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Issue V | August 2014
Facade and Fenestration News for India
Dynamism in Architecture: Interactive Façades
Talking Architecture Architecture Discipline Delhi
True Monsoon Retreat
Abraham John Architects Mumbai
Project Nirvana SJK Architects Mumbai
NĂźrnbergMesse India Pvt. Ltd. German House, 2, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021, India Tel.: +91-11-47168888 / Fax: +91-11-26118664 / Website: www.nm-india.com Contact : Ms. Rucheeka Chhugani / E-mail: rucheeka.chhugani@nm-india.com
Vikram Hospital ZZ Architects Mumbai
Windows & Facades 2030 Plus ift Rosenheim
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MESSAGE Dear Friends, The last two decades have witnessed a rapid evolution in the Indian Building Industry. In late 90s, ‘buildings aped the look & feel of its peers elsewhere in the world but at the start of 21st century, with the advent of the Green Building Movement in India, rise in fuel prices and introduction of Energy Code (ECBC), the importance of energy conservation & a need to harmonize the building with environment was realized . This influenced a major change in the approach to building design wherein impact was felt on all fronts including facades. As the Building Owners are venturing to try out newer technologies, there is a need for a platform which can provide a one stop solution wherein Users/Specifiers/Manufacturers can interact and learn from the industry best practices. fensterbau/frontale India has emerged as a key Exposition addressing the needs of the Façade and Fenestration Industry. I have personally seen the event grow since its inception in 2011 and it has today emerged as the most focused platform for presenting innovative solutions, knowledge sharing and networking. This issue of the fensterbau/frontale India tabloid features expert articles on the concept of Interactive Facades through projects, case studies, expert articles and news across India. It is an attempt to bring a building in tune with its environment , to minimize its demand on physical resources, optimize its functions and demonstrate responsive behaviours with respect to change in external conditions. I am sure you will enjoy reading this yet another fantastic edition of the FFI Tabloid.
Ashish Rakheja
Managing Director, Building Engineering- India, AECOM Advisor, International Fenestration Forum (IFF)
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Issue V | August 2014 | Page 3
TALKING ARCHITECTURE “Radical design concepts are necessary for innovation in order to drive the future of the building industry” - Kas Oosterhuis
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he rooftop extension in Vienna by Coop Him melblau, is the architectural equivalent of an encore at a concert. This charged piece of architecture draws many referential images; a bird, a fighter aircraft, a curios child peering over the parapet. Architecture, like any other sensory engagement is interpretive- we react as our state of mind dictates. There is an underlying story, but the emotive reaction to a space is metaphorical. The building is powerful but static.
- Akshat Bhatt, Architecture Discipline
from motor controlled apertures to modulate light, a supercharged brise soleil. The mechanism creates geometric motifs, like a traditional screen is an active climate control device; it animates the interior, the exterior & references the cultural heritage of the client. This is intelligent design- it’s dynamic, tells a story, and leaves a lasting impression. This wasn’t the first time that an architect experimented with traditional motifs. J.A.Stein was well-known for using jaalis in his buildings, but they were artistic interpretations; staid, were true to the material and the fundamental static dialogue remained. Jean Nouvel pushed the traditional motif into the 21st century with a building that demonstrated that the future could clearly reference tradition. Around this time, a lot of people were experimenting with architecture that could create immersive environments or interactive non-static interpreattions of conventional typologies.
shop window to actively engage the passersby with a multi-layered and entertaining image projection of store. Flickering film and projecting light lured viewers in, while mirror films reflected their image back. The installation brought together video, consumer products, unexpected materials and special lighting to create intriguing and multi-layered piece of temporary architecture. This installation appealed to the technologically handicapped person in me. It covered 31 shop windows, used CCTV cameras, TV monitors & played videos of shop-life using slowed down security camera footage with themes such as playing, parking, eating, and dressing. It was uncomplicated, voyeuristic, an animated presentation of real happenings. The emotional platforms at which this intervention conversed with the viewer, and at the various levels that technology was woven into the idea of dialogue with the viewer, created an “interaction” through design.
How do people react to form and space? Space & form inspire reaction; we explore & exploit these in our architecture, yet the dialogue is one-sided based on the emotions of the user. With Architecture, that is ‘Static’, the experience is subjective. The interaction between the user and the architecture is interactive from one end, but not responsive. “Interactive Architecture”, “intelligent environments,” “responsive environments,” “smart architecture,” or “soft space is an experimental path that architects started undertaking since the 70’s. A discourse addressing parameters like adaptability of architecture, optimization and humanistic applications was presented. The space was ready to react and interact with the user. Emotional and physical interactions through computation with physical counterparts became the new drawing board for experiments in architecture. Buildings that are alive, react to their surroundings, creates virtual spaces and senses your reactions to adapt and change, this new typology is a hybrid discipline where architecture interacts with programming, design and engineering to create adaptive environments.
Window & the Pavement at Selfridges on Oxford Street
Tower of Winds, Yokohama, Japan Another example is the Tower of Winds (Toto Ito, Yokohama, Japan, 1986). The intervention shows that a simple form can be used to create dynamic architecture that is a twelve storey tower made of steel, glass, air & light. This elegant, but primitive form changes appearance in response to wind speed and is a simple light sculpture. The response to climate and environment lends a dynamic character to the built form where some aspects of it are temporary but not arbitrary.
Elevation, the Arab World Institute in Paris
The second was Jump Cuts staged during 1995 by an interdisciplinary practice that combines architecture with fine & performing arts (Diller Scofidio & Renfro 1996, San Jose, USA). They interpret the marquee through new seductive forms using sculptural, electronic & video elements. The permanent installation exhibits images and texts onto the street level, a great ground for interaction and reaction. Recorded & Live sequences are shown to people outside the building, questioning which side presents a greater spectacle. Using simple projectors, mirrors & glass at unexpected angles, the experiment borders being voyeuristic. An armature installed on the north façade of the theatre hold LCD panels that alternate with transparent surfaces, such that the resultant virtual accessibility of the space is endlessly called into question by alternating real view and view transmitted live from inside the building. This project takes the Selfridges project one step further to create an engagement with the viewer at many philosophical level of real and reel life.
