Designed by Sanjay Udamale Architects, the architecture and interiors of the Central Library of IIT Bombay, is a continuous dialogue between the inside and the outside with its ample natural light, coordinated white and pastel shades, textures and materials, and unobstructed views of the green landscape


The Central Library of IIT Bombay is one of the India’s largest libraries of Science, Engineering and Technology. Located in the heart of the campus, the 90,000 sq.ft building accommodates over 5,00,000 books, journals etc. All library administrative office functions are brought together, while a digital knowledge lab, a language lab, a 24x7 reading hall, and a new entrance hall have been added, with the additions built around the existing trees.

The building integrates seamlessly with the existing building both externally and internally. Redesigned as an open plan, it offers views across the various spaces and surrounding greens, including the central courtyard which has three large trees with a garden on two levels, and a cafe opening out to the lower level, with informal seating on the steps.

The building’s architecture brings together several ideas from designing with reference to the site and context, to optimising energy-efficiency and sustainability, and making the place a focal point for the students


Ar. Sanjay Udamale

The library is in pristine white and set amidst lush green surroundings with solar protection fins. Care is taken that the site ecology and microclimate is maintained and enhanced. Natural light is used as the main design tool. The green surroundings are preserved to keep microclimate cool and reduce heat loads. Deep shaded windows, large overhangs for sun heat and glare protection reduce heat loads and maximum natural ventilation lower energy consumption throughout the life cycle of the buildings. The south facade of the building is protected from rain and sun with RCC fins. The main entrance is a large RCC canopy above a glass box.

Easy circulation is organized in the floors aligning the movement horizontally as a complete loop around every floor of the building and connected vertically at the four corners by staircases. A staircase in granite leads to the upper level periodical hall.

The vertical expansion at the topmost floor is a lightweight metal frame structure with light metal roof and aluminium cladding. It has external elevations with glazed walls. In fact, ample use of glass has been made for letting in day light and views of the greenery outside. Some of the external areas are clad in metal sheets combining the texture of corrugated metal with sand plaster finishes of solar protection fins. Along with metal for a lightweight structure, roofing and wall cladding, and glass, the materials are easy to work with and maintain.


Fact File
Name of project: Central Library of IIT Bombay
Location: Mumbai
Built-up area: 90,000 sq.ft
Architecture Firm: Sanjay Udamale Architects
Interior Design: Sanjay Udamale Architects
Landscape Design: Sanjay Udamale Architects
Plumbing: Sanjay Udamale Architects
Structural Engineering: Dwijendra Kane & Associates Epicons Consultants
Mechanical & HVAC: Chandar Ramchandani Consulting Engineers
Electrical Engineering: Cutech Consulting Engineers
Security & Fire fighting: Epsilon Design Consultancy Services

Contractors
Structural and Civil: Renjin Constructions
Electrical: Prabhat Powertech
HVAC: Brite Industries
Furniture: Adarsh Infrainterio
Photographs: Ar. Sanjay Udamale, Ramesh Patil, Sandhya Patil


Material Palette
Façade: Aluminium cladding panels, glass
External wall finishes: Sand face plaster, pre-coated zinc
Structure: Galvanised Iron profile sheets, Reinforced concrete, structural steel, mild steel, brickwork
Roofing: Pre-coated zinc galvanised iron profile sheets
Flooring & interior wall cladding: Granite, vitrified tiles, Kota, rectified glazed ceramic tiles
False ceiling: Plain gypsum, gypsum tiles, mineral fibre tiles, perforated pre-coated galvanized steel (metal) tiles, aluminium un-perforated exterior grade panelling, FRP
Doors & Windows: Powder coated aluminium sections, glass, flush doors, FRP
Furniture: Commercial plywood, hollow mild steel sections, laminate, PVC, leatherette fabric, marine plywood, teakwood, polyester yarn fabric
Railing: Stainless steel grade 304
Paint: Premium acrylic exterior and exterior paint, synthetic enamel paint
External floor finishes: Granite, coloured chequered precast cement concrete tiles, cement paver blocks


Brands
Aluminium Cladding Panels: Eurobond
Glass: Saint Gobian
Galvanised Iron sheets: Bhushan
Vitrified & Glazed Ceramic tiles: Johnson
Wallpaper: Marshal
Plain gypsum false ceiling: Saint-Gobain Gyproc
Aluminium exterior grade: Hunter Douglas
Powder coated aluminium sections: Jindal
Hardware: Godrej, Ebco
Commercial Plywood: Greenply
Hollow Mild Steel sections: Tata
Laminates: Formica
PVC: Smartedge, Leatherette
Marine plywood: Greenply
Paint: Asian Paints
Cement concrete tiles & paver blocks: Super Tiles
Plumbing fittings & fixtures: Hindustan Sanitaryware, Jaguar
Electricals & Lighting: Roma-Anchor, Wipro, Polycab, Precision

Prem Nath and Associates have conceived a state-of-the-art stadium for sports as well as entertainment in the NCR, which meets international standards for grandeur in scale and design, along with optimal safety and security


Fact File
Project: Sports Centre and Cricket Stadium, NCR.
Architects: Prem Nath and Associates
Structural Consultants: SACPL, Mumbai
Building Material Providers: JSW

The requirements were that of a stadium cum sports complex with a holding capacity of 50,000 people, and various structures like a club, guest house, a utility & ancillary block and a sports academy. The emphasis was on safety and security of the visitors and the players. The stadium’s stands consist of viewers’ seating, VIP boxes, and dedicated areas for the team members, administration, security personnel, media rooms, lobbies, food courts, washroom and other amenities.

The entire project planning has been done within an area of approx. 32.6 acres; with the open area spread over 15,000 sqm as per ICC standards. The plan is distributed in four major stands: North, East, West, and South. The Recreation / Club area of 7,000 sqm is spread over ground plus 3 floors consisting of indoor sports such as gymnasium, aerobics, boxing ring, squash, table tennis, and billiards, refreshment areas and common amenities.

The idea is to make an ‘iconic and flexible’ design with use of latest construction technology. More than just a cricket stadium, it will also serve as an ‘entertainment centre’, because it was realised that since stadiums hold matches for a very short and specific time of the year, they could be utilised for other entertainment purposes also


Ar. Prem Nath

The swimming pool is planned in this area as part of outdoor sports facility with changing rooms and amenities within the club building. About 160 guest rooms are planned in a 9-storied annexe with a total construction area of 16,500 sqm, which will include the common spaces, reception, lobby and dining facilities.

As this is a public building, where the visitor profile will include bureaucrats, celebrities, players, the local public and international visitors, the design, therefore, has been conceptualized keeping in mind ‘near zero’ security levels. The circulation pattern also minimizes chances of any chaos in times of higher footfalls.


The premises contain an oval shaped stadium complex, along with recreational and hotel blocks. On approaching the stadium, you enter a huge piazza, and the internal road takes you along the entire complex.

The geometry of the stadium is designed to ensure that the view from the spectator stands is maximized and the boundary line visible from all places of seating. It has been observed that in 90% of the stadiums, the spectators can’t see the foresight boundary line. The pitch being the main focal point is aligned keeping in mind the north and south stands. The roof profile ensures that the glare affecting the west and west stand causes minimal disturbance to the viewers.


R.C.C. is used for stadium stands and steel for the roof and outer shell of the stadium. The atrium space is supported by an external steel frame to provide stability to the structure, while covering the entire spectator area. Hence, the supporting steelwork needed to be precisely engineered and executed. Use of solar panels in the roof assembly add to the aesthetics and take advantage of the sun’s energy.

State-of-the-art technology has been used for the sports lighting and public-address systems. Tower lights and track lights on the periphery ensure the required 1000 lux level. Louvers and perforated metal screens in the outer skin provide ventilation and help the building breath.

The ‘Sports Stadium Cum Entertainment Complex’ will be used for both cricket and football and will be the first of its kind in the country. 

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Nagpur is proposed as a state-of-the-art 500 bed, Oncology Centre; the project is compliant with both the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Joint Commission International (JCI). The project

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Marked by a presence of strong sculptural elements, Atelier Krikos, was visualized by Studio Ardete as an office space that would break stereotypes and defy conventionality. Layers of monochromatic components and parametric modeling introduce dynamism to the spaces, bringing fluidity in the visual dimension


Fact File
Client: Ravijeet Singh, R.S Builders
Location: Mohali, Punjab
Total Area: 3054 sqft
Architecture firm: Studio Ardete
Project Management: R.S Builders
Lighting Design: The Luminars
General Contractor: Ravijeet Singh, RS Builders

Material Palette
Furniture: Harmony
Flooring: Indian Granite
Lighting: Osram

Since the office was to primarily host meetings, the design was based around the circular conference room of 17 feet diameter and designed using completely transparent glass. The idea was to utilize the site conditions to showcase the progress and possibilities of the construction industry while reinterpreting contemporary office interiors. With a clear width of 38 feet, the site was a column-free space—a feature that was not to be overlooked

The entrance to the office is defined by a 9 x 6 feet wide pivoted metal door, designed as a composition of tapering metal pipes. An installation designed parametrically using 1500 circular rods hanging in an organic wave structure from the ceiling marks the waiting and reception area. The installation is visualized in white to contrast it against the grey of the walls and the floor.

