Simplicity & Integrity of Brick
Fact File
Project: Brick Curtain House
Location: Surat
Gross Built Area: 810m2
Structure: Angle Consultancy
Electricals: Leo Electrical
Windows: Dream Home Element
Modular Kitchen: Ottimo Agency
Photo credits: phxindia
The spatial organization brought with it a big climatic challenge as the front facade with large surface areas stood exposed to the west, intensifying the heat gain throughout the day. To reduce the heat gain, the architects decided to use Brick - a module that is raw and natural and can help create projections to reduce the heating effect.
The brick façade has unevenly placed bricks, protruding in and out. As the façade needs to shade the central indoor environment, the two ends are straight without bulges, giving the undulations in the center a firm hold. The central portion is divided into three parts, each having three bulges in a series. To structurally hold the huge façade of 83 layers, vertical and horizontal reinforcement was added.
We chose brick as it is a simple earthy module that comes together to form a complex element that stands against harsh climatic conditions and appears beautiful
Principal Designers Bharat Patel, Dinesh Suthar, Jitendra Sabalpara
The chosen form served two purposes: individually, the brick module shades itself, and the convex bulges in the wall shade the lower concave bulges. The brick façade provides an interesting backdrop for the living area and other interactive spaces, bringing simplicity and integrity to the design.
Experiential, Dynamic & Seamless
The Window Factory manufactures aluminium and UPVC windows. Unlike the run-of-the-mill showrooms, the 3,320 sq.ft. store is designed as an Experience Centre, demonstrating the applicability of the products on display.
Two galleries are demarcated through visually permeable divisions. A black metal grid creates skeletal walls that split the long and relatively narrow available floor space into roomy, interconnected zones, and maintains visual coherence. The irregular openings in the square grid serve as points of transition, lending the space an air of informality and fluidity. The 9” x 9” black metallic grid in conjunction with black flooring and walls introduces a sense of enclosure within the expansive space, while still maintaining transparency, and minimizing visual noise.
With multiple façade and jamb conditions incorporated in the two galleries, the design consciously does away with straight lines – from irregular openings in the metal grid, to the deconstructed edges of the various facades – creating a dynamic and informal environment. The lighting design has been done in the same vein, simulating the ingress of sunlight in the inner gallery through the featured windows, to give visitors a better idea of how the products would appear when installed outdoors. In addition to windows, the store also features ACP sheets, aluminium facades and casings, which are displayed through various design interventions.
It was crucial, in line with the client’s ethos, that the showroom should embody the explorative nature of the TWF brand. The resultant design allows visitors to immerse themselves in the dynamic spatial experience
Ar. Malay Doshi
The cool tone of aluminium and the warmth of wood dominate the space, tied together by dark floors and walls. Maintaining consistency, other areas use a similar material palette. The result is an interesting, immersive spatial experience, embodying TWF’s spirit of innovation.
A Tropical Skyscraper
In contrast with the conventional, completely sealed-off, air-conditioned tower, this hotel, designed by WOHA and Patricia Urquiola, merges architecture and nature, and combines indoor and outdoor spaces in a striking fashion to create sustainability and delight
The 190m tower contains four large outdoor spaces: three enormous verandas on the 6th, 12th, and 21st floor, as well as a roof terrace on the 27th floor. The roof terrace is surrounded and protected by a 10-storey-high screen, covered in the same red aluminium mesh cladding as the rest of the tower. The facade will gradually be overgrown by 21 species of creepers and vines, creating a lively contrast between vibrant reds and lush greens.
While the pursuit of sustainability is often accompanied by humourless earnestness, WOHA shows that it prefers to stand apart as it combines sustainability with delight: two terms that are prominently present in the office’s design philosophy.
Aside from the red/green façade, the sky gardens also offer greenery, fresh air, and opportunities for natural cross-ventilation, as well as representing the most visibly sustainable and delightful aspects of the building. Given the small footprint, WOHA adopted what they call ‘a club sandwich approach by creating a series of different strata, each with its own sky garden.’ Introducing these sky gardens as ‘elevated ground levels’, allowed ‘the precious but limited ground floor space to be multiplied, creating generous public areas for recreation and social interaction throughout the high-rise.
While WOHA can be credited for the architecture of the tower itself and the concept of stacking layers, the actual design of the sky gardens is the work of Spanish designer and architect Patricia Urquiola, who was responsible for all interiors as well as the outdoor spaces of the hotel. For the pools on the 21st and 27th floor, she has used Agrob Buchtal ceramic tiles from the German company’s Chroma series, and has given each pool a different character.
Unlike most rooftop amenities in hotels, which are all about the panorama, here the city’s skyline is almost completely concealed by the vegetated screen. This underlines the unconventionality of WOHA’s architecture. Instead of a view, the rooftop offers a place of unexpected intimacy and tranquility from the bustle of the city.
Vertical Boulevard
Location: Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Building surface: 106.534 m2 GFA / 168.081 m2 BUA
Building volume: 840.000 m3
Building site: 8.785 m2
Building height: 302m.
Programme: Mixed-use
Planning time: 2014 – 2016
Construction time: 2016 – 2020
Operator: Mandarin Oriental Hospitality Group
Lead Consultant design: UNStudio, Dubai/Amsterdam
Architecture: UNStudio, Amsterdam
Engineering, Sustainability, Acoustics: Werner Sobek, Dubai/Stuttgart
MEP Engineering: Werner Sobek, London
Local MEP Engineering: Seed, Dubai
Architect of Record: U+A Architects, Dubai
Light Design: Arup, Amsterdam
Landscape Architect: Green4Cities, Vienna
Cost Consultant: Kulkarni Quantity Surveyors, Dubai
FLS Consultant: Aecom, Dubai
Vertical Transportation: Dunbar & Boardman / TUV Sud, London
AV/IT Consultant: Shen Milson Wilke
Kitchen Consultant: Sefton Horn Winch
Pool Engineering: Barr & Wray, Dubai
Interior Design Hotel: GA Design, London UK
Interior Design F&B: AB Concept, Hong Kong
UNStudio, in collaboration with Werner Sobek, was invited by the wasl Development Group to design a new kind of high-rise for the city of Dubai that would act as a benchmark
wasl Tower - a slender 300-meter-tall super-high-rise, when completed, will be one of the world’s tallest ceramic facades. Adopting a classic ‘contrapposto’ movement, the mixed-use tower faces in almost every direction and offers public areas high up in the building.