Architectural Design (January-February 1998) titled Consuming Architecture featured a few immersive media projects including set design of U2’s POPmart tour in which two projects stood out:
Jump Cuts
Window & the Pavement at Selfridges on Oxford Street Detail, the Arab World Institute in Paris For example, the Arab World Institute in Paris (Jean Nouvel, Paris, France, 1986) which has been awarded by the Aga Khan foundation; best known for its distinctive element, a glass membrane with a metallic screen made
The first an installation at Selfridges of London created by d-squared, a well-respected, research based collaborative design practice that existed from 1994-2009. To activate a quiet intersection and the building at the street level. An intervention was planned using the www.frontale-india.com
Jump Cuts
fensterbau/frontale india Tab Such interactive architectural projects soon started creating a market for new materials that could be experimented with, newer technologies that could be used to create newer environments. At the beginning of the mobile WAP revolution Blinkenlights was presented to the world. The interactive light installation was commissioned on September 11, 2001 at Haus des Lehrers in Berlin, Germany, but it was lost in the political turmoil at the time. In the project, the upper eight floors of the building were transformed in to a huge display by arranging 144 lamps behind the building’s front windows. A computer controlled each of the lamps independently to produce a monochrome matrix. During night time, a constantly growing number of animations could be seen, people could play arcade classic games on the building using mobile phones and could place love letters on the giant screen as well. Documentation & videos can be found on the internet & on the website blinkenlights.net. Blinkenlights was followed by 2 more installations, Arcade, in Paris 2002 & then Stereoscope at Toronto in 2008 each time the level of interactivity, graphic resolution, media were upgraded & refined, the spirit remained the same though of simple but large visual elements. What made blinken lights special was the simplicity of the output, the most basic elements form simple shapes that trigger memories. The notion of using nostalgia and imagery but through new technologies, these projects addressed interaction from the humanistic level to a large scale expression of private thought.
Blinkenlights
Issue V | August 2014 | Page 4 Over the years, technology has made large scale immersive installations easy, but I can’t help but feel that they’ve flattened out intent and experimentation both in terms of experience & engagement like the ION in Singapore which merely projects oceanographic images on the floor & ceilings. The problem with product-based interventions is that they leave no space for individual expression, the overall experience is slowly dumbed down, and the result is a-contextual, available for mass application, compromising the identity of the original architectural installation.
Manifesto “No one gets to vote on whether technology will change our lives.” Bill Gates
Physical space is bound by technical and economic parameters that exist at the time of its conception. Conventional building methods give in to these parameters, thus becoming resistant to manipulation. This however Mechanical devices that are available for dynamic sur- does not mean that we surrender to them & stop exploring faces (Danpalon has a triflector based privacy screen, advancements in our built environment. Hunter Douglas makes louvers & aerofoils), pale in comparison to well detailed architectural elements. And A cumulative process of exploring the cultural-social-ecothey definitely pale in comparison to some of the ideas nomic expression of the current times developing a mere proposed by Kas Oosterhuis in his HyperBody studio at function to a timeless expression. A process which does TuDelft the most recent of which is the Robotic Building not oversimplify based on the idea of pure function but & proves that architectural endeavor is limited only by transforms into architecture as an expression of the emerour mind. gent aesthetic of the global meeting the local, technology meeting art, hi-design and culture. We design with the Using technology to achieve interactive environements experimentation of an academic studio merging theory & is one process, but using technology to create bright fa- technology with everyday issues of program to generate cades which cloak the original intent of the architecture an uncompromising architecture that is exciting and is not what one would deem as interactive architecture. timeless. Our design approach encourages collaboration By visually stimulating the viewer, technol ogy often both within the studio and with consulting engineers creates an ambience which might result in a short term and designers ensuring the final design is an intelligent & visual engagement, but the dialogue with the viewer and creative expression of the brief. ar•chi•tec•ture:. the architecture are dissolved; there is no memorable dialogue. Clarity of intent and a hybrid discipline of ar- Design theory and intentions: chitecture with technology, virutuality, and philosophy constitute interactive architecture, where expression Metropolis beyond 2000: Mans natural habitat and intent need to be the stars of the process to create a complex dialogue to engage the environment with the Architecture must burn: this is how we live user through justified means. Brave new world: climate change Image credits: www.mimoa.eu/images/1023_l.jpg Our cities are the manifestation of society, civil values, www.media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/12/fd/cb/12fdcbcd01c139fa05bculture and are the heart of our economy. Cities have f26e2fd9e5acf.jpg become our ‘NATURAL HABITAT’. The relationship www.toyo-ito.co.jp between the public and private domain is essential to www.dsrny.com/#/projects/jump-cuts our design approach. Buildings and their surrounding www.west8.nl spaces should interrelate and define each other. The space between buildings influences the civic quality of the place. The building’s scale and relationship with the street helps to encourage public activity and create a people-friendly environment. We strive to employ sustainable technologies keeping in sync with the environmental needs of the age to add value to the design rather than fall prey to short term trends. Just as functionality for us is a pre-requisite in the design process, conservation of energy also forms a part of the foundation in design. Economy of time, energy and money contribute to a lightness and clarity within the structure of our designs.
In terms of interaction at a more urban level, Schouwburgplein square (West8, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 1996) is designed, with custom furniture, crane-like lights and a hardscape pattern that reference the port of Rotterdam. This public space is flexible in use, changes throughout the day and from season to season. Four red lamp post are operated hydraulically and extend up to 35m high. These change positions at programmed times and also can be altered by people inserting coins into the coin-operated feature hereby changed the programmed settings. The project gives each user the power to change the environment that he is submerged in, whether to alAkshat Bhatt, Architecture Discipline ter aesthetics, feel of the place, or just to interact remains to the users discretion. Architecture Discipline is a multi-disciplinary design studio that explores architecture through the scales of urban design, architecture and product design.
