Architecture Update June 2015

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editorspeaks “The limits of architecture are its strengths. Its inability to give form to a transient idea, its inevitable tendency to stabilise, is the latent power of architecture.”

- David Chipperfield

Editor Shashikant Hegde

The power to revamp the existing has marked tremendous change in our

Editorial Advisor Dr M S Kapadia

quotients of one's living. A few mimic the past, a few stand as a tribute to the lost

Editorial Coordinator Alma Odil

ecosystem.

Advisors (Technical) Prof. Akhtar Chauhan Principal, Rizvi College of Architecture, Mumbai

The changing construction scenario in India has altered the architecture pattern

Ar. Karan Grover Karan Grover & Associates, Vadodara

environment, societal status, living culture, and many tangible and intangible culture, while the rest either resist camouflage or beautifully merge with the

language of the country. This land of diversity flaunts with architectural assortment- Persian, Mughal, British and Hindu. These, even today, communicate their ancestors’ rich cultural roots. Although, back then, formal architecture education didn't exist; masons and visionaries envisaged structures to play amicably with its

Ar. Manit Rastogi Principal Architect, morphogenesis, New Delhi I Bangalore

environment, its culture and its microclimate. These living structures are lessons of

Prof. K. Jaisim JAISIM-FOUNTAINHEAD, Bangalore

In this issue, we have made an attempt to recall those lessons via architecture

Ar. Dikshu C. Kukreja CP Kukreja Architects, New Delhi

lessons of the past to serve the needs of the present. Choice of materials and their

Design & Production

a pleasure to share works of Ar. Siddharth Menon for his humanitarian and down-

Art Director Satish Kamath

to-earth approach. A project by Archohm represents metamorphosis of Islamic

Graphic Designers Madhukar Ingavale Nitin Parkar Rajendra Vichare

hand, a project by Thinkspace Architects has beautifully transmuted traditional

Product Head Abhishek Mishra Sr. Sales Executive Saurabh Singh Subscription Rosebin Mukadam Head - Circulation Raju Chendavankar Senior Vice President Sanjeev Singh

Printed, published and edited by Shashikant Hegde on behalf of Economic Research India Pvt. Ltd., published at Sterling House, 5/7 Sorabji Santuk Lane, Off Dr. Cawasji Hormasji Lane, Dhobi Talao, Mumbai - 400 002 and printed at Jayant Printery, 352/54, J. S. S. Road, Murlidhar Temple Compound, Near Thakurdwar P. O, Mumbai - 400 002.

Editor: Shashikant Hegde

04 Architecture Update June 2015

architecture to learn, imbibe and evolve.

projects designed for the place. Architects of our time have brilliantly applied the evolving dynamic characteristics have reciprocated ‘architecture timelessness’. It’s

tradition in today’s time through material and architecture language. On the other Indian ethnicity into an urban context.

A young architect Veerendranath Satrasala has demonstrated the potential of indigenous materials in his thesis for M.Arch in Sustainable Architecture through different modules of viability. A radical approach towards balanced ecosystem is the way forward to rise in betterment.

PEACE!

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INDEX

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06 Architecture Update June 2015

DISCLAIMER This book is for information purposes only. All rights reserved. All copyright in this book and related works is solely and exclusively owned by Economic Research India Pvt. Ltd. While due care has been taken during the compilation to ensure that the information is accurate to the best of Economic Research India Pvt. Ltd.' knowledge and belief, the content is not to be construed in any manner whatsoever as a substitute for professional advice.

Economic Research India Pvt. Ltd. neither recommends nor endorse any specific products or services that may have been mentioned in this book and nor do they assume any liability or responsibility for the outcome of decisions taken as a result of any reliance placed on this document.

Economic Research India Pvt. Ltd. shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages that may arise due to any act or omission on the part of the user due to any reliance placed or guidance taken from any portion of this book.

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JUNE 2015

ISSUE 5 VOLUME 09

Contents THESIS

HARMONY WITHIN

Ar. Veerendranath Satrasala M.Arch in Sustainable Architecture

De Stijl House, New Delhi AKDA

19 20 22 24 28 31 34 IS OUR ARCHITECTURE RESPONSIVE? Apoorva Nandish

HEAVENLY CRAFTED Poonam Gupta Alchemy De Luxe

A DRAMATIC COALESCENCE Hilla Shamia

08 Architecture Update June 2015

SYNTHESIS OF TWO WORLDS Raviraj Koti’s Residence, Gadag, Karnataka Thinkspace Architects

ARCHITECTURAL SYMBIOSIS National Institution of Faith Leadership, Dasna, UP Archohm

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SMALL CHANGES CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

DOWN TO EARTH Naresh Maheshwari CEO, Pergo Pvt. Ltd.

Sandip Somany JMD, HSIL Ltd.

REGIONAL DIALECT Yakshi Learning Centre, Medak, Telangana Ar. Siddharth Menon

VARIETY AT ONE’S DELIGHT

36 38 41 42 44 46 47

Firdaus Variava VP, Bharat Flooring

GLASS IS HERE TO STAY

SUNNY SIDE UP

Harish Gupta VP Architecture & Business Development Head Glass Wall Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd.

The Shining Star International School, UAE Studio KIA

STONE DESIGN DECODED Ruchika Grover Odyssey Stone Architecture & Design Architecture Update June 2015

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Pulse architects

TCS Restores Rajabai Clock Tower and Library ata Consultancy Services, a leading IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, announced the restoration of the iconic Rajabai Clock Tower and Library building in coordination with Indian Heritage Society, Mumbai.

The Rajabai Clock Tower is located in Fort campus of the University of Mumbai. Modelled on the lines of London’s “Big Ben”, the tower stands at a height of 85 m (280 ft.). The foundation stone was laid on March 1, 1869 and the construction was completed in November 1878.

Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, an English architect, it reflects the Gothic and Venetian style of architecture. The architectural restoration was undertaken by Somaya and Kalappa Consultants. It involved structural services (stoning, restoring woodwork, water-proofing, electrical

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work and fire alarms), interior works along with ensuring the longevity of the building for future generations.

One of the enormous challenges of this project was to implement sensitive restoration and repair work of the clock tower, with the clock functioning and working at a height of 870m (approximately 29 floors). This was carried on successfully via specialist workers and restorers. The end result is a phenomenal building reinstated to its magnificence.

The occasion was marked by the release of a coffee table book showcasing the immense beauty and heritage of this legacy defining structure. Present on the occasion were N Chandrasekaran, CEO and MD, TCS; Dr Rajan M Welukar, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Mumbai University and Anita Garware, Chairperson, Indian Heritage Society.

“Mumbai Needs Liberal DP” ointing out that the cities of Hyderabad and Ahmedabad have benefited from liberal realty norms, a noted architect and urban planner, Ar. Bimal Patel, has called for Mumbai urban planners to adopt similar DP. Amid Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ move to junk the proposed new DP, Patel emphasized, “The departures proposed in the Mumbai DP are in correct direction.” “Mumbai desperately needs them,” he said pointing out that urban plans in India have generally failed.

Mumbai’s planners are learning, the hard way, that the politics of planning is far more important than its technical aspects. Good ideas are not adopted simply because they are good. For them to be adopted, powerful people have to believe in them, Patel, President of CEPT (Center for Environmental Planning and Technology) University, Ahmedabad, said.

He expressed the hope that Mumbai’s planners will use the coming four months to engage with key decision and opinion makers to convince them of the merit of their proposals and not to reverse their proposals.

Patel felt that Mumbai’s planners have, for example, liberalized FSI limits to dispel artificial scarcity created by earlier plans; rightly recognized that FSI limits do not limit population densities but only limit floor space consumption; integrated land use proposals with the city’s

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010 Architecture Update June 2015

transportation networks; simplified FSI regulations to ease governance and unshackle architecture; adopted policies for more efficient land use; abandoned the policy of reserving specific plots in favour of a fairer approach that distributes the cost of creating public benefits more broadly; they have liberalized rigid zoning in favour of mixed-use zoning; and they have proposed new regulations to provide better accessibility for disabled people. Despite the fact that these require an immediate changes, he said, DP-2034 is being criticized for many “errors” and is being vehemently opposed for its policy departures. Urban planning requires technical as well as political acumen, Patel added.

Stage One Constructs UK Pavilion for Milan Expo 2015 nder the title ‘Grown in Britain & Northern Ireland’, the UK’s response to the Milan Expo’s theme ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life’ is a 1,910 sq m Pavilion boasting an impressive design and complex structure erected by creative construction and manufacturing company-- Stage One. Award-winning British talent was selected by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to conceive and build the Pavilion for the World Expo 2015 in

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Milan. It is developed around the concept of a beehive and how new research and technology are helping to address food security and biodiversity.

Designed by Nottingham-based artist Wolfgang Buttress in collaboration with engineer Tristan Simmonds and Manchester-based architectural practice BDP, the immersive Pavilion has been entirely manufactured and constructed by York-based firm Stage One. Visitors to the Pavilion follow the dance of a bee, travelling through a series of landscapes. The experience starts with a journey through an orchard, followed by a wild flower meadow and on to an impressive centrepiece: The Hive, a 14m-cubed sculptural element uses light and sound to simulate the activity of a real beehive.

Machined and fabricated at Stage One’s factory just outside York, the Hive is constructed from 169,300 individual aluminium components.

Assembled in 32 horizontal layers,

the structure comprises three main components: chords, rods and nodes. The concentric zig-zag shaped chords form the main body of the hive and are connected to rods measuring up to one metre long.

Semi-circular nodes located at the intersections of the overlapping chords provide connection points for the rods. Fundamental to the Hive concept is the spherical void in the centre of the Hive, which allows people to walk inside and experience the sensory representation of the bees’ activity. The LED light fittings, embedded into the aluminium node components, glow and pulsate to represent the activity captured via an accelerometer within a real beehive located almost a thousand miles away in Nottingham.

PROJECT TEAM Artist and creative lead: Wolfgang Buttress Pavilion manufacture and production: Stage One Structural engineers: Simmonds Studio Architecture, landscape architecture and environmental engineering: BDP Physicist and bee expert: Dr Martin Bencsik Photo credits: Hufton+Crow / courtesy of UKTI

Omkar Realtors Obtains Consent for Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat Redevelopment umbai’s leading realty brand in redevelopment segment, Omkar Realtors & Developers Private Limited (ORDPL), has bagged the mandatory consent of eligible tenants for redeveloping Saibaba Nagar SRA Co-operative Housing society (proposed), popularly known as the Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat project located in Mumbai through its subsidiary Omkar Realtors Projects Pvt Ltd. In a secret ballot carried out by Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), an overwhelming majority of the slum dwellers /members reiterated their consent for Omkar Realtors Projects Pvt Ltd. (ORPPL) to redevelop the slum location adjoining Dhobi Ghat at Saat Rasta. While the heritage washing area would retain its existing identity, the slums housing approximately 1,118 families would be rehabilitated by the ORPPL. The century-old Dhobi Ghat, known as world’s largest open-air Laundromat, is situated near Mahalaxmi station and the race course. The heritage washing zone is also home to close to 8,000 slum dwellers.

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Blocher Blocher India Pvt. Ltd. Wins International Design Awards he International Design Awards, founded in 2007, annually honour the worldwide best projects in architecture and interior design as well as products, graphics and fashion. This year over 1,000 submissions from 52 countries was entered. One of the big winners: Blocher India Pvt. Ltd., whose architecture for the building ensemble Mondeal Square won the First Prize in the category office buildings. Located in Ahmedabad on the S.G. Highway, the ensemble offers a total floor space of 17,000 sq m, of which 3,600 comprise commercial space, as well as ten storeys for office usage.

During the day, the striking structure of the curtain façade defines the two buildings. The vertical struts and horizontal panes made of white aluminium profiles serve not only for a long-range effect but also for shade. As a contrast to the main façade, the rear side of the building is stylishly more restrained with a horizontal lamella façade. This is where the stairwells are located, also providing access – besides the elevators - to the office floors from the third to the tenth floor. The way

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these can be designed is exemplified

by Blocher Blocher India on the top floor. Open exposed concrete ceilings and light grey tiles interplay with glass dividing walls, conveying a sense of minimalistic elegance and transparency. Wooden wall elements and the light interior provide the premises with warmth and increased quality-of-stay for the employees.

At night, the ensemble unfolds a very special charm. The buildings have the largest media facade in India, consisting of LED bands with a total length of approximately five Kms, covering the 5,300 sq m glazed façade. They can be lit completely individually to display movement, colour sequences or even silhouettes of moving figures.

The buildings meet the passer-by with an inviting gesture – also because of the fusion of architecture and public space. The outdoor areas and staircases pick up on the height differences of the surroundings and form an organic unit of plateaus and stepped landscapes. The Planners renounced structural boundary and relied on palms as a natural green marker.

South Bend Appointed AS+GG outh Bend, Ind. - Union Station Technology Centre (USTC), the largest data centre in northern Indiana and the second largest carrier hotel in the state, has announced its selection of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) to lead the campus design of the former Studebaker corridor located on the Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill south-west edge of down-town South Architecture Bend in an area known as the Project architects: Adrian Renaissance District. The area will be Smith and Gordon Gill developed as part of a mixed-use campus consisting of more than one million square feet of Class A office, education, technology, research grade manufacturing, data centre and live-work spaces. From its origins as a waggon company, the Studebaker Corporation became the nation’s fourth largest auto-mobile manufacturer employing as many as 23,000 people in South Bend prior to their closure in 1963. The Studebaker corridor redevelopment project provides a platform to enable a new wave of data and technology companies to thrive in South Bend. When completed, the lights will be turned back on in these highly visible, iconic structures and people will once again work and live in this once abandoned urban corridor.

South Bend’s only remaining Studebaker manufacturing facility and its surrounding area honours the legacy of the company that built South Bend and embodies the continuity of innovation that began in the mid-1800s. That innovation will now live on by transforming a once abandoned facility into a large scale, sustainably designed tech hub that promises to spur a second economic boom for South Bend and the surrounding region.

For more information about the Renaissance District, please visit www.ustechcenter.com/RenaissanceDistrict

Kolman Boye Architects, Benchmark and AHEC Collaborate for Wallpaper* he American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) partnered with architects Kolman Boye and furnituremakers Benchmark to showcase a towering structure of food plates in a commission for Wallpaper* Handmade 2015 called the ‘Rotunda Serotina’.

The Danish/Swedish architects Kolman Boye was invited

by Wallpaper* to design a candy-store concept for serving free savoury biscuits from local bistro T’a Milano.

Wallpaper* teamed up the designers with Benchmark, a company which has almost unparalleled knowledge of wood, to build the structure in collaboration with AHEC, the leading international trade association for the American hardwood industry. Constructed entirely of American cherry (Prunus serotina), the installation was a massive success at the Wallpaper* Arcade over the course of five days (April 14 - 18, 2015).

The tall columns of shelves were arranged in a cylindrical shape so that a single ladder could slide around inside the structure to scale every shelf. Each shelf in the Rotunda held rows of cherry wood snack trays. The diameter and the height of the Rotunda are 3.7 m. In total 3,084 separate pieces connected by 1,008 joints to make up the ‘skeleton’ of the Rotunda together with 528 trays for the surface layer, all assembled without the use of nails, screws or glue.

Rotunda Serotina is one of a number of AHEC projects in 2015 that will celebrate cherry. There are already indications that furniture designers are looking at cherry wood again as a material of choice which hopefully will lead to it becoming architecturally fashionable in the near future. The Rotunda Serotina has its own full Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) created by consultants thinkstep using data from AHEC’s groundbreaking LCA study of U.S. sawn hardwood and data collected by Benchmark during the manufacturing process.

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Omkar launches ‘Tower A’ at Omkar 1973 Worli Project

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mkar Realtors and Developers announced the launch of Tower A in its flagship ultra-luxurious residential development Omkar 1973 Worli. Tower A offers limited edition done-up boutique sky apartments ranging from 3,000 sq ft to 18,000 sq.ft floor plate and priced between `15 crore – `100 crore and offers a stunning view of the city and the Arabian Sea. Omkar 1973 Worli, encompassing three towers, on completion will scale beyond a combined height of 800 meters. Spread over 9 acres, the project derives its unique name from the latitude and longitudinal coordinates of Mumbai city and is designed by world's most admired architecture design firm Foster + Partners.

