At a Glance
Project Name:	Wind House
Location:	Gujarat
Architect:	banduksmithstudio

banduksmithstudio has recently completed a residential project 'Wind House,' in Deesa, Gujarat. A multi-generational family of eight asked for a straightforward house that would naturally withstand the harsh climate conditions of northern Gujarat and weather well over time. In line with their clarity of mind, they submitted a list of their specific requirements, which outlined the way that they needed to use their home, and their expectations of a durable, well-built and simply designed structure.

As a response to the aspiring family, the project works to balance, innovate design ideas and methods with the traditions important to their lives and the locally available construction skills, material and knowledge. Integrated into the landscape, the house inhabits a corner site near a series of twin bungalows. A low profile with articulated volumes allows the house to merge with the scale of the surrounding homes, feeling at once both expansive for the family and in conversation with the neighbourhood.



To support their condition of living on the edge, between inside and out, the home consists of a group of shaded volumes clustered around an L-shaped verandah. Rooms cluster under the large roof, surrounded by open passages that draw wind through the house like a sieve. Thick brick walls temper the inside spaces against high diurnal temperature variation. The roof doubles as a summertime sleeping terrace, protected with high walls pocked by openings for targeted ventilation, and during monsoon it gathers rain for storage in a 40,000L underground water tank.

The plan is oriented toward the prevailing south-westerly winds, and while the deep verandah and covered passages protect the volumes from summer sun, its sloping roof allows the low winter sun in to warm their outside walls. The thin sloping concrete slab of the verandah roof structure is supported by a concrete-anchored steel frame embedded into a composite frame and load bearing structure of the house. Openings at the peak of the slope let rising hot air escape, which in turn, draws air from the ground floor to create a ventilation loop.

The verandah is the heart of the house. All rooms and all levels empty into it, and it mediates the experience between inside and out. Because much of the family activities occur in this intermediate space, what might have become a passage instead is a place.

As a climate responsive element, it absorbs and exhausts the heat of the summer, welcomes warmth in winter, and encourages the movement of air in muggy monsoon. The high summer sun cannot reach direct room walls, and the sloping roof with ventilated openings at the top allows the hot air to rise and naturally exhaust, moving it faster by allowing negative pressure behind the thrust of the wind moving up the verandah surface to draw air out faster. In winter, these openings, which are fitted with operable louvers, can be closed to hold in the hot air. The fireplace in the verandah also adds to radiating heat in the space. In monsoon, and on summer evenings, gaps between the room clusters open to draw air through the space, cooling both the verandah and the outer surfaces of inside rooms.

Access Architects was involved in the Architecture and Interior Design for two colleges on the SomaiyaVidyavihar Campus. The architecture focuses on creating infrastructure at par with the best in the country to provide students with tools necessary for success. The atrium along with specially modulated shutter type windows in the stepped auditoria style classrooms facilitate cross ventilation. This ensures that the spaces arecomfortable even in the middle of summer. One thing that both the client and the firm felt the place needed, was some soul to the building. After all it was a college building and it would be great if it can create aconnect with the students.

The firm took on the role of creating graphics and spent a month in the shoes of a Graphic designer to develop 89 artworks from scratch. These ranged froma 4.5 m tall Ganesha, welcoming one into the building, which transforms into a wonderful quote on education by Aurobindo – after whom the building is named.

The Atrium has on its walls, Mahatma Gandhi with a famous quote by him and is populated by smileys, a connect between our rich past and the present.

The public spaces were given special attention, with each of the toilet signages, staircase, and lobbies receiving special attention. The client, Samir Somaiya, took active interest and whole heartedly supported the endeavor, adding quotes and inspirations from multiple languages, as the project took shape in an extremely constrained timeline of 45 days from concept to installation.

The new building of S.K. Somaiya College of Arts, Science & Commerce' has been named Aurobindo. The design is based on Access Architects' philosophy that is based on facts, experience, and personal realization. It blends the spirituality with reality. The structure was built with the need for ample cross-ventilation and the infiltration of natural light for the most part of the day. A large atrium was designed for students to relax with an area for quiet studying too. The ground + 7 storeys building consists of various facilities including a Seminar hall, a Canteen, and a huge library. The classrooms has congressional seating (seating at different levels within the classroom). The building has an internal overlooking courtyard covered with tensile roof & designed with an idea of connecting the internal spaces with the surrounding & external landscape. Each floor has been given a different identity with the use of various color combination.

At a Glance
Project Name:	S.K.Somaiya College
Location:	Mumbai
Architect:	Access Architects
Client:	Samir Somaiya

A testimonial from Sangeeta Kohli, the principal of Somaiya College

"We at S K Somaiya College occupied our new spacious 'Aurobindo' building in 2012. The modern structure has been designed to provide ample cross-ventilation and natural light. An educational institute being a non profit center, the saving in power bill has been a great blessing. The building provides adequately for all curricular and co-curricular requirements of the institute. Moreover, the open spaces give a grand and warm feeling encouraging students to spend maximum time in the building.

Not only the stakeholders and occupants but every visitor to the institute has always had words of great praise for the structure design and ambience of the building. The large atrium of the building is used multipurpose and adds to the grand look of the building. The high point of the design is the innovatively designed graphics to project motivational quotes, which not only become a good regular reading for students but also add to the decorative look of the structure. Current day youth definitely looks forward to quality teaching but at the same time also demands modern infrastructure and facilities. In this direction, this new building has been a good attraction point and one of the reasons for rising number of student admission in this college. We would like to thank Access Architects and Jay for working so hard and making this a dream come true for us here in Somaiya College".

Currently, Ar. Jay is working on the Affordable Housing projects in Mumbai and in the near future he looks forward to working with more like-minded clients who are continuously looking for innovation in design.

At a Glance
Typology:	Houses
Name of Project:	Cuboid House
Location:	New Friends Colony, New Delhi
Principal Architect:	Amit Khanna
Site Area (sqft&sq m):	4500 sq.ft. / 418 sq.m.
Built-Up Area (sqft&sq m):	15000 sq.ft. / 1394 sq.m.
Start Date:	Feb 2011
Completion Date:	Oct 2012
Photographer:	Akshat Jain / Amit Khanna

The project attempts to demonstrate the possibility of affirming some 'principles'; some elementary yet precise rules. A series of spatial sequences are structured around minimal architectural events distributed throughout the house. These events are meant to be merely the background for the life of the future occupants and therefore recede into an almost imperceptible variation of light and shadow.

Developer-driven apartment blocks have completely overtaken the immediate context and most of urban Delhi. These apartment blocks typically occupy the complete permissible envelope and then embellish the peripheral walls with whatever is currently most fashionable. The resulting urban condition is one dominated by forced facades that are 50ft/15m tall, punctuated only with unusable three feet balconies and large expanses of inoperable glass with little or no protection from the climate.




In contrast, the Cuboid House strategically optimises all of the area permissible by local code, but redistributes it amongst the various floor levels. The lower service floors are extended to the perimeter to allow for a larger ground floor and to maximise the parking at the road level. However instead of stacking upper plans above each other, the building steps away dramatically as it rises, giving way to a series of decks that open up to views on the north-east.


This strategy helps bring light deep into what is essentially, a narrow thin building. To further add to the luminosity of the interior spaces, two light wells are placed in the main living space. Equipped with operable windows, they not only bring light, but also draw out air from the floors and vent from the terrace. The deep recesses for the windows and large overhangs temper the fierce climate of Delhi and recall sustainable building traditions, while allowing for views from within. Two local stones, one grey (cudappah), the other sandy brown (jaisalmer teak), are used to emphasize the cubic volumes that give this house its name and form its most distinctive visible element.

Designed by Mumbai-based architect and design firm Jagdish Mistry & Associates, the apartment of Mr. Upadhya (well-known in the metal industries) is spread over 2000 sq. ft. area and encompasses three bedrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen and balcony. The residence is shared by two brothers and their families who have a keen eye for detailing, personalizing and high-end luxury products.

The highlight of the design is the clever play of lights and meticulous effort put on the detailing of the wall treatments. The all-white color palette forms the perfect base for the exquisite upholstery and lighting. The living room is beautifully designed with two Chesterfield sofas, a matching center table and a home theater system along with a projector and screen concealed in the ceiling. The living area is abundant with indirect lighting. The focal point of the area is the wavy patterns on the back wall.

The dining area has been designed in a rustic way with veneer finished six-seater tables and grey upholstery chairs. The wall parallel to the dining table has been treated with abstract floral patterns.

The theme follows in the bedroom as well as with vibrant upholstery, white wash walls, laser cut panels on ceiling and walls along with window drapes. The door handles are specially designed to give it a personalized feel.

The entire décor is highly inclined towards modernization and automation.

At a Glance
Project:	Residence
Location:	Hiranandani, Powai
Area:	1800 sqft
Client:	Mr. Upadhya.
Architect/Interior Designer:	Associate Arch Pooja Nerula and Arch Jagdish Mistry of Jagdish Mistry & Associates.
•Cladding:	Classic Marble Company
•Window, Doors & storage:	Jadvani & Associates
•Tiling & Flooring:	Classic Marble Company
•Wall coverings:	ShreejiInnova
•Paint:	Asian Paints
•Lighting:	Tulip, Vis a Vis & Hybec
•Furniture:	Jadvani & Associates, Avni Surfaces
•Bench top:	Classic Marble Company
•Kitchen fixtures & furnishings:	Stosa
•Basin:	Lafontana (C.Bhogilal West End)
•Taps/ Faucets:	HANSGROHE (C.Bhogilal West End)
•Shower:	HANSGROHE (C.Bhogilal West End)
•Toilets:	TOTO (C.Bhogilal West End)
•Bathroom Accessories:	Kich - Neki
•Veneer/Wooden flooring:	Jalaram Veneer
•A.C:	Daikin (Univac environment systems Pvt. Ltd.)
•Accessories:	Client & Architects Team

Rajmal Lakhichand Jewellers located in Pune boasts of classical architecture with its huge arches. The building offers much more than mere exterior décor, the interior has been worked out with great precision and detailing that is reflected at the entrance itself. The floor is highlighted by a dancing peacock inlayed with lapis lazuli and malachite stones.

