“Future Façades will be Much Advanced than We Have Ever Known” Imagine being in a world that has its façade components 3d printed, dismantled, and reused in another project. A design to be generated through computational programming while incorporating passive designs and eco-friendly fabrication methods. High-performing façades with smart materials that can be responsive with their shape, properties, and orientation to act according to climate conditions. It is Time for Design Customisation Based on Intelligent Data, Complex Requirements, and Regulative Constraints (Custom designed BIM/ Parametric) The software can be used to automate repetitive tasks easily. You can use new software that has BIM, climatic analysis, and simulation all integrated into one place. BIM is the process adopted for years to replace the non-informative 3d models. It’s applied to provide information about cost, fabrication, and transportation data into the model. It also can be parametrized that you can change its profiles,...

Knauf Insulation has more than 40 years of experience in the insulation industry. How has been its journey so far? Knauf started operating in the insulation industry upon the acquisition of the first Fiber Glass plant in Shelbyville, USA, back in 1978. In 2002, after years of consistent progress and growth, Knauf Insulation was founded and in 2013 the company expanded its presence to the Middle East, operating from our local plant in Abu Dhabi. Since its establishment, the company has been an essential part of the regional industrial fabric and a major partner to some of the most prestigious developers. We are delighted to have contributed with our energy-efficient solutions to landmark projects across the GCC but also to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Africa, and East Asia. Decades of hard work and consistent high quality have placed Knauf Insulation as a market leader and a name that is synonym...

Mohamed Farook is a Mechanical Engineering Graduate with Additional Diploma in Fire & Safety Engineering. He Accomplished his Masters's in Project Management. Mohamed Farook is Civil Defense Accredited Engineer for Passive Fire Protection systems evaluation and inspection. He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association. He has over 11 years of experience with expertise in passive fire protection systems and external façade evaluations and inspections. He is proficient with codes and testing standards handling Numerous High rise and Iconic projects.

A sustainable home in India should allow the Indian way of living in the current scenario. It should provide comfortable living conditions of yesteryears haveli's, yet look contemporary. We used to have bungalows with lush green envelopes, where an old fan was sufficient to gauze summer heat. Try designing a space where air conditioning is not a year-round necessity. The planning principles of inducing desirable microclimates can be combined with modern construction techniques to create smarter homes. Rather than blindly following what is happening in the world, we should see our environment and social needs as a parameter to design living units. Few techniques that we are trying to revive include stone and lime construction. These buildings withstand time and climate beautifully. They are breathable, living surfaces that combine to make a responsive space. Most sustainable techniques are taught to us in schools, like the size of windows in different...

Please tell us about your company SIEGENIA India Pvt. Ltd. and about yourself? How long the company has been in this business in the Indian market? SIEGENIA India Pvt. Ltd. was established on the 1st of June in 2017 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of SIEGENIA GROUP, Germany which, in turn, is over a century old company. We have our office and warehouse in Gurugram. SIEGENIA GROUP develops solutions that bring spaces to life. With an innovative and wide-ranging product portfolio for modern window systems, door systems and comfort systems. KFV Karl Fliether GmbH & Co. KG (a SIEGENIA GROUP company) covers the entire field of modern locking systems for doors. I have been associated with the façade & fenestration industry for the last 15 years. I joined SIEGENIA India Pvt. Ltd. as the M.D. on the 1st of September, 2020. My prior assignment was with Reynaers Aluminium Pvt. Ltd. I...

Please brief our readers about the journey of Emirates Glass in the Middle East? [caption id="attachment_44667" align="alignright" width="352"] Dubai Design District - Elite Blue 40 T[/caption] Emirates Glass was established in 1997 by Khalid Bin Kalban to become the leading provider of energy-efficient architectural glass in the Middle East. Since its inception the company has been an integral part of Dubai’s growth and evolution, having supplied glazing and expertise for many of the most iconic buildings across the city. However, Emirates Glass has also expanded its international presence and we are proud to have supplied our solutions to GCC countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait, but also to Azerbaijan, Turkey, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, East, and South Africa and even Canada. Together with 80 different coatings, from hard and solar control coatings to low-emissivity single and double silver coatings across the entire color spectrum, Emirates Glass can...