The conference room is flanked by 3-D curvilinear structures designed using special construction techniques and methods of reinforcement and formwork. The structures use M-30 concrete with OPC and graded aggregate with MS bars for reinforcement in 50mm complete thickness. Curvilinear framework and pouring of joint-less concrete caste in situ offered challenges that were carefully overcome. Bare of all external, decorative treatment, these structures contrast against the smooth interiors and lend the space a rustic feel.

The interiors are completely dominated by the glass conference room. The concentricity of the conference room is enhanced by backlight stretch ceiling, 9 ft in diameter and use of motorized curtains. The furniture is custom made with micro concrete to generate a raw table top.

Use of digital software and careful planning along with meticulous attention to detail overcomes the challenges the project affords, both in design and ideology. With the aim to bring about a perspective shift in the way office spaces are perceived, Atelier Krikos flirts with the boundary separating art and architecture Ar. Badrinath Kaleru & Ar. Prerna Kaleru
Studio Ardete

The main cabin, staff, work spaces and the cafeteria are placed at the end of the layout so as to bring the circular glass room in focus. The display zones are integrated with the walls, leaving the center clear. The trapezoidal planer surfaces on the wall framing the display allow an easy visual flow and connectivity.

The various elements of the office space are brought together in a cohesive whole by the black mirror granite flooring. Light pippy oak veneers introduce colour to the neutral palette; cracked pippy oak is used in parquet style paneling for the reception backdrop while knotty pippy oak in parquet form is used for the rest of the spaces.


Lighting fixtures and the overall lighting design is carefully done to bring out the contrast between different areas; specific elements are highlighted to enhance their fluid, organic forms. Stretch ceiling forms the main light source in the conference room whereas, LED filament bulbs hanging from the ceilings are used to bring out the texture of the wall finishes. In a step towards sustainability, all the lighting fixtures and sources use solar power.

The intent of Design Forum International (DFI) in conceptualizing the design of the Guwahati Intl’ Airport in Assam is to enhance user engagement and to be contextually reverent


Fact File
Typology: Transportation Building
Name of Project: Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi Intl’ Airport
Location: Guwahati, Assam
Client: Airport Authority of India
Site Area: 50 acres
Built-Up Area: 1.35 million sqft
Commencement Date: Jan 2018
Completion Date: Jan 2021 (Proposed)
Structural/Mechanical/Electrical: Aecom
Landscape: Integral Designs International Studio
HVAC/Plumbing/PMC: Aecom
Façade: Axis Facade Consulting
Signage: Alpana Khare
QS & Design Support: Sparks & Gs
Lighting: Integral Designs
Contractor: Shapoorji Pallonji

The form of the structure takes inspiration from Icarus – the mythological figure who dared to fly. The majestic centerpiece is symbolic and looms over the departure concourse. The floating form doubles up as the canopy for the drop-off zone.

Designing an airport presents an intriguing challenge as aviation is one of the most complicated industries in the world and runs on incredibly smooth logistics. One has to contend with enormous functional demands and almost military-level precision. However, as architects, we wanted to create spaces that would involve and stimulate, and not just deliver and facilitate



Ar. Goonmeet Singh Chauhan
Ar. Anand Sharma
Ar. Anoj Tevatia DFI

While designing, Origami served as a guide to the architects: it finds expression in the terminal roof, the flooring patterns, the column cladding, the theme walls, and in the signage design. A 90-feet high indoor rainforest that one needs to navigate before reaching the luggage belt, brings forth vistas and wonders at every corner.

A crafts village augments the retail experience for the traveler. The craft walls display innovative products and artefacts. The Namaskar Atrium is a massive double-heighted space with its walls adorned with the art and craft of Assam. The Baggage Claim hall wall is an exercise in modularity with Origami aluminum panels that derive inspiration from the hilly terrain of the north-eastern states.


Tea-gardens serve as an inspiration for landscape design. They are positioned at the front yard along with a water cascade. The drive up to the departure level is reminiscent of the first climb up a mountain road. The car zooms up as the plains give way to rolling earth-berm greens.

To enrich materiality, glass was selected as the palette of choice for the façade – GFRC wraps around the façade’s tricky and smooth wide expanses, facilitating day-light penetration and visual uniformity. The use of terracotta tiles references the architecture of fort-like citadels and imparts stability. Terrazzo flooring has been employed in the interiors for its versatility and playfulness, whilst the use of granite ensures steadiness. Aluminum origami panels endow relief and sintered stone is used for wall and column cladding.


The Guwahati Airport is designed with 4-Star GRIHA rating parameters. The focus on sustainability was imbibed right at the design inception stage, when a conscious attempt was made to inter-weave the built form with the outdoors. The indoor forest is a physical manifestation of this thought: it is separated by a glass wall from the larger outdoor forest, fitting in like a tongue-in-groove with the terminal building, and becoming an integral part of the built whole. The car park structures are designed to be covered with photovoltaic panels that generate almost 500 KW of solar energy.


The new, integrated Terminal Building at Guwahati International Airport is the collective effort of a team of 15 consulting and design firms, including Aecom, DFI, Integral Designs, Axis Facades, Gaurav Jindal, Alpana Khare Designs and CBRE.

With the city’s existing airport at capacity, Beijing’s new international airport will serve the world’s fastest growing aviation sector, and is designed for further expansion


Fact File
Typology: Terminal Building
Client: Beijing New Airport Headquarters (BNAH)
Size Airport Terminal: 700,000m²
Location: Daxing, Beijing, China
Ground Transportation Centre: 80,000m²
Capacity 72 million passengers per year by 2025
630,000 flights/year on 4 runways
Expanding to 100 million passengers annually
Status Under Construction
Architect/Joint Design Team: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) & ADP Ingeniérie (ADPI)
Local Design Institute: BIAD (Beijing Institute of Architecture & Design) + CACC (China Airport Construction Company)
Renderings by Methanoia© Zaha Hadid Architects

The 700,000m² terminal building and 80,000m² ground transportation centre have been designed to be extremely user-focussed, efficient and adaptable for future growth; its 6-pier radial design gives exceptional convenience for passengers and flexibility in operations.

The terminal’s compact design minimises distances between check-in and gate, as well as minimises distances between gates for transferring passengers. Every aircraft pier radiates directly from the terminal’s main central court where all passenger services and amenities are located, enabling passengers to simply walk the short distances to everywhere they need to go.


Evolving from principles within traditional Chinese architecture that organise interconnected spaces around a central courtyard, the terminal’s design guides all passengers seamlessly through the departure, arrival or transfer zones towards the grand multi-layered meeting space at the very heart of the terminal.

Flowing parabolic folds within the terminal’s vaulted roof that reach to the ground to support the structure and bring natural light within. Housing many aircraft gates in one terminal with a single passenger handling centre – rather than many smaller terminals and continuous inter-terminal shuttle trains – significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the airport throughout its construction and operational lifetime; helping to achieve the airport’s very high targets of environmental management and sustainability.


Designed to adapt to operate in many different configurations dependant on varying aircraft and passenger traffic each day, the new airport will include an integrated transport centre offering direct links to Beijing city centre, local rail services and the national high-speed rail network, making the airport an important hub within Beijing’s growing transport network and a catalyst for economic development in Tianjin and Hebei Province.

Following the 2011 international competition, in October 2014 BNAH created a Joint Design Team bringing together ADP Ingeniérie (ADPI) and Zaha Hadid Architects to collaborate on the optimised concept design for the new terminal building. The project is led by the Local Design Institute under the leadership of BNAH.

Well-proportioned interior and exterior spaces and a cohesive design with respect to climatology and site conditions make Wind Gates a well-designed residential project


Fact File
Project Name: Wind Gates
Client: Bhima Mahabharat Builders
Location: Kolhapur
Site Area: 4797 sq.m
Built-up Area: 9003.54 sq.m.
Type: Residential
Architect Firm: Vision Associates
Landscape Designer: Ar. Nila Jirge
Structural Consultant: Dr. A.B. Kulkarni & Associates
Civil Contractor: Bhima Mahabharat Builders
Team: Abhijeet Magadum & Jayesh Kadam
Plumbing Consultant: Sunil Limaye
Photo Credit: Sanjay Chougule

The zoning of plots for placement of common spaces at the Wind Gates residential project is done such that the magnificent New Palace Museum, the erstwhile palace of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaja, can be viewed from a maximum number of apartments.

A major challenge was creating a view of The New Palace Museum and the amenities, which are centrally placed for all the dwelling units. To get the best benefit of the west wind for each unit, we had to cut down the central open space to get a wider view of the sky


Principal Ar. Prashant Kapadi
Vision Associates

The principal plot is split to get the maximum benefits of F.S.I. The common amenities (rooftop garden, informal seating pockets, kids paddle pool, multipurpose hall, gym and indoor games hall, etc) are placed centrally and on the opposite side of the access road. This helps functional segregation and isolation of the vehicular zone and avoids entry chaos for the pedestrian zone. Though the plot is divided, the clever design clubs the plots as a single campus zone.

Two wings on each plot are connected by bridges through wind pockets at multiple levels so as to achieve core connectivity in-between the wings. At the entrance, two wings on separated plots are connected by means of wire rope pergolas, which help in maintaining the building’s rules and regulation, while building visual connectivity with the spaces and height.


Interconnectivity of spaces is balanced by landscape pockets, flower beds and water bodies. The basic concept of massing and blocking reflects in the water sculptures located at the entrance, while preservation of the existing trees such as mango, flame tree (gulmohar), bur flower tree (kadamba) highlight the landscape.

