IA&B January 2010 by Indian Architect & Builder Magazine

Focus: Earth Ma tters

VOL 23 (5)

JAN 2010

Rs 100

18 IA&B - JAN 2010

let’s partner

Japanese architect Kengo Kuma has won many prizes both in Japan and abroad. Today, he has some 50 buildings to his credit putting him among the major architects of his generation. His leitmotiv is ‘to erase architecture’ and calls for the virtual disappearance of architecture in its environment, natural and urban alike, thanks to buildings coming across like open structures and changing with external variations, as attested to by the Kitakami Canal Museum (Miyagi, 1996-99). For his so-called ‘weak’ buildings, Kuma uses vernacular materials, earth, wood, bamboo and stone, but conceives of them as innovative constructive assemblies. Whence his use of ‘washi’, Japanese paper, for the Ando Hiroshige Museum (Bato, 1998-2000) and stone for the Stone Museum (Nasu, 1996-2000), whose façade turns into an openwork structure through the linear repetition of thin stone blocks. The One Omotesando building (Tokyo, 2001-03) consists of a series of wooden strips, perpendicular to the façade: with its continuous skin, when seen obliquely, the façade, head on, becomes completely transparent, punctuated by voids and solids. For Kengo Kuma the material is thus always a construction principle, giving rise to the architecture’s aesthetics and symbolism. Sarita Vijayan, Editor & Brand Director, Indian Architect & Builder, in an exclusive interview with the architect who thrives on ‘naturalism’ about his works and inspirations.

let’s partner

SV. What motivated you to become an architect? KK. I lived in an old small house in the suburbs of Tokyo in childhood and often discussed with my father how we could re-work on it. Also, when the Tokyo Olympics was held in 1964, I got a strong impression from the stadium designed by Kenzo Tange and learned the potential of what architects could do. SV. How have you best used traditional materials? KK. In the 90s I was fortunate enough to work with local carpenters of various different provinces in Japan and I learned a lot from them about traditional materials such as wood, stone or earth. Our relationships still go on and whenever I work with natural materials I go back to them for advice. SV. How do you acquaint yourself with a site before considering a design for the building? KK. I make it my golden rule to visit and study the site carefully before working on the project. I walk around the site again and again to get an idea.

render a single material into a series of completely different products and effects. SV. How has your work evolved over the years? KK. I emphasised in the past that the architecture should be erased, or buried in the ground — I avoided ‘massive continuation’ of materials. It has evolved in recent years that the architecture being harmonised with its surroundings, as if they were in a dialogue. SV. Every architect has his own version of today’s ‘ism’. What according to you is the ‘ism’ for the architecture of the present? KK. Naturalism SV. Do you have any personal favorites among your own and from somebody else’s canvas of works? KK. All are my favourites, but working on the Museum of Ando Hiroshige was a great experience. SV. Are there certain materials that inspire you more than others?

SV. Are there certain materials that inspire you more than others? KK. I like wood. KK. Materials themselves are not inherently the source of particular inspiration. Other than at some moments, in specific conditions, where materials are brought to the fore of the decision making process through particular environmental conditions, requirements of difficulties. I am consistently intrigued by the bewildering combination of processes though. The process and application of effort to various materials can

SV. Any creative expression is always open for criticism. How do you handle negative criticism? KK. Not all such criticism is correct, but there are comments inspirational enough for me to make a shift towards a new direction.

LET’S PARTNER Sarita Vijayan, Editor & Brand Director Indian Architect & Builder, in conversation with Japanese Architect, Kengo Kuma.

CURRENT Latest in architecture exhibitions, competition and news

PRODUCTS Innovative products from across the world

CONSTRUCTION BRIEF Featuring four prominent new construction project from across the world

FOCUS: EARTH MATTERS

Terminal 3 at the Indira Gandhi International Airport

Today’s field of architecture has evolved significantly from what it was in the

The busy airport of national capital of India will have world’s second largest

past. The green movement to better appreciate nature and work with it as

terminal.

opposed against it, has given an impetus to sustainable architecture.

Vardhaman Fantasy Park

Featuring few projects that thread the path of eco-friendly design.

Construction of the first ever theme park at Greater Mumbai is in its final stage.

A Recycled Retreat

The Beirut Marina building

Built by architects Jarmund and Vigsnæs AS Architects MNAL, the home of

Lebanon awaits another signature from Steven Holl, called Beirut Marina & Town Quay

two historians is a paradigm of sustainability.

The Second Avenue Subway project

‘Inspiration’-al Architecture

The Second Avenue Subway project is greeted with open arms by long-suffering,

Exploring Jaigopal Rao and Latha Raman Jaigopal’s passion to pursue the

transit-deprived citizens of New York.

seldom explored aspects of architecture environment friendly architecture.

TECHNOLOGY Air Catalyst

Featuring Saurabh Phadke and his non-conventional technological approach

Featuring Anti-Smog, an ecological prototype of auto-sufficient, de-polluting architecture, reactive to its environment developed by French architect Vincent Callebaut.

A Green foundation behind establishing Aman Setu School.

5-star footprint IIT Kanpur has taken the initiative to create Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering incorporating principles of sustainability.

z iegue D o v G u s t a a s G i l a rd i © : e ag & Lu c ve r I m

Chairman: Jasu Shah Printer & Publisher: Maulik Jasubhai Editor & Brand Director: Sarita Vijayan Deputy Editor: Sujatha Mani Assistant Editor: Devyani Purkayastha Senior Writers: Hina Nitesh, Ritu Sharma Writer: Renuka Singh Sr. Visualiser: Abdul Muttalib Visualisers: Mansi Chikani, Prashant Gujar Web Designer: Sandeep Sahoo Editorial & Events Co-ordinator: Abhay Dalvi Subscription Co-ordinators: Sunita Lumba (Delhi), Abhijit Mirashi, Sheetal Kamble Production Team: V Raj Misquitta (Head), Prakash Nerkar, Arun Madye Brand Manager: Sudhanshu Nagar Head Key Accounts: Meha Shrivastava Editorial & Marketing Office: JMPL, 210, Taj Building, 3rd Floor, Dr. D N Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001 Tel : +91-22-4213 6400, Fax : +91-22-4213 6401

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INTERNATIONAL Contemporary Dialectal Meadowview, a country house designed by UK-based Platform 5 Architects, is an interpretation of dialectal in contemporary style.

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CULTURE COUNTS Establishing an Evolution Minakshi Jain talks about the restoration process of Fort of Nagaur and how it became the reason behind the evolution of conservation profession in India.

ERRATUM In the December 2009 issue following stories carried wrong title and credit. Indian Architect & Builder regret the error and any inconvenience caused therein.

CULTURE COUNTS Custodianship of Heritage: Public – Private Initiatives Amita Baig invites conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah to share her projects and the insights they lent into public-private initiatives.

ARCHITECTURE Not Getting ‘Type’ Cast Featuring Serie Architects new project – Tote food and beverage complexes in Mumbai where architects have bend the rules associated with type and typology.

General Manager - Sales: Sandeep Chauhan Mumbai: Sr. Sales Executive: Viresh Pandey Asst. Manager Sales: Manish Naik Sales Executive: Kavita Jharolia Sales & Accounts Co-ordinator: Manoj Gorivale Bangalore: JMPL, Sales Head - South: Christopher Gnanaraj Nanda Gokula, # 96, Osborne Road, Ulsoor, Near Lakeside Hospital, Bangalore 560 042 Tel: 080 2554 6371, Mob: 99647 47819 Chennai: JMPL, Assistant Sales Managers: Senkhadir Balu Saena Circle No 31/6, Ist Floor, Duraiswamy Road,T.Nagar Chennai 600 017 Tel: 044 - 42123936, Fax: 044-42427728, Mob: 98407 05981 Email: senkhadir_balu@jasubhai.com Secunderabad: JMPL, Cabin No. 37, Reliance Business Centre, 303, Swapna Lok Complex, 92 Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad – 500 003 Tel: 040-5522 1050 Delhi: JMPL, Assistant Regional Managers: Rohit Chhajer, Preeti Singh, 803, Chiranjeev Tower, No. 43, Nehru Place, New Delhi 110 019 Tel: 011-2623 5332, Fax: 011-2642 7404 Pune: JMPL, Suite 201, White House, 1482 Sadashiv Peth, Tilak Road, Pune 411 030 Telefax: 020-2448 2059 Ahmedabad: JMPL, 64/A, Phase I, GIDC Industrial Estate, Vatva, Ahmedabad 382 445 Tel: 079 2583 1042 Processed at M.B. Graphics Tel: 91 22 2413 8980 Printed & Published by Maulik Jasubhai on behalf of Jasubhai Media Pvt. Ltd (JMPL), Taj Building, 3rd Floor, 210, Dr. D. N. Road, Mumbai 400 001. Printed by him at M.B.Graphics, B-28 Shri Ram Industrial Estate, ZG.D.Ambekar Marg, Wadala, Mumbai 400031and Published from Mumbai. Editor: Sarita Vijayan

INTERNATIONAL ‘Floats’ FLOAT house by Thom Mayne is the response to develop a highly performative house that is technically innovative in terms of safety factor with respect to precarious ecological conditions – its ability to float.

JMPL, Taj Building, 3rd Floor, 210, Dr. D. N. Road, Mumbai 400 001. Indian Architect & Builder: (ISSN 0971-5509), RNI No 46976/87, is a JMPL monthly publication. Reproduction in any manner, in whole or part, in English or any other language is strictly prohibited. We welcome articles, but do not accept responsibility for contributions lost in the mail.

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current Leading Edge Student Design Competition Category Type Deadline

: : :

International Architecture and Design students/instructors March 26, 2010

The Competition aims at edifying the study of sustainable and energy-efficient building practices in architectural education. The students and instructors are instructed to use the competition as a framework to explore the use of new materials, building strategies and the integration of aesthetics and technology. The objectives are to encourage and reward excellence in architectural planning and design that integrates environmentally responsive design strategies. For further information, contact: Web: www.leadingedgecompetition.org/

Schindler Award 2010 Category Type Deadline

: : :

International Students of architecture April 30, 2010

The Schindler Award, one of Europe’s leading architectural competitions is accepting applications for its 2010 edition. Students of architecture are invited to put forward visionary design ideas for developing an area of the grounds that were used for Berlin’s 1936 Olympic Games. The central theme of the competition is ‘Access for All’, a design philosophy characterised by inclusiveness and barrier-free mobility for people of all ages and capabilities. The Schindler Award is an excellent opportunity for graduating architects to have their designs judged by a professional jury. For further information, contact: Web: www.makebethnalgreen.com/

Northern Design Competition

COMPETITION

Category Type Deadline

: : :

International Students of creative arts April 23, 2010

The Northern Design Competition is a competition that rewards talented students across the north of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for their work in the creative arts. It plays an important role in creating and sustaining links between education and commerce in the creative sector. It provides entrants with a real opportunity to showcase their work in a competitive environment where it will be judged by professionals and exhibited to future employers. The competition is at the heart of a new network in the North. It provides greater access to communication between the existing and future leaders of creative arts outside of London and opens up new and vital collaborative opportunities between business, education and the wider community. The Northern Design Competition is inspired by the vision of Leeds Met Governor, Maurice Miller. There are five short-listed finalists in each category who will be invited to attend a special awards dinner to receive their prize. For further information, contact: Web: www.northerndesigncompetition.co.uk.

