
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

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.

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 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 (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


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

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

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.

Solar Solutions

Home For All Seasons

For Rural Upliftment

Play of Spaces

In Harmony With Nature

The Abstract & The Organic

High Tech & Incredibly CREATIVE

Renowned Catalan chef Albert Adrià’s vision to create an out of the world restaurant with an enigmatic, immersive ambiance, took shape when 2017 Pritzker Prize winner RCR Arquitectes drew their design idea in watercolors and brought it to life with the expertise and technical know-how of Neolith® TheSize, manufacturer and designer of Sintered Stone.
From paper to slab
RCR, in collaboration with architect Pau Llimona, drew a watercolor painting in the size of two A3 papers, which was to be applied to the floors, walls, bathrooms, kitchen worktops, cabinetry and air extraction systems. However, a watercolor design had not been done on Sintered Stone before, thus posing an unprecedented challenge. Carlos Garcia, Product Designer at TheSize explains: “We had to expand the original design, all the while trying not to lose the quality of definition offered by the original drawing. Each pixel was equal to two meters of final floor.”
Through R&D, Neolith developed the technology to re-create the design onto slabs, producing a perfect replica of the drawing. Once this was achieved, an exact color match had to be sourced, as the required green and blue tones are unusual hues for sintered surfaces. The intensity of the colors had to fit in with the other materials and decorations throughout the restaurant to achieve a unified environment. Using Neolith’s proprietary digital printing decoration technology NDD (Neolith Digital Design), the architect’s design brief was fully met.

Photo credit: Neolith® by TheSize Information source: v2com
The architects wanted every slab to be of irregular texture like Neolith’s Riverwashed, but with a subtle shine to provide a surface that is multisensory - interesting to the eye and inviting to touch. “Neolith is a contemporary material with many properties. We have been so surprised by its possibilities that we are now using it for other projects,” say the architects.
Installation
The floor presented the biggest challenge because of its sheer size. Each slab was unique and had to be perfectly put together in order to deliver a continuous design. Neolith initially installed the entire floor off-site and used a drone to take images from above, thus ensuring that there were no inconsistencies.
RCR Arquitectes and Llimona designed an organic space full of curves and narrow aisles and required the slabs to be cut down into six smaller pieces, the smallest being only 3 cm wide. Absolute precision was key to guarantee the uniformity of the watercolor design. Taking inspiration from a map, a coordinate system was put into place, labelling every single slab to know its exact position in the project. This way, the installers on location were able to piece the interior together like a puzzle.

The Enigma restaurant in Barcelona, Spain, is Neolith®’s most ambitious and spectacular project in terms of material, design and quality, realized through an incredibly creative and close collaboration with RCR Arquitectes.
The end result is spectacular in terms of design and material quality. As the architects say: “Enigma is an enveloping space that melts, disappears, almost a labyrinth. Between materiality and conformation, a whole series of organic movements are created. Shadows, transparencies, and a watery presence, nebular.”
Neolith® surface material from TheSize
Castellón, Spain-based TheSize launched the Neolith® brand in 2011 as a high-end compact surface with revolutionary physical and technical features. A term meaning “new stone,” Neolith® combines the best natural raw materials with state-of-the-art technology to create a high-tech slab for use in exterior and interior construction: kitchen and bath countertops, furnishings, flooring and facades.
The product is 100% natural, composed of raw material - clays, feldspar, silica and natural mineral oxides, and is recyclable. It has near-zero porosity, making the product hygienic, stain resistant, easy to clean, and impervious to chemicals. It is also wear, scratch, heat resistant and its colors, being natural base, do not vary when exposed to UV rays. Being lightweight, it is easy to install, making it suitable for almost every indoor and outdoor surface application.

The product is created through the company’s proprietary sinterization technology, exposing minerals and other raw materials to extremely high pressure and temperature (over 1200 degrees Celsius/2200 degrees Fahrenheit), resembling the way natural stone forms over thousands of years, in just hours. The process gives the product outstanding physical and mechanical properties in terms of compaction, resistance and durability.
The various styles are a result of Neolith’s® innovative Digital Design (NDD) decoration technique. This system has revolutionized Neolith® patterns and is pushing the boundaries of what colours and textures are possible from compact surfaces.

