The Forest is a high-density development project located in the Democratic Republic of Congo, designed by Sanjay Puri Architects which is led by founding partners Sanjay Puri and Nina Puri. The project was created with the intention of minimizing heat gain on the southern side while also providing privacy to the existing residential 15-storey buildings.
The vertical circulation core was positioned on the southern side to achieve this objective. The offices are located towards the north and northwest, offering a beautiful view of the Congo River while reducing heat gain by allowing natural indirect light into the office spaces. The building is situated in the Congo River and has peripheral glazing surfaces that are oriented towards the river.
The architects were inspired by the African forest to create a structure that replicates a dense tree with parabolic balconies that cover the building facade. The angled balconies overlap at subsequent floors, providing double and single-height balcony spaces for each office.
The building’s shape, with its projecting decks, permits the integration of open spaces with enclosed ones. The blend of building shape and balconies creates a parametric envelope of repetitive cascading elements that develops a unique identity for the building.
Project Info
Location: Democratic Republic Of The Congo, Africa
Client: Modern Construction SARL
Completion Date: 2025
Built Area: 42107.85 sqm
Architects: Sanjay Puri Architects
Lead Architect: Arch. Sanjay Puri
Design Team: Arch. Dimple Mehta, Arch. Muskaan Garg