Schouwburgplein square
A small practice that has been allowed creative independence by its clients.
Buildings are like evolutionary environments, flexible, multi-utility spaces with large, well-serviced floors allowing a long life span for the structure. To facilitate this it is essential to create distinct served and servant spaces within a building. The technical services have a short life & need to be accessible for upgrades and maintenance, whereas the populated space has a longer life span. Our process of articulation of the services and core buildings creates a three dimensional language that is visually disThe studio is engaged in the design of building typologies tinctive and allows integration of unpredictable technical such as town halls, hotels, schools, offices, residences, developments. At the same time, we attempt to keep the sound & video production studios. The result of every experiential space as just that. commission is determined by a series of critical design processes that result in an architectural expression that is The creation of a physical realm that is durable and contextually charged & contemporary. responds to the changing environment is takes its toll on the earth. The risk associated with climate change presents Buildings are integrated from conceptual framework serious challenges to the world. Architects have a major to the tactile experience. The Studio innovates formal role to play in this, given that 75 per cent of global energy arrangements, engineering, m.e.p. services and building consumption is produced by buildings and transport. physics parameters in order to advance the principles of Buildings must be designed to reduce pollution and Sustainable Design that are visible in the overall exprescarbon emissions. Not only by using renewable energy sion of the projects. sources, but designing energy efficient buildings and cities that encourage biodiversity. Architecture Discipline believe in the advancement of regional forms of expression, In order to achieve this they engage in full scale mock-ups & long term material investigations. The practice is process guided & strives for programmatic & technical flexibility for the resulting construction.
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Issue V | August 2014 | Page 5
TRUE MONSOON RETREAT, KHANDALA - Abraham John Architects
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rue Monsoon Retreat designed in response to site conditions: Evergreen courtyards, skylights blur the indoor-outdoor boundaries. ABSTRACT: Set in the picturesque valleys of Khandala, nestled between Mumbai and Pune, this Monsoon Retreat is a spacious villa with a private swimming pool and evergreen gardens. The design of the villa was formulated on the seemingly antonymous concepts of privacy and openness. The orientation of the villa ensures total privacy, while maximizing existing views, creating a sense of openness and belonging to nature. FLUIDITY OF SPACES: The living room was conceived as an “outdoor space” with abundant light and natural ventilation. It opens onto decks and gardens on either side, in keeping with the concept. A continuous wall serves as a textured backdrop to the living room and continues onto the deck, lending it a rustic feel. The cantilevered wood and steel staircase connecting the two floors is set against imposing double height windows; it is bathed in light, allowing luxuriant indoor plants to thrive. The indoor courtyard pathway continues from the staircase area towards the garden. Showers of light are suspended from the ceiling creating a serene ambience.
dining courtyards abound with greenery. Earth was mounded up, boulders & exotic plants were added to create an interesting entrance. The parking area was paved using green paver blocks which allow grass to grow. STUDIO PROFILE
villas, high end residences and unique offices, as well as hospitality & institutional projects, several charitable works including earthquake and cyclone proof buildings in Karaikkal (Tamil Nadu), Vijaywada & Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Latur (Maharashtra) and Rajkot (Gujarat).
Abraham John ARCHITECTS is a multidisciplinary ar- Abraham John Architects’ design approach is to chitecture, interior design, landscaping and urban plan- re-connect architecture with nature, make optining firm founded in 1967. mum use of space, natural materials, lighting & landscape to reinvent and transform living enWooden rafters span the entire Master Suite ceiling, giving it an vironments and urban spaces. earthy, out-of-town feel. The bedroom’s wooden flooring brings in beauty and warmth. A walk-on skylight is a unique feature between The firm strives to create design that inspires, the bedroom and the terrace overlooking the garden. approaching each project, regardless of size & scale, with an understanding that architecture ONE WITH NATURE: has a unique power to influence lifestyle and society. The villa is designed in response to site conditions. Sloping roofs have been designed to withstand the extreme monsoons rains expeOur forte is attention to details and customisarienced in the area. This house allows one to experience nature. The tion. Honesty to design, client satisfaction, and indoor/outdoor boundaries disappear as every room opens up to a sustainability are the driving forces, along with private outdoor space (terrace or garden). Outdoor decks and landthe ability to constantly explore & evolve. scaped gardens serve as expansive entertaining areas with artful illumination and mood lighting. Indoor courtyards, skylights, double We are dedicated to unique design approachheight sliding-folding windows add to the outdoor feel. Light and es adapted to each project, and achieving a balshadow add warmth & texture. The carefully chosen, limited palette ance between functionality & aesthetics, conof materials ensures consistency in design, minimises maintenance text, climate, material, cost & time-frame. and encourages sustainability. Regional Runner-up for Commercial Space IIID Anchor Awards -Thane, 16 Feb 2013
SUSTAINABILITY: Spaces created harmonise with their surroundings and encourage sustainability by using “green” materials that accentuate warmth & transparency, whilst ageing beautifully: natural sandstone & engineered wooden flooring, large sliding and openable double–glazed Abraham John & Alan Abraham are the Joint windows, which cut down on solar radiation and air conditioning load, allowing for uninterrupted views and access to landscaped ar- Principal Architects of Abraham John Architects eas; automation & LED lights reduce electrical consumption. Cross The firm works at multiple scales and with various orventilation ensures minimum use of the AC. ganizations right from private clients to corporates & Landscape and lighting design play an essential role in the project: NGOs. This allows us to experiment and diversify our outdoor areas and even indoor courtyards, namely the staircase and work: architectural & interior projects such as luxury www.frontale-india.com
National Runner-up for Residential Space IIID Anchor Awards - Pune, 23rd March 2013 Winner of International Urban Planning & Design Competition Velo-city 2013, Austria, 15 April 2013 Alan Abraham was felicitated as one of Architect & Interiors India’s iGEN 50 - The New generation of Innovators in Architecture.