UNStudio’s design, closely interlinked with the engineering and sustainability concept developed by Werner Sobek, defines scale, light, building physics and materialisation. In addition, smart access, communication and security provide a seamless technological base, which is integrated with the architecture. Clean materials, interactive light levels, and good acoustics are implemented throughout the building.
Clay was chosen as a basic material, as such the facade fins will be manufactured as low-tech glazed ceramic elements. The geometry of the tower achieved its holistic appearance by means of innovative parametric design and high-tech engineering. On the facade, a fine lace of inclined fins over the basic skin literally veils the geometry and provides the required ‘closed’ surfaces. These fins not only provide shade, but also reflect daylight deep into the tower’s interior.
The open seam that runs the full height of the tower forms a ‘vertical boulevard’, which is topped by infinity pools on the tower roof. This seam is created by a stacking of outdoor balconies and forms a green vein which also affords a glimpse of the interiors. The boulevard connects the outdoor with the indoor and is a unique feature for the region.
Facade lighting housed behind the fins and developed with Arup Lighting, is programmed as a rhythmic animation that breathes with the cadence of this 24-hour metropole and provides a visual connection to the city. This facade lighting is powered by the energy cube PV panels located on the car park building.
The mixed-use programme, comprising offices, guest rooms, public areas and apartments, presented a challenging core configuration. A smart structural concept - with three 300-metre high shear walls in the core that connect 4 large outriggers on strategic levels - give the tower an almost free, highly efficient floorplate.
Three high-speed express lifts connect the four main lobbies (ground / spa /sky and rooftop) which contain most of the public programme and the main access for the hotel (at 150 metres). Four office and four guestroom lifts share the same lift shaft, while the residential apartments have their own designated lift-group, making direct access via the basement parking possible. In total, the building provides 17 lifts, of which 5 are service elevators.
The tower is supported by a low rise car-park building which, uniquely, also houses a large, column-free ballroom on the first floor. Programming this element in this location provided the advantage that the ground floor lobby now spans the full premises and creates a ‘walled’ garden, providing shade and cooling, even during the summer months. The roof of the car park building is a large outdoor pool deck and is connected to the spa lobby in the tower via a pedestrian bridge, which provides access for all guests and visitors.
Mandarin Oriental, one of the world’s top hospitality brands, will operate the full building and will establish its MO@Dubai hotel here, with 250+ luxury 5* guest rooms. Construction started in 2016. General contractor Arabtec was appointed to start main works in 2017.
Sustainable Habitat
The small 465 sqm plot on the outskirts of Kolhapur was purchased at a comparatively low price due to its steep topography (5-m level difference within a site width of 15-m) and the undeveloped road in front. This level difference was used to advantage by tucking in the domestic help’s residence and a large rainwater harvesting tank at the lower level. The house is mainly on the ground floor level with a porch, living, dining, sit out balconies, kitchen and one bedroom + toilet. The mezzanine level has one bedroom/study + toilet + terrace.
When we moved out of our big old ancestral bungalow into a new smaller house, the move was also meant to simplify our lives and make it more self-sufficient in terms of energy, water, food etc. We decided that the new house should be more rooted in sustainable values of caring and sharing, rather than in mere green ratings. And we called it Laya, which means 'something that is in harmony with life'
Ar. Shirish Beri
The house form spontaneously creates spaces in and around the house that are informal, free flowing and harmonious. The single volume space inside encourages interaction within the family and with the outside natural views. Flexibility, multiple use of space and privacy are ensured by folding doors, partitions and curtains, which help in saving valuable resources and costs.
Semi-covered sit-out spaces, balconies and terraces connect with the outdoors. Plenty of fresh air and natural light reduces energy consumption. The habitat attempts maximum self-sufficiency in use of artificial lighting, water, domestic cooking gas, kitchen vegetables and sewage disposal.
Eco-Friendly Measures & Materials
- Part of fence and gate made from waste pieces of torsteel bars
- Retaining walls and walls of the large rain water harvesting tank made in concrete with stones from waste stone debris
- Filler slabs designed with split bamboo pieces from old discarded scaffolding and with 80mm long waste pieces of 100mm diameter PVC pipes
- 25% fly ash added to all concrete to reduce cement consumption
- Masonry done with autoclaved aerated blocks with 65% fly ash, bricks from demolished buildings, and interlocking fly ash bricks
- Steps in landscaping made from cornerstones sourced from construction debris. Stone chips obtained during dressing pave the garden pathways
- Pitching for terracing done from stones obtained from construction debris
- Round black stones for façade cladding served as cobblestones for service path
- False ceiling and stairs made from packaging pinewood; doors, windows, railings, façade wood strips made from wood from old, demolished buildings
- Some windows and doors from demolished structures re-used
- Most of structural steel members such as pipe columns, pipe purlins, MS angles, channels etc, bought from scrapyard; their old holes, welding joints have been retained
- Not a single new Mangalore roofing tile was used; all old tiles from dismantled houses were bought, cleaned, painted and used
- Floors and dadoes were made from tiles discarded by tile depot owner
- In driveway, Shahbad tiles used from old, demolished buildings
- House interiors use old coir foam cushions, old plywood, etc
- Dependency on K.M.C. water supply reduced by rain water harvesting
- Dependency on state electricity supply reduced by having lesser light points (due to a smaller house), 180W solar PV panels with storage invertor, LED and CFL lights, solar water heating, natural light and ventilation
- Use of old cables, light fittings, fans
- Terraced landscaped beds planned as per the contours for a vegetable garden rather than an ornamental one
- Horizontal wooden strips with vertical GI wires tied at 15 cm intervals on external facade support vegetable creepers and climbers, and shade walls.
