PROJECT BACKGROUND
Co-Raft Co-Living is a proposed mixed-use development comprising co-living and co-working spaces targeted at young creative professionals in Bangalore, India. Sited on an 8.4 acre plot adjacent to Hebbal Lake, the project aims to foster both community and creativity through considered design.
The development features 170 private residential units for short or long-term stays, flexible co-working facilities, shared amenities, outdoor recreation spaces, and landscaped grounds. Circulation and spatial planning promote spontaneous interactions among residents while respecting privacy needs.
POSITIONALITY
Co-Raft an integrated co-living and co-working model that consists of shared spaces living, relaxing, learning, earning and socializing . With the belief that with a proper atmosphere that inspires to live and to think creatively, we as a brand aim for togetherness where people, activities and values are weaved together and support each other. The social network will be open and flexible for new collaborations to happen between different innovators, professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers and inventors.
The brand is positioned in a way that it is committed to offer its users, creative spaces and a satisfying atmosphere that can encourage you to meet, interact, share and exchange resources, knowledge, experience, ideas, values and more. We strive to establish a strong, sustainable, social network, that will help to generate new sustainable and innovative business ideas.
Design Goals and Key Concepts
The overarching goals for Craft Co-Living were to:
- Create an inspiring, productive environment for creative individuals to live, work, and collaborate
- Facilitate community building and spur innovation through designed interactions and spaces
- Embrace biophilic principles with lush landscapes and water features
- Promote sustainability through passive strategies, local materials, and dense mixed-use planning
To achieve this, key concepts included:
- Integration of living and working in a hybrid typology
- Clustered, human-scale neighborhood planning
- Inviting third spaces to bridge private and shared realms
- Celebrating local climate and site ecology in the design
TARGET DEMOGRAPHICS
FINAL DESIGN
The exterior perspective renderings showcase the overall massing and organization of the three key zones - co-living, co-working, and public.
The co-living area is comprised of modular living unit clusters framed by lush courtyards and accessible terraces. Sinuous pedestrian paths connect the clusters, promoting casual interactions amongst residents. Centrally located water features like the azure pool and tranquil ponds enhance the community experience.
The co-working facility features an open, loft-like design to foster collaborative work styles. Visually permeable floors and voids create spatial openness while allowing privacy as needed. The roof terrace extends usable space outdoors.
Unifying the development is a landscape design that immerses the architecture in greenery. Existing trees are preserved and new endemic plantings populate courts and walkways. The serene ecological environment aims to nurture creativity.
Careful orientation of spaces balances privacy and community. Living units access secured courtyards for refuge, while shared circulation and amenities invite meaningful exchanges - facilitating bonds between residents.
COLIVING
COWORKING
PAVILLION
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
THEME BOARD & DESIGN DRIVERS
The initial research into co-living precedents and user needs defined key design drivers that guided the process. These were distilled into a theme board highlighting words like:
Flexibility - Spaces should accommodate evolving needs with movable elements, multifunctional areas, and access to outdoor zones.
Nature - Biophilic principles should immerse occupants in greenery, natural light, and regional materials.
Community - Clustered neighborhoods and shared amenities can foster bonds between diverse residents.
Additional drivers included sustainability, accessibility, and homeliness. These emphasized environmental responsiveness, inclusiveness, and residential comfort.
The drivers provided a touchstone for design decisions, keeping the focus on enhancing experience.
AREA PROGRAM
The development encompasses approximately 156,740 sq ft across three primary zones:
Co-Living
- 170 residential units
- Mix of single and double occupancy rooms
- Shared amenities like pool, gym, gallery
- The residential units range from 215 sq ft for standard singles to 323 sq ft for premium doubles. Each cluster includes accessible rooms and guest suites.
Co-Working
- Spaces for 200 people
- Open flexible volumes and split levels
- Workstations, private offices, meeting rooms
- Co-working comprises around 21,770 sq ft of useable workspace. Facilities can be reserved flexibly as needed.
Public
- Lobby, cafe, amphitheater
- Landscaped recreation spaces
- Pedestrian pathways
- Outdoor areas like the pool, basketball court, and community garden enhance the overall habitat.
ITERATIONS & FORM DEVELOPMENT
Early massing studies explored variations like courtyard blocks, terraced bars, and radiating modules. A central spine connecting public to private realms remained constant.
Ultimately, the clustered courtyard scheme was selected for its human scale and multi-layered transitional spaces. Smaller groupings prevent an institutional feel while multi-level terraces augment interactions within a shared oasis.
Wrapping circulations and living spaces around landscaped courts also allowed better daylighting, cross-ventilation, and views compared with consolidated blocks. The dispersed configuration maximizes access to nature from all areas.
