Façade is one of the most significant components of a building envelope. It goes about as the essential obstruction against outer climate components that could harm the well being of the structure, for example, downpour, wind, sun, and so on. In contrast to the structural design of the building, the façades are designed in distinct ways on the basis of different architectural styles. [caption id="attachment_35384" align="alignleft" width="176"] Ian Weekes Associate Director, Abu Dhabi/Qatar, Meinhardt Façade Technology[/caption] The architects have been deploying the latest façade technologies and materials in their designs and it will keep on changing in the future. Technological advancements in the design trends and new materials will keep on entering the façade industry in the Middle East in the future. Sustainability has always been playing an important role in the selection of façade material and designing process and it will always remain the most important part. Other than...

A Holistic Approach To Fire Safe Facades Façade is one of the most vulnerable elements of a building, especially in case of a fire incident. With more attention to aesthetics, cost factor, energy efficiency, eye-catching materials, green concept, etc., considerations of fire safety measures have been slipped under the radar. The scenario has become more complex with the unstoppable mushrooming of high-rise buildings which pose a greater fire hazard. [caption id="attachment_35093" align="alignleft" width="217"] Vijay Kumar Shaw AGM – BD (West Zone), Alstrong Enterprises India (Pvt) Limited[/caption] The role of a façade is as complex as the building itself as it needs to strike a balance between all the parameters such as aesthetics, visual character, structural stability, solar heat gain, daylight filtration, visibility, thermal comfort, branding and programmatic zoning, among other aspects, notes Vijay Kumar Shaw, Assistant General Manager – BD (West Zone), Alstrong Enterprises India. Due to its complex nature,...

NCL Buildtek Ltd. is one of the well-known Companies in the Building Materials Industry. Tell us Briefly About your Journey with the Company over the Years? [caption id="attachment_34928" align="alignleft" width="354"] .[/caption] In the modern era of depleting natural resources and environmental imbalances, the introduction of alternatives for traditional wood with other products is much necessary and becomes a social need. Our visionary Leader K. Ramachandra Raju anticipated this very early and introduced colour coated galvanised steel windows and doors 25 years back in India. In 1986, he started looking at various alternatives and started this company with technical collaboration of industry Secco S.p.A of Italy. The core values of this company are innovation, trustworthiness and customer satisfaction. During 2008, when the market was looking for alternative energy-efficient products, we brought down value engineered UPVC window and door systems to Indian market, and today we are the number one producer of...

Fire safety design of buildings has been seen as a major focus point due to several building fires in recent times globally. Many innovative building designs now utilize fire safety engineering rather than having to rely solely on functional-based codes. This approach can enable architects to achieve innovative, cost-effective designs while meeting fire safety design needs. Successful fire safety design requires an understanding of a wide range of issues and components, and the interactions between them such as, fire source, smoke movement, heat transfer to the building structure, detection, human behaviour and toxicity. This article illustrates various phases of fire safety designs from the design, details and materials, etc., in particular from the façade and cladding works aspects. Phases Of Fire Safety Designs Fig. 1 illustrates various phases in which fire safety designs are part of the design and implementation process such as design, material selection and implementation phases. Fig. 1:...

A building’s façade is an expressive feature. Perhaps the only visible design element to the non-inhabitants is the façade. Creatively illuminated building façades convey messages, communicate emotions, create attention and facilitate orientation. Moreover, modern lighting solutions for building façades add value to the architectural or economic merit by making a location more prominent, beautiful and safer. Achieving the status of ‘iconic and attractive nightscapes’ demands great aesthetic design sensibility. Lighting solutions also need to be sustainable, save resources and prevent unnecessary light pollution. A building is in constant dialogue with its ecosystem, and for it to be sustainable, an efficient system of façade lighting is imperative. Saving energy is an omnipresent challenge. Façade lighting must, therefore, get to grips with ecological compatibility issues. Night View Of Raipur Airport Designed by Creative Group The number of buildings that have illuminated façades is increasing sharply. Because of architectural, societal and technological changes,...