A Singular Campus
Fact File
Typology: Institutional
Name of Project: Shoolini University of Life Science and Business Management
Location: Solan, Himanchal Pradesh
Principal Architect: Sourabh Gupta
Design Team: Sanjay Rawat, Bhoomika Singhal, Sanjay Bisht
Site Area: 538 sqm
Built-Up Area: 308 sqm
Structural consultant: Roark Engineers Consulting
Electrical consultant: Archohm Consults
Plumbing consultant: Techno Engineering Consultants
Photographer: Andre Fanthome
Material highlights
- exposed concrete
- local whitewashed brick and stone
- wooden flooring complemented by vibrant colours
- skylights
- a clean facade of concrete and recessed glass
The buildings respond to the steep contours but have been left largely unaltered with the stepped format of placing the mass, and their design was wound around existing foliage. The tower blocks have been set in a zig zag manner along the slopes. The foundation has been designed as per seismic Zone 4 regulations.
One of the challenges was to redesign while encountering rocks during levelling and incorporating the exposed rocks as part of the landscape and ensuring that the natural ecosystem is not encroached upon to the extent possible
Ar. Sourabh Gupta
Use of exposed concrete, whitewashed brick and stone, procured locally, have reined in construction costs. The architecture merges with vernacular expressions as the building has been crafted by local artisans. The material choice is such that the buildings remain maintenance-free. Wooden flooring has been used in the interiors for its warm earthy feel and for the acoustics. The colours are restrained to a few earthy yellows, greens, reds and browns - the colours of the hills – with an overall white palette with bare concrete inserts of the library and vibrant coloured interiors.
Light is a commodity that is in great need in the hills. While natural light is brought into all inhabited spaces, artificial light because of its glare and intensity, is kept muted and indirect through shaded verandahs, recessed glazing, skylights and via multiple reflections. A large circular window placed in the lobby outside the auditorium gives a panoramic view of the hills, while windows in the washrooms have been made in a mosaic-like, eye-catching pattern.
The Yogananda library overlooking a beautiful green valley has a clean facade of concrete and recessed glass, while the inner face of concrete bears the load of the entire system of the library stacks. The concrete wall is supported by seemingly intersecting concrete columns.
Each space is accentuated with interior colours and are loud and visible from the outside. A stepped theatre adds drama to the morphology. The vibrant ochre colour complements the raw wooden floors. A terrace café overlooks the entire campus and the valley, which, by virtue of its location and position, is left simple.
Panoramic Views
The scenic location is utilized ecologically by adopting a masterplan strategy to build villas along the Himalayan contours and use the site slope to maximize view and daylight. Large windows and openings on the south capture the heat of the winter sun to warm the villa interiors. Construction and planning minimize cutting of trees and soil erosion. The design also strives to reduce cut and fill at the site to create flat terraces in front of the villas.
The main challenge in any hill architecture is to ensure that every villa gets perfect views without obstructing the other. As a part of the urban plan, all ecological aspects were taken into consideration, starting with cutting minimum trees, rainwater harvesting, and pavers to reduce soil erosion
Nilanjan Bhowal
The project is located on fertile soil contours of 1:3 slope, hence, there is a high risk of soil erosion. Special details are used in urban design strategies to retain soil. First, fertile soil has been conserved across the land parcel with retaining walls and excessive plantation. Second, no patch of land is left with loose soil; all the soft-scape is covered with grass, trees and plants.
Only natural materials, finishes and local materials such as stone and wood have been used to construct the villas. Nothing has been procured beyond 100 km from the site, thereby reducing carbon footprint. Vernacular knowledge is used for solar passive design with large overhangs to provide shade from the summer sun but allowing the winter sun’s heat to enter the villas.
The landscape is designed to ensure porosity for water to seep into the ground. This is achieved through interlocking grass pavers for roads and walking pathways. The rain water harvesting system is designed as open channels where water trickles from shallow lily ponds into pebbled channels. It forms a good landscape feature and controls water percolating in the ground. Sculptures by prominent artists, private observation decks and numerous bird spots lend visual artistry to the setting.
Natural Settings
The plot was located on a rocky, highly contoured site with two large trees. The design concept was to enclose all spaces in small courtyards, which eventually open into a large central space and participate in the passive climate control strategy. The large trees were retained and the design circulated to make natural use of them.
At times, it’s only the change of materials that indicates where the house finishes, and the natural setting begins. The landscape within the site creates a feel of an extension of the natural terrain around it
Ar. Zubin Zainuddin & Ar. Krupa Zubin, ZZ Architects
One large block and 5 identical blocks with divisional courtyards were created and dispersed around a C-shaped layout. The open C-shaped pathway connects the rooms and circles around a large tree in the open courtyard. An existing tree is retained within the semi open walkway around the periphery of the living zone.
For cooling, the courtyard between all the blocks circulates the air and cools it through the designed landscape. The air further flows through the openings of the passage to the central courtyard, keeping artificial energy consumption low.
For heating, the front blocks being on a contoured base, are suspended on a concrete slab, which stores radiation and gives off heat during the night and reduces dependency on conventional heating systems.
Provision for rainwater harvesting was made with an underground tank on the right-hand side of the curved pathway for providing water for plantation and sanitation of the house, and for drinking after filtration. An open stream that cuts through the land is designed to retain water collected during the rains.
Sylvan Setting
Fact File
Name of project: Waterwoods Lodge and Resorts Pvt. Ltd.
Location: Karapura, Mysore District, Karnataka
Client: Pavan Kapoor
Area site: 56933.8 sq.ft
Total occupied area: 21025.25 sq.ft
Design Team: Ar. Sharukh Mistry, Ar.Deepa S.Wani, & Vishwanath K.B
PHE & Electrical consultant: Meca Project Engineers
Structural: Cruthi Consultants
Year of completion: May 2015
Photos: Umeed Mistry
A pedestrian entry from the north-east through a landscaped walkway leads to the reception and waiting area which is a semi-covered space. Through a koi fish pond, one walks into the 9-bedroom lodging facility, wherein all rooms overlook the pool and the river beyond on the south and spills into the surrounding landscape with deep decks. Common spaces include a spa, library, bar, gym and terraces with anti-skid, natural stone flooring.
High pitched steel roofs, floor to ceiling openings and double heights enhance the volumes, which invite the surrounding green and water indoors. Deep overhangs for all openings prevent the rains from lashing in. The pool with an invisible edge accentuates the depth of the site along the waterfront. A semi-covered dining deck is designed at the water edge.