Display of "Gold "jewellery- Rajmal Lakhichand jewelers, Pune	Display of "silver "jewellery- Rajmal Lakhichand jewelers, Pune

At a Glance
Project Name:	Rajmal Lakhichand Jewellers
Location:	Pune
Architect:	Ahmed Shaikh

The showroom is divided into three floors each designed specifically to enhance the beauty of the products that are on display. One such floor is 'NAYAB' where one of a kind designer NAYAB jewellery sets are displayed. The grandness of the room is glorified by a magnificent hammered glass dome encircled by silver leafing. The jewellery is displayed in well-lit showcases which have been further emphasized by hand carved wooden arches. The Italian marble lay as Bisazza flooring and the intricate marble stone statue carvings enhance the richness and grandeur of the showroom.

Interior view of "NAYAB" - Rajmal Lakhichand jewelers, Pune	Dancing peacock inlayed with lapis lazuli and malachite stones. – Rajmal Lakhichand jewelers, Pune

The décor of the place has an influence on the customer. It mentally elevates the visitors and influences them and creates a feeling of self-indulgence leading one to spend more time in the store and appreciate what is on display.

C - 28 c, is the design studio Archohm's Head office in India. Often labeled as a design fort, the design of the studio reflects the 'mad and fun' design philosophy of Archomites. The site is located in an extremely dense suburban area within the vicinity of the NCR with a built up area of 4,000 sq. meters. Amidst the urban city conditions, the triangulated plot is flanked by, the 'Jama Mosque' on one side, industrial factories on the other and a large slum development on the third.

Standing tall at a height of 10m, Archohm's Corten steel entrance door creates an intimidating first impression. Its revolving nature and access through a ramp, gives the building its character and symbolizing the continuity of the outer street into this 'square', the atrium for visitors. A moat augments the medieval modern dialogue with a revolving bridge that connects the main studio to the front garden. Red Sandstone clads the boundary wall, with etchings that depict the focus areas of the firm.

The main building is divided into five components, each of which is defined and exaggerated by the use of distinct materials; concrete, glass, brick, stone, and metal. Each component has been designed keeping in mind climatic, contextual, and functional requirements.

At a Glance
Project Name:	Archohm Studio
Location:	Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Architect:	Archohm
Built Up Area:	4,000 sq mtr

The main studio space takes the north face, and is an economical R.C.C. framed structure wrapped in glass. The glazed façade brings in diffused light, to create optimum working conditions. To distinguish a sense of identity within the various sectors of the studio, each department is assigned a particular color in the building section and elevation. Architecture is brown, Interior is orange, Electrical is yellow, Plumbing is blue and Finance is red. The external façade is transparent and houses every department's files, documents, physical models, and material samples, creating a dynamic visual collage of materials and colours that is able to represent life at Archohm, inside out! Large circular cutouts connect the floors vertically. Staggered in location, these openings visually connect across three levels. To add vitality, each cutout is equipped with its own highlight. From poles to slides, the features are varied, add energy, and are quite well-used!




Placed near the entrance, a robust, circular 'rotunda' of brick accommodates all services. Dominating the central hollow core, hangs a yellow felt manuscript, with laser cut, inspiring excerpts from the 'Fountain Head'. The apt placement of the rotunda ensures efficient division of traffic, as visitors reach directly to the meeting rooms. At every half floor height, washrooms are placed with designed wooden benches for waiting. This service core houses the electrical substation at the base and water works on top. All services are concentrated into this block and all lines run exposed for economy and maintenance.

The roof top of this rotunda, transfers into a perfectly circular amphitheater that can accommodate upto a hundred people. Lined with white china mosaic, it helps to reflect unwanted heat and provides an excellent space to conduct formal/informal office gatherings.

The southern face is obstructed with a three-meter thick stone wall. This wall is hollowed at various levels to house playful glass, transparent meeting rooms that create an incredible internal visual dialogue. Looking onto the entrance atrium and facing the main studio, these meeting rooms add a sense of transparency to the office layout. In all, there are four such meeting rooms, each with its own colour, texture, and style.

The metal roof of the atrium rises three floors high, extending itself into a metal box, as it scales into a badminton court for the studio, behind the stone wall. The vastness of the court helps it double up as an exhibition and a lecture space as and when required.

Last but not least, is the triangle of concrete that gets its shape by virtue of the plot. Its basement houses fully equipped boutique studio guest rooms with their own open air theatre. On the first floor, sits the orange board room adorned at the centre with a triangular concrete table. Considered as one of Archohm's highlights, this table was shunned by structural engineers due to its central support and extreme cantilevered design. However, true to Archohm spirit, the design was well detailed and finally implemented, leaving many amazed! At the terrace, the concrete triangle converges into a skylight and swimming pool which is covered by a cooling white canopy. Beyond the pool, lies an open garden that overlooks the office cafeteria. A large triangular volume, double height and top light lit is one of the most spectacular design studio spaces of the office. The bare concrete walls, glass roof and terracotta floors make this contemporary space fairly earthy. The space is punctuated by art and design, designer lights and furniture pieces. This, brings the entire Archohm philosophy together in its chief designer's personal domain.


The entire office space is conceived as a vibrant and active space, interspersed with distinctive mediations, unique, out-of-the box ideas that demonstrate and inspire creativity amongst Archohmites. Being used as a live canvas, the exhibit of materials, colours, textures, exposed surfaces and play of form, make the studio a 3-dimensional library! Not only does this help clients visualize designs but also, helps designers keep design alive! Through small initiatives, creative expressions and a sheer mad and fun working ambience, Archohmites have made their office a thought provoking gesture, representing their journey, exposure and experience over time. At the centre of the entrance atrium stands a metal sculpture, christened 'the hand'. Crafted out of scrap material from the studio's backyard, this abstract art piece, radically transforms, on being subjected to light. Seen in its shadow, is the exact reflection of Le Corbusier's 'Hand'. Made to welcome and introduce visitors to Archohm's philosophy of mad, fun but meaningful design. This sculpture traps the soul of Archohm.

Homes are the extensions of a personal self, a place where one spends majority of their lives. To make these havens comfortable with a relaxed environment is Studio KIA endeavor which addresses the need of each individual to establish unique environments which serve as bespoke backdrops for the daily lives of its inhabitants.

One such 'Residential Community' being developed is "Crescent Parc" in Sector 92, Gurgaon for SARE group, an international fund. Sprawling over nearly 49 acres with an additional 17 acres alongside, this development is a mini township in itself with over 4500 dwelling units.

Project at Glance
Project Name:	Crescent Parc- Sector 92 Gurgaon
Architect:	Studio KIA, Gurgaon
Site Area:	49 acres +17 acres
Project Status Phase I & II:	Completed and handed over
Phase III, IV & V:	Advanced Construction Stage
Client:	SARE Group
Design Team:	Sabeena Khanna, Ranjit Singh, Ruchi Mittal, Greeta Yadav, Rajiv Khanna
Text Credits:	Ar. Himani Ahuja

Being developed in phases, the offerings of the project are market driven, hence varied. The overall project is a mixed bag of affordable to deluxe, luxury to super luxury housing having 2BHK, 3BHK & 4BHK units. While Phase I & II are complete and successfully handed over, Phase III is expected to be completed in October this year. Phase IV & V include the luxury (Petioles) and the super luxury (The Grand) segment which are in an advanced stage of construction. 'Club Terraces' as part of Phase VI has also been launched.

Interestingly, the overall development is very diverse yet retains a community fabric at both micro and macro level. The built structures connect with the open spaces immediately around them as also have a semblance with the larger landscaped greens which integrate the entire development. These high-rise apartments create a sleek & graceful skyline that contrasts with the verdant greenery of their landscape.

'Petioles'

"An environment that gives seed to imagination; A palette offering a vibrant, urban, metropolitan lifestyle."

Rising 20 floors, 'Petioles' is a coveted residential address to live in comfort & privacy within an alluring environment. The elevation is a celebration of form and lines with well ventilated large balconies and photo framed spaces with vertical connectivity of design weaving each floor together, thereby breaking creating a vibrant facade. The outer skin is rendered in different hues with the deep toned contrast providing a warm and elegant feel. Each design element is conceived in such great detail and converted to actuality that the reality bespeaks the vision envisaged.

'Petioles' boasts of the first 'Sky Deck' in the region with an array of activities like meditation & yoga zone, landscaped decks, barbecue pit, aromatic garden, water wall with shallow pool, herbarium and fitness trail to supplement comfort living.

"Luxury, they say, lives in the finer details." Every inch of these spacious condominiums speaks volumes of unbridled splendor, every corner thought provoking, and every bend bringing in a surprise.

Each apartment at 'Petioles' is designed with modern facilities & amenities which open alluring doors for one to live comfortably, privately, in a rejuvenating environment. Adding to this luxurious living, the windows allow free flow of thoughts with balconies giving a splendid view of the greens and the Club.

The 'Club'

Taking cue from nature, the community 'Club' is an organic, free flowing form blending with its green environs. Resting gently on a 7-acre land plot, the 'Club' has a mesmerizing appeal which carries the vision from one end to the other uninterruptedly. It rises gradually from the ground, as if it were but a part of it. With a built up area of 30,000 sq.ft. the club has a variety of offerings, making it the largest in the region.

The 'Club' makes a bold statement, owing to its purity of form, and is the flagship offering of the entire development.

The 'Club' articulates the spaces with the landscape, generating framed views that allow the enjoyment of the encounter of architecture with nature. Its green roof starting from the lawns itself is an accessible experience apart from being sustainable in character. The green roof will keep the built mass cooler in the summers and reduce air conditioning costs. Part of the sloping green roof has been planned as an amphitheater without having to alter the ground profile. The parapets alongside the green roof have been so shaped giving the structure an aerodynamic appeal.

The 'Club' has a vehicular access from a grand, retail piazza via a transitional court with independent drop-offs for members and Banquet guests. Pedestrian accesses from the residential blocks surrounding it have also been provided.

