GoodEarth

Elements
” Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”
-Frank Lloyd Wright
Welcome to Good Earth Elements
At Good Earth, we have been experimenting with alternatives in housing for the past few years. The attempt has been
to create vibrant communities which make one feel psychologically and socially secure, and retain one’s individuality.
Communities of like-minded people, a belief in an eco- sustainable future.
With every project, we have observed the responses and grown, at times adapting to the demands of people, at others,
persisting in what we believe. Certain concepts about the individual and the community have evolved over time. The
necessity of appropriate private spaces, open and semi-open, in order to enhance community life and interaction in the
public spaces, has become clearer. So has the need to create smaller groups, within the context of the large group, to
accentuate the sense of belonging, and encourage relationships among the immediate group first and then the larger group.
We hope that these environments will create a greater sense of social responsibility among the members. We believe we
are bringing about social and environmental change through these efforts.
Good Earth Elements is inspired by the elements of nature . The Location
We bring to our design the essence of these very elements to create homes that are Located between the IT hub
ideal for living Kakkanad and the center for
excellence in science, CUSAT,
Elements Thrikkakkara is one of the most
Distance chart to Elements preferred up-market residential
l

from each landmark

suburb of Kochi. With excellent road
al
m

Place Distance
lu

connectivity to Seaport-
Lu

16 01. Collectrate 3.43 km.

02. Infopark 6.37 km.
03. SEZ 4.82 km. Airport Road and NH 47, the place
04. Sunrise Hospital 2.36 km. is easily accessible from any
05. NPOL 2.85 km.
06. Bharat Mata Collage 1.84 km. part of the city. All amenities like
07. Cardinal School 1.30 km. schools,shopping malls, hospitals,
08. Model Eng. Collage
09. Thikkakara Temple
0.50 km.
0.48 km.
etc. are in close vicinity.
10. CUSAT
11. Pipe Line Junction
1.75 km.
0.32 km.
Good Earth Elements is coming
12. Toll Junction(Edappally) 2.33 km. up on 105 cents of verdant land
13. Edappally Bypass Jn.
14. Palarivattom Bypass
2.87 km.
4.61 km.
on a residential area flanked by
15. Suburban Club 1.71 km. premium educational institutions.
16. Lulu Mall 2.63 km.
The property is just 100m off the
Edappally Toll - Pukkattupady Road
that offer great connectivity between
the NH 47 and Seaport- Airport road
Sustainability
In the most common definition,
sustainability is referred to as “meeting
the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs,”
Sustainable development is that which
raises the quality of life and serves the
goal of achieving global equity in the
distribution of the Earth’s resource
whilst conserving its natural capital
and achieving significant and sustained
reductions in all forms of pollution.
The objectives of this approach are to
“seek by design a low-energy, passive
building and better occupant comfort.”

Designing with Climate

Climate is one of the endemic aspects
of place over others and is adopted as a
starting point for design.
The most obvious justification must be the
lowering of costs as a result of lowering
the energy consumption in the operation of
the building. This can be a big percentage
of the overall life cycle energy costs of the
building, since the bulk of its cost lies in
operational phase. Significant savings in
operational costs would justify incorporation
of climatically –responsive design features
despite higher initial capital construction
costs.
Architecture in the tropics has to act like an
umbrella: keep out the rain, keep out the
sun, and let the wind through to keep the
body cool.
Cavity walls
Cavity walls Double walls built with hollow clay blocks keep the
interior spaces cooler and protect them from moisture during
the monsoon. The cavity walls are designed to maintain a
continuous air flow through them. Hot air extractor fan pull out
the hot air from the top of the building thus keeping the internal
walls cool.
Besides serving as a passive coolant, the external wall is
also very low on maintenance, bringing down the long term
maintenance costs of the building.
The Tropical High-rise CENTRALISED WATER STORAGE and
RAINWATER HARVESTING ensures
element’s water sustainability

Good Earth “Elements” is a tropical high rise apartment building, a green alternative WATER RECYCLING
an
sewage
plant
on campus
treatment
recycles
waste water
all

which responds to and takes advantage of the climate and the location.
GREEN BUFFER
with trees
The well is RECHARGED with
harvested rain water

