Designed For Sustainability
The planning by architect firm KGD of Manyata Tech Park Phase 4 reflects MFAR Developers’ commitment to conserving energy and maximizing efficiency from high-performance solar glazing to energy saving light bulbs
Low flow fixtures and dual flush cisterns are used throughout the facility. Sewage is treated to tertiary stages using an electrolytic degenerative oxidation process and reused for HVAC heat transfer by evaporative cooling and for external landscaping. Rainwater is harvested to recharge the ground water as well as partial storage and reuse. All pathways and paving at grade is of permeable surfaces to allow infiltration of rainwater.
While our endeavor is to achieve the best in absolute terms of sustainability, use of LEED and IGBC rating system is a tool for measurement against a standard that is available
Ar. Nejeeb Khan
Variable frequency drives are used for secondary chilled water pumps and AHU drives. Central Treated Fresh Air intakes at the rooftop are precooled using a heat wheel collecting toilet exhaust from conditioned spaces. Double skin AHUs are used to reduce losses in efficiency. All common area light fixtures will have energy efficient mercury and lead-free devices to reduce consumption and light pollution will be controlled on the exteriors with effective lighting design.
The shape of the plot is advantageous in terms of building orientation. The resultant floor plate is narrow and long, with the length aligned along the N-S axis except for the L part on the West façade, which will be provided with high performance glazing. Short span East and South ends are provided with little or no glazing and the East end is blocked with the services and toilet core to prevent excessive insolation entry. The L shape also aids to self-shade the South façade to some degree in the shadow studies.
The façade will be composed of sections to provide adequate daylight penetration and views while controlling glare. Thin floor plate enhances depth of daylight penetration from both sides. Use of recycled content will be incorporated in the structure as well as internal partitions and fittings. VOC emitting materials will be screened at the design and purchase stage. Plantation timber and certified wood will be incorporated in the design stage itself.
Smart card readers, Intruder Alarm System, emergency lighting, PDA system, perimeter protection, anti-blast film on windows, and ceiling mounted and dome-type CCTVs make up the security systems.
Contrast in Figure & Colour
The Harvey Pediatric Clinic designed by Marlon Blackwell Architects is a progressive building that delivers a high-quality, efficient space
Cayenne-colored metal panel wraps the south elevation, which is lit from above along the edge with a skylight that stretches the length of the building. A portal at the ground floor creates a drop of area for patients under the elevated cayenne form. Tenant spaces on either side of the pass-through are wrapped in glass, providing a connection with the surrounding landscape and establishing visual and material separation from the upper floor.
Entering the building from the portal, one ascends a stair that is embedded in the “foot” of the structure. Blue glass in the skylight above washes the stair with blue light. The color creates a vertical threshold that suggests a place of healing. Fins along the eastern glass wall guard the interior from excessive solar exposure.
Sixteen exam rooms are organized along a loop corridor creating a simple circulation path from waiting room and check-in to the exam room and to the check-out. Skylights over the two nurses’ stations bring ample natural light into the center of the building.
The cayenne metal panel is a custom color that was developed specifically for the project. A standard, weathered zinc metal panel is used on the north side of the building, which is formally quieter yet abstract in its detailing. A ribbon window reinforces the horizontality of the form and the darker, cool gray recedes, giving emphasis to the saturated, warm color used on the south figure. A flat metal panel profile is used on the west elevation and soffit, while a box rib metal panel profile lends a subtle texture to the north and south elevations. Custom break metal trims are used throughout, allowing the detailing of the skin to reinforce the abstract quality of the building’s shape.
Credits | Pulls: Hager |
Client: Dr. Bryan Harvey | Security devices: Best Access Systems |
Owner: Pediatric Workplaces, LLC | Acoustical ceilings: CertainTeed |
Gross square footage: 15,493 SF | Suspension grid: CertainTeed |
Total construction cost: $2,989,058 | Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: Kitchen Distributors |
Mechanical, Electical, Plumbing: HP Engineering, Inc | Paints and stains: Sherwin Williams |
Structural: Tatum Smith Engineers, Inc | Plastic laminate: Pionite |
Civil: Bates & Associates, Inc. | Resilient flooring: Johnsonite |
Landscape Design: Stuart Fulbright | Carpet: JJ Invision |
General contractor: SSI, Inc | Downlights: Juno (Recessed Cans); Forum (Recessed Linear); Coronet (Troffer) |
Photographer: Timothy Hursley | Exterior: Juno |
Structural System: Steel frame with composite decking - Fig Tree Inc (Subcontractor) | Dimming system/lighting controls: Leviton |
Exterior Cladding: Metal panels: Morin | Elevators/escalators: Otis |
Roofing: Membrane Roof: Firestone Building Products | Drinking Fountain: Elkay |
Glazing: Storefront: Kawneer and Ace Glass (Subcontractor) | Lavatory: American Standard |
Entrance Doors: Kawneer | Water Closets: American Standard |
Wood doors: Marshfield Door Systems | Sinks: Elkay |
Locksets: Hager | Faucets: Symmon |
Closers: Hager / LCN | Exit devices: Kawneer |
Highly Polished & Shimmering
The grandiose appearance of the concert hall is enhanced by the reflective partial coating ‘ipachrome design’ Elbphilharmonie
Location: Hamburg
Owner: Elbphilharmonie Bau KG, Hamburg
Architect: Herzog & de Meuron, Basel
Façade construction: Josef Gartner GmbH, Gundelfingen
Glass coating: ipachrome design
Glass processing: Interpane Plattling
Elbphilharmonie (Elbe Philharmonic Hall) is being described as “architecture of the century” and “the new emblem of Hamburg”. One of the features creating the unique aesthetics of the new concert hall is the individual “droplet coating” of each of the panes in the glass façade, many of which are curved, with the chrome-based multilayer system “ipachrome design” from AGC Interpane. The effect is like millions of tiny mirrors, which make the building shimmer differently with every change in mood of the ambient light.
With a light reflection factor of over 50% and transmission of only 4%, the coating is as highly reflective as a conventional silver mirror, but is significantly more durable and is therefore suitable for use in façades, where it needs to cope with every kind of weather for many years.
A total of 22,000 sqm of curved and flat façade glass were coated with ipachrome design, and some of this was further processed into insulation glass. The glazing thus constitutes an optically attractive design component with high awareness-creation value – but without any limitations on the functionality. The special coating can be tempered and processed into laminated safety glass, can be combined with iplus heat-insulation and ipasol solar-control coatings, and can be used in the construction of insulation glass.