'Omkar 1973' also marks the debut of leading global architecture designers

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and luxury service providers in the Indian residential realty space. The design team of the project is led by world renowned architecture designer Foster + Partners along with HBA (UK/interiors), Buro Happold (UK/structural designer), Larsen & Toubro (India/construction), DHA (UK) - renowned lighting designer and LDA (UK) – leading landscape artists while amenities provider includes ESPA (UK) - creator of world's leading spas’ and Barkley (USA) - premier pet care facility.

The planned delivery schedule of these three towers is beginning mid2017. Adding to the premium quotient of the location is the direct access from Annie Besant Road and Bandra Worli Sea Link with close proximity to BKC on one side and Nariman Point on the other. The design perspective of the sky bungalows has focused on creating and amalgamating the luxury of spacious rooms, lavish balconies, high ceilings and exclusivity quotient with the sea view and personalized amenities; a perfect juxtaposition of old world charm with modern age amenities.

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Assetz Property Group wins CREDAI Awards ssetz Property Group, the Singapore head-quartered property development group, has been selected as recipient of one of the most coveted awards, the CREDAI Awards for Real Estate (CARE Awards) 2015. The CARE Awards are given to the CREDAI members for their exemplary work and best practices in the industry.

Assetz has won CARE Awards in two categories ‘Best Dwelling above 1500 sq ft (Residential)’ and ‘Best Innovative Designing (Residential)’, for the Bangalore Zone.

27 Park Avenue, one of the premium residential projects from the Assetz, houses exclusive ultra-luxurious condominiums nestled in the verdant greens of the city. The site itself is open on 3 sides with a large 5 acre park on the fourth; making it ideal for a serene lifestyle. The units are offered 4 Bedroom + configurations

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and amenities include high-end gymnasium with high specification equipment, well-appointed soiree spaces and rooftop infinity pool amongst others. The project ensures, that the dwellers truly lead the elevated luxury living that they deserve. Both the awards are quite apt for 27 Park Avenue, as it offers a world-class residential abode along with a marvellous architectural grandeur.

The 2nd edition of the CREDAI Awards for Real Estate (CARE Awards) 2015 witnessed a huge participation from above 200 developers across Karnataka. The awards were presented across multiple categories for North Karnataka, South Karnataka and Bangalore City and the winners were chosen after a rigorous assessment process carried out by trained experts and distinguished jury.

HUESNSTROKES.COM: A Customized Affordable Art Portal rt and artistic works have existed for almost as long as humankind from early pre-historic art to contemporary.

Art represents a set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices. Culture and creativity manifest in almost all economic, social and other activities. A country as diverse as India is symbolized by the plurality of culture and art forms.

Huesnstrokes.com has been set as a platform to showcase India’s vibrant untapped talent. This portal has been set up by Anita Wadhwani with artist Akshay Verma as a consultant.

The portal features artists from across India including from Tier II and Tier III cities and has participation from smaller towns such as Katni (Madhya Pradesh), Ludhiana (Punjab), Guwahati (Assam), Beed (Maharashtra) and

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Nashik (Maharashtra) to name a few.

Additionally, this art portal also provides customization of art, wherein the customer can choose an artist from the portal and a painting can be specially tailor made as per the requirement of the customer in terms of size, colour, aesthetics and even budget. The portal features different genre of art and includes abstract, calligraphy, madhubani, murals, nature, portraits, figurative, religious, landscape, charcoal drawings, contemporary, children as well as sculptures and photographs.

The portal currently features 200 artists with 2,000 paintings and plans are to increase this to 500 artists and 10,000 paintings by July’15. Every painting/sculpture is an original work of art and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. The paintings in the portal are reasonably priced and commence from 2,000 onwards. The portal offers Cash on Delivery services and the painting are delivered within 12 days of receiving the order by Fedex. The shipping of the paintings is free of cost.

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NAREDCO Requested for Special Package for Real Estate Sector nder the leadership of Sunil Mantri, President, NAREDCO, a delegation of few key members met with Hon’ble Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.

The outcome of the discussion was to create 2 Crore housing units to kick start the economy, achieve higher GDP growth, create more jobs and to provide shelter to all.

The discussion also raised important issues for government’s consideration, which are necessary for the revival of theIndian economy in general and real estate sector in particular.

Mantri’s concern for the matter was that the housing sector has been kept out of the Infrastructure definition while water supply, sanitation, sewage, solid waste management, road etc which are part and parcel of a housing project are in it. He emphasized that it’s the long outstanding demand that

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housing should be included in the Infrastructure definition under Section 80IA of IT Act 1961 as it has the potential to improve funding of housing projects and augment supply of housing which will help in meeting the target of housing for all by 2022.

Suggestion was made to reintroduce the section 80IB (10) of IT Act to encourage developers to undertake large scale affordable housing construction, interest subvention of home loans to bring it down to 7-8 % and increase in limit of priority sector lending to `50 Lakh in mega cities where land cost is very high.

To provide relief to home buyers, it was suggested that home loan interest deduction available U/S 24 (b) of IT Act 1961 should be raised to `4 Lakh from 2 Lakh and section 43CA, 50C & 56 should be reviewed to avoid double taxation.

DLF Place Awarded by Images Shopping Centre Awards (ISCA) LF Place, New Delhi has created a firm mark for itself over Delhi’s shopping and entertainment landscape. With prestigious awards in their kitty, DLF Place has now been awarded the Most admired Shopping Centre for Marketing & Promotions in North India by Images Shopping Centre Awards 2015, recently held at Renaissance, Mumbai. The awards night witnessed various trophies being presented to shopping centres from all corners of the country. Images Shopping Centre Awards (ISCA) recognises outstanding achievers in the domestic market. Having just 29 categories and a diverse number of competitors, DLF Place proved to win the hearts of the consumers and jury.

Sprawled over 7,50,000 sq ft., DLF Place, Saket is a premium lifestyle destination which promises to provide a consistent, vibrant shopping and entertainment experience in the heart of New Delhi. A distinctive spectrum of luxury brands, premium designers and high street labels makes it the ultimate lifestyle experience for all retail and entertainment needs across more than 150 retail points of DLF Place.

Previously also it has received awards such as Best Food Court Award and Customer Service Award 2014 by Franchise India, 2014.

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Under The Roof Now in South Mumbai

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nder the Roof– Home Concepts, an innovative South Mumbai Home Décor store that houses a wide range of products has been launched in the heart of Mumbai at Raghuvanshi Mill Compound, Lower Parel. As the name suggests, the store offers premium quality, highend designs and is home to an extensive variety of Designer Tiles, Imported Marble, Stone Articles, Sanitary Ware, Bathroom Fittings, Bath Tubs, Jacuzzi, Pebbles and Stones, Sauna and Steam, and a broad range of Interior and Exterior Luxury Concepts. Located in the heart of Mumbai’s Home Décor Hub, the store is spacious and displays an array of unique products from various countries including Spain, Italy, Thailand, Indonesia, Turkey, Portugal, USA, Brazil, Germany, India etc.

Some of the products that the store houses are: Tiles: The Store houses a great collection of tiles such as – unglazed ceramic, patchwork style, mosaic style, glass tiles, extruded tiles, resin tiles, wooden laminated, Spanish rustic tiles and many international brands from Italy, Spain, France and Thailand. Available in wide variety, the designer and imported Tiles collection are apt for both, walls and floors.

Sanitary ware and Bathroom Fittings: No matter its type, Bathroom Fittings

can make a big statement or quietly enhance a room's overall design. We offer a wide range for you to choose from surfaces, add-on conveniences and enclosures that combine to create pretty, practical and personalized bath experiences.

Spa Concepts, Jacuzzi and Bathtubs: All Jacuzzi brand bathtubs are made from the highest-quality acrylic. The Store offers home spa options that become not only a restorative retreat but a personal haven. With a wide spectrum of shower models, configurations and styles, it is easy to create and install a custom shower experience offering so much more that other showers.

Kitchen: New-age hub chimneys, electric stove-tops, refrigerators with latest advanced features, stain-proof and leakage proof tiles, heat-resistant and stain-proof kitchen counter-tops and installation of French windows in the kitchen area to make the space appear cluster-free and spacious are few of the trending features in the kitchen industry related to fixtures and design that are available at the Store.

Pebbles and Crystal Stones: The Store offers a wide variety of pebbles and crystals easily customized to the customer’s choice.

Marbles: The Store offers a variety of Marble Floor Tile options in different colours, patterns and sizes as per the client’s requirement.

Interface launches “Office On Wheels”

eading carpet tile manufacturer, Interface, announced the launch of its new initiative “Office on Wheels” at Hyderabad. The objective of this innovative initiative is to make the target group of architects and interior designers in Hyderabad aware of the company’s latest modular carpet collection ‘Human Nature™’.

Interface makes and sells the industry’s largest and most diverse range of carpet tiles suitable for every kind of commercial installation. Interface modular flooring combines a high degree of functionality with a genuine sense of style. In all its ranges, Interface offers specifiers, architects and interior designers an almost infinite variety of colour combinations, textures and patterns.

Human Nature, the new carpet tile collection from Interface, is based on the premise that workplace interiors

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The Furniture Republic’s New Store in Kirti Nagar

The Great Eastern Home Introduces ‘Light Room’

enowned for its collection of luxury furniture, The Great Eastern Home introduces its exclusive ‘Light Room’. Spread across 2,000 sq ft., the new Light Room is unique and timeless and offers its buyers an exquisite

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assortment of wall lights, lamps, floor light, table lights, suspensions and chandeliers that assure a touch of elegance and pride that will leave your guests awe struck.

The Great Eastern Home, a furniture and lifestyle store that has become synonymous with magnificence and luxury, is an ideal destination for high end luxury. Magnificently crafted in brass and gilded with gold, these exclusive lights are timeless and evoke a sense of aristocracy. Classical décor styles reworked by contemporary designers to give a cutting edge look allows to find the perfect way to light veranda or create an elegant setting in dining room with an intricate chandelier.

These extravagant lights from The Great Eastern Home are crafted to perfection which makes them extraordinary and one-of-a-kind.

inspired by nature can inspire beautiful thinking. Designed by David Oakey, Human Nature features five 25cm x 1m Skinny Planks™ carpet tile patterns that evoke a variety of earthly textures, from tumbled pebbles to freshly cut grass, all the while offering smooth transitions to surfaces that mimic traditional hard flooring, like wellworn wood and polished stone. The Skinny Planks design element flows fluidly from one tile to the next, creating a seamless broadloom look in linear installations. They also pair perfectly with 50 cm and 1m square carpet tiles, and they are ideal for composing imaginative floor designs — herringbone patterns, inset area rugs and directional patterns for way-finding.

Additionally, the format offers another important advantage over hard surface flooring: carpet tile absorbs sound and allows for the inclusion of zones with improved acoustics, creating more comfortable, productive work environments. Human Nature also embodies Interface’s 20-year history as a sustainability pioneer. Made with 100% recycled content nylon yarn.

he Furniture Republic, the storehouse of choicest & handpicked furniture & decorative accessories from across the globe, has opened a grand new store in Kirti Nagar, New Delhi and offers uber cool interiors meant for the style connoisseurs of today who value the finer things in life. Spread over a sprawling 1,200 sq ft, the 3 storied new store of The Furniture Republic redefines lifestyle & urban luxury designs with its diverse product range which will add panache to your home décor The new store has been beautifully designed which will enthral you and is sure to surprise you with its breathtaking décor collection. The hand painted walls of the store is

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outstanding which gives a dash of fresh and elevated look while the hand painted bamboo partitions accentuates the ambience of the store, making it exceptionally beautiful. TFR offers modern furniture for the urban-minded customer. Their designs are stylish, modern and vibrant and in tune with customer’s requirement. The store has a new range of products distinctively displayed for living room, dining area, bedroom and outdoor. One can experience an inspiring mix of modern, fusion and traditional styles of home décor products selected with much zeal and enthusiasm keeping in mind the taste of contemporary homes. This store offers exquisite Sofas, Sofa cum beds, Chairs & Lounges, Coffee Tables, Bar Units, Cabinets & Shelves, Beds & Bedsides, Carpets & Rugs, Poufs & Bathmats, Dining Tables & Chairs, Dining Sets, Side & End Tables and many other accessories.

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Pulse brand High Performance Sterling Generators Powered by Volvo Penta terling Generators, one of the largest manufacturer of DG Sets in Asia, presents its new generation Sterling Generators DG Sets powered

by Volvo Penta engines that offer high performance and are long lasting in nature. The Volvo Penta diesel engine was designed in advance for today’s uncompromising demands within the power generation industry and includes superior performance and reliability. This range of DG sets is between 250KVA – 650KVA. The Volvo Penta Diesel Generator Set has enhanced operating economy, environmental performance and effective combustion which produces low exhaust emissions and decreases fuel consumption.

The new generation DG sets from Sterling Generators powered by Volvo Penta engines are fuel efficient and produce a consistent performance.

These DG sets are easy to support and service. Their premium design combined with a reliable engine after

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Somany Ceramics Inaugurates an Experience Centre in Sahibabad omany Ceramics Ltd, one of the leaders in the Indian ceramic industry, inaugurated its Grande showroom, Kohinoor Stone Impex, located at 40A/17, 1st Floor, Site4, Industrial area, Main Link road, Sahibabad, Near Europark mall and was inaugurated by Abhishek Somany, Joint Managing Director, Somany Ceramics Ltd. Speaking on the occasion, Somany said, they are delighted to expand their presence in Uttar Pradesh by opening their Grande showroom in Sahibabad. In the past few years, Sahibabad has witnessed a high growth rate, majority due to its relatively cheaper land rates, proximity to Delhi, NOIDA and Ghaziabad and easy availability of basic amenities. Somany

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endeavours to keep pace with the rapid growth of the city and the increasing demand for tiles, sanitaryware and bath fittings that are a blend of tradition and modernity.

The newly launched Grande showroom will give people the access to high-end international quality tiles, sanitaryware & bath fittings products at their doorstep.

With its extensive range of offerings, Somany as a brand is focused on delivering products in accordance with the latest designs, technology and concept. These outlets offer exclusive tiles as well as sanitary ware and bath fittings, with the durability, finish and lowmaintenance that have become the hallmark of Somany product range.

Pidilite unveils Roff Tile Bonder idilite Industries Ltd, one of the leading companies in construction chemicals, unveiled its latest innovative offering Roff Tile Bonder, an economical and environmentally safe on-site mix additive for cement. Roff Tile Bonder not only improves the strength of cement but also enhances its workability for fixing of tiles.

Roff Tile Bonder is a unique product that exhibits very high water retention and thus reduces the absorption of water. It is a specially formulated additive that can be used in conventional cement machan or levelling bed application for both horizontal and vertical areas.

It is easy to apply and showcases exceptional bonding properties. It provides good workability, sufficient sag resistance as well as appropriate setting time. It is adjustable even at low dosages and high ambient temperatures. It makes cement self-cured. It can be used with both grey and white cement and can be used for various type of tiles like Ceramic Tiles, Vitrified tiles, Aerated / Autoclaved Lightweight Concrete (ALC).

Roff Tile Bonder is available in packaging of 1 kg containers and will be available at leading Roff retailers.

More details, roff@pidilite.co.in, Toll Free No.: 1800 2255 02

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014 Architecture Update June 2015

treatment system offers increased uptime as well as low cost of ownership. The Sterling Generator Volvo Penta DG sets are designed for easy installation to meet a varied range of needs.

Commenting on the Sterling Generators Volvo Penta series DG sets, Sanjay Jadhav, President, Sterling and Wilson Powergen Pvt Ltd said, “ DG sets offer very reliable performance, reduced vibrations and lower ownership cost along with improved emission levels and smoke characteristics and have lesser NOx, CO, PM and HC emission levels as compared to new CPCB norms.”

Visit us at www.sterlinggenerators.com

Ambuja Cement Joins Hands with NSDC n line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Skill India’, Ambuja Cement, one of India’s major cement manufacturers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to train over 1 lakh people across 14 locations in the country. According to the agreement, the training will be delivered by SEDI, which is an institute under Ambuja Cement Foundation.