"Our vision was to create an experience that unravels and gets richer each time a guest enters the club. This chic yet relaxed space has real depth,” says Ar. Sabeena Khanna.

The 'Club' offers a grand double height lobby overlooking the club greens and the pool deck. The guests can satiate their taste buds in a fine dining restaurant or simply sip a quiet drink in the ambience of a bar. The active zone includes a fully equipped gym, indoor games room, squash to pump up the adrenalin and an indoor heated pool with support infrastructure. The passive zone offers a reading room–cum–library.

The 'Club' explores the expressive possibilities of light, a subject of recurring interest in the constantly engaged environment. Blurring boundaries between interiors and exteriors, the Club is saturated with natural light in a controlled manner at different times of day reducing its power consumption. The materials used have a high visual appeal yet are easy to maintain.

An indoor heated pool, an outdoor lap pool as well as a kiddies spool adds the water element to the landscape. It provides a stimulating environment with a timber deck and ample shaded seating area. Enhancing the leisure experience further, an open air amphitheatre is provided for cultural activity that weaves all generations together promoting harmonious community living.

Outdoor activities namely tennis and badminton, skating park, cycling track, jogging trail, kids play area, golf putting greens, etc. are cohesively entwined with a generous spread of manicured greens, a dense forest, seating pavilions and water features.

The Banquet hall spills over to large banquet greens with a tree lined backdrop for privacy. It is efficiently serviced from an independent service yard and support areas.

'The Grand'

'The Grand' aims to cater to the high-end luxury sector. This distinctive building sets up as a landmark for the vicinity and is located aptly at the forefront of the larger residential development.

Changing the ideology of a living experience, the super luxurious apartments of 'The Grand' by Studio KIA encourage co-existence with nature and are an endeavor to be a step ahead of their times. Step in to grandeur, with lily ponds flanking either side of the entry and a water wall on the façade. This not only elevates the visual aesthetics but interweaves the building with nature by providing a stimulating experience.

'The Grand' has abstractive elevation features rather than following the conventional block tower concept creating a sense of movement and flow in the built form, which is visually pleasing and functionally active. Balconies are attached to the building like scales and create a meander like rhythm along the façade. To avoid impairing this well-balanced building front by rough and heavy balustrades, balconies are safeguarded by a delicate and minimal approach. The tapered form gives this modernistic building a charming and self-confident appearance. By minimizing the solar gains in summers, the residential units are efficiently planned to allow natural light and ventilation indoors.


Carefully designed floor plans ensure a high quality of living and generous full height windows offer fascinating views. Irrespective of the location of the apartment, one always gets a view of the greens for setting up a perfect ambience for a comfortable and luxurious living environment.

Rising 24 floors in sheer luxury, 'The Grand' is opulent in its residential offerings with an impressive lobby and Club activities for the privileged few. The grand lobby has an impressive 6 m high ceiling that runs along the entire span of the tower covering 18,000 sq.ft. of luxurious space having concierge services, coffee shop, reception lounge, kids play zone, reading corner, dining with landscaped sit-outs, all of which enhance the “GRAND” experience.

All apartments are centrally air conditioned with sophisticated individual zone control (VRV System).

Considering the need of the hour, Studio KIA has encouraged the use of renewable energy via solar panels which have been planned over the top without disturbing the alluring green terrace. Humming to the tune of nature, the sky garden twines the restricted built envelope with natural greens. Scarcity of water is also real world issue; hence rain water harvesting has been resorted to recharge ground water along with roof & surface water management. Usage of energy efficient lighting throughout the project ensures judicious planning.

Crescent Parc celebrates living and is an endeavor to be a step ahead of the present times.

At a Glance
Project:	The Eiffel, Gurgaon,
Location:	Gurgaon, Haryana
Area:	3.38 acres
Building Type:	Residential
Architect:	C.P. Kukreja Architects

The Eiffel at Gurgaon is a 30 storey residential tower that is one of the iconic projects by CP Kukreja Associates in Gurgaon that redefines the art of luxury living in contemporary contexts. This masterpiece of luxury and art condensed into world class architectural standards offers 14 duplex apartments of 15000 sq.ft. each, which harnesses an interior environment perfected with leading brands of furniture, user friendly devices and luxurious services.



Flanked by the picturesque Aravalli Range and the Teri Golf Course, 'The Eiffel' is located a gear shift away from South Delhi on the Gurgaon-Faridabad Expressway. Being in the cradle of nature, the Eiffel offers each of its penthouses 360 degrees of breathtaking views which can be enjoyed from the uber-cool luxurious interiors. Each apartment has its own private lounge, bar and swimming pool that offers luxurious grandeur soaked in every detail of its architecture. Being Duplex, each apartment is architecturally designed to achieve an interesting interplay of heights that allows a completely different visual experience and privacy from any other apartment in town.

The Eiffel is an outstanding project as far as quality control in design and finishes are concerned – it is a major milestone in the design of luxury apartments in the country that ambitiously defines a perfectly beautiful get away from the city life.

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), located at Kangra, Himachal Pradesh was commissioned to the architectural practice M:OFA as a winning entry during a National Level competition in 2009. The entire master plan as a zero discharge 'Green' campus was to be constructed on a steep hilly terrain within the existing old banyan, mango and silver oak trees.

The concept for the NIFT Kangra begins with understanding fashion design as an art form, expressed through a combination of visual graphic with textural quality. M:OFA chose to weave the building with the surrounding context; a visual graphic of agricultural fields rich in textural depth and variations, as a natural growth, where paths in the forests grow into the streets of a future urban fabric and the fields translate into urban footprints.

The knitting threads drawn from the existing agricultural terraces, were woven together to make a uniformly flowing pattern of many intersecting functional cuboids. The pattern closely follows the site contours and the design then develops vertically; as an abstraction of the way the Great Himalayas developed. Layers of matter folding onto each other, twisting with sudden forces, leaving in between gaps or cracks in the process that become the passages and places of various kinds of interactions.

Project At a Glance
Project:	National Design School / Institutional, Kangra, (Dharamshala) Himachal Pradesh
Client:	NIFT, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
Architect:	M:OFA
Size:	2,50,000Sqft
Awards Won:	• Winner Dubai Cityscape Awards 2013 for Best Community and Culture Project in Emerging Markets • Winner A plus D Cera 2014 for Best Institutional Project • Shortlisted NDTV Architectural Awards 2014

Special Design Features

As a respect to the existing trees on site, M:OFA took up a challenge of designing 200 rooms for the girls hostel and residences for the professors without cutting a single tree. Designed through a cellular growth of cubes over the existing contoured topography, the Girls hostel was designed as a play of rooms conceived as positive spaces intersticed with light courts, concieved as negative spaces. These courts were distributed organically around the trees not only in plan but also in sections connected with circulation corridors within the same modules, reminiscent of the organic streets of the villages of Kangra. These streets with their changing levels, winding around trees continuing like a labrynith create a mysterious story that has multiple beginnings and endings, ever inspiring the students of design to never have constant rigid ideas but a fluid flow of thought during their entire stay here.

Green building Aspects

NIFT has a very strong International presence which is taking responsible action in the preservation of the natural wealth. M:OFA as an Architectural Design Firm is and has been committed to making Sustainable Green Building Solutions. The firm strongly believes and stresses upon making NIFT Kangra towards a Zero Discharge campus. What is generated here, namely solid waste, storm water and sewage is used here. Various parameters to make the campus self sustainable like ground water recharge, sewage treatment plants, water treatment plants for use in irrigation, flushing & non portable uses on campus, solar geysers & solar landscape fixtures have been fitted in the smallest to largest aspects of the design. It has consciously woven the guidelines of GRIHA rating for new construction and major renovations into the Campus Master Plan & Design after studying the site/land topography, climate, connectivity and local materials & techniques.


Extreme care was taken during the construction by the executing agency DSIIDC, the engineers and the architects to not only protect the trees through a series of retaining walls but at times, the design of the rooms altered and adapted in order to accommodate the spread of the banyan and the mango tree branches. It's a sheer joy to experience this wonderful play of nature and architecture, within multiple verandahs and terraces where, the design students would be able to work with nature surrounding them and the sweet tasting mangoes literally falling in their lap from the trees that surround them. The second phase of the project is under construction, which includes the academic campus, residences for the professors, and the remaining part of the Girls hostel.

Material Palette:

• RCC, Steel
• Local Stone Slate,
• Kota, Terrazo, Karappa.
• Aluminium

Creative Group has come up with a unique project 'Skyone Tower-an icon in the sky' that stands out in terms of its scale, layout, style and quality with functional and efficiency aspects. It is a landmark project with its unique and innovative design which propagates the client's vision and reinforces the company's brand in the country.

At a Glance
Project Name:	Skyone Tower
Location:	Gurgaon, Haryana
Architect:	M/s Creative Group
Founding Principal:	Prof. Charanjit Shah
Principal Architect:	Ar. Gurpreet Shah
Real Estate Expert:	Mr. Prabhpreet Shah
Client:	CHD Developers
Total Site Area:	1.78 Acres
Total Built Up Area:	32,000 sq. m

The structure of Skyone Tower speaks volumes through its design and reinforces the term "standing out in a crowd. An inception of the Creative Group (www.creativegroup.co.in), the curious architects wanted to innovate a building that not only sustains the ability to influence the emotions of the human mind but also encapsulates functionality.

"When architecture is envisioned through an inventive lens and gracefully executed, it has an impact far beyond its footprint. A great building can revive a locale, energize its surroundings or simply exhibit a sense of wonder," asserts Prof. Charanjit Shah, Founding Principal, Creative Group. Redefining the perception of skyscrapers, the Skyone Tower is a concept influenced by the free body movements of a female ballet dancer, standing tall. The swift dialogue exchange between two ballerinas while dancing depicts the dynamism of the building whist respecting nature. Inspiration has also been taken from flowing water that flows along with the wind and cuts its way through rocks to make deep valleys, thus depicting fluidity merged with strength. Apart from adding a sense of buoyancy, the building incorporates the client's logo in a three dimensional form, both vertically as well as horizontally, hence repositioning the client's identity. This will be a landmark project with its unique design which propagates not only the architect's intent but also the client's vision to reinforce their brand in the country.