Building envelope forms a critical component of our built environment. This is the medium that communicates with nature around. Lighting, ventilation, thermal comfort and safety are the attributes, in addition to aesthetics that have challenged architects since the beginning of civilisation. Insulation from heat, cold and noise, indoor air quality, longevity and maintainability are primarily contributed by the fenestration set-up or façade of the buildings. Elements of Design [caption id="attachment_43904" align="alignleft" width="300"] Façade glazing that turns into skylight at V-Club, Vaishnavi Commune[/caption] This article is an outcome of my personal search for solutions, and I hope that this serves as a simple reckoner to architects while designing, to assess possible solutions for building envelopes, façade and fenestration. Establishing an unhindered connection with nature possibly is the most desired design element for all architects. Collapsible or sliding-folding mechanisms of a wide variety for near 100% opening are now possible, thanks to...

Located adjacent to the eastern gate to the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, Gensler’s design for a new mixed-use development captures the essence of the neighbourhood and the spirit of the city. As the world’s largest architecture and design firm, Gensler designs mixed-use districts and retail centres to act as vibrant social hubs that connect people and experiences and breathe new life into cities. Gensler’s designers create next-generation mixed-use and shopping destinations that are amenity- and service-rich, leverage technology, promote culture, and offer recreational activities. Gensler integrates the crafting of places and shared experiences to create new, elevated hybrid spaces that create an authentic sense of community. Diplomatic Quarter is a vibrant community comprising of all the foreign diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia along with a large residential area and shopping malls. Its distinctive character within the city has emerged under the patronage of King Salam who was governor of Riyadh...

The key function of the building envelope is to reciprocate with the surrounding environment. Achieving energy plus building, a zero net energy building or even ultra-low energy building is an achievement by itself and progressive contribution towards sustainable built up environment. Apt design of building envelope as per surrounding environment facilitates to conserve or generate energy and hence contributes positively towards overall energy conservation and sustainability of the building. When we reciprocate the interior environment with the exterior we make conscious attempt to get the best of passive solar orientation, natural ventilation, day lighting, preferential views, protection from external environment/ organisms/ noise and the likes in addition to the aesthetic preferences. Façade screening design plays a vital role in achieving all these objectives in addition to energy conservation and sustainability. [caption id="attachment_43565" align="alignright" width="217"] Green Facade Shading[/caption] UAE is an emerging market with strong leadership where the entire nation is...

A Candid interview with Naresh V Narasimhan, Architect & Managing Partner, Venkataramanan Associates (VA) talks about his practice and its growth, his ongoing projects and a few of his milestone achievements, selecting apt materials for façades, sustainable and energy-efficient elements of façade design, and much more. Please tell us about your practice and its growth over the years. [caption id="attachment_43533" align="alignright" width="217"] ASF Green Leaves Project, Mumbai[/caption] Over the five decades since its founding, Venkataramanan Associates (VA) has built a formidable and growing knowledge base in architectural design and design-build processes. P.K. Venkataramanan set a strong foundation for much of the work that the firm is now so well known for, such as the Raman Research Institute (RRI), multiple buildings at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), as well as several office buildings and housing projects. Since then, the firm has diversified into multiple sectors and expanded its presence in...

Glass has made its way as a wonder material and deep inroads in the building industry. It has revamped itself hugely and the industry has broken the conventional fears and norms of breakage, safety, security and several other factors and addressed them head-on. The technological innovations in glass and glazing have helped and rewarded the industry with substantial growth in volumes and adding diversity and versatility in usage. Façade glazing contributes to the aesthetics of a building and reduces the visual and physical weight of a building. It presents design opportunities to architects, where they can explore different geometric configurations and shapes of glass with customised module design and its assembly. Architects are still exploring its creative applications. [caption id="attachment_43466" align="alignnone" width="774"] Blu by BES Consultants[/caption] Window/Façade Glazing - Why is it Important? [caption id="attachment_43467" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dwayne Sloan Director Principal Engineering, Built Environment, UL[/caption] The building façade refers to...