SEDI will be responsible for taking care of capacity building in identified skills, personality development, upgradation on technological advances like computer skills, English speaking and on the job training etc., to reduce the skill gap in the target sector. The organization plans to upscale its training institutes manifold in the coming years in order to supply the market with skilled professional and simultaneously with enhancing the standard of living and quality of life of the rural population.

SEDI will develop a network with the industries for placements and banks for providing self-employment opportunities to the skilled trainees.

Post successful training, trainees will be provided internship and on-thejob training in partner companies like Ambuja Cements Ltd., HP Energy

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Pvt. Ltd., Cosmo fertilizers, Bharat Motors, SBR Marketing, various security companies, Fortune Group, Jubilant, Dealers and distributor network of two wheeler and their service centres of reputed companies, etc.

Training will be provided in sectors like Hospitality, Retail, Driving, Security, Electrical, Automobile, Construction, Carpentry, Beauty Culture, Garment Making, Fitter & Welder and Computer Training. The training will be conducted across 14 locations where Ambuja has its presence. These include Bhatpara (Chattisgarh), Chandrapur (Maharashtra), Panvel (Maharashtra), Chindwara (Madhya Pradesh), Chirawa (Rajasthan), Mundwa (Rajasthan), Dadri (Uttar Pradesh), Sankrail (West Bengal), Farakka (West Bengal), Roorkee (Uttarakhand), Kodinar (Gujarat), Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Jaitaran (Rajasthan) and Darlaghat (Himachal Pradesh).

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new launch D&M offeringsIntegrated Office Solutions

Beat the heat with uPVC Windows from Encraft

Introducing Sun Shade Louvers by NOTION

&M India’s premier brand of integrated interior solutions which brings international names like JEB-Integra, Tandus, WalterKnoll, Woven Image, and Waldmann, among others to the Indian market, introduces its new office solution.

D&M offers a bouquet of iconic international brands and a wide selection of products to create an impressive commercial spaces and creative workplaces.

QB Office (partition)- QB Office is the stylish, flexible and cost-effective way to make the most of all the spaces at workplace creat additional workspaces with the comfort levels of normal offices which could be moved when business needs change, without any waste or dilapidation costs. QB Office spaces are available in a range of shapes and sizes and can be customised to match exact requirements.

Pulse Talk (lighting) - It provides a pleasant, inspiring lighting scenario. The state-of-the-art wireless module enables luminaries in a group to communicate with each other. By exchanging presence detection information, the group of luminaries reacts to people coming and going and adjusts the lighting accordingly.

Pulse Talk avoids darkness and light islands, generates a feeling of security and a pleasant working atmosphere, thus an enhancing ability to perform SUNON (furniture)- Sunon is China's No. 1 brand of office furniture. The range includes chairs, desks, workstations, combinations of various desks & tables, seating and cabinets, as well as panel systems and training furniture. The furniture is used by the business leaders in India and other signature projects by D&M.

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igh-performance glazing technologies such as double glazing from Encraft India can contribute significantly towards a better living environment. Double glazing, a 1960’s invention, can best be described as two glass panes separated by a metallic or nowadays plastic spacer bar, with air or gas filling between the panes, hermetically sealed around the edges. This idea has conquered the modern fenestration industry because it can be applied to all climatic conditions in the world.

Thermal insulation–Encraft uPVC frames manufactured from multi-chambered uPVC profiles have an inherent, high thermal performance which can be enhanced further by choosing insulating double or triple glazed units. Heat/coolness losses through different materials or various parts of the building can be compared by their Uvalues. Lower U-value means better insulation, higher heat/coolness retention, energy cost savings and Carbon/CO2 reduction.

Sound proofing - When combining uPVC frames with their inherent excellent insulation properties with thick glass, or laminated glass, or double or multiple glazing unwanted noise penetration can be reduced to acceptable comfort levels.

Sound reduction or noise filtering function in decibels (dB) can be achieved with single glazing as well as multiple glazing albeit double glazing has more scope by virtue of varying the different glass pane thickness by at least 30% i.e. 6 mm + 4 mm or 8 mm + 6 mm, in order to offset individual resonances and to break the sound frequency.

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ot summer days can make your home exterior as well as interior feel like a sauna. Not everyone has the pleasure to take luxurious comfort. So, revamping your façade, fence and terrace area with beautifully looking Sun Shade Louvers by “NOTION”- is the foremost in solution.

The Sun Shade Louvers by Notion is a customized product during the design phase and can be fixed on different inclination i.e. 22.5º, 45º or 67.5º.

They are perfect to be used as a sun shade, louvers, fence, façade balcony fence etc. These shades are made from solid wood and fixed on special aluminium clips, which adds aesthetics value and versatility to your area or façade. This product is an alternate to the old wooden façade or cladding, it also protects from direct sun rays but allows the wind to pass through. The USP of this product is when used up against a house, it reduces the heat from the sun thus reducing cooling costs. It can be used over pools, ponds, decks and porches to extend their seasons.

This cladding system has a high aesthetic impact since it perfectly combines the elegance of wood and the innovation of aluminium.

Price tag: On Request Available at all NOTION Galleries

Available - All Over India.

Website; www.encraft.in

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new launch Studio Creo Introduces Living Benetti MOSS Tiles Collection tudio Creo brings a revolutionary way to dress up the walls of homes and workplace interiors with a touch of contemporary gorgeous greenery with ingenious Living MOSS Tiles

by Italian company Benetti stone. Benetti Stone takes the ‘green wall’ trend one step further with the production of lichen tiles for interiors. Moss Tiles is a panelled interior vertical garden product composed of stabilisedlichen assembled on 29.8 x 29.8 cm panels ready to be installed so within just minutes your green wall is ready. .

These moss tiles are available in different shades and shapes to spruce up your space in unique ways.

Being modular they can be placed in any configuration as a pattern, as a whole wall or in shapes of square, circle and rectangle whether single or multiple. Available in 9 natural shades of green, ‘Moss Tiles’ can be used alone or in combination with other Benetti products that symbolize and re-creates tranquil moments.

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For more information, log on to www.benettistone.com ; www.studiocreo.com

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NITCO’s Spring Summer Collection 2015

Pergo Presents Luxury Vinyl Tiles Collection

ITCO, one of India’s leading tiles and interior aesthetics solutions provider has launched ‘Spring Summer Collection 2015’ comprising of various products like Wall tiles, Digital Parking Tiles, Magnified and GVT. The highlight of this launch is NITCO Casa -' Future Homes' which will prove to be the dominant trend wherein the boundaries will dissolve while taking cues from world cultures and art forms.

Carved with state – of – the art precision, designed to soothe the soul, every NITCO Casa tile is an eclectic masterpiece inspired from the timeless shapes, forms and patterns that have defined the very foundation of art. Homes define one’s choices, preferences and personalities. A home with NITCO Casa will redefine the very definition of a home transforming it into a gallery of art, painting a magical dream space for itself on the canvas of the future.

ergo, the world’s most preferred laminate flooring brand unveils its latest Vinyl Flooring Collection. Pergo now launches Vinyl Planks & Tiles. Pergo Vinyl flooring is coming up with fourteen different designs in two quality levels i.e. Optimum & Premium. The products in Optimum range belong to Class-33 with Glue down laying system which is preferred for commercial areas & Class-32 Premium range products have PerfectFold TM 3.0 installation system, made for residential use. Pergo Vinyl Planks & Tiles is easy to install and durable, PUR (Polyurethane) coating can withstand years of use and still look beautiful.

The crystal clear Vinyl décor layer & bevels made possible by patented technology provide the vinyl floor a distinctly authentic feeling.

Being waterproof, Pergo Vinyl Planks & Tiles are easy to clean & are Hygienic in nature.

Formats available in Optimum range are: 1219 x 184 x 2.5 mm, 610 x 305 x 2.5 mm and Premium range are: 1225 x 178 x 5 mm, 1225 x 303 x 5 mm.

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Available at : ‘Le Studio’ Mumbai (2), Pune, Ahmedabad, Indore, Kolkata, Panchkula, Cochin, Coimbatore, Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi and Hyderabad.

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For information, please log on to www.pergo.co.in

RAK Ceramics Launches ‘WOOD ART’ Range AK Ceramics India, a pioneer in Indian ceramic industry, launched its innovative product and concept in tiles. The ‘ Wood Art’ range from RAK is a collection that is not only beautiful for residences but also strong and sturdy for commercial use.

There is a flourishing demand for wood finish or “wood look” vitrified tiles.

RAK offers a collection which is not only offering wooden finish but also convenience of size and thus launched Wood Art in sizes of 197 X 1198 mm and 598 X 1198 mm. The Range comes in 13 unique designs in two sizes of 598 X 1198 mm and 197 X 1198 mm.

This collection comes in rustic finish to give natural wood finish as well as to bear heavy usage in commercial spaces. The colours in this range are traditional wood shades of beige, brown, chocolate, white, etc.

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The collection can be used for residential applications and also for sturdy commercial use. The Wood Art collection has uniform, edge-to-edge surface thus creating seamless look for the floors.

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new launch Eartheque Launches an Exquisite Range of Washbasins

New Coral Series of Sink from Parryware

artheque, the one stop premium store for all utility decorative stones and furniture has introduced a variety of fashionable washbasins to add the extra elegance to your lavatories.

Eartheque gives you an irresistible rage of to pick from to adorn your homes with such stunning pieces of work.

arryware, new Coral collection will show you how a little thought can go a long way in combining utility and great design. This collection includes a variety of kitchen sink concepts that are made to perfection.

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Stand Alone Stone Washbasins: The stand-alone stone washbasin is fabricated with high quality natural stones. It comes with superior durability, strength, weather and corrosion resistance which make it easy to clean. It is available in varied shapes, sizes and finish to suit the needs and tastes of different customers.

Price range: `20,000 to `42,000.

Agate Washbasin: The Agate washbasin is designed using the semi-precious stone, amethyst. It is offered in varied colour tones and different design options.

Price range `16,000 to `38,000.

Marble Washbasin: The marble washbasin is artistic pieces. It comes in various shapes, sizes and designs can be customized as per the client’s requirement.

Durability, surface finish, service life and maintenance are some of the unique features.

Price range `8,000 to `20,000.

Brass Basins: The brass washbasin comes in different sizes, shapes, colours and designs made to order as per the customer’s needs and wants. This range of washbasins is sturdy and highly efficient.

Priced range `7,000 to `18,000.

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Smart Drain Features: Facilitates Rapid drain of water Prevents insects and keeps the sink hygienic Designed as per global standards Helps stop bad odour Prevents garbage flow Coral Series: Additional Features Smart Drain: Offset drain helps prevent water stagnation Scratch less installation: Special removable PVC coating ensures scratch less installation Capacity: Large depth bowl for heavy usage Durability: Made from high quality premium SS304 stainless steel with 1mm thickness Ergonomic Design: Outlet with 1.5 inch diameter for drainage

VitrA Unveils its Prestigious Metropole Series itrA, the leading bathroom solutions brand of Eczacibasi Building Products Division in Turkey introduces a new range of high tech and trendy bathroom furniture- Metropole. Made by the award winning design group NOA, this series offers an intelligent, innovative and timeless range of ceramic washbasins and WCs. The new Metropole range stands out for smart functionality in tastefully restrained forms. This series offers a wide range of infinite washbasins which are made with various dimensions for maximum ease of use. Metropole washbasin units are compatible with two options, mineral cast and ceramic washbasins. Washbasins with white or black glass front panes create a perfectly harmonious combination with ceramic or vanity washbasins from this range. The Pure white colour option of Metropole helps fashion an elegantly natural bathroom.

Equipped with an integrated stop valve, the range of WC from Metropole is made with VitrA fresh air. Made with a rimless WC pan, Rim-ex prevents proliferation of harmful organisms, is easy to clean and offers maximum hygiene. The tank on top of the WC pan dispenses liquid detergent every time the WC is used, cleaning the pan thoroughly for maximum hygiene.

Integrated stop valve on the WC eliminates the need to drill the water for installation and also allows users to mix hot and cold water to provide further comfort. The Metropole WC units come in two options of standard wall hung WC and compact wall hung WC. With its stylish aesthetics, sophisticated details and almost an infinite product range, Metropole is the choice of people who are on a looking out for a bathroom series to complement prestigious households.

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Mother of Pearl Washbasins: Mother of pearl, brass washbasins have mother of pearl affixed to present an antique look.

Price range `8,000 to `22,000.

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new launch D’Decor presents a Luxurious Bedding Collection his spring-summer, home couture destination, The D’Decor Store, unveils its latest opulent and elegant bedding collection with a wide assortment of contemporary designs, patterns and embroideries.

The collection comprises of an array of classy and chic bed sheets and cushion covers in soft fabrics and textures. A gamut of colours to choose; from neutrals such as pale yellow, beige, ivory, vanilla, silver, glamorous gold to earthy tones like coral, crimson red and supple brown.

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The modern range exudes dreamy floral and geometric ombre in luxe satin, pure cotton and cotton twill weaves with elegant embroidery adding a sensual and glamorous statement to your room. The thread count of every bed sheet is 400 lending a soft and cosy feel.

Ina Arora, Managing Director of D’Decor shares, “The new collection offers a variety of categories including plain coloured, printed and the dressier embroidered patterns, as well as printed stripes and checks versus the jacquard woven designs.”

Available at The D’Decor Store, Notan Heights, Opposite Turner Road, Bandra (West), Mumbai.

The D’Decor Store, Ground Floor, Interlink House, Near Satyam Shopping Centre, MG Road, Ghatkopar (East), Mumbai

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Rustic yet Urbane Coffee Tables from FabFurnish.com ecently evolved style of rustic coffee tables seem to have marked their spot in the luxury section of décor ideas. There is something absolutely classy yet functional about coffee tables. Be it those late night date meets, family gossips or me-time reading sessions, coffee table is a soul of every living area.

So display an eye catching interior in your living room with these stylish coffee tables and make an exceptional furniture addition.

The unique designs in graceful combinations of white and brown make them a smart and expedient buy.

Durably crafted with refined mango wood and oak wood, these products embellish home décor. Its expert framing gives it a hard wearing and long lasting structure.

Contrast the tables with modish couch set and other living space furnishings for a perfect appeal and make a refined inclusion to your living room.

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Bask of Royalty with Indian Inspired Sofas by gulmoharlane.com his season, add a dash of majesty to your living room with the striking Indian inspired furniture by Gulmoharlane.com. Indulge in an exotic range inspired by Indian heritage and royalty with the latest - The Regiment Chesterfield and The Regency collection enthused by muted hues to create a warm energetic setting for your living room.

The Regiment Chesterfield collection is inspired by the 1930’s chesterfield variations and provides a button tufted back and sides with a deep fixed seat. Hand-crafted flaring scroll arms and rows of antique brass nail head trim lend elegance and style to the silhouette. The front casters add that aristocratic touch to this classic design. The Regency collection was inspired by the Regency period - a period hybrid of the Indian and English sensibilities in the early 19th Century. The Regency is noted for its elegance and achievements in the fine arts and architecture. This classic sofa with neoclassical scrolls at arms and back is designed to provide enormous elegance to the living room.

Gulmoharlane believes in combining outstanding quality with astonishing value, offering a carefully curated, and assortment of home products.

Pairing timeless elements with newer twists, each item is designed to enhance a room, or inspire a memorable experience.

Price – Starting from `26,900/Available on – www.gulmoharlane.com

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In Focus city chaos ANTHONY AZAVEDO

Is Our Architecture Responsive?

Text: Apoorva Nandish prominent real estate search portal has a simplistic and innovative approach to their success. It says: Look Up (for the best).

Ironically, that holds true in an existing city fabric. Because all we see down the building is an unhealthy environment around. So, look up for a better environment or, satirically, look up for a city line floating in the filthy sky.