An international class product providing high quality commercial and retail areas along with office spaces for the client, studio apartments and a health centre with a swimming pool, this mixed use tower will rekindle the sub urban city, making it the hub of international corporate offices and residential housing developments. As one enters the site, the commercial complex has its façade facing the road whereas the housing tower sits back, away from the hustle and bustle. This segregated approach has been taken to maintain the privacy of the housing and the office space. The commercial plaza has a stepped building form which is higher in the rear and low in the front to avoid any obstruction in the visibility of the tower from the main road along with serving the purpose of recreational areas for the residential and corporate spaces. The site has been planned in such a way that the commercial activities do not interfere with the office spaces thus maintaining the reticence of the work environment.


The architects have paid attention to even the minutest details while designing. The tower has been highlighted by adding curves, but at the same time, it has been stabilized with a central core. The building is enveloped with steel vertical bands all around within which a unique jali pattern is used, which not only acts as an aesthetic element but also stabilizes the building oscillation. Adapted from a fluid DNA structure, the intertwined "jali work" adds richness whereas the green band manifests the connection with nature. Altering the idea of a conventional high rise building, breathing spaces have been provided after every seven floors in the tower, in the form of sky courts outlined with landscape designs. These sky courts act as open spaces which can be utilized commercially as recreational zones, adding a delightful mood of lightness in the structure. Reiterating Creative Group's philosophy of coexistence of architecture and nature, the manicured landscape lets the building breathe with nature.


Sustainability has also been given prime importance while designing the skyscraper. The energy efficient facades of the building intelligently use natural daylight by providing maximized glazing on the north façade. The wind direction is along the longer façade which allows wind to pass over the curved faces on east and west. The flat slab structural system has column less office spaces with structural bracing done at every seven floors. As one moves inside the building, he will be welcomed with ebullient spaces that allow a relaxed and easy movement within the tower. This effortless movement energizes the user to meander through the retail spaces without any confusion. "The idea was to design a tower that eases the flow of movement for the user. We are not only fusing our idea of dynamism with stability but also efficiently utilizing each and every space," explains Ar. Gurpreet Shah, Principal Architect. Double façade has been provided on the ground floor for maximum employment of spaces and an extended shopping experience making it an "extrovert" building. The roof terraces are developed to be used as open air restaurants and clubs whereas the proposed podium could be used as an open air banquet, designating a function to each space.


"In the present global context, a single window approach looking beyond architecture is a necessity. It is not only important to develop a design that is aesthetic but it should also be commercially feasible, for the overall viability of the project," illustrates Er. Prabhpreet S Shah, Executive Director. On the same lines, Creative Group recognized local consumer perception to increase footfall in this multi-use tower thereby giving the users the best commercial and retail experience, not forgetting to inculcate a relationship with its surroundings as well as the nature to provide a harmonious working environment for the working class.

Rehabilitating the image of a commercial skyscraper and shifting the focus on the customer experience, Skyone Tower creates a perfect balance between design innovation and practical retail considerations. Trumping the humble high street yet providing convenience which is rapidly multiplying to suit the end user, this "legend in the sky" is a new form of urban intelligentsia.

Puma's First Global Initiative in Sustainable Building

Project Title	: PUMA Sports India Pvt. Ltd.
Building Use	: Retail
Location	: Bangalore
Architect	: Studio Decode

First of its kind in the history of the 91 years old German multinational company. The Sustainable Puma Store at Bangalore, India is the first such flagship store for the global multinational brand. The building has received LEED PLATINUM rating from IGBC and is the first retail building in India under new construction to get such a rating. The Store incorporates a number of innovative design elements to ensure that it meets the highest criteria for Energy Efficiency.

The standalone Puma building is around 11,000 sqft within which the area allocated for Retail is around 5000 sqft.

The Ground, Mezzanine and the First Floors are for retail. The Second and the terrace floor will be a Puma Social Area (a lounge/ pub space). The parking is in the Basement.

Design Concept & initiative

Working on the brief from Puma to design a sustainable building which will be their flagship store in India as well as probably their first sustainable effort in the world in retail, the architects Studio Decode imagined to create a High Performance Building. That is everything a building traditionally does, this building does it better. Whether it is the amount of natural light, internal climate/ environment, better energy management, materials used and the way they are used etc.


The design iterations that lead to the final built form were focused on energy efficiency, optimal day lighting, hybrid cooling and building life cycle as key parameters that influenced the development of design.

Design Challenge

Puma was very clear from the initial discussions that the retail spaces in the building need to be near net zero. The architectural firm proposed that it should be a self-sufficient near net zero effort and not through offsetting. It led to the conclusion that the Renewable Energy Generation will be achieved through a design strategy of a mix of Polycrystalline and BIPV panels for the building.




According to Principal Architect Meghana Dutta, "The challenge was that we did not have enough area to mount the Solar PV panels needed to meet the energy requirement. The building is built on a 90'x60' site in a dense commercial area with a relatively small foot print which means that after allocating area for services on the roof we are left with a relatively small area for mounting solar panels. Traditionally a sustainable effort in buildings entails working out the energy requirements for a space, figuring out how many PV panels would be required to support it and then allocating an area to mount them. However in our case due to lack of space, we had to work in reverse. We first ascertained how much of space we have to mount PV panels, fix a number for energy requirement that can be supported by the PV Panels and then went to work on the design of the building. Thus the first step was to design a highly efficient building envelope which will cut off most of the external forces that cause high energy usage and support it with many sustainable ideas which will allow us to cut down the energy requirements further."

Key Design Parameters for Energy Efficiency

Suspended Volume
A two storey volume is suspended from the roof in the center of the building volume. As an important design aspect the suspended structure is unique due to the complexities in its engineering and also its purpose.


Salient features of the design of the volume as well as its significance:

a) The entire suspended volume works as a plugged in volume to the shell and is recyclable besides a thin layer of concrete used for the floor. Hence a large volume of the building has been plugged into the shell as a completely recyclable entity. Thus, making it a building with high recycled content. The entire volume can be unplugged and recycled.

b) The voids around the suspended volume allow for easy as well as efficient circulation of air throughout the internal space. There is consistent fresh air supplied from the earth air tunnel that enters the store pre-cooled, rises up through the voids, and extractors on the top suck it out, thus creating the draft. This cycle creates a constant draft and maintains the internal environmental comforts without cooling the space through mechanical air conditioning (AC) systems as well as reducing the use of AC during summer.

c) Due to the density of the urban fabric in the area where the building is located peripheral access of light into the building is quite limited. The voids around the suspended volume also act as light wells which allow light to come in to the various levels of the building from the top.

b) By making the ground floor (GF) volume larger by taking its roof higher more light enters into the GF. Hence rather than light just entering from only the front, GF gets light from three sides. By having the voids, light from higher up which is less obstructed reaches the GF. Hence the voids around the suspended volume allow light to various nooks and corners. Since the GF is the main retail area emphasis was on providing more natural light.


Front Canopy
A large cantilevered canopy is provided in the front to cut early morning eastern sunlight and subsequently heat. If we didn't do this by the time the store opened in the morning the load on the mechanical system to cool the space would be much higher. Also the front canopy has BIPV's (Building Integrated PhotoVoltaic Panels) which generates electricity while allowing natural light into the plaza from the top as well, rather than cutting it.

Building Shell
If the building shell is not efficient in insulating/ protecting the spaces within, the mechanical systems/services adopted will not work efficiently and will also increase the load on the Air Conditioning Systems.

a) The walls are made of porotherm blocks which have many benefits. Indian Green Building Council recommends a U Value of 1.5 watt per sqm. The Weinerberger blocks used come in at 1 watt per sqm.

b) The blocks are made from desilting the lakes from an area around Bangalore called Kunigal. These lakes are the only source of water for the villages around and government spends extremely large amount of tax payer's money every year to remove the silt to increase the water table and dump it as waste elsewhere. Now this waste has a use as well as a source of income. It is also a lightweight material and hence the structure designed tends to be a bit lighter making reduction of materials used etc.

c) The concrete panels used for cladding the façade are factory made. Firstly it allows efficiency of material usage that is less wastage of material used to make those panels. Less waste is generated on site since the panels are just brought to site to mount. The concrete panels also protect the building envelope and need practically no maintenance. No paint is required for those sides where the panels have been mounted.

d) The glass in the building has low E and low SHGC specification which helps in reduction of heat gain from sun and maintains the internal environment comforts.

e) Bamboo panels have been extensively used for cladding the suspended volume and the staircase. Bamboo is a renewable material and thus a sustainable material.


Water Conservation Measures
a) Sewage Treatment Plant: All waste water will be recycled and treated to tertiary standards and reused for flushing and landscaping requirements.

b) Reuse of Treated Water: Treated water is reused for flushing landscape and makes up water for water cooled outdoor unit.

c) Low Flow Plumbing Fixtures: Low flow fixtures has been specified for faucets, sensor based flush has been specified for urinals and dual flush has been specified for water closets.

d) Rain Water Harvesting: Most of the sites run off water from ground and terrace is collected, treated and reused.

Lighting
a) More then 90% of interior spaces have direct views to natural daylight. Thus use of artificial lighting is minimized.

b) Occupancy sensors provide automatic on/off control so that lights are not being used when the room is unoccupied. Since occupancy sensors have been provided in car parking areas and toilets, there will be energy savings and efficiency of lighting use.

c) LED's have been specified for all retail display track lights.

Innovative Cooling Systems
The Store uses a combination of Earth Air Tunnel and Under Floor Air Distribution System for cooling the space. The Mechanical Cooling will only be turned on when required during the Peak Summer.