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Exterior Lighting Grant; Street Furniture Light Category Type Deadline

: : :

International Lighting designers April 30, 2010

The Lumec “Foundation Concept Lumière Urbaine” (CLU) aims to encourage emerging designers to develop innovative lighting concepts within the context of an exterior public space. The CLU foundation focuses on excellence by encouraging conscious integration of the plastic quality of the products, technical advancements in exterior lighting and environmental aspect. The grants will be awarded based on merit by the Lumec CLU committee. This committee is composed of engaged professionals within the Quebec community of creators and designers and accentuates social harmony by the quality of the built environment. Laureates will be selected from all received applications. For further information, contact: Web: www.lumec.com/company/fondation_clu.html

One Prize - International Design Competition Category : Type : Deadline :

International Designers, architects, engineers, planners, artists, scientists and students Now to April 30, 2010

The ONE Prize award is open to a wide range of people so that creating green space gets bigger and better. The proposals can be for a real or speculative project, for one or more sites, located either in the U.S. or applicable to U.S. sites. Further, the proposals need not be generated exclusively for this competition, provided that they address the intent of the competition. The best proposal will be awarded a cash prize of $10,000. For further information, contact: Web: www.oneprize.org/press_release.html

Tiananmen Square Landscape Architecture Competition 2010 Category Type Deadline

: : :

International Amateurs, students and professionals June 01, 2010

This is the first of several competitions run to identify a range of possible design solutions, against a broad conceptual brief, with no commitment to build. They will be for significant design sites across the world. The aim of the Tiananmen Square Landscape Competition is to generate debate and ideas for re-designing part of the most important urban space in the history of Chinese civilisation. This event will also set a new course for eastern landscape architecture, helping the development of an ecologically and culturally distinctive design tradition. This is a Web 2.0 landscape design competition running from March 2009 to June 2010. For further information, contact: Web: www.acbhm.org/index.html

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current THE AGIP GAS STATION — Symbol of Postwar Mobility Date : Venue :

January 16 to March 14, 2010 Deutsches Architekturmuseum Frankfurt, Germany

The standard 1950s Agip Gas Station is not only a prime example of a type of industrial architecture hitherto neglected in research; it is also equipped with bar and tabacchi — a symbol of the Italian economic boom and an expression of the increasing mobility and modernisation of an entire nation. The exhibition displays for the most part, previously unpublished photographic material that revives the spirit of a new beginning and the optimism of a whole decade. For further information, contact: Web: http://www.frankfurt-rhein-main.de/cms/tourismussuite/en/veranstaltungen/ details.html?eventid=109387

Ahmet Ogut / MATRIX 231 Date : Venue :

January 24 to April 25, 2010 Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive Berkeley, USA

The event will showcase an imaginary metropolis constructed from models of buildings and vehicles that have figured in acts of violence and terrorism worldwide. Ahmet Öğüt’s ‘Exploded City’ engages the poetics and politics of space, architecture and international relations. With ‘Exploded City’, Ahmet Ogut envisions an imaginary city comprising the buildings, monuments and vehicles that have figured in acts of violence and terrorism over the past two decades. The installation was originally commissioned for the Turkish Pavilion at the 2009 Venice Biennale. For further information, contact: Web: http://ahmetogut.blogspot.com/

+91 Residences by INCITE

EVENTS

Date : Venue :

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Feb 19 to Mar 6, 2010-01-18 Goethe Institue, Max Mueller Bhavan, Bangalore, India

+91 Residences is organised by INCITE featuring 91 independent dwelling across India in the last decade and 19 work-in-progress projects. The objective is to provide a tenacious insight into residential architecture in India. Supported by Wienerberger and Rehau, the event will also have a presentation and workshop conducted by a German architect. The 110 projects and a model display of houses designed by architects depict an individuality that can be compared with the approach of the architect or the essence of the project. The quality and technique adopted by various contributing architects can offer varied planes for discussion and deliberation. For further information, contact: Web: https://download.yousendit.com/TzY0Y05vYXlHa04zZUE9PQ

ALUMINUM INDIA 2010: International Trade Show & Conference Date : Venue :

February 25 to 27, 2010 Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, India

Reed Exhibitions, the global leader in organising B2B trade shows, brings ALUMINIUM INDIA 2010, India’s largest professional conference and exhibition on aluminium. Part of world’s no.1 Aluminium series of events, it has a strong international lineage in Aluminium World Trade Fair & Conference, Germany; Aluminium China, Aluminium Brazil and Aluminium Dubai. ALUMINIUM INDIA 2010, now in its 2nd edition offers the aluminium industry an international B2B platform that will showcase and foster the exchange of ideas on the latest technology, products and new business opportunities to a high-powered visitor profile including key decision makers, manufacturers, producers, users, policy makers, government officials, academics and technology developers. ALUMINIUM INDIA 2010 is a step into the dynamic Indian market to discover why the future of aluminium lies nowhere else but in India. For further information, contact: Web: www.aluminium-india.com/

Zak Architech 2010 Date : Venue :

Februar y 26 to 28, 2010 Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai, India

Zak Architech Construction Specialty Expo at Chennai is an international meeting point where companies will present the latest trends in the world of construction, interiors, elaborating technology, innovations, equipment and concepts for the architectural community. Zak Architech Construction Specialty Expo is one of the biggest events of architecture and designing industry. It is an international exhibition on architectural products, technology, systems and services. For fur ther information, contact: Web: www.zakarchitechexpo.com/

Charles Addams’s New York Date : Venue :

March 04 to May 16, 2010 Museum of the City of New York, New York, USA

Charles Addams’s New York is an exhibition of original artworks by the legendary New Yorker cartoonist that capture Addams’s quintessentially idiosyncratic and slyly subversive view of the city, depicting his signature macabre characters, twisted situations and distorted re-imaginings of the cityscape. The works in the exhibition include watercolours, preliminary pencil sketches, completed cartoons and examples of published work from the cover of the New Yorker. For further information, contact: w w w.mcny.org/exhibitions/future/Charles%20Addams%27s%20New%20-York.html

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current Zabeel Park’s centrepiece flouts Dubai’s financial plight Despite Dubai’s current financial crisis, the centrepiece of one of Dubai’s leading projects is forging ahead. New Moon, designed by Varabyeu Partners, is specially designed for an international design competition and will be the centrepiece of Zabeel Park, a new landscape park in the city of Dubai. The crescent-shaped construction, considered a symbol of power and energy in the Orient, aims to accentuate prosperity of the present day United Arab Emirates. Inside, the building provides for five levels with an observatory on every level, to symbolise the five pillars of Islam: faith (Shahadah), prayer (Salat), charity (Zakaat), lent (Sawm) and pilgrimage (Hajj). The design provides space for conferences, a café, a children’s library and a help desk. Decorated with Arab calligraphy, the outward siding of the building is a steel frame with elements of varying transparency. An architectural solution like that makes it possible to regulate the level of illumination and air temperatures at different levels of the New Moon, protecting the interiors from direct sunlight and ensuring free circulation of air flows. These and other means of passive protection recreated inside the building areas with a special micro-climate, reduce the burden on the power supply systems. The building project was designed in full conformity with LEED Green Building Code. Solar batteries and collectors can be installed on the outer casing of the building, to cut energy consumption to an even higher degree.

Pune, all set for a master plan by Zwarts & Jansma Dutch architecture firm Zwarts & Jansma has been commissioned to create a master plan for the new Kharadi neighbourhood on the outskirts of Pune. The plan comprises shops, apartments, offices and leisure facilities for an area covering six hectares. The new neighbourhood will have different segments of plots serving different purposes like one part will have cinemas, shops, clubs and other leisure facilities, adjacent to which would be a business area with offices and shops. The third area would have shops and a small business section situated on one of its banks and the other side will have mostly family homes and an open square with an amphitheatre. The development will be open and peaceful towards the river due to the decreasing density. The area will also have canopies to protect inhabitants from sun and rain. Besides, it would act as a buffer for rain water and will be covered in energy producing photovoltaic cells. Green roofs will also help buffer and filter precipitation. The project is planned for completion in 2015.

NEWS

Egypt’s undeveloped lands to have architectural geniuses Of late, Egypt’s largely undeveloped lands have drawn architects like Zaha Hadid, SOM, Callison and Perkins Eastman to showcase their creativity. The latest big project that has got attention is Wady al Qamar, a 450-room 5-star hotel set for an 80,000 sqm plot in Hurghada, beside the Red Sea. The project is drawn as an extrusion of the land that rises along the lines of an ancient river by architect Amin Hasni for tourism group Arab German for Touristic Development SAE. Currently, the project is under design and is expected to complete in 2011, with an estimated cost of €35 million.

Morocco Mall is ready to be unveiled Morocco Mall is a shell-shaped shopping centre designed like a natural extension of the main waterfront of Casablanca’s promenade. Scheduled for opening in late 2010, the imposing 200,000 sqm mall embraces more than 250 shops and restaurants, including the first Galeriés Lafayette store in Africa, a 1 million litre aquarium and a 400-seat IMAX cinema. Galeriés Lafayette is designed like a gem inside the shopping centre, with skylights all around the store and malls that recreate the exterior environment with plenty of trees, gardens and water. Innovative technologies and a sustainable design strategy have been followed throughout Morocco Mall, which will become the new benchmark for energy efficient buildings in the shopping centre industry. The mall has received the 5* Architecture Award Morocco in the Arabian Commercial Property Awards. As an award winner it strengthens Morocco Mall’s recognition around the world as among the very best shopping centre industry has to offer.

Morphogenesis wins 2009 Green GOOD DESIGN™ Award Morphogenesis has won the 2009 Green GOOD DESIGN™ Award hosted by the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design. The awarded projects are ‘The Apollo Tyres Corporate Office, Gurgaon, Haryana’, India and ‘Ernst and Young Corporate Office, Gurgaon, Haryana, India’. The projects were selected out of entries from over 40 nations. Architecture, design, and planning projects from over 30 nations were awarded with Green GOOD DESIGN™ 2009 representing the world’s most important manufacturers and design firms. The award emphasises the significance of sustainable design and intends to develop a public awareness towards sustainable design for our world environments. Members of the European Center’s International Advisory Committee, worldwide leaders in the design industry served as the jury and selected 105 products, programs, people, government, environmental planning, and architecture as outstanding examples of Green Design. The award emphasizes the importance of sustainable design and intends to develop a public awareness program towards sustainable design for our world environments.

Shelter Ashok — a joint venture between ITDC and Shelter Group A joint venture between India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and Kolkata based Shelter Group is in the offing for setting up a 5 star hotel near the Birati crossing, less than 1 km from the NSCB Airport. Three acres of the required land and finance will be proffered by the Shelter Group. Estimated at a cost Rs 100 crore, the hotel will comprise ground plus four floors with 220 rooms. ITDC will lend the brand name ‘Ashok’ alongwith operational and management expertise to the group. The hotel, Shelter Ashok, will have a swimming pool, a food court and other amenities. The interiors will showcase folk culture of Bengal. Anirbhan Bhaduri is the consultant architect for the project. Work on the project is likely to start in February 2010. The revenue from the hotel will be shared between ITDC and Shelter Group. The project gives another chance of revival in the city to ITDC.

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products TRANSCENDING BOUNDARIES Highly experimental and with a commitment to transcending the boundaries between science, technology, design and architecture, Ross Lovegrove considers himself more ‘evolutionary biologist’ than designer. Born in Cardiff, Wales, from a military family, Lovegrove’s design education began at Manchester Polytechnic where he studied industrial design before going on to complete the Masters of Design program at London’s Royal College of Art. Increasingly merging the boundaries between design and architecture, Lovegrove continues to refine what he terms ‘organic essentialism’. In doing so he brings a highly resolved and experimental quality to his expanding practice. Featuring two of his recent product designs which brings out the convergence between architecture and design. Image: © Ross Lovegrove

Cosmic Leaf The ‘Cosmic Leaf ’ features a light that shines on an organically shaped suspended metal luminaire. ‘Cosmic Leaf ’ is covered in scales to capture light and can be hung from a ceiling-mounted light source or supported on a free-standing base. This is a large series that changes scale very naturally, primarily as a vertical device for capturing light. It appears as a digital leaf from another world, embedded with scales like a reptile or an insect which gather light and shadow on its body to seduce a mate. This dichroic, super complex surface changes dramatically with dichroic colour filters achieving a magical absorption and light emission never really seen before. The larger pieces can be suspended from recesses of ceiling mounted light fittings or simply placed free-standing on the floor. The lamp base acts as a neutral element that does not compete with the leaf itself.