At the entrance, two wings on separate plots are connected with wire rope pergolas, which help avoid any violation of the building rules and at the same time achieve visual building connectivity, space and height proportions



Abhijeet Magadum, Director, Bhima Mahabharat Builders

Every individual unit is provided with an entrance lobby to segregate the common passages and other units. Dark grey tile flooring for common passages abutting every unit serves as a background for traditional rangoli patterns. This enhances the traditional values as well as breaks the length of passage visually. An attached terrace with glass railing maximizes the space visually and gives a wider view of the campus.

The façade is an asymmetric juxtaposition of blocks in various grids that create amazing masses. Placement of penthouse on the upper floors reduces the floor coverage at the above levels and helps achieve an interesting skyline of the building in a recessive order. These recessing blocks cut the massiveness and verticality of the structure, and also give a wider sky view from the central interaction spaces.


It was technically very challenging to visualize and construct these masses. Cantilevers projecting unit terraces with semi-covered frames over these protruding boxes form an interestingly random façade, which is further enhanced by the fabricated pergolas on the terraces. The combined effect of the cantilever projections, box frames, and the pergolas give an interesting play of shadow natural light, even under artificial illumination.

Replacing the old-style bank of switches on the wall with easy to understand, custom engraved, compact and nice-looking keypads is getting to be the preferred choice for not only many home owners but also interior architects, writes Alok Hada, Director, Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd. (ATPL)

We can create ‘Smart Homes’ by using technology that can make interior spaces user-friendly, flexible and energy-saving. Connecting appliances through a single point control, is a growing trend that’s leading to fully automated smart homes. The ability to control your home remotely through a mobile application helps you maintain an easier, carefree lifestyle.

Preset Lighting controls that achieve the perfect lighting levels in a space, at the touch of a button are in vogue. You can remove most of the light switches cluttering up your wall and manage your lights on an elegant touchpad or mobile device. Smart lighting solutions typically use LED lights since they offer more control options, letting you adjust their intensity and color through the user interface.

Motorized shades that allow the home owner to conveniently open or close shades are increasingly considered the norm rather than the exception.

Distribution of Media in the home over low voltage wiring with the help of new compression technologies that can use normal ethernet wiring to distribute AV over IP. This helps keep the TV Wall ‘clean’, and at the same time, helps share video sources among various displays. This is going to be increasingly asked for.

Voice activated commands for Home Automation with the help of Amazon Alexa, and Google Smart Home devices are going to take off in the coming year. Streaming Media content has the potential to replace set top boxes and traditional content providers in homes, provided the internet speeds keep pace with bandwidth requirements.


Fact File
Typology: Commercial
Project: DLF Chanakya
Location: Chanakya Puri, New Delhi
Client: DLF Ltd
Client’s Firm: Riveria Commercial Developers Limited
Principal Architect: Rockwell Group, New York
Design Team: Focus Lighting, KSA Mumbai
System Integration & Automation: ATPL
Lighting control systems: Lutron
Photographer: Akshat Jain

No amount of technological innovation can be fruitful if it does not translate for its intended end-users. ATPL seeks to bridge this gap by creating an immersive environment where homeowners can be familiarized with their options and brought up to speed with how technology can make life easier for them. Thus, home automation can be installed into both new and existing homes, and depending on the complexity and range of the requested functionality and device interoperability can be customized for each home owner. With today’s smart phone and tablet technology, and voice commands now getting increasingly mainstream with Alexa and Google Home, homeowners should have little to no difficulty operating their smart home.

ATPL has been integrating various systems to enable a single point of control to the end-user in homes for the past 15 years.


The Chanakya, New Delhi – A Case Study

The DLF group has always been a front runner of the retail revolution in the country. The Yashwant Place Shopping and business complex was built more than 40 years ago and the adjoining Chanakya cinema complex is well-known in Delhi. Both the complexes were closed down until DLF decided to convert these into a swanky, new Mall called ‘The Chanakya’. Spread across 2,50,000 sqft, three meticulously designed floors showcase some of the foremost national and international premium luxury brands in upscale stores, a PVR Cinema and a number of high-end restaurants.

The Lutron Lighting control system for the mall has been supplied and commissioned by Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd. (ATPL). Focus Lighting Designers, a well-known NYC-based Lighting design firm, conceptualized and designed the lighting schema of the Mall in collaboration with Kanchan Puri of KSA, Mumbai. The lighting of the building has been designed such that the dynamic lighting accentuates the high-end interiors and the upscale stores.

The Mall’s entire lighting control systems have been designed by ATPL, based on the lighting load schedule, in two phases. Phase-1 areas include the Glass Box and Canopy, Main atrium, Ground floor, First Floor and second floor. Phase-2 areas include the MKT restaurant with Asian, Mexican, Italian Restaurant, Grill and Dessert Kitchens, NOI-BAR, the Food Hall entry Atrium, and Food Hall.


Design Intent

The designer’s mandate called for a system that could be easily operated, and more importantly be able to handle the huge lighting loads in the main Atrium area, BAR area, Restaurant, over a long period of time with reliable performance and offer convenience to operations staff, increase lamp life and allow for energy saving.

A lighting control system is an intelligent network of dimming and switching modules, that allows one to have control of the lights in a space. There are various types of lamp load, wattage and the dimming protocol available in this project, and 3 types of Lutron dimming modules which are 230V Direct Dimmable Module, 0-10V dimmable Module and DMX Control (for color changing LEDs) have been provided.

Emergency circuits have been provided in each area to avoid blackout situations in case of power failure. All these have been tied in together as one system and the entire project has been controlled through a network of two processors installed at the Phase-1 Atrium and Phase-2 restaurants.

Simple, yet powerful keypads throughout the space allow for the ability to control lights in various ways. Programming allows one to recall lighting scenes and dim the different groups of lights with the press of a single button.


Features of Lutron HQP6 System

Centralized System: A centralized lighting control system that has all the lighting circuits in a space, running to a central location instead of running to the wall switches throughout the space. The processor is the brain of the system, that allows for additional control and various programming features.

Mood Lighting: Fine Dining is largely dependent upon not just food but the ambience. So, creating the right ambience with lighting specifically “Mood Lighting” plays a very important role.

Scheduling: An Astronomical Time Clock (pre-set setting for dusk & dawn) is used where timers are utilised to turn on and off the outdoor and indoor lights at specific times.


Smart Controls: Controlling the system using smart keypads gives the ability to set one of three pre-programmed scenes with the press of a single button. One can also adjust lighting levels, turn lights on or off and program-specific, timed events all from a smart device app.

Increased Energy Savings: The energy-saving light controls delivered by ATPL provide a comfortable and aesthetically beautiful visual environment. Through its lighting control solutions, better lighting cannot only reduce the energy consumption of a building, but also highlight the interior space to provide an appealing environment.

Increased Efficiency: Life of lamps and ballasts is extended due to dimming, which reduces time spent on maintenance, and lowers overall maintenance expenses.

Green certifications: Advanced control systems can provide valuable points and credits towards LEED and other similar programs, above and beyond the credits that basic controls offer. 

The design team at Studio Emergence undertake the design of three different projects: a metro station, a commercial complex, and a railway station, with a focus on their aesthetics, user-friendliness, and functionality


Fact File
Status: Winning Entry | Under construction
Design Team: Khushbu Davda, Seeja Sudhakaran, Abhijit Patade, Priyanka Itadkar, Sajan Mehta

MMRDA Andheri Metro Design for Line7

The Andheri Station presented several challenges: it is considered a hub for transportation due to the several linkages it provides and its strategic position. Adding a metro station would only add to its high footfall. Since the metro is an elevated system, it is imperative to have a design that merges with the city fabric. Such massive structures need to be treated as positive interventions.

The structure of the Metro station is a rational response to a series of programmatic requirements and constraints, and the result is a steel-and-glass canopy. The stunning oculus form creates a new structure that is functional, contemporary, and contextual; a new grand civic space for Mumbai. The structural steel is not only super-strong and durable but can be used in innovative ways, turning the ordinary into something quite transformational, even though the main structural system is mainly of steel.

The façade is a parametrically designed jaali with the apertures increasing in size proportional to the distance from a high-rise building next to it and giving privacy to the residents in the vicinity. The result is a rhythmic pattern on the façade, creating dramatic shadows on the platform and concourse level.

Wayfinding was integral to the design with unobstructed views across the public spaces, a visual connection to the central circulation spine, and ample outdoor views. The use of exposed structural steel enhances the unique architectural expression and its use, prominent throughout the public areas, and achieves the desired visual quality and texture. Achieving a roof structure reminiscent of a jaali involved use of curved tapered steel plate girders that dynamically intersect in the middle of the structure. The flooring pattern also resonates with the same jaali pattern to allow synergy and continuity in design.

The primary structural system consists of (16) steel arch trusses spanning nearly 17m. Though the overall geometry of the metro station is a complex, seemingly free-form series of curves, the realization of this geometry was achieved by using only members curved to one circular radius. This rationalized approach allowed the geometry to be conveyed in simple 2D plans and elevations, without the need for 3D work point schedules. For the terminal’s central spine, field erection was sequenced to utilize the rigidity of the X-girders to minimize movements and the need for extensive temporary bracing.