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“We love the light and its everywhere”
NIRVANA STUDIO, BANGALORE - SKJ Architects
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irvana is an office space for an ad film production company that thinks out of the box. Their films are a surprise – an unexplored humane perspective on a product. Their workspace is based on the thought that the connection of synapses creates ideas – not privacy or isolation. The “box” for Nirvana emerged, as with all urban buildings, out of a small corner plot in the heart of the busy neighbourhood of Indiranagar in Bangalore. Optimizing space, site setbacks, allowable FSI for a commercial project, are given, in gaining 8000 sq.ft of built up area on a site of 3000 sq.ft. The building was built within a budget of 2.25 Crores (inclusive of all services & interiors). However, this project explores the possibilities inherent in a commercial building despite the constraints of real estate. The resulting urban typology overturns all norms – using almost NO electricity – for light or ventilation. Shimul Javeri Kadri, the principal architect studied architecture in Mumbai at the Academy of Architecture, and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Shimul believes in aesthetics as a reflection of how one views the world.
The Core of this box is the N-S connector staircase that slices through the building with a huge skylight above, suffusing it with sunlight and natural ventilation much like a courtyard would in another typology. The divisions of work and non work, outside and inside are obliterated by the presence of the staircase core. The façade further facilitates the connections to the outside with the solid glass and open-able acrylic louvers.
Egalitarian democratic societies, a deep respect for nature and living with it, and a fundamental belief in people and their connectedness drives her world view. This translates, to buildings that sit comfortably and naturally in their environments – shorn of a certain egotistic individualistic character, - buildings that embrace natural materials, the sun and the wind, as opposed to mechanized boxes that alienate people and nature.
Thus the louvers, opaque and solid, open in unison to allow the breeze in, modulating light, wind and rain. The notion of wall and window is interchanged, leading to a dynamic façade. The window is solid, the wall transparent and open. These louvers, built of 100% Acrylic solid surface sheets, were customized, and used as an exterior element for the first time in India. The staircase core needed a permeable flexible device, to allow light & ventilation, and yet block out rain and peering neighbors. This 18’ high wood & clear acrylic “jali” is actually a set of 6” wide louvers interlocked into each other, capable of moving in unison, again, and opening to ventilate the stairwell. The solid black bathrooms, the only space that demands privacy, were created to contrast completely with the suffused light quality of the rest of the building. The studied lightness of structure and material – no beams, and three materials – wood, concrete and glass produces a building where light and shadow, thought and interaction become the protagonists. A contemporary building that ignores any “isms” and stands for innovation, sustainability and pluralism (all stylistic features co-exist – classical chairs, kitschy graphics, old world windows). The project’s success is revealed with the production team’s comments “We work longer hours & look forward to coming to work. We love the light and its everywhere”.
Her interest in an architecture that is meaningful for the India of today, drawing from historical wisdom, but relevant and exciting for the vibrant Indian market, has led to a practice that has commissions as varied as hotels for religious tourism, to a museum for Jainism, to an automobile design studio for Mahindra’s. Shimul is invited as a Speaker to numerous architectural institutions. She serves as a Trustee for Akshara, a Women’s resource Centre as well as for Save the Children India where she has been actively steering education and women’s projects. Associate Architects, Sarika Shetty and Vaishali Shankar combine their immense technological capabilities and their abilities to integrate disciplines, budgets and details with their ideological beliefs. The firm and its work has been written about in various architectural publications in India and abroad, and felicitated widely for their work.
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Issue V | August 2014 | Page 7
WINDOWS & FACADES ....Continued from last edition
2030 PLUS
Demographic development and Universal Design The low birth rates and the continuous rise in life expectancy lead to an increasing proportion of older human beings. As a result of this demographic change, human beings aged 55+ with considerable purchasing power (Silver Agers), increasingly influence the social values as well as products and services. This target group attributes great importance to its own real estate property and comfort, security and freedom from barriers have the highest priority for construction – all of these being requirements that can be described and designed well with the design principles of Universal Design (UD). Today, UD is already being applied frequently for items of day-to-day need, mobile telephones, motor vehicles, health, transport as well as simple operation and control of electronic devices. In the living segment, kitchen and bathroom areas are being designed according to the criteria of UD. Soon, other segments of the construction industry will be covered by this trend – in particular, even the manufacturers of doors, gates, windows and construction fittings, since their products are essentially functional construction elements.
This is why UD will need to be taken into consideration to a much larger extent in future for design and product development. In future, the demand will be for products that combine design with suitable functionality. A core issue in the process will be freedom from barriers. According to the study “Housing for the Elderly”, there is a short-term need for additional 2.5 million homes suitable for senior citizens, which will rise to three million until 2020. There are doorsteps in 50 % of all residential units, and these are perceived as barriers, particularly at the entry to the balcony or the terrace.
This is why with the design features of Universal Design (UD), the simple and safe use of windows, doors and gates are coming increasingly into focus apart from the popular performance characteristics such as thermal insulation, sound insulation and fire safety or deformation stability. Buildings and building elements must be flexible and easy to change so that the building and living space continue to work even with changes in the user groups and the user behavioural patterns. Figure 11: The concept of universal design is presently This is the case, for example, if the occupants of a buildchanging the kitchen area and will affect the entire living ing become older, or other requirements come up with space starting from there. sickness or accident, if grandparents move in or small (Picture: Küchen-Quelle GmbH) children get added to the family. This is why the flexible use of buildings and building elements is becoming inThe design features of the universal design can be well creasingly more important and more accurate analysis described with the help of 7 principles: of the user needs and product characteristics from the perspective of different users are necessary. Here, too, 1. Wide usability: the holistic concept of the UD provides advantages with The design can be used and marketed for human beings the solution of these tasks in the future. with different levels of capabilities and skills.
- ift Rosenheim
are already available in the market at present (interior doors and door handles), in which silver or copper ions are incorporated in the surface texture using innovative coating methods and these have an antibacterial effect. In future, functional surfaces shall be developed that can be designed depending on the purpose of use. In the case of windows and facades this will simplify the work of maintenance and cleaning which means that cleaning windows and applying oil to fittings will become a thing of the past. However, even surfaces for improving the properties of physical buildings shall become possible, for example, the absorption of moisture in the air or the integration of harmful substances.