A sustainable design approach, making the best use of natural sources and using locally available materials and manpower was the key intent. The water, the landscape and the sky inspired us!
Ar. Sharukh Mistry, Ar. Deepa S Wani
The kitchen and secondary spaces are located centrally and with separate external access for ease of service. The 6-bedroom block along the west angles out into the water with high split level roofs with thatch. An underlay of bamboo filters light and green into these spaces with large decks and terraces for star gazing nights. All toilets are finished with rustic materials and look out into the green with outdoor rain showers.
Nature inspired imprints (animal footprints, leaves etc.) adorn floors, roof slab, light fixtures etc. Use of solar power, effective water separation, recycle and reuse systems, turbo vents that run on wind energy, and sun tubes are some of the green technologies incorporated in the design. Adequate slopes and berms drain the surface runoff water.
Eco-friendly solutions
Locally available materials and vernacular construction techniques
Thatch tied with fish net for roof cover
Treated bamboo for roof underlays, vertical screens and doors
Boulders from nearby quarry for structural support systems
Mud plastered walls
Cuddapah, kota, slate, cement floors and finishes
Timber slabs for staircase treads, ledges and flooring
Solar power and turbo vents
Exemplary Passive Architecture
Material Palette
Local materials, primarily granite, in lobby and corridors
Non-slippery tiles in classrooms
Numerous windows proportionate to volume of rooms
The 1.5 lakh sq.ft campus comprises six established and independent modules, interlinked with a central corridor. It is an assemblage of classrooms, tutorial rooms, electric halls, staff rooms and other amenities. All usable rooms are assembled around a brightly lit central corridor. The play of materials in the departments gives identity and importance to the activity. The planning is user-friendly and directional. Service shafts enable easy movement of services.
Conceptualised and evolved by managing trustee Mr. L. Gopalkrishnan, the project took shape as the first Green Building in the institute and in the city of Coimbatore. It won the ‘Exemplary Performance Award for Passive Architecture Design’ by GRIHA Council in 2017
Ar. Sangeet Sharma
This block, a unit is replicated identically in other five blocks, thus creating a blocking which is thematic and systematic. The combined juxtaposition of the blocks is combination of masses with spaces in between the two blocks acting as air – shoots for cross ventilations. These areas provide access and ingress of the natural air to pass through with velocity.
The campus has passive design elements, solar panels, calculated light fittings, non-toxic paints, adequate natural light and ventilation and acoustically-treated lecture halls. Technology has been incorporated without compromising the principles of aesthetics and design, in fact, technology has followed the design.
Going beyond the normal design parameters, a mini forest zone was created on the south-west direction, for biodiversity, thereby, gaining additional points in GRIHA. Landscaped gardens and courtyards provide beautiful vistas.
Rethinking Traditional Values
Fact File
Architects: András Varsányi, Péter Pozsár, Norbert Vas
Building contractor: Tóth Tibor - carpenter
Year of construction: 2014-2016
Scale of project: 480 m2
Project cost: 500,000 EUR
Photo credit: Tamas Bujnovszky
This modern farmstead expresses the contemporary need for smart integration into an environment while extolling the traditional values that come from the building’s folk inspiration. Having won the audience’s vote at the Media Architecture Awards, it’s clear this is a value that modern homeowners are considering.
In the small village of Algyo in the Great Hungarian Plain, the surrounding area became depopulated due to global and national changes in the needs of agriculture. It was important, therefore, that the project maintained the traditional values of such a building but with more contemporary needs.
As a result, the most iconic aspect of the project is the central courtyard, enclosed by three sides to create an intimate setting amidst the surrounding acacia forest. The various modernized elements take aspects that were no longer needed from a traditional farmstead and repurposed their use. For instance, what once would have been stalls for animals or maize, are now garages. A corner section was removed as part of the interior structure but the roof was retained to create a quaint, sheltered, outdoor seating area.
The outdoor area encapsulates a pool and a number of terraces of varying heights. A modern library (a white cube) protrudes from the otherwise entirely wooden structure. The secluded spot embeds itself within the forest, intentionally representing urban architectural design but also creating a quiet space to read and relax.
The intention of the architects was to utilize a minimal floor-plan, making use of the traditional roof to create an interior space that was at once open, warm and welcoming. Though the building mimics the orientation of the original farmhouse exactly, its position within the wood was carefully selected to minimize its impact on the forestry and help its habitation within nature to be as seamless as possible.
The building is divided into living areas and bedrooms, effectively connected via the outer courtyard and sheltered club space. Windows on either side of the building allow light to seep in from every angle and create a much brighter and more airy space in contrast to the darker rooms of traditional houses, whose functions relied on protection from the elements.
Home of the Future
The Modern Classic
Fact File
Project: House of Hiranandani, Devanahalli, Bangalore
Architects: Alay Design Collaborators (Bangalore)
Interior Designers: HOH Design Centre, Zareer Mullan Architects (Clubhouse)
Construction: K.S. Arunachala, WSP Cantor Seinuk (India), Chetana Engineering Services Landscaping: CPG Peridian (Singapore)
Developer: House of Hiranandani
Area of project: 78 acres
Material Pallete
RMC concrete
Hollow concrete blocks
Natural marble
Aluminium powder coated window frames
Red Meranti wooden door frames
Ceiling finish: Birla putty
Internal plastering with Gypsum Vermiculate plaster
External plastering with river sand
Vitrified tiles of Kajaria, Simpolo, Regent
Tiles: Nitco, Simpolo, Griffin
Quick Step (imported) laminate wooden flooring
Internal Paint: Acrylic distemper of ICI, Berger, Asian Paints
External Paint: Texture Paint of Renovo
Electric Switches: Schneider Opale, GM
Elevators: Johnson Lifts
Sanitary Fittings: American Standard, Toto
CP Fittings: Grohe
Kitchens: Futura, Akriti
Lighting: Panasonic
The villas and cottages are part of a cluster in the large township. The scale for apartments of 842-1891 sq.ft carpet area, and their verticality is dealt with intricate detailing of features such as pediments and mouldings with the right height and proportion relative to the villas and cottages.