Designing with Fundermax
The design of Brunton Heights, a boutique hotel in Bangalore’s Central Business District, by Architects Raghunandan and Nagendra of Parallax, reaffirms their professional belief that a structure, however trendy, should gel with the surroundings and reflect an organic comfort in being there.
Brunton Heights, aimed at the business traveller, integrates the greenery, nestled as it is amidst tall trees. The plot, imperfect, yet quaintly beautiful, presented exciting possibilities to the architect duo. A crucial aspect of the design was to develop an idea that could act as a thematic bridge between the concrete structure and immediate natural surroundings. It included identifying the exact surface material that would visually and functionally connect with the lush environment.
Once the design theme was approved, it percolated down from the drawing board to the execution team and the structure started developing a character and identity.
The vertical surface of the building was the platform that would sync with the immediate environment. The architect team chose Fundermax panels for the exterior façade for two important reasons.
First, it was the rugged and woody look of the panels. Second, it allowed fixing of the panels on a frame while maintaining a gap between the wall and the cladding, which provided insulation from weather extremes.
These apart, water compatibility, teak-like finish, subdued tones and precise machinability of the panels lent consistency and practical benefits to the structure. The applications were varied – on the walls, inside the balconies and on the lapsiding. Why, even the signage was made with it.
We believe in creating sensible architecture wherein every structure sets an example in urban refinement. For Brunton Heights, we chose Fundermax wood finish as it is in sync with the natural surroundings, and offsets the lush greenery beautifully.
Ar. Raghunandan & Ar. Nagendra, Parallax
Facade Material: Fundermax 0161, 0803 wood finish decors
Area covered: 350 sqm, across three segments
Application: Façade, Lapsiding and Soffit
Sales & Service Partner: Bangalore Protech Controls
Ar. Nehit Vij and Devyani Gupta Intrigue Designs
Gone are the days when facades were independent bold statements, having almost no link to the interior spaces they encompassed. The contemporary facade speaks a lot about the interior space. The building exterior language translates in the interior space as well. Everything from facade elements and materials, the funnel inside the building to create an identity inherent to the building.
Fenestration being the most important connecting element between the inside and the outside, is taking new shapes and forms. Gigantic glass windows are being replaced by paneled windows, jaalis and screens. Anodized aluminium sections are being used to assemble doors and windows. They give the interior designer the flexibility to have larger openings with thinner mullions and multiple hardware options. A larger colour palette allows the designer to experiment and create a unified language for the building’s exterior and interiors.
The playschool school in Gurgaon designed by Intrigue Designs demonstrates the current trends with bold colours framing the fenestration in the building exterior and neutrals in the window sections. The window sections hold DGU glass for insulation and are partly openable. The facade colours were picked from the school logo and have weather-proof textured paint layers.
Dual Façade System and Louvers
Ar. Pankaj Gandhi, VH Designs Studio
“Dual façade system increases the life span of a building as well, and helps reduce its energy consumption”
The Intelligent building system has brought a revolution with energy saving and the operational cost. At VHDS, we have been trying to explore various possibilities of new age façade with sustainability as its core. Semi-Tropical regions as in India have access to full sunlight almost the whole year long. Heat gain is one of the major challenge for architects. Single layer façade’s vulnerability to natural forces increases the energy consumption of a building. To balance this equation, the designed façade with sensible placement helps to have a sustainable, green building.
The dual façade system using local materials, which are easily replaceable, makes ease in the operation of a building. Fundamentally, the building envelope’s function is to exhibit the building with it’s true function and concept. The other function is to protect the building without compromising on the advantages of the outside views and natural light.
With globalization, Indian architecture has come to be influenced by global trends and designs in creating building envelops. However, buildings today have more vulnerable surfaces as compared to previous building envelopes.
Architecture with its basic principles, tends to protect the structure in its original form by virtue of its design or technical solutions. The dual façade system is one such contemporary solution to protect the building without compromising on ingress of daylight, ventilation, views and aesthetics of the building.
At this Louvered House designed by VH Designs Studio, there are louvers with full openings with inner backing of wooden sliding windows, which allow unrestricted air circulation with controlled intensity of air. The view is un-interrupted due to the large scale opening, which has been protected by the dual façade system.
Measures & Materials
Energy shortage in the country has pushed real estate developers to opt for ‘green’ solutions with a focus on five key areas: energy, water, material, indoor air quality and landscaping, writes Shruti Choudhari, VP, B L Kashyap & Sons Ltd, a leading construction, infrastructure and civil engineering company.
Though the initial construction of a green building is 2-12% higher than a conventional one, however, the green measures and materials used bring operating costs down by 30%.
At B.L Kashyap, most of the green practices are as per Standard Operating Procedures from design to planning stage, with a full envelope covering Health, Safety and Environment, including procurement of materials (which must be within a specific radius of the site) to disposal of materials and waste recycling, identification of environmental friendly construction and shuttering systems as well as non-hazardous interior materials, finishes and paint. Bharti Realty Worldmark (Aerocity), Embassy Tech Village (Bangalore), Hero Factories are some of the recently completed LEED Gold and Platinum certified constructions executed by B.L Kashyap.
Case study
Hines One Horizon Center, Gurgaon, an office cum retail project developed by international real estate firm Hines and DLF Ltd, was designed by world renowned Robert Stern Architects. BLK was the general contractor for this project. Hines earned LEED Platinum certification under IGBC’s LEED India CS program in 2015.
Energy saving measures at Hines resulted in 14% reduction in energy demand as compared to a standard building. Green solutions include:
Energy efficient facade - Hines
- Dual Pane high performance glass
- Chillers with VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives)
- Energy Efficient lighting, CFLs and day lighting
- Building orientation keeping sunlight and wind factors in mind
- VAV system of air-conditioning
- Sensors for operating and managing VAV/HVAC
- Natural gas based power source
- Storm water management
- Onsite sewage treatment plant
- Rain water harvesting & water recycling
- Low flow fixtures and automatic sensors
- CO2 sensors to enable good levels of indoor fresh air
- External AHUs with UV filtration to prevent harmful microbes from entering air conditioning systems
- Locally available materials for construction
- Non-hazardous paints, water proofing compounds, sealants, composite wood products and other low toxin emitting materials for interiors
- Concrete interlock pavers and cobblestones in hardscapes. These have joints filled with tiny stones; water seeps in through the open graded gravel base and into the earth. The joints make these pavers 100% permeable, which promotes the natural water cycle.