Figure 14: Copper ions incorporated in the surface (nano surface) have an antibacterial effect (Picture: © Jezper, Fotolia) The development of new materials made of metal and plastics as well as composite constructions facilitates the production of filigree window and facade profiles of high strength with excellent thermal insulation properties that permit even more sunlight into the house. Different approaches have been followed in research projects of the research initiative “Zukunft Bau” (Construction for the Future). In the project “Development of light-weight profiles and building components made of fibre-reinforced plastics for applications in the textile building shell and window equipment”, construction guidelines for dimensioning as well as suitable and cost-effective manufacturing methods (pultrusion processes) have been worked out for FRP (Fibre-Reinforced Plastics) profiles.
2. Flexibility in use: The design supports a wide range of customised preferences and options. 3. Easy and intuitive use: The use of the design is easy to understand, independent of experience, knowledge, linguistic capabilities or instantaneous concentration of the user. 4. Information that can be processed with sensory perception: The use of the design is easy to understand, independent of experience, knowledge, linguistic capabilities or instantaneous concentration of the user. 5. Fault tolerance: The design minimises risks and the negative consequences of coincidental or inadvertent actions. 6. Low level of physical effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably with minimum fatigue.
Figure 13: Important criteria for the universal design of windows and exterior doors (Picture: ift Rosenheim)
Material sciences and nanotechnology 7. Size and space for entry and use: Provide reasonable size and space for entry, reach, The material sciences are experiencing a phase of revivmanipulation and use regardless of the size of the user, al as a result of new manufacturing, production and anhis/her posture or mobility. alysing methods, nanotechnology as well as the specific impact of surface properties. This is applicable to a large Figure 12: Ift Compass: Universal Design facilitates extent particularly in the development of new composobjective evaluation of construction elements based on ite materials, metallic alloys, fibre-reinforced polymers an ift certification program (Picture: ift Rosenheim) and thermoplastic elastomers. The first lot of products www.frontale-india.com
Figure 15: Innovative window profiles based on FRP profiles (Picture: FH Dortmund) The basics for using thermal methods to improve the wood-related properties as well as constructional basics for composite constructions were established for wooden windows in the project “Sustainable optimisation of wooden window profiles”. This makes it possible to improve the properties of wooden window profiles with re-
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spect to the strength, thermal insulation and resistance to weathering. Thus, Uf values of 0.6 W/(m² K) can be achieved for the frame, which then form the basis for windows having high levels of thermal insulation with UW values less than 0.4 W/(m² K). Even the use of decorative types of wood such as that of the cherry tree, mahogany or other precious timber is facilitated – this supports the trend towards unique designer windows made Figure 18: Schematic diagram for preparing an EPD and of wood. a cover sheet of ift EPD (Picture: ift Rosenheim)
them, and more than these, companies that offer such technologies. As a research, inspection and testing, and certification body, ift Rosenheim has been supporting the construction industry worldwide for over 45 years with the development and introduction of new technologies and products as well as guidelines and directives in order to be able to evaluate and ensure the suitability of use and the products. In this way, ift Rosenheim would like to accelerate this technical development and make the world a healthier, more sustainable and safThe declaration of construction products by an EPD er place to live in. ift Rosenheim is working jointly with (Environmental Product Declaration) plays an import- companies, architects and building owners for impleant role in the overall evaluation process. The informa- menting the windows 2030 scenario. tion in the EPD will serve as verification in the future and will be marked just as other characteristic values are already being specified at present in the performance declaration in accordance with the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). Moreover, an EPD also furnishes the data necessary for the building certification. An EPD contains information on the impact on the ozone Figure 16: Wooden windows, too, change and become layer, the climate (greenhouse effect) or the acidificamore high-performing (Picture: ift Rosenheim) tion of soil, water and air. This information forms the basis for various evaluation systems, for example, LEED, In the metal segment, new metal alloys and surface BREEAM as well as the BNB and DGNB systems, and coatings with high strength, better resistance against soon, it will also be called for by the mandatory verifienvironmental influences as well as lower thermal con- cations. ductivity are being developed. In this manner, more filFigure 21 ift Rosenheim is also developing test procedures igree window and façade profiles shall become possible, and instruments for innovative products (here, for examwith which the solar energy can be utilised more effiple, calorimetric measurement for modern solar shading ciently, thermal bridges can be decreased and the costs systems) (Picture: ift Rosenheim) and effort for maintenance and cleaning can be reduced. The second development stimulus can be considered to be composite constructions using the frame materials Author information wood and plastic. What is also of interest here is also the combination with composite fibre materials in which Ulrich Sieberath is the director of ift it depends on proper material-based composition and Rosenheim and engaged in the winload transfer of composite fibre material profiles to medow, facade and glass industry for Figure 19: Icon of CO2 footprint tallic parts. 