The Earth Air Tunnel (EAT) provides Fresh air which is pre cooled. Soil temperature, at a depth of about 12 feet or more, stays fairly constant throughout the year, and is approximately equal to the average annual ambient air temperature. The ground can therefore be used as a heat sink for cooling in the summer and as a heat source for heating in the winter. A simple method of using this concept is to pass air through an underground air tunnel. The air thus cooled or heated can be used directly. In this development, we are using earth air tunnel system to cool the fresh air in summer and heat the fresh air in winter.

This system can give an outlet temperature of 25.5oC at peak summer. The system proposed for this project is as follows:

The pre-cooled fresh air from Earth Air Tunnel enters the diffusers at the ground level instead of the regular diffusers at the ceiling. This is called Under Floor Air Distribution System. Typically, only the first 8' ht of a volume requires to be cooled as this is the volume inhabited by the occupants. Cooling the volume of air above 8' is waste of energy.

The air will then be exhausted through stack effect with extractors in the roof creating a continuous draft.

Miscellaneous
a) A BMS (building management system) has been installed so as to manage, control and monitor the building's mechanical and electrical equipment such as ventilation, lighting, power systems and security systems.

b) Charging ports have been provided to encourage the use of Electric Cars.

c) Bicycle parking with facility for shower has also been provided.

d) The building has received Platinum rating under LEED NC.

e) The display systems have been made with environment–friendly materials.

The 'Building' as a 'SYSTEM'....

Through the process of analytical studies, understanding of known parameters that are a cause for increase in energy consumption, design solutions that can negate these parameters along with other mechanisms have been designed and built in to the building system to achieve the desired results for this building.

As a conclusion the building embodies the spirit in which retail buildings should be heading. With globalized economies multi-national companies such as Puma have penetrated many markets around the world with very high visibility. Brands such as these often occupy spaces which are high on energy footprints due to the way their version of high end commerce is articulated. Hence it's an imperative that the bigger globalized businesses, high on cultures of consumption, adopt a sustainable approach sooner since they have a larger impact in tipping the environment.

Located in Gandhinagar, the design of the software centre (Tata Consultancy Services Garima Park) is based on the single workstation unit and its need for optimal light. Everything revolves around the workstations housed in the central block. Ten thousand are accommodated; the design allows 20% more workstations without the need for an additional building. Two support blocks flank the central main block. Containing stairs, toilets, services, as well as lecture rooms, auditorium, conference rooms and reception; the support blocks are located to be conveniently close to the workstations. The west block contains administration and management departments with a multipurpose hall; the east block has a canteen and being on the east side will remain cool. Outside the canteen is a moat that can serve as a small amphitheatre. Locally available stone is used on the banded facades and for flooring.

Project Title	: Tata Consultancy Services Ltd
Building Use	: Software Development Centre
Location	: Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Size	: 13,87,400 sqft
Rating System	: LEED INDIA NC v1.0
Certification Level	: GOLD
Owner	: Tata Consultancy Services Ltd
Architect	: Snehal Shah with Engineering Design and Research Centre (Larsen & Toubro)

Describing the design features of the software centre, the architectural firm 'Snehal Shaw Architects' who have designed the project stated, "We divided the functional program into two: 10,000 workstations made up a central block, with all other activities gathered in two support blocks: reception, conference rooms, training centre, library, canteen, and gymnasium. The support blocks are located to the east and west of the central block. Daylight needs to be brought inside. We wanted a building where artificial light is minimised and each workstation operates without glare.


To maximise good-quality light, we designed glass facades with undulations that cast shadows on one side. To the north, the undulations are shallow, and on the south they are deep, reducing glare. Glare is further cut by a brise-soleil over the roof, on the south being as long and deep as 7 m and on the north 4 m. The overhangs and convex and concave, clear, hermetically-sealed glass curves ensure good light.


We took into account climatic principles, which order location, orienta- tion and other site considerations'. The direction of entry and placement of the main block in the centre and the location of other functions correspond to our design of a previous building for this company. From practical design experience, we know that vastu works well: the building follows vastu principles and is also perfectly attuned to Ahmedabad's climate. An additional 20% of workstations can be added without the need for a new building. These would be accommodated on mezzanine floors in the east block."

A DIL Limited venture, Thane One is a landmark IT/ITES business hub built to LEED Platinum standards. Designed by Bentel Associates Realty Design Consultants (a joint venture between ICS Group, India and Bentel international, South Africa) the project has won the Asia Pacific Property Award in the Office Architecture category.

Towering above the rapidly changing skyline of Thane, this edifice is a true architectural marvel. It stands as a shining beacon of excellence and technological prowess. With a location that offers exceptional connectivity it is perfectly poised to provide world-class office solutions to its elite clientele.

Building Form

The developer's passion for greener environment, the brief that spelled environment friendly and sustainable development, inspired Bentel to go with simple yet effective building forms – well suited for the office planning. The neutral concrete drapes gel well with the environment, while the colors play visual anchors. The balanced play of the form finish concrete with glass renders a contemporary Architectural styling to the development, yet incorporates design, construction and operational practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impacts of development on the environment and occupants. The façade responds well to the basic climatic conditions, respect the sun path and hasten operating efficiencies.

Design Brief

The proposal was to develop a large corporate destination that becomes the focal point of the city – the corporate park will accommodate a series of usages so that office goers enjoy a healthier and more productive environment while they work.

Main Requirements

• To design a cost effective building in the longer run with lowered operational value
• Building design should be environment friendly and sustainable at the same time and also be practical from operational perspective
• There should be feel at home office environment to enhance productivity of occupants
• The built environment should blend with nature as compared to conventional artificial environs

Occupancy

Majority of office spaces with a combination of usages like retail and recreation to form a cohesive mixed use development.

Planning

The circulation strategy for the complex within the three multi storeyed towers is extremely simple yet effective. A peripheral ring road encompasses the three building zones allowing hassle free drop offs and exits. It also allows for smooth ingress into the parking structures. The ring road is wide enough to allow traffic in both directions, thus also facilitating the service required by the various usages of the building. The peripheral ring road also allows for central green plazas which are free of any vehicular traffic and provide to its users a quality outdoor environment. The pedestrian circulation for the complex is thus more concentrated in the Central internal plazas, which offer informal and serene outdoor environment, which is also useful for informal meeting/ gathering places, casual F&B outlets, eateries, ATMs and other promotions/ event spaces.

Design

The distributed massing of the development leads a sense of quality outdoor spaces which the occupants can relate to and are less harsh on the inhabitants. The relation in the heights of the built form also corresponds to the 'Vaastu' principles, with the owner's den sitting at the tallest/ heaviest S-W corner. The location of the service cores is planned in such a manner so as to face the South and Western directions which impart maximum heat gain. The raised bases (podium), the green walls, wind scoops, cross ventilation, solar shading, solar collectors and solid facades on the South and West are few of the fundamentals of the planning which contribute to Green or Sustainable Architecture.


In line with the clients, passion towards the existing flora and fauna on site, the master plan was developed in a way that saved almost all major trees there. The building block placements and the Architectural form is a reflection of the process in which all the existing tree boulevards are being retained as it is, without compromising the functionality and quality of the built environment.

Energy conservation:
Care is taken to ensure that the building embraces environmental–friendly princip- les in keeping with the new international standards for buildings worldwide. Adopting systems for efficient use and reuse of natural resources and electricity will bring down the operational costs considerably. This includes the choice and use of local materials, overall energy efficiency and concepts for recycled water conservation and refuse disposal. Latest construction techniques and methods were deployed as per prevalent best practices in the industry.


Lighting and ventilation:
The use of natural light is an important factor in creating a comfortable energy efficient space. In the daytime, one can expect adequate natural light and ventilation to reduce the use of artificial light. The built form façade is a blend of solid concrete masses on the South and West so as to cut down radiation from these directions in summer, and structural glazing embracing those faces which do not attract direct radiation. The structural glazing houses shading screens or louvers to negate the solar radiation. At the same time, good lighting design spreads beyond the realm of visual appeal and strive to lower the energy costs and heat gain. Daylight harvesting and natural daylight scaling shall form an integral part of detailed lighting design.

Heating, Cooling, air quality and the environment
The best of the industry practices in the service shall be used to conserve energy. An integrated air-conditioning system shall be designed/ proposed to maintain the temperature, humidity and indoor air quality, within desired and comfortable conditions with proper air distribution within the work area.

Key Features

• Multiple landscaped terraces & balconies
• Seismic Zone 3 Earthquake resistant design
• Grand Entrance Lobbies
• Floor-to-ceiling height of minimum 12 feet
• 8 Meter minimum Column to Column Distance on one grid
• Heat-resistant glazing
• Ramp access for the Physically Challenged

Tenant provisions include

• Connected Power Load of 7.5 W/sq.ft. with wiring up to Distribution Board
• High Side Air Conditioning (in the form of chilled water tap points)
• Fibre optic (backbone) for voice and data
• Wet Area for toilet and pantry
• 100% Power Generator Back up
• 24 hrs Facility Management
• Multi-level Car Park with over 1,000 bays
• Electric Vehicle charging stations & car pooler parking
• Sewage and Effluent Treatment Plant for treating and reusing water
• 6 High Speed Intelligently controlled elevators

Security

• 24 x 7 CCTV recording with 7-day backup
• Common Reception with Intercom System
• Automated boom barriers at the entry/exit points.
• Public Address System

Fire-fighting & Safety

• Emergency medical facility on site
• Pressurized fire escape staircases and designated exits at every level
• Smoke detectors, alarms and fire fighting equipment at all levels
• Designated refuge areas
• Glazed facade designed to meet International standards
• Auto dialer for fire brigade

The new Halifax Central Library is the most significant public building that represents the diverse communities, talents, and creativity of the residents of Halifax throughout the municipality.


As the new Halifax Central Library opens to the public recently, the citizens of Halifax, Canada, have been given a civic landmark which has already received international recognition. Designed by Danish schmidt hammer lassen architects and local firm Fowler Bauld & Mitchell, the library is located in the heart of Halifax, and stands as a multifunctional cultural hub with direct accessibility to the vibrant surrounding urban context of historic and new buildings, and the buzz of downtown. The library building stands as a reflection of the diversity of the community and the modern life within the municipality as a whole, and as a flagship for all 14 branch libraries servicing the whole municipality.

