Fire and its repercussions on life are irreversible, monuments can still be rebuilt. Such unfortunate incidents and the fatalities forever prove to be scarring on the minds of those who have been through the gruesome ordeal and have lost their loved ones, or a part of themselves, irreversibly. [caption id="attachment_34900" align="alignright" width="300"] Source : Time Of India[/caption] We can reduce the occurrence and increase the safety for an occupant by having strict guidelines like our National Building Code and Local Fire Laws that should be followed and audited yearly. We must also learn and adapt best practices from well-developed markets like Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and look for emerging trends which can help improve the life safety. Around the world, buildings are getting taller due to the non-availability of land in prime locations of cities. They also bring an added uncertainty of limited ways...

Over the past 15 years, India has witnessed exceptional growth in the real estate sector. More urbanisation, construction of smart cities, and changing lifestyles due to the emerging middle class are a few factors that have given a push to new building technologies and materials. uPVC (unplasticised polyvinyl chloride) is one such building material that has gained attention, as a replacement to other traditional materials, uPVC is a low maintenance yet effective material in making windows and doors. In the last couple of years, we have seen increasing demand for uPVC windows and doors due to the host of benefits uPVC offers. Now the consumer is well aware of the fact that uPVC is an outstanding material for windows and doors as it performs exceptionally well in diverse weather conditions. uPVC windows and doors provide efficient thermal insulation and help in energy conservation. Not only this, uPVC windows provide high...

The importance of façades with respect to Fire safety cannot be emphasised enough, especially in the context of the spate of fire disasters globally. Let’s consider the current scenario of urban architecture in India - crowded spaces, little or no awareness about Fire safety within occupants and add to this, the chaotic traffic that does little to ensure that external rescue operations are effected within quick time. Now consider the majority of new constructions where the traditional brick walls with small window-to- wall ratios have been replaced by expansive glass, aluminium and stone façades. Fire safety façades, then become a pivotal aspect of design and final construction. Some of the important aspects are: Adequate checks to ensure that only noncombustible materials and fire-retardant materials are used. Horizontal and vertical firestops should be in place to check the propagation of fire within floors and vertically between floors. In case of openable...

Please tell us about your practice and your ongoing projects? After completing my B Arch in 1988 from Mumbai's Rachana Sansad Academy of Architecture, I worked under the aegis of Architect Hafeez Contractor for four years. I started my own practice Sanjay Puri Architects (SPA) in 1992 and my first project was a township. [caption id="attachment_30219" align="alignnone" width="774"] Reservoir, Ras, Rajasthan - The design is responsive to the site contours, the climate of its location and to the need of its users, generating office spaces that require much lower energy consumption due to their orientation while imbibing the traditional architecture prevalent in the region since centuries and creating a large water catchment area in response to the water scarcity prevalent in the location.[/caption] We have a broad range of design portfolio which includes projects in various typologies, such as hospitality, commercial, retail, educational and residential as well as large urban...

A market leader in the natural and engineered stones segment – Classic Marble Company (CMC) has introduced its most flexible tile product – Kalesinterflex. The first of the lot launched in the category is two unique, large format tiles named Innovation Ivory and Pietra Grey. A technological breakthrough, the ceramic slabs have a thickness of only 3mm and 5mm and are 1000 x 3000mm in size. But the distinguishing aspect of this product is the flexibility radius of 5.5m, allowing for the tiles to be installed on concave and convex surfaces. The latest offerings add a new perspective to contemporary architecture and construction in the country. Available in matt finish, Innovation Ivory and Pietra Grey are one of the world’s most flexible, lightweight and manoeuvrable porcelain tile. As the names suggest, the former is an ivory shade tile and the latter is grey and both are extremely versatile and easy...

