The Crystal Hall

The Crystal Hall, a big but small home, is an essay on light, nature & history. It integrates sustainability, reuses material, and uses disadvantaged local talent.

It has the world's first residential windmill towers, proprietary use of two layers of high-performance recycled glass with a rainforest of non-invasive vegetation species within, thermal insulation technology & rainwater utilization — thus creating a glocal (global + local) building.

Glass —which can be recycled endlessly without loss of quality or clarity, recreates bioclimatic conditions that help tackle climate change while using modern materials that are culturally, emotionally and ecologically conscious. Despite its use of state-of-the-art technology, the total cost of $22 per square foot makes it one of the least expensive buildings of its genre anywhere. It follows a minimalistic modern approach while taking inspiration from classicism and yet being culturally, emotionally and ecologically conscious.

The Crystal Hall is an example of paleomodern design, paleo meaning first. This is to take design beyond form follows function to form follows feeling, to reintroduce beauty and pleasure in art, things which were once universal but now is seen as sentimental and commercial. Things like Square proportions, Golden mean proportions, rhythm, scale, harmony and the accommodation of local and climatological aspects makes this a traditional design with a modern outlook using Avant Grande technology and materials. The architect also ensured every space of the project was curated to reflect what has been religiously, culturally, and geographically experienced by the client.

The building follows a zero-waste policy and is a perfect example of socially responsible architecture. Everything was handmade - providing employment to the poorest indigenous people of color while preserving the skillsets of neighbouring artisans. It has become an ecological magnet for wildlife like peacock, mongoose, snakes and sometimes even a deer or two.