Additionally, the joints provided improved thermal expansion characteristics for the concourse, which is nearly one quarter of a mile long. Because much of the steel framing was exposed, the design team worked closely to develop details that achieved the architectural vision and were also efficient to fabricate. The fabricators can make extensive use of custom jigs and fixtures to position the members in the shop to minimize welding distortion in the cruciform columns and in the architecturally exposed structural steel curved roof girders.

MMRDA had, for the first time, invited architects from all over India to design the new Metro stations coming up in Line 7 in the western suburbs. After the initial site visits, the architects were given a brief on the scope of work. Studio Emergence was shortlisted amongst the top 10 architects and subsequently bagged the project along with another firm.

The apertures, which create the pattern, are a series of open, opaque and transparent panels to enable the station to be well lit and ventilated. The roof panels have been given openings in the polycarbonate sheet so as to ensure the station is naturally lit. The platform level has ample openings to help ventilate the non-air-conditioned space, whereas, the roof will have lesser openings which will enable light but also prohibit excess heat in the Mumbai weather.


To keep the design within budget, the exposed connections were engineered to use only conventional structural steel fabrication techniques and materials, and great care was taken to shape the connections to be aesthetically minimal and consistent. All exposed structural steel is painted white/grey with a high-performance coating system consisting of a shop-applied zinc-rich primer and a finish coat.

Raheja Platinum, Marol


Fact File
Project: Raheja Platinum, Marol
Type: Commercial complex
Status: Completed
Design Team: Khushbu Davda, Seeja Sudhakaran, Darshana Punjani, Sajan Mehta, Priyanka Itadkar
Collaboration: IAG Consultants

The canopy and portals with their seamless and sleek look are the focal points of the structure. In this commercial complex project, the architects enabled optimization of portals and a canopy by studying the geometry. The exoskeleton of the building was already built. The client’s brief was simple: clean geometry and minimum wastage.

The external portal was designed to be fabricated in steel and cladded with Corian to add to the façade of the building. Corian material gives a seamless appearance to any surface; it can bend in 3 axes and is corrosion-resistant. But since the material is quite expensive, the wastage had to be minimal.

Computational design methods helped the architects achieve the desired results. They emulated the actual building in the Rhinoceros software to get an accurate understanding of the geometry. Numerous iterations were performed on the shape through shape shifting parameters on the portals. Once the desired shape was achieved, and which didn’t conflict with any built structure, the fabrication drawings were made.

Three types of panel surfaces were designed for the canopy: flat panels, singly curved panels and doubly curved panels. The flat and singly curved panels were built on site whereas the doubly curved panels were digitally fabricated and then transported to the site. Digital fabrication makes the process zero wastage since all the site measurements are taken into consideration and then the fabrication is done.

In the fabrication process, joints can be made nearly invisible by joining the relevant pieces with Corian’s own color-matched two-part acrylic adhesive. The pieces are clamped tightly together in order to express any excess adhesive. After the adhesive dries, the area is sanded and polished to create a near-seamless joint. This seamless appearance is a signature characteristic of the material. Furthermore, staggered panel placement was designed to optimize the canopy and portals and to avoid wastage.

The stairscase windows were given a perforated geometrical pattern to create a seamless geometry with the opaque surface. Computational methods helped achieve the radius of the circles. These can be changed and revised uptil the fabrication day to achieve the optimum sizes according to the site context, without having to remake the drawing set.

Façade design for Bamandogri Railway Station in Navi Mumbai


Fact File
Project: Façade design for Railway Station
Location: Bamandogri, Navi Mumbai
Status: Unbuilt
Gross Built Area: 20 acres
Lead Architects: Seeja Sudhakaran & Khushbu Davda
Collaborators: HSA architects

The upcoming Bamandongri Railway station has been proposed for the new railway track connecting Vashi and the new Navi Mumbai Airport. The site is approximately 20 acres with 5 platforms and a subway connecting all of them. The site has very few built structures around it and it receives very harsh sunlight throughout the day. The primary concept was to use the porosity of the structure to define spaces and maximize solar energy gain. Use of algorithmic design for façade development right from the conceptual stage helped streamline the basic themes into the design and planning of the station.

Vantage points were also taken into consideration. A highway that passed from the front of the site, connects two major towns. This helped in zeroing in the required vantage points for maximizing visibility of the project and, thereby, of the station. Being a public space, it was important to not only make it very user-friendly but also make it a landmark which could help put this upcoming city on the map.


The geometric principle of Delaunay’s Triangulation is used in the façade design to optimize the light filtration. The roof is an origami inspired structure which allows the soft northern light and discourages the heat from the west during the day. The entire roof is made of steel members and clad with glass and fiber cement board composite panels.

There is a long sequence of design benchmarks that ought to be adhered to in order to achieve a patient-friendly healing environment, writes Ar. Ravideep Singh, Creative Designer Architects (CDA)

The ultimate goal in the design of any healthcare facility is, without doubt, 'Patient comfort and care'. Designing for the very instance that a patient enters into a facility and his/her immediate response to the surroundings, is the first imperceptible paradigm that is extremely crucial to healthcare design. This is followed by designing a clear and a straight-forward movement for various end-users such as visitors, doctors, service staff, etc., through all the required departments in order to respond effectively to a setting where each second could be critical for a patient's life.

In the rapidly advancing technology, it is of utmost importance to realise that the hospitals we create are to made flexible to adapt with newer equipment and planning realms by virtue of modularity in construction and flexible MEP design

Utmost emphasis is laid on parameters that affect the comfort and well-being of the patients. Apart from a faultless departmental zoning and circulation, it is the aura of the interior, through warm healing colours and plenty of natural light, that coalesces with the psychology of the patients and attempts to elevate their minds. Another area of importance is the selection of finishes that are non-porous, have low VOC content and are easy to maintain, so as to create and maintain a highly protected and sterile healing environment.


Fact File
Project name: Aakash Healthcare Super Specialty Hospital
Architect Firm: Creative Designer Architects (CDA)
Lead Architects: Maninder Kaur, Mohanbir Singh, Ravideep Singh
Location: Dwarka, New Delhi
Completion Year: 2017
Gross Built Area: 3,50,200 sqft
Photo credits: Suryan, Dang, Aakash Healthcare

Key Consultants
Mechanical & HVAC Engineers: New Growth Associates
Electrical & Plumbing Engineers: Acrobat Engineers
Structural Consultants: NNC Design International
Landscape Consultants: DIA Landscape
Contractors: NS Constructions, Dhruv Interiors

Material Palette
Glazing: Saint Gobain’s Planitherm
Flooring: Tarket low-VOC Vinyl Flooring/ Homogeneous Vinyl flooring/ Static control flooring ‘linoleum conductive’
Laminates: Greenlam anti-bacterial laminate finishes
Electrical switches: Legrand’s anti-microbial coated
Pneumatic Chute Systems: SNG
Healthcare automation and Anti-Microbial treatment: Legrand
Healthcare LED lights: Philips
Anti- Bacterial Mineral composite ‘Corian Finishes’: DuPont
Air handling Units: Daikan
Films and Wall Graphics: 3M
Acoustic Grid Ceilings: Armstrong

Besides, state of the art equipment that augment efficient functioning of hospitals today, we give total regard to the eminence of medical staff and their well-being. They indeed stand at the ultimate level in the healthcare delivery chain and would perform even effectively if they have substantial infrastructure such as well-equipped rest rooms, kitchens and other recreational facilities that prompt job satisfaction, ultimately enabling them to perform better.

We bestow immense significance to landscape design through 'Therapeutic Healing gardens' and greenery in the interior. These are a part of EBD [Evidence Based Design], that a designed exposure to nature can boost healing significantly. Finally, in the rapidly advancing technology, it is of utmost importance to realise that the hospitals we create are to made flexible to adapt with newer equipment and planning realms by virtue of modularity in construction and flexible MEP design.


Aakash Super-Specialty Hospital: A Beacon of Contemporary Healthcare

For the design of Aakash Healthcare, a greenfield construction on 4 acres of land in Dwarka, New Delhi, we envisioned it as a beacon of highest quality contemporary healthcare. The project was conceptualised as a concise block with carefully worked out inter-departmental relationships around an open central courtyard.

Curated around the principles of solar passive design, the longer side of the building aligns perfectly along the N-S orientation, ensuring ample amount of natural light during most times of the day. Saint Gobain's highly efficient DGU's (Planitherm) allowed expansive spans of the skin to be glazed, permitting substantial amount of natural light to penetrate in the interior and thereby considerably, saving on the electrical energy use. Simultaneously, the glass's low e-value almost ceases the heat gain, resulting in a substantial slash in the heat load and hence adding to the overall energy savings.

Founder J.C Chaudhry (also founder of educational group Aakash Institute) along with Dr. Ashish Chaudhry, envisioned this hospital as an extension of their philanthropist vision to provide highest level of tertiary healthcare at affordable prices.

Saint Gobain’s highly efficient DGU’s [Planitherm] allowed expansive spans of the skin to be glazed, permitting substantial amount of natural light to penetrate in the interior and thereby considerably, saving on the electrical energy use. Simultaneously, the glass’s low e-value almost ceases the heat gain, resulting in a substantial slash in the heat load and hence adding to the overall energy savings

The design aimed at creating a pleasing multi-height entrance foyer, embellished in warm healing colours. An open 'central courtyard' acts as a green refuge for the patient and the relatives. The ground floor houses the entire out-patient, emergency and the cafeteria, followed by the Dialysis, Specialised day-care and VIP administration on the first floor. The criticality of the functions rises as we transcend higher in the vertical stack, with ICU's on the second and Theatre department on the third floor. This is then sandwiched by a service floor for the augmentation of the AHU's and other services of intensive care facilities, and the dispersion of plumbing and medical stacks of the IPD floors above. The entire vertical circulation is augment by two lift cores, discrete for the visitors and the doctors, and an effortless horizontal circulation through the various departments that enable smoother functioning of the hospital.

