Intelligent Glazed Façades

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The office for the architectural firm ‘Abhikalpan Architects Pvt. Ltd’ at Indore features a unique double-glazed façade unit fixed with spider fittings, unlike the conventional DGU fixings, which is affixed within frames earlier.

Expanding a small office of 1500 Sq ft, beyond the borders of its room was a major concept while planning this building. The indigenous customized detailing makes the façade a proper combination of delicate and strong materials. The installation of the glass on the façade reduces the operational cost of the building for the future.

Design Evolution: Utilizing the benefits of the orientation of each elevation, the design has evolved. Each façade is treated differently, to explore the opportunities to create an energy-efficient structure and to contribute to visual interests.

Each glazed façade is treated differently, to explore the opportunities to create an energy-efficient structure

North Façade

The north façade has a customized glazed façade, which consists of a layer of 12 mm argon gas sealed within 2 glasses 6mm thick, acting as a good insulator (Product code- SKN 154 II Magma). The glass façade has been mainly used, to open up the office towards the surrounding natural landscape, as well as for ensuring a high level of transparency and allowing natural light inside, throughout the day. The tilted glazing DGU is integrated seamlessly from floor to ceiling, with the RCC framed structure. The M.S. bars of the R.C.C. slab are welded neatly with a customized C channel, making the C channel strong enough to carry the load of the entire glazing. A clear glass wall, from the ground floor to the second floor happens to be the most luring element of the façade. An intelligent glass façade reduces energy consumption to maintain the appropriate internal environment. It has an ecological significance in reducing global greenhouse emissions and also in reducing operational building costs. A green wall on the terrace, hiding the solar panels, lightens the structure visually.

The tilted glazing DGU is integrated seamlessly from floor to ceiling with the RCC framed structure.

West Façade

An exposed brick wall stands strong in the west, creating an interesting composition with a massive natural rock, lush green plants and concrete. Fundermax is used to blend delicately with solid surfaces by using it under the cantilever above the second floor. The windows on the east-west walls, are uPVC windows by ‘Torfenster’, with (umbra grey) coloured profile and glasses 6 mm thick. (Product code- SKN 144 II Iris). The windows used are triple-track, sliding windows with wire mesh.

Sectional-Elevation — **Sectional Elevation**

Glass Specs

We have used Saint Gobain high-performance glazing for the building which is a double-glazed unit having V.L.T. (Visual Light Transmittance) – 50 per cent and SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) < 0.3. Due to this conduction and convection are blocked hence preventing heat from transferring through the glass. SKN 154 II Magma is used on the north façade, and SKN 144 II Iris is used on the west façade.

Other Materials Used in the Facade

PPC (Pozzolana Portland Cement) contains fly ash mixed with
cement.
Glass: Double-glazed windows- high insulation
Paints: ECO-CLEAN paints have been used.
Steel bars: ROLLING STEEL throughout the project which
incorporates 50 per cent recycle content.
The building is provided with a tilted double glazed unit with
spider fittings on the north façade.

Glass Details		Light Factors				Energy Factors
Code	Products	Transmission	Reflection (%)		Solar Factor	Shading Coefficient	U Value
Code	Products	(%)	External	Internal	SHGC / SF	SC	W/sqm K
6 mm Coated Glass (Coating Face 2) – 12 mm Air Gap – 6 mm Clear Glass
SKN 144 II	Iris	39	20	12	0.23	0.26	1.60
SKN 154 II	Magma	49	18	26	0.27	0.31	1.50

FACT FILE

Project: Small is Green
Location: Indore
Client: Ar. Manish Kumat
Principal designer: Ar. Manish Kumat
Plot size: 1585 Sq ft
Other Consultants: Ar. Shilpa bhave,
Er. Kaushal kumar Karahe, Structural
Er. O.P.Tiwari,
Interior designer: Sandeep Thakur.
Materials Used for Façade: A Tilted
Double glazed unit with spider fittings
which is customized, in the North
façade.
Completion Date: 17th February 2015
Cost: Rs.3000/ Sq ft
Photographer: Chandra Shekhar
Mandge