Solar Tree

LIGHTS

‘Solar Tree’ is a solar-powered street lighting system designed by Ross Lovegrove for the Museum for Angewandte Kunst (MAK) in Vienna. The lighting has been engineered by Artemide in collaboration with Sharp Solar. The ‘Solar Tree’ communicates more than light. They promote environmental science and the joy of the new aesthetics made possible by the digital process. The ‘Solar Trees’ bring nature to the grey-ness of urban environments and optimistically lifts our senses through enlightenment or simply just by the celebration of new form in industrial art that compliments the new quest for biological forms in architecture.

Contact: Email: general@rosslovegrove.com

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products Itinerant Home Mary Hale presented her ‘itinerant home’ during the Decours Design Exhibition. The project was a response to the efforts of rebuilding the area after hurricane Katrina ravaged the region four years ago. Itinerant home provides a point of discussion of the different housing possibilities. The installation takes the form of a wearable, inflatable house which shelters multiple wearers working together to navigate through historic neighbourhoods and water bodies of New Orleans. It symbolises and stimulates ways of thinking about architecture of the home and the future of the city. To produce the wearable abode, Hale made digital models and laid out patterns in AutoCAD. The overall ‘super structure’ of the house is made from 1.9 oz breathable rip stop nylon and 9 yards of black 14 mil vinyl for the floor. The fabric of the home will stay inflated as long as there is a constant source of air maintained within the space. Image: © Ernie Buts

Contact: Web: http://itineranthome.wordpress.com/

I N N O VAT I O N

Pop Up The market demands flexible, mobile employees, ready to work at any time and any place. ‘Pop Up’ looks like a perfect working station for them. However, the working station is neither flexible nor solid nor practical. What seemed great and magical at first turns out to be fragile and not functional at all. ‘Pop Up’ is not advertising a new type of office furniture but berating working conditions. The sculpture, entirely made out of cardboard and tape, can be opened and closed like a book. Using the technique of pop ups, a mobile working station consisting of a desk, a chair and a laptop appears and disappears.

Contact: Liddy Scheffknecht & Armin B. Wagner Czerningasse 21/6 1020 Vienna Web: www.arminbwagner.com www.liddyscheffknecht.net

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products Greenspotlight In the Jan van Lieshoutstraat in Eindhoven (NL)— a mainly pedestrian street adjacent to a shopping mall – the architectural firm BYTR suggested that public space be cleared of lampposts and small planters, which were forming obstacles. The design called the Greenspotlight, combines these two elements, greenery and street lighting, into one integrated design. A special green public light where living plants form the shade. At the bottom of the shade, a ring of integrated planters are situated. The lights are hung from cables between the street walls. This low-key intervention raised the quality of the street from a back alley to a shopping street. The project is part of a larger commission called ‘Greenspots Eindhoven’ in which Eindhoven municipal council has asked BYTR to look for opportunities to realise green projects in the city centre.

Contact: BYTR Aleidisstraat 3-b 3021 SB Rotterdam Tel: 010-4777580 Email: mail@bytr.nl

LED Sofas for funky interiors

LIGHTING

The Asami Light Sofa comes from Colico, a company with an important design history, founded in 1920. Indoor version of the sofa has cushions made of rubber and the fabric in five categories. The structure is available in transparent acrylic, damask acrylic, star acrylic, fluo lavanda acrylic and extrawhite acrylic. A led kit of seven fixed colours and twenty one rotating colours with a remote control is available as an option for the illumination of two places with extra costs for sofas with more than two places. The outdoor version has cushions with polystyrene balls and is covered with a drain fabric. The structure is available in transparent acrylic, damask acrylic, star acrylic, fluo lavanda acrylic and extrawhite acrylic. In the dark, the Asami Light Sofa looks like a real treat. Furthermore, the slick design makes them a beautiful asset for the day time as well.

Contact: Colico Design: Via Torino 22 - Varedo (mi) Italy Tel: +39.0362.582094 Email: info@colico.com Web: www.colico.com

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products Quick Home Makeovers Wallpapers can completely change the way a room looks and can even create a different environment. USA Wallpaper brings a large variety of wallpapers, for almost every room in the house, starting from a regular kitchen to a nursery. There are endless possibilities of completely turning a boring design by just using an interesting pattern.

Contact: USA Wallpaper Tel: 877-307-6115 Email: usalynnem@accnorwalk.com Web: www.usawallpaper.com

Bathroom Elegance

INTERIORS

The latest signature creation Gamadecor by Porcelanosa Group delivers us to an eden of elegance and sophistication in our bathroom. The eden cabinet is made of American oak fronts with debossed floral design that transport us to the lost paradise where Adam and Eve lived. The finish is in gold or silver, achieved by applying patinas during the aging process. It is available in two different sizes 95cm and 125cm, both 50cm deep, capable of accommodating three spacious and practical drawers. The furniture is complemented by collection of mirrors of the same series, which are also available in different sizes.

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Contact: Carretera Villarreal Puebla de Arenoso (CV20) km 1.7 P.O Box: 179 12540 Villarreal, Castellon, Spain Tel: (+34)964 50 65 96 Fax: (+34)964 50 65 97 Email: gama-decor@gama-decor.com Web: www.gama-decor.com

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products Ribbon Staircase This beautiful and unique staircase is designed and constructed from 10mm thick sheet metal brought by HSH architects from Czech Republic. Pairs of adjoining steps connected with an oblique external side joist form a bracket anchored in the wall. Each of the brackets is constructed as a rigid frame. The higher steps bear mainly drawing forces, while pressure is transmitted through the lower steps. The concept of a delicate rippling ribbon was chosen in view of the exposed position of the staircase in the main living area of the house.

Contact: HSH Architects Petr Hájek, Tomáš Hradečný and Jan Šépka Czech Republic Web: http://www.hsharchitekti.cz

Bookshelf Staircase

DÈCOR

London-based Levitate Architects came up with this creative solution to book storage problem and created a loft-like bedroom nestled under the roof of the top-floor apartment. This flat in London occupies part of the shared top floor of an existing Victorian mansion block. Levitate extended the flat into the unused loft space above, creating a new bedroom level and increasing the floor area of the flat by approximately one third. The architects created a ‘secret’ staircase, hidden from the main reception room, to access a new loft bedroom lit by roof lights. Limited by space they melded the idea of a staircase with the client’s desire for a library to form a ‘library staircase’ in which English oak stair treads and shelves are both completely lined by up to 2,000 books. With a skylight above lighting the staircase, it becomes the perfect place to stop and browse a tome. The stair structure was designed as an upside down ‘sedan chair’ structure (with Rodrigues Associates, Structural Engineers, London) that carries the whole weight of the stair and books back to the main structural walls of the building. It dangles from the upper floor, thereby avoiding any contradictions with the floors below. Contact: L EV IT AT E Tel: +44 (0)20 78 33 44 55 Fax: +44 (0)20 78 33 45 00 Email: enquires@levitate.uk.com

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IA&B - JAN 2010

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Delhi Airport to have world’s second largest terminal While construction and development is going on at a rapid pace to build Terminal 3, the airport of the national capital of India is gearing up to join the league of the few selected airports in the world that can host commercial operations of the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380. 1

Text: Compiled by Devyani Purkayastha

he state-of-the-art integrated terminal, called T3, of Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is poised to be the world’s second-largest, after Beijing, in terms of size. Once T3 starts operations before the 2010 Commonwealth Games in October, IGIA will become the world’s sixth-largest in terms of capacity. T3 would increase the capacity of IGIA to 60 million passengers annually, from 23 million, after it starts commercial operation in July next year. The airport is expected to increase capacity to 100 million passengers by 2030 depending on traffic growth. The under construction, Terminal 3 is being developed with the A380 in mind. The A380 with its double deck configuration and large passenger loads requires aerobridges serving upper deck to allow fast embarkation or disembarkation of passengers to reduce turnaround times. The terminal, built at a cost of Rs 8,996 crore (Rs 89.96 billion), has four boarding piers with 48 boarding gates and 78 aerobridges, which is the highest for a terminal of its size. Three aerobridges would cater exclusively to Airbus 380 aircraft. T3 also has many firsts to its credit. It would have 89 travelators, eight of which would be inclined - a first-of-its-kind in India. The 118-metre travelator would be the longest in Asia. The terminal would also have 63 elevators and 31 escalators. The airport is being built by Delhi International Airport Ltd., a consortium led by Bangalore-headquartered GMR, comprising Airports Authority of India, Malaysian Airport and Frankfurt Airport. The terminal has an eight-storied main building housing 168 check-in areas and 90 immigration counters. The other floors would have a 60-room hotel, lounge exclusively for industrialists, airline offices, floor for baggage handling and two arrival-departure floors. The airport would also boast an advanced five-level secure in-line baggage handling system with latest security systems.

FACT FILE:

1 & 2. The Terminal 3 under construction. 3. The artist’s impression.

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Construction of new Passenger Integrated Terminal T3, IGI Airport Mott MacDonald (Master Plan), HOK - UK L&T DIAL (Delhi International Airport (P) Limited) New Delhi, India Completion of First Phase by March 2010 Courtesy DIAL

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construction brief

Awaiting the world of fantasy Real Estate player Vardhaman Developers are coming up with an amusement park, Vardhaman Fantasy at Mira-Bhayander Road, near Mumbai. Vardhman Fantasy is the group’s initiative to give India its first theme-amusement park at the most affordable price.

ocated at Mira Road, outskirts of Mumbai, Vardhman Fantasy is scheduled to be launched by March, 2010. Spread over an area of 11 acres, the country’s first theme park will offer its consumers a unique and exhilarating‘edutainment’. The theme park will have seven zones, with each zone having a distinctly themed area, thus creating an authentic international feel and experience. The park is themed on seven zones namely the Texas Cowboy zone, where men dressed in cowboy costumes welcome the visitors, reminiscent of the cowboy era. The Greek-village’s leisure retailing ground has sculptures of Greek goddesses and lush green grass on both sides of the structure. This makes it a pleasant site to stroll around and enjoy the soothing rhythms of the nature. The zone Viva Las Vegas is designed on the lines of Las Vegas to give its visitors a virtual experience of being in the entertainment capital of the world. This zone includes different international thrill rides, dashing cars and gaming machines. Through the lake Venetia boating zone, Vardhman Fantasy is introducing the concept of bumper boats for the first time in India. The group has also created a Roman Colosseum in the park. Reminiscent from the days of the gladiators, the colosseum will act as the central hub of cultural and entertainment events in the areas as well as a platform for local talent to display their skills. The ‘wonders of the world’ zone has life-size replicas of the wonders of the world. Through this, an effort is made to bring the common man a step closer to his or her most desired yet unfulfilled fantasy. The Spanish Food court is the first all-vegetarian in Greater Mumbai and it is also the largest open-air food court in the country. A destination of many firsts – Vardhman Fantasy is all set to seize the attention of citizens not just in Mumbai but across the country.

FACT FILE: Project Architect & Designer Project Architect Client

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The World of Vardhman Fantasy Skyline Architects Vardhman Developers Ltd Shivar Gardens, Kashi Mira Road, Near Mc Donalds, Mira Road Mumbai March 2010 Courtesy Vardhman Group

3 1. Illustration of the aerial view of Vardhman Fantasy. 2. The replica of Eiffel Tower standing tall. 3. A glimpse into the Greek Village under construction.

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construction brief

Another signature by Steven Holl The Beirut Marina building takes its shape from strata and layers in forking vectors. The building is situated along a new fabricated terrain that is extended from Beirut’s Corniche, the seaside promenade, to create an ‘urban beach’ of public spaces overlooking the Marina. 1

he Beirut Marina building takes its shape from strata and layers in forking vectors. Like the ancient beach that was once the site, the planar lapping waves of the sea inspire striated spaces in horizontal layers, as distinct from vertical objects. The horizontal and the planar become a geometric force shaping the new Harbour spaces. The form allows a striated organisation of public and private spaces which include — restaurants and shops, public facilities, harbourmaster, yacht club and apartments above. The apartment building hinges to create a ‘y’. The form produces a high ratio of exterior surface area offering a maximum amount of views, rising to form a public observation roof to the sea. The building is situated along a new fabricated terrain that is extended from Beirut’s Corniche, the seaside promenade, to create an ‘urban beach’ of public spaces overlooking the Marina. Stairs and ramps are integrated to provide access to the waterfront level. The syncopated rhythm of platforms is achieved by constructing the overall curve of the Corniche in five angles related to the five reflection pools. Due to the variations in height along the Corniche, the platform levels and pools vary slightly in height allowing quiet, gravity-fed fountains to connect each pool level. Celebrating the sea horizon, the terraces are sculpted in local stone. The simple geometry of the upper platforms is in contrast to the colourful activity of restaurants below. The coloured walls and fabrics below have their monochromatic and organic complement in awnings over the tables by the reflecting pools on the upper level. The building roof forms a public observation platform for the sea horizon.