Design
The sense of spaciousness in the large apartments in addition to luxurious amenities like well-appointed club house, a lush herbal park and vast expanses of greenery. Available in various configurations, the villas, cottages and apartments promote community living with a well-appointed clubhouse, nature trails and parks, and close proximity to important commercial and business destinations.
The design captures as much daylight as possible. The openings have been optimized to suit the design element, façade detail and enhance the spatial feel. In the villas that range from 2204 sq.ft to 3487 sq.ft carpet area, the elements are fluid, with an influence of neo-classical detail of a typical Spanish type villa. Certain elements are from the Renaissance period and modified to suit the construction methodology.
The design concept was the outcome of an optimal integration of a township at a macro level and of the villas and cottages at the micro level, all of which have been designed in harmony and to complement each other. House of Hiranandani has pioneered newer technologies, bold designs and precision engineering to create landmark residential townships and commercial complexes with world-class amenities
Niranjan Hiranandani
CMD, Hiranandani Group
Proportion, aesthetics and balance have been kept in mind in view of the differences in each type of villa. The detailing in the 3BHK cottages of 1558 sq.ft and 4BHK of 2204 sq.ft carpet area fit the scale of the overall development and the roads.
Roofing
The villas and cottages have RCC sloping roofs with Mangalore Tiles/ Flat/Terrace Slabs, while the apartments are of RCC flat slab construction. The design ensures less or no beam projections within the apartments, and an option of soaring windows/doors with high lintel.
Façade
The façade is of hollow Block Work with Aluminum Sliding windows. It is of lightweight construction, has thermal and sound insulation, and provides ease of electrical conduiting.
Challenges
Black cotton soil was encountered during excavation, due to which, laying of the footpath with granite stones on PCC was getting cracked. Non-availability of river sand, mobilizing labour for such a large project, and utilizing the open wells on the site which were historically used for agriculture, were some other problems.
To overcome the challenges, the following measures were taken: The structural design was made suitable for the soil condition while keeping costs under check. Usage of M-sand bedding for granite in the footpath helped to counter the black cotton soil expansion and contraction, thereby, preventing cracks. Instead of river sand, mixed designs were made with M-sand for construction activities. Addition of mineral admixtures like fly-ash reduced cement consumption. The frame design was replaced with flat slab, which reduced slab cycle and minimized usage of timber. In fact, HOH is the first company to have flat slab introduced in the residential sector in Bangalore. Most of the open wells were retained and converted to recharge pits. A permanent labor hutment with facilities was provided by the contractors to retain laborers at site.
Project’s USP
House of Hiranandani has altered the way living spaces are designed. The architectural lineage of HOH garnered over three decades, is reflected in their world-class landscapes, elegance and contemporary designs. Neo-classical style of arched windows, elaborate pillars adorned with ornamental motifs, lofted arches, unrivalled views of nature, the imposing presence of landmark buildings marked by exquisite Greco-Roman architecture, Florentine domes, Grecian columns and regal pediments give their real estate projects a distinctive sense of space and grandeur.
Building materials
The villas have natural marble in the living, dining and family areas and in the staircase, vitrified tiles in the kitchen, wooden flooring in bedrooms, and ceramic tiles in the sit-outs. The cottages have wooden flooring in the living, dining, family room and bedrooms, natural marble in the staircase, vitrified tiles in the kitchen, ceramic tiles in the sit-outs and vitrified tile dado in the toilets. The fenestration comprises 8mm thick, toughened glass for 8/9 ft high sliding doors and 6mm thick clear annealed glass for other windows. In the apartments, vitrified tiles have been used in the living, dining, passage and kitchen areas, wooden flooring in bedrooms, ceramic tiles in the deck area and vitrified/ceramic tile dado in the toilets.
Where Culture Meets Trend
Located amidst the busy streets of Sadarpura, the store has a striking appearance with its interiors, transparent exteriors and display of local materials. The interiors were designed maximizing sustainability, locally available and recyclable materials like jute, bamboo, wooden logs, and hanging light fixtures in their ethnic forms. Use of old cartwheels for hanging displays, wooden logs as lighting fixtures, and rope patterns between display shelves create a sense of continuity and interconnection, transforming the space with a unique ambience of culture mixed with trend.
The transparent exterior clubbed with low height ceilings allow natural light to diffuse in the interiors. The ceiling beautified with random frames of different styles and flamboyant color play intensifies the design and creates an enthralling ceiling design.
The store has been segregated according to its functionality: the ground floor is welcoming and spacious with display areas and counters, while the basement is the tailoring section. The mezzanine floor is the saree section, beautifully enclosed by mdf jaali patterns, ropes and mirrors.
Immersive Work Environment
The brief of Bhairav Shanth, MD & Co-Founder, ITW Consulting, was to redesign and transform the public areas of the office and create a high-energy, unconventional workspace, without making any alterations in the existing layout. The world we envisioned was divided into 3 separate futuristic zones, each inspired from a different sci-fi movie: ‘Blade Runner 2049’s unique dystopian future for an impactful and engaging reception area; retro-futuristic sets of movie ‘Her’ for a playful work zone; and luxurious art-deco elements of ‘Passenger’s spaceship bar for a classy, captivating lounge area
Smita Thomas, Multitude of Sins
Fact File
Client: ITW Consulting Pvt Ltd
Location: Vasanth Nagar, Bangalore
Area: 2500 sq.ft
Principal designer: Smita Thomas - Multitude of Sins
Design team: Rahul KP, Rachita Murthy
Graphic Artist: Rahul Chacko
Mural Artist: Shunnal Ligade
Metal Artist: Mechanimal
Custom Furniture: Be Vintage
Canvas, Vinyl, & Glass Prints: Wall Queen Interiors
Electricals: Mohd. Hussain
Light Fixtures: Euro Lighting
Wooden Flooring: Square Foot
Photography: Shamanth Patil
Reception area: With the sheer size, height, and abundant sunlight, the main open-plan reception area that mimics a central courtyard, serves as a waiting area for visitors and an informal work area for employees. It is illuminated by custom-made conduit ceiling lights in a geometric pattern that extend along the length of the space. Pale grey wooden flooring signifying concrete, geometric patterned walls, inverted boxy bay windows, and perforated metal railing, make subtle references to the futuristic theme of the space. The custom communal box tables built from reclaimed hardwood mix are painted in bright red with distressed surface graphics and high seating. Taking a cue from Bladerunner 2049, the team designed a 20 x 22-ft multi-media mural, depicting the different verticals of the company and its affiliates’ logos, and setting the tone for a spanking new identity.