Another critical aspect of healthcare design is the extreme precaution laid for the selection of finishes such low VOC Vinyl floorings and anti-bacterial laminate finishes. We sincerely believe that products that have a higher level of exposure are the most important in terms of their selection. Products such as electrical switches were used with an anti-microbial coating that could further add to the protected environment we aimed to create.

Creating a 'green hospital'

Hospitals undoubtedly fall under one of the most energy intensive building types and therefore necessitates to be energy-engineered. Even though, the building qualifies as LEED Gold today, the term sustainability to us means much more than a LEED or a GRIHA certification. Aakash Healthcare has a bio-STP installed within the site with an ETP that has a zero discharge. Almost 75% of its roof area has micro-crystalline solar panels that are connected directly to the grid and contribute significantly to the energy savings. The hospital also utilises a geothermal water heater that substantiates the hot water requirement in the winters.


Art of healing

Aakash healthcare's interior are a holistic consequence of the principle of healing architecture. The airy central courtyard has been designed as a 'Japanese Zen garden' with a play of levels, greenery and a small water body. Similarly, the refuge area at the fifth floor level has been landscaped into a healing garden which fosters well-being amongst the in-patients. Furthermore, a large green patch adjacent to the emergency and the out-patient departments, is designed as a therapeutic healing garden for the patients. The large windows ensure optimum daylight and regulated indoor air quality. Functionally, the hospital has state-of-the-art equipment such as Pneumatic chutes, a fully integrated BMS, and high infection control finishes.

Planning for the future

With the rapid advancement of technology, the equipment and their space requirements are bound to change. Keeping this in mind, most of the services in various departments of the hospital are designed horizontally, dropping from the ceilings rather than vertically within walls so that the layout can be modified in future without significant changes in the MEP design.


Another important aspect for the future of a hospital is the expansion of certain departments such as Radiology, Dialysis etc, which has been mitigated by designing the minimum size of the required department initially and placing certain ancillary areas such as offices etc. around them, which can later be relocated easily, allowing the departments to expand effortlessly.

About CDA

CDA, a New Delhi-based multi-disciplinary practice, specializes in contemporary Healthcare Architecture and design of highly sustainable and efficient environments. CDA's highly versatile portfolio of over 120 projects include residential, commercial and interior works, and an elaborate line up of 65+ healthcare facilities.

Parekh Collaborative creates a cool and calm environment within a non-air-conditioned house with techniques like stack ventilation and double envelope for insulation


Fact File
Client : Vijay Poddar
Architecture, Landscape, Interiors: Parekh Collaborative
Location : Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh
Site Area : 1860 sqmt
Structural Consultant : S&V Engineers, Surat
Civil Contractor : Ayub Kha
Stone Supplier : Raj Rocks, Jodhpur
Furniture Contractor : Arjun Bhai Suthar, Bhawar Lal Suthar
Horticulture : Palash Associates, Surat
Irrigation : Jain Irrigation
Lighting : XAL, Littoria
Photography : Ar. Nachiket Gujjar

The brief was to build a house with non-air-conditioned spaces. We used techniques like stack ventilation and double envelope to create insulation and the natural protection of the tamarind tree to gain the temperature difference in interiors

Ankit Parekh, Parekh Collaborative

The 720 sqm. villa is set within a precinct where various houses are built belonging to the extended family, set outside the walled city where Mughal architecture and landscape flourished. The dwelling has an ecological vision and is authentic both in terms of context and workmanship with the material palette of sandstone and M.P. Teak providing sensual experiences.


Being located within an extended family precinct, the house needed interactive spaces. A singular lawn area of minimum 300 sq.m, and multiple informal areas integrated with the house. Private living space and dining area sit in between the informal green courts, creating a spatial relationship of in and out. A dialogue between the house and landscape being created using Mughal garden patterns. The stone hand cut Jalli created on site can be opened and closed for privacy and to keep the harsh sun out.

The temperature change of a minimum 6 to 8 degrees could be found round the year. Various techniques like stack ventilation, double envelope to create insulation and natural protection of an existing tamarind tree worked very well for the architects to gain the temperature difference in interiors, which are non-air conditioned, with the green cover within and around the precinct providing a calm environment.


Every element within and outside the house, including landscape patterns, is handcrafted on site with a focus on simplicity and function. A rainwater harvesting tank is being created.

The design of this office by Mistry Architects envisions multi-functional and flexible spaces rather than designated workspaces, while setting limitless possibilities

The essence of each space has been given its own identity and designed with utmost flexibility. Remodelling office dynamics...where the nature of work does not dictate the space, rather the space cultivates the nature of work, thereby breaking away from the stereotype office design

Ar. Sharukh Mistry

The conference and discussion rooms, alcoves and dispersed interactive pockets both formal/informal and leisure spaces, were efficiently weaved into the fabric of design. The central zone is taken up by the large free-flowing workspace. Ledge seating along the large picture windows makes for creative niches for a laidback reading/workspace. The conference room doubles up as an indoor gaming area, while three partitioned alcoves serve as the only designated work areas in the entire office.


Organically designed workspaces accommodate large clusters for an osmotic work culture. This large porous work space unfurled into an enticing deck space that was formed by simply removing the rear walls of the existing shell. The floor to ceiling sliding glass doors (cleverly hidden behind the doodle wall) when not in use, act as a subtle separation between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

Fact File
Project name: Orchard Advertising Pvt.Ltd
Location: Ulsoor, Bangalore
Area: 4950 sqft
Project type: Interiors
Architects: Mistry
Design Team: Ar.Sunanda A J R, Ar.Chetana Shekhar
Electrical Consultant: Mecca Consultants
Contractor: Chander, Hemanth Constructions
Photography: Anand.R

Material Palette
Wall Cladding: Fire clay bricks
Partitions: Corten steel
Cement Board: Bison
Tabletop Wood: Prakrit, Auroville
Flooring: Nitco vitrified tiles

Contextual reference The micro climate created by the lake in the vicinity was instrumental in dictating the stripping of walls to maximise the openings, thus increasing not only the depth of view but also the natural light and ventilation. The design took full advantage of the view of the large open space of the Fire Training Academy on the rear side by removing the entire rear wall of the shell to create a covered deck.

The large raintrees in front of the building, detach the space from the busy, bustling Bengaluru roads. Softscape elements on three sides of the periphery aptly tie in with the foliage in front of the building. Green practices Reclaimed wood from cyclone hit areas of Pondicherry used extensively in the design of furniture and interiors. Reuse of existing windows with extensions to fit into the new space vocabulary. Reuse of most materials salvaged from the minimal architectural interventions. Re-purposing of salvaged items.


A warm and rustic themed material palette necessitated simple detailing. Crafty use of fire clay bricks for a striking entry with the signage and entrance door in Corten steel, stitched with rivets. Fire clay bricks for cladding within the existing shell, became the muscle of the environment. Cement finishes in plaster, tile flooring and wall panelling complement by contrast the warm hues of the fire clay bricks. Corten steel partitions reinstate a feeling of warmth, contrary to the material itself.

The muted cement coloured tile floor surprises with glimpses of etched leaf patterns throughout the interior space. The existing exposed ceiling with sprinkler lines in red was retained to maintain the purity of the existing space. Furniture was customised to achieve the design intent set out. Wood reclaimed from cyclone hit areas and worked at by Aurovilian, Torkil, adds soul to the space.


Every piece of furniture was crafted to detail by joining and stitching hand sanded mahogany and acacia wood. Old theatre chairs were refurbished for dining, while a reconditioned Atlas cycle supports a bookshelf. Quirky bar stools at the reception, some with butt imprints and some with cycle wheels as supports, make the space fun and lively. Local content

Introduction of several elements of nature used creatively and in multiple ways, for example, leaf motifs on tile flooring and exposed cement finishes, bamboo lights and trellis, ant sculptures, planters along the periphery, graphic representation of trees on some windows, hand-made art pieces such as cement ants (using waste Corten steel) crafted by kids from a rural school, adding rope art to the otherwise blank fenestration for an interesting play of light and shadow, scrap metal, cycle chains, gearwheels for attractive art grills, and so on.

The contemporary nature of the museum's architecture by Studio Archohm celebrates and shares the ideology of socialism in retrospect; it also reflects the times we live in – both in its experience and space-making


The Jayaprakash Narayan Interpretation Centre (JPNIC) is built on the idea of creating public architecture, whose design vocabulary endows a contemporary value to past events, but stands its ground with its 'new-found' institutional identity, reflecting the polarised views of civic authorities, curators, historians and the general public.

The monolithic and bold form of the building takes a stance, and exudes empowerment. Despite, the scale and the unconventional shape, the building with its clean and clear lines is deceptively simple. The profound depth and complexity is revealed on the inside and it only reinforces the notion of simplicity being rooted in deep-thought and reflection.