Project at a Glance
Design Architect:	schmidt hammer lassen architects
Prime Consultant Architect	:Fowler Bauld & Mitchell
Client:	Halifax Regional Municipality, Halifax Public Libraries
Area:	15,000 m2
Construction budget:	€ 33 million excl. VAT
Competition:	2010, 1st prize in international competition
Status:	Construction period 2011-2014
Sustainability:	Targeting LEED Gold certification
Photographer:	Adam Mørk

The exterior of the library appears cubic in form with four rectangular shapes placed on top of one another and horizontally twisted to relate to the two diagonal directions that are dominant in the otherwise orthogonal grid of the city. A number of distinctive cantilevers and one signature larger cantilevered element create an everlasting expression whereas the façades align elegantly with the neighbouring façade of the classic architecture of Dalhousie University's Architecture School. From the top of the building - the Halifax Living Room - there is access to an open green roof terrace providing a unique view towards Halifax Harbour, Citadel Hill, the historic George's Island, Dartmouth and onto McNabs Islands that reaches out towards the North Atlantic Ocean.

"Halifax is a city whose maritime heritage calls for attention when designing a new public building. Therefore, the historical axis between the Halifax Citadel and the Halifax Harbour, crossing right through the library site, is reflected in the orientation of the fifth floor of the building containing the Halifax Living Room hereby providing not only a unique view but also an understanding of the city's historical heritage," explains Founding Partner Morten Schmidt of schmidt hammer lassen architects.



The interior of the library reflects the diversity of the exterior with stairs and bridges in the atrium connecting the five storeys. The light-filled atrium gives an overview of the wide range of facilities the library offers, including a 300-seat performance space, two cafés, gaming stations, music studios, dedicated space for adult literacy classes, a First Nations reading circle, and boardrooms for local entrepreneurs. The entire second floor is dedicated to children and young adults with areas designed for each age group, ranging from toddlers to teens.




"The new Halifax Central Library is a modern, hybrid library. It combines the best of a traditional library with new and innovative programmes and facilities," explains Partner Chris Hardie from schmidt hammer lassen architects. "By designing a library that is adaptable we embrace multiple functions to ensure that the library will meet the needs of the Halifax community into the future. People should see this building not only as a library but as a free public space in the heart of the city."


On the topic of modern libraries, Morten Schmidt adds: "Modern libraries are one of the most important platforms for exchanging knowledge. As opposed to information found on the internet, the knowledge that arises through collaboration and exchange between people in a library is of particular significance. The new Halifax Central Library is a cultural hub, a vital centre for learning and a civic landmark for the entire community."


The new Central Library building is a catalyst for the regeneration of the downtown area and the product of an extensive co-creation process where every stage of the architectural design process has been carried out through extensive monthly public consultations and workshops with various focus groups. The citizens of Halifax had well supported this initiative by participating in these events and providing important contributions, for instance the way green space is represented within the building and how light is brought into the building, the establishment of private spaces and also the priority of seating and workspaces.


The project is aiming ambitiously towards a LEED Gold certification. The façade of the building is intended to reflect the local history of the site which was once a central local 'garden' and significant green space within the heart of the city. An abstracted 'leaf' motif of varying densities creates a façade that appears more solid in some areas, yet fully open in others reflecting the strong seasonal nature of the much loved trees that surround the site. The approach is to combine this local reference with that of a Scandinavian design signature and to create a modern hybrid library building that will stand out from other public buildings.

schmidt hammer lassen architects has an extensive track-record of designing libraries; the most renowned of these may be the extension to the Royal Library in Copenhagen, Denmark and the RIBA Award-winning University of Aberdeen New Library in Scotland. Earlier this year, the first library designed by the architectural practice in Canada was opened in Edmonton. In 2015 DOKK1, the new public library in Aarhus, Denmark, will be completed; it will be the largest of its kind in Scandinavia.

Bogle Architects, a highly creative group of individuals sharing a common desire to design and build progressive, imaginative and innovative architecture, has transformed a corner site building at the junction of Fenchurch St and Cullum St, in the heart of the City of London. The client, aik, required a distinctive intervention that would announce the building and increase its visibility from Fenchurch St, as well as the rationalisation and full refurbishment of the 1st, 2nd and 6th floors, to create 11.700 sqft of class 'A' office space. The project's 'signature' element is the dramatic, multi-faceted 'feature' wall. Precision engineered, the refined geometry of the new wall is achieved using interlinked highly polished stainless steel convex panels, extending from the lobby interior through the glazed facade to wrap around the building's street façade.

Holm Bethge, Project Director of Bogle Architects, comments: "The inspiration for the use of stainless steel came from the neighbouring Lloyd's of London building, as well as the sophisticated quality of the classic Rolex watch-strap. The returns of each polished curved sheet are treated in a contrasting hand finished texture, creating additional depth and interest." RezaKeschawarz, Director of aik, states: "Bogle Architects' innovative approach and creative flair has delivered a re-energised building with a dynamic entrance and successfully rationalised office accommodation. The scheme's distinctive, elegant design has created a highly successful professional working environment."


The wall's finely detailed design was custom made by Marzorati Ronchetti, leading Italian manufacturer of specialist metalwork, whose international portfolio includes Louis Vuitton's Milan showroom, the lobby area for 30 St Mary Axe in London and a spectacular exhibition installation at MoMA in New York.

Team
Architect:	Bogle Architects
Client:	aikImmobilien –Kapitalanlagegesellschaft
Specialist metalwork:	Marzorati Ronchetti srl
Project Manager:	Jones Lang LaSalle
Services:	FM Focus
QS:	Bigham Anderson Partnership
CDM Co-ordinator:	Leslie Clark Construction Consultants

John Roake, Marzorati Ronchetti's UK representative, adds: "Our creative collaboration with Bogle Architects has been an exciting creative process. The resulting design is an intricate matrix of convex shapes, producing a deliberate kaleidoscopic fracturing of the streetscape."


The reconfiguration of the entrance and lobby area involved the realignment of the lobby façade with the main building envelope, using frameless glazing to create a seamless connection between the reception area and the street beyond. The coherence of the design is further enhanced by a new floating canopy and the introduction of a large, acid-etched steel reception desk. The project also includes new steel gates to the rear of the building, featuring a punched design that reinterprets the geometry of the lobby's distinctive feature wall, a visual reference that successfully reinforces Bogle Architects' coherent re-imaging of the entire building.

The wider brief also involved stripping out three floors of office space, introducing a simpler and more rational ceiling grid, together with new lighting, updated servicing and redesigned lifts and WCs.

Project:	Undulating Living
Client Name:	Asha/Suresh Gupta
Architects:	Studio Symbiosis
Principal Architect's:	Amit Gupta and Britta Knobel Gupta
Project Team:	M. Shaique Uddin, Rishi Sapra, Mayank Ojha
Start & Completion date:	April to June 2012

Delhi-based multi-disciplinary architectural practice Studio Symbiosis has designed an interior project called 'Undulated Living' for a private residence in Delhi-NCR. This bespoke design of living space got shortlisted recently in an international 'LEAF AWARD' as the best interior project.

The brief was to transform the existing space into an interactive dynamic space that would be used as a family lounge as well as for guests.


The design proposal looks at analyzing the movement patterns and thereby designing two islands in the space. Geometrically, they are carved out of each other, maintaining the design coherence. One island focuses on seating whereas the other focuses on creating a wall paneling system that extends and integrates into the sitting as well.

Feature wall inculcates the design language of the room. Free flowing curves have been used which transform from shelving systems to seating to a wall pattern and also encases LED lights to give a soft mood lighting to the space.


The sofas, tables, wall systems were designed as bespoke elements specifically for this space and to create a unique compact design not governed by existing modular sizes available. The carpet was also custom made.




Complete Sustainability was achieved due to the chosen design principles of low-impact materials, energy efficiency and renewability of the materials. Locally available materials were used. The production and choice of materials was governed by this principal and it was ensured that material available within 5 km distance were used to cut down the transportation distance. Also the production process took place on site itself using energy efficient processes.


Use of locally available materials and techniques ensured in keeping the cost of project economical. Wooden ribs were designed for the sofas to create the framework for them which were filled in with foam and finished by hand stitched upholstery.


The color scheme of the room has been kept as white and gold. A play of textures is evident in the space in these two colors itself.

At a Glance
Project Name:	The Plus House
Location:	Panipat, Haryana
Client:	Payal & Vinod Juneja
Design Team:	Studio An-V-Thot Architects Pvt. Ltd.
Photo Credits:	Saptorshi Majumdar
Completion Date:	March 2014
Built-up Area:	3650 sq.ft.

Located in Panipat, Haryana, 'The Plus House' is designed by Studio AVT for the client who had a very keen desire to have a house 'mix of both contemporary as well as traditional design concept and elements'.

With a built-up area of 3650 sqft., the project was perceived as a creation of rectangles within a square, which clearly took to benefitting proportions during the planning. This was the answer to a rather questionable site which sat on an almost square plot of 55' x 58', thus generating a challenge as well as curiosity to achieve a depth of travel and sight.



Beginning with facade, the complete 25' high structure can be seen as volumes and voids sharing spaces, overlapping and inter-changing their behavior as well as presence. The vertical edge of the corner is sliced open in a tapered hugging manner with MS pergola on the roof level adding the play of shadows and light. Insertion of MS jali is eminent at various places. Use of sober Orange textured paint balances its harmony through the cladding of Dholpur stone onto the left tower. Compressed laminate sheets in exposed wooden grains add to the material palette. Altogether the volumes and voids forming the face of the house are a result of interior space planning and layout.


The interiors of the house can be seen as a mix of modern as well as traditional aspects of design evolving as the contemporary India. The circulation pattern gives rise to a dramatic story within and beyond, untold everyday of existence. The whole house catering to a small family of four revolves around and about a dense green focal point; the impact of the so created courtyard can be felt from the entrance as well as the private areas of the house. Here, the "plus" is actually two axes which generated 4 rectangles within a square that goes from end to end of the plot. This in turn leads to a comfortable travel of air and natural light throughout the house.