- Recycling of sheeting systems
- Roofs covered with vegetation planted over water proofing membrane create artificially altered surfaces by high thermal reflectance and high thermal emitting
- Over 30% of soil cover retained
- Minimized surface heat reduction
- Landscape maintained through recycled water
- Water sensitive plant groups used
- Organic waste compost for landscaping
- During construction, the topsoil removed was reused for landscaping, and sedimentation pit was provided to avoid soil erosion in excavated areas.
Wintergarden
- Glass fiber reinforced gypsum (GFRG) panel building systems
- Monolithic concrete construction system using Aluminum Formwork
- Solar Air Conditioning
- Chilled Beams
- High performance envelope (cavity walls that have two skins of brick with a hollow space between or double glass)
- Wind Hybrid Solar System
Benchmark For Sustainability
Rakesh Reddy, Director, Aparna Constructions & Estates Pvt Ltd, shares details of the company’s greening initiatives in Aparna Sarovar Grandé at Nallagandla, Hyderabad
Built up area: 1,49,138 sq.mt
Architects: Genesis Planners
Green Construction Consultants: Conserve Consultants
Construction: Aparna Construction & Estate
Type of certification: IGBC Green Homes Version 2.0
Platinum rating with 81 points
Site Selection & Planning: 17 points
Water Efficiency: 18 points
Energy Efficiency: 14 points
Materials & Resources: 16 points
Indoor Environmental Quality: 11 points
Innovation & Design Process: 5 points
Aparna Sarovar Grandé sets a benchmark for sustainable site selection and planning that successfully engages with architecture to enhance life quality and continuity by maximizing energy and water conservation, and minimizing waste and heat generation.
The overall project design depicts high-performing architectural, mechanical and electrical design elements. It features efficient energy conservation measures like insulated roof, high-performance glazing, and reduction in LPD (lighting power density) of 30% from baseline, along with lighting controls that result in average energy cost savings of upto 16% from baseline building.
Aparna Sarovar Grandé is a Greenfield housing project that symbolizes how a luxurious lifestyle can prosper more within an environment-friendly one
Use of high-grade Pilkington Glass ensures better natural light, noise control, thermal insulation, and fire protection, without compromising on strength and stability of the building. It keeps the indoors cool in summer, warm in winter, and reduces monthly energy costs.
The glass, as well as the insulation of the terrace with a low U-value material, reduces heat transfer into the building. Solar cells generate 2.5 percent of the electricity used in the project, and 1 percent of the construction materials are from salvaged sources. Besides this, indoor environment quality is maintained with 80% of all regularly occupied spaces having an opening to the outdoors. Fresh air ventilation has been designed for living spaces, kitchen and bathrooms.
Mother Earth was preserved in 15% of site area by restricting the extent of the cellar. During excavation, all the top soil was preserved as a mound in the adjacent site, to be later used in landscaping, owing to its high fertility. 95% of construction waste generated has been diverted from disposal in landfills. More than 75% woods used in the project are rapidly renewable & FSC certified wood. Excavation and filling were minimized by opting for a Stepped Podium concept, where half of the blocks were designed on a raised podium, which gives stilt-like access to parking beneath, without the need for ramps.
Landscaping has been done with designated spaces for utilities and provision of on-site facilities. Plants and trees have been carefully selected to suit the local environment and the turf area has been reduced to less than 20% of the total landscape since it requires water for maintenance. The project landscape has been designed keeping in mind the site conditions and the need to preserve the biodiversity of the region, and a thousand species of flora have been planted.
Material Description | Product Manufacturer |
Lifts | MIT Subishi |
Plumbing Fixtures | GROHE |
Irrigation Fixtures | Rainbird |
Water Meter | Kranti |
Air Conditioners | Daikin Air-conditioning |
Roof |
150mm RCC slab, 50 mm Screed Concrete, 50m Peripor Board (Over deck Insulation) ,China Mosaic Tiled Roof U value -0.406 w/m2K |
Glass |
Pilkington VLT – 51% , SHGC -0.41, U Value -2.84W/m2K |
Roof Top PV Panels | Energy Exchange India Private Limited |
Parking Exhaust Fan | Witt India - Jet Fans |
Motors & Pumps | Grundfos Pumps India Private Limited |
Lighting | FDL – 30% LPD reduction |
Lighting Controls | Timer control for exteriors, common and parking area |
DG Set | Kirloskar - Bio Diesel |
Energy Meters | Elmeasure India Private Limited |
Organic Waste Converter | Excel's Composting machine |
CC Blocks | Aparna Enterprisers |
RMC | |
Cement | Vasavadatta - Birla Sakthi |
Steels | JSW Steels |
Vitrified Tiles | Simpolo Ceramics , Gujarat |
Wooden Materials | VK Patel & Co, SGS, Weng Meng Industries |
Exhaust Fans | Bajaj |
UPVC Windows & Doors, Ventilators | Aparna Venster UPVC |
Paints - Interior & Exterior | Asian Paints |
Sealant | Dow Corning |
Adhesives | Pidilite |
We explained to every occupant the advantages, features and expectations of a green building and educated them how to properly maintain and utilize the energy conservation features.
Green Highlights
- Low VOC paints, adhesives and sealants used to minimize air contamination.
- Construction materials like steel, glass, cement, sand, etc., used were manufactured within 400 km distance from project site, thus reducing fuel consumption and carbon footprint.
- FSC certified wooden door frames and shutters.
- Water-efficient plumbing fixtures with flow rates lower from the base line installed, reduce water consumption up to 50.4%.
- On-site sewage treatment plant for treating waste water generated to reuse for flushing and landscaping.
- Installed Roof Assembly U values or the heat loss value is well-controlled from retaining heat and transmitting it to the apartments. This maintains a balance in the heat gained.
- Solar-E Blue-Green glass with low U Value from Pilkington for windows reduces heat ingress into residential units.
- Energy efficient electrical fixtures and parking garage exhaust systems
- Timer controls in distribution box for non-emergency exterior and common area lighting.
- Professionally planned landscaping for avoiding ‘heat island’ effect.
- 96% of non-roof impervious area covered with grass pavers and shaded by trees.
- China mosaic tiles and vegetation on roofs.
- Hybrid DG sets that run on biofuel reduce emission of greenhouse gases and dependency on expensive fossil fuel.
- On-site renewable energy systems to offset building energy costs.
- BEE 4-star rated pumps & motors and group controls in lift.
- Solar PV panel systems (off-grid) with a capacity of 140 KW installed on roof of every tower.