A CLUB HOUSE brings together

Technological developments, cheap fuels, new cooling and lighting technologies and
community members around
livelydiscussions parties and
activities like a relaxing swim or
vigorous work-out

increased expectations of occupants have resulted in buildings that are designed and
used with little regard to their location or their ambient environments Many of these
buildings manage to provide acceptable levels of thermal and visual comfort indoors,
but at enormous and unsustainable cost to the environment; and there is a growing
body of evidence that the artificially maintained conditions within many of our modern
buildings are not conducive to good health.
Bio-climatic architecture seeks to create an architecture which is fundamentally more
responsive to location, climate and human needs.
At the heart of elements is
CENTRAL LANDSCAPED
A tucked away SPACE with trees. Cobbled
children’s PLAY AREA pathway, benches, a place for Island LANDSCAPED
community interaction space

The buildings are characterised by the use of elements, including walls, windows,
MAIN ENTRANCE
the entrance is a pleasant
transition space from the
outside world to the elements
eco community

roofs and floors, combining available materials and technologies, to manage energy
flows and thus provide comfortable conditions in the occupied parts of the building at
all times of the day and year. Amenities
Swimming pool: For that dip that will
wash away your workplace woes

Gym: Well equiped with an attractive

ambience

Club & Party area: An exclusive facility,

solely for your leisure and private
gatherings.

Paved pathway: For your morning walks

or your kids bicycle escapades, a paved
pathway is planned around the building.

Generator backup:24 hours power

The community sky court backup to prevent you from pulling out
your hair and screaming at the electricity
The sky court is a landscaped terrace designed in the transition areas around staircases
board.
and lifts, at intermediate levels, to act as a community space, and as visual relief.
At every level, as one enters or leaves the building, one experiences these, and the Two lifts: One bed lift and one passenger
access to individual homes is through this naturally lit and ventilated space. lift.
A space for children to play, neighbors to meet, plants and lawn giving the air a fresher
Broadband: Cabling for broadband will
feel. The sky court is designed to integrate hard and soft landscape, to create a variety
be done for each unit in Good Earth
of areas which encourage interaction among different groups.
Elements.
Wind scoop and natural light. The atria created by the sky court, act as wind scoops,
drawing fresh air into them, and allowing hot air to escape, even through the homes. Security and Intercom: The premise
The same can be said for natural light, which penetrates to the deepest area of the will have 24 hours manned security.
building through them. At every level, the effort is to scale down the spaces to a more You can also use the intercom facility to
human scale, so that the experience is more intimate, rather than vertical. restrict unwanted visitors.
The individual sky garden
In the past, most of our developments have been low rise, and emphasized
on the relationship to land, the importance of community spaces. At
“Elements” we have tried to recreate the same character, which has been
transformed through what we call “sky gardens”, in each apartment. These
are open green terraces with a breathtaking view of the valley below.
Besides creating a bit of the outdoors even at the higher floors, they break
the severity of the scale, making it more human.
The design of the sky gardens minimise the heat and moisture on the lower
floors, by virtue of protecting the walls below. The landscaped garden, acts
as a buffer from the dust, heat and the lashing rain.
They are staggered on alternate floors to form a chequer board like spacing,
which enhances the air movement between floors. The double height
spacing between the gardens, gives each one a private uninterrupted bit
of sky, not to mention the valley below.
The transition from the interior of the house to the open terrace is made
through a semi open verandah. The verandah is the most comfortable
space from which one can enjoy the rain, only feeling the mild spray, or
the cool breeze, protected from the sun.

The landscape
When one talks of being eco-friendly, it does not stay in the realm of
building, energy and water alone. The ecology- the flora and fauna,
existing on the land, that might have existed before development
took over, become important aspects in not only rejuvenating the
land, but for the psychological and cultural values they impart.
Vegetable and aromatic gardens are possible to grow, on these
terrace gardens.
Eco features
Materials
The materials and finishes used are a blend of the natural and eco-sensitive, with the practical, and
easy to maintain. Exposed clay block exteriors, stone, clay and wood for the interiors selectively.
Woodwork polished with tall tree oil to enhance the life of the timber and give it a rustic look.

