Backward Integration Enabling Quality Construction

Arun Kumar, SVP - Design & Engineering, SOBHA, describes the products and the construction technology being used in projects, and the new solutions that are adding value to new-age processes and operations.

The foundation to every revolution is materials – be it for application in industrial, technological, aviation, automotive or any other area. Advances in material technology have made a lot of progress in recent years in the construction of quality structures. Today, we see buildings of over 200 to 300 storeys, under water buildings, and large warehouses without a single supporting column in the centre. Materials determine the strength, durability, functionality, architectural beauty, and the quality of buildings. Let us not forget the various elements that make a building – its doors, windows, flooring, electricals, air-conditioning, etc.

To start with, one needs to address a building’s construction - not just the foundation, walls, flooring and ceilings - but also the purpose of the building – living, storing, fabrication, manufacturing, office, etc. This will decide the materials to be used considering important factors such as safety, sustainability, commercially viability, and the overall price-value equation.

Sobha Adamus, BangaloreSobha Adamus, Bangalore

At SOBHA, we offer international quality construction and amenities - riding strongly on our philosophy of ‘Built for Tomorrow’. The company has set several benchmarks since its inception. Through a backward integration model, it has ensured sustained top-class quality and maintains quality control in ensuring the right material selection and processes.

The SOBHA Academy trains craftsmen in laying tiles, granite masonry, gypsum works, waterproofing, electrical, and plumbing works. All engineers and supervisors for execution, planning, costing, quality, and safety are given in-depth training on different modules.

With technology being embraced more and more at various stages of product development and construction, sustainability is becoming an integral part of product development. New materials can be engineered to give specific properties that result in bringing down cost of construction. These include self-healing concrete, flexible concrete, and transparent aluminium that help architects to design glassy structures that weigh much lighter than traditional structures made of glass. Then there are certain standard products that continue to perform well including concrete solid and hollow blocks, landscaping products like pavers, kerbs, water drainage channels, paving slabs, precast drain covers, precast boundary walls etc.
Arun Kumar, SVP - Design & Engineering, SOBHA
Having a clear understanding of the value one wants to deliver through construction is hinged on several factors – not the materials alone. More often, it is the consistent and stringent standards and processes followed that determine durability and quality of the built structure.

Arun Kumar, SOBHA

An important aspect one always needs to keep in mind is the location. SOBHA consciously uses materials that are specific to the region and its prevailing conditions. In warmer and high-temperature regions, double glazed windows are used to keep heat away and lower air conditioning costs, and also provide noise insulation to block external sound.

One distinct approach to waterproofing is the use of special insulation for the terrace roofs – bituminous sheets. These are advanced materials used to reflect heat. Epoxy paint that is predominantly used in industrial environment for better electrical insulation is used in the parking areas to provide a better finish.

One of the more recent developments that we have made is adapting to Precast Technology, which helps reduce delivery times by close to 30%. Our Dream Acres project in Bangalore is a case in point where we used pre-cast technology to create one of the largest properties in India (approximately 7000 flats spread over 81 acres) in the fastest possible time. Leveraging technology has also been a key driver to ensure quality, timely completion, and reduce wastage. Using a simple QR code, we have cut down any form of wastage and costs associated with installation of pre-cast slabs which we make in hundreds each day.


Thanks to SOBHA’s backward integration model, the concrete products manufactured by the company form the foundation of its offerings. Spread over approximately 8 acres, multiple shopfloors cater to different products such as pavers, kerbs, solid and hollow blocks, GFRC, precast concrete etc. Products are manufactured using imported machinery from Germany and UK, while the raw materials are sourced from reputed partners. Our well-equipped laboratory undertakes quality tests of the raw and finished materials.

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) is being increasingly used in both internal and external applications. GFRC, made of white cement, is one of the best elements for giving a building’s interior or exterior a luxurious look and feel. It is suitable for a variety of structures and is made up of ready-to-use and easy-to-install elements.

It is important to note that along with materials and technology, the processes and standards also determine the quality of the built structure. For instance, SOBHA has 8 layers of wall finishing; this multilayer process ensures a seamless surfaces, aesthetic finish, and longevity. In bathrooms, we use 2 layers of waterproofing since proper sealants and adhesives are crucial for ensuring that water does not seep into the floors below.

Exterior wall protection often determines the overall health of the building. We use special primers and 2 coats of paint to ensure tough and textured surfaces for an aesthetically superior, crack free, and dust repellent external wall. Basements are coated with water-based primer with a moisture barrier and a primer is used for epoxy coatings on basement floors. For balconies, we use rust-proof rail of safety backed by stone coping, while high-quality sliding doors ensure longevity and easy maintenance. Glazed tile terrace reflects heat, retains coolness, and is laid with multiple layers of waterproofing.

For doors, we ensure that the materials used are sourced from PEFC-certified suppliers (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). Typically, this organization certifies that wood required for human consumption is from a tree that is 80+ years (classified as old tree that has lived its lifecycle). Typically, both veneer and timbre used by SOBHA in doors are PEFC-certified. In addition, the polish used in our factories is polyurethane based and has a lower volatile organic compound index, compared to traditional melamine or varnish. By balancing the use of solid and lightweight core for doors, SOBHA has been able to offer quality finish, durability, and an environment-friendly solution.