FACT FILE:

1. The location map. 2. The artist’s impression. 3. The building under construction.

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Construction of Beirut Marina & Town Quay Steven Holl Architects Mohammed Ziad Jamaleddine, Makram El-Kadi, Naji Moujaes Solidere and Stow Waterfront Lebanon March 2011 Courtesy the architects

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construction brief

The subway that’ll make mass transit more accessible The Second Avenue Subway project will include a two-track line along Second Avenue from 125 th Street to the Financial District in Lower Manhattan. The subway, first planned by Dutch settlers, is greeted with open arms by long-suffering, transit-deprived citizens.

he Second Avenue Subway will run the entire length of Manhattan, connecting with an existing East Side subway line and a commuter railroad at 125 th Street to the north, and running south to the Financial District at the tip of the island. The twin-track line will include sixteen new underground stations and will be built using both bored tunnels and cut-and-cover excavation. As many as 16 new stations will be built, serving communities in Harlem, Upper East Side, East Midtown, Gramercy Park, East Village, the Lower East Side, Chinatown and Lower Manhattan. Arup, as part of a joint venture, is providing full design and engineering services on the project. The new line will reduce overcrowding and delays on Manhattan’s existing Lexington Avenue line and make mass transit more accessible to people living on Manhattan’s far East Side. The first phase of the project, now underway, will create a new service along Second Avenue, with three new stations and new connections to the ‘Lex’, alleviating congestion on one of the existing line’s most overburdened segments. New Yorkers first approved a subway below Second Avenue in 1929, but work on the project has been delayed, initially by the Great Depression and World War II, and subsequently for economic reasons. The city took over and consolidated the city-wide subway service in 1940 and took the old elevated Second Avenue line out of service in 1942.

The Second Avenue Subway will be New York City’s first major expansion of the subway system in over 50 years. The subway will provide two services to customers. The new Train will run generally under Second Avenue from 125th Street to Hanover Square. The train will then continue along the Broadway Line express tracks and the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn.

FACT FILE: Project Architect & Designer

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Second Avenue Subway DMJM Harris, Arup, Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers FXFowle Metropolitan Transportation Authority Manhattan, USA By 2020 Courtesy the architects

1. The subway. 2 & 3. The subway under construction.

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AIR CATALAYST Text : Vinay Shivhare Photographs : courtesy the architect

Anti-Smog is a parasite project set up and developed by Parisian architects Vincent Callebaut on the post-industrial urban structure in the 19th Parisian district to promote the innovations on the theme of sustainable development in urban area in terms of housing or transport. Its role is to apply all the avant-garde renewable energies so as to fight against the Parisian smog.

nti-Smog aims at inventing a new architecture able to disasphyxiate the area in which it is set up. The smog (smoke + fog) is a bluish to reddish haze which is the result of the water condensation (the fog) on the suspended dust combined with the presence of ozone in the troposphere. The smoke is produced in major part by the burning of fossil fuel and is composed of sulphurous gas (such as sulphur dioxide) in addition to the dust on which the water steam contained in the fog condensates itself. This photochemical cloud is associated to many detrimental effects for the health (asthma, infarct, AVC) and for the environment (acid rains, attrition of the building). Anti-Smog is an ecological prototype of auto-sufficient, depolluting architecture, reactive to its environment and is set up on a Euclidean urban vector. The project Anti-Smog, at the crossing of the fluvial and train ways sets up in the heart of this vector with 3 directions. It is composed of two distinct museum entities with positive energetic results, which means producing more energy than they consume. On the one hand, the ‘Solar Drop’ is a superstructure in polyester and in photovoltaic cells that treadles the ‘Cage’, the double bridge with metallic braces crossing the canal de l´Ourcq. On the other hand, the ‘Winds Tower’ is a helical structure incrusted of wind machines fixed vertically in the future municipal garden on the edge of the water. On the railway, coming from the park of the Buttes Chaumont, after the crossing of the ParisBestiaux (the old transit train station of the

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technology

bovine towards the butchery of la Villette), comes the crossing of the canals. Capturing under its curve the rail bridge of the canal de l’Ourcq, a great white drop with a 250sqm photovoltaic blue roof catches the sunrays to transform them into electrical energies. As a ship’s body, it is built in polyester fibre reinforced with steel bends outlining its main profiles. The whole building is covered by a layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) as anatase, which by reacting to ultraviolet rays, enables to reduce the air pollution. The ‘Solar Drop’, in addition to being an auto-cleaning building, will enable to absorb and recycle by photo-catalytic effect the cloud of unhealthful effects (Smog) especially coming from the intense traffic of the very close Parisian belt. The superior hemisphere presents a structure deploying itself in net where the alveoli or ears are filled up with glasses and chips of carbon pixels enabling the Anti-Smog to be completely auto-sufficient in energy. Moreover, two planted arches cover the ellipsis on all its length and get the rainwater to provide for the logistical needs of the exhibition centre and its cafeteria. Below this thermo regulating solar roof, there is a huge exhibition and meeting function room organised around a central garden, a phyto-purified aquatic lagoon. The cantilever structure that leans on the beams of the bridge stretches its two bows in the axis of the canal. The access to ‘Solar Drop’ is organised on two different levels. First, a double entrance exists through the existing pedestrian footbridge along the ‘Cage’ and linking both banks of the canal. Then, the second entrance by the vertical core or the banister of the ‘Winds Tower’ gives access to the footbridge at 10m high making the hyphen to the ‘Solar Drop’.

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The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Winds Towerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, located at the bottom of the vaulting of the Petite Ceinture, on the site of the factory of urban heating, spreads its helical gallery on more than 45 metres of height. The scenographical ribbon unfolds along the banister in console around curved walls of the central bearing core. This core is carpeted of tactile and digital screens beaming the news continuously and containing the stairwell and the elevator. Also of the elliptical plan, the main axis of the tower moves according to one of the canals to take place in the direction of the dominating winds

1-2. Site plan of Paris La Villette. 3-6, 10. Structural plan of Anti-Smog. 7-9. Various sections of Anti-Smog. 11. Winds Tower.

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64 12-14 Axonometry.

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(South-West). Its crystalline glass layer unfolds by an auto bearing layer in fishnet stockings and dissociated of the curtain wall. This second structure in polyester fibre is covered by planted cushions pierced of sinuous slits along almost fifty axial wind machines of Darrieus. The whole set looks like a harmonious vertical park with a vegetable dress in perpetual movement. On the top, the museum way ends with a suspended garden in the sky. With aromatic savours, this perfumed haven of piece offers an exceptional panoramic view on the Parisian east. This ‘Winds Tower’ can also change into a silo containing a spiral of vélib or solar cars on a minimum of ground surface area on the pattern of the ‘Smart Towers’. It would be thus directly connected to the double railway for new promenades without the railroad bowels of the city of Paris. Anti-Smog is thus an instructive prototype of ecological experimentations. ‘Solar Drop’ and ‘Winds Tower’ implement the most advanced technologies in the auto-sufficient construction to better reveal the applications of the contemporary society. Its energetic results are positive and enable to assure not only the functioning of the centre but also the nocturnal lighting of the banks of the second Bassin de la Villette. Moreover, this project aims at reducing the atmospheric pollution of the area by capturing the CO2 and thus improving the quality of the air. It is a play project, an urban and truly live graft. In osmosis with its surroundings, it is an architecture that interacts completely with its context that is climatic, chemical, kinetic and social to better reduce our ecological print in urban area.

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IA&B - JAN 2010

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‘inspiration’-al architecture An insight into the architecture of Jaigopal Rao and Latha Raman Jaigopal — founders of ‘Inspiration’, an architecture studio based in Kochi.

Text: Hina Nitesh Photographs: courtesy the architect

he passion to pursue the seldom explored aspects of architecture and the built environment, took Jaigopal Rao and Latha Raman Jaigopal, founders of Kochi-based architecture studio, ‘Inspiration’, into several uncharted territories. The duo, who were influenced by architect Laurie Baker early in their career, believe that ‘Indianness’ in architecture is brought about by tackling the real issues. With over 18 years of experience in the field of eco-friendly design and construction, Inspiration’s clientele includes individuals, business houses, government departments and NGOs — all of those who aspire for environment-sensitive development. Their portfolio comprises more than 400 projects ranging from adaptive reuse of existing buildings, urban and industrial buildings, mass housing, disaster relief and re-settlement projects, leisure facilities, institutional campuses, pre-fabricated bamboo structures and more. After establishing the fundamentals, the architects motivated a number of other architects, engineers and craftsmen from different regions in India to work together as teams. They were able to professionally undertake construction using local materials like stones, brick, laterite, mud, tile, bamboo etc. and also optimise use of steel and cement. Currently, the organisation is a team of around 50 technical people and 10 to 12 associates with expertise in varied fields. In addition to this are about 6 teams of over 200 trained craftsmen who are directly involved in specialised construction works. Inspiration’s work integrates passive thermal control through traditional and modern methods, besides initiatives in renewable energy. They have also used the concept of total water management including rain water harvesting, decentralised waste water and sewage treatment, recycling of waste water, drainage, catchment area treatment etc, in their projects. ‘Inspiration’ has been in the forefront of evolving concepts which attempt to integrate and balance social responsibility and business sense, functionality and aesthetics, ecology sensitivity and economic viability, conservation and development, poverty alleviation and corporate growth. In their projects they have aspired to combine aesthetics, ecology sensitivity, affordability, strength, comfort and convenience as a balanced whole. Presented here are five select works from their portfolio which give a glimpse of their architectural practice.

RENOVATION OF CHITTOOR PALACE, ERNAKULAM The 400 years old, Chittoor Palace was once the summer home of the Maharaja of Kochi. However, when years of neglect began to ruin the elegant palace, its present owner decided to renovate and convert it into a home, complete with the old world charm. Typical to Kerala palaces, the entrance is through a gate built with laterite and plastered with lime. Beyond this is a large garden that forms the foreground of the double-storied palace. On one side of the entrance gate is a pond with bathing ghats, an inherent feature of Kerala architecture. The ghat is also built of laterite and wood with tiled roof, providing privacy to the pond.

On the ground floor of the main structure are the living space and two rooms. The first floor too has a living room and a bedroom. Spacious wide verandahs flank the rooms on either side on both the floors. The dining room and kitchen are housed separately in a single-storey building with lime finished walls and tiled roof. The restoration process began with documentation of the building including detailed measured drawing and photo documentation. The roof was renovated first by removing the tiles and replacing and adding structural members as per necessity. The elaborate wooden ceilings which were in a run down state were redone. Wooden shutters from the doors and windows were replaced with glass panes. Over the years, the wood and laterite masonry had acquired several coats of paint and patchworks. The flooring too was removed

69 LEGEND Padipura (Entrance) Kulam (Pond) Well Caretakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tulsihara Palace Boat Jetty Periyar river

SITE PLAN

GROUND FLOOR PLAN Section through site

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2 and a fresh base of concrete was provided after termite treatment. A new floor was prepared using Athankudy tiles, the traditional handcrafted floor tiles with bright colour patterns, along with polished red oxide borders and skirting. The outhouse was designed as the dining and kitchen area with a wide verandah all around. The toilets were revamped with contemporary finishes. The electrical and plumbing works were also redone fully. Air conditioners were installed without tampering with the old walls. The adaptive reuse of this 2,020sqm of land was completed with US $ 97,000. Chittoor Palace has been an attempt to address adaptive reuse in a sensitive manner. The home stay is a haven of peace and tranquility â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a statement recreating the traditional grandeur of the palace but with the comforts of a contemporary resort.