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Real Estate in any vertical proclaims for rich, exuberant commodities that it offers to its clients. "It’s a feather in one's cap", "Be thrilled with the scenic beauty", "A 360 degree panoramic view", "A classic vantage point", "Luxury beyond one's imagination"; an endless hubbub-- heedless to the dingy environment around. On the other hand, the tagline can be interpreted as one’s deliberate ignorance towards a degrading city. So climb up the ladder for a healthier and beautiful cityscape–shimmering façades, a labyrinth

Today’s architecture vocabulary has leaped off its dictionary into a world of gimmick. Shimmering façades, a labyrinth networks of road, impervious concrete jungle and untouchable legacies set to Urban malaise. Is there a way across the board to deal with this nuisance? networks of road, impervious concrete jungle and untouchable legacies; conjuring Urban malaise.

What practice/regulation can enliven the deprived city fabric? How to improve city’s skyline? The rising skyline is due to the soaring towers to accommodate the sprawling urban population. Can that be controlled or deviated? Or is increasing FSI the only solution to the rising demand of one's necessity?

According to Ashutosh Limaye, headResearch & Real Estate Intelligence Service, JLL India, “Increasing FSI is only the easiest way to tackle the situation as it takes 3 to 4 years to

deliver the necessity. However, it can also be addressed by building infrastructures to connect adjacent geographies to the prime city centres.

This channelling of the population to its suburbs is challenging, time-consuming and requires detailed planning of the township. The latter is by far more sustainable and welfare oriented manner of growth for a city. This further drops the real estate costs to affordable.”

Now the easiest way of addressing the issue via increased FSI has further degraded the built environment. Lack of wind flow between two towers, lack of natural light and ventilation indoor, lack ANTHONY AZAVEDO

of open spaces and public congregational spaces, and a congested built environment has addressed to unhealthy living conditions. And does a generic rule of increasing FSI across a sector, a better solution?

Another trend that has picked up, in recent years, is the mimic of one's culture. Although India is called a land of diversity, it carries strong roots for its existence. The architectural trends, lately, have fallen for ambiguous prey.

In Gurgaon, apartments, malls and entertainment hubs flatter for their heterogeneous culture borrowed from other countries. They are inclined to replicate the existing Venice, Singapore and Miami. Is India, a land of diversity or an expression of gimmick? Gurgaon is soon destined as the next Las Vegas with its flamboyant architecture style shooting up into skies. Following the footsteps of Gurgaon, Telangana envisages to transmute its State into a Singapore. (It’s a newly formed State, not a virgin land). It’s excruciatingly painful to witness our architectural culture on the fringes of extinction. Why are we so intrigued with their preposterous designs as to turn a blind eye to our strong cultural roots?

LEED was formed as an initiative to guide architectural practices in response to its environment; it got carried away over the years as a mark of one’s stature. A structure is a living soul, meant to design acknowledging the environment around and itself. Boat houses in Kashmir, Havelis in Rajasthan, Stilt houses in Assam and Chettinad Houses in Tamil Nadu, are a few of the examples in India that stand tall in response to their region-- microclimate, socio-cultural background and indigenous materials; whose architecture vocabulary is lost in current queer architecture style. So, where do we stand?

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DÉCOR

Hilla Shamia (b.1983) is a product designer based in Tel Aviv, Israel. After graduating in Industrial Design studies from Holon Institute of Technology (HIT), Hilla opened an independent design studio.

The studio focuses on material research and development of forms, whilst drawing tremendous inspiration from the process of time and the supposed imperfections found in nature. Hilla Shamia’s acclaimed Wood Casting™ furniture seeks to capture the unpredictable and dramatic encounter between the natural elements of wood and aluminium. Shamia first started working with this unique technology of casting metal into wood in 2012, as part of her final project in the Department of Industrial Design in HIT. Her initial thought and obsession were the connection made between two materials, without any mediating factor, as well as the contrast between two very different substances. It has been featured in major international design magazines such as Wallpaper, Dezeen, Viewpoint, Financial Times and Cosmopolitan, and has been included in major design shows such as London Design Week, Milan Design Week and Ambiente, Frankfurt.

A Dramatic Coalescence The Wood Casting™ pieces are the signature collection of Hilla Shamia Design Studio. The essence of the design lies in the nature, which is full of seemingly imperfect, unpredictable processes from which creativity emerges.They exhibit a unique combination between two materials, using a completely new technology to create a perfect balance between a natural resource and an industrial matter.

Wood Casting™ involves the use of whole tree trunks of mostly local trees. The wood is cut up lengthwise and inserted into a mould which defines the furniture’s frame and legs. The metal is then poured over the wood. The casting process is accompanied by high heat, flames and smoke.

This process produces a third material– the coal. The charcoaled strip functions as a line drawn in the meeting point between the two materials, delineating and separating them. The merging outlines of the materials provide evidence of the leaking aluminium and the carbonization of the wood, maintaining a sense of flow even when the two materials are forever frozen.

The Wood Casting™ pieces demonstrate a perfect balance between two contrasting materials.

Wood is an organic material which echoes a sense of warmth, heaviness and delicateness. Metal, on the other hand, is very durable and strong, and is characterized by a sense of industriality,

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coldness and lightness. Its silver-bluish colour contradicts the warm and earthy colours of the wood. The combination of the two is very common in the furniture industry, but the special technology of casting metal into wood allows the formation of completely new connections and geometrical adjournments between the two.

The geometrical shape of the piece sets clear boundaries to the natural form of the wood and enhances the overall sense of artificiality.

Nevertheless, the memory of the organic material and shape is present. Each material is granted the respect it deserves and fully expresses its natural qualities. The aluminium is strong and therefore functions as a constructive structure. The delicate and noble wood is elevated to the top by the aluminium and functions as a surface, supporting the body and touching the skin.

In this encounter, the element of fire is transformed from a negative process to a productive creation, with its own aesthetical and sensual values. In the Wood Casting™ pieces, the defects of the wood– its cracks, wounds and scars, as well as its process of burning– become a positive and desirable aspect.

Like in nature, each final product is unique. No two pieces of Wood Casting™ are identical, due to the production process, in which the mould is broken down. The incompleteness and randomness give the product its aesthetic value.

As in nature, the processes are exposed but still the results are surprising, each time a new.

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DÉCOR

Heavenly Crafted Gold and silver has always found their place in adorning the beauty of a woman. Mythically they are the metals of God n Goddesses. These two metals placed one above the other in a Periodic Table of Element have the history of prosperity. The recent technology and traditional craftsmanship has added a new meaning to these two metals as a piece of décor. So come fall in love again and experience royalty.

Poonam Gupta, a prominent name in the design industry, is the CEO of design studio “Alchemy De Luxe”. Gupta is a visionary in her outlook and has created a rare niche for her brand “Alchemy De Luxe” portraying the fascination for forms and shapes and an eye for quality.

With a strong base in Delhi and 25 years of extensive experience in the area of technology, design, silver and gold craft; Poonam Gupta has been adulated with awards for her contribution. Aman Hotels, Adani, Punj Lloyd, ITC Hospitality, Acme Telepower and many more have been spellbound by her décor design. With craftsmanship, innovation, exquisiteness in the nature of Alchemy De Luxe, Gupta intends to give the world a new look with silver, gold and other precious metals and semi precious stones using 14th century crafts/ techniques in a very contemporary style.

MARI GOLD COLLECTION WATER JUG WITH DRINKING CUPS These pieces are also from Mari Gold Collection. The hand-crafted pieces have been designed in solid silver of 92.5 percent purity and are detailed with 24 carat gold designs. This elegantly designed jug set complements with the dishes and serving trays and add the style quotient to the setting. This new offering is another slice of prestige added to the large silver trousseau by Alchemy De Luxe.

CANDLE STANDS

MARIGOLD CENTREPIECE This is a candle stand and centrepiece combo from Alchemy De Luxe. The piece, from the Mari Gold Collection, is a nice centre piece for the table which includes candle holders combined with a vase in faceted silver and patinated gilding metal. Retaining the heritage, these metal blended articles represent the royal flavour of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Material- Silver and 24 carat Gold

022 Architecture Update June 2015

Taking inspiration from a design of flute, this candle stand is completely hand raised and crafted in sterling silver and patinated gilding metal.

This beautifully designed candle stand is an ideal choice for every occasion from Christmas to Diwali to illuminate one’s home in the festivals.

Material- Silver and Patinated Gilding Metal.

Available in 3 sizes

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FLORAL PHOTO FRAME This floral photo frame is hand textured in silver and has been adorned with beautiful coral rose bunches which are added to break the monotony and bring a little vibrancy to the piece. The combination of peach, deed red and tangerine flowers in the piece have made this frame magnificent and uber in style.

SILVER PLATTER WITH SEMI PRECIOUS STONES This piece is hand textured in silver and adorned with turquoise semi precious stones. Snack platters recently are a creative affair. The quirky look and mix of chirpy colours have taken it all. This royal assortment is an unconventional piece of design. Amalgamating elements with sterling silver to form a snack platter is a theory invented.

POETIC PRISM COLLECTION Water jug and drinking cup are completely hand crafted having multi facets adorned with semi precious stone– rose quartz handle. Inspired by geometric pattern, this jug and glass set becomes complete with the silver and glass tray, making it ideal for any royal dinner.

PRECIOUS FLORAL BOXES The jewellery box has a hand chased honeycomb pattern in sterling silver which is jewelled with carved coral roses and silver leaves. This is from the floral collection which has been added recently to the vast product category of Alchemy De Luxe. This is an ideal gift for weddings and anniversaries.

Available in 2 sizes

MORANO CANDLE STANDS This new collection is crafted with the age Venetian glass, prominently known as Murano Glass, made on the Venetian island of Murano.

In ancient Europe the architectural pieces on a large scale were carved out of this glass form and are one of fancy glass form for centuries. It is an element of ultimate luxury. These pieces can do double duty as the living room centre piece.

Available in 3 sizes

SNACK PLATTER WITH MURANO GLASS One can give a royal treatment to their guests with this beautiful snack platter. This royal assortment is an offbeat to the trend in go. Ideal for parties and get together, this exquisite sterling silver platter on Venetian Murano glass is surely to raise mercury and grab attention of your guests. This collection is another fortunate craft to be designed with the Murano glass.

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24-27] Project_Ar Veerendranath Satrasala.qxp

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Thesis sustainability

Innovation & Evaluation of Roofing component in Hot & Dry Climate A case of Bhuj-Kutch Ar. Veerendranath Satrasala, M.Arch in Sustainable Architecture Ar. Veerendranath Satrasala upon completing his B.Arch from BVB College of Engineering and Technology went about to pursue Master’s Degree in Sustainable Architecture from CEPT University, Ahmedabad and parallely studied MBA in Construction Management from IIBM Meerut.

He is a proprietor of Espeevee Architects and Interior Designers, Raichur, established in 2014 and singlehandedly manages different scales of this domain right from residences, offices and commercial complexes, hospitality and institutions, temple complexes and alternative technologies towards a healthy ecosystem.

He strongly believes in integrated design and works towards sustainable sensitive architecture via, his forte, holistic design approach. His focus relies on exploring sustainable practices, in a deeper and wider context, in different hierarchies of this domain.

His involvement in conservation projects and competitions has strengthened his principles over a long period in architecture discipline. He holds high regards to Hunnarshala Foundation, their community and artisans, at Bhuj-Kutch for having taught the strength in simplicity as also shaping his belief in ecologically sensitive work culture.

A few of his noted works are Meliorated Adil Shahi Monument at Aliyabad, Bijapur; Temple Conservation and Redevelopment at Yedur and a Nomination Dossier of Badami, Aihole and Pattadkal for UNESCO under the guidance of Ar. Gitanjali Rao. He has received many accolades for his innovative building technology with the use of rice straw bales, paper tube panels, wheat straws; a few to mention.

ABSTRACT Owing to a large quantum of construction undertaken, the construction industry consumes an enormous amount of energy, annually. A portion of this can be attributed to materials used for construction right from extraction to their application. In terms of a building’s operational energy, the right building envelope design can go a long way in reducing the consumption. Walls, roofs and openings are the three primary components of the envelope that contribute towards heat gain from the external environment. Roofs are the component of a building, which are in maximum contact with the sun, thus end up becoming the biggest source of heat gain during the day and heat loss during night which affects the ambient temperature to a great extent. By and large, in order to achieve thermal comfort indoors, maximum energy is consumed after occupation, thus varying the occupational energy. An appropriate choice of material can help improve the structure’s thermal performance particularly in hot & dry climate while quantifying heat gain. To this end, there is a need to bridge the gap between the techniques from traditional vernacular systems to the present context with conventional techniques through innovations. A few vernacular and conventional materials were identified, innovated and have been evaluated based on their materials’ properties for relative thermal performance and surface temperatures for social, ecological and economical sustainability. This is done on-site, wherein at one time eight modules were executed keeping the roofing components variable and the wall, module’s size, size of opening and materials are maintained constant, to produce results that are then compared to the conventional practice. Further, all the eight modules were analysed for their relative thermal performance.

Keywords: Thermal performance, Building component-Roof, Building material, Innovation, Monitoring.

024 Architecture Update June 2015

1.1.Aim To Innovate and analyse thermal performance of roof component in hot and dry climate– A case of Bhuj- Kutch 1.2.Objectives

To develop a roofing component with locally available material.

To identify and explore the potential of the material as a roofing component for thermal performance in an economical way.

To monitor the thermal performance of selected configurations of the roofing components on-site.

Comparative Analysis of thermal performance of roofing components.

1.3.Methodology

Identification of materials used in selected region.

Understanding properties of different materials selected for the study.

Finalising materials for testing based on the above conclusions drawn from the comparative chart.

Exploring methods to make roofing component for economically weaker sections.

To evaluate the properties of selected material as a roofing component with its limitations, strengths and weaknesses.

As per the above conclusion, the testing unit will be designed.

On-site execution of the designed module for further study for thermal evaluation.

Continuous monitoring of individual modules in regular intervals.

Thermal performance analysis and conclusions.

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Development of Mud Rolls (With Lime, Surkhi & Flyash) Proportion by volume

Density

Sr. no Clay Soil

Lime Slurry

Surkhi

Flay Ash

gm/cm3

1

0

2.5

0

0

0.413

2

0

2

1

0

0.544

3

0

1

2

0

0.599

4

0

1

0

2

0.541

5

4

0.5

1

0

0.592

6

Clay Soil

0

0

0

0.720

Paper Tubes for Load Testing length (cm)

Inner dia. (cm)

Outer dia. (cm)

Guage (cm)

91.5

7.75

8.7

0.475

centre to centre

76.5

CSEB Block (9.6 each)

Weight

Displacement Readings 28.1

0

0

28

4

38.4

27.8

8

76.8

27.7

12

115.2

27.7

16

153.6

27.5

20

192

42

403.2

26 Displacement

2.1 cm

Thatch Panel Alternatives for Testing Block proportion (in Liter) Sample Clay Slurry 1

lime Slurry Saw Dust

Surkhi

Fly-ash

4.5

Wheat

Rice Straw

5.75

5.75

5.75

5.75

Water

2

4.5

3

2.5

4

3

3

5.75

5.75

2.5

5

1.5

3

5.75

5.75

4

6

1.5

1.5

5.75

5.75

2.5

7

1.5

3

5.75

5.75

4

5

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Base Module Selection Module 1: Mud Roll with Ferrocrete

Module 5: Paper Tube with Country tiles

Module 2: Paper Tube with Ferrocrete

Module 6: Concrete

Module 3: Lime Roll with Country tiles

Module 4: Mud Roll with Country tiles

Module 7: Tin Sheet

Module 8: Clay panel with Country tiles

1.4.Scope & limitations Scope of the study is limited to flat roof exposed to the sun in hot & dry climate.

Thermal performance is being considered for the roof only; thermal comfort is not in the scope.

Thermal performance is measured by on-site monitoring only.

The study is conducted in summer months only.

Innovation of systems To bridge the gap between the traditional knowledge with the present conventional architecture with limitations of materials & craftsmanship, considering ecological, economical and social sustainability.

Based on the material inventory, Innovation & exploration is done in the fields of:

CONCLUSION: Research started with an aim to develope roofing component which would determine high thermal performance as well as cost effectiveness in the case of hot and dry climate in Bhuj. The experiments were carried out with roofing materials: Mud roll, Clay panel and Paper tubes.