Our in-house design studio has more than 150 architects, structural and MEP engineers, graphic designers, model makers, and 3D visualizers. The studio is equipped with best-in-class technology and the team follows a well-defined 6-step procedure to prepare the construction drawings, and to achieve a comprehensive design output, along with the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and environment design teams.
Click Here
To Know More / Contact The Manufacturer
Please provide your details we will contact you as soon as possible
Please let us know your name.
Please let us know your Designation.
Invalid Input
Please let us know your email address.
Please let us know your City.
Please let us know your Contact Number.
Please brief your query.
Our other value-added services:

To receive updates through e-mail on Products, New Technologies & Equipment, please select the Product Category(s) you are interested in and click 'Submit'. This will help you save time plus you will get the best price quotations from many manufacturers, which you can then evaluate and negotiate.

Equipment & Machinery
Invalid Input
Building Products
Invalid Input

The Empowerment of Home Ownership What it Means for Indian Women

Each year, we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th to recognize women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements and to call for gender equality. The goal is to raise awareness about the need to end gender-based violence Read More ...

Are Integrated Townships the Future of Living?

The all-encompassing townships are rapidly gaining ground in the urban setting due to their focus on self-sustenance, efficient planning, community living, and mixed-use approach. Varsha Jain, Principal Architect & Co-founder, Creative Architects & Interiors (CAI) Read More ...

Transit-Oriented Development: Making Indian Cities Liveable Again

We must prepare for a future of either completely deadlocked, polluted, and unliveable urban grids, or undertake successful implementation of Transit-Oriented Development, writes Akash Pharande, Managing Director, Pharande Spaces. We must prepare for a future Read More ...

Gated Communities: Cultivating a Holistic Vision

A safe, well designed, and a self-sufficient home in a gated township delivers peace of mind, comfort, and privileges, making community living a growing preference; not surprising then that the concept is gaining traction in India’s real estate Read More ...

Themed Homes: The New Real Estate Growth Driver

The trend of themed homes has been there for quite some time, but the emergence of alternative real estate asset classes and the pandemic has fuelled further demand for housing as buyers now prefer owned homes over rentals, with the new design Read More ...

Build Back Better

Developers are making efforts to make our spaces more liveable, resilient, sustainable, and affordable; they are leveraging technology, emphasising on net zero homes, rethinking design, and providing accessibility to benefits like an all-time low real estate valuation Read More ...

Building Structures That Last

With our collective duty to ensure sustainable and environmentally responsible solutions, it is more important than ever that the real estate industry strives to get things right the first time and build structures to last. Plastering is one of the most general and ancient Read More ...

Living Amidst Nature

JP Infra introduces the first Urban Forest in a residential township in Mumbai using the Miyawaki technique. Real estate developer JP Infra Mumbai is using the Japanese technique of Miyawaki forest to raise a natural urban forest within the ~11,000 sq.ft premises Read More ...

Creating Places Where People Thrive

Rahul Kadri, Partner & Principal Architect at IMK Architects elaborates on the firm’s approach to Urban Design & Master-Planning. Architecture and design always exist within a larger urban, social and ecological milieu. And as a practitioner, one must be conscious Read More ...

Going Green

Offices in Mumbai can save ₹175 cr power bills annually by switching to greener air conditioning: JLL Report. Mumbai’s Grade A office space currently stands at 144 million sq. ft, of which only 42% (60 million sq ft) uses centralized Heating, Ventilation Read More ...

Developing Sustainable Projects

P Gopalakrishnan, Managing Director, Southeast Asia and Middle East, GBCI, discusses the long-term benefits of sustainable projects. There has been growing awareness about the need for sustainable and innovative developments even before the pandemic accelerated Read More ...

Living Sustainably

Anil Pharande, Chairman, Pharande Spaces, calls for Real estate developers to shoulder a greater responsibility as Green Homes acquire a new relevance amid environment alarm bells Read More ...

Call for a Sustainable & Smart Future

Environmental friendly developments, clean energy, and sustainability, will be key in real estate developments, observes Munish Baldev, Founder & CEO, J.S Martin & Co. With use of advanced technologies having become an integral part of urban planning and architecture Read More ...

Designing Cities of the Future

The future of livability and accessibility has to be accounted for by architects and real estate developers, and all aspects of adaptability have to be imbibed within the design philosophy Mitu Mathur, Director, GPM Architects and Planners Read More ...

Townships Redefining Indian Housing

How do you create a perception of safety in a pandemic scenario? To state it simply, by getting more control of your personal space. It is not possible to change everything around us, but we can choose where and how we live. This is one of the main reasons why Indians Read More ...

Sustainable Construction

Access Architects delivered the Rupa Renaissance project ahead of time with fully functional and optimised spaces, while meeting the client’s expectation of low construction costs despite using composite steel rather than conventional RCC Read More ...