Contemporary Challenges In Building Industry Sector Use of mechanical door handles, manual operation of the door can many times be exasperating. It may not be on top of mind for people to close doors every time. This situation is not only inconvenient for day-to-day use, but also jeopardise the safety and security of the building and its occupants. The manually operated doors are also prone to hazards of cross-contamination in areas where hygiene is of paramount importance for buildings such as hospitals, laboratories, food processing units, public access doors and toilets. Unlike common users, opening and closing of a manually operated door could be arduous for people with special needs such as wheelchair users, children, senior citizens, the disabled and the like. [caption id="attachment_40331" align="alignnone" width="774"] Smart entrance solutions help to reduce costs and reduce carbon footprints[/caption] The carbon footprint is yet another challenge prevailing across the word. Global inventions...

A façade is a term used to define the exterior face of the building, usually the decorative one, that faces the street or the main entrance, and which is supposed to protect the interior spaces from the exterior elements such as dust, temperature, rain, wind, etc. However, with the newer buildings increasing in height and assuming a form of a tall tower, all sides of the buildings assume equal importance. Façade is probably one of the most important, and yet, understated aspects of building construction. Most people associate façade with aesthetics and an unnecessary cost to the project, which could be easily curtailed – and usually it does so. However, a correctly designed façade is an element that would not only increase the value of the building but also could pay for itself over a period of time. More than a century ago, buildings were designed with a solid stone...

Agnes Koltay is a Façade Consultant & the CEO of Koltay Façades, in an exclusive interview with Window & Façade Magazine, she shares her views about the latest innovations in façade design. Below are the Exceprts... Could you please brief our readers on the history and objective behind the formation of your company? [caption id="attachment_39918" align="alignleft" width="301"] The Opus, Business Bay, Dubai - Two 20 story towers connected by a bridge, with the inner façades forming a seamless fluid glass surface, resembling melted ice. Undoubtedly one of the most challenging projects in the region, Koltay Façades was using advanced 3D computing technology and building on their earlier experience and research work in freeform glazing methods to deliver this project[/caption] I have been attracted to high-rise buildings since about age eight when my father brought home an issue of National Geographic Magazine with amazing fold-out page photos of famous American skyscrapers....

In the last decade or so, rapid urbanisation has been witnessed throughout the world, thereby pushing developers to utilise space efficiently by building increasingly taller towers. 2014 was a landmark year, which saw the completion of 97 skyscrapers (height more than 200 meters) across the world. Buildings are getting taller and being completed at a faster rate than ever before. With buildings going higher, the issue of life safety becomes even more pertinent. Forms of egress and fire compartmentation are crucial to surviving high-rise fires. The complete section pertaining to façade and external wall covering system design has been refreshed in the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice – 2018 with an aim to raise the standard for supplemental materials and reduce the cladding’s combustibility and flame spread. It is the desire of every architect and engineer to design and build a tower which is distinct among others...

What are the criteria for the selection of architectural hardware for façades & fenestrations? Hardware contributes to less than 1.5% of the value of the project, but is contributing to 95% of the problems when it is not installed correctly. In addition, a user who enters the building does not touch the walls, neither the ceilings nor the floors. The only element of the building he/she touches is the lever handles and the pull handles. I keep repeating this, because, these are items that are finalised in the finishing stages of the project when the budgets are finished, the main objective at that stage is to somehow fit something and close the doors. It is no surprise that within a couple of months, you see the hardware falling off. [caption id="attachment_39734" align="alignleft" width="500"] Anti-bacterial coating[/caption] Now that I have highlighted the concerns, let me focus on the selection. A good...