- Central shut-off valves, drip irrigation for landscape planting beds, moisture sensor controllers, and pressure regulating devices for water conservation.
- The Building Envelope uses materials for lesser energy consumption and reduced adverse health impact on occupants. The roof has over deck insulation and China mosaic tiles, glazing, cement with fly ash content, CC blocks with recycled content, vitrified tiles, FSC certified wood, low VOC paints, sealants and adhesives.
Urbana Township Transforms Kolkata’s Skyline
Urbana, the largest luxury condominium in Kolkata is designed by internationally acclaimed architects and the project is under the guidance of Larsen & Toubro, India’s leading engineering firm
Kolkata, which has undergone significant infrastructural changes in recent years, has got a world-class township with Urbana, a stimulating combination of eclectic thought, structural dynamism, and international parameters
Credits
Architect: Stephen Coates, Principal Architect, Singapore
Associate Architect: Subir Basu, Kolkata
Structural Consultant: Predrag Eror, Dubai
Landscape Design Consultant: Boonchai Sakulthamrak, Green Architects, Thailand
Engineering firm: Larsen & Toubro
Stephen Coates, Principal Architect, Urbana, is a prominent name in the field of architecture. Earlier a director at LPT Architects Ltd (now Aedas HK Ltd) he formed his design company aCTa International in partnership with Kevin Tan. aCTa is involved in various private and commercial projects worldwide. These include the 40-storey Residential Tower Fortune in Beijing; Prince’s Building, Central Hong Kong (home to major retailers, and Ministry of Defense, Bristol that has 20 buildings arranged around a beautiful island waterway.
Urbana, a meticulously planned project, is the first ever tallest residential complex in eastern India. Soaring at a height of 171 meters with seven towers comprising 40 to 45 floors of luxury apartments, duplex and penthouses, and bungalows and sprawling farmlands, it is Kolkata’s only mega project spread across 66 acres in the heart of the city. It is defined by magnificent high-rise edifices with designer landscape along with best-in-class lifestyle and recreational and sports facilities, and is set amidst lush greenery, wide open spaces and organized landscaped areas.
Subir Basu, Associate Architect, Urbana, is associated with almost all Joint Sector Companies formed between private developers and the West Bengal Government. He was also one of the members of the High Power Committee that laid down the building rules for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
Structural Design
Urbana, towering over Eastern Metropolitan bypass, in progress since 2010, is the first futuristic luxury community in the city that has transformed Kolkata’s skyline
The structural design of Urbana has been done by using a 3-D ‘finite-element’ computer program called ETABS to ensure maximum structural integrity. Using an advanced technology known as dynamic analysis, the towers have been tested to withstand earthquakes. Extreme Wind Tunnel testing has also been conducted by CPP, Texas, to ensure that the towers can resist intense wind forces.The design adopts a shear core wall system to resist lateral and gravity loads. The vertical or gravity loads are proposed to be carried by a re-enforced concrete system of a flat plate with edge beam, in addition to a shear wall system. Floor diaphragms are designed to transmit loads horizontally so that torsional loads generated due to dynamic wind and seismic effects are resisted effectively. The entire sewage generated will be treated through a sewage treatment plant. The treated water shall then be used for gardening, car wash, AC chiller plants, commercial building toilet flushing and water bodies.
A dedicated underground network for collection and storage of roof rain water will be implemented, in addition to ground water recharge percolation pits at appropriate locations. Innovative solid waste collection systems and processes will be introduced. The refuse from residential towers will be disposed through a garbage chute to a volume controlled hopper at the bottom of the building. All reuse from the township will be sucked into the garbage collection truck by using a pneumatic system and disposed to KMC landfill area.
Sustainability
The Building Envelope and System has been designed to maximize energy performance. About 90% of the area gets natural lighting during Equinox (noon time of March and September) with required lux level in clear sky condition. The Porosity through high-rise towers allows for natural ventilation throughout the site.
Urbana has been conceptualized and planned by six stalwarts of the Real Estate industry, namely, the Shrachi Group, Emami Group, Sureka Group, MKJ Group, JB Group, and Nahata Group, in association with the Government of West Bengal.
Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) AC systems in every apartment and bungalow will enable savings of 20-30% energy compared to conventional air conditioning. Ventilation for the basement parking facilities will be controlled by sensor operated jet fans for improved efficiency and energy saving. By using precast facades for the towers, the electricity consumption will reduce by upto 15%. Motion sensors in apartment lift lobbies and staircases will substantially reduce the electricity consumption as well.Construction
Advanced construction methods and technology such as architectural precast façade, aluminium shuttering system, self-compacting concrete, building verticality survey, bi-directional pile load test, temperature mapping of mass concrete in rafts, wind and water pressure test of full size sample window simulating the actual wind pressure condition at factory, use of low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) wires, testing of electrical cables and wires, etc. ensure quality construction and timely completion of jobs.
A project of this magnitude also demands expertise far beyond the scope of ordinary construction companies, which is why engineering giant L&T was roped in. Engineers and technicians oversee even the smallest casting or setting work, making sure that quality checks and design integrity are always in place.
A full-fledged on-site quality lab has also been set up with the Bengal Engineering College as third party. This not only ensures expert advice at hand but also that all construction material such as aggregates, cement, steel, concrete, bricks, and tiles are tested before construction begins. All testing so far has been done by various independent third-party accreditations like BESU, EFRAC, and the Indian Plywood Industries Research & Training Institute.
Of the Earth
The most special feature of this club is its storm water management through swales. These natural landscape features help mitigate the water flow through the flood-prone site and onwards into the nearby Kolavai Lake. The building uses a combination of roof drainage and rain chains to symbolically collect the energy from the sky and clouds and bring it down to the earth for discharge
The other inspiring aspect of this building is the usage of local earth-friendly materials. With a palette of country brick, bamboo, concrete and simple green walls, the simplicity of the materials come through in the sweeping curvilinear built form. Local Tanjore art is also reinterpreted in a 7 x 7m installation in an attempt to create work for the local artists at a scale in which they do not operate anymore.
Mahindra World City Club is amongst our other sustainable works to have achieved a Green Rating.
Ar. Pavitra Sriprakash Shilpa Architects
Cutting Edge Design
Godrej Garden City is the largest township in India to be certified at the Platinum level by IGBC. The master plan is by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM). Jayanand Potdar, COO, Godrej Properties Ltd, shares information on the construction technology used and the sustainability measures taken.