Although Clay panels containing fly ash with lime and fly ash with surkhi did not respond positively in terms of strength for its insufficient binding, the rest other materials demonstrated a positive inclination towards the aim.

In the process of material development, reduction in the density of mud roll is achieved by 50% as compared to the standard sample of mud roll.

Thermal performance analysis reveals that the newly developed modules exhibit similar thermal performance as that of the standard sample of mud roll. Combination of waste material like paper tube with

026 Architecture Update June 2015

clay tiles and ferrocrete have equal scope for the development as a roofing component.

All the modules developed with alternative materials under this study testify to better thermal performance as compared to tin sheet and RCC. In the case of Ferrocrete-Mud rolls and Ferrocrete-Paper tubes, though

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Max int. Roof surface temperature

Time Lag (in hrs)

Temp. Reduction of Surfaces (in 째 C)

Mud Roll with Ferrocrete

38.7

4

15.3

Paper tube with Ferrocrete

37.1

2

16.1

Lime roll with country tiles

37

6

12.8

Mud roll with country tiles

36.7

6

13

Paper tube with country tiles

35.7

4

13.9

Concrete

46.4

2

3.4

Tin sheet

50

0

-0.8

39.4

6

7.6

Modules

Clay panel with country tiles

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Guide: Mr.Tejas Kotak

:

Prof. Urvi Desai

:

Hunnarshala Foundation for Building Technology & Innovations CEPT University Ahmedabad

the external layer is same for both, there is a difference in their thermal performances. When compared, the external surface temperature of Ferrocrete-Paper tubes rise faster, yet, drops down quicker than ferrocrete- Mud rolls. Paper tube- CT, Lime roll-CT, Mud roll- CT, and Clay panel- CT are the four roofing components which show minimum internal surface temperature levels as compared to other modules at the time when external ambient temperature is maximum.

In comparison with the above four modules, Paper tube- CT has its internal surface temperature lower during the morning and evening time when the external ambient temperature starts falling. This depicts, Paper tube- CT performs relatively better as compared to the other options under the evaluation.

Although cost is considered same across all the modules, the configuration is found to be more economically viable over others.

Positive results in the development of roofing component demonstrate that there is a scope for an integrated research of the material from a point of material innovation and thermal performance with economic viability.

FUTURE SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH Roofing modules showing positive results in the development process can be taken forward for further refinement in terms of improving material composition and improved thermal performance.

Merly for a study purpose standard samples of alternative materials were used for the analysis of thermal performance. Individual variants of the Mud Rolls, Clay straw panels and Paper tube panels can be similarly analyzed and developed further.

Paper tubes posse greater potential as a structural member and exhibit high thermal performance. It can be taken forward to a greater extent as it is one of the major wastages found in many packaging industries; they are easily available.

In addition, Papertubes could be tested for thermal performance by introducing double layer with varying diameters and varying gauge

thickness.

Architecture Update June 2015

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28-30] Project_National Institute for Faith Leadership at Dasna.qxp

Islamic Institution bold & simple

Ar. Sourabh Gupta, the Founder & Managing Director of Archohm Consults, is an alumnus of CEPT, Ahmedabad and Technical University, Delft, the Netherlands. Archohm was conceived as a design studio that offers design consultancy for architecture, urban design, interiors and product design. With over 12 years of experience in Architecture and Urban Design, Sourabh is renowned for his capabilities in conceptualizing, designing, and detailing. He is the founder member of ZOLIJNS, one of the premier furniture and design boutiques which houses top-of-the-line international furniture and accessories in India.

Zolijns has partnered with international power brands and designers who share the same contemporary approach to aesthetics and manufacturing excellence.

Through his initiative of the Design village, an interdisciplinary design campus that aims to bring global platform and the global design fraternity to India, he endeavors to enhance the design quotient of the country. Sourabh lectures extensively, is a part of design juries and has won numerous awards and accolades.

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Text: courtesy, Ar. Sourabh Gupta; Photographs: courtesy, Andre J Fanthome

Architectural Symbiosis National Institute of Faith Leadership (NIFL), Dasna Archohm

e

nvisaged as a tool to evolve and modernize Islam to make it relevant to today’s times, the National Institute of Faith Leadership is a campus that reconnects the nationalist and liberal Islamic virtues and evolves the understanding of this faith; celebrating traditional values that are relevant to contemporary times. The students of this institute are the faith leaders of the future.

The building complex houses programmatic needs of this faith facility. Devoid of design as decoration, the spaces needed to evoke bare thought. Bold architectural impressions intended to push people towards brave expressions.

Play of light in space and in time both brought in the required ethic and aesthetic to the institution.

The breaking of an arch is synonymous with opening of the mind from myths and traditions. The iconic entrance is celebrating just that; an arch in concrete removes the ‘key stone’ to liberate the form, allowing in light and space.

The basic form of this object on site is a mass with a hole. A courtyard that allows light into the building as it celebrates the introverted magnificence of an Islamic institution. The arch anchors the courtyard controlling the free flowing

National Institute for Faith Leadership, Dasna stands for ‘confluence in architecture’ through Ar. Sourabh Gupta’s simplistic skylines and bold architectural expressions.

Breaking of the arch, a play of light through circular openings and star triangle punctures in the concrete slab, winding of stone wall around a rigid form-a metaphor to the Islamic virtues articulated to the contemporary times.

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a monolithic structure designed with an absence of a key stone

a vast landscaped courtyard

stone wall as the landscape respects the traditional geometry. The courtyard is positioned at mid-level to two floors of the institute so as to maximize access to nature, to light and green.

The library is a double height space with a large circle of light. The bare stone floors, wood structures and concrete walls, the double height stacks of books, the desktop multimedia library and the relaxed seating; all reflect a reflective learning space.

The strong ascending stone wall wraps around the rigid form to bring in a certain dynamism to the external face. It encompasses a palm courtyard to protect and limit views of the reception space. It closes the center court and terminates into a winding courtyard of its own that facilitates a ramp that wraps across all floors to make the campus disabled friendly. This natural stonewall is another element that celebrates the traditional material in contemporary light.

The basic mass of brick is a simple set of classrooms, language laboratories and faculty spaces that are multi-functional. They open up to the courtyard with a wide verandah that works as a meeting and a sitting space. These spaces are as much a classroom as the traditional ones- One by discourse and the other by debate. The entrance area is the reception, a floor of office below and the residence of the vice chancellor above. All spaces take in light through various light wells that allow a clean closed external mass, an expression of Islamic values.

Two concrete volumes interface with the brick mass. They extrude and extend themselves out of the brick line to facilitate a slit of light and express as a mass that is further exaggerated by a large circular window.

The two externally similar formal interventions are different in their internal function and thus accordingly adapt themselves spatially.

a bold expression of openings

030 Architecture Update June 2015

The multipurpose hall on other side is a prayer hall, a collective gathering space and a place for large lectures. This volume is again bathed with light through a circle and a slit. The floor below is a cool large dining hall that is punctuated by a semi-circular opening as a play of offset concrete walls to block views but allow light, a crescent light, again a reference to a dialogue between traditional and modern.

The entire mass is covered with a concrete cantilevered plane; an expression in plan of the breaking of the shell (the mind), as this overhanging protective shade of concrete shields and veils the campus, but opens up to the open arch. This floating floor on top is punctuated with star triangles with white and yellow renderings (a representation of geometric graphical Muslim motifs) that draw in a drama of forms and shades all over the internal courtyard across the day as a dialogue with the harsh sun.

This metaphoric play of stars on campus is intended to enchant and excite the mind on one side but more importantly distract it for the rigorous and regimented learning to balance the institution with a flair

of fun and freedom.

fact file: project location client client’s firm principal architect design team

: : : : : :

site area built-up area commencement date completion date

: : : :

National Institute for Faith Leadership Dasna, UP Maulana Mahmood Asad Husain Madani Sheikhul Hind Educational Charitable Trust Ar. Sourabh Gupta Sanjay Rawat, Amit Sharma, Rachna Sharma, Yashveer Singh, Kriti Aggarwal 2,62,984.80 sqft 53,383 sqft August 2012 October 2014

CONSULTANTS: Structural Electrical Civil Landscape Plumbing PMC Façade

: : : : : : :

Deepali Consulting engineers Archohm Consults Shakeel/Ved Prakash Vinyas Landscape Architect Techno Engineering Tanveer Zafar/Shamim Ahmad Hargovind

31-33] Project_Raviraj Koti s residence at Gadag by Thinkspace.qxp

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Residential Design earthy tone

Synthesis of Two Worlds

Text: courtesy, Apoorva Nandish Photography: courtesy, Ameya Vikram Mahalingashetty

Raviraj Koti’s Residence, Gadag, Karnataka Thinkspace Architects No two materials can perform same function. Similarly, no two styles can converge to a single point. Raviraj Koti’s residence, Gadag by Thinkspace Architects have overruled this axiom to bring a complete harmony between two worlds-- a traditional outlook in a contemporary setting. Inter-connectivity and seamless flow of spaces have entwined this house with subtle textures and down-to-earth approach in spatial articulation.

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31-33] Project_Raviraj Koti s residence at Gadag by Thinkspace.qxp

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r

aviraj Koti’s residence is an epitome of simplicity and modernism, inspired by minimalistic architecture. Spread across 2,390 sq ft area, located in Gadag, Karnataka, it’s a warm abode created for a family of three, amidst the elegance and a sense of style. The client’s requirement was a family space which gives a feeling of warmth and tranquillity. The architecture and the interiors follow Vastu taking into consideration all its elements. With a free hand in design and client’s strong view over his requirements, its no wonder that this house is a cut above the rest.

Thinkspace Architects was co-founded by three like-minded buddies Prasad Manvi, Sanjay Rolli and Shrivatsa Hegde. They are alumni of BVB College of Engineering and Technology at Hubli, Karnataka.

They acquired their architecture degree in the year 2000 and set to work with renowned architecture firms in Bangalore. With two years of extensive architecture experience, they came back to the roots and started practising together which laid the foundation for Thinkspace Architects.

Today the architects’ firm holds an experience of 12 years, having done a wide variety of projects in residential, healthcare, educational and corporate sector.

The firm’s design philosophy is in innovative design solutions that are contextual and sustainable and also in articulating spaces that are exhilarating to experience while being functional that form the essence.

032 Architecture Update June 2015

intra-connectivity of spaces

31-33] Project_Raviraj Koti s residence at Gadag by Thinkspace.qxp

A wide deep frontage to the soft beige background of sweeping lines marks a welcoming gesture while planar surfaces, staggered, harmonises the dominance of the built environment. Contemporary design is conceived through intra-spatial articulation and seamless flow of spaces; the house strikes the right balance between comfort and rustic simplicity. A large cut-out in the living room breaks the volume and extends a visual connectivity with farther spaces of the house. This chunk of space is meticulously designed with low seating and oriented to overlook the water body beneath. A few flight of steps broadens to a large dining and pooja room adjacent to a kitchen. While dining hall extends to a wide lush garden in the front yard, the pooja room scores a divine outlook with a peninsular water body in a double height space.

This water body adorned with turtle fountain is the main attraction of the house which enriches the seamless flow of the spaces across living, pooja room and the dining hall.

The rustic outlook of the furnishings complements down-to-earth design ontology of the house. The streamlined look of the living room, characterised by Teak Wood (sourced from client’s 100 years old bungalow), is dramatized by Rustic Vitrified Tiles and earthy colours.

Ironically, the monotony in the dining area is broken by asymmetric avant-garde furniture layout; entirely customised by the architects. While the rustic flooring lends an old world charm to the space, the water body with antique finish Sira stone transcending to the pooja room makes a stunning dramatic statement to the house. And the only demarcation to the spatial transition is by the flooring patterns of flawless tiles and a band of antique finish Sira stone on the boundary.

A narrow staircase ascends to a cozy Family Lounge on the first floor which further extends to bedrooms. This is innovatively designed, utilizing staircase landing, to overlook the water body below. A warm light and cool breezes through windows of double height space and a feeble sound of the fountain reverberating between the soaring walls adds a charismatic ambiance across the two levels. Although a clear spatial division is observed through different levels, the opening-up of the family lounge to the double height space marks a clear intraconnectivity of the house.

The candor and modesty of architectural pattern language accentuate the earth tones and exhibits warmth. Artefacts, paintings, sculptures, accessories lend this home a special charm. Most of the wood used in the designing of this house was taken from client’s previous house. A clever and playful use of vibrant colours creates a unique ambiance that synthesizes the two worlds-- traditional and contemporary architecture- in perfect harmony.

turtle fountain, a star attraction of the house

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play of light in family lounge

master bedroom interiors fact file: project location client architect design team

: : : : :

commencement date completion date area cost

: : : :

Raviraj Koti’s residence Gadag, Karnataka Raviraj Koti Thinkspace Architects Ar. Prasad Manvi, Ar. Sanjay Rolli, Ar. Shrivatsa Hegde March 2013 August 2014 2,390 sq ft 70 lakhs

avant-garde furniture designed by the architects

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Residential Design proportions & colours As a tribute to the art movement, Ar. Amit Khanna in his De Stijl House, New Delhi, stumbles with volumes, proportions and colours to uphold harmony in its composition.

Articulation of spaces, surface modulation and its treatment communicate the dialogue of the RietveldSchrรถder House-- the hallmark of the original De Stijl House.

Text & photographs: courtesy, the architect

Harmony Within

De Stijl House, New Delhi AKDA

034 Architecture Update June 2015

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t

he owners wanted to incorporate their large art collection in their new home along with the requirement of additional living arrangements for a family of two generations. Situated directly opposite an earlier project designed by AKDA (Transformation, 2010), they chose to frame the views to the same mango tree that shades the earlier house.

The project was designed with three distinct zones-- a ground floor apartment, a basement gallery space for the daughter’s art collection and a duplex apartment on the upper floors for the owners. There is a large courtyard that can be looked into from the formal living areas and a smaller one brings light to an internal stair for the upper apartment. A stepped arrangement of verandahs on North corner invite natural light and embrace landscape picturesque to the lounge areas on all floors.

The interiors are finished in muted tones of white. The regular dark tones of wood finishes were eschewed in favour of the blonde, honey coloured quality of oak wood and a similar light-cream coloured stone has been used to create a neutral yet domestic backdrop to the art on display. A structural wood stair, dramatically lit from below, descends to the basement from within the house. On the terrace, a deep verandah opening onto the garden makes a relaxing space for evening dining.

The walls are raised to avoid the unsightly views and the only thing that can be seen is the sky.

The house takes its name from the early 20th century art movement which helped spawn the modern movement in architecture. The hallmark of the original De Stijl House, the Rietveld-Schröder House (Utrecht), was to make a building that seemed to be composed entirely of surfaces and volumes that were gliding past each other dissolving the boundaries of inside and outside. A long window is designed in the vein of Mondrian’s paintings-- a composition of rectangles and squares in various proportions and colours. The overall facade continues the same theme with various elements first being designed as a composition of horizontal and vertical rectangles and then given contrasting material finishes. Brick, Grey Granite and Exposed Concrete were chosen for their

longevity and colour.

Amit Khanna is the Founder & Design Principal at AKDA, a design firm that integrates the disciplines of architecture, interior design, furniture, lighting and product design. He graduated from the School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi in 2002 and established AKDA studio in 2004. Combining day-to-day involvement in design with his primary responsibilities for a strategic direction of the practice, the studio’s philosophy lies in making regional specificity and sustainability intrinsic to the design process and product.

Amit Khanna teaches at his alma mater, the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi with diverse responsibilities related to design, research and theoretical exploration. Through his initiatives in education, he engages in research as a tool for design innovation to craft buildings that work with the local environment, both at the school and the studio.

He is an acclaimed photographer; writes extensively for both online and offline media. He has been recently featured in Indian Architect and Builder- Young Designers’13 and DesignxDesign, 20 Under 35 Exhibition, New Delhi (2013).

fact file: project name location architects design team Commencement date completion date site area built-up area

: : : : : : : :

De Stijl House SukhdevVihar, New Delhi AKDA Studio Ar. Amit Khanna October 2011 November 2013 2700Sq.Ft. / 250 Sq.M. 10,000 sq.ft.