30 years. He provides his compre(Picture: ift Rosenheim) hensive experience and professional In conjunction with innovative bonding techniques, knowledge to a large number of techfiligree window and facade constructions having high In the course of climate change, even the CO2 footnical panels and expert committees load-bearing capacity and long service life can be made print is gaining in significance, with this describing the as well as in his capacity as an assessor, expert lecturusing modular construction. Even in the fittings sector, CO2 consumption for products or services over a cerer, author and faculty member both nationally and inthe bonding technique will get established and the fit- tain life cycle and will establish itself as a new unit for ternationally tings shall be joined with the profiles using bonding. climate-friendly products. The concept of the ecologiThis yields better load introduction and distribution, cal footprint assumes that we have only one planet with Juergen Benitz-Widenburg is the which means that the constructions will have increased limited raw materials. The consumption of resources Head of PR & Communication at service life and will be capable of withstanding great- and energy is taken into consideration in the process ift Rosenheim. He has been active that takes place in the course of manufacturing, using er stress. in various capacities as a carpenter, and disposing of a product or service. The unit is the timber construction engineer and so-called “Global Hectare” (gha). One advantage of the marketing expert in the wood and footprint is that it combines the global with the local. windows industry since 30 years. The footprint can be calculated both for the whole Earth He shares his experience with others and for regions or products. At present, the CO2 footas a lecturer, speaker and author. print of the human race exceeds the overall biological capacity of the Earth by about 20 per cent. Many peo- Literature and Sources: ple are already basing their purchase decisions on the (1) Somfy Info Brochure io-home control and TaHoma (www.somfy.com) (2) R & D project CO2 footprint, and in 2030 this would be a popular pa- of the research initiative Zukunft Bau “Tests for the practicability of pressure equalised multilayer insulating glass units”, ift Rosenheim (completion 1/2015) (www.ift-rosenheim.de/en/ rameter. forschung) (3) Chemical and adsorptive methods for storing heat energy, Fraunhofer Institute Figure 17: Modular construction principles and window constructions (Picture: ift Rosenheim) Sustainability As a result of further scarcity and rise in prices of raw materials, sustainable production and use of products are becoming a necessity and the guidelines for successful economies and companies. The construction and real estate industry has a significant impact on the conservation of energy and resources, and hence, on the environment, since large amounts of energy and raw materials are consumed here. This is why you need to reckon with the situation that statutory requirements shall soon become more stringent. Moreover, the consumption of resources needs to be minimised across all phases of use, that is, for manufacturing the construction products, the construction phase and use until the dismantling. The building shell has a great impact, since for windows, facades and glazing units the consumption of resources during the 30 to 50 year period of use is considerably greater than that during the manufacturing process – completely in contrast to short-lived construction products such as carpet floorings or the interiors. This will drive the development of sustainable products.
Figure 20: CO2 footprint computer for calculating the personal CO2 consumption and table with values from everyday life. (Picture: ift expert information. FI-NA02 “Sustainable building” available in German and English) (Picture: ift Rosenheim) Conclusion The technologies for windows and facades in the future are already available today in principle. New materials and the integration of electromechanical building components will provide a great boost to development. However, these can get established only if the interfaces between the mechanical and electronic components can be designed easily and cost-effectively. At present, there is still a dearth of building owners who would like to build such houses and architects who would design www.frontale-india.com
for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB (www.igb.fraunhofer.de/en/competences/ physical-process-technology) (4) “Pictures of the Future”, magazine for research and innovation, Special Edition “Green Cities”, Siemens AG, 2011 (www.siemens.com/innovation/ en/publications) (5) R & D procect of research initiative Zukunft Bau “Photobioreactor” (www.baufachinformation.de/forschungsbericht/Hinterlüftete-Fassadenkonstruktionaus-Photobioreaktoren/240498) (6) Aerogel, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Material Physics in Space (7) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL, www. nrel.gov/ncpv/), image: “Best Research-Cell Efficiencies” (www.nrel.gov/ncpv/images/ efficiency_chart.jpg) (8) Brain-Computer-Interfaces, (BCI), O’Doherty, J.E. et al: Nature 479, pp. 228 – 231, 10 November 2011 and Berlin-Brain-Computer-Interface (http://www. bbci.de/index?language=en/) (9) Technical information UM-02engl/1 Universal Design (10) Glass Innovations, Corning Incorporated, “A Day Made of Glass” (www.corning.com/ adaymadeofglass/index.aspx) (11) R & D project, funding initiative, “OLED Lighting – SoLight”, BMBF, Dresden 31 December 2012 (12) Printing process for organic light-emitting diodes, Fraunhofer magazine, (www.fraunhofer.de/en/publications/fraunhofer-magazine/ archive) (13) Mercedes-Benz “Intelligent Drive” (http://techcenter.mercedes-benz.com/en (14) Brose -Technik für Automobile, “Spindle drives for lift gates” (http://www.brose.de/ww/ en/pub/products/vehicle_doors_and_liftgates/systems_for_liftgates.htm) (15) ift Guideline EL-01engl/1 “Electronic systems in windows, doors and facades”; publisher: ift Rosenheim (www.ift-rosenheim.de/web/portal/literaturshop) (16) Research Center “Berlin Big Data Center (BBDC)” (www.bmbf.de/press/3580.php) (17) NestLab (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Nest_Labs) (18) see position 8 (19) 12. Germany’s Population by 2060; Results of the 12th coordinated population projection (https://www.destatis.de/EN/Publications/Specialized/ Population/GermanyPopulation2060.pdf?__blob=publicationFile) (20) Wohnen im Alter, (Housing for the Elderly), Study Forschungsheft (research journal) 147, Federal Institute for Building, Urban and Space Research, 2011 (21) Door knobs and interior doors with antiseptic coating (Häfele, online product catalogue, www.haefele.de), (Jeldwen brochure “Aseptic Door”) (22) R & D project of the research initiative Zukunft Bau “Development of lightweight profiles and building components made of fibre-reinforced plastics for applications in the textile building shell and window equipment (PROFAKU)“, Fraunhofer IRB Verlag, 2010, 139 pages., ISBN: 978-3-8167-8719-8 (23) R & D project of the research initiative Zukunft Bau “Sustainable optimisation of wooden window profiles to achieve compliance with the requirements of EnEV 2012”, ift Rosenheim, ISBN: 8-3-86791-284-6 (24) R & D project of the research initiative Zukunft Bau “Entwicklung von materialgerechten Fügetechnologien für Faserverbundwerkstoffprofile durch Realisierung eines Übergangs des Matrixwerkstoffs von Polymerharzen zu Metallen im Knotenpunkt der Lasteinleitung“ (Development of joining technologies with appropriate materials for composite fibre material profiles through the realisation of a transition of the matrix material of polymer resin to metalls in a node of load introduction), University of Stuttgart, Institute of Lightweight Structure and Conceptual Design– ILEK (25) Guideline “CO2 Footprint” of the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) and the Federation of German Industries (Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V., BDI) (26) Global Footprint Network (www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/gfn/ page/glossary/#globalhectare) (27) (see position 15)
