Rinki Kotak, Founder & Principal Architect, 4th Dimension
Crafting homes using unique and eco-friendly building materials results in interiors that are innovative, appealing, and sustainable.
Ar. Rinki Kotak
Transparent Wood: Transparent wood, the newest environmentally friendly material, is more thermally efficient and at least five times stronger and lighter than glass. These qualities make it an intriguing alternative to windows made of glass or plastic. The raw material is environmentally friendly and renewable. Additionally, production costs are significantly lower than in the glass industry, where the high temperatures and electricity needed for the process result in a notable carbon impact.
Sensitiles – the New Dimension of Acrylic Tiles: Not all revolutionary building materials have novel physical characteristics, such as strength or safety. These materials may also include technology to create breathtaking decorations and realize the most lavish design concepts. Sensitive acrylic fiber tiles are a new kind of finishing material that responds to light sources, touch, and movement. The tile can light up, capture, and scatter nearby colours on its surface as a result of the optical fiber’s reaction to light transmission. This material opens up new possibilities in interior design and architecture.
Concrete that is both Flexible & Strong: Concrete is widely used in design, but today, with modern advancements, concrete has taken a new form with new additives. Compared to conventional concrete, ConFlexPave has up to three times the flexibility and strength. To distribute loads over a whole concrete slab, the solution is combined with the thinnest polymer microfibres. As a result, when bent, it becomes twice as strong as ordinary concrete and as strong as metal. This material is 400 times more flexible while still being just as strong. In addition to increasing the flexural coefficient, geopolymers also strengthen the material’s resilience to potential microfractures.
Sustainability of Cane: Cane adds character to rooms and is a sustainable material. Compared to conventional hardwoods, cane grows faster, which lessens its impact on the environment. Cane and rattan need less energy to harvest and process, maintaining their natural appearance and lowering carbon emissions.
In our project “Timeless Roots” cane is used as a main design element, along with polished wood, to lend a rustic effect commonly seen in traditional Indian homes.
