A Circular Concept shapes a gardened amphitheater
The design of Habitat 0 by RA Design Studio begins with a simple circle. Sited in India, among a neighborhood of vacation homes is organized radially around a central courtyard, the community hub draws energy from its continuous shape. Rather than imposing direction, the circle allows the space to unfold gradually, offering each dwelling generous access to the surrounding landscape. This orientation fosters a subtle rhythm, one that moves between privacy and exposure without interruption.
A central, terraced amphitheater moves between function and gesture. It is at once a gathering space and an architectural hinge for both passage and pause. The steps rise to meet a garden rooftop and double as seating, observation point, and informal meeting ground. The architecture engages gently with the land, inviting movement through shared space without requiring a prescribed use.
RA Design Studio’s Dual-Skin Envelope
The defining form of Habitat 0, conceived by the architects at RA Design Studio, emerges through its layered skin. An outer shell of arches shields the structure, carving shadows that animate the interiors throughout the day. These shadows sometimes echo natural forms, casting curves that appear momentary and alive. Inside, a transparent glass wall maintains openness, drawing light into the homes while sustaining a visual dialogue with the gardens beyond.
The community center carries a deliberate continuity between architecture and landscape. The route from exterior garden to inner courtyard and eventually to the roof garden reflects a sequence that never breaks from its natural surroundings. RA Design Studio reinforces this relationship through an alignment of pathways, views, and transitions that celebrate the landscape and feel inherently grounded in place.
A semi-sheltered pool anchors one side of the building. Designed as part of the building’s circular plan, the space slips partially into shade beneath the curving roof. Light enters through roof cutouts, animated by the movement of water. Sloped walls around the pool guide the eye and the body into this carved retreat, which remains both secluded and open to the sky.
▲ RA 設計工作室的 Habitat 0 圍繞圓形庭院組織,將每個單元與自然連接起來
RA Design Studio’s Habitat 0 is organized around a circular courtyard that connects each unit to nature
RA 設計工作室將每個表面都視為光影交織的契機。拱門將圖案投射到墻壁和地板上,無框玻璃板則消解了室內外的界限。露天劇場和泳池上方的開口將天空引入室內,營造出一種靜謐與倒影的氛圍。
habitat 0 draws from its community
RA Design Studio curates the materiality of its Habitat 0 to demonstrate a commitment to its context. The architects sourced local materials and engaged nearby artisans to realize the project, noting that the construction process embeds the community in its environment both economically and culturally. The stone, concrete, and timber used in the project speak to their origin, anchoring the homes to the landscape with both familiarity and durability.
The smaller gestures throughout Habitat 0 amplify the whole. RA Design Studio treats each surface as an opportunity for interaction between shadow and light. Arches project patterns on walls and floors, while frameless glass panels dissolve the boundaries between inside and out. Openings above the amphitheater and pool draw in the sky. At night, lighting is restrained and intentional, giving weight to stillness and reflection.
▲ 中央圓形劇場既是聚集空間,也是交通樞紐
the central amphitheater serves as both a gathering space and a circulation path
▲ 拱形外墻提供陰涼和質感,而內部玻璃表皮則提供透明度和光線
arched outer walls provide shade and texture while the inner glass skin allows transparency and light
▲ 穿過花園、庭院和露臺的小徑保持著室內和室外之間的流暢過渡
paths through gardens, courtyards, and terraces maintain a fluid transition between indoors and outdoors
▲ 半遮蔽的泳池上方有著采光口,周圍是傾斜的墻體環繞
the semi-sheltered pool is lit by cutouts in the roof and framed by sloping walls
▲ 拱門和天窗的陰影使室內充滿活力,并隨著時間的變化而變化
shadows from the arches and skylights animate the interiors and change throughout the day
▲ 當地材料與傳統工藝成為該項目的基石
local materials and regional craftsmanship ground the project in its setting