CO-LIVING
The co-living area contains 170 private residential units, with a mix of single and double occupancy room types. Modular unit clusters are arranged around courtyards and roof terraces, promoting both privacy and community.
Units feature warm, natural materials like regional timber which references local context. Large windows connect indoor living spaces to exterior circulation and garden views. Flexible furniture enables personalization.
Shared amenities like the inviting azure pool, wellness studio, and landscaped courtyards foster resident interactions. Circulation loops organically through the clusters, with bridges linking upper terraces.
CO-WORKING
In the co-working facility, flexible collaborative workspaces accommodate 200 people. The open-plan design has an industrial loft-like feel, with exposed ceilings, voids, and an outdoor roof terrace.
Work nooks on split levels allow privacy or connection as desired. Meeting pods, booths, and lounges provide spaces for focus, collaboration, or rejuvenation.
The public pavilion acts as a bridge between co-living and working realms. Casual seating, greens, and water features encourage mingling in this neutral, creative zone.
Accessible pathways seamlessly integrate built areas with rehabilitated context and ecology. Sustainable strategies like solar orientation, ventilation, and water recycling tie the development to the landscape.
The overarching goals of nurturing community, spurring creativity, and connecting to nature guided the entire design.
Community was strengthened through clustered neighborhoods, shared amenities, and accessible circulation. Smaller modular groups help avoid an impersonal feel, while links between clusters encourage interactions.
Creativity was supported by providing flexible, open facilities with indoor-outdoor flow. Visual transparency, natural light, and finish materials aim to inspire residents.
Connecting to nature meant maximizing greenscapes, incorporating regional materials, and using water thoughtfully. Courtyards, roof terraces, and covered walkways extend usable landscapes.
Strategic massing and circulation foster casual encounters while respecting privacy needs. Living units access semi-private courtyards for refuge, while routes between clusters promote mingling.
Passive strategies were integrated throughout. Operable windows, open plans, and prevailing winds enable cross-ventilation. Water bodies help regulate temperatures. Solar orientation informed layouts.
The design ultimately works to nurture personal wellbeing and professional growth through a supportive habitat in sync with human needs and ecological systems.
PRECEDENTS & RESEARCH
SITE ANALYSIS
The site is an 8.4 acre vacant plot located adjacent to Hebbal Lake in Bangalore, India. It offered unique opportunities but also constraints to consider.
Front Width- 265 m
Back Width- 240 m
Depth- 175 m
Area- 34, 000 sq.m. OR 8.4 acres
Current Use- Empty Plot of land
Back Width- 240 m
Depth- 175 m
Area- 34, 000 sq.m. OR 8.4 acres
Current Use- Empty Plot of land
The largely empty site benefits from proximity to the lakefront. However, an adjacent multi-story office building blocks some views. Transport access via outer ring road and Hebbal bus station provides connectivity.
MICRO-CONTEXT ANALYIS
Climatic conditions were analyzed to utilize prevailing winds for passive ventilation and orient for solar control. The lakeside edge allows cooling breezes.
SUN & WIND
- The site has East and West as Predominant Wind Directions.
- The presence of Park on the East side will allow cool and fresh air to blow from that direction.
- Some of NW and NNW will be blocked by the Existing Building.
- The North and NE winds will be cool and moisture bearing winds due to the presence of a lake.
- The South side will receive direct sunlight because of the absence of wide highway and open ground.
- The presence of Park on the East side will allow cool and fresh air to blow from that direction.
- Some of NW and NNW will be blocked by the Existing Building.
- The North and NE winds will be cool and moisture bearing winds due to the presence of a lake.
- The South side will receive direct sunlight because of the absence of wide highway and open ground.
VEGETATION
- Mostly Barren site with light vegetation (mixed species- shrubs and trees) towards the site near to the lake
- Despite being barren the site has access to the beautiful Hebbal Lake Park which runs along two sides of the site.
- This abundant vegetation will help in bringing fresh air from the East side and North Side
- Despite being barren the site has access to the beautiful Hebbal Lake Park which runs along two sides of the site.
- This abundant vegetation will help in bringing fresh air from the East side and North Side
Slopes and levels across the site posed challenges for accessibility that defined circulation routes. Soil permeability guided landscape choices.
Bylaw setbacks, ground coverage limits, and height restrictions shaped massing strategies. Parking requirements were also considered.
The site's partial commercial zoning alongside natural assets presented unique possibilities but demanded creative solutions to constraints. Connecting the development to the adjacent natural ecology drove early design decisions. Respecting needs of both inhabitants and environment defined the project's sustainable ethos.
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