Designed for Sustainability - Moser Associates

Designed for Sustainability The design of the New Headquarters Building for SDMC in New Delhi by Moser Associates reinvents a modern office building's performance with regards to energy use and occupant comfort.

The approach to the design employs sustainable strategies that will benefit the building's performance and work environment. A perforated metal screen system (Jaali) surrounding all four facades creates an inner courtyard space. This screen system acts as a veil and also as a decorative skin that draws reference from historical textiles. Inside the screen, two thin glazed office wings are connected via bridges and stair/elevator towers. The thin floor plate of the office inside connected via bridges and stair/elevator wings allow for natural light and cross ventilation, the separation of the wings creates an interior collaborative garden in the center.

The central garden zone acts as a natural light well and mechanical ventilation shaft, with large turbine ventilation fans at roof level drawing out warm air from the building. The office floor plates, in addition to their operable windows and solar shading, are set upon a raised access floor, allowing for tempered air to be directed to the occupants at a lower velocity with more local control. The raised floor also allows for greater flexibility in office planning and better access to building systems. Punctuating the office floor plates are conference rooms and gardens. Thus, the garden space becomes a "community" of architectural elements.

Our approach to sustainable design methodology aims at achieving the desired integration of sustainability with architectural and interior design

Ar. Nirmal Mangal, M Moser Associates