1. Wide spacious verandah flanks the rooms on both sides on both the floors. 2. The several coats of paint and patchworks on the walls were peeled off to expose the original rich lime plaster.

FACT FILE: Project Location Area Architects

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Renovation of Chitoor Palace Ernakulam 2,020sqm Jaigopal Rao and Latha Raman Jaigopal

PRE-FABRICATED BAMBOO HOUSE, KALLAR Use of bamboo as a construction material is slowly gaining momentum. Its low self weight results in considerable reduction in the weight of bamboo reinforced concrete, facilitating its use for pre-cast columns and beams. It can be also be used as a composite along with optimised RCC members, ferrocement and limited quantity of reinforced plaster leading to a cost effective technology. The infill roof, floor and walls can be built using externally attached bamboo micro reinforced mortar composite.

Pre-fabrication of structural elements and bamboo building components also reduce construction time on site. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Inspirationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; has designed and built more than 10 bamboo buildings. The cottage for the Ravindrans in Kallar is the first totally pre-fabricated house built by them. The site, though picturesque, was in a remote location. The challenge was to create something unique yet practical. The possibility of pre-fabricating all the

building components was explored. The building is on stilts due to occasional flash floods and, therefore the floor slabs were also pre-fabricated. Walls, roof, doors, roof trusses, windows, furniture etc. were built in Inspirationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workshop in Kochi and transported to the site. Assembling the components at the site took 2-3 weeks and another month for finishes to get the house ready. The finished structure is a combination of mild steel hollow sections for the structural frames and bamboo for all infill elements. The result is a house that opens up huge

possibilities for pre-fabricating eco-friendly buildings. Pre-fab bamboo houses can be compared to contemporary concrete buildings in strength, functionality and aesthetics at comparable costs and up to 1/4 th conventional construction time. The significant take off from the present pre-fab building market is that pre-fab bamboo houses can be made by small teams of skilled craftsmen without any big machinery or factory set up. They are very comfortable to live in and can be adapted to a variety of geotechnical conditions.

5 3. The fully pre-fabricated house is built on stilts due to occasional flash floods. 4. The structure combines mild steel sections for structural frames and bamboo for all infill elements. 5. Walls, roof, doors, windows, furniture etc were built in Inspirationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workshop in Kochi and transported to the site.

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Residence for Ravindrans Kallar

SKY ROCA, YERCAUD Perched on the rocky slope, overlooking the breathtaking vista, Sky Roca is a hill resort in Yercaud, 35km uphill from the steel town of Salem in Tamil Nadu. The design is the result of the architectsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; belief that the most effective design and structural solutions result from an understanding of the site. However, with this site, the architects explored the limits of how one could create a contemporary architectural statement with local materials, construction techniques and bio-climatic design principles. The biggest challenge was creating a resort which would exploit the advantage of the valley view to its maximum but not disturb the landscape. The structure is built along the slope and follows the natural curves and contours of the site. The structure has been designed with such sensitivity that not a single tree was cut nor a rock blasted to build it. The radiating load bearing stone masonry walls hold the floor slabs slightly above the ground at different levels. This allows the rain water to flow under the buildings and also protect them from dampness. This creates a series of sprawling terrace gardens in alternating heights keeping with the natural contours and topography of the land. The courtyards, level differences, rocks, built spaces, vegetation all

SECTION

contribute to interplay of light and shadows, texture and colour. All the rooms open out to the valley. The expansive glass windows and polycarbonate ceiling let natural light flood in and let the greens seem at a touching distance. Some of the rooms have glass floors to add to the romance of being close to nature. There is a terrace garden for all the rooms. The design lays emphasis on custom crafted details for both interiors and exteriors. A glass floor bridge over the valley, the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;sky walkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, connects the conference room to the restaurant. Sky Roca incorporates a number of eco-friendly features. To begin with, it is built entirely with stone from within 10km radius of the site, fly ash cement blocks and local timber and bamboo. The design caters for natural lighting and ventilation for all spaces with zero per cent air conditioning. Low energy CFL and LED lights are used for all lighting. The resort is self sufficient as far as water is concerned. A reservoir was created out of the quarry site formed during the construction. There is an in situ waste water treatment with DEWATS system. The awareness towards ecology and energy consumption has been increasing in the last two decdes, especially with respect to construction industry. Sky Roca is an endeavour to make sustainable and responsible tourism not just fashionable terminology but a challenge to explore, for the designer and an ambience to come back for, for the guests.

6. The design respects the site and therefore not a single tree was cut nor rocks blasted for the construction. 7. The resort has been built entirely with stone from within 10 km radius of the site, flyash cement blocks and local timber and bamboo. 8. The sky walk with its glass floor adds to the charm of being near nature.

FACT FILE: SITE PLAN

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Sky Roca Yercaud, Tamil Nadu

OFFICE FOR FOCAL IMAGE, TRIVANDRUM ‘An IT office with a difference’ was what M/s Focal Image wanted on their five acre site in a serene suburb of Thiruvanathapuram district. The design was guided by two considerations. One was to avoid air conditioning for all work spaces and second was to make the campus accessible by wheel chair with minimum variation to the natural terrain. The design has been developed on the working philosophy of the organisation. The hierarchy in spaces has been avoided and this has resulted in an open plan concept. The spaces are plugged in through bridges forming an organised network of circulation elements that also double up as spill-over spaces. The requirement was for a main office block for 250-300 users, areas for parking, reception, administration, kitchen and dining spaces along with guest rooms, a library, a crèche, an auditorium cum recreation space and a caretaker’s room with all utility areas. Each of these has been sensitively and tactfully zoned onto the site, based on the ‘plug-in’ pattern, without

disturbing the contours. To retain the contours on the site, the building is split with the working spaces in two floors, conference facilities in one floor and all utility areas in the lowest two floors. The office block is oriented north/south to minimise heat intake and reduce direct solar exposure to the main walls. The bio-climatic design approach for this office complex concentrates on comforts of the users. This has resulted in the use of windows which are louvered at three levels. The lower most, lets out the heat generated by the computers, the mid level ones ensure body comfort and the top level ones regulate the movement of hot air rising up. This mechanism is enhanced by the use of exhaust fans provided in each bay. These windows also take care of rain water even in the open state allowing for regulation of air flow during monsoon. Through a combination of these along with double level sunshades, exhaust fans and bottom and top level ventilation, an attempt has been made to avoid air conditioning in work spaces

SITE PLAN

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for around 250 people. Provision has been made for selective air conditioning which utilises 8 tons as compared to 20 tons in normal conditions. Innovative detailing for water cooling of computers and servers, shading devices etc. shall help bring down radiated heat from within the building. Lighting for the campus is entirely with energy efficient CFL and LED light fixtures. The office spaces are fitted with electronic sensors which sense the lux level on the work surface and switch on selectively to achieve the desired luminance. The campus also has a rain water harvesting reservoir of capacity 2.2 ML, DEWATS, system for treatment and recycling of sewage and waste water. An attempt has been made to make the campus self-sufficient in water management. A network of subsurface filter drains along with recharge pits ensures that every drop of water falling on the campus is recharged within or is collected in the rain water harvesting lake. The construction methodologies include framed structures with a combination of exposed pointed brick

masonry and bamboo walls, RCC filler slab, random rubble masonry, flooring with combination of polished red oxide and terracotta tiles etc. Bamboo, being a locally available material, has been exploited to its best in the construction. Instead of masonry walls, bamboo reinforced mortar composite were used in floors and roofs. It has also been used in compound walls instead of heavy masonry walls simplifying foundations. It has also been used for handrails, door handles and in built seats as well as furniture. The use of steel has been reduced by using bamboo for truss and columns in certain spaces. Other features like anti graffiti brick jail compound wall, terracotta mural cladding on columns etc. add to the unconventional which seems to be the norm. Focal image stands testimony to the moulding of a new, heterogeneous and multi-faceted sustainable identity. In the growing monotony of complex urban situations where an office complex tends to be perceived as towering giants of concrete, steel and glass, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Focal Imageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is an office campus that strongly deviates from this analogy.

9. Office complexes are perceived as concrete structure, but this one is a deviation from the analogy. 10. Bamboo has been used in walls and as reinforcement for slabs. 11. Current tiling and wood work. 12. The windows are louvered at three levels, the lowest lets out the heat generated by the computers, the mid ones ensure body comfort and the topmost regulate the air circulation. 13. The windows are louvered at three levels, the lowest lets out the heat generated by the computers, the mid ones ensure body comfort and the topmost regulate the air circulation.

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Project Location Year of completion

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Office for Focal Image Trivandrum 2009

Wildernest Thekkady Located in the heart of Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala – Wildernest is a ‘nofuss’ bed and breakfast accommodation. Just 25 cents of land (10,000 sqft) in 3 different levels with a grand old jack tree was the property that client Mathew Kuruvinakkunnel approached Inspiration with. Tucked between big brands with large chunks of land, the challenge was to create within all constraints something unique that would appeal to the international traveler. Retaining the jack tree as the key focus, the design was developed to have 10 spacious rooms (no two rooms are similar) as ground + 1 building. The

rooms in the ground floor have their own private garden and the first floor rooms have their private terraces. A combination of random rubble masonry and exposed brick masonry with RCC filler slab roof formed the basic structure – which is purely contemporary and playful in form yet has elements of traditional Kerala architecture juxtaposed for functional and aesthetic reasons. The flooring is with polished terracotta tiles in combination with polished red oxide; the red oxide forms

AXONOMATRIC VIEW

16 a unifying element in the floor, for window sills, built in seats, head boards etc. The doors and windows are with seasoned local hardwood finished with simple wax polish. The common spaces are limited to one large reception cum lounge cum restaurant with a kitchenette and a small space for the caretaker and admin areas.

14. The two storey building with 10 rooms is designed around the old jackfruit tree. 15. The structure combines random rubble and exposed brick masonry with RCC filler slab roof. 16. No two rooms, in the 10 room bed and breakfast accomodation, are same.

FACT FILE: All rooms face the landscaped cour tyard, which is the highlight of the proper ty.

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Residence for Ravindrans Kallar

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A green foundation

perceived view

Saurabh Phadke, an architect by profession and ecology teacher by heart, is the brain behind Aman Setu School in Pune’s conversion into an eco-friendly school. With a non-conventional technological approach, Setu learners lead a ‘green’ life starting from traveling compulsorily by community transport, to learning a good deal through interactions with nature and using an eco- toilet. Text: Ritu Sharma Drawing: courtesy the architect. Photographs: author and Ar.Saurabh Phadke

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1. This structure is meant to host activities such as arts, crafts and music for children varying from ages 3 to 8.

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nvironmental education is pushing into new territory as educators urge children and families to lead more eco-friendly lives in and outside school. With the desire to adopt eco-friendly principles, teachers are infusing ‘green’ living lessons in their classes, while classrooms are slowly turning ‘green’ too, by making waterless urinals, geothermal cooling systems, photovoltaic solar panels etc. Green schools cost a little more to build — generally 1% to 2% extra — than conventional schools but promise payback through lower utility bills. While on one hand the mainstream school plays a well defined role in society, preparing students to enter college, earn a living and contribute to the economy, there are educators in many pockets who have challenged this understanding of education. Over the last few centuries many teachers/philosophers have insisted that schools are not cogs in the economic structure. Schools do not exist to train the work force, bolster existing social institutions, create tractable citizens and maintain the divides in society. Their very purpose is to challenge the status quo, create divergent thinkers, inspire change and transform lives and hence society. ‘Children learn what they live’, says Jean Paiget, Swiss physiologist and philosopher. If schools are about laying the right foundation, Aman Setu seems to have got it right. With its classrooms made of mud, bamboo,

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2. Few courses ready with the bamboo supports for the roofing system. 3. The roofing system is designed entirely in bamboo with a covering of used billboard material.

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straw, husk and cow dung — even discarded cement sacks, barbed wire, plastic bottles, advertisement hoardings — this school on the outskirts of Wagholi in Pune, has managed to teach its children their most fundamental and unforgettable lesson in ecological conservation.