Buildings are the largest users of energy and are also our greatest opportunity for energy conservation and protection of the environment. In the past few years, the rapidly growing energy needs have raised a global concern over the continued depletion of energy resources followed by their negative impact on the environment. The major objectives for contemporary façade design are the strategies and technologies that allow us to maintain our satisfaction with the interior environment while consuming fewer resources. [caption id="attachment_43365" align="alignright" width="217"] Skylights are light transmitting elements filling building envelope openings[/caption] Ventilation and daylight can be provided via windows or glazed doors, as well as via skylights and other forms of top lighting. These glazed openings are collectively referred to as "fenestration."While fenestration refers to the design, construction, or presence of openings in a building, they are extremely important and can also tip the balance between a high-performance and low-performance...

In the most recent times, we have all at some point been left feeling boxed up thanks to the pandemic. While we can all choose to ride out of social isolation to “normalcy”, we cannot ignore the importance of how windows have played a crucial part during our lockdown. In most countries, people have sung to each other in unity, and to propel mental wellbeing – through windows. One particular social media group started a trend called “View from my Window” which united millions of people from all over, where they shared pictures of their views- thereby enabling members to travel virtually. Well, let’s say – we were all “connected” through a glass pane. We chose windows as means of communication, be it by giving a standing ovation to front liners or singing out to each other in unison. Our doors may have been closed during the pandemic, but our...

Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé (LLFP) is a Lebanese school with a French system located in Dubai that combines different cultures in one place. Throughout human existence, symbols and texts inscribed on walls were the only ways of passing information to future generations. The project represents this act of teaching through a typographical screen on the educational blocks. This imitates the act of modern-day whiteboard education. The components of the screen constitute the basic unit of learning - “Alphabets”, “Numbers”, and “Symbols” of three countries, representing and reflecting the diversity in the cultures within the region. Moreover, it signifies the tectonic expression of architecture which in turn facilitates the educational mission of LLFP. The school also is inspired by the strategic vision of Dubai’s climate-friendly and sustainable development. It inspires space users to learn while practicing every day-to-day movement of life.Following the principles of French education, design development started by segregating...

The MUSE is a multi-tenanted office space in Chennai that houses an architectural studio, a tech start-up and an art gallery. Designed based on the philosophy of Indo-centric sustainability, the collaborative workspace encompasses three green shafts within the space - these provide light, cooling and oxygen to the office spaces throughout. The eco-friendly office space includes benefits such as lower operating costs and a reduced carbon footprint. [caption id="attachment_42860" align="aligncenter" width="774"] The art gallery[/caption] [caption id="attachment_42862" align="alignleft" width="217"] The entrance[/caption] The entire office is naturally lit and provided with task LEDs for the evenings; solar-powered air conditioning is required only after the chiller slab and green roof have reduced the indoor temperature. These techniques help in 30% energy and water savings, reduced construction and maintenance costs and a superior indoor environment resulting in higher productivity. “Innovation and sustainability are at the core of Shilpa Architects’ culture and what our clients...

Aspect Terracotta louvers are often designed and used in front of glass curtain walls, window area, passages, etc., producing a passive shading effect for the building. These louvers can also be used as a special architectural design element when used alone. Terracotta louvers can create a unique visual effect on the building’s façade in conjunction with the shadows they cast onto the façade. When designed together with Aspect façade tiles, the louvers can be integrated seamlessly in corners, parapets, eaves, balconies, parking buildings, etc. achieving a harmonious and integral façade. [caption id="attachment_42808" align="alignnone" width="774"] Aspect terracotta louvers can be installed horizontally and vertically[/caption] Aspect terracotta louvers can be extruded in various shapes and profiles, including squares, ovals, triangles, and circular crosssections. They can be customized to other irregular shapes as well. The most commonly used profile is a 50x50 mm box profile and in the length of 1000 -1500 mm....