The building design communicates the essence of the Interpretation Centre which is about the idea of socialism of the visionary Jayaprakash Narayan; and validates its recognition as an attempt to be an ambassador of the city of Lucknow

Sourabh Gupta

The architecture of the building blurs the boundaries of the role of architecture in space-making. The conception of the institution was a journey that evolved with the project. The architecture merges seamlessly with the museum and exhibition planning, experience design and landscape. The centre serves as a gateway to the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre and together, they ensure that an international flavour is imparted to the complex, which in turn, validates the recognition of the institution as an attempt to be an ambassador of the city of Lucknow.

Interiors

The experience of the Interpretation Centre is through four thematic zones. The zone of absorption is where information about the life journey and values of JP is imbibed. The more interactive zone of realisation facilitates a closer look at JP. The zone of internalisation allows time and space for introspection on the take-away-how one can take initiatives in their own life. The concluding zone, a congregation place, is meant to influence and inspire collective expression of the learning. The journey both literal and allegoric is all about movement. Physical navigation of space makes exhibits dynamic.


Project Information

Typology: Public Building
Name of Project : JNIC (Museum of Socialism)
Location : Lucknow
Client : Lucknow Development Authority
Principal Architect : Sourabh Gupta, Studio Archohm
Site Area : 18.6 acres (75464 sqm)
Built-Up Area : 3355 sqm
Start Date : October 2013
Completion Date :October 2016
Photographer : Andre Fanthome, Bharat Aggarwal
Project Cost : 35.98 cr

Consultants

Structural : ROARK Consulting
Mechanical : Sunil Nayyar Consultants
Electrical : Archohm Consults
Landscape : Shaheer Associates S.J.A. Consultants
HVAC : Sunil Nayyar Consultants
Plumbing : Sunil Nayyar Consultants


The chronological narrative of JP's journey is depicted in almost all mediums; not merely through a display of artefacts, but through a sequence of static, dynamic, sensorial and experiential moments that include his belongings, furniture, letters, cartoons and illustrations, poems and songs, oral archives, documentaries, info-graphics and many new, automated and technological user interfaces as holograms, projection mapping, kinetic installations and those that make the virtual as real as possible and appealing to wider and universal audiences.

Sustainability was an important factor for the TOR City Mall project of Ground 11, and in keeping with the master plan and all its component elements, it has been designed as a LEED Gold project, and its construction is expected to be completed by October 2020

The project has been conceptualized and designed as a 'Chronosynclastic Infitibulum', an infinite vector of experiences in time, and has therefore the vocabulary to reinvent itself over time and in sync with events around it


Ar. Pranav Iyer, Ground 11

The Tor City Mall in Tema, Ghana, is a signature project that is designed to combine retail with a multitude of recreational services, and most importantly, social services that include healthcare and point-of-contact for interaction between the government and citizens.

The project is part of a master plan for Tema City, the main port city of Ghana. It aims to work as the 'living room' of the city. Its overall master plan includes housing, retail, recreation and health services, with some urban insert projects that are to create nodes of growth in the area.


The form is representative of both the industrial and economic identity of Tema, represented by two towers that flow upwards above a common ground floor. It is a 450000 sft super structure with two basements, and an amalgamation of several disparate functions that seek to question the distinction in responses to private and public spaces in close juxtaposition.

As a homage to the context, the architects have incorporated various climactic methods like shading screens and passive cooling. As a cultural response, they incorporated traditional geometries and patterns into the building design. The building has two basements, a large anchor ground floor, with six upper floors, both with central atria that bring natural light into all spaces.


Programmes are stacked bringing both economy and proximity to the design, while bringing the structure to human scale within, while being imposing from the exterior. As the surroundings from the outside are brought in using the breezeway between towers, the dual atriums form a protected atmosphere for these ecologies, while manifesting themselves in the form of balconies and gardens throughout the facade.

The design of this contemporary, well-planned township by Design Forum International in collaboration with DP - Singapore, aims to craft villa-like residences within the benefits of a large residential complex with communal amenities and the security of a gated enclave

The palette of materials was selected for the aesthetics, functionality and easy maintenance over a period of time. The fenestration is a combination of UPVC windows and structural glazing with low emissivity glass for energy conservation. The façade is a combination of stone cladding on the lower floors, while the upper floors are of double plaster and weather-resistant paint. The façade is interspersed with metal louvers and pergolas to break the monotony and create a playful interplay of light and shadow
Ar. Goonmeet Singh Chauhan
Ar. Anand Sharma
Ar. Anoj Tevatia DFI

The masterplan of Emerald Garden in Kanpur comprises residential plots, flats, clubhouse, commercial, etc. with 60% of the built volume being designed as a low-rise development. The client brief called for a mix of 3, 4 and 5 BHK units, amidst regular towers and iconic towers with an assortment of units split into regular floors, penthouses, garden apartments and club-side apartments.


Fact File
Project: Emerald Garden township
Location: Swaroop Nagar, Kanpur
Area: approx 40 acres
Master planning: DP Architects of Singapore
Services consultant: AECOM
Structure design consultant: TPC
Landscape consultant: Integral Designs

The planning approach aims to consolidate the central greens, while crafting vista views towards the low-rise development. Breaking away from the traditional 4 units to a box cluster, there is a focus on clubbing two units together into the different arms of the cluster, and enabling the sun, wind and view requirements of the towers.


The cluster of the Iconic tower is the feature element and is conceived as a classical elliptical shape, lending itself to flowing peripheral balconies. Manifesting as a sleek 100-m high cylindrical tower with an expansive view of the Ganges and the Kanpur urban-scape, the resulting form enjoys stunning views of the greenery.


An elevated plinth envelope wraps around the towers and acts as a stilt area. Extending as a multifunctional space at some places, this adds fluidity and flexibility in the design. The patios flow through the clubhouse leading from entrance lobby of individual towers and wind through the club spaces all the way up to the swimming pool.


The landscape is conceptualized as a whole instead of individual patches, thereby wrapping the towers around the central green. Impeccable design, finest global fittings and finishes, fire safety measures, earthquake-resistant construction, disabled-friendly common spaces and bathrooms and advanced security systems are its unique features. Peripheral walls are constructed to prevent water seepage, better insulation and safety. A large vehicle-free podium area adds to the secure environs.

This office complex comprising of three high-rise towers in Gurgaon designed by Morphogenesis, looks at redefining the high-rise typology in the north Indian context, which has traditionally been low-rise


Project Name: Prius Vision Towers
Typology: Commercial
Location: Gurgaon
Status: Under Construction
Client: Dignity Buildcon
Built-up Area: 18,00,000 sq.ft
Site area 10.5 acres
Climate: Composite
Photos: Dignity Buildcon

The firm’s approach to develop this new typology was to scrutinize a traditional dwelling plan-lifestyle, prominent usage patterns between the exterior and the interior, and interpret them in the high-rise context. The morphology is an outcome of a stack of cuboidal volumes (each cuboid reflects the bungalow scale) and a series of attached open spaces, translated as a series of cascading voids, forming sky gardens that spiral along the entire height of the building. The cascading sky gardens form celebration spaces and encourage socio-cultural interactions.

The project won the GRIHA Exemplary Practice Recognition, Passive Architectural Features India. GYS Prius focuses on creating a high-rise morphology that addresses the socio-cultural need for proximity to open spaces, and perhaps still retaining a ‘soul space’ approach to this typology Ar. Manit and Ar. Sonali Rastogi

The ground plane is used as a canvas for presentation for urban art, with foundries set up on site and local craftsmen, artists and curators joining hands to create a vibrant expression of traditional and modern craft. The central scooped court is earth sheltered from three sides and is designed to fall in the shadow zone of the tall towers, thus, creating a micro-climate in the heart of the site; despite its size, it is usable in 45ºC (113ºF) in the afternoon as an outdoor public space.

Orientation plays a significant role in this high-rise development. The office blocks are orientated in the N-S direction, allowing for day light to penetrate the built form and reduce dependency on artificial lighting. For the twin towers, the structural cores are brought out to the S-W edges of the built form, to block off harsh solar ingress.


In the parched and dry belt of Gurgaon, this site faced a peculiar situation of an underground water stream, with an up-thrust pressure that imposed a construction challenge. Standard structural solutions would be resource intensive and prone to failure when and if the water levels receded. Thus, an innovative ground water harvesting strategy was planned in detail right from the early stages of construction. As per the design, the under slab drain system is spread across 25000 sq.m and the net water harvested from the underground sumps amounts to 600 liters per day of raw water supply, providing a sustainable potable water solution.

Creating Vertical Neighbourhoods in Urban Cities

It's a challenging situation for Architects to provide socially engaging, and dynamic environment within a tower typology, writes Saurabh Chatterjee, Skyline Architects

With globalisation, the Indian lifestyle has seen a gigantic shift with the intervention of modern routines, which has resulted in cities with lack of public spaces, lack of amenities and lesser transitional spaces. The growth of GDP in Urban City is directly proportional to the growing number of skyscrapers in that city. With restricted availability of land parcels and enormous demand for housing, cities have started witnessing vertical growth.

In the aftermath of cities burdened by lack of infrastructure, the opportunity to design a new architectural style and make a difference in India has become more immense. It's a ringing alarm for all the builders and the authorities to release more incentives to be utilized 'only for social interactive spaces' in vertical neightbourhoods


Saurabh Chatterjee, Skyline Architects

We require large, environment-friendly, multifunctional buildings, as an integral part of neighbourhood culture. These self-sufficient neighbourhoods provide support functions as well as recreational areas for social interactions, within the vicinity. The communities will have the convenience of being able to live, work, eat, and shop - all in the same building as the social and spatial mechanisms would be translated vertically, without it compromising the sense of community on the ground.