Godrej Garden City (GGC) in Ahmedabad has received the IGBC Green Residential Society (IGBC - GRS) Platinum certification. With this achievement, Godrej Garden City becomes the largest township in India to be GRES Platinum certified. The master plan has been created by world-renowned architects Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), who have also designed numerous landmark projects across the globe such as the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest building.
The greening measures, materials and products have not had any major impact on the overall cost/budget of the project
In 2009, GGC was selected as one of 17 projects from around the world by the Clinton Foundation to partner the Clinton Climate Initiative in creating projects that sought to be at the cutting edge of sustainable development.
We have used the latest Mivan construction with the permissible percentage of fly ash in RCC. The project has green parks of approx 2.8 acres that lie in the heart of the north sector. At least 34.4% of site area (29,917 sqm) out of the total 86,956 sqm is landscape area. Most of the species planted are draught resistant.
Other add-ons that have further contributed to the sustainability of the project include the fresh water treatment plant with a capacity of 20 m3 per hour to treat 480 m3 water. The treated waste water generated from the onsite water treatment system caters to 95% of the landscape’s watering needs. ECS Environment Pvt Ltd will be providing bins at three different locations of Godrej Garden city for the next two years.
Godrej Properties brings the Godrej Group philosophy of innovation and sustainability to the real estate industry. In fact, sustainability is a key pillar of our company’s vision and we remain committed to deliver more such milestones in our sustainability journey.
– Pirojsha Godrej, Executive Chairman, Godrej Properties
Rainwater harvesting calculations indicating the 99.23% of water harvesting onsite, is done by 26 percolation pits with the percolation rate of 40cum/day having a total capacity of 1040 Cu.m. The amount of rainwater runoff is 1048.32 Cu.m.
Facility management groups will take care of the upkeep and maintenance of Landscaping, Housekeeping, Lifts & Elevators, Fire Suppression system and DG Sets. Important planned civic facilities and public utilities will make GGC fully self-sufficient.
Project Features
- Green housekeeping chemicals used in common areas to reduce pollution
- High SRI (Solar reflectant material) for limiting Urban Heat Island Effect
- All external lights covered to control light trespass and weather resistant
- All buildings designed for differently-abled accessibility
- Rainwater harvesting through percolation pits recharges underground acquifiers
- Sub-metering for monitoring building-wise consumption of energy and water
- Only LED street and building lights
- Air conditioners in common area are CFC free
- Cluster-wise waste management
- Fresh water treatment facility for supplying domestic water compliant to acceptable norms
- China mosaic tiles on all roof structures to reduce heat gain
- Aerators for water fixtures in common area toilets and in flats, dual flush for water closets and shower heads
- STP with a capacity of 1000 KLD to treat 1482 KLD of waste water generated on-site for treating 75% of waste water generated
- Automatic water level controller and float level controller in overhead water tanks
- CFC free A/C systems in all common area applications and VRF based A/C systems in banquet area
- Braille audio assisted lifts with ramps, and designated parking for differently-abled
- Sparse planning with green pockets around buildings
Seamless Integration
Four Freedoms Park, Tirana, Albania
Typology: Mixed Use Development
Conditioned area: 8,20,000 sqft.
Project timeline: 2018 - 2021
Provision of flexibility in terms of housing, retail as well as office spaces, creation of modifiable modules to meet almost all the needs of potential users/clients, and access to public green spaces so as to encourage a seamless integration into the urban fabric, is the design concept of 4Freedom Park at Tirana, Albania. Master planning, architecture, landscaping & interior design is by Ground 11.
The unique location of the project -- adjoining Parliament and nestled between two of the Municipality’s houses of worship (Catholic and Muslim) -- ensures that 4Freedoms Park will serve as a constant reminder to the citizenry of the living embodiment of democratic freedom in practice, something which was strictly forbidden for near fifty years under the former Stalinist regime. The bold and unique architecture of the project’s buildings is intended to enrich the character of Tirana’s skyline by projecting an expression of fearlessness and strength, instantly recognizable around the world as an iconic structure.
4Freedoms Park will feature a world-class hotel, upscale apartments and commercial offices, as well as retail shops and abundant parking. Moreover, with dramatic and unexpected views, incredibly diverse outdoor spaces, beautiful verdant gardens and innovative people-watching areas, this architecturally stunning mixed-use development will not only become a landmark destination in Tirana, but it will also proudly serve as showcase of world-class design whose unique features are destined to become iconic.
Common levels to encourage retail and an atmosphere of leisure-retail comprising shops and restaurants/ cafeteria that can spill over into the public realm, infrastructure and services that meet and exceed the city requirements with respect to utilities.
The master plan responds to the need and opportunity for an urban activity generator Central podium to encourage social interaction and to form a focus for the site in the absence of an external stimulus like the water front. The central court will act as a spill-over space for the functions housed in the surrounding buildings as also an activity generator in itself.
Design Concept
- Development of the Plaza as an extension of the Parliament Park through design of a raised green plaza with café and other entertainment venues that open into a large social space.
- Continuation of the green city into, through and over the project, through provisions of green terraces and planters on all floors of the development, giving occupants and guests their own gardens, wherever they may be. The built form recedes from the Tirana river as a series of green terraces that step back from the principal access to the site.
- Four Freedoms park once complete will increase the green areas of the site by over 30% across several levels, including the plaza above the mall that functions as an insulating surface.
- The project is a zero-net water consumption design, with 100% rain water harvesting from the project itself, and parliament park next to it. All buildings are designed internally to maximise the use of natural light during the day.
- One face of the convention center is a controllable translucent surface, with other spaces in all building designed to have upto 10 meters of natural light ingress within the building.
- Other initiatives that have governed the project is the use of highly modular components that can be manufactured close to the site and transported over a minimum distance.
- All cladding material and most of the finishing materials used are natural and have been mined within a few hundred kilometers. Absorption chillers have been used to reduce air conditioning load, with the system designed to have a daily fresh air flush to prevent Sick Building Syndrome while cooling the building during summers.
Nagpur Metro: Greenest Ever
Nagpur metro, designed by Enia Architects, has been tagged as one of the greenest in the country thanks to its many innovative, eco-friendly features
Movement of people and goods within city limits and from one city to another now has become a serious problem in the wake of rapid urbanization. Growth in size of the city and its population has led to increase in pollution, traffic congestion with the resultant increase in travel time. The rapid urbanization in cities requires a transport network not only for commuting, but also for sustainable growth of the city.
For us, sustainable architecture not only uses technology or engineering, but also starts with sustainable planning of a project.