4. Completed-Kaleidoscope is a simple composition in bamboo and earth bags. 5. In use-it is also a dynamic learning space.

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Driving down the undulating Wagholi-Lohegaon road with fields stretching on either side, one reaches a picturesque little cottage standing out against the wide sky. That’s where locates the pre-primary and primary school. Conceptualised, financed and set up by the Madhavi Kapur Foundation, Aman Setu school started in 2008. It is housed in a stone farmhouse, a round ‘kaleidoscope’, a rocket and a rabbit hole and a magic school bus. The existing farmhouse structure now serves as language learning centre, and added structures such as, the round ‘kaleidoscope’ as an art centre, the rocket and a rabbit hole as classrooms and a magic school bus as laboratory. It also features a pond teeming with fish, frogs and turtles and a kid’s play area with abstracts play equipments made of tyres. The school campus measures almost 1,400sqm and was initially purchased as a farmland with a stone structure which was not enough to accommodate all the school activities. Thus, with a need for couple of more classrooms, space for art centre and science laboratory, the management decided to add on the necessary areas in the campus. Expanding their

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88 82

Section

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6. The earth bag dome can be built like rings on top of rings. A central bamboo pole with a string was used to act as a guide. 7. Process-The earth bags structure for the classrooms. 8. Process- externally, regular plaster was applied for surface finish and to ensure the durability of the structure. 9. Is painted a dusky orange to blend with the surrounding color scheme of nature.

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scope, the school adopted non-conventional technological approach in various ways for the different areas within the campus. The approach is a sincere effort to offer an alternative to neo-conventional construction practices. The practice is further made accessible with the help of various publications explaining the techniques accomplished in the school campus. The publications in form of booklets address several issues concerning sustainable development, resource consumption and appropriate construction technologies. The publications are meant to serve as a guideline for the construction process on site, for the professionals related to the field of architecture and to all those interested in responsible construction. EARTH BAG TECHNIQUE : “This building technique, called ‘earth bagging’ is nothing new. It has been around for a few thousand years. Only we have so completely forgotten it that today professionals and architecture students refer to it as non conventional technology,” explains Saurabh Phadke, the architect of the added structures such as art centre, classrooms, science lab, toilet block , kitchen and play areas for the school. ‘Earth bag’ construction is a technique where bags are filled with an appropriate earth mix, sealed and stacked like conventional masonry with barbed wire acting as velcro mortar between layers and consolidated by tamping. This makes the structure quake resistant, as well. “The technique has been used worldwide for varying purposes—from constructing military bunkers to making water retention structures. The idea that dirt-filled bags can be used to construct a permanent shelter was first introduced in the mid ’80s by architect Nader Khalili. Incidentally, then it was not introduced as a low cost sustainable technique but as a

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solution for lunar housing!” says Phadke. It was during a NASA symposium that was exploring ways of colonising the moon that Khalili proposed moon dust could be filled in bags to build a structure. ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT: With a burning desire to reduce their carbon footprint and design an eco-friendly structure, Saurabh Phadke and Pooja Joshi have made use of earth bags, instead of barbed wire, bamboo sticks, sheets, discarded bottles, tyres etc. as building blocks. The two architects purchased 800 discarded cement bags at a nominal 80 paise per bag, filled it up with a wet mix of construction rubble from neighbouring sites, local soil, sand and just 5 per cent cement. These bags constitute the walls of the structure. Discarded PVC pipes have also been inserted between the bags to form little windows for the children. Later, about 40 kg of discarded barbed wire was purchased from Juna Bazaar, Pune and used as the binding material for the rows of earth bags. The barbed wire is a replacement to the conventional cement mortar and keeps the earth bags together. The internal plaster of dung and dried grass smells good and looks even better. The choice of building material bears testimony to the commitment of eco sensitivity. The furniture was made out of pine wood particle board which has already been used once for packaging. At Aman Setu, once the concept was cemented (the design took in suggestions from children) Phadke carried out several tests with different materials and mixes before starting with the construction. The selected area was cleared of grass and the area to be excavated was marked on the soil. Trenches were dug; the top soil was segregated and not used for construction, while the rest was retained for using in the earth bags.

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84 10. Discarded PVC pipes have also been inserted in between the bags to form little windows for the children.

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85 11. Internal plaster is made of different natural mixes—wheat flour, cow dung, paneer, whey, paper-mache etc. for the walls and the floor. 12. The ‘Alice in Wonderland’ door to the classroom is called the rabbit hole.

THE ART CENTRE: KALEIDOSCOPE ‘Kaleidoscope’ is the creative expressions centre which is a simple composition in bamboo and earth bags. This structure is meant to host activities such as arts, crafts and music for children varying from ages 3-8. It was designed as a playful space which wouldn’t restrict any child’s imagination. The ‘Kaleidoscope’ was designed in order to keep the materialistic embodied energy and hence the carbon footprint low. All materials were procured locally with a conscious effort to reuse discarded material. The roofing system was designed entirely in bamboo, with a covering of used billboard material. In this manner, the two architects brought down the construction cost to just Rs. 90,000, one-fourth the original estimate of Rs. 4 lakh. THE CLASSROOMS: ROCKET AND THE RABBIT HOLE “A 450 mm deep trench suffices for non-load bearing walls. This depth is adequate for bamboo column foundations. A level base for earth bags can be prepared by simply tamping the trench base. If heavy loads are imposed on the earth bag wall, a simple concrete base should suffice. Generally, the fill material should be 30 per cent clay and 70 per cent

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sand. Stabilisers such as cement can be added to the mix to endure better bonding of all constituents. Bags should be filled to 80 per cent of their capacity,” explains Phadke, adding that they used discarded cement sacks from nearby construction sites. The earth bags were then stitched with a flat plastic thread and laid along the trench, leaving space for the bamboo footings. They were then tamped with a tamping rod till compacted properly. On completing the course, two strands of barbed wire about six inches apart were placed on top and the procedure was repeated. Doors and windows were spanned with conventional lintels and earth bag arches with bamboo supports. The earth bag layers were corbelled to create a conical roof or a dome shaped structure. Finally, chicken mesh was stretched over the earth bag wall to provided rough base for the plaster to hold on. While externally, regular plaster was applied for surface finish to ensure the durability of the structure, internally the team tried out different natural mixes — wheat flour, cow dung, paneer, whey, paper-maché etc. for the walls and the floor. Old hoardings were used on the roof for water-proofing.

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Small-Story-of-Rabbit hole + rocket

Thus the structure formation process can be summarised as — level the site-dig the perimeter-trench-fill with cobbles-filling the bags-laying the bags-tamping the bags-placing barbed wire-adding more layersattaching the door frame-window frames-completing the top of the domeapplying plaster-fitting the glass-vents and completed window-completed dome-adding colour.

THE FUNNY TOILET It is technically known as a ’urine diversion dehydration toilet’. “It works on the simple principle of source separation and sanitisation. Hence the urine and the egesta are both sanitised and used as a fertiliser. This sort of a toilet uses only about 1/10th the amount of water consumed by most ‘modern’ systems,” clarifies Phadke.

The classrooms, ‘Rocket’ and the ‘Rabbit Hole’ are the rust brown structure with its green roof that elicited much excitement. Classes are naturally cooled with ‘humidity control’. The surreal classroom block called the ‘Rocket’ is painted a dusky orange to blend with the surrounding colour scheme of nature. Its conical ‘thinking space’ is cool and personal, just right for story telling sessions. The voice quality is astounding encouraging the story teller to experiment with sound effects. Not only is the earth bag and bamboo structure lower in cost, kinder to the earth, aesthetically satisfying, cool and comfortable, but it is also a dynamic learning space. It represents the message of the school, its structure facilitating equal opportunity to participate; to learn while practicing.

PLASTIC BOTTLES Discarded plastic bottles acted as vent pipes for the toilets. These bottles were also put to use in the reception area, with one wall made of coloured plastic bottles, with their bases cut off and arranged to look like flowers in a cement bed at the entrance of the classrooms.

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CHINTOO: THE SCIENCE LAB The science and math’s lab of the school is located in a discarded bus of the Pune Municipal Corporation that was bought for Rs 70,000 and given a makeover. ‘Chintoo’ would have died a sad death in a scrap yard. He was rescued from melt down and reincarnated as a science lab. He

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was gradually transformed into classroom space for experimentation and exploration. “The classrooms took just over a month to build. They are about 500sqft in size and cost Rs 2.25 lakh. Hence, this kind of construction costs about Rs 450 per sqft and is cheaper than most other technologies,” says Phadke. Madhavi Kapur, founder of Aman Setu exclaims, “By creating a learning space like this, we are living up to Gandhiji’s direction to ‘be the change’. Not only is the structure kinder to the earth, aesthetically satisfying, cool and comfortable, it is also a dynamic learning space. Thus, our ‘green ‘and ‘inclusive’ policies point in the direction of a more holistic and saner world”.She further acknowledges the achievement, “I am proud to announce that the design and execution were initiated by my students and their friends. We got the co-operation and full participation of local people without whose wisdom we would have been quite lost. Anna, our ‘man of infinite resourcefulness’ deserves a special mention and special thanks here”.

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13. At reception, one wall made of coloured plastic bottles with their bases cut off. 14. Discarded plastic bottles act as vent pipes for the toilets 15. Chintoo: the science lab, located in a discarded bus of the Pune Municipal Corporation.

FACT FILE:

Project

Aman Setu School, Wagholi, Pune

Client

Madhavi Kapur Foundation

Architects

Saurabh Phadke and Pooja Joshi, Pune

Area

Built-ups

Cost

Kaleidoscope: 45sqm

Language Centre: 85sqm

Rabbit hole & Rocket room: 65sqm

‘Chintoo’ Bus Exploratory: 25sqm

‘Funny Toilet’: 2.5sqm

Kitchen: 8sqm :

Kaleidoscope: Rs. 90,000 Rabbit hole & Rocket room: Rs. 2.25 lakhs ‘Chintoo’ Bus Exploratory: Rs. 1 lakh ‘Funny Toilet’: Rs. 10,000 Kitchen: Rs. 8,000

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88 IA&B - JAN 2010

5-star footprint

The continuities of cultural languages and the recognition of the physicality of climate and geography all converge to make the architectural expression at the Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering. Text: Ritu Sharma Drawings and photographs: courtesy the architect

nvironmental issues have become increasingly complex and inter-disciplinary â&#x20AC;&#x201D; requiring solutions, which are based on principles of engineering science, biology and medicine. Although independent solutions from these areas have been developed, an interfacial integration of these three areas can lead to more effective and comprehensive solutions. With this specific objective of integrating these varied subjects to address environmental issues, IIT Kanpur has taken the initiative to create Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering (CESE). This centre brings together experts from various disciplines to focus on providing solutions to specific environmental problems including environmental and health issues. The structure has been conceptualised, designed and constructed as a building in the garden which is sustainable and eco-friendly. The architectural design approach is holistic, with an aim to create a facility that is not merely functional, but innovative in its response to issues of sustainability and energy efficiency. The spatial configuration juxtaposed within the natural setting resulted in visual transparency and facilitated free flow of the elements such as earth, air and water into the built environment. Hence, it is of no surprise that the facility

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is first in the country to be awarded a 5-star TERI-GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) building certification. The centre has achieved approximately 41 per cent reduction in energy consumption using TERI-GRIHA baseline. This has been accomplished by integration of passive solar architectural measures, optimisation of building envelope by daylight integration using efficient lighting controls and fixtures and ptimisation of the HVAC system using efficient equipment and controls. The design aims at providing a visually open environment integrating stilted areas, partially covered landscaped courts, water body and terraces into the built form. The centre is conceived as a series of structurally similar modules, arranged along a curvilinear circulation spine, which offers an element of visual surprise at every junction. In its spatial configuration, combines the natural setting outside with the built from inside. The building is oriented predominantly north-south with major openings in the same orientation. Primary functions like classrooms, laboratories, offices and

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focus

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

CROSS SECTION

1. Existing landscape and vegetation are largely protected and preserved. The structure conveniently nestled amidst the existing trees.