The schematic 'section 01' is showcasing corollaries of semi-open spaces by breaking the mass of adjoining towers that serve as connecting sky gardens and become interactional spaces - social micro-scale urban place elevated above ground that allows people to meet, linger and interact. These types of semi-public communal areas afford frequent chance of social interactions and a sense of community among the users.

Magnum Towers located in one of the most populated areas of Mumbai was one such challenging project. With a land parcel of 5 acres and built up area of 15 million sqft, it was a big challenge to accommodate a very high density in the available plot and also corresponding to the current bylaws and environmental factors.


The plot abuts the land which houses the most worshipped and most visited 'Lalbaug cha Raja- Ganesha', which was an additional challenge to maximize the view of this location to most of the apartments. We designed four 43 storied towers with 4 apartments at each floor level, with the recreational areas and social interaction zone being a major part of the neighbourhood. It is a type of urban development that blends residential, commercial, cultural / entertainment uses by vertically stacked amenities such as swimming pool, gymnasium, banquets, conference hall, mini theater, mediation hall, kids play area and clubhouse, with access from all the towers.

The facade has ribbons of outdoor balconies wrapping up together the interior with the exterior of the tower. In future, these terraces could be used for urban farming allowing people to grow their own crops in their own terraces. The vertically interconnected semi private community spaces are enjoyed by the inhabitants of the tower and the open recreational spaces at ground level are a visual treat to the neighbouring societies.


To offer a better living environment to the inhabitants, a sensitive and quality conscious developer was ready to shell out some of this project's construction area (on and above the area permitted by the authorities) for providing maximum social amenities. Hence, it was further possible for us to create an ideal vertical neighbourhood.

Together with RVI, a developer situated in Saarbrücken, MVRDV designs a building with a façade that mirrors the environment and draws attention to the town and its developments

The new mixed-use office building in the city of Esslingen marks the centre of this newly developed district, which will further accommodate a university, housing developments and retail stores. MVRDV's ambition is to generate a building that shows the city and at the same time, opens up to its surroundings to reveal its pride, history and future.

The façade traces the boundaries of Esslingen and the topography of its landscape, which is pushed in through a series of pixels that form an 'Esslinger Room'. A series of stairs, terraces, and platforms emerge and lead to the other side, reaching a viewpoint in the shape of the city centre for public use, where visitors can enjoy the views of the vineyards and surrounding hills.

The façade is designed as partially mirrored, with fritted glass containing PV cells that mirror the environment, the town, its hills and its people. It shows the pixelated map of the area of Esslingen and around. Each pixel carries different information, featuring the stories of the city and its inhabitants. With a smartphone app, one can discover its richness.


On the ground level, the crystal rock opens up to the public square in front, connecting the city with the building and providing public amenities including a restaurant, café and meeting areas, while the upper levels accommodate modern office spaces.

At night, the building becomes a beacon for Esslingen, illuminated through its façade, creating an extraordinary atmosphere.

The facade of Lane 189 is an integrated active layer that can be programmed as display windows, vista points or balconies

Lane 189, located in the Putuo district in central Shanghai - opposite Chang Shou Park and close to the Jade Buddha Temple combines retail, restaurant and office spaces in an organisation that rearranges the typical mall into a vertical city centre. The design incorporates elements of 'old Shanghai' through geometry, pattern and materialization, and combines these with a contemporary urban experience.


Fact File
Project name: Lane 189
Location: Shanghai
Programme: Retail, F&B, office, parking
Site Dimensions: ~90 x 65 m
Building Site Area = 6157 m²
Building Height: 34.9 m
Number of Floors (Below Grade): 4
Number of Floors (Above Grade):7
Client: CITIC Capital
Local Executive Architect: TJAD (Local Design Institute) / UNStudio
Construction Management: CITIC Capital
Consultants
Façade: Inhabit
Lighting: Ag LICHT, LEOX Design
Landscape: TJAD
Completion: December 2016
Photos: Hufton+Crow, Eric Jap

Material Palette
Flooring: Tiles
Glazing: Internal
Ceilings: Knauf gypsum board
Wall finishes: Aluminum wall cladding from JYMQ
Lighting: Jojo, Osram, Opple, Beghelli
Lighting control: e:cue
Bathroom appliances:TOTO
Sustainable feature: low-e coated triple glazing

Contractors
Façade: Boji
ID: Beijing Honggao
Façade
Screened facade areas: 2054 sqm upper facade, 4021sqm lower facade, total: 6075 sqm.
Exterior Materials
Substructure: aluminum, steel, stainless steel
Superstructure: steel reinforced concrete
Envelope
Screened Facade (southwest / northwest facade): Pvdf-coated aluminum panels; stainless steel pin connector elements
Glass Façade: Triple layer curtain wall glazing system (3x 6 mm) Back Facade (northeast / southeast facade) Painted render

Programmed Facade

The facade is designed to support the overall design concept of a programmed facade and to create depth for the building envelope. The use of multi-layered components enables a variety of views towards the surroundings, whilst providing functional transparency in specifically located areas. Based on a hexagonal grid, the facade components follow the articulated geometry of the building and provide constantly changing perspectives.

A gradient transition from bigger to smaller facade components regulates the exposure of the inside to the outside and enhances the main entrance of the building. The facade therefore becomes an integrated active layer that can be programmed as display windows, vista points or balconies.


On the lower façade, a hexagonal grid consists of diamond shaped panels that are tied between pins forming a tensioned cladding system. Here, the arrangement of the components can change across the facade from single layer to triple layer, up to a depth of 400mm. Constructed from different materials and lit by RGB LEDs these panels create different visual effects: transparent or opaque, colourful or monochrome, reflective or matt.

On the upper facade the components are made up of a single layer, of one size and are solid or perforated across the facade and towards the main entrance central to the building - the components change in scale and change from triple scale, from triple layer to single layer. Solid and open single layer panels are used on the rear of the building.

Large double-height facade openings present the interior programme to the outside world. These 'urban eyes' simultaneously create large display platforms for products whilst providing balconies with views to the surroundings

Interior

The interior of Lane 189 derives its character from a central void which cuts through the volume from base to top and is punctuated by a series of rounded plateaus. When seen from below the rounded plateaus resemble a cohesive layered organic structure, however when looking down from above the programmes of the plateaus are revealed. These smaller pockets, positioned in a rotational manner, are visually connected to the urban eyes of the facade.


The central void further organises vertical circulation and orientation, creates views across the different levels and facilitates a clear view column from the second basement level up to the skylight art installation. The multi-height spaces of the rounded plateaus accommodate individually themed programmes. The lower plateaus of the basement levels house a market plaza and the food court, while the first and second level plateaus hold an art street and grand balcony.

Designed by Heatherwick Studio, this residential building features a modern style bay window and a custom masonry façade

515 West, 18th Street, New York, offers a distinctive reinvention of the Chelsea warehouse architectural style, featuring a modern interpretation of the bay window and a custom masonry façade. The 21-story building comprises about 180 one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, many of which provide uninterrupted views of the cityscape and the Hudson River.

The studio wanted to create a new kind of panoramic visual connection for the building's residents and re-conceived the residential bay window as a three-dimensional sculpted piece of glazing that provides light-filled interiors as well as exciting internal moments. At txhe smallest scale the raw brick exterior, influenced by Chelsea’s heritage of industrial brick buildings, will give a handmade feel and micro texture to the facade. At the largest scale, the use of the three-dimensional windows will add another distinctive layer of textural character to the fabric of the city
Thomas Heatherwick, Founder, Heatherwick Studio

Designed to provide residents a totally integrated lifestyle destination, the residential building is part of a two-tower development that links underneath the High Line. The development is in the heart of the art gallery district, within a short walk of sprawling parks, restaurants, nightlife and several of Manhattan's finest schools.


Heatherwick Studio, founded by British designer Thomas Heatherwick in 1994, has come to be hailed for a number of projects in the UK, including the award-winning UK Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010, Vessel at Hudson Yards, Lincoln Center in Manhattan, a new campus for Google in Silicon Valley (with BIG), and Zeitz MOCAA, a museum in Cape Town, South Africa that makes use of a disused grain silo.

The increased concentration of urban population is a global phenomenon; Mumbai, like many other Asian cities, is synonymous with compact and high-density living, writes Kishore Bhatija, MD, Real Estate Development, K Raheja Corp

Designing the project is UK’s leading designer Martin Kemp for the show apartment and the common areas; JPA Design of Singapore for yet another show apartment; and the world-famous landscape artist Burega Farnell for greening the outdoors.


Mumbai attracts thousands of people from across the country, who come seeking the proverbial pot of gold. Given the dearth of land parcels, current projects are often cluttered with living areas becoming extremely congested, affecting the quality of life and proffered luxury. The Maxima City is already overflowing, owing to the influx of professionals. Today, it ranks third in the list of densest cities in the world as per a report by a US-based dermographia, which points out that an average 32,300 people are crammed in a space of one sq km in the city.