Ar. Shival Manchanda, Enia
A mass transport system like the metro rail network can transform a city into a sustainable development by improving the quality of life of its inhabitants. It is pollution-free, and a reliable mode of transport, which brings to the city a new pulse, rhythm and metronome.
According to Brijesh Dixit, MD, Maha-Metro Rail Corporation, the Nagpur Metro Rail Project is being planned, designed and implemented to be the Greenest Metro with many innovative and unique features. All stations, administrative buildings and depots have been planned and designed to achieve Maximum Rating under IGBC. All the Green Norms of MRTS Green Building are being implemented and monitored. These include Energy & Water efficiency, Waste Water Management, Enhanced Indoor Environment & Comfort, and 100% segregation of waste at source, etc.
We are currently working on the architectural and engineering design of 11 metro stations and related development around them. Each station has a different context and hence specific solutions are required for specific complex problems.
Ar. Atri Joshi, Enia
The Nagpur Metro project in phase-1 has two lines running north to south and east to west, intersecting in the heart of the city at Sitaburdi. It has been tagged as one of the Greenest Metros of the country since it has many green features, which include:
- Solar Farming
- Bio-digesters for sewage treatment
- Reforestation
- Electric/solar-powered Feeder Vehicles
- Double glazed building envelope with sun-shading elements
- Station integrated with Metro development at TTMC through a direct elevated link
- Shaded Patios
- Creating more green/open areas in totality at each level
- Redevelopment of Nag River front
- Rain-water Harvesting
- LED Lights
- Efficient Central Air-conditioning
- Green Education
- Pre-cast construction methodologies to save time and cost
Up to 65% of the power requirement during the operational phase will utilized from solar energy. The roofs will be completely covered by solar panels; water will be recycled to have zero pollution loads on public infrastructure by using DRDO based bio-digesters. The recycled water will be used for flushing and gardening through dual plumbing system.
Maha-Metro has planted 5,000 saplings that have a survival rate of more than 90% at the Ambazari area. Plant saplings and trees will also be planted in several parts of the city to enhance the surroundings. These are estimated to reduce CO2 by 100 tons per year.
Green Lung in Desert
Project Details
Client: Qatar Foundation, Education City
AECOM Design Director: Erik Behrens (Architecture Design Lead), Mark Blackwell, James Haig Streeter (Landscape Design Lead), Warren Osborne, Kevin Underwood
AECOM Team: Philip Dugdale, Alfredo Galindo, Eric Hallquist, Shafee Jones-Wilson, Wing Lai, James Manuel, John Neilson, Jonathon Reeves, Adam Rothwell, Jason Shinoda, Stephen Suen, Jack Wu
Engineering: AECOM, Arup
Lighting: MBLD
Water Feature: Fountains Direct
Project Management: ASTAD
CM/CS: Parsons
Main Contractor: MAN Enterprise
Information Source: v2com
Photo credit: MAN, AECOM, Markus Elblaus
Oxygen Park is a man-made ‘green lung’ with a design inspired by nature. It is an antidote to the generic indoor gym environment and helps people to get back to nature, while fostering social engagement and promoting active healthy lifestyles.
Located in Education City, Doha, Qatar, the project by Qatar Foundation, AECOMO, is inspired by the wind eroded rocks and fluid land formations of the desert. The path and running tracks are embedded in the topography to create an exciting training ground with looping tracks, cooled tunnel segments, and steep hills.
Taking the elemental life-force of oxygen as its inspiration, Oxygen Park, is a unique public space designed for health and wellbeing in a desert environment. It has been created with the local community in mind, providing an open space in which to exercise, rest, and play. The night-time lighting scheme and refreshing water features provide an attractive setting for evening sports activities and individual work-outs during cooler hours of the day.
The Park features shaded running tracks, subterranean pitches for team sports, equestrian facilities, as well as more gentle recreation areas with a series of soundscape-filled, refreshing folly spheres. The ‘balloon lights’ floating above the subterranean grounds make the park visible from afar and add a touch of magic to the setting.
Being Eco Conscious
The Association, established in 1948, plays a crucial policy advocacy role with the government and also engages proactively in government-industry consultative mechanism through its representation on councils and committees constituted by the government and its agencies in policy, strategic and other matters. It proactively works on sharing, adopting best practices and most importantly towards sensitizing the electro technical industry to adopt energy efficiency.
The brief was that the office must reflect IEEMA’s vision and character. The colour schemes, accents, furniture, all must reflect environment consciousness, yet refrain from being funky or rustic; rather, the feel and look should be traditional and classy.
Design concept and manifestation
The office space was divided into two domains: the advocacy cell with meeting and board rooms, and the technical area with the cabins and teams. Both were visually connected but functionally segregated.
The biggest challenge was to get natural light into all the spaces and also keep the Lighting Power Density within the specified limit of 0.65 (for office spaces). A detailed energy simulation against a baseline case was carried out to arrive at the exact wattage to be specified for light fixtures per area, and the type of glass to be used on the external edge.
The client welcomed our idea of designing the space such that they could get a green certification for it, which simply required some conscious design decisions. What better than a ‘Green Interior’ to bear a stamp of their mandate, and at the same time sending out a clear message to all their member organizations!
Ar. Nishant Goel
Several CO2, daylight and occupancy sensors were introduced to reduce energy consumption. As a result, the HVAC and electrical consumption was down by 33%. The material palette also evolved simultaneously. All material decisions were based on energy efficiency. Double glazed energy-efficient glass was put on the external edges and cabins were kept open for energy optimization.
LEED for Commercial Interiors is a recognized system for certifying high performance green tenant spaces that are healthy productive places to work, are less costly to operate and maintain, and have reduced environmental footprint. It gives tenants and designers to make sustainable choices that can dramatically affect the entire indoor environment.
Ar. Manu Goel
Special attention has been paid to maintain visual integrity in the ambience through materials, colours and furnishings. A lineal design element running along the entire office brings about an interesting play of colour/ surprise on the plain false ceiling. Effort has been made to introduce the corporate colour in the form of a design element that runs through all the spaces and connects at the same time to impart a character to the office. Material palette has been kept traditional in order with the design sensibilities of the organization.
An Urban Sponge
Built- up Area: 3500 sq.m
Principal Architect: Manish Gulati
Principal Planner: Tanushree Gulati
Design Team: Suchita Jain, Amit Palia, Shabina Shahin
The design of Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s head office by MOFA Studios commissioned through a design competition, follows multiple layers of philosophy, technology, vision and function
The building has been designed as a next generation green building with multiple passive and active systems co-existing and supporting each other aimed at making it self-sustainable. Starting with its orientation, it harnesses both the north-western winds prevalent in Delhi as well as adequate diffused daylight to naturally ventilate, cool as well as minimize use of lights during daytime. Also bolstering this are the automatic motion sensors, self-dimmable ballasts and smart lighting system.