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Issue V | August 2014 | Page 9
VIKRAM HOSPITAL, BANGALORE - ZZ Architects
V
ikram Hospital, located in Bengaluru, India, is designed to be among the few paperless hospitals in India. This 285 bed hospital is spread over 8 floors and an area of 1,50,000 sq. ft. In the clutter of high rise buildings of Bengaluru city, the façade was designed to catch ones attention even from a distance. The hospital is designed with the theme, which is inspired by the ECG HEARTLINE GRAPH and so called “HEART BEATS THAT CONNECT”. The concept of the signage was to merge it with the building elevations. Hence a visually strong graphic of heart beat pattern, which symbolizes life, is printed on glass, demarcating the building as a medical facility. This striking signage catches one’s attention even in the flow of traffic in the entire area of the hospital. Special glass having less solar heat gain along with special terracotta tiles have been used for design of the façade. This enhances the overall energy performance and interior function of the building. The entire aesthetic setup of the façade aims to communicate the building’s inner activities and efficiency. Ar. Zubin Zainuddin Principal Architect & Partner, ZZ Architects With the emphasis on Attention to Detail and its innovative designs with global appeal, ZZ Architects has established itself as one of the leading contemporary Indian Architectural and Interior Design firm. Led by Principal Architects Zubin Zainuddin and Krupa Zubin, ZZ Architects as a consultancy specializes in Architectural Design, Interior Design, Landscape Design and General Project Management of its Interior Design projects. The firm is a configuration of a highly passionate group of Architects, Interior Designers and like-minded professionals who strive constantly to innovate and create. In the span of little more than a decade, ZZ Architects has completed over 500 projects across diverse categories which include Master Planning, Hospitality, High-End Residential Interiors, Corporate Environments, Hospitals, Educational Institutions, Spas, Health Clubs and Sports Facilities, Retail Spaces and many more. It has received various awards from many prestigious bodies in India. Leading Indian and International publications have extensively covered the creative works of ZZ Architects. www.frontale-india.com
VEKA to open Showroom in MUMBAI
VEKA India is the wholly owned subsidiary of the worldwide VEKA AG, Germany, and the world’s largest privately owned uPVC window profile systems company with manufacturing plants in 17 countries. VEKA provides fenestration solutions for commercial, residential and consumers worldwide. VEKA India is proud to announce the opening of their biggest exclusive window & door showroom in August 2014 at Mahape, Navi Mumbai. The display area is more than 3000 Sq. ft. wherein they will showcase their new Premium system AD70 along with many other premium windows & door systems. In addition to the showroom, VEKA India now has a new state of the art Window Testing facility from ift Rosenheim , Germany which is a world renowned Testing institute in Europe. This testing facility is capable of testing the windows, doors & facades for Air Permeability, Water tightness & Wind load. VEKA India’s aim is to promote Quality Products to good, prestigious upcoming projects in India. The objective is to provide “Customized Solutions” and not just windows & doors. With their very own state of the art, “Fabrication & Warehousing Facility” in Navi Mumbai , they can cater to your every need with focus on very high quality & professional service. All the Profiles & other accessories viz. Hardware, EPDM Gaskets etc are imported & are readily available in stocks. All the material of Profile Systems is either procured from the said local Warehouse facility or directly imported from our overseas extrusion facility. For further information, please contact : mlondhe@veka.com
Windows and Doors - Always the Best Solution
German Windows & Doors Technology by VEKA
VEKA India Pvt. Ltd. A-324, TTC Industrial Area, Mahape MIDC, Mahape, Navi Mumbai - 400701 P: +91 - 22 - 2778 7400 F : +91 - 22 - 2778 2260 E :vekaindia@veka.com W: www.veka.in / www.veka.com
Page 10 | August 2014 | Issue V
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aluplast : out to create a buzz Over the course of recent months, aluplast, the Germany-based provider of uPVC window and door systems has been strongly advancing the cause of energy efficient fenestration choices in India. Managing Director Mr. Arun Sharma explains: “The number of uPVC windows being installed in India has grown exponentially in the last 10 years. One reason for this is that they can significantly reduce energy consumption. Considering the shortages that our country is facing these days, we feel it is about time somebody made a strong case for uPVC as a material that high quality energy efficient windows are made of.“ To do so, aluplast is part of a project initiated by IFF - International Fenestration Forum along with several other European window component suppliers. Discussions with schools and other public entities are ongoing in order to install windows and doors with enhanced Thermal as well as Noise insulation properties. Another measure taken is the publication of a dedicated uPVC magazine by the name of Professional Window. The biannual journal will however not only cover matters associated with energy efficient uPVC windows but also useful and interesting write-ups about topics related to intelligent fenestration choices.
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In order to spread the word even further, aluplast has joined forces with several other European window component providers to provide energy efficient fenestration systems to Noida-based builder Ajnara’s recent Grand Ajnara Heritage project. The aim of the joint initiative is to spread awareness that it takes more than a modular kitchen and a flat screen TV to make a nice home, such as energy saving, noise, dust and pollution insulating windows that also look sophisticated and are of high quality. How effectively aluplast’s window systems help with saving electricity can be seen from an interview available on the aluplast website/ facebook profile with the Head of Administration and Finance of the German House, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. To quote from the interview: “Also our (electricity) bills have dropped drastically. Earlier we were paying 2.3-2.5 Lakhs per month. Now, even though over time of course the cost per unit has increased, our bills are just around 2 Lakhs per months, in summer that is. Of the amount saved about 50% is to be attributed towards the aluplast windows.” In light of this and other such success stories, aluplast remains strongly committed to increasing awareness of sophisticated, environmentally conscious fenestration choices in India. More information on the mentioned projects, the interview etc. can be found on www.aluplastindia.com or on facebook under aluplast India.