Consultants: Structural Mechanical Civil HVAC PMC

: : : : :

Space Consulting Engineers Space Consulting Engineers Space Consulting Engineers Daikin AKDA

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36-37] Project_Yakshi Learning at Himachal Pradesh (Siddharth).qxp

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Humanitarian Design indigenous materials

Text and Photographs: courtesy, the architect

Regional Dialect Yakshi Learning Centre, Medak, Telangana, Ar. Siddharth Menon Some of the worlds greatest civilizations were carved in mud.

Mud, straw, lime are one of the primitive mortars that have held the magnificent Pyramids of Egypt, cities of Indus Valley civilization and many ancient buildings till date. In many part of the world, it is still an important building material in construction and the knowledge is not unknown. Ar. Siddharth Menon displays this knowledge in designing Yakshi Learning Centre in a small village Badampet, Telangana.

y

akshi is a Non- Government Organization based in Hyderabad. Their work focuses primarily on the issues of health, education, livelihood, food crops and agriculture of the indigenous people of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Up till 2013, these participatory workshops, community level meetings and programs were held in rented spaces thereby adding to costs.

The need arose for a community space in the village which could be used as a base to consolidate the activities of the organization. Since the built space is set in the context of rural Telangana, it made most sense to adopt an indigenous building vocabulary for the Rural Community Centre.

Ar. Siddharth Menon graduated as an architect from I.E.S’s College of Architecture, Mumbai University in 2011.

After interning at the Auroville Earth Institute, he was mentored by Didi Contractor for two and half years in Himachal Pradesh. Today he practices as an interdependent traveling architect shuttling between his sites in rural Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. His work addresses the use of locally available materials like mud, bamboo and stone, labour intensive building techniques and community based craftsmanship in a swiftly globalizing and homogenizing rural India. When not on his build sites, he writes, lectures at talks and conferences and is a visiting faculty of M.Arch.

036 Architecture Update June 2015

The Centre is a G+1 mud building spread over a ground area of 5,160 sq ft. Oriented in the cardinal N-S directions, the central east facing courtyard acts as the heart of the built space. The ground floor consists of a pillared dining hall, kitchen, seed bank and common toilets which include dry compost toilets around this central courtyard. The upper floor has more private spaces of the resource person’s rooms and office. The toilets placed to the south of the building face the brunt of the sun for most parts of the year. The south and west wings of the building are G+1 rising to a height of 20’ ensuring the mid day sun casts a cool shadow onto the east facing courtyard. Thereby this space becomes a usable space post 3 pm due to mutual shading. Since the earth is required to build the walls of the centre, the meeting room and the amphitheatre are sunk into the ground to a depth of 3’. This also ensures the space remains cool in the summer owing the thermal mass of the earth surrounding it.

The load bearing walls of the building have a strip foundation of roughly cut granite stone with mud mortar. Above the ground, the stones are dressed on site and a

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cob walls, shahbad stone chajja and neem wood truss

neem wood truss

stabilized mud mortar is used. All stones are procured from a nearby quarry. An RCC plinth band, cast at the plinth level, runs across all the walls and doubles up as a DPC. Neem wood door frames are placed and external walls are raised in granite to the window cill level. This is done to prevent the erosion of mud on exterior walls due to splashing back of the rain. Interior walls need only a single course of stone after which the mud walls can begin.

An intricate system of Neem wood truss, rafter and beam is used for the roof. The trusses are made to fit into each other without the use of nails, staying in place due to the weight of the tiles above. Neem wood battens provide an impervious layer above the rafters. Hollow clay tiles are used for the roofing. These are fixed on a 2”-3” thick layer of mud which provides the requisite thermal insulation from the summer heat.

The walls are plastered with 3 coats of mud plaster, the final coat of which is a mix of cow dung, water and wheat husk. As a modern addition, adhesives like Fevicol DDL, work well to hold this final layer together for a longer period of time and decreases the need for

constant maintenance.

The technique of mud that is used indigenously in this region is that of cob-balls of slightly wet stiff mud slapped on top of each other to form the wall. The earth that is excavated from the foundation and the sunken amphitheatre are mixed well with water and lime slurry. The lime acts like a local stabilizer binding the clay particles together. They also deter termites. These are then made into small balls of diameter of 6’-9” that are easy to hold and throw. Each wall section is 1.5’ high. This left to dry for a few days before the next sections begins to prevent the wall from collapsing under its own wet weight. At the 7’ lintel level another RCC Lintel band is cast running continuously across all the walls.

This is joined to the lower plinth band at the corners and the junctions with a single reinforcement rod. This flexible frame counters the lateral movements of an earthquake keeping the damage to a minimum. The lintel band also helps in redistributing the load on the mud walls and provides for larger window openings to negate the drawbacks of traditional building materials. As mud has a poor compressive strength, walls need to be at least 18” thick. This adds to its thermal mass thereby acting like a heat battery, slowly absorbing and storing the heat during the day and radiating it back in the night. Therefore there is a difference of 8-10 degree Celsius between peak summer and winter interior and exterior temperatures.

arial view of the institution

fact file: project location

: :

client architect design Team

: : :

commencement completion Date Built-up area cost

: : : :

Yakshi Learning Centre Village Badampet, Block Hathnoor, District Medak, Telangana Yakshi, Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh Siddharth Menon Ar. Deepika Amonkar, Site Supervisor Pappu Kumar, Mason Bipin, Mason Vinod Kumar, Carpenter Santosh, Carpenter Laxman, Mason Ashok, Mason Kashi December 2013 Dec 2015 6525 sq ft 75,00,000 INR

hollow clay tiles over wooden battens

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Institution playful & cheerful

Text: courtesy, Ar. Himani Ahuja; Photographs/Renders: courtesy, Studio KIA

Sunny Side Up The Shining Star International School, UAE Studio KIA

Ar. Rajiv Khanna, a believer in the ethos of education, have beautifully articulated The Shining Star International School, UAE to an educational marvel. The institution has dramatically amalgamated formal learning through playful and cheerful atmosphere, the diminished boundary of indoor and outdoor experiences, and subtle yet bold architectural features.

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Ar. Rajiv Khanna, Founder Principal of the Design studio, has nearly 35 years of experience in the inter- disciplinary fields of Architecture, Design, Management and Real Estate across the length and breadth of the country as well as engaging with international concerns.

The international concerns include the Dubai Lifestyle City, Dubailand for ETA Group, Concept Creation of a mixed landuse development at Sharjah on a landlot admeasuring 9 sq Kms, Hospitality Project Design, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia as also a 500 acre mixed land use cum residential development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Ar. Sabeena Khanna, Creative head of the design studio, is the mastermind behind each project undertaken. She is the recipient of Le Corbusier Gold Medal for best thesis and a Fellow member of IIA and Associate member of IIID. Some of the known projects include the Timber Trail in HP, The Umrao– Boutique Hotel on NH8 in Delhi, District Headquarters in Goa and the prestigious Cottage Industries Emporium at STC building, Janpath, New Delhi. And recent projects include Al Wathba and Mussaffah schools in Dubai, UAE; Housing projects- Palm Drive, Emaar MGF, The Grand and The Petioles based in Gurgaon (NCR).

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belief in Nelson Mandela’s quote-- Education is the most powerful weapon which can change the world-- has given shape to The Shining Star International School in the Middle East. Changing the educational experience with a vision to provide excellence in knowledge for students by creating a collaborative environment that empowers students, parents, teachers and the community members alike, by igniting a desire for lifetime learning was the client brief.

To ensure quality construction within tight timelines, pre-cast construction has been restored to.

Also, noise and pollution levels had to be greatly reduced owing to a functioning school within the campus. Added to this; sustainability, water conservation, energy efficiency, eco-friendly materials and waste management have been amalgamated into the design.

The studio team, spearheaded by Ar. Rajiv Khanna, followed an unconventional approach of designing the school as a series of crafted and specialized spaces for learning, interconnected for ease through an inviting, fluid and open space, where play and learning intermingle into one experience. The Architect and his team concentrated on weaving in the comforts of home in an educational campus. Visually appealing building is highly functional and provides students with a practical state-of-the-art facility, creative learning environment and a safe & secure haven.

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mandated requirements, the school library as well as toilet blocks and storage spaces are provided and distributed as per prevalent norms.

The Second level has senior classrooms, prayer rooms, laboratories as well as toilet blocks and storage spaces with requisite support areas.

EXTERIOR: The use of a limited palette of materials and colours gives the building an overall sobriety in service of light and use. The strategic and consistent use of these neutral colours establish a stimulating and playful identity for the campus-- acting as a visual connection throughout the children’s daily experience. The neutral structure of the exterior is designed as a canvas for the future setting with an intention to let the children “conquer” the environment by their own intervention.

The architecture language is determined by details and an imposing main entrance. Large arched portals highlight each entrance to the school building.

Designing schools in the Middle East is a challenge. Strict norms and mandates across various related authorities and agencies adopting international standards of quality assurance, environmental ratings matching Pearl Building Rating Standards for One Pearl as laid down by Estidama, educationally conducive environment, safety standards, etc. had to be met up with, says Ar. Khanna.

INTERIOR: Classrooms are well lit, spacious and cheerful. Each classroom can comfortably accommodate 30-35 students, storage cabinets with ample circulation area. Kindergarten classrooms have attached toilets as per mandatory requirements. The K-12 school has segregation of classrooms for boys and girls from grade III onwards thereby challenging the design skills to create spaces conducive to both with independent ingress & egress to and from the school building.

The architectural style adopted displays a sense of belonging to the region yet being timeless in appeal. A light filtering facade enables the view of the outdoor greens from the classroom windows.

The project uses pre-cast construction as a response to an urban context.

The outdoor play areas are closely protected by the building facade as well as tensile sails. The school features three main concepts: Boldness-- enhanced simplicity, spatial depth with transparency and fluidity; Colour-- bringing the joy of colour in an elegant and subtle manner to the context; Brightness-- open, spacious and inviting layout.

Colour has been introduced into the interiors to create an environment of playfulness. Classroom walls with colourful motifs and bands, flooring patterns, multi-coloured kindergarten furniture, welcoming school lobbies and colour coordinated, wide corridors for children movement with anti skid tile flooring, intricately coloured floor pattern and the overlooking spaces establish a meaningful place for children.

THE PLANNING: The school is spread across three floors with an attached library block as well as an auditorium & indoor swimming facility.

The entrance level consists of an impressive lobby and reception with an imposing curvilinear staircase rising to the floor above as a backdrop to the atrium. The Kindergarten classrooms have been located on this level for the ease of the tiny tots.

CHARACTER & ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES: Promoting a clean-green environment, there is a designated operational waste storage location with colour coded bins. The toilets have been provided with water saving and sensor active fixtures to reduce water wastage.

Separate canteens for girls and boys as per the requirement have been provided with kitchen area having independent service access.

Multipurpose Hall with indoor Basket Ball Court and a large stage for school performances is connected from the main lobby for parent access. An indoor swimming facility for round the year usage for the students has been provided. The First level has classrooms with teachers’ staff rooms for close monitoring, prayer rooms as per

Suitable, environmentally safe alternatives have been used in the construction. Water monitoring strategies have been implied and overall energy efficiency has also been maintained. Landscaping is also a prominent feature of this project with pipelines laid for desired

watering of the plantation.

fact file: project name Location client architect design team project status built-up area

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: : : : : : :

The Shining Star International Schools Dubai, UAE Bouy Group, Dubai Studio KIA, Gurgaon, India Rajiv Khanna, Akshay Jain, Rajender Singh, Sabeena Khanna Advanced Construction Stage 3,40,000 sqft approximately

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Laminate varieties flooring & variations

Down to Earth Naresh Maheshwari - CEO, Pergo India Pvt. Ltd. looring deserves valuable attention and care just like any other home décor elements. It is one of the pivotal aspects that highlights and complements the living space. The look of interiors in the flooring segment has changed extensively. Lately, laminate flooring has become a perfect choice between solid hardwood flooring and other flooring for many homeowners.

Today laminate flooring is an easy way to get the look and style of hardwood floors without arduous installation procedures and high cost. Choosing appropriate flooring for a vernacular house is very important. The rich heritage therein is exemplified from the ethnicity, tradition, livelihood and also by architectural typologies. When it comes to flooring for vernacular house, our tradition begins from the natural settings of the city; its colour, climate, culture, materials used and appropriate technology along with its maintenance and durability. These values are based on a belief that flooring should be designed from timeless principles that transcend particular style, culture and climate.

F “Laminate flooring can be carried away in any style for its availability in wide varieties of colour and texture, its suitability to diverse weather conditions, and for its minimum maintenance and strong durability.

Association of flooring pattern with its surroundings bring out an aesthetical value to its architectural style.”

Association of flooring pattern (colour and texture) with its surroundings bring out an aesthetical value to its architectural style. Selecting right colour laminate for a room is of a paramount importance to retain aesthetic value of the overall space. The chosen colour should cope with amount of traffic the floor carries. One should also consider aligning of the laminates across the floor space. Choosing wrong colour or finish may disrupt its decorative harmony. For example, light-coloured laminate floors are not suited for areas where there is going to be a lot of foot traffic as there is a high possibility of scratching and soiling of the floor.

While its counterpart certainly enhance one’s home décor with rich and elegant outlook.

Similarly, flooring texture is equally important in upholding the aesthetics of a vernacular house. Soft texture laminate helps keeping floors ‘soft underfoot’.

Distinctive wood designs, created using an embossing technique that imitates the grains of the wood, create an authentic look to the vernacular house.

Laminate flooring holds negligible undulation when walked on as they are installed atop a layering of acoustical underlayment. This adds cushioning effect to the floor.

Besides its architectural properties, laminate flooring ensures a cleaner environment by not retaining dust, dirt and debris. Furthermore, it prevents the growth of dust mites and infections.

They are well suited to Indian weather conditions as they are 100% maintenance free, wear resistant, stain resistant and anti-static.

Customers are becoming more and more aware of the advantages of laminate flooring and are choosing

laminate flooring over others. Innovation in flooring has added a whole new dimension to laminate floor design even at vernacular houses. With pollution levels at a constant increase in India, it is advisable to get flooring that is hassle free. Moreover, technology has gravely affected the look of the flooring industry. With the coming of new technologies like Vinyl tiles, the floorings can now be made tougher, water resistant, safe and yet stylish.

There are technical features that incorporate anti-static, sound reduction, easy maintenance, easy installation, fire resistance, hygienic, increased ergonomic properties and wear protection. Therefore, laminate floors are value for money for their look, durability and affordability. They can be carried away in any style for its availability in wide varieties of colour and texture, its suitability to diverse weather conditions, and for its minimum maintenance and strong durability.

Hence, with rapid advancement in technology and with an evolving market, the laminate flooring is finding its feet in the vernacular house segments steadily and positively.

Naresh Maheshwari began his journey with Pergo in 2003. A strategic thinker & visionary behind Pergo’s imposing success, Naresh Maheshwari was soon designated as CEO, Pergo India Pvt Ltd. He has personally worked out all aspects of the brand right from handpicking the team from the industry, product marketing, planning and all that needs to be fed to enliven Pergo’s success story in India. Under his leadership, Pergo has developed into a major brand in the flooring genre to have 30 Exclusive PERGO Design Centers, Pergo Warehouses in all Metro cities and select tier 2 cities and a network of over 200 Channel Partners across the nation to offer our services.

He has not only been successful in promoting the brand but has also distinguished Laminate Flooring as the quintessential material that lends any room style, class and comfort. He also brought in the multi category flooring for the first time in India– Wood Parquet, Original laminate, Vinyl Planks & Tiles– in 2014.

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Glimpse stone design

Stone Design Decoded Ruchika Grover, Director, Odyssey Stone Architecture & Design

Stone has seen man evolving and developing from early Palaeolithic Era to present day. It was his weapon to kill, a tool to plough, to craft and being crafted to adorn his valour and strength. Stone carving has been a gift of Indian artisans to the world and is still relevant in many parts of India. With an advent of technology today we see a lot of experimention in stonework. It is said that only an artisan can know the beauty of the stone. Ruchika Grover, Director, Odyssey Stone Architecture & Design, decodes the possibilities in stone designing.