The courtyard has a sunken pebble bed with glass top, which acts as a stage hosting the court. Italian stone "Diana" has been used throughout the flooring with its grains leading to the court. Wooden flooring is also used at places to add warmth. A lot of sit-outs have been planned & placed at various intervals within the house to add storey. Extensive use of jali can be seen as partitions which are then repeated in furniture as well. The ceiling of the lobby leading to the court is finished with veneer backed by commercial board which follows through the glimpses of backlit onyx stone in Puja, sea green lacquered glass in Kitchen, as well as a wall of wallpaper in the Dining. Traditional inserts can be seen in the rear door leading to the backyard which overlooks the coffee corner through the double height where the "Palm" reaches its footstep. The backyard hosts a small shower pool adjoining the garden.




A small bar sits as a vertical extension to the drawing room at the mezzanine level with a small pantry, a washroom & a private balcony. This area is enclosed with a lot of backlit onyx stone, white PU pigment paint & dark veneer where green fabric on the furniture adds youthfulness. The master bedroom & the children's bedroom are designed to evolve as two characters with former being warm & the latter being young. The master bedroom has a play of browns and off-whites added by Victorian wallpaper & neo-Victorian wall lights as well as a chandelier. The raised study in the children's room has a glossy pigment paint with pastel green laminate adding to the blue & white pin-up board. The same color palette is repeated on the rug and curtains.


A plenty of hanging lights and custom-designed ceiling lights have been used throughout the house adding glamour and warmth. The threshold between the ground and the first floor has a four paneled false wall water-painted with a splash of multiple colors by the designers themselves. Altogether it's a house with spaces of varying identities yet similar character.

Turbhe Railway Station, designed by Hafeez Contractor and conceptualised with a gigantic arch roof, is the new Gateway for the grand entry into the city of Navi Mumbai.


As part of City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra's (CIDCO) vision to establish a modernistic image of Navi Mumbai, some of Mumbai's renowned architects were invited to design its railway stations at Turbhe. The project was awarded to Architect Hafeez Contractor and the intent that inspired the design was his principal objectives to ensure a railway station that would become a "New Civic Symbol" and the fact that railway stations are 'Gateways into a City'. So, the crucial element of a gigantic arch roof was conceptualised to symbolise an entryway into the city.



Turbhe is the fifth railway station on the Thane-Turbhe- Vashi/Nerul Rail Corridor, a 23-km-long corridor connecting Thane with Navi Mumbai. It is at a distance of 15 km from Thane railway station and 3 km from Vashi railway station. Like other stations on this corridor, Turbhe has double discharge facilities on all tracks with a width of 12 m for island platforms and 8 m for end platforms.


Turbhe, by virtue of its location at the crossroads of the Sion-Panvel and the Thane-Belapur highways and its close proximity to the MIDC industrial area and the agricultural market in Vashi, has become one of the significant railway stations on the Thane-Dharave line. The Turbhe station also caters to 4 tracks on both the Thane-Vashi-Uran and the Kalwa-Dharave corridors and serves the populace in and around Turbhe and Sanpada.


The station occupies a total length of 65.4 m x 27 m, across the five platforms and the tracks. The station spread over an area of 15,000 sq m has a parking capacity for 175 cars and 250 bikes. The main parking area is at the northern corner of the site as a multi-level car park. Three subways – two for the commuters and one for the general public– are planned to discharge the crowd onto a pedestrian promenade. Further, a pedestrian underpass is introduced at the northern end to cater to traffic from the MIDC area to the nodal side. The ticketing counters are positioned at the centre of the station for convenience.


The station stands apart because of its massive 84-m roof with a semi circular shape. An innovative ribbed arch roof design spans across all platforms and its sheer size and magnitude makes an imposing assertion. Large strip skylights, integrated with the structural system, establish light-filled platform spaces. Finally, in terms of image, the station imposes itself as contemporary and progressive. The most visual manifestation of this ultra-modern language is the usage of contemporary materials. Resilient galvalume sheets made of aluminum and zinc are used for the roof. The roof is distinctive because of the clips that have been used for fixing joints instead of drilling.

The architecture of software development block 'Infosys building in Mysore' is known for its jagged facades and lopsided fragments style. Thoughtfully designed by Ar. Hafeez Contractor, the unique design concept for this building came to the architect's mind when he visited the site for the first time which is situated on a tremendously contoured site in Mysore.


According to the architect, "The design inspiration came from the rugged profile of the landscape and then I decided on instituting a concept that would echo the spirit of the site." The Japanese traditional concept of Origami (an art of folding paper) struck the architect when he saw the length of the building going unexpectedly long. He noticed that the concept blended very well with the profile of the site and then he decided to implement the principles of this traditional art. Also his ideology while designing was that – the building should stand out as an interface of imagination of the software developers working for Infosys.


Moreover, the aesthetic has also been acquired with the use of contemporary building material 'Glass' which according to Ar. Hafeez Contractor is surely the material of the future. The architect made generous use of glass, which adds to the exquisiteness of the structure. The ceramic frit on the glass acts as a shading device without interrupting the view from inside. The frit pattern looks dynamic and appears to vary in designs. The architect says, "The intelligent use of glass in the buildings enhances its utility factor."

Originally, the building had an almost rectilinear form with a few jagged edges in the vertical plane. Later it progressed into its present form, which has the signs of distorted contours in all the three dimensions. These protruding jagged planes form abstract compositions with fractured geometry. The facade is in essence moving in and out in various angles and inclines giving rise to the distorted form.


The base of the building moves along indistinct lines, which augments the distorted nature of the structure. The 5-storey structure houses 2,500 professionals. The typical open plan interior layout has rectilinear profiles whilst featuring skewed atrium pockets in several edges. The atrium creates an array of experiences by following the changing form of the outer skin. Its subtle skew becomes incredibly pronounced at certain levels when the outer skin moves in more zealously. The jagged profile of the building echoes the rugged contours of the site.


Precisely, the architect's magical design concept and smart selection of innovative building materials have perfectly transformed the project into an awe-inspiring place for the software developers to work in.

The New Delhi satellite city of Gurgaon is the center of a rapidly expanding metropolitan area that has seen significant commercial development, which has outpaced progress on infrastructure and municipal support structures. Finding inspiration from a city still struggling to define its own urban context was a key challenge for Suman Sorg, who was tasked with designing Skyon, the large-scale, multifamily residential project. For this commission, Suman understood that controlled density could provide the opportunity for communities to flourish and breathe life into the commercial and urban explosion of the past two decades.


Skyon is a 22-acre sustainable residential development composed of five buildings 9- to 13-storey and one 40-storey iconic tower, all organized around a community green space. The slender and elegant residential tower that anchors the site's western edge is a composition of four stacked units radiating from a rectangular core. The organization of the tower plan is akin to a pinwheel and is based on the design of the Hindu symbol for good luck. This simple geometry enables each unit to have unobstructed views in three directions.

Balconies are modulated on the façade to create an undulating origami that provides visual interest and movement to the elevation as well as optimal sun-shading. This generous use of balconies, which rhythmically shifts from floor to floor, echoes the tower form, creating a dynamic visual foundation upon which the contrasting forms of the slender tower and clubhouse are enhanced.

At the center of the communal green is the clubhouse, which is conceived as a low-lying pavilion, partially sunken and belonging more to the landscape than to its neighboring buildings. The minimal, sculptural form of the clubhouse is central to the design of this urban oasis that is intended to impart human scale and organization to an otherwise cacophonous environment.

Serving as the flagship for a new 300-acre township outside New Delhi, India, the Grand Arch mixed-use development features over 900 residential units in both high- and mid-rise buildings. Planned to utilize a modern take on the Mughal garden, the Grand Arch is located on a 30-acre site at the terminus of the Delhi Metro in Gurgaon. The project includes a central community, cultural and recreation facility, educational building, and affordable housing. Drawn from the impressive arches framing timeless architectural works, such as the Taj Mahal, Sorg Architects' design infuses monumental inspiration with modern minimalist design to define a new perspective in the current building boom and provide contemporary housing for India's newly formed upwardly mobile classes.


Utilizing vernacular and technological sustainability strategies, the Grand Arch is a sustainable development from the unit to the community level. Units feature double-glazed windows to prevent heat gain and loss, along with energy conserving air conditioning systems. The development also includes solar water heating systems, solar lighting systems, and sun-shading throughout. Water conservation is achieved through efficient and low-flow plumbing systems and rain water collection and reuse. A dedicated wastewater treatment plant utilizes state-of-the-art efficient membrane technology for purification and recycling.

The Grand Arch serves as a benchmark for design and quality in its North Indian market and has set the standard for initial sales. The project is nearing completion, and construction will conclude by this year end.

Project at a Glance
Project	: Auditorium
Location	: Airoli, Navi Mumbai
Client	: NMMC
Architecture & Acoustics	: THE FIRM
Structural Consultant	: SACPL
Fire Fighting and Plumbing Consultant	: Litrum Consultant Pvt.Ltd
Electrical Consultant	: Aayush Engineers
HVAC Consultant	: Saini Engineering & Consultancy
IBMS, Audio - Video,Access Control,	: CITRIOTECH
Stage Lighting
Contractors	: Mahavir Roads and Infrastructure Pvt Ltd
Commencement	: JULY, 2014

Navi Mumbai based practice - THE FIRM - has designed a multi-functional auditorium for the community of Airoli which, like all their other designs, exercises its committed philosophy to sustainable architecture. The architects have surpassed the brief with a selection of spacious and rigorously designed spaces that offer the community superior facilities. This 860-seater project includes integral sustainable design solutions that have been considered holistically to ensure that the building performs at maximum efficiency.

Design Concepts

The auditorium has been designed as a 'shell within a shell' to provide an insulative layer between the interior and exterior. The function of the peripheral space is twofold: it provides a sound buffer from outside noise, increasing the quality of acoustics within the auditorium and it provides a thermal insulation layer between the interior and exterior, reducing the air-conditioning loads and increasing the building energy efficiency.