Powered by a constant search for solutions in the building industry, Sahyadri Solutions and Innovation Lab has created ECOPRO, a proven, versatile and innovative building material that helps create inspiring aesthetics and structural reliability. Sahyadri Industries Ltd a pioneer in building solutions since 1947 is an ISO 9001, EMS 14001 & BS OHSAS 18001 Certified Company, listed on the BSE, SIL provides a range of products for interior & exterior building systems & roofing solutions. Applica tions ECOPRO – Fibre Cement Boards “ECOPRO” does everything you want it to do and more like false ceilings, wall partitions, facades, fins, frames, wood design planks, mezzanine flooring, pre-fab structures and many more. It boards can be cut using a carpenter's hand saw or electrically operated circular saw and even an electric hand drill can be used for drilling holes. ECOPRO Applications are recommended in fields like hospitality, retail, offices, educational institutes, restaurants/showrooms,...

What are the structural roles of cladding? Depending upon the architectural design of the building, the external cladding can play a significant role in the structural design of a building. External factors such as high winds and rains play a crucial role in the selection of materials for façades and their design. Also, high-rise buildings have a stringent regulatory requirements while designing the façades. Facades could be designed purely as aesthetic elements that are clad superficially on the buildings, or as a full-blown structural component integrated with the building structure such as the 750-seater auditorium that we designed for the Symbiosis University of Applied Sciences, in Indore. What are the key factors to be considered while designing and selecting materials for cladding? Cladding is often prefabricated in panels that are attached to the structural frame of the building. Cladding systems may include additional components such as windows, doors, gutters, roof...

As more and more Indians travel around the world they are exposed to the cutting-edge technology used in modern building facades that exist in different countries and they notice the use of the latest to make them unique and iconic. Some of these appear to defy the laws of gravity and science. Architects who have been involved in the creation and execution of these unique projects have not just focused on the design aspects of the building but have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that the performance of the products used in these projects are tested thoroughly for safety and performance during their lifetime. India is now fast catching up with the other developed nations in all the other aspects of development and is leapfrogging into the future with the rapid growth of its cities and towns. The pressure to build taller and more efficient structures and make the...

Over the years cladding industry has been going through a sea change. Along with a flood of innovative materials and designs introduced in the market, we see the advancement in technologies in application as well. As per a research report Grand View Research, Inc.’, the global cladding market is expected to reach USD 111.1 billion by 2025 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.6 per cent from 2017 to 2025. The increasing construction spending and the development of more efficient building technologies using automated production and installation processes are expected to foster industry growth. Stringent green building regulations and codes such as the LEED certification, and growing demand for energy efficiency in project exteriors, especially for key construction industry participants, including architects and designers, are encouraging investments in lightweight and energy-efficient exterior panels in commercial as well as residential buildings. The choice of cladding has a significant...

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="192"] Amit Shah Managing Director,Classic Marble Company Pvt. Ltd.[/caption]   Use of imported marble has increased over the past 20 years and the growth of the industry has been phenomenal. It has become one of the most preferred materials for housing, hospitality or commercial projects. As far as engineered stones are concerned, it is still a new product. Recognised as connoisseur of natural stones, Classic Marble Company (CMC) has revolutionised the marble industry to craft spaces. Armed with a global network across 40 countries, they have achieved a reputation for customising products under one roof for varied client needs and industry demands. CMC has paved the path to set trends with a focus on evolving customer preferences, market demands and advanced technologies to manufacture world-class products. In his exclusive interview with Window and Façade Magazine (WFM), Amit Shah, Managing Director, Classic Marble Company Pvt Ltd, talks about...

The hot and humid weather of the Indian subcontinent is inspiring a growing number of architects to opt for building insulation. High standards of thermal insulation offer a practical and cost effective means of reducing electricity consumption. Smart City, Kochi is one such project where Aludecor ACPs have been used to manufacture sandwiched insulation panels keeping in mind the coastal climate. Smart City is a joint venture IT project between TEECOM (Dubai Holdings) and the Government of Kerala. The building has been designed by B&H Architects from Vancouver. Reachable by boat and road, Smart City has vast common areas and greenery. Aludecor fire rated ACPs have been used by Sherbrooke Aluminium Products to manufacture sandwiched insulated panels for the façade and the skylight. [caption id="attachment_27843" align="alignnone" width="774"] The walls are cladded with double glazed high performance glass and aluminium composite panels[/caption] The walls of this LEED Platinum rated IT building complex...