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ypically in India, one generally relates stonework to the Rajasthani patterns, fretwork and floral inlays and possibly Balianese stone carvings.

This, however, is a very limited perspective on stone and its application. There are hundreds of varieties of stone available in India and abroad with different varieties suited to different environments and purposes.

Since the dawn of civilisation, artisans have been creating beautiful, strong and enduring structures using natural stone on the façade. Natural stone requires low maintenance and doesn’t need to be painted and never rots, fades, warps, burns, dents, tears or turns brittle. It is also an energy efficient building material. Stone’s exceptional ‘thermal mass’ absorbs heat and slows down heat transfer, thus reducing heating and

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cooling costs. Traditionally, buildings were cladded with stone slabs using wet cladding. Now, dry cladding allows us to clad thicker and larger stone slabs thereby creating endless possibilities in creating sculptural buildings. Besides modern interpretations of lattice and carved surfaces, parametric design and an algorithmic approach provides the possibility of creation of large scale continuous designs which can use data to control the intensity of sunlight internally/ visibility from outside.

Vertical surfaces can be designed to parametrically adapt to client requirements and site conditions while stimulating both visual and tactile senses. The boundary wall is also another area which can be treated as a blank canvas and can either

complement the façade or create a statement of its own.

Decoration and practicality, style and function, come together in a perfect union in the form of a jaali or Breathing Surfaces as we call them. Breathing surfaces have the potential to be the most poetic part of the architecture/ interior design of the building. The traditional architecture used jaalis in abstract geometric forms or repetitive patterns to limit the visibility in certain areas and to fill window spaces.

Several forms are developed-- inspired from parametric design, natural organic forms, traditional Islamic geometry and progressive patterns-- to make it relevant for a contemporary home. Each of the patterns developed is a mere

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White Marble has translucent properties which allows us to create walls which change appearance when back-lit.

Odyssey has designed the Ishi Kiri collection of surfaces which explores dimensionality interspersed with light.

These surfaces are typically recommended for high visibility areas such as behind bar counters, entrance, dining and lobby areas, and powder rooms.

dry landscape, allow for a lot of stoneworks. Outdoor Spaces/Terrace Gardens are often designed keeping in mind social gatherings and unexpected details add a lot of interest to the space. For instance, an erupting fireplace-- carved from a solid block of stone and installed at a gradient to appear to be erupting-- was intended as a sculptural element as well serve the purpose as a fireplace. Another project was to develop artwork for an edge of the pool without making it as an obvious sculpture. Using the ripples on the water as inspiration, an undulating surface was developed which became the pool grating and added a whole new dimension to the pool.

Hardscape, which includes terrace gardens, courtyards, water bodies and

Water bodies, can be large outdoor ones or self-contained internal ones, are

direction and is developed further on a case-to-case basis. Canopies, which start from the wall and extend to the ceiling, is a trend we have succumbed to. These can be back-lit and add a lot of drama to the place.

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increasingly becoming more practical and sculptural. Simple water nozzles and lighting are not a solution a modern house owner is looking at as they understand that running and maintaining a water body permanently is not feasible. The water body is designed as a sculpture/ dry landscape and the water is simply an added element so it doesn’t appear incomplete when water is not operational.

Stone is also an ideal material for fixed furniture if one is able to tackle the weight and handling issues associated with it. Sculptural bar counters, backlit bar counters, elaborately inlayed dining tabletops, conference room tables, coffee tables, bar stools in petrified wood are some of the things crafted by stone.

A diverse range of provocative and beautiful artefacts and spaces which can be created with the help of Natural Stone is staggering. Odyssey is not limiting itself to certain design sensibilities and is actively collaborating with architects/ interior designers/ students to further understand this material and re-qualify stone so that it is once again perceived as the prince of materials in architecture and design. Everyday is an experiment in our factory and we constantly strive to create the unexpected with the help of stone and technology. We embrace the potential of Natural Stone as an architectural and a design element for both internal and external spaces and hope to develop the same enthusiasm in others.

Ruchika Grover is the Director of Odyssey. It was founded in 2006. Her USP is stone design and she loves to reinvent traditional stonework. She set about chiselling, hammering & carving-all with a view to create something new. She is currently partnering with architects, designers, contractors and decorators for large residential, hospitality and commercial projects across the world. In order to take innovation in stone design to the next level and optimize the versatility of stone as a material, Ruchika has developed several collections of Dynamic Wall Surfaces, Jaalis (Breathing Surfaces) and Sculptures. The collections are designed keeping in mind natural stone- its versatility and technique-- and elements of design resulting in a dynamic and pioneering approach to the utility of stone. Some of the other collections she is working on include Wall/Floor Surfaces and sculptures using light, water and stone together to create art for internal and external spaces, Gemstone Chandeliers and many more. She is accoladed with ‘Elle Décor International Design Awards’ in 2014 for ‘Ishi Kiri Collection’, ‘All India Stone Architectural Awards’ in 2011 and 2013.

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Technology bath design

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference Sandip Somany, JMD, HSIL Ltd ustainability is a way of life. And so is sustainability in the bathroom. The good news is, you don’t need to compromise on style, quality or individuality to care for the environment. Thanks to some innovative thinking and clever technology. There are now a large number of beautifully designed sustainable products on offer to create and enjoy a beautiful bathroom while caring for the environment.

Households with piped water supply consume maximum amount of water in the bathroom. This holds true in the Indian scenario too. Correlating with the growing population, rapid urbanisation, increased the standard of living (more toilets per apartment) and overall awareness about cleanliness and safety, the glaring outcome is that the water consumption is increasing.

Simultaneously, ‘green’ awareness among consumers is on the rise, so are product offerings in the market.

With the bathroom space donning a new image, there are many factors that will influence your decision when buying a new product. Cost, colour, brand, style, performance, reputation, recommendations, past experience, all play a part and saving water can be one now.

rating specification’ ‘Water Efficient Products India (WEP – 1) use a standard methodology to test and rate a product on its water conserving ability.

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It is important to know that water efficiency differs from water conservation as the focus here is on reducing waste, not restricting use.And, with ‘ratings’ we as a company are trying to make it easy to differentiate.

FLUSHING TECHNOLOGY Technology innovations in plumbing fixtures have come a long way, from the time 12 ltrs of water got flushed every time you used the toilet. The dual flush technology revolutionised toilet design providing flexibility and efficiency, allowing you to control how you use water. The ‘rimless’ water closet design is one of the outcomes of this on-going effort. This design not only improves

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SO WHAT WILL YOU LOOK FOR? Well, look out for the ‘star’. And, the maths is simple; more the number of stars a product claim, better is its ability to consume less water. See the drawings below and spread the word around.

Flushing Efficiency, providing more ‘Direct’ & ‘Focused’ Flush Strength but also requires lesser cleaning and care due to a simple design.

Star

BUYING WATER-EFFICIENT GOODS No doubt, water efficient products will help you save water but it is important to know what to purchase and how to recognise. Well, now you have a solution. Till the year 2010, India did not have any standard benchmark to rate water-efficient appliances. But, that is not the case anymore. At par with developed nations, who use their own ‘certification’ labelling for ‘water efficient’ products, we in India now have our own plumbing codes and star rating system. The International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and the Indian Plumbing Association (IPA) have introduced the Uniform Plumbing Code in 2011. The ‘Uniform Plumbing Code – India (UPC – 1) as well as the Water Efficient

rating As a consumer goods company, whose products are intricately connected with ‘water’, we have taken a step forward to serve both; consumer and the environment. Which is why, brand hindware was the first to take up the cause of rating and introduced ‘star rated’ water closets in the market. It is the only brand today to offer a whole basket of 3 & 2 star rated, UPC – 1 & WEP -1 certified water closets to choose from. One piece closets, Wall mounted closets, Extended Wall Mounted Closet, Coupled Closets and Standard Closets, whatever your budget,

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whatever your need, whatever design, shape and size you are looking for, you will surely find under ‘hindware’. We are committed to your desire as well as the environment.

The rating system for water closets is based on the volume of water used for each effective flush. Any water closet consuming more than 6 litres per flush do not qualify for rating.

IGBC RATING Additionally, select hindware products have also passed the Green Building rating for its sustainable qualities.

Based on five elements of nature, this rating system also values and encourages modern technological innovations, for which the Company strives. So, yes, we are truly committed to the cause of not just offering water saving products but also helping you make a smart choice.

BENEFITS OF RATING Product certification is crucially important since evaluation and tests are prepared by third party test laboratories, documented and then validated for its performance and water efficiency ability.

A certified product helps: Maximise to protect public health and safety Can help countries increase their sustainability footprint Encourages usage which in turn helps them become more commonplace in the market Help instil confidence levels among consumers as it is easier to identify from non-certified products And, overall will inspire other organised players to realise the importance of certification to enhance welfare and health benefits of the society

Several countries across the world have initiated rating system for water efficient fixtures to facilitate consumers to identify products that are more water efficient. In India, effective implementation of WEP-1, UPC-1 will require the participation of several stakeholders, from plumbing industry to manufacturers and consumer. As a consumer, you have the choice now to do your bit in this mammoth task of preserving and conserving this precious natural resource. So, look out for the stars!

There are over 20+ designs in EWC that are bestowed with ‘UPC – I’ certification for being 2 and 3 ‘star

rated’ for their water conserving capability during full flush/half flush.

These special products, each, can save nearly 65,000 litres of water per year, per house hold.

SMALL CHANGES, BIG STEPS Sustainable design has helped to create a new level of an environmentally responsible way by which water can be used in the bathroom. And using it wisely is not just about how much of it, we use but also how we heat it and what products we have selected to deliver the result.

The WEP and UPC ‘rating system’ at present in India, is applicable to ‘water closets’ but today’s faucets and showers are not left behind, in this endeavour. At pace with this growing need to be ‘water wise’, Mixer technology in faucets has developed over the years as well. Significant advances in cartridge, valve, handle function and use of aerators, a tiny device fitted inside the spout which thereby reduce the flow of water by mixing air with no noticeable effect to the user is laudable. An estimated 9 litres (approx.) of water can be saved per minute by using the aerator. The quantity of water saved can vary from design to design but their aim is same.

CONCLUSION: Efficient water use can have major environmental, public health, and economic benefits. By using water more efficiently and by purchasing more water efficient products, we can help mitigate several factors that are dangerously threatening fresh water availability. It is important to know that water efficiency differs from water conservation as the focus here is on reducing waste, not restricting use. It is about influence and an attempt at making small behavioural changes. And, with ‘ratings’ we as a company are trying to make it easy to differentiate. However, the way you use water at home also makes a big difference. For example, a dripping faucet, long showers or using the flush always at its maximum to highlight a few. Avoiding waste means being aware of how we use water by taking advantage of water-efficient appliances & fixtures.

The decisions you make could affect your water usage for many years to come.

Even today's showers offer a superior showering experience while actually using less water. Air mixing showerheads save water ergonomically, without losing the cleansing sensation of an ordinary shower. What's special about these showers is that it aerates the water to make the droplets larger, so it can save water without making the water volume feel any lesser on your skin.

Sandip Somany is the Joint Managing Director of HSIL Limited and is the company’s driving force with over 27 years of valuable experience behind him. He is an alumnus of Delhi University and has studied Ceramic Manufacturing Technology from the University of California, USA. His tactical thinking, single-minded emphasis on innovation and prudent business acumen, brought a fresh perspective in HSIL’s progress over the years, which reflects in HSIL’s ‘lifestyle’ positioning today – ‘we create comfortable living spaces’ not just sanitaryware.

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Trends flooring materials

Variety at One’s Delight - Firdaus Variava, Vice President, Bharat Flooring

Flooring design and texture has come a long way. From the vernacular mud and stone flooring to engineered wood, marbles and tiles.

Tiling itself has emerged as a new business. Flooring tiles, wall tiles, roof tiles-- the market is satiated with its new offerings. Trends show a lot of mosaic designs, vibrant colour, soft textures and woody look.

include having distressed wood with white paint in the grooves and texture to give a kitschy look. This has started to be replicated in other materials as well with ceramics showing prints of distressed wood. Engineered wood is not as popular as it once was and hardwood is making a big come back as it’s being made in ready tile form which can be slotted together on the floor just like the engineered wood.

he world of flooring has always had a variety of staples such as marble, wood, ceramics and cement. However, new forms of flooring that are emerging have started to change the application of traditional materials. It has also added several textures and patterns to its domain.

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Designers have started using a lot of epoxy and concrete materials, including patterned cement tiles. Heritage(TM) tiles have become the rage and the patterns used have started reflecting modern sensibilities with pastel colours, lots of geometric and minimalist

designs, and some funky use of tile design to create Ikats. This year, the EDIDA was won by Sian Pascale for her range of Japanese Line which draws inspiration from the work of Junichiro Tanizaki.

In addition, terrazzo has found widespread use because of increase in panel size. These can be very durable and provide a seamless look or retro outlook to projects with brass inlays and dividers.

While wood is a common theme in many projects, the new trends in wood

In the world of marble, the old favorite of everybody-- creme coloured shades-is being replaced by other shades like grey and white (Sattvario in particular is suddenly the rage). In addition, the charm of highly polished surfaces is fading with alternate finishes like river wash and acid wash, especially on granite. Lately, Travertine has lost its significance. And ceramics which look like Travertine may take its place soon.

For ceramic tiles, bigger is the way to go. Digital prints found in woods and laminates are finding increasing use in the ceramic industry. Some tiles can even have concrete prints. Fabric looks are also becoming popular in ceramics.

As time passes by diverse materials with an array of combinations will come into existence at one’s delight.

Firdaus Variava, completing his MBA, set out to work in diverse fields such as telecom, trading, and market research prior to joining Bharat Floorings. Currently, he is Vice President of Bharat Flooring shouldering a mammoth of responsibilities in managing the sales team and all activities related to marketing. In addition, he is responsible for the creation of new products to cater to specific market segments, their needs and for strategic planning.

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Spotlight glass façade

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e l l us a b o u t y o u r c o m p a n y a n d i t s o f f e r i n g f o r c u r r e n t market t r e n d s i n t e r m s o f i n n o v a t i o n s , e n e r g y e f f i c i e n t techniques/technologies used?

We are India’s largest façade contracting company and we undertake turnkey building façade implementation. Our company is 13 years old and we have some of the most prestigious projects executed over the years. We, currently, are the largest consumers of aluminium profile, performance glass and system windows in the country.

We have put up a large manufacturing plant near Mumbai at Patalganga industrial estate, spread across 2 lac sq ft, equipped with latest CNC machines from Germany and the most advanced manufacturing technology. The company is constantly undertaking challenging projects in the country which are 1) World One-- the tallest residential project planned for 117 floors at Mumbai. 2) Kohinoor Square-- the tallest commercial tower in the country, situated in Mumbai. 3) J W Marriot Hotel at Kolkata-- is one of the most complex diagrids ever done in the country. 4) Mondeal square at Ahmedabad completed as the first truly double skin media façade structure in the country. There are many firsts that this company is doing with many more to come.

Harish Gupta, VP Architecture & Business Development Head, Glass Wall Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd.

Glass is Here to Stay The economy is gaining momentum, lifestyle is altering and the market is flooded with green construction material. With new development plan and a financial boost to infrastructure sector, glass is emerging as the most sought-out product which is adding aesthetic and sustainability to the building structure. Harish Gupta, VP Architecture & Business Development Head, Glass Wall Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd., in an intriguing conversation with Alma Odil, shares his views on the glass, being the future product in the construction industry.

Every project involves innovation since all are unique in their own way.

For example, in World One there was a complete relearning exercise in handling unitized frames at the tallest levels with high wind velocities and so special winches to hoist are being used and new ways of handling the logistics for vertical movement of panels are introduced.

Kohinoor Square, a complete façade of articulated sections, demanded for a challenging joinery to be devised which required special German machinery for cutting aluminium sections at different angles. While in J W Marriot, the free flowing diagrid design was fine-tuned to simplify execution at the site. The MS tubes used in the diagrid were partly prefabricated in the factory and a complex 3-dimensional survey was done using laser technique to pinpoint each panel location. And Mondeal Square was a learning exercise in LED integrated double skin media façade.

