Rooftop Landscape at a Pharmaceutical Factory

· Client & Owner: Getz Pharma

· Design Scope and Team: Architecture, Landscape architecture

Saifullah Sami, Saad Mohibullah, Raza Aziz, Umair Siddiqui, Ahmed Ali, Salman Mayari.

· Location: Korangi, Karachi, Pakistan

· Consultants: Electrical Ayub Associates, Structural Mushtaq & Bilal, Mechanical Anwar Saadat Associates

· Contractor: Afzaal Associates

· Total Area: 33,000 soft

· Completion Date: April 2021

· Photography by: Zoral Naik Photography

The brief, instigated by a LEED Platinum rating bid, required us to design a landscape on the roof of a double basement parking structure in a factory.

This became an opportunity to manipulate the section of the roof slab (designed flat but not yet constructed at the time of our induction into the project) for light-catchers that also became planters.

In the center of the scheme we continued the sectional idea to make an amphitheater partially covered with a wood pergola. At center, corners and other critical points we designed planters deep enough for trees.

Brick screens or “jaali” help address the need for passive cooling and light in the basement.

This landscaped roof has become a recreational, event and cultural space for the factory and company.

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Entry from the outside to the landscape is from a cascading staircase that leads up to a raised plinth, while a stair-tower connects to the basements below.

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Initial concept sketch

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Aerial view of the landscape showing entry from the main gate, pathways, pergolas, planters and amphitheater.

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Sectional perspective showing the contours of planters and steps as well as the relationship of the roof landscape with the two basements below it.

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Detail section of planter and skylight.

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Sectional detail of planter and skylight.

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Bird’s-eye view of the landscape showing floor surface articulation with pebble-filled channels.