The parasol roof and window overhangs are lined with photovoltaic cells to generate electricity that is stored in the batteries to run outdoor lighting after sunset. The depth of the overhangs and the roof is designed as per the sun direction and penetration to keep a balance between the availability of natural daylight inside the office yet not increasing the ambient temperature inside, and both bringing down the lighting and air conditioning loads significantly.
The parasol roof like an upturned basin, collects rainwater that is stored in the underground reservoir surrounding the entire basement perimeter, not only bringing the ambient temperature there but providing sufficient drinking water for the year round.
The parallel cavity walls constructed with bentonite clay lined foam concrete blocks act as filters to help in cleaning out the polluted air of the micro climate. Also, the vertical green walls in various parts also help in oxygen exchange. Mechanical filters in the basement which force the polluted hot air from the basement through the hollow walls, in winters act as a heater while cleaning the pollution alongside, and in summers infused with fresh air from roof mechanical filters to keep pollution in check.
The building acts as an ‘Urban Sponge’ feeding on polluted air & water of its microclimate and gives out clean air & water back to the Environment much like the Aquatic sponge which feeds on bacteria and gives out nutrients and oxygen.
Manish Gulati, Principal Architect, MOFA Studios
Due to its location adjoining the city sewage main drain, tapping into the ‘black gold’ that the architects call it, the Sewage Treatment Plant turns the black water into grey providing the building three important ingredients: enough methane to run a cogeneration gas turbine to produce sufficient electricity adding further to the energy bank; grey water run through a reed bed filtration system removed of its foul smell to be cooled using condensation is then further passed through tanks filled with phase change material. This cold water is run within the radiating chilled beam system bringing down the air conditioning load significantly. All the manure left as a final by-product is used in the terrace gardens and green walls.
The two parabolic forms floating out of the building are a symbolic expression to bubbles of fresh air released into the atmosphere due to this Urban Sponge. These bubbles house the Presentation and the Meeting rooms – the ‘think tanks’ for the scientists and policy makers. Roof gardens are built as intermediate open spaces throughout the building for shading and cleansing of the air and the much needed ‘step out’ for the employees.
Building For The Long-Term
The project, with 88 apartments has walls built in concrete, and AAC blocks that enhance the thermal performance over conventional materials. Large windows allow for a greater degree of light and ventilation, and the solar gain is controlled with reflective glass having efficient thermal performance parameters.
The building has a ground floor, which is 100% free of vehicular movement. All landscape design employs native adaptive species, some being herbs with medicinal properties. All landscape beds are segregated on the basis of irrigation needs. Drip irrigation has been employed as a preferred method of irrigation, along with soil moisture sensors.
One of our greatest learning experiences has been while working on Gujarat’s first IGBC platinum rated multi-dwelling residential building
Ar. Arpan Johri, Principal Architect, AW Design
This project has managed to source over 95% construction materials from under 400 kms of the site location, thereby reducing carbon footprint associated with shipping material over long distances. 100% of the construction waste generated is diverted away from landfills by sending it for backfilling at other project sites. Waste water generated on site is treated by an STP and is used for flushing, landscape and car wash, saving in excess of 40KL water daily.
Exemplifying Sustainability
Building 1800, MN Park in Hyderabad designed by Ar. Sanjay Mohe of Mindspace & green consultant, Green Footprints, has achieved energy savings of over 33% through use of highly efficient HVAC and lighting systems, eco-friendly refrigerants with zero ODP and low GWP, high performance envelope, VFDs for fans, and other such measures.
Low flow water fixtures, sensor-based faucets and dual flush toilets reduce water consumption, resulting in potable water savings of over 45%. The entire landscaping irrigation water requirement is met through on-site treated recycled water. It also uses a highly efficient irrigation system. The parking surfaces are covered with hollow grass-crete pavers to allow water to percolate back into the ground. This helps in reducing the storm water runoff and the heat island effect caused due to concrete surfaces.
The exterior lighting is full cut off fixtures with no up light to avoid light pollution at night. This reduces the impact on the nocturnal environment and improves night time visibility along with night sky access due to reduced sky glow.
Electric vehicle charging stations have been provided along with preferred parking to encourage use of electric vehicles. There is substantial amount of reduction in artificial lighting load due to the central courtyard, which also helps in keeping the premises cooler.
The project’s avowal of numerous green features has helped it achieve LEED Platinum rating.
Ar. Suraj Shah, Green Footprints
In the interiors, low VOC emitting paints, adhesives, sealants and carpets have been used, along with bio-degradable chemicals for housekeeping. Materials with high recycled content like flyash blocks, flyash-based concrete, steel, etc, and locally manufactured materials used in the construction have helped in reducing the environmental impact caused by extraction of virgin materials and transportation.
Making Spaces Versatile
Professional Products Development Academy for L’oreal is a state-of-the-art Academy to train professionals and educate them in the latest product offerings by L’oreal. Located in Mumbai, it is spread across 7000 sq.ft. The design creates interactive spaces for professionals to work in multifunctional zones that blend seamlessly.
A proactive approach to sustainable design is demonstrated through water efficiency and energy consumption along with innovation in design, especially in creating a space which has the ability to transform itself into a huge space for promotional events, and then re-transform into classrooms, a challenging requirement in the design brief. In the words of the client, the final outcome has turned out to be one of the top education academies in the world for L’Oreal Group Worldwide, which is Platinum LEED certified.
Designing a state-of-the-art academy for a brand like L’oreal was a challenging task in itself. The teamwork was commendable and with similar articulated core values that the L’oreal brand and group DCA shares, the executed design was commendable.
All projects are designed in mind with a similar approach of ensuring environmental benefit in mind.
Ar. Rahul Bansal
L’oreal and group DCA adhere to similar core values and believe in reducing carbon footprint in the environment.
Ar. Amit Aurora
From Me to We
Traditionally, workspaces were focused on the individual, with every employee in the company having an allocated work point, which became a symbol of his/her status and identity in the company. Although sometimes used politically, the allocated work point ultimately served a positive purpose, allowing individual employees to express who they were and supporting how they worked. Promoting the human instinct within us all to mark our territory, work point ownership contributed to employee engagement and motivation by helping employees create a sense of place and belonging in addition to helping them form emotional attachments and connections.
