Elevated living: integrating mixed use high rise design in Navi Mumbai/

Abstract

In response to the rising urban density and changing lifestyle demands of metropolitan India, this thesis explores the role of mixed-use high-rise developments as a sustainable and efficient urban model. Located in Navi Mumbai, the proposed project integrates a retail mall, office tower, and residential high-rise within a compact vertical footprint to address land scarcity, reduce commute times, and enhance the quality of life in rapidly growing cities. The design stacks programmatic elements—retail and offices at the site's frontage for accessibility and visibility, and residential at the rear for privacy and calm. This spatial arrangement ensures each function operates independently while sharing infrastructure for greater efficiency. The form and massing respond to site-specific factors such as microclimate, views, and daylight, and are articulated through layered terraces, shifting volumes, and vertical greenery including sky courts and green walls. Key features include stepped office terraces, outdoor amenities on the podium, and intermediate gathering spaces in the residential tower to foster community interaction. Passive design strategies like orientation, shading, and cross ventilation boost environmental performance. With a centralized circulation core, rational structural grid, and integrated services, the design emphasizes livability, sustainability, and architectural identity, offering a replicable model for high-density urban development. Keywords: Mixed-Use Development, High-Rise Architecture, Vertical Zoning, Urban Livability, Sustainable Design, Residential Privacy, Commercial Frontage, Spatial Efficiency, utdoor Amenities, Elevated Living.