Curved, ORGANIC FORMS

The office is situated in a high-rise in Central Mumbai with views of Mumbai’s skyscapes and unhindered natural light that gives the space a very positive vibe. The overall form of the workplace is curved and organic. Meeting rooms, cabins and the boardroom have been given a circular form, with glass partitions. The ceiling panels as well as workstations have been used to establish the non-linear design intent in the space. Although it is more difficult to execute the curved panels for different areas, ANJ’s factory-enabled delivery of this complicated design on the floor.

The reception has been finished in warm hues of veneer complemented by vibrant loose furniture to lend a balance to this critical area (for first impression). The overall tonality of the workplace is very high-end and rich in feel with ample use of veneers and materials such as blue sand stone marble for the MD’s cabin.

Innovative ceiling concepts in keeping with the curved/circular form, and use of new-age light fixtures complement the design. Vibrant hues of green and orange are offset by green elements across the floor to create the right balance. Advanced technology solutions integrated with the design give the feel of a positive, functional and practical workplace.

Volkswagen’s Regional Competency Centre
Located on the 10th floor in phase-3 of IT hub, Hinjewadi, Pune, Volkswagen’s RCC designed and outfitted by Ar. Deoyani Bhope & Ar. Aditya Shetye at Godrej Interio, caters to the global operations of the company.
Project name: Volkswagen Regional Competency Centre (RCC)
Location: Hinjewadi, Pune
Area: 35,000 sqft - single floor plate
Year of completion: Oct 2015

The logo of Volkswagen is an interesting use of the letters V & W. The diagonal lines of the letters V & W in the logo are the inspiration for the fit-out of the space. Diagonal lines typically connote a sense of dynamic movement, transformation, freedom, and add volume to a space. Keeping the overall planning of the space very simple for utility, the architects have tried to implement the diagonal line in elevation and other design elements. The fixed glass partitions have a slant in elevation, as also the false ceiling of certain areas has the slant element in it.

The dramatic ceiling in diagonal lines, contrasting wooden flooring and writable walls in the innovation room gives it a warm and cosy appeal and act as a perfect backdrop for generating new ideas. Diagonal lines typically connote a sense of dynamic movement, transformation, freedom, and add volume to a space. Keeping the overall planning of the space very simple for utility, the architects tried to implement the diagonal line in elevation and other design elements. The fixed glass partitions have a slant in elevation, and the false ceiling of certain areas has the slant element in it too.

Colours play an important part in the design of an interior space. The Volkswagen Blue (as seen in the logo) in combination with red, grey/black and yellow (colours of the German flag) is a balanced mix of bold and neutral colours for highlighting the meeting room partitions, island cabin block, and cafeteria block walls.

Italian marble flooring in the Reception, wooden flooring in the Innovation Room, Vitrified flooring in the cafeteria for ease of maintenance, four different shades of carpets make up most of the office. The passages have been demarcated with a grey patterned carpet, while plain grey carpet in the workstation areas. Red and yellow carpets with similar colour-painted partitions as highlights. The red, dark grey and yellow shades give the space a German appeal.

Lighting for the cafeteria has been done using fabric lamps with red fabric to give it the cosy look of a restaurant in combination with normal 18W down-lighters commonly used in a corporate scenario. The ceiling is a combination of perforated gypsum as a highlight dropped down from the gypsum ceiling. The diagonal lines have been used in the cafeteria ceiling as well to make it more interesting. To break the monotony of the space colours in the form of the fabric lamps and the alternate seating has been added.

The graphics make the space vibrant and bold. Pictures of Volkswagen cars portrayed all over act as a showcase of the brand’s products to visiting customers and builds pride in employees. The Audi car graphic in cabins depicts power and performance.


Sky Terraces at Palm Drive, Gurgaon
Firm: KIA Studio

Fact File:
Project Name: Emaar MGF – Palm Drive Sky Terraces
Site Area: Part of the 44.84 Acres land lot
Built up Area: 44084 sq.m for 5 Towers
Design Team: Rashin Nafisi, Rajiv Khanna, Ranjit Singh and Sabeena Khanna
Location: Sector 66, Gurgaon
Sky Terraces, designed by KIA Studio, is the first residential project to be delivered on the Golf Course Extension road. It is a major milestone in the design of luxury apartments in the country that ambitiously defines a beautiful getaway from the hectic urban life.
Strategically located in the emerging Suburban Business District on the Golf Course Extension Road in Gurgaon, Sky Terraces makes way for a modern and luxury living. Inspired by the dawn of a new age in contemporary living, the Sky Terraces are conceptualized to attain a new and unique form.

