activities and interaction amongst the resident community,
serving as a social facilitator.

MATERIALS USED:

The use of locally available material was intrinsic to the nature of project and to further bring down
the cost of the project. The structure comprised of concrete posts and beams with infill brick walls
covered with rough cast plaster. This gave the user the flexibility to modify as well.
- Surface coating in plaster with powdered slate, finishing in the rough, white colour.
- Wood frames with white colour
- External paving blocks of local stone

CLUSTERS &UNITS – Six different types of units ranging from 70-120 sq.m, organized in two
different clusters, 3 and 4 storeys high. The units have several variations in type, from 1–3-bedroom
apartments, although minor in each case, the need for economy and design is apparent within the
interior. The units are compact without any ambiguity of space that comes from having greater floor
areas to negotiate from. Despite the compactness of both units and clustering, every room is well-
ventilated and well-lit with an attached terrace for each unit.

Floor Plans

• Dwelling units are grouped around a courtyard

• Ground floor and First floor units are more spacious and have two bedrooms, while the upper flats
have only one bedroom
• Each unit have some kind of terrace for essential activities of Indian domestic life.