Mural: A larger-than-life mural, generated by artist Shunal Ligade, adds a streak of creative energy and demonstrates that artistic concepts with an engaging narrative can effectively achieve a brand’s communication goals. The mural is created using a variety of techniques and materials including acrylic paints, spray paints, UV paints, multiple metal structures, laser-cut buildings, steel cables, plywood, MDF, a mix of neon, marquee, LED, and acrylic lights. All the metal structures for the murals are created by metal artist Rahul KP as are the ceiling lights in fluorescent Plexiglas boxes that lend an intense fluorescent hue to the mural.
Workstation Area: The mix of private and open-plan workspaces feature an eclectic range of graphic art by artist Rahul Chacko in contrasting pastel and bold tones. Inspired by the retro-futurism of the movie ‘Her’, the work area is updated to a colourful, evocative, and friendly workspace. A canvas mural art features graphic novel-style panels that are embedded into and around the existing wall space. Each panel features future experiences from cyber cricket to space-age holographic concerts, representing the various verticals handled by ITW.
Telepods / Private Booths: The glass-walled telephone booths have been outfitted with custom graphics and organized into 3 separate pods called Decode, Process and Uplink. The signages are acrylic lightboxes and the glass structure is custom gradient films designed by Rahul Chacko. The high gloss wooden cladding in bright orange lends a punch to the interiors.
First Floor Lounge: Inspired by the grand and luxurious art deco-style bar and lounge of the movie ‘Passengers’, the lounge area is set out like a large, open-plan living and dining room, and features an eclectic mix of furnishings of plush leather sofas, a wooden desk and leather chairs. A giant screen and flexible seating allow employees and guests to watch live streams of popular sporting events that the company organizes. The lounge area also houses a formal conference room where the warmth of wood is given a graphic art-deco punch with a geometric wall installation. An old Corian conference table refurbished in polished wooden finish paired with stylish leather and wood finish armchairs create a warm, intimate environment, heightened by vintage wall sconces and filament bulbs that emit a soft glow. The bathroom, with doors designed in the art deco style, has minimalist elements like faucets, hand towel rings and abstract flowing water patterns that reinforce its identity.
Ground floor Bathroom: In line with the retro-futuristic theme, the distinction between the men and women’s restrooms is depicted through renderings of fashion: the man is decked in a svelte outfit that takes inspiration from Starfleet uniforms, while the women is wearing action-ready power armour.
Stimulating Creativity
Text: Ar. Himani Ahuja
Fact File
Client: Soft Bank Energy
Location: Aerocity, New Delhi
Site Area: 12000 sq. ft.
Built-up Area: 9000 sq. ft.
Architects: Arvind Vivek & Associates
The idea of ergonomics has been efficiently adopted in this modern workplace as it will boost productivity and efficiency in the workforce
Principal Architect
Vivek Gupta
The design stimulates creativity and the space allows for team brainstorming and meetings. At the same time, employees can work individually as the wide range of furniture can be moved and configured into endless setups, as and when required.
A natural palette of concrete and pinewood accentuates the interiors. A bare ceiling with exposed services is a significant feature. Adding aesthetic value are the customized suspended and floor-mounted lamps, and transparent partitions of glass supported by aluminium channels, amidst which a potted Champa tree takes centerstage.
Treated columns with a special film, transformed into writing boards, provide freedom of expression, while a video wall displays important information. Within an eye-catching geometric grid that separates two working regions, sit planters, gussying up the sterile premises.The design is conceptualized on the Japanese principle of ‘Shibumi’ that translates to a particular aesthetic of simple, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty
Associate Architect
Amruta Turkhud
The adjoining double height terrace, once a monstrous black metal plate, is converted into a green wall. Providing ample shade in the linear terrace, are triangular parasols with a cluster of benches. The pergolas cast shadows under the sun, quietly animating the astro turf underfoot. A water body on the terrace contributes in evaporative cooling along with wind movement creating a micro climate and reducing the ambient temperature.
The high point of the office is the indoor and outdoor interconnectivity with the terrace’s mixed use of a recreational cum work space, and the green elements indoors. The overall scheme elevates wood and nature, showcasing the trend of biophilia, which is based on the idea that humans have an innate affinity with Nature.
Studio in the Garden
The basement floor of a 4-storey apartment building situated in a residential neighbourhood facing a community park was designed by the architect as his own workplace. The challenge was to redefine a basement to reflect the company’s firm belief in sustainable design.
The project was conceived with a programme that imbibes all the essential elements of an open workspace but at the same time breaks the mould of conventional design and architecture
Ar. Nilanjan Bhowal
Descon
The idea, to design a creative working space with no boundaries, was achieved with well-lit multilevel spaces that blend into each other at various levels. The free open space image of the office eliminates hierarchy and inculcates free exchange of ideas.
To break the monolithic image of a commercial space, the colour palette, materials and textures remain earthy and yet radical in terms of usage. Natural colours like that of terracotta and burnt amber were incorporated by using Red Agra and Yellow Jaisalmer stones along with marble chips to give the space a striking, organic visual appeal.
The office spaces are designed around a courtyard, and to give visual connection to the greenery, a transparent façade is used. A staircase, finished in red Agra stone and contained by a bio-wall with a water cascade beneath it, leads to the central courtyard. Insulated walls and rainwater harvesting reduce energy and water consumption.
The absence of walls, cabins, or cubicles create a large free flowing space. The minimal skin of the skeleton of the space turns the design inside out, such that the office space is flooded with sunlight.