Architectural hardware like hinges, locks, catches, knobs, and handles are especially included within the basis of any house. They are known to serve very important and practical functions in your doors and windows but also help in achieving decorative motives and improving the aesthetics of your room, home, or building. Architectural hardware is required for opening, closing, and locking the doors and windows. Besides these functions, they also play a very important role in keeping the occupants safe. Every infrastructure, whether it is a residential or commercial building, is incomplete without hardware products. There are lots of things that should be considered while choosing hardware products for your doors and windows. In this cover story, we interviewed the architectural hardware industry experts to bring you in-depth knowledge of the industry and to keep you updated with the norms and specifications that play a key role in the selection of the...

The building envelope typically has a greater footprint than the actual building which it protects and therefore accounts for 25-40 percent of the building cost. It can be fabricated using a broad range of options, including traditional fully sealed and modern pressure-equalised cladding panels, curtain walling and structural glazing systems. To add to this complexity, it can also be designed in combination with precast panels, terracotta or traditional brick. In addition to aesthetics being a key driver when selecting façade material, the choice of glazing systems (including materials and surrounds) should also be influenced by: • Suitable and safe access for cleaning, including consideration of any possible inconvenience caused to the building occupants • Maintainability within the annual budget. For example, maintaining coated products is similar to keeping a car clean. Over time, with exposure to the elements, surfaces may show signs of weathering such as loss of gloss, colour...

Façades are the most important building element from both the users and the architect’s point of view. They are the most difficult to design since the perception of iconic and technologically advanced façades is changing frequently. As per the United Nations Environment Program, buildings and their construction together account for 36 per cent of global energy use and 39 per cent of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions annually. [caption id="attachment_39031" align="alignright" width="151"] AR. Khozema Chitalwala Principal Architect & Designer, Designers Group[/caption] Since the building’s envelope is the primary contributor to energy gain, and correspondingly its most important element in controlling the carbon footprint, it is no longer a matter of choice but mandatory to come up with technologies that perform better, are more functional and, of course, look great. Designers are researching and experimenting with new and complex façade and fenestration technologies. [caption id="attachment_39032" align="alignleft" width="150"] AR. Manish Dikshit Partner &...

One of the most prominent trends in the last few years in real estate has been the usage of glass façades. Most of the iconic buildings in Indian metros today are elegant corporate houses with glass façades. Today, glass façades have become an industry with several companies offering a plethora of choices in everything from supplying different glass to customisation, cleaning and maintenance. The reason for architects' and developers' preference for glass is because it reduces the weight on the foundation and hence makes the building lighter as compared to constructing walls. Structurally glazed façade systems create greater transparency than traditional captured systems. There are fewer visual interruptions due to the use of less metal on the glass façades, creating a seamless, continuous transparent look, merging the interiors with the exterior. Since there is little to no exposed exterior metal, there is also less thermal bridging with structural glazing, saving...

In an interesting conversation with WFM, Ar. Mitu Mathur talks about her practice, their latest projects, the evolution of façade and cladding technology and trends in India and many key factors to consider while designing and choosing materials for façades. Here are the excerpts from the interview. Could you please tell about your practice and your firm's journey? [caption id="attachment_38484" align="alignleft" width="500"] National Institute of Design, Bhopal[/caption] Architecture is not just a profession, but a passion that drives our family. Me and my sister are third-generation architects. Our father, Gian P. Mathur started the practice 40 years ago and since then we have been blessed with opportunities and embraced all new kinds of projects that are being introduced in the industry over the decades. When my father started the practice, our firm did a number of prominent, particularly industrial projects. With the onset of commercialisation, we ventured into a variety...

What is your take on the growing demand for glass in niche and low-rise applications? Glass, being a versatile material, founds its usage in many niche applications. Due to its inherent property of being transparent, it has started replacing other common building materials. For instance, we have seen a steep growth in the usage of fire-rated glass for partitions & doors. Full metal or wooden doors are being replaced with small vision panel doors, full glass doors, and full-height fire-rated glass partitions. We have also seen glass being used for various architectural masterpieces, whether it is a luxury retail area, mall or airport. Here, architects make use of specialty glass products that can play with the colours and light. What are the trends in architectural glass in the Middle East? The rulers of the UAE have the vision to move the country forward and make it a futuristic place where...