It is part of the promising Palm Drive community, designed for contemporary living in a green sanctuary setting – a modern lifestyle in a haven of peace and tranquility. It is a neighborhood that is defined by wonderful greenery, wide-open spaces, and an uplifting sense of safety, security and community. The emphasis was on building a modern and sleek design with exquisite finishing, and architectural styles ranging from contemporary to avant-garde.
The design approach was to unify a contemporary architecture with a botanical environment that includes beautifully designed 3BHK & 4BHK apartments to match the world’s best. With the ideology to create an elegant tower with an all round planar form of the joint block, the Sky Terraces is truly awe-inspiring. The defining feature of the Sky Terraces is an amazing 180 degree view of the surroundings. Each of these iconic towers has apartments that are well planned and layouts that are functional. Each of the apartments have an exclusive elevator that opens to a balcony view. Apartments open up into spacious living areas, including a family room, a grand dining room and landscaped balconies. Large windows offer incredible views of the surroundings.

The iconic towers boast of a Health Club including a fully equipped unisex Gym with Jacuzzi, Dance & an Aerobics Studio. Sports facilities include tennis courts, swimming pools with baby splash, shower and changing areas. There is an indoor club with a lounge, billiards/pool room, multi-purpose hall/function lounge, a multi-cuisine restaurant, créche for kids, power back-up, treated water supply, perimeter security, burglar alarm system, smart card access for residents, and CCTVs.
Thick vegetation serves as a green fenestration in the building facade with envelope-insulating and shading properties, helping to keep heat or cool air from migrating through the building envelope into the atmosphere, and limiting solar gain to the exterior surface of a wall or from transmitting through glass. Humming to the tune of nature, the green fenestrations break away the monotony of the façade as well.

Studio KIA has encouraged use of renewable energy and promoted sustainability. Scarcity of water is also a real world issue; hence rain water harvesting has been resorted to, to recharge ground water along with roof and surface water management, and uss of energy efficient lighting throughout the project.

This café-cum-bar at Bernie Grant Arts Centre, London, embodies the venue’s commitment to promoting and supporting artists

Fact File
Project: Café/bar redesign
Designer: Morag Myerscough with contributions by Luke Morgan and Yemi Awosile
Photos: Gareth Gardener
Adding new layers of reclaimed materials, texture, pattern, plants and colour, Morag Myerscough has created a vibrant, welcoming and joyful ‘destination’ café and bar at the heart of the Bernie Grant Arts Centre. The first phase of a long-term, artist-led refurbishment programme of this landmark arts centre in the heart of the Tottenham Green Conservation Area in Haringey, is now complete.

With contributions from artists Yemi Awosile and Luke Morgan, the transformed spaces embody the venue’s commitment to promoting and supporting artists and connecting them in a direct conversation with local residents, audiences, and visitors. Luke Morgan has designed and made the dining tables with painted tops by Morag, while Yemi has been working on the seating in the gallery area.

Building on the concrete and hard wood materiality of the Bernie Grants Arts Centre designed by renowned Ghanaian British architect Sir David Adjaye 10 years ago, Morag has introduced new layers of texture and colour to invigorate the space by using reclaimed materials, bespoke textiles, ceramic tiles, new furniture, houseplants and adding colour to the walls. Morag has also created additional spaces for artists to add their own layers and textures as part of a planned commissioning programme over the next few years.
All the original built-in furniture, for example, the café bar is constructed from cast concrete. The bar is now re-clad in a rich warm Iroko wood that complements and enhances the original internal Purpleheart wood cladding. The re-purposed furniture brings the domestic and familiar to this grand space and the large tables encourage conversation between visitors.
Pete Courtie, CEO, Bernie Grant Arts Centre, said, “Morag, Yemi, and Luke have created an incredibly warm and welcoming café and bar space that audiences and visitors will want to return to and discover something new…a place to connect with each other, to experience a performance or exhibition or simply to relax and enjoy some of the finest home cooked Caribbean food and craft beer, in London.”