Cavity walls Double walls built with hollow clay blocks, keep the interior spaces cooler and protect
them from moisture during the monsoon. The cavity walls are designed to maintain a continuous
air flow through them.Hot air extractor fan pull out the hot air from the top of the building thus
keeping the internal walls cool.

PAINTS:We encourage the use low VOC paint internally, as it is non toxic, lead free and low
in VOC. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), commonly found in most indoor and outdoor
paints, give out low level toxic emissions into the air for years after application.
DESIGN FOR NATURAL LIGHT AND VENTILATION
Designed with adequate natural light and cross ventilation. Large windows, wide verandahs, air
channels to take hot air out, and thermally conducive materials, are all features which reduce the
necessity for artificial light and ventilation.
 Craft
Traditional crafts like carpentry, stonework and masonry are
slowly dying out as they cannot adapt to newer material,
technology and requirement. But the value they impart to a
space cannot be overlooked. We make a conscious effort
to integrate these crafts and their skilled craftsperson’s in
the building process. In all our work, we emphasise human
resource rather than material.

Water
RAINWATER HARVESTING AND RECHARGING
Rainwater is harvested and the ground water is
recharged through well spread out percolation channels.
Roof water will also be passed through a seriesof filters
and collected in the water tank.
WATER RECYCLING
An oncampus sewage treatment plant recycles all
waste water. The waste water from the kitchens and
bathrooms is collected and treated with a series of filters
to emerge clean. This water is then used for gardening.
WASTEMANAGEMENT
We propose to have an efficient garbage disposal
system that separates solid and non ]biodegradable
waste from the organic waste. Organic waste can be
collected and composted, and the compost reused as
manure. Some of the nonbiodegradable waste can be
incinerated. For the metals and plastics, one could look
at recycling agencies which can pick up the waste.
Elements
eco-community CENTRALISED WATER STORAGE and
RAINWATER HARVESTING ensures
element’s water sustainability

HOMES FOR A SUSTAINABLE WATER RECYCLING

an on campus sewage
treatment plant
LIVING GREEN BUFFER
recycles all waste
water
with trees
The well is RECHARGED with
harvested rain water

Good earth Elements is a tropical

high rise apartment building, a A CLUB HOUSE brings together
community members around

green alternative which responds livelydiscussions parties and

activities like a relaxing swim or
vigorous work-out
to and takes advantages of
the climate and location.
The design minimizes the common
walls between apartments. The
units are designed as homes
that open up to the outside
through verandahs and sky
gardens. The cavity walls capture
the hot air which is expelled using
air extractors on the roof keeps
the indoors cool. The lobby
also has been designed as an
extension of the landscape
with sky gardens. The design
attempts to break away from
the typical apartment plan to
bring in elements of a home in
space planning.
The planning of the apartment is At the heart of elements is
CENTRAL LANDSCAPED

like a home plan with all the living A tucked away

children’s PLAY AREA
SPACE with trees. Cobbled
pathway, benches, a place for Island LANDSCAPED
community interaction
areas opening up on two sides
space

into sky gardens/verandahs which MAIN ENTRANCE

the entrance is a pleasant

simulate the feel of a living space

transition space from the
outside world to the elements
eco community
in the ground floor of a home
opening up into the garden.
Keyplan
Levels 2,4, 6, 8,10

Apartment Areas
Type A 2181 sq.ft.
Type B 2246 sq.ft.
Type C1 1426 sq.ft.
Type C2 (Lower Level) 2866 sq.ft.
Type D 1692 sq.ft.
Type E 1927 sq.ft.
Keyplan
Levels 3,5,7,9,11

Apartment Areas
Type A 2170 sq.ft.
Type B 2237 sq.ft.
Type C1 1426 sq.ft.
Type C2 (Upper Level) 2866 sq.ft.
Type D 1692 sq.ft.
Type E 1927 sq.ft.
Type A- 3 Bedroom
Area: 2170 Sq.ft. (for Levels 1,3, 5, 7, 9, 11)
Area: 2181 Sq.ft. (for Levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)

Flat-1A, 3A, 5A, 7A, 9A, 11A

Type B- 3 Bedroom
Area: 2237 Sq.ft. (for Levels 1,3, 5, 7, 9, 11)
Area: 2246 Sq.ft. (for Levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)

Flat-1B, 3B, 5B, 7B, 9B, 11B

Type C1- 2 Bedroom
Area: 1426 Sq.ft.
Type C2- 4 Bedroom Duplex (Lower Level)
Area: 2866 Sq.ft.
(for Floors 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)

Type C2- (Upper Level)

Type D- 3 Bedroom
Area: 1692 Sq.ft.