As the focus of today’s workplace shifts away from the individual and more towards the team, the workspace is following suit. With workspace sharing approaches such as hot-desking and activity-based working, the individually allocated work point is disappearing and the broader team owned spaces incorporating shared work points are proliferating.
The physical workplace needs to support employees on various levels (physical, functional, and psycho-social). Supporting the psycho-social needs of employees becomes more difficult in workspace sharing approaches, which change the focus from ‘me’ to ‘we’ and take away some familiar comforts including knowing where your friends and team members are, tailoring your workspace to suit your personality and work style, etc.
Without individual ownership of work points, the integration of employees into the corporate culture and the maintenance of engagement are altered. To support this change, employees, and most importantly their leaders, need to go through competency training to support different behaviors and attitudes: a change from ‘me’ to ‘we’. An individual no longer owns/claims the same work point every day, a group now owns a space and a team member can claim a different space for several hours every day depending on what they are doing, what their team is doing, how they feel, and who they are working with.
This transition from ‘me’ to ‘we’ needs to be supported by the physical workplace and even the products within the workplace. Team designated areas in the neighborhoods where lockers now reside become imperative, as these areas present the only opportunity for employee personalization and expression. Employees can personalize and express who they are in them. Social areas must be utilized to promote a community and leaders need to help employees connect – from a work and personal perspective – while technology needs to assist in knowledge sharing and translating interactions into positive collaborations.
In a scenario where business competition is becoming fiercer, companies both young and old, need to develop a working environment that boosts collaboration, which in turn, is likely to help boost overall productivity. Every working environment has different needs and requirements, so the workstations must be designed to suit varied needs. These include agile workstations that can be configured easily to become a place for holding small meetings and discussions rather than going to the conference hall. An office/workplace can be efficient, flexible, and effective if it promotes a dynamic ambiance rather than a static one. Workstations should be created to give the advantage of having numerous and different places for different purposes within an area. This will maximize the office place while saving cost.
New Gen Furniture
Agile workstations enable a productive working environment. Height adjustable tables enhance comfort, and thereby productivity by allowing users to easily alternate between sitting and standing postures through the day. Regular switching between these two positions is a proven method to keep lower back and neck pain caused by poor blood circulation and keep serious illnesses like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes at bay. These new generation worktables offer flexibility to users who sit glued to their work for more than eight hours. Studies show that people who alternate between sitting and standing decrease musculoskeletal pain after four to six weeks of using height adjustable tables.
Featherlite’s Liberate chair, for instance, is designed to respond to the user’s every movement to provide support at any angle. The chair is built with health orientated ergonomics, and features the DynaFlex system that provides intelligent feedback to the user. This unique system offers unprecedented flexibility and freedom to the user, putting items on either side within easy reach. It also features a special flex lumbar support that synchronizes perfectly with the user’s back in all positions of recline. While in the upright, locked position, DynaFlex provides a comfortable cushioning that stimulates the spine and abdominal muscles to promote a healthy posture and back.
Open Seating & Transparent Walls
Open Seating & Transparent WallsInterior designing of offices is no longer just planning where and how the furniture is to be placed. It has evolved in many ways and has become an intricate art, writes Tushar Mittal, Director, Studiokon Ventures (SKV) that created the office interiors of GlobaLogic as a ‘zero error’ workplace, made of 50% recyclable materials
The realization that ‘first impression’ carries a lingering image, has made employers conscious of the fact that a well-designed and creative workplace will also attract talent. Proper placement of furniture, good indoor air quality, comfort, daylight, location and amenities - all go into creating a healthy, productive workplace, which will consciously or sub-consciously influence employee’s mood and energy.
Corporate jobs demand a minimum of 9 hours of work, which is 38% of a total day. In daylight hours, the percentage increases to more than 50%, which means that an employee spends 6 out of 12 months a year in office!
In the current scenario, the new-fangled trend in workplaces is co-working and collaborative which is a contemporary alternative to the traditional and lacklustre cubicles. Open seating and transparent walls have replaced designated seating and opaque walls. Themed and inspiring walls are the new trend.
Healthy environment is a precursor to a productive organization
No one likes to work in offices that are totally concrete and offers no refuge in green environs. At GlobaLogic, all the workplaces are designed as green spaces. Green spaces can be created by using biodegradable and recyclable materials as far as possible, placing small fountains or aquariums, having glass fronts for natural lighting, and using higher oxygen producing indoor plants that can thrive indoors, are of low maintenance, and do not cause any allergic reactions.
We wanted collaborative spaces, chat networks which are not production areas but productive areas. They had to be very vibrant as well. We have used the best quality chairs keeping the health of our employees in mind.
Deepak Kumar, Manager Administration, GlobaLogic
The concept of “Adopter Plants” is also catching on. A plant is given to each employee to place on their work station and it is his/her responsibility to nurture and nourish the plant. This serves the dual purpose of increasing the health quotient of the workplace and spreading awareness about the environment.
Colours bring both calmness and vibrancy
With a 300-seating capacity, the GlobaLogic office was given a vibrant look with a tasteful combination of emerald green and purple that invoke calmness and vibrancy, respectively. Bringing varying rich shades of green colour to the workplace, increases workers’ productivity by offering a visually meditative experience that ultimately leads to happier and healthier employees.
While we applied orange with a black and grey coloured globe in the conference hall for a ‘serious’ look, the training room has more basic colours like green and lime yellow on hexagons made of fabric.
Often it is observed that while an office design boasts of lavish thought-provoking designs, the washrooms are kept plain and boring. Here is where we have scored extra points as we have made these areas look beautiful as far as possible.
Right furniture for seating important for employee productivity
The seating in workplaces must provide the correct posture and comfort to the employees. We decided to go for ergonomic furniture. Sitting on informal chairs or areas allows easy, informal communication. The set-up gives a natural rhythm to collaboration and fosters alliances, promotes learning, and nurtures a strong office culture. Amidst all this, is the break-out zone where employees can just put their legs up and relax. The cafeteria holds a welcoming look and is abuzz with chatter; in fact, it is a de-stressing zone.
Recyclable and biodegradable materials in demand
More than 50 percent of the materials used in the office are recyclable. The lighting fixtures from Legero are on different circuits that can be switched off during the day. Since the office has glass on three sides, there is enough natural light during the day. The partitions and screens have been generated from scrap. In fact, the current trend is using scrap and recyclable material, inclusion of oriental art forms like Japanese style, creating space saving, and high utility structures.