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3 library are located within larger orthogonal modules arranged along a central curvilinear circulation spine, whereas ancillary functions are housed within the interstitial smaller wedge shaped spaces. This allows the main functional spaces to get maximum unobstructed natural light from three sides. The exterior building envelope is provided with insulation in the cavity walls and within the water-proofing of the roof which is finished with china mosaic for heat reflectance. Insulated glass is used for the windows.

2. Roof shaded by bamboo trellis with green cover to cut the direct heat gain of the building. 3. Provision of internal courtyard that is covered by louvers allowing for free air movement and efficient shading from sunlight.

The water body has been located in accordance to the site contour, thus acting as a reservoir for storm water runoff from the building. In addition to maintaining an optional microclimate, the pond, located strategically in the landscape, provides an interface between the built and open spaces. The water body also helps in optimising the micro-climate.

system of catch basins, filtered and collected in the water body. Grass swales were constructed to collect the surface runoff from rest of the green and paved areas. The grass swales, with shallow longitudinal gradients, slope towards the lowest point in the northeast. They help increase surface infiltration and reduction in the sediments transported from the site. The curb edge is detailed to direct the road runoff to these grass swales.

The landscape is developed keeping environmental considerations with articulation of spaces around the building in contrast to the open lawns, gardens commonly designed. The site has a natural slope of 1:116 from southwest to northeast. The centre had approximately 128 trees, most of which have been preserved. Existing vegetation provides environmental benefits and established trees give a mature look to the landscape. Water conservation and water retention is an integral part of the design. The roof water and runoff from open spaces next to the buildings are drained through a

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‘‘Modern buildings are inherently more expensive. This building will leave a smaller footprint than others,’’ enthuses the architect, Tanuja Kanvinde.

FACT FILE: Architects

Sanjay and Tanuja Kanvinde, Kanvinde Rai and Chowdhury

Landscape

Yogesh Kapoor

Project management

Institute Works Departments, IIT Kanpur

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92 IA&B - JAN 2010 1

A Recycled Retreat Overlooking the panoramic view of Lake MjĂ¸sa in Norway is an environmentally friendly farmhouse with complex spaces framed by new exposed construction and simple materials. Built by architects Jarmund and VigsnĂŚs AS Architects MNAL, the home of two historians is a paradigm of sustainability. Text: 1 Hema Yadav Photographs: courtesy Nils Petter Dale

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focus

1-2. The 100 year old dilapidated barn.

ituated on the banks of Lake Mjøsa, Norway’s largest and deepest lake, the farmhouse owned by historians Ane Kristin Rogstad and Trond Nygård is a complex blend of modern architecture retaining the old world charm. The farmhouse is the conversion avatar of a 100 year old barn inherited by the owners. The project was a joint venture between Jarmund and Vigsnæs AS Architects MNAL. The brief given to the architects was simple and succinct. The clients wanted the old barn to be metamorphosed into a contemporary home with all the modern amenities to suit their needs but also to retain the individualistic beauty of the place. The architects created simple lines and adopted basic geometry to achieve the desired results. The old barn was not insulated and was used for guests

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and storage. The first step was to dismantle the old barn as the structure posed health and safety hazard, due to its dire state. Although the main load bearing construction of the barn had deteriorated, its exterior cladding was in good condition and was used in designing the exterior and terraces of the new house. Some of the old planks were cut at the root of the tree rather than the top. These slants were then used to adjust the cladding which slopes towards the ground and angles of the roof. These complex extensions combined with the simple materials of the barn exposed the construction and provided a new perspective to the architecture. The common spaces at these sloping axes are visually connected. There is 40 cm of rock wool insulation in the roof and 20 cm in the walls to keep the house insulated.

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floor plan

Although the home measures only 165 sqm, it feels very light and spacious due to the consecutive rows of windows that cover the home. This helps the light to enter the house and offers a spectacular view of the Norwegian landscape. The interior of the house is left quite bare with exposed beams and plywood paneling on the walls. The main entrance is towards the south. The interior designing serves a dual purpose of opening the whole structure towards the lake in the north

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and simultaneously stepping the central space downwards towards the terrace at the western side of the house. The lower part of the house is designed for the parents, while the loft above is reserved for the children. The main section rises towards the south to allow for the low winter sun to enter the building. The glazed and lofty winter garden works as a heat collector in winter and a heat buffer for the rest of the house during summer.

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6 3. Consecutive rows of windows allowing light to enter the house. 4. Interior of the house. 5. View of Lake Mjøsa. 6. Ground floor of the house showcases the infiltration of sunlight.

The main construction and surfaces of the house are made of wood; windows are lined with aluminum, while the ground floor is exposed to concrete. With the style and minimal details adopted by the architects, the farmhouse is presented as a clean, simple structure — proof of eco-friendly classics.

West Elevation

FACT FILE:

Project

Toten

Year of design

2005 - 2006

Year of construction

2007 - 2008

Client

Ane Kristin Rogstad and Trond Nygård

Architect

Jarmund / Vigsnæs AS Architects MNAL

Einar Jarmund

Håkon Vigsnæs

Alessandra Kosberg

Assisted by

Nikolaj Zamecznik

Contractor

Byggmester Rotstigen AS

Gross area

165sqm (gross) / 150sqm (net)

Photography

Nils Petter Dale

East elevation

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96 IA&B - JAN 2010

Plug and Live Working within existing buildings, using discarded materials, architect Gustavo Dieguez and Lucas Gilardi infiltrate the gaps and the unnoticed opportunities where an existing home can expand, gaining floor area or usable air space. Text: Devyani Purkayastha Photographs: courtesy the architects

ustavo Dieguez and Lucas Gilardi are architects who enjoy building projects with their own hands. They promote experimentation in housing through their ‘Plug and Live System’ concept and integrate the collective projects of urban metropolis.

To do so, the architects imagine unconventional spaces, they expand into the roofs or the partition space in vertical or rather diagonal sections, merging above and below in new operational dimensions. They keep the aspect of the recycled materials, used as a valuable texture whose previous marks become neutral in relation to their new contexts: a ready-made texture with certified unpretentiousness. Small spaces can fulfill specific needs which are put in motion by the human presence, a potential that speaks through the bodies, their movement and a redefined relation to the scale of space.

The modules of ‘Plug and Live System’

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focus

The architects got involved in sustainability through the participation in a contest called Amphibious Living. Their ‘Plug and Live’ project started in 2005, when they discovered a set of boxes that had been brought from Brazil holding automobile parts and discarded as waste. The Argentinean architects took those 18 wood boxes and transformed them into the ‘Plug and Live System’, a collection of modules to build transitory habitats and experiment with different ideas of housing. Moved by their desire to explore ideas of dwelling and transitory living, and motivated by the competition Living Box, they came up with a system of 11 modules that respond to different needs, which can be used to build habitable spaces. Dismantled, the modules fit into a container and can be transported very easily. The ‘Plug and Live System’ is both a way to recover materials and generate a reflection about modern living. “Apart from recovering and reusing discarded materials, we wanted to make people think about the ways we live and create a discussion about dwelling. The modules might not be enough for a family house but we explored the idea of temporary institutions: cultural centres that could be open for a short period of time oriented to

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1-2. The wooden boxes, before finding their new destiny as creative cabins. 3. Interior of the ‘Plug and Live System’.

connecting communities and they proved to be very interesting,” explain the architects. 2

“Artists don’t call this art, designers don’t consider this design, and architects say we’re not part of architecture either. We don’t really care about definitions, our interest right now is to work with everything that’s outside the consume area, all that’s left,” they say. Apart from the ‘Plug and Live System’, the designers did a recent house re-modelling using iron from demolitions.

FACT FILE:

Project

Plug and Live System

Architects

Gustavo Dieguez and Lucas Gilardi

Project Start Year

2005

Project Location

Argentina

Material Used

Wood

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98 IA&B - JAN 2010

small is

big

While for some, the value of enormity takes priority over design and even structural integrity, for others, the very idea of creating small structures with big ambitions itself is rewarding. Jay Shafer— founder of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company in Sebastopol ,California, is inarguably a pioneer in this field. His endeavours are homes, less than 150sqft, envisaged with intricate detailing. Text: Devyani Purkayastha Photographs: courtesy the architect

ivided into two sizes; small and tiny, the owner of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, Jay Shafer churned out his creativity and imagination and came up with the range of houses that exemplify the concept of ‘small is beautiful’ and nowadays eco-friendly. Ranging from the smallest one bedroom travel trailer to a quaint three-bedroom bungalow, one can find numerous options and designs from the range of these economic, sustainable and eco-friendly houses. Fencl The Fencl is a combination of the two most popular homes; the Tarleton and the Weebee. It has tall cathedral ceiling over the great room and a sleeping loft above that makes this little gem feel quite large. At 130sqft, this house only comes on wheels. As a matter of reality, an average American house emits about 18 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year and consumes about a quarter acre of forest in its construction at almost 2300sqft. Combating this environmental threat, building small is the greenest thing to be done when constructing homes. This gypsy-model design includes the main room, with a vaulted ceiling to give sufficient headroom inside. There is separate black water and grey water plumbing wherever required. The kitchen is sufficiently spacious with room for refrigerator and stovetop. The interiors of the house are beautifully carved keeping pine finishing with stainless steel counters. The total area of this slender house is 130sqft, where the width is 8ft and the length is kept as 19ft. The road height of the house is around 13.5ft and there is a porch of almost 6.25ft area. 1

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1. The innovative chair matching the interior of Fencl. 2. The long interior of Fencl.

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focus

4 3. The loft space at Epu. 4. The kinchen space of Epu.

Epu Epu is the house where, Jay Shafer, one of the duo-architects, lives. Concern for environment was the sheer reason for making a choice to live in this house. These types of houses can be built in different ways, giving variation in the type and design according to the utility. A little deluxe with their amenities, the Epu comes with a desk and fireplace in the main room. Despite the fact that these are smaller in size, the Epu have a large amount of storage space, as well. An Epu house is very sparsely divided into a kitchen, wet bath and a loft upstairs. The roof is made of metal to endure any kind of abrasion while driving down the road. This structure also gives you a scope to custom-make little windows or carve out a fake boundary between two spaces as per your convenience. A little compacted in size, this house has a total area of 89sqft, yet the interiors and design doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow it to look any smaller. With a road height of 13ft 5in, the house is placed over a trailer of 7ft x 14ft. The height of the ceiling is about 6ft 3in and the porch is spread across in an area of 7ft x 3ft. The foundation of these houses can be laid to suit your comfort and choices. It can be built with a permanent foundation or can be attached to a trailer. Apart from this, it can also be made as a portable unit that can be positioned on a trailer or on a foundation.

FACT FILE:

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Projects

Fencl & Epu

Architect

Jay Shafer

Location

California

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100 IA&B - JAN 2010

Versatility in Wood Perched on the edge of a rocky outcrop in Helsinki Harbour, overlooking the gothic spires of the Finnish capital, a new, swooping structure has recently taken place. Named as WISA Wooden Design Hotel, it offers an elegant lesson in sustainable wooden construction. Text: Devyani Purkayastha Photographs: courtesy the architects

ISA Wooden Design Hotel is an architectural gem of wood situated in the maritime heart of Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Around it, lies the city and 200 years of architectural history. The work has been designed by interior architect Pieta-Linda Auttila. The architect wanted to spark interest in wood and highlighted its role in building and interior design. The hotel is an outstanding example of woodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s versatility. Here, wood works both as a load-bearing structure and decor in walls, ceilings and floors. The building is a composition of Finnish pine, spruce and birch 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a testimonial to their special characteristics.