Shape, colour and material all convey emotions, tell stories and inspire new ideas. FunderMax India offers a host of cutting edge building exterior solutions and is well-known for their cladding products. The state-of-the- art panels, manufactured in Austria, effuse elegance with tasteful patterns that can enhance the look of all kinds of outer surfaces. Max Exterior is a high-quality construction product which is used especially for long-lasting balcony and façade claddings and has extremely effective weather protection qualities. The range of applications with Max exterior is becoming increasingly wider, and the range of decors is also achieving continually new dimensions in terms of nuances and variety. The Exterior panels are duromer high-pressure laminates (HPL) that are produced in lamination presses under great pressure and high temperature. Celebrating the brand’s 10th anniversary in India this year, FunderMax, since its flag off in the country, has come a long way. In a...

Construction industry is the largest energy consumer and greenhouse gas emitter, both in the developed and developing countries. We must admit the role of construction industry in the global warming issues. Keeping the social responsibility towards the future generations in mind, many new innovative products are coming in to the market. One such product is glass ceramic. Glass ceramic stands as a true performance circular economy material which offers a wide range of applications bringing full creative freedom and functionality. The main advantage of glass ceramic is not only its contribution to the environment, but of a unique, exclusive and durable material, produced under stringent quality standards which also offers an exciting aesthetics. This glass ceramic material is almost 100% recyclable. Glass ceramic plays an important role in the careful use of natural resources and improvement of the sustainability balance in building projects and design objects. This is an enormously...

uPVC windows & doors are the best bet for anyone who is ignorant about their doors and windows. It is environmentally friendly, rust and corrosion-resistant and hence has increased longevity as compared to others. The technology, design and testing process for the uPVC doors and windows helps to bring out their unique properties. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="382"] uPVC windows[/caption] As a tradition in India, we have seen that the doors and windows are done by a carpenter who is known to a family or through someone’s reference, and who primarily uses wood, mild steel or aluminium as frames over some glass and some basic hardware such as handles, shoot-bolts and hinges to create the structure. But the life span of those windows is very short. uPVC windows have many advantages, windows have come a long way from being insignificant to being recognized as the single most important area in a...

The Indian fenestration industry has undergone many changes in terms of engineering and material usage over the years. Wood windows have been in use since the birth of the building construction. Other building elements like steel and aluminium came much later, i.e., in the late 20th century, and only recently uPVC has been introduced in India. Let’s have a look at the evolution of the fenestration industry in India. The Era of Privatization The active growth of the Indian building/construction industry happened in the late 90s and early 2000s, when the IT complexes were sprawling across the country, starting from Bangalore to Hyderabad and Mumbai, Delhi and then Gurugram. Almost all the major real estate developers, such as DLF, Unitech, Hiranandani, Rahejas, Prestige and Brigade started paying attention to constructing state-of-the-art buildings, made using the latest technologies and designs available in the market at the time. Owing to the sudden...

The building façade, also known as the building skin and/or building envelope, has become popular in recent times. It is, however, not always considered an important and necessary exterior element of a building with aesthetic and functional purposes. Historically, the facade has been just a concrete cover of façade material on the structure. Only in the last decade, architects and designers have started to think or consider about this aspect of the building and focus on sustainable material procurement. Façade is an independent frame made of Aluminium Composite Panel, double-glazed glass, pre-cast stone, natural stones or metal panels mounted and fixed in Galvanized Iron or on an Aluminium structure. The frame could be of a material alone or a combination of two materials. It is fixed with stainless steel components along with rubber gaskets, sealant, silicone gel, metal screws etc., on the beams. The architect/designers divide the face of the...