The building design responds to the solar orientation and capitalizes on it to conserve energy. The foyer and lobbies are situated on the south side with a floor to ceiling glazed facade so that they receive maximum natural light and there is reduced reliance on electrical lighting. The facade design has a prominent slant to afford shade to the foyer to reduce the heat ingress caused by solar gain which is complemented by an overhanging roof to amplify the effect. The large glazed facade is un-characteristic of a building with such a function but the architects decided that since it was a multi-functional building for the community it was necessary to have an open and inviting entrance, thus re-defining the typology.

Programme Elements

The programme of the building includes two primary groups of spaces - backstage and front of house. The two different programme spaces have been designed with different characteristics to refer to their function and user groups. The front of house has been designed with the auditorium guests in mind and therefore has attractive and ambient spaces that offer occasion to socialize. The asymmetry of the foyer draws attention to the spaces created and highlights playfulness in the architecture that reflects the informal activities that occur within. The internal balconies offer spill over spaces from the auditorium that overlook the entrance foyer. These inter-spatial links create a hive of excitement pre and post show because of the open and collective atmosphere. The backstage rooms have been designed with functionality and performers in mind, these rooms are efficiently arranged to reduce circulation interference and provide necessary private access routes for stage support and performers.

The auditorium itself is designed with acoustics as a top priority. The design of the walls and ceiling is angular to deflect the sound waves in different directions so that there is no interference and the sound quality is high in all areas of the audience. The architects have specified acoustic wood panels for their resonant properties that allow voices to be amplified to the rear seats. The shape of the auditorium also encourages the sound to amplify to the rear seats thus ensuring that all members of the audience receive superior sound quality. The auditorium has been designed as a multi-functional space that can be acoustically modified depending on the performance. For performances with electrically amplified acoustics, that do not require resonance from the walls, dampening curtains can be drawn to adjust the space suitably.

The foyer is a multi-functional space that not only offers an impressive and atmospheric entrance to the auditorium but also provides an outstanding space to hold exhibitions. The second floor houses a unitary programme of smaller rooms that can either be hired out for individual functions or can support the auditorium.

Sustainable Design

As is the architects philosophy on any project, 'sustainability is integral to the design'. Additional to the insulative 'shell within a shell' and the solar oriented south facade, the building design also has other sustainable elements. The roof of the building has been designed with a multi-layered aluminum finish metal roofing that is lightweight and provides better insulation properties, which gives it excellent sustainability credentials. A photo-voltaic array is planned for the roof installation which will deliver green power to the building and all lights will be high efficiency LEDs to reduce power demand. Specialized VFDs are specified for water-cooled chillers for air-conditioning, all secondary pumps, AHUs and motors respectively. The architects have also specified AAC (autoclaved aerated concrete) blocks which offer very good insulation and use fly ash in the composition which is a recycled by product of coal combustion plants.


THE FIRM have designed a meticulously high quality auditorium that offers a selection of facilities to benefit the local community in Navi Mumbai. The building comes with a low impact on the environment as a result of THE FIRM's commitment to superior environmental design. The architects hope that they will have an influence in improving the locality and community of Airoli whilst simultaneously positively effecting the wider environment.

Ar. Yagnesh Ghorecha: "Tensile structures allow the best combination of breeze, perfect balance of light quality and shade"

Diu at the district of Daman, got a 21 Kilometer Long coastline. It was one of the first places where the Portuguese landed in the 15th century in India. The Portuguese Colonial style is still visible these days at the former 400 years long colony. Not too far away from Diu one of the most beautiful and coziest beaches of India is located. Right at this place a hotel called Kostamar Beach Resort was built.


The architectural challenge of this building was to find a form language which was pleasing the expectations of locals, tourists and it had to be in correlation with the colonial style of Diu. Yagnesh Ghorecha a responsible architect describes his solution as follows: "...the Architecture relied heavily on the site specific influences. It was necessary to strategize experiential methodologies and develop a dynamic solution to a site situated within a striking distance of the beautiful Nagoa Beach."

Project	: Kostamar Beach Resort
Material Used	: Valmex® FR 700
Quantity	: 400 m²
Architect	: Yagnesh Ghorecha
Manufacturer	: Schafbock Design + Workshop
Date of Completion	: Octobre 2013
City	: Diu, Nagao Beach
Country	: India

The "Hokka" tree is the dynamic solution for the sun protection of the top roof terrace, which is one of the most highly visible elements of the Kostamar Beach Resort. These trees are forming large impressive branches with small crowns. This natural role model is taken for the design of the sun protection. Apart from reminding on this tree, which is nearly a landmark of this region, the intention was "to reintermediate vertical corridors on the terrace at the same time developing an unhindered view of the Beach. Sitting between the "Hokka palms" this site being open at eye level allows an all-encompassed view of the ocean and the site, but at the same time provides respite from the harsh summer sun. The corridors are left open so that there is a variation of direct sunlight and shade and at the same time offer respite to specific areas."


The architect has selected Mehler VALMEX® FR 700 for this project and the installation of the tensile construction just took 10 Days though the construction site was very close to the beach. As the building company stated, the constant wind was the biggest challenge for them. However the installation process was so quick, regarding that the complete Valmex FR 700 textiles had been pre produced by Schafbock Design + Workshop. This took 45 days while the rest of the construction work was not disturbed during this period.


VALMEX® FR 700 is the ideal material for weather protection and leisure applications. The high tensile strength and the relative low weight support fast installations and dismantling of tents.

The special surface finish Mehatop F1 comes with a nano-TiO2 base primer, which provides excellent whiteness and cleaning properties, the fabric is UV resistant, and the finish protects the fabric against fungus and bacterial growth. The material is low maintenance and maintains a good appearance over a long period.

VALMEX® FR 700 possesses outstanding characteristics such as.

• flame resistant
• fungicide finish
• high tear-out force and continued tear-out force
• well weldable
• good UV resistance
• high water pressure resistance
• very low-maintenance

Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University – East Campus New Delhi

The Govt. of NCT of Delhi established its first university with the name Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in 1998. It is a teaching and affiliating university with the explicit objective of facilitating and promoting "studies, research and extension work in emerging areas of higher education. The university has been graded 'A' by NAAC and is committed to providing professional education with greater thrust on creativity, innovation, continuous change and motivating environment for knowledge creation and dissemination through its effective quality management system.

In 2000-2001, the university planned to expand its Dwarka East campus infrastructure and therefore organized competition for the same. Many well known names from the architectural and civil engineering fraternity took part into this design competition including Delhi-based Developments consultant who was selected by the jury. Being the leading force in the field of architectural and civil engineering consultancy and project execution, Developments consultant believes not only in using green building materials and solutions in their projects but also emphasizes on using energy efficient and solar products.

Bioclimatic Passive Architecture

The design consultancy proposed Bioclimatic Passive Architecture in order to minimize the energy needs of the building and to create a more comfortable environment adapted to the lifestyles of the inhabitants. Moreover, special attention is paid to respect the existing landscape and integrate the building within it. Some of the salient features of the project include:

Integrated Design Process…

Building a green building is not just a matter of assembling a collection of the latest green technologies or materials. Rather, it is a process in which every element of the design is first optimized and then the impact and interrelationship of various different elements and systems within the building and site are re-evaluated, integrated, and optimized as part of a whole building solution.

Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB)

• Building will have to produce surplus energy over the year; will be called energy plus building.
• Zero energy buildings will reduce significant energy use and green house emission for life of building.
• NZEB vision in building industry is becoming necessary as they take away 70% of electricity.
• European Union has issued a NZEB mandate, which says all residential + commercial buildings should be net zero by 2018.
• State of California has a similar mandate of 2020 for residential and 2030 for commercial buildings.

At a glance
18.75 Acre Campus for University School of Architecture / Planning, & School Of Design.
• Total plot area	- (75900 sqm)
• Total built-up area	- 79522 sqm
	2 basement + Gr. + 8 Floors
• Covered parking in basement	- 210 cars
Multi level parking block	- 240 cars
Total covered parking	- 450 cars
• Campus for 1500 students with hostel facility for both girls / boys.
• Centralized A/C auditorium for 650 persons with seminar / exhibition halls.
• Indoor sports hall for 300 spectators.
• Centralized library / computer center with chilled beam air conditioning system.
• Semi covered amphitheater for 500 students.
• Sports fields
• Total cost of project	- Rs. 280cr.
• Average cost per sqm	- Rs. 35000

Other Sustainable Features

• India's first Net Zero Energy campus with passive solar building design.
• The proposed campus has been desiged to achieve GRIHA 5 star rating.
• High performance building envelop is proposed in architectural design of the campus which includes good thermal resistance walls, roofs and glazing allowing sufficient and indirect sunlight. More than 64% of the regularly occupied/ living area of the proposed campus would achieve required/ sufficient daylight as per GRIHA.
• Native landscaping is proposed to lower water consumption.
• Annual potable water consumption of the campus would be minimized by more than 50% by reusing treated waste water and efficient flow plumbing fixtures as compared to conventional.
• More than 50% of hard paved areas would be shaded by vegetation.
• The proposed campus would be in compliance with Energy Conservation Building Code Mandatory Guidelines.
• Air, water pollution & soil erosion preventive measures would be followed in compliance with National Building Code on site during construction to cause minimum disturbance.
• Campus enjoys cooling by Earth Air Tunnel System.
• Intensive stepped Terrace Gardens on each floor.
• Buildings submerged to create comfortable spaces.
• Sunken courtyards used for natural light/ ventilation.
• Installed 2000 KW solar power system making a net zero energy campus.
• More than 70% of hot water demand in residential areas will be through solar water heaters.
• Proper waste segregation, collection and treatment system would be followed on site to minimize burden on waste dumping stations.
• EARTH AIR Tunnel SYSTEM would provide thermal comfort to inhabitants and there-by lower the electricity consumption as well.
• Not only campus designing, construction but running building operation and maintenance accounts would be audited to perform like a green building.

The project details have been worked out and plans got approval from all local bodies. It is reported that the foundation laying ceremony will be laid shortly.