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When the building is viewed from a distance, the first thing that catches the eye is the atrium courtyard in the centre; it separates the living quarters at both ends. The atriumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shape flatters the liveliness of wood; technically it is the most challenging part of the design. The long, curved pine boards, half-covering the patio, form a trellis that titillates the imagination. The courtyard comes alive in a dizzying and enchanting way. The trellis protects against the wind and filters the long rays of the Nordic sun into the courtyard. The charming interplay of light and shade can

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focus

the site plan

be observed throughout the day, as the bright morning light gradually turns into the red glow of the northern midnight sun. The striking wood architecture makes its way into the interiors, showcasing the versatility of Finnish pine. The light, ethereal beauty of Nordic birch, complements the pine floor. The walls and the ceiling are panelled with beautiful and durable birch plywood. This is how Pieta-Linda Auttila describes the idea she realised with the WISA Wooden Design Hotel: “In the beginning it was the roaring sea. Powerful waves lifted from the depths of a wooden block, already darkened by sea water, and threw it against a rock. The force of the blow broke the wood in the middle.” The curved part, slashed into strips in the middle, forms a trellis and shelters the courtyard of the hotel. As for the unbroken ends, they are transformed into the living quarters. The dark exterior and light interior of the WISA Wooden Design Hotel likewise represent a broken block of wood. When the dark surface of the block is cracked, the original lightness

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1. The WISA Wooden Design Hotel is an outstanding example of wood’s versatility. 2. The curvature that forms a trellis.

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3 3. The floor-to-ceiling windows at each end provide plenty of light to the interior. .

of the wood is exposed. The floor-to-ceiling windows at both ends of the hotel provide plenty of light to the interior. The views complement each other. The bedroom faces the sea and the morning sun. Past the courtyard, at the other end of the space, the view from the lounging area gives onto the city and the evening sun. The WISA Wooden Design Hotel is based on the winning proposal of the WISA 24th Wooden Design Workshop competition organised by UPM, one of the leading forest products companies in the world. The building can provide overnight accommodation for a few people, but it is not designed for general hotel use.

FACT FILE:

THE DRAWINGS

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Project

WISA Wooden Design Hotel

Architect

Pieta-Linda Auttila

Location

Valkosaari island in Southern Harbour of Helsinki, Finland

Client

UPM Kymmene

Completion of project

2009

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104 IA&B - JAN 2010

Contemporary Dialectal Meadowview, a country house designed by UK-based Platform 5 Architects, is an interpretation of dialectal in contemporary style. Text: Hina Nitesh Photographs: courtesy the architect

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ying at the edge of a ribbon development in rural Bedfordshire in UK, Meadowview is a country house designed with sensitivity to the rural context with sustainable features. The four bedroom house belongs to a retired couple who required a place for entertaining and accommodating visiting family and friends. According to the brief given to the architects, the house had to be designed following principles of sustainability. There needed to be plenty of natural light throughout the house. Since the site is surrounded by mature trees, hedgerows and arable fields, the design needed to take advantage of the views connecting the house with the outdoors. 1. The upper floor has timber stud infill walls with less thermal mass to give a quicker cooling time for sleeping during hot summer nights.

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SITE PLAN

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GROUND FLOOR PLAN

The challenge faced by the architects was the restriction in height and footprint of the building which was dictated by the bungalow that already existed on the site. Added to this, the policy for the rural areas advocated thin rectangular plans for the houses, with a stepped silhouette to reflect the local vernacular building types. The building form is based on abstractions of the local vernacular agricultural buildings and fitted in with the local design codes. The local planning authority though sceptical about the acceptance of a contemporary design, was convinced of the beneficial addition to the village by the architects. Constructed on a budget of ÂŁ1,750/sqm, the rectilinear plan uses basic construction techniques. The ground floor consists of an open kitchen, dining and living area and a study. Though linked with the main living area, the study is screened to keep clutter out of view. The first floor is a chestnut clad box with cantilevers off a solid masonry and glass plinth. From across the fields, the house appears to be floating over the hedgerows. Walls and vegetation are used to create different levels and vary the views. The site is divided into a patchwork of different landscapes which creates a transition between the domestic and agricultural environments. A private walled garden centred on a cherry tree is positioned on the public side to the east. To the west, a raised terrace area hovers over a field of long grasses and meadow flowers. The house is organised in a sequence of

2 2. The external cladding is carried through to the interior in the double height space over the living room.

SECTION

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3 3. The design follows a simple plan with an open kitchen, living and dining area.

EAST ELEVATION

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WEST ELEVATION

spaces that gradually becomes more private and frames views to the rear garden, courtyard garden and to the landscape beyond. The house and garden are conceived as an extension of the landscape rather than an object placed in it.

canopy during the summer and act as a heat store in spring and autumn with the wall giving shelter from the wind allowing the garden to be used for more months of the year. The wall has cavities that create habitat for wildlife and links up with the hedgerow eco-systems.

The cantilever is achieved with the help of the steel frame structure. The first floor acts as a truss and helps keep the floor depths to a minimum. The white areas of the house are built with block work and the insulation system lends thermal mass. The first floor has softwood timber infill panels and is clad in untreated sweet chestnut wood. The external cladding is carried through to the interior in the double height space over the living room. The ground floor has a slate finish; the cantilevered stairs and floor to the upper storey are finished in olive ash. Structural glass is used in the stairs and balcony.

Meadowview is designed to be adaptable to the clients as they grow older and will also suit a young family, giving the building a long lifespan. Platform 5 Architects have designed a sensitive, cost-effective and sustainable house and translated the vernacular vocabulary into a contemporary one.

The main living spaces are placed towards the south end of the building so as to take advantage of the sun. The habitable rooms thus benefit from natural light and solar gains in winter, whereas in summers the overhang of the first floor controls excessive solar gain. The thin cross section of the house allows natural cross ventilation in summers. A mechanical ventilation system is in place for the entire house which reduces heat losses due to ventilation when the house is being heated. There is an under floor heating throughout the house which can run off lower water temperatures. A wood burning fireplace in the living room is used to heat the house as the ventilation system will redistribute the warm air into the bedrooms. The design also incorporates rainwater recycling by storing rainwater in an underground tank and is using it in the garden and the bathrooms. The house is surrounded by deciduous trees which give shade in summer and let sunlight through to the house in winter. The courtyard garden has a wild cherry tree in the centre surrounded by a gabion wall filled with rough limestone. This helps in storing the air cooled by transpiration in the treeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

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FACT FILE:

Project

Meadowview

Location

Bedfordshire, UK

Architects

Platform 5

Date of Completion

Novemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 08

Structural Engineer

Orla Kelly

Quantity Surveyor

Bernard Tipling

Services Engineer

Mike Humphries

Contractor

Paul Green

Steel Frame

Fredan

Carpentry

D&B Carpentry

Specialist Glass

Culmax

Velfac Installer

Mark One

Mechanical

P Chester & Sons

Electrical

Instalec

Sto Render

ESL

Sarnafil

Cambridge Polymer Roofing

Tiles & slate

Roy Croft & Sons

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112 IA&B - JAN 2010

Establishing an Evolution Minakshi Jain invited by Amita Baig, talks about story of the conservation that revived the Fort of Nagaur leading to the evolution of conservation profession in India. Text & Photograph: courtesy the author

he story of the conservation of Ahhichtragarh, the Fort of Nagaur is a gradual one, which has been developing over the last 16 years. This Fort did not figure in the books of history of architecture. It is exceptional for a Fort, which was lying completely forgotten and deteriorating, at the time of the first documentation in 1988, revived as a significant edifice spread over 35 acres. This is a story of a true partnership, high level of motivation, commitment and team work with a singular belief. The historic architecture of the property, the owner’s vision, the management of personnel and finances and the professional input are a few of the finer aspects of the project execution. Any successful project starts with a dream. Shri. Gaj Singh of Jodhpur, Managing Trustee of Mehrangarh Museum Trust (MMT), had this vision, ” I wanted to bring 2 3 this whole property alive and make it a focal point of the culture of this region

and the history that it has witnessed.” MMT’s CEO Mr. Mahendra Singh’s idea for the future museum was to be a combination of the architectural spaces and select objects. K.B.Jain, project consultant could clearly visualise the Fort as having unique spatial qualities and organisation of buildings that once restored could put it at par with Fatehpur Sikri. The involvement of the MMT in the Nagaur Fort started in the 80’s. The family property had been settled in the name of H.H.M. Hanwant Singh Charitable Trust and it became apparent very quickly that a lot of work was required. At that point, MMT approached the Getty Grant Program in U.S.A in 1993 for a grant. Fortunately, the papers were well presented and the first grant for documentation, resulted in two successive matching grants for project implementation. Funds were also mobilised through other institutions and friends. At the end of the first phase in 2002, the

culture counts valued especially by its principle donor, Getty, considering the unprecedented multiple grants awarded. The Nagaur project comprised three working groups, the management team at Jodhpur, an onsite team at Nagaur and the technical team at Ahmedabad. Ease of communication has been a key factor within the team. With expertise, management and finance in order, the project slowly developed. The knowledge base was matured by on-site research of historic water systems, paintings, new technologies, materials and costings. The site laboratory tested out traditional materials. Existing literature was compiled. The first intervention was7 to repair temples, their paths and stairs for the local people, thus bringing the Fort into the public realm. Controlled public participation was interwoven into the program. Local contractors, crafts persons and artisans came from the city, as the project generated assured employment and development of skills.

1 - 10. The Fort of Nagaur which was lying completely forgotten and deteriorating, was revived as a significant edifice spread over 35 acres.

Getty’s appreciation of 1993 report resulted in complete faith in the technical expertise and with their commitment to deliver the best, several research works were undertaken. The 1993 report with entirely hand drawn drawings was produced in nine months by a team of 20 enthusiastic architects. They enjoyed slogging in the day and sleeping on the Fort terraces, under the star studded sky at night. Hardship was not an issue when compared to the experience they got, which was rich and exclusive. A free hand was given to document the existing conditions of the Fort in photographs and films. The before and after pictures are now exhibited in the interpretation center. The film has made it easier to grasp the magnitude of work undertaken and the challenges faced. Knowledge of historic planning, construction methods and availability of historic materials helped to bring out inferences and a minimalist approach was evolved. Considering the varied state of damage, importance and future use, the project avoided clinging to a single theory. The work approach on any one of the buildings was distinct, depending on the immediate context, prevention of further deterioration, preservation, consolidation, restoration, rehabilitation or reconstruction. Conservation work is labour intensive and time consuming. Using lime as the bonding / finishing material, takes much longer time to set or finish. Hand carving of stone elements are also time consuming. Adaptive reuse depended on historic ambience and accordingly discreet infrastructure was introduced. An immense amount of energy, resources, skill and scholastic knowledge lie behind the successful completion of this conservation project.

project gained recognition recieving the Award of Excellence from UNESCO’s Asia–Pacific unit, a first for India. This was a great fillip, which pumped renewed enthusiasm into the team which had been tirelessly working for more than eight years. Another fortune came with Lady Helen Hamlyn’s visit in 2000. She found the site amazing, sensing its engaging spirit in the silence. It encouraged her to participate actively in the revival of architecture and cultural heritage. Her H.H.Trust, UK, continues to support many conservation activities at the Fort. In 2006 grants came in for the conservation of paintings.

The conservation of this large historic complex in the centre of a dense residential habitat, essentially became a health capsule for the city. Nagaur was a sleepy town in1993, transport connections were difficult and the site was over grown with thorny bushes, when the initial involvement from our side took place. Today it is known for its famous Sufi Darbar, a yearly music festival. To carry out the vision to its last detail was not so smooth; it was taken as a challenge but worked out as an opportunity. Since the start of this project the conservation profession has evolved in India; but Nagaur has shown the way, establishing a culture of public-private partnership, of genuine inclusiveness in a professional environment.

Finance was tightly controlled in the Rajasthani tradition of vigilant, frugal and judicious spending. Not a single rupee was unnecessarily spent or wasted. The amount of conservation work achieved in this project was an indicator of the highest efficiency. The judicious expenditure and optimal output was deeply

Minakshi Jain teaches at CEPT, Ahmedabad, in Architecture and Urban Design. Under her, many reports on historic cities of Gujarat have been produced. She has co-authored Mud Architecture of the Indian Desert, Fort of Nagaur and Indian City in the Arid West, with Prof. K. Jain. She is currently involved in the conservation of Nagaur Fort in Rajasthan with the Meherangarh Museum Trust and funding from the Getty Foundation, USA.