Façades are the exterior layer of an edifice that creates the first impression and connects its external and internal environment. Therefore, the appropriate lighting of the façade can enhance its beauty and relevance. Façade lighting can strike up an engaging dialogue in the urban world. It lends the building a voice to communicate with its viewers and a personality that creates a visual experience. Some display images, while others highlight architectural accents, and some stand as a landmark with their abstract display in the city’s night skyline. Façade lighting has turned structures into bold personalities that are no longer lost in oblivion after dark. With façade lighting, building owners can choose to highlight entrances, pillars and specific architectural features. The interplay of light and shadow is used intelligently to prevent a monotone appearance of the external surface of a building. Façade Lighting Highlights the Subtle Features of a Building Preserving...

Modern technology has given us much better alternatives. Along with many other building materials, the doors we install are wonders of engineering and design. They are aptly designed and well-insulated to provide a thermal barrier between the weather and your home or office, at the same time providing a beautiful entry setting. You can even get doors with large glass panels that use low-E glass technology to deliver excellent thermal performance. Thus, doors and windows play a major role in boosting the energy efficiency of any building. They may also provide some of the biggest energy savings. This edition’s cover story is all about the right designs and proper installation techniques of doors in order to provide the utmost acoustic and thermal comfort within a building. It also elaborates on the performance evaluation of different door configurations to enhance energy conservation. We spoke to the experts on the above-mentioned topics,...

Doors & Windows Re-imagined for Complete Peace of Mind Doors and windows make a house complete. While doors are important to secure any unwanted intrusion in the house, windows provide the much needed light and ventilation. It has been an age-old tradition to use wood or MDF for making doors and windows. But how long will we have the abundance of wood to make doors and furniture? So what is the solution? Convenience Combined with Safety and Magnificence Tata Pravesh - from the house of Tata Steel, has introduced a wide range of steel doors and windows that unmistakably look and sound like wood. Tata Pravesh offers end-to-end solution for all types of residential and commercial requirements. Tata Pravesh doors & windows come with the assurance of strength, durability, no maintenance and resistance to termites and fire. It is a complete package with a whole gamut of branded locking system,...

Façades have become a novel real estate in the world of the Indian construction industry today. Modern façades have also become more expressive towards the building’s character, positioning, technology and branding alike apart from the coherent skin to the structure. While commercial real estate is still picking up since demonetization and RERA, the use of façades as an asset to buildings is also on the rise. This is a late revival relatively as the South Eastern countries and the western world has already explored and is improving this aspect of the marketable space. As our lifestyles are adding more hours to outdoor activities, it is imperative for city centers / urban destinations to be receptive and more welcoming and needless to say - safe and dynamic. Parallelly, we have noticed that digital technologies are rapidly finding their way into urban spaces. Façade lighting with multiple digital content possibilities hence has...

Aluminium extrusion, being a cost-effective material, has become one of the most preferred choices in construction. Extruded aluminium materials are known to be the most versatile in application as well as in production. Aluminium is one of the most malleable materials and allows complex shapes, hence it can be used in various structures. It also allows more options in design without sacrificing the strength and durability of the end product. There are numerous benefits the aluminium can provide to a building. The Middle East's construction and building industry has adopted aluminium extrusion as an important material for their buildings. In this cover story, a few of the big players from the Middle East Extrusion industry have shared their views on aluminium extrusion as one of the most sustainable and versatile building materials in the region. Benefits Of Aluminium Extrusions Used As a Building Material [caption id="attachment_33604" align="alignright" width="300"] Hilal Mahdi...

Please Elaborate on the Use & Benefits of Aluminium Extrusions Used as a Building Material, with a Focus on Whole Building Design, Sustainability and Application Possibilities. The architectural building façade uses a wide range of aluminium extrusions. Architectural aluminium is mainly produced by an extrusion process, which provides nearly unlimited freedom in designing of simple to complex shapes suiting to the building requirements. This gives a great freedom to the architect to design pleasing elevations and forms by keeping functionality and sustainability intact. Modern designs can be produced in 3 to 4 weeks’ time through die cutting and extrusion process. Aluminium extrusions being non-corrosive in nature, provide highest surface finish and possibility to enhance with the exotic finish applications like anodising and powder coating. [caption id="attachment_33626" align="alignleft" width="360"] Double Skin Unitized System[/caption] Aluminium extrusion material compliments 50 to 100 years design life of building façade requirements. Also, being non-corrosive in...