RENSON® - one of the preferred names for ventilation, solar shading, and pergola requirements, has introduced Endura Twist to provide clean air inside your homes or buildings. Renson Endura Twist is a decentralised fresh air ventilation system integrated with windows. The Renson Endura Twist filters the outside polluted air for 1 micron level using PM1 filters and supplies the pure fresh air in the house. It has a heat exchanger inbuilt that stores the AC energy of the indoor air in the heat exchanger. As the fans turn every 30 seconds, the heat exchanger pass the stored heat to the fresh incoming air and a pleasant, pre-cooled air is blown into the room. Due to the continuous cyclic operation of the alternating fans, it ensures a constant air supply and air extraction, the customer can enjoy an optimal air quality at any time. It offers quick installation without ducts and...

In a candid conversation with WFM, Ar. Anand Sharma, one of the founding partners at DFI, gave an insight into DFI as a practice, its design approach and projects. He pushed energy efficient factors to be considered while designing building façades and fenestrations into the spotlight, which support design driven interventions and improve users’ experience. Here are the excerpts from our conversation. Please tell us about your Practice? Select Citywalk Mall ,Saket , New Delhi After studying together and graduating from IIT Kharagpur in 1995, we started an architectural practice as collaboration and turned into partners from co-peers. Completing 25 years of our practice together with our team of professionals, we have had lifetime opportunities of working on projects reverend to the urban context and architecture of India. Our journey started with small scale residential and retail projects, and since then, our team has worked tirelessly in the spirit of...

SE Controls is a trusted global specialist providing end-to-end solutions for façade smoke ventilation and environmental ventilation systems, and smoke control using façade automation as an integral part of the building envelope. For the Indian and SAARC region, we opened operations in early 2012 as a Joint Venture with SE Controls UK under the Joint Leadership of Will Perkins, Group Managing Director, SE Controls UK and our Managing Director, ParasuRaman R, also, Founding Chairman, CII - Indian Green Building Council, Ex Chairman and Managing Director, Honeywell ED&S Ltd (MK Electric India) and Past Vice Chairman, World Green Building Council. [caption id="attachment_35938" align="alignleft" width="300"] Products from SE Controls[/caption] With 40 years of trust and expertise within the façade industry and manufacturing in the UK, we offer bespoke solutions from the specification stage of projects, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance for commercial spaces, office parks, infrastructure projects, mixed use developments, and airports....

The history of KaenatCorp is the glorious story of four generations. Set up in the year 1890, KaenatCorp played a crucial role in shaping the glass industry in India. Over the years, KaenatCorp has evolved from a mere glass trader to a major glass manufacturer and extended its arms to aluminium and uPVC fabrication of doors and windows, structural glazing, façades, railings, and basically all exterior and interior solutions of a commercial/residential project and of course, a home. [caption id="attachment_35864" align="alignleft" width="217"] Anwer Kamil Chairman, KaenatCorp[/caption] Our customers can select from a vast variety from the products and services we offer and provide expertise in. KaenatCorp has been the standard of reference for the design and production of all façade solutions and systems for more than 20 years now. The immense hardwork and dedication of our Chairman, Anwer Kamil and our Managing Director, Moiz Kamil, KaenatCorp, and the successful partnership...

What will the Façades of our Buildings look like in the Future? One would be hesitant to answer that question and indeed be uncertain of any answer as we cannot predict the future. At this moment in time, we could only make assumptions about what will come. However, what is in our hands is to establish objectives and priorities of how we would like the future to look to help us to re-imagine our role as designers and engineers. In 2015, the 193 countries of the United Nations adopted, as part of the Agenda 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) to achieve peace and prosperity for people and the planet now and in the future. The UN SDGs are deeply interconnected and environmental sustainability and wellbeing are two major elements on which the buildings can positively contribute. To achieve the goals by 2030, measurable actions must be taken now....