Geeta Aluminium Inaugurates New Showroom In South Mumbai Targeted at building professionals, interior designers, architects, fabricators and home owners, the company’s new windows are precision-engineered to counter wind loads up to 1.6 kPa, a common problem faced in high-rise buildings during extreme weather conditions. They can also withstand the brunt of heavy monsoon showers and provides complete sealing to ensure a noise & dust free home. Priced in the range of Rs 350 to Rs 1500 a sq ft, Geeta Aluminum provides solutions at competitive prices for the fenestration industry and provides customers the best in-class Indian designs which are at par with international standards.
use with a number of new business enquiries. The opening of this new showroom will serve as a one point contact for our fabricators, vendors to book and place orders. Such a showroom opening will enable people to come and understand the benefits using a good aluminium system window specially having them installed before the monsoons kick in.”
He further added, “Considering the total market for aluminium doors and windows stands at 12,000 crores, system windows and doors market can be valued roughly at 6000 crores. Owing to the exponential growth in the aluminium segment, we have decided to expand our The showroom was inaugurated by five of the fabricators retail presence with the launch of this new showroom at who have been loyal customers of Geeta ever since 1964. Charni Road (with 3 others launched earlier in the year) and further plan to capture the Indian market with the On this occasion, Kushal Bajaj- Executive Director, Geeta launch of at least 20 showrooms across 8 -10 states in the Group, said, “We have launched a new showroom that next three years. shows our latest products and it’s already been put to good
www.frontale-india.com
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Issue V | August 2014 | Page 11
Deceuninck – Towards Sustainable Growth Deceuninck, one of the world’s leading uPVC system companies recently organized a Dealer meet in Chennai. The day started with 40 odd customers coming from across the country to their new warehouse The state of the art warehouse is 40,000 sqft and currently stocks 450 tonnes of white profile and 100 tonnes of coloured-laminated profile, which would be further boosted to 550 tonnes with steel stillages by the end of this year. In line with Deceuninck’s belief of sustainable growth, partnership and respect for local tradition and culture, every customer was invited to plant a sapling in the warehouse compound. The congregation then moved to Hotel Sheraton Towers for lunch and deliberation.
ADIR C - the multifunction CNC machining centre with 3 interpolated axes from FOM FOM INDIA once again brings another high-prolific CNC machining centre - ADIR C . The machining centre is designed for those looking at reduced investment but high performance processing. Best suited for mass manufacturing of windows frames , FOM , recommends integration of Double mitre saw Model Blitz Alva through software to handle any mass manufacturing challenges.
The meeting was very successful and Deceuninck`s sustainable growth plan was accepted by all partners and associates. Emphasis on quality, training and timely supply/execution was set as the target over quantity and numbers. The Team went on to unwind in the evening over dinner and some of the courageous took to the dance floor.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Bora Atessacan, Export Sales Development Manager – Deceuninck Turkey, said “Deceuninck believes in a sustainable strategy for India. Right product at the right price with better supply conditions is the key to work in a varied market like India. We have a bouquet of systems - the 70mm Zendow and Normal Sliding series for hotels, hospitals and premium projects, 60mm Everest Max and Bella series for residential projects, 70mm Zendow and Normal Sliding in coloured and laminated for Premium/ signature residences, Special Lift and Slide & Tilt and Slide Systems for high end projects. This positions us in all the segments and gives our customers the advantage of operating in any or all the segments”. Mr. Satish Kumar , Country Head, Deceunick further added “Very soon a string of Deceuninck Windows showrooms will spring up across the country to give our customers additional support in getting direct customer orders. We supply our own brand – DECEUNINCK hardware which also adds value to our brand and helps end customers recognise/differentiate us from the herd of PVC profiles”.
FOM INDUSTRIE, Italy, has been well known for more than four decades for quality systems for cutting and machining aluminium and uPVC profiles. Its products’ high technology content and proven reliability has been the keystone of its success. Since 1972, the year of its foundation, FOM has set itself the ambitious target of combining reliability, efficiency and technological innovation. Their commitment to manufacturing excellence takes several forms. One is the continuous implementation of advanced technologies throughout their product offering, which delivers significant cost benefits to their customers, proving that competitive manufacturing is possible anywhere around the globe. FOM INDIA , with its headquarters in Bangalore has an infrastructure to support customers’ manufacturing challenges and to cooperatively seek solutions. The Technology Centre Network has its Headquarters Campus in Bangalore, and plans are in place to build new centres in Northern and western region. The Technology centre facilities are equipped with the most advanced machine tools and staffed with process application engineers, a state-of-the-art training-centre, spare parts and an area dedicated to service and support. It also encompasses a warehouse of assorted machines ready for prompt delivery and a front office perfectly integrated with the parent company and the world of FOM. FOM INDUSTRIE is associated with world’s leading aluminium profile manufacturing companies like Hydro Building Systems and Schueco to name a few. Very recently they have installed , their full line of machines in SAPA Building system Training centre Bangalore.
Feb 26th - 28th, 2015 Bangalore, India
For more information contact the FOM Marketing Service at info@fomindustrie.in or call 09008489134
Bangalore International Exhibition Center www.frontale-india.com
ffi@nm-india.com +91-11-4716-8828
INNOVATIVE BUILDING SYSTEMS
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DESIGNED TO PERFORM ALUMINIUM WINDOW, DOOR AND CURTAIN WALLING SYSTEMS The AluK Group is a global leader in the design and manufacture of a wide range of performance aluminium building systems, combining years of experience in the development of innovative solutions that improve our living and working environments. AluK not only delivers the highest performance products but also the service and project support to facilitate successful specifications and installations. Our aluminium window, door and curtain walling systems have been specified in some of the world’s most prestigious buildings and offer superior performance alongside outstanding design.
www.aluk.in AluK Building Systems Private Limited Regus Millenia, Level 1, Tower B, No. 1 & 2 Murphy Road, Ulsoor, Bangalore - 560008, India T: +91 80 67654210 / 67654222 | F: +91 80 67654033 | email: info@aluk.in