Glass is one of the oldest and most popular material in building construction. Over the years, it has emerged as one of the widely used facade materials around the world. Glass when used as a facade material, makes the building look more beautiful. One of the most important benefits of glass is that it allows natural light to enter the building, thus saving the electricity costs. Glass Facade also offers extraordinary flexibility, which makes it the most preferred choice amongst the architects, builders and consultants. In this Article, the experts have given their opinions on how glass is revolutionizing the building industry in the Middle East. Through this article, you will also get to know about the new technological trends in the glass facade and how they benefit the buildings in the region. Demand for glass facades in Building Envelope Over the centuries, the glass has evolved dramatically. For years,...

In conversation with the Team of Window & Façade Magazine, Robert Stephens (Executive Director & Founding Partner, Inhabit, The Middle East & Europe)  talked about the activities of Inhabit, What are their Strategies and Future Plans. Here are the excerpts… Please Brief us on the History and Objective Behind the Formation of "Inhabit"? [caption id="attachment_33321" align="alignright" width="217"] Sky Venture, Abu Dhabi[/caption] Inhabit is a unique, multi-disciplinary team of professionals who are passionate about making a positive contribution to our built environment. Established in 2010, with offices across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and the UK, Inhabit has developed a diverse international body of work that includes partnerships with some of the most creative and celebrated architects around the world, resulting in a wealth of experience in different project types and scales. Please Highlight Briefly About Your Services. We are a collective of experienced architects, designers, engineers and contractors who work...

Energy Efficient Facade Systems [caption id="attachment_33174" align="alignleft" width="225"] UAE Fire Code Engineering September 2018[/caption] Energy consumption in the Middle East countries has been rising over last four decades. The residential building sector alone accounts for more than 50% of all delivered energy consumption, and half of this is attributed to use of air conditioning for cooling. Better building design triggered by better ventilated  facade performance could drive down this energy use considerably. In recent years, ventilated facade systems have found widespread use in various climatic zones due to their high energy performance, rich variety of available design solutions, reduced effect of solar radiation on indoor micro climate, good noise reduction properties, and possibility of rapid building repair and reconstruction. The ventilated cladding however, is just the façade. From an insulation perspective we are interested in making sure that beneath that façade, there is something working hard to ensure the building...

Doors and door hardware 's have never received much attention during the design process of new or renovation projects. There are various companies that make door hardware 's. No one would not want to buy the best door hardware. Beyond making certain that the selection meets minimum functionality and code requirements, more attention is usually paid to the look and finish of the door and its hardware than to how well they will function over time. If you don’t choose the best hardware then you will be putting your items & safety at the risk because thieves can easily access your premises. You need to know different types of door hardware 's and their uses. Not that long ago, it was possible to get away with ignoring door hardware requirements. Doors hardware 's, and the functions they were expected to perform, were relatively simple. The biggest operational concern was keeping...

The Central Public Works Department, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has this year installed the new dynamic façade lighting system at Rashtrapati Bhawan (North Block and South Block), monumental heritage building of international importance. Earlier façade lighting was done through conventional lights i.e. GLS/metal halide/sodium vapour whose light efficacy was very poor in comparison to present LED light fixtures. This LED fixture has around 1 lakh burning hours whereas earlier light fixtures had around 10,000 burning hours. The new lighting system has computerized control having unified power and data cable for easy installation and maintenance with automation in the selection of colour combination schemes using opti-bin technology, selection of timing, facility of dimming, switching on/off facility, individual/ combined control of light fittings, etc. through Ethernet-based controller. This lighting system has got features to produce multicolour combinations, enhancing the architectural features of the buildings. This system is energy-efficient as well...