Transformable & Flexible
The most unique design element is the movable furniture and the partitions. The idea of things flipping, such as the bar, the tables and the lights, and the bold quirky graphics that give an illusion of pop music and culture
Abhigyan Neogi & Kanika Suri
Fact File
Area: 6700 sq.ft
Location: Lower Parel, Mumbai
Budget: 2.5 cr
Completion: August 2017
Project duration: 6 months
Photos: Suryan//Dang
Text: Ar. Himani Ahuja
The design creates a space that can easily accommodate and transform the space as per the events and showcase MTV in all its glory. Hence, a café design that literally ‘flips’. The intent was to create a dynamic and ever-changing space. Each of the functional element in the café like lighting, furniture and partitions alter the atmosphere for different times of the day during breakfast, lunch, and dinner or for special occasions.
Since the site did not have any outdoor spaces, the design team receded the indoor area to open a chunk of the site. The indoor area houses a bar, and a multi-functional stage suspended from the ceiling. Movable partitions further create smaller pockets for a variety of seating zones, workspaces, meeting areas and casual dining. These partitions, designed in modules, form various configurations that make the furniture layout dynamic and flexible.
The second zone, separated from the indoor wall with pivoted clear windows, is more casual and laidback, with large, arched windows of the mill building retained to lend a feel of the outdoors. The outdoor area has an ancillary cocktail van in the form of a camper, and wooden benches, hammock chairs and ledges for informal seating.
To create a sense of a bare shell building, the walls have been chiseled, with stained brick and the original concrete. The terrazzo floor was cast in situ and has Kadappa stone in leather finish. The partitions are of mild steel, finished in lacquer polish for a raw look, and there are handmade glazed tiles in the toilets.
.
The furniture was designed to be flexible as the café is a workplace during the day and an event space in the night. Quirky elements such as flipping table tops, hammock chairs and piano sofas reflect the brand’s bold style. Art installation using hot wheels, a selfie wall at the entrance with musical instruments, and transformable bar graphic panels, add to the eclectic décor elements.
Of Colors & Textures
Fact File
Name of project: Quattro
Location: Hyderabad
Area: 3000 sqft
Design Team: Interiors Urban Zen
Utility Engineering: D. A. Rao
Material Palette
Stones: StoneLife
Specialty Finishes: Murales
Flooring Tiles: Bharat
Entrance lobby flooring: Tandur stone
Ceiling: MS framing with mesh fixed in frames painted in speciality Italian finish of UCIC
Brick wall cladding: Wire cut brick painted in white paint; rest of the walls painted in special Italian paint UCIC
Lights: Lux Logix
Downlights: Lucent
Air conditioning: Daikin
We have worked with skilled craftsmen and carpenters of India to produce beautiful and comfortable furniture redifining Italy
Rohit Suraj
Principal Designer
Urban Zen creates small niches which aren’t severely ornamented but serve the purpose they were designed for. One such notable feature is the entrance, where the wall is brought to life with a simple pattern of wall-mounted money plants in containers of the same color as the wall, and appearing as if they were sprouting from the wall itself.
With a theme inspired by the Streets of Italy, Quattro hosts an open plan seating spread over 3000 sq.ft. The interiors are a muted palette of pastel warm earthen colors of brown, cream and blushed neutrals, intermingled with hues of grey, teal, green, and silver, to provide contrast.
Luminaires hidden in alcoves in the ceiling, wash the walls in a warm glow, highlighting the artwork. Edison bulbs dangling from the ceiling are entwined with Tom Dickson pendants, bathing the restaurant in an opulent glow.
The flooring is a changing pattern of colors and textures with cobblestones and printed tiles set along with whitewashed brick wall. Attention to detail is seen in the various finishes of the walls that seep into the tabletops and counters, and even the door panels.
The services have been placed behind metal mesh ceilings, while a string of exposed Edison bulbs snake around the premises to draw attention away from the almost exposed services, and simultaneously making it easier for maintenance. The partitions have a visual texture of soft velvet, placed at an angle such that the visual linkages aren’t completely blocked off, yet a feeling of privacy is maintained.
A wood-fired pizza oven replicates the original Italian, while the menu is a set of deconstructed Italian dishes, with the walls sporting the same theme in unique ways with various types of themed food art, also reflected in the crockery and cutlery. Plants in earthen racks are visible in almost every corner of the restaurant.
Breaking The Monotony
The ceiling lights, when reflected and diffused, form a continuous architectural gesture and are completely intertwined into the structure, offering new interpretations from radiant and graphic to dynamic
Our design efforts were to ensure a different style and plan to avoid monotony. Advanced technology was applied to obtain the best results and minimize cost and time
Ar. Akshay Selukar, H&A Consultants
The entrance is an idiosyncratic idea with its wall of funny faces and graphics. Furnished with a seating place just beside the doorway, people can enjoy the view of the ‘selfie’ wall, while a glass wall brings the surrounding landscape into the adjoining space
The dining area with its wall painted with brightly coloured flowers and a book shelf
The grid of black-painted and upcycled steel bars is a significant design feature
The visual integration between the inside and outside with extensive use of glass, framed by anodized aluminum architraves within sliding doors. The art work installed helps break the monotony of the concrete frame
An Architect’s Home
The 2800 sq.ft duplex penthouse has a living room, kitchen, store, utility, and three bedrooms on the lower level, with a staircase connecting the upper space, which comprises a bedroom, TV room and a terrace. The architects made several changes to the original structure, for instance, the slab above the dining room was punctured to connect the upper space with the lower to achieve a sense of continuity and bring in natural ventilation and light into the lower floor area.
We took a minimalistic design approach to avoid wastage of materials and made a conscious effort to use Indian cotton and linen for furnishings, Indian flooring tiles, and locally crafted furniture pieces, to come up with a very contemporary yet traditional house
Ar. Hitesh Modi & Ar. Amit Srivastava
The original RCC staircase of 5ft and 9 inch was replaced by a staircase made of perforated metal sheet and wooden treads, and suspended stainless steel ropes from the ceiling to give it strength. The staircase showcases minimalism in design and use of very few construction materials. Light transmitting through the perforated risers brings a sense of openness in the narrow space.
The central core duct and common toilet extend on both the floors to create an interesting volume of a central cube that is clad in exposed brick, which along with all the circulation areas, have hardwood flooring and wooden ceiling. The dining room slab was removed and a window added to bring in ample natural light and ventilation.
The bedroom flooring is of Indian mosaic tiles with brass inlay. About 500 sq.ft of terrace area is dramatized by a pergola and handmade terracotta tiles for flooring. The toilets have Mosaic Galatia tiles in dry areas and glass white cladding in the wet.