Flat-1D, 3D, 5D, 7D, 9D, 11D

Type E- 3 Bedroom
Area: 1927 Sq.ft.

Flat-1E, 3E, 5E, 7E, 9E, 11E

specifications Infrastructure
Internal Driveway Drive way with interlock pavers to enhance rain water percolation
Layout will be surrounded with a solid 5 feet masonry compound wall over which 2 feet PVC net fencing
Compound Wall
will be done.
KWA/ Rain water for domestic uses and treated open well/ recycled water for flushing and gardening.
Water Supply
Automated pumping system.
Common Area and
Timer Controlled system and low energy fittings
external lighting
Landscape Tropical and sustainable landscape as per master plan

Club Gym, multi-purpose hall and swimming pool with treatment plant

Lifts One automatic passenger lift and one automatic utility lift
Collection and treatment as per norms. Techniques adopted for ground water recharging
Rainwater Harvesting

Sewage and grey water fully treated and reused with adequate Sewage Treatment Plant.
Waste Management
Appropriate solid organic waste management system
Structure
Foundation Deep end bearing pile upto hard rock with RCC pile cap and grade beam.
RCC framed structure with columns and grid beams. The clear height of each
Super Structure floor is 2.85m. Aesthetically done exposed terracotta perforated brick masonry for external walls and wire-
cut brick masonry plastered on either surfaces for internal walls.
Finishes
Exterior finishes Walls- Combination of Painted and Cavity walls with exposed Terra Cotta blocks.

Interior finishes All internal walls except utility/ work area and toilets rendered with putty and low VOC paints.

Woodwork
Front door Teakwood, melamine finished with Godrej or equivalent quality lock.
Moulded paneled and painted doors of Jacsons or equivalent with engineered wood door jambs. French
Internal doors
doors in Seasoned hardwood, melamine finished.

Toilet doors white laminated flush doors with PVC lipping and engineered wood door jambs.

Windows Powder-coated aluminium windows using INDAL or equivalent sections with standard hardware.
Electrical Dedicated indoor transformer
Three phase wiring. All wiring using Finolex or equivalent make copper cables, concealed in PVC
Wiring conduit pipes. ELCB: 40A (30ma) and MCBs MDS or Equivalent. Autotomatic changeover from KSEB to
Generator power.
Switches Modular switches & sockets.

Power back up Generator powered. Flexible usage upto 500 Watts per flat.

Flooring Foyer, living, family living, dining, kitchen, balcony and bedrooms: Rustic series tiles 60 cm x 60 cm

Utility & bathrooms First quality anti-skid ceramic tiles on the floor. First quality ceramic tiles for bathroom walls.

Lobby and stairs Matt finished tiles

The cabinets, counter, dado, sink and tap not included. All provisions for electrical and plumbing
Kitchen
connections
Wall mounted western style closet with twin flush open cistern. White sanitary fittings CERA or equivalent.
Sanitary and Plumbing
All CP items Jaquar or equivalent.
the process

At Good Earth, we believe that joy is in the process, and in every community the
positive energies begin from the time the first stone is laid. We take pride in the fact
that every member of our team,  takes ownership of building the community and is
respected for the skill and hard work they contribute.
Our belief is that such communities generate a strong sense of belonging while also
enabling a collective sense of security and responsibility for nature. We foresee a
future where many such communities keep growing, each germinating a new bio-
rich eco-zone.
We believe saving the planet is a joint responsibility. Thus our architectural
departures are totally environment driven. We are among the few organizations
in the country to faithfully implement green technology in building design and
development.
We invite you to join Good Earth in our
journey towards a sustainable future.

CONTACT
Sonoop : +91 9947 444400
Benny : +91 9947 222200

email us
mail@goodearthhomes.net

website
www.goodearthhomes.net