As much as the density inside of a project is important, the environs play an equally crucial role in contributing to the true luxe experience


Kishore Bhatija

With the current burgeoning number of high-density luxury projects in Mumbai, if one were to analyze the ground truth of these projects, one would see the high-density concentration levels in lush locations like Worli, Lower Parel, Prabhadevi, etc. Numerous amenities are being offered to the people per square foot, increasing the density of the project and leaving the residents craving for privacy - the very essence of a luxe lifestyle.

As much as the density inside of a project is important, the environs play an equally crucial role in contributing to the true luxe experience. Several luxury sky scrapers are often built under the SRA scheme which sees haphazard development and increasing density levels without improving the infrastructure of the area, leading to a sense of claustrophobia, thereby deteriorating the living experience.


In an endeavor to congregate only 100 of India’s top business families in a dwelling, K Raheja Corp came up with the concept of Artesia. The residential complex is centered on the low-density concept, with a palatial lobby, an enormous landscape podium, open spaces and large green expanses. To enrich the living experience, Artesia’s amenities with cutting-edge aesthetics bring modernism and vibrancy to the project; they include a large-size swimming pool, children’s play area, relaxation areas, a fully equipped gymnasium, and large open spaces. Spread across 5.2 acres, the project has a building footprint of 20,000 sq.feet, with 100 families residing in one tower.

The design of the office in Bengaluru space by Cadence Architects is minimalist, calm and functional, without any extraneous décor elements, while generic materials like concrete brick and glass are effectively used to create complex fluidic forms on the exterior and interior


Spread across 4 storeys, this office for a clothing brand, is located in a tight urban setting in south Bengaluru. While the first three floors serve as a storage godown, the fourth floor accommodates a boutique office for the fashion house. A cafeteria and break out zones are housed on the landscaped terrace above. Programmatically, the building is raised on stilts to enable parking on ground. Liberating this space allowed for a thoughtful landscape on site.


Fact File
Project Typology: Commercial Complex
Built up Area: 25350 sq.ft.
Site Area: 4600 sq. ft.
Project Completion: June 2017

Material Palette

• Malleable materials such as concrete and glass are used in the exterior
• Flexible ply in the interiors add lightness and an ephemeral finish, while solid surfaces create fluidity
• All surfaces are finished in a reflective high gloss paint
• Fluidity is augmented by a seamless reflective skin using polished white Italian marble
• Similar strategies are employed in detailing of the false ceiling and the lighting.

The design intent has been to achieve a sense of fluidity in the architectural form, which is achieved by articulating windows in a sculptural manner on the building facade. Litany of a sinuous pattern to morph the number of floors is abetted to distort the visual perception from the exterior.Reinterpreting the traditional concept of chajjas or overhang over the windows, recessed glass on a patterned facade is wrought to cut out the harsh glare of the sun. Hence, the atypical facade not only endows the built volume with a strong visual identity, but also functions as a modern-day shading device.

Translation of a sculptural notion into a workable design and construction was a serious challenge, that has been bested by the use of Digital Media and physical models as reference prototypes for execution on site

Inclined at creating an environment where people can live and work, the design is thoughtfully steered at influencing human behaviour. The entire workspace adorns white color, to add calmness and tranquillity. Passive design strategies such as day-lit workspaces, natural ventilation and indoor/outdoor interaction using landscaping have been incorporated to eliminate/avoid the Sick Building Syndrome.


Within the corporate office floor, the design articulates various functions segregating public and private spaces. The individual cabins flaunt bespoke furniture, while the common workstations have modular furniture by Feather Lite, to maximize seating. The custom-made furniture in the cabins is subtly sewn in wood, topped with Italian marble for a sophisticated look and feel.


Unlike most contemporary projects that use neoteric techniques, this commercial workplace uses generic materials like concrete brick and glass, effectively used to create complex fluidic forms on the exterior and interior. Drawing from the qualities of the exterior, the interiors aim to accentuate the fluidity of the space by mapping the surfaces in the ceiling and the walls. Subsequently, the interiors and the exteriors form one cohesive whole.

The design approach of Studio An-V-Thot Architects in the office renovation of Borges India has been to serve the best office ambiance keeping the brand identity in mind

Fact File
Borges Head Office, India
Location: New Delhi
Area: 3000 sq.ft.
Builder: Kunj Developers
Design Team: Gaurav Chauhan, Vivek Kotha, Tavleen Kaur
Completion: April 2017
Photo Credits: Avneesh Kumar

Material Palette
Laminates: Greenlam
Office Furniture: Customised with Hettich Fittings & Leatherite Seats
Lacquered Glass: Saint-Gobain
Laminate Shutters: Greenlam
Lighting: Philips
Flooring: Nitco Tiles

The challenge was to address the irregular floor space and give a sense of uniformity and order to office demands. The overall movement pattern is well defined so as to avoid clashes in the interest of working and also to create a sense of hierarchy for better work results

Pratyoosh Chandan, Director

At the workstations materials have been kept simple and elegant with neutral beige and off-white offset by a bit of red and green

While most of the areas have Italian Diana Flooring or wooden laminate flooring, in the conference room the dark carpet flooring adds drama and gives a sense of transition from the rest of the office area

Incorporating green in designs is a crucial point as it is helpful in creating a positive working environment. Lighting has been incorporated not only in the ceiling but also in the main furniture


Ankita Sweety, Director

Partition jaalis create a sense of individuality in the workstations. Uniformity has been achieved by providing white beech laminates on workstations as well as on wall partitions. Use of nautical red laminates on workstations and green acrylic jaalis on wall partitions bring colour to the space.


An interestingly irregularly shaped Reception table composed with a few trapezoidal surfaces and as its backdrop, the logo of the company in bright red


In the kitchen area, a confluence of red lacquered glass as backsplash, beige laminate shutters on overhead storage, bright red fixed leather upholstered seats in the dining area complement each other

The lighting design plays the lead role in the overall architectural identity created by Collaborative Architecture for BGRT in Bengaluru, and the project succeeds in effortlessly merging the lighting design and architectural space into a unified whole


BGRT (Bearys Global Research Triangle) at Whitefields, Bengaluru, is a skillful response by the architects to the client’s rather complex brief to design a multi-functional public cum office space with a variety of programs. The waffle slab system, which is the most dominant part of the space, is left exposed to highlight the structural clarity of the space - one of the earliest design decisions that paid dividends.

The lobby is dominated by a central column, which supports the waffle slab system that spans across 32m x 32m space, with a height of 9m. The front facing sides have structural glazing and the sides on the back are stacked with services and toilets.

The central column anchors the spatial disposition in the vast space and became the axis for spatial orientation. The architectural lighting has been conceived as foliage which stems from this anchoring element. The column has been clad with Corian panels, with special details to have access for maintenance and service.

The aspiration of the client, who is a patron of good designs, made the design process challenging, and pushed the boundaries of innovation, that set a benchmark by its out of the box design and sustainability agenda. The project is Platinum LEED Certified

Ar. Lalita Tharani & Ar. Mujib Ahmed, Collaborative Architecture

Fact File
Project: BGRT, Bangalore
Area: 12,000 sq ft
Client: Bearys Group, Bangalore
Architects: Collaborative Architecture (Mumbai, Kerala)
Architectural Lighting Design: Collaborative Architecture
Design team: Lalita Tharani, Mujib Ahmed, Muneeb
Site Team: Iqbal, Sherif, Anand, Nazir
Electrical Consultants: SAN Design Consultants
Structural Consultants: Mahendra Raj
Photography: Lalita Tharani & Manish Gala

Material Palette
Flooring: Quartz Stone
Walls: Exposed Concrete, Stucco on Masonry
Ceiling: Structural Waffle System left untouched for the main area, Gyp board for the mezzanine
Furniture : Plywood and Veneer /Plywood and Corian
Indoor Tree Vase: Flexi-Plywood and Corian
Custom Designed Lights: Ferrari Fabric in MS Frame with LED Tubes
Waffle Lights: 600 x 600 GE Trilux LED Panel Lights
Mezzanine Lights: 600 / 1200 Linear GE LED Panel Lights + 5W LED Spots
BMS System: Dynalite, Philips
Chairs: Herman Miller
Custom Designed Cluster Seating: MS framework, Plywood, Corian and PU Upholstery

The project is unique in that sense, to make the architectural lighting as the raison d’être, and the space definer, not just in stylistic terms, but in terms of tectonic manipulation of the neutral space.

The pattern of the waffle system acted as the spring board for the design of the customised lighting, which resulted in a highly dynamic space - reflecting the geometry of structural system.

The seating cluster, specially designed for the project, triggers social interactions, and creates an undulating topography of contoured volume at the eye level, in a way complementing the undulating pattern on the ceiling. The Strip light, highlights along the bottom of the sofa clusters, creates a dynamic pattern and goes as an integral part of the overall design.


The lobby functions nearly 18 hours a day. The space has 5 private meeting rooms, with 4 located at the mezzanine level as added cantilevered units projecting into the atrium space.

Lighting System & Design

The project is equipped with BMS with Dali ballasts for Daylight Harvesting. The expansive glazing on two sides allow ample daylight during any season, making the system utilize minimal energy during the day.

LED-based light sources include Customized Fabric lights with 1200 long LED tubes; passage spaces have 600 & 1200 LED panel lights and 5W LED Spots. The waffle has 600 x 600 LED Panel Lights to supplement the customized lighting and to create a pattern in the waffle, which complements the configuration of the fabric lights.