The cement finish wall and ceiling are made using raw cement and concrete admixture as resin to create a paint-like material and applied like lapi and scrubbed to create a stucco-like effect. The furniture finish is also done directly on the ply with the same technique, giving a concrete look in less than ₹15 per sq.ft. The natural concrete surfaces complement the Indian mosaic flooring and teak wood furniture. All the edges of the walls and ceilings have been rounded to provide a sense of flow.
A collection of art is displayed on planks of wood which hang on suspended SS wires. The wooden planks retain their original texture and edges to give a raw look to the shelves. To create indigenously made furniture, local artisans were brought in to weave the dining chair backs, sofa backs, the bed backs, and other furniture pieces. Toilet accessories like mirror frames and towel rods have been made from leftover wood. Apart from the LED downlights, suspended lamps weaved in cane by local craftsmen have been used.
Split House for Optimal Space
We have achieved environment sustainability with several solutions from the orientation of the house, to use of eco-friendly building materials, solar energy, to the design and size of the fenestration, etc, and all within a very modern, contemporary house
Ar. Umaesh Raje, Space Craftt Architects
Fact File
Project Name: Split House
Location: Kolhapur
Site Area: 492.00 sq.m
Built up Area : 411.310 sq.m
Architect: Space Craftt Architects
Project Team: Ar. Umaesh Raje
Landscape Designer: Amit Patil
Structural Consultant: Dr.A.B. Kulkarni & Associates
Civil Contractor: Rajendra Warnulkar
Photo Credits: Sanjay Chougule
The material palette as per the tropical climate includes bricks coated with PU for their enduring wet look and easy maintenance, and terracotta cladding tiles throughout the house for their thermal insulation, and roofing shingles over the verandah and yoga room with decorative eaves board. A dry pebble landscape on the steps give a Zen garden look. The dining room opens to an extended raised lawn with MS fabricated rafter pergola with clear glass that allows in ample light and protection from the harsh sun.
The kitchen in the S/E corner on the rear side has clay brick cladding on the exterior for thermal cooling of the walls. The master bedroom has a wooden rafter ceiling, and single operated windows to reduce heat from the south- west side and get the early morning sunlight. It opens out to a spacious sit-out with a water body and a raised wooden deck.
Environment sustainability has been achieved with the following solutions:
- 0.23 m AAC blocks for external walls and 0.15 m AAC blocks for internal walls
- Gypsum plaster for internal finishing hence no further curing required
- External wall of 12mm thick terracotta cladding for thermal insulation
- Single component G. I double shutter customized window system with openable shutters
- 100% ventilation through windows
- Rock wool of 50mm thickness used for gypsum false ceiling for thermal comfort
- Vertical window of 1.80m height for maximum light and ventilation
- Strategic window size and placement for maximum cross ventilation
- Rainwater harvesting for bore well recharge and landscape
- Solar panels for hot water.
Creating an Iconic Facade
Fact File
Project name: Script
Location: Indiranagar, Bangalore
Client: Godrej
Principal design: Gensler
Architects:FRDC
The amalgamation of design and technology employed throughout the 14000 sq.ft. store creates a distinct niche for the brand in an urban furnishing market. The store is compliant to ADA criteria with universal accessibility from the entry with a ramp, to specially dedicated toilets. In-built tech aids in choosing the right style and piece, while a dedicated demo area allows buyers to assemble and view their selected pieces.
Each zone seamlessly transitions into the other as the general design language denotes flexibility and modularity, with fixtures that adapt to the evolving dynamics of the merchandise
Ar. Sanjay Agarwal FRDC
This west-facing store uses electronically-operated louvres that were perforated to behave like a jali to help cut the sunlight. The perforations varied in diameter create a visual effect that exhibits the mnemonic patterns of the brand, and the concept was carried in the porch ceiling, whose backlit perforated metal panels change patterns and colours with transitional RGB lighting.
The glass behind the louvres is transparent while the other areas use Lambert Profile frosted glass. This helps to diffuse the incoming sunlight during the day and at night it diffuses the interior light to the outside street for a pleasant effect.
The cladding is a seamless finish with powder-coated solid aluminium. A glass box for visual merchandising has a double height atrium which serves as a focal point of the façade. Winch suspension systems were used to hang the merchandise. All these details create a dynamic ever-changing façade.
Various zones are separated by modular display fixtures designed as a combination of perforated and solid powder coated metal fins, along with glass shelves and illuminated glass boxes. Metal, a heritage of Godrej, can be observed in various forms; extending from the brass bowl fixtures at the porch, the display fixtures, furniture, to the customised Terrazzo flooring with brass dust, chips and strips.
Energy consumption was optimised with VRV systems of AHU for HVAC. Intensity variable light fixtures, rainwater harvesting pits, passive solar shading for the façade combined with perforated and adjustable louvres help reduce heating of the building. The Script store is Gold LEED certified.
Locally Relevant
Luxury hotel Le Meridien Thimpu in Bhutan, designed by ARK Reza Kabul Architects, has a façade covered in plaster, keeping in mind the local context
Located in Bhutan, the Le Méridien Thimphu hosts 78 culturally inspired guest rooms and suites. The country has made striving efforts to be an environmental benchmark. It is one of the few in the world to have a negative carbon rating.
While plaster has a great decorative appeal along with the use of POP, it also offers an elegant and a simple, clean look
Ar. Reza Kabul, President, ARK
The façade of Le Meridien Thimpu is designed keeping to the local context. It is covered in plaster. Plaster is used while bricking to strengthen the structure. In comparison to dry walls, plastered walls are stronger and more durable. It also aligns the brick in the process. Apart from being conducive to fostering a sustainable environment, it is non-toxic and unparalleled in quality.
The interiors of the hotel provide guests with the perfect delight to their artistic sensibilities with the regional art of Bhutan adorning the walls. A swimming pool offers a view of the city’s attractive landscape. Other amenities include a restaurant, a lounge bar, outdoor cafe, spa, a fully-equipped business centre and banquet facilities, all of which make Le Méridien Thimphu a compelling choice for both leisure and for hosting business meetings.