At Glass Wall Systems, every façade is meticulously designed towards energy efficiency. In its support, we employ faster implementation techniques and optimized production techniques towards a smaller carbon footprint per sq m of panel installed. We feel that our methods of project implementation are optimized to maximum efficiency and so we end up consuming less natural resources. The current market needs volume players who can give them speed in execution, optimization in cost and quality execution; we feel we are offering our clients all of that.

What is the material and technology competitiveness in achieving Architects’ whim & fancy? An illustration of any challenging project you have come across.

Architects are the creators of dreams and we want to help them achieve it. There are many challenging designs that we are executing and in order to do so we need specialized machines. Our technology of production and execution of these challenging projects is in sync with the wishes of the architects. There are many new materials that are flooding in the market and architects like to experiment with them. We, at Glass Wall, take up every challenging projects that come our way to support their ideas.

Capitol building at Bandra Kurla Complex, was one of the highly challenging projects that we undertook. It has a complex egg shaped diagrid in the centre of the building which curves in 3-dimension and has a complex curving façade. The façade, needed a high precision bent, double glazed units with bent unitised panels and we beautifully embraced this challenge to client’s satisfaction.

Capitol Building, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

How does glass respond to ‘Net Zero Buildings’ movement ?

Glass is a environment friendly material. It’s virtually everlasting and like aluminium it can be recycled any number of times. The process of glass Architecture Update June 2015

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production uses nearly 60% of waste glass and it can go upto 90% and rest virgin material, waste glass or recycled glass or Cullet, as it’s called, is needed for controlling the temperature during glass production process and saves upto 30% of energy required for glass production.

Thus, as a process, every kg of glass wasted at factory level goes back to the production batch. Hence there is zero waste dumped in the environment.

Glass is used to produce high performance glass which is designed to save heat energy reaching inside the building. More research is on to continually innovate more light transmitting and less heat gain glass. The light transmitted saves in electricity due to a fewer need for indoor lighting while the heat prevented saves in reducing aircondition demand. Thus both save electricity consumption in running a building structure.

The production of glass uses natural gas as fuel in most cases which is a green fuel as compared to many other industries which use other form of fossil fuel for heating. Since the whole manufacturing process has zero residue, the carbon emission in the air is bare minimum.

What is the future prospect of glass industry in India?

The prospect of Glass as a future façade material is very bright. India is a developing country. The cities are still full of old buildings which need redevelopment, and the re-constructed buildings are most likely to have a huge proportion of glass. The redevelopment trend shows that the extended portion to every city that gets developed due to higher property rates within the city to give affordable housing option, will continue. Glass is not only a future material for external envelope but the uses inside the building is also taking serious proportions due to its ability to save space. What used to be once 6” partition walls became 3” and now in most interiors ½ “ thick glass is the best option for partitions.

There is no other material that gives the flexibility of use and the variety of function that glass can offer today. Glass is now taking serious proportions of use as a energy saving device. Not only as a high performance glass that prevents heat and sound from entering the buildings but also as a energy generating device as a photovoltaic substrate that gives visibility for light to enter a building and also generate electricity due to the solar cells imprinted on it. Future buildings will have the entire exterior maze of glass except dead walls and these

Kohinoor Square, Dadar, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

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Mondeal Square, Ahmedabad, Gujrat.

façades will have 4 main functions: transmit light, transmit controlled heat inside the building, control sound transmission and generate energy. Glass floors are increasingly replacing RCC slabs in the public areas of the building. Glass is being preferred over all known materials due to its long product life which is virtually unending as it does not get effected by environment and therefore does not degrade with time.

Harish Gupta is an architect with nearly 24 years experience in the industry. He has designed various prestigious buildings as an architect. His qualification as an architect and an engineer gives him an edge in his profession in understanding holistically any type of project to arrive at an engineered architectural solutions. He has recently joined Glass Wall Systems as VP and interfaces with all the important projects at the design development stage or the tender stage where interactive discussions to arrive at optimum solutions are most crucial to the project. His exposure to glazing industry on early projects in his career gave him an edge in understanding complexity of modern façade buildings. His career accounts some of the distinguished projects like Bank of India and the Bank of Baroda Corporate Office Building projects at Bandra Kurla Complex, when he was associated with architect Pheroze Kudianavala at Mumbai. Currently Gupta is providing his adept supervision to some of the prestigious projects and also contributing towards the brand promotion activity for the company.

J.W Marriot, Kolkata, West Bengal.

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UBM Concrete Show India 2015 Readymix (India), Godrej, Apollo Infratech Private Limited, Hyundai Aluminum Co. Ltd., Tata, Reliance Industries Ltd. The Innovation Corner, Interactive zone, and Concrete Man were some highlights of the event. The viewer’s choice in innovative product was won by Ashtech.

Surya Prakash, President, Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (India), said, “Cement and concrete industries in India are poised for a definite growth. The recent five year plan emphasize more on infrastructure as it is the basic requirement for the development of any sector. In order to meet the demand supply gap manufacturers should device new methods of production like recycling ceramic waste, stone dust, coconut shell, rice husk etc. If we bring such innovations to industry then infrastructure sector will definitely have a great future.”

INDUSTRY RESPONSE: BM India successfully concluded the Concrete Show India 2015 (7th to 9th May 2015) with over 150 exhibitors from across 10 countries and 5000 trade visitors, amidst an industry showcase of products, solutions and services at the trade fair at the Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre, Mumbai.

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The event had a grandeur opening with special address given by S M Ramchandani, Joint Managing Director, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd. (MSRDC) and participation from Government officials, leading Associations, industry professionals and domain experts.

Some of the key Industry speakers at the conference included Surya Prakash, President, Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (India); Vinay Gupta, Chief Executive Officer–M/s Tandon Consultants Pvt. Ltd.; Dr Himanshu Raje, Director, Raje Structural Consultants Pvt Ltd; J P Rao, Director Corporate Marketing Strategy, Shapoorji Pallonji & Co Ltd; Dr Michael Tholen, Managing Director, American Concrete Institute Professional Development; ACI University, Cyrus Dordi, Consultant, Ambuja Cement Ltd.; Dr Gopal Rai, Joint Secretary, Institute of Bridge Engineers (IIBE), CEO-Dhirendra Group of Companies;

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Pranav Desai, Head Product Development and Management, Lafarge India Pvt. Ltd. The conference saw delegates from renowned companies such as ACC, Bharat Hosiery, BSBK Pvt. Ltd., Hess, Hindustan Zinc Ltd., JSW Cement, Leela Tata Realty, Louis Berger, Magicrete Precast, Polygon Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., Raheja Engineering, Relcon Infraprojects Ltd., Roop Telsonic Untrasonix Ltd., Spancrete, Tata Steel, Tekla India Pvt. Ltd. amongst others.

Eminent Speakers at Bridges India on 8th May included Subhash Joglekar, Vice President, Stup Consultants Ltd, V N Heggade, Sr Vice President (Projects) and Member, Board of Management, Gammon India Ltd., D A Bhide, Vice President (Design), IRB Infrastructure Ltd., P Niranjana, Head Nuclear and Special Bridges, L & T Ltd. The Infrastructure and construction industry representatives from China, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, The Netherlands, USA and throughout the value chain visited India to gain insights pertaining to technology trends and market movements.

Technology showcase was at its best with innovations from companies like Toyota Forms India Pvt. Ltd., Ashtech, Hess Concrete Machinery India Pvt. Ltd., JSW Cement Limited, RMC

Manoj Kumar, Managing Director, HESS Group, said, “The new policies are helping us in expanding our business, and Concrete Show India 2015 is the perfect platform to showcase our technologies. We provide 100% solutions required for creating power plant and this year we are showcasing Wet Concrete & Lightweight Concrete. We are fairly satisfied with the response and are in high spirits to participate in the next year’s edition.”

Nitant Shah, General Manager- Customer Technical Services, JK Cements, said, “After the new policy initiatives introduced by government, there has been a growth in the industry where most of the preference has been dedicated to infrastructure industry. This exhibition is a platform to reach out to most of our existing & prospective customers to showcase our product competence & developments. We are showcasing eco friendly cement products like grey cement, wall putti, white cement and its different applications” Pravin Lal Thirwani, Chief Manager, Construction Materials Mumbai, Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd, said, “We are happily associated since last 2 years and we continue to understand that the brand visibility has grown based on customer feedback.

This year we are showcasing AAC lightweight blocks, an innovative technology over conventional bricks and TUFF concrete products (RMC product).”

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Vision With Action Can Change The World he Advisory Board Meet of the Global Green Summit took place on May 15, 2015 at the Taj Palace, Chanakyapuri, Delhi to create a conference agenda that is holistic and has the potential to influence a green revolution in the country.

The Global Green Summit aims to promote and discuss the strategic agendas for a sustainable future by uniting architects, developers, green practitioners, urban planners, policy makers and influencers. The format of the summit will comprise of panel discussions and encourage audience interaction.

The Advisory Board Meeting was convened by Rajat Malhotra, JLL. The ABM united some of the best minds in the industry and government like Gautam Vivek– World Energy Council; Ar. Ashok Lall; Aneesh Kadyan– CBRE South Asia Pvt. Ltd.; Avikal Somvanshi– Centre For Science And Environment; Prabhpreet Singh Shah and Prof.

Charanjit Shah– Creative Group; Ar. Nilanjan Bhowal, Tarun Sharma– Ecorys India Pvt. Ltd.; Robert Hoellrigl– Encraft India Pvt. Ltd.; Deepak

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Bansal– HUDCO; Neeraj Kapoor– KalpakritSustainable Environments Pvt. Ltd.; Revathi Kamath– Kamath Design Studio; Mario Schmidt– Lingel Windows and Doors Technologies Pvt. Ltd.; Gaurav Shorey– PSI Energy; Jagdish Agarwal– Solar Power Developers Association; Ar. Amritha Ballal; Koushik Sarkar– USG Boral Building Materials (I) Pvt. Ltd., to name a few.

“The time has come that we organize ourselves the way we live and especially the way we devise our future,” said Ar. Ashok Lall. Some of the key topics discussed at the meet were affordable and sustainable housing, role of facilities management in motivating a sustainable culture, smart cities, waste to energy, green citizenship, priorities of building, ‘Make in India’ economic viability and regulations etc.

What followed was an intellectual discussion on renewable energy i.e. priority financing in solar, importance of energy axis and grid compatibility.

Welspun Renewables joins hands with GGS to bring about effective solutions. “By steadily

building country’s largest solar capacities, we are proving that green energy is doable and can be made affordable through rapid expansion. It is here that the objectives of GGS and Welspun Renewables are aligned,” states Vineet Mittal, Vice Chairman, Welspun Renewables.

While discussing smart cities, the advisory board agreed on the fact that we cannot outsource ‘smart’ to technology. The economic engine of the city, liveability and citizen participation are some of the aspects that need to be considered along with physical infrastructure. Commenting on crucial insights, Teddy D’Souza, Operations Head (India & South Asia) of Knauf AMF India Pvt. Ltd., points out, “If such minds from the industry come together with their vast experiences, I’m sure that we can work together to recommend ideas and prompt formulation of policies to ensure that the smart cities remain sustainable over the years.”

The Global Green Summit will be held on October 31, 2015 at NSC Grounds, Goregaon, Mumbai.

Mr. Prabhpreet Shah, Executive Director, creative group, said “Being in the Architecture & Engineering industry, we are constantly faced with the challenge of improving the sustainability quotient of the urban environment. For us, GGS is an ideal platform.”

The summit will allow the participants an opportunity to reach out to prospective stakeholders and share a vision for sustainable India. Summarizing the consensus, Ar. Sanjay Prakash rightly said, “Smart cities are made by smart people.”

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Book Review

MATERIAL INNOVATION ARCHITECTURE

By Andrew H Dent & Leslie Sherr

Reviewed by Architect Dr. Shashank Ninawe Materiality has re-established its essential role as a premise for the making of Architecture. Here is an exciting book which gives a comprehensive use of traditional materials to futuristic materials in a construction world. MCX-Material ConneXion offers a global resource for material research whose influence and expertise informs a wide range of corporate, cultural and consumer sectors.

It touches the lives of millions of end users. It offers a library for all professionals, educators and students who are associated with the construction industry. The book document works which are built with such diversified materials which can bring to reality; the daring and original visions driving the architecture of today. What sets this book apart from all subsequent volumes published in this sector is its focus on specific categories of materials that reflect the most rigorous, intellectually inquisitive questions posed today by architectural innovations-- inspiring not only architects but engineers, scientists and creative community in almost all relevant fields. It pursues optimal material for each specific application so as to elevate objects, spaces and experiences with which one live and work.

This book can also serve as a vital tool for educators and students in these variegated fields which shall render forward thinking and a great potential for collective experimentations. This immense library recalibrates one’s imagination and sets the stage for a great collaboration of art and technology coming together to seize the moment and create something new and extraordinary.

This book presents a palette of new materials-tectonic and associated forms, functions and aesthetics, allowing for such selection, based on diverse considerations such as cost, structural performance, durability, form and effect, and

maintenance. The foresight of this generation with their imagination springing from innately techsavvy design methods allow a seamlessly integrated approach and technique, which seems to be ultra real, without boundaries and hybridize architecture and its making. This book delineates the direct relationship between the naturally available materials and the newly generated materials arising out of technological advancements and its manipulation.

The book encompasses four key scales 1) Material Product 2) Practice as Research 3) Tools and processes 4) Assembly. This book serves as an introductory catalogue for contemporary tactics.

One of the series focused on diverse disciplines is, it highlights themes and subsets of approaches taken by some of the most innovative and avantgarde practices operating in the global landscape.

Through each engaging case study, ripe with elegant and specific solutions, it suggests a methodology; essential in premise; responding to various programs and budgets; collectively privilege material process in their thinking and making, more so on the frontier of the contemporary practice. The book focuses on specific categories of materials-- glass and ceramics, altered naturals, high-performance composites, digitally fabricated metals and polymer films. Seven specially commissioned ‘visual narrative’ including one of internationally acclaimed Architect Zaha Hadid are also included.

Clearly structured and illustrated with carefully selected images throughout, this book connects the reader and inspires professionals, educators and students to pursue optimal material for a specific application. This book must be an integral member of a personal library of all professionals and also libraries of all professional courses.

Dr. Shashank Ninawe has graduated in Architecture from JJCOA in First Class (Hons) and has achieved his Doctorate in Architectural Education through Computer Assisted Learning. He has been in the Architectural Education field for last 26 years, out of which 2 years he was Principal of L. S. Raheja of School of Architecture. He has prolific practice in India and abroad in Residential, Institutional, Hospitality, Commercial etc. with special focus on Environmental and Sustainable issues. He has presented many papers at National and International level, written articles in journals and has been writing book reviews in magazines.

Awards Earth Group bags “Best Realty Brands 2015” Award Earth Group the Delhi based front-line leader in innovative real estate development in North India, has been conferred with the prestigious “Best Realty Brands 2015” award by ‘The Economic Times’ for being a symbol of excellence in Indian real estate market.

Earth Group was the part of 20 selected best real estate brands from Delhi by Economic Times and has been awarded in the ET Best Realty Brands’ event held on 26th March 2015, Mumbai at Sahara Star. Jury members for the award included Ashish Puravankara, JMD, Puravankara; BomanIrani, Chairman & Managing Director, Rustomjee Group; Vijay Wadhwa, Chairman, The Wadhwa Group; Brotin Banerjee, MD & CEO, Tata Housing; Yash Gupta, MD, Hines Group; Dr. M. G. Parameswaram, Advisor, Draft FCB Ulka; Jogy Thomas, CEO, ATS Green.

Atul Gupta, Joint Managing Director, Earth Group received the award from the renowned actress Soha Ali Khan & Deepak Lamba, President of Times Group.

Earth Group is honoured for constantly been able to innovate, to adapt and leverage the ever changing marketplace and converting this brand into a remark of excellence.

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Published on 1st of every month W.P.P. Lic No. MR / TECH / WPP-26 / SOUTH / 2014-15 Regd. No. MH / MR / K'devi-58 / 2013-15 Posted at Mumbai Patrika Channel Sorting Office Mumbai - 400 001 on 3rd & 4th of Every Month