HUBLI, officially known as HUBALLI, literally meaning “Flower creeper”, is located on NH4 connecting Mumbai to Bangalore. Hubli Railway enjoys the status of zonal headquarters of south western railway of Indian Railways. This railway junction is connected to Mumbai in North-West, Goa in West, Bangalore in the South, Hyderabad and Solapur in North. It meanders through the rich forests of Western Ghats, the mining belts of Bellary, Hospette, traverses through archaeologically important heritage sites of Bijapur, Hampi, Badami, Pattadkal, Mysore etc., carrying commercial produce, manganese ore, timber sheet etc. thus making it one of the busiest and important junction. New Station Building, Hubli Hubli, being strategically located geographically on the Deccan plateau, was a part of political upheavals from the Vijayanagar dynasty through Adilshahis, Mughals, Peshwas and finally the British. The first railway workshop was established in AD 1880 and a station was built in AD 1881. After a span...

WFM: Tell us about your company, its products, and your business in India? Jean-Paul Hautekeer (JPH) : Dow Corning is a speciality chemical company, now a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, formed specifically to explore the potential of silicones, and their applications in various industries. We have more than 70 years of experience in the industry. Silicone is actually made from sand, which is transformed into poly crystal and silicon polymers, thereafter it is used in making different products. In the construction Industry, silicon is mainly used due to its durability and flexibility. Building components like glass on the facade are fixed using silicones due to these characters. Silicon will not deteriorate when exposed to sunshine, water, and any type of weather - hot or cold. Increasing urbanisation and rising need for energyefficient buildings (especially high-rises) are leading to growth in demand for silicone based materials. Applications containing...

WFM: Tell us about your design firm, your journey as an architect, and a few of your recently completed innovative and iconic projects? Yatin Patel : With a vision to establish a multi-faceted design consultancy firm and to extend its services pan India, I co-founded DSP Design Associates with Mehul Shah and Bimal Desai, two prominent visionaries in the architectural industry. DSP Design Associates credit their goodwill to a healthy clientele, having designed over 200 million Sq ft spread across over 1000 projects. The crux of the business success comes from a research driven, highly scientific approach to projects, irrespective of the scale and scope of the project. Every project is assigned a well thought, sui generis treatment in terms of strategy, vendor recruitment, execution and quality control. In addition to commercial and residential real estate, the organization also services verticals like hospitality and industrial architecture. DSP Design commands expertise...

Glass in architecture has been used in façades and as a construction material for many years. The invention of steel and plate glass in the late nineteenth century made possible an imaginative leap - the transparent steel framed enclosure - which underpinned the development of architecture in the twentieth century. Glass perhaps, is the only material that has seen continuous technological advancement since its first use as a building material. This is evident from the vast range of glasses now available to clad the buildings depending on the usage and budget. In this article, we present are view of today’s available architectural glass types as well as their characteristics and potential for future development of glass as a structural material. In the past few decades, the use of glass in buildings has remarkably increased. As a result, several transparent buildings have been constructed. The flexibility or versatility of glass keeps...

WFM: Please introduce your firm and yourself James Law (JL): My architectural firm is called James Law Cybertecture and the name Cybertecture represents the kind of work I have been pursuing and hope to continue in the future as well. We do very forward looking futuristic architecture, which tries to marry the latest innovation and technology with people, spaces and the modern world. We try to work around advanced architecture where we attempt to establish a connection between the latest innovations in technology with the people and spaces of the modern world. I got into architecture by chance. At the age of seven, I happened to watch a black and white film titled ‘The Fountainhead’ in which the main protagonist is an architect. Since then, I have worked hard towards my dream and am now practising on my own. WFM: It is almost more than a decade since you started...

WFM: Please brief us on the history and objective behind the formation of your company - Global Aluminium. Anil Agarwal (AA): Global Aluminium (P) Ltd was started in the year 1996 with a clear vision and commitment to change the Aluminium extrusion industry from one that sells to one that serves. It started with an Idea to give less importance to revenues and profits but more to quality and service for which today it has become very well-reputed. We started with one press of 1000. M.T. and gradually expanded to 5 extrusion presses catering to the needs of engineering, industrial, electrical, defence etc. Global has expertise on the making of extrusions ranging from 1xxx to 7xxx series alloys and has a well-established name among its clientele and general market. In the year 2010, we entered the field of architecture through marketing, finding out needs and viability and discovered that this...

First things first, I wish to make it clear that the views presented in this article are not influenced or biased in any way by me being a stakeholder in the glass facade industry. Yes, my profession as a glass supplier did motivate me to pen (rather type!) this down but my aim here is to present, as objectively as possible, the reasons why glass is being used as ubiquitously as we see today, and whether or not we are right in doing so. This article focuses on three key aspects of a glass facade - day lighting, energy and safety - and in the process analyses its effects, its benefits, the problems arising from its use and tools to help overcome some of these problems. For ease of understanding and to maintain focus on the core topic of this discussion, I have overlooked the regulatory requirements of glass facades...

Facade is the most striking feature in any structure. It gives us an instant impression of the design of that structure. One can sense the volume of space looking at the façade. But unfortunately, in most cases, people do not try to develop them, thereby leaving a dead look on the outside. Many developers do not allocate a fixed budget for the façade. Also, some designers do not incorporate façade design elements to the original space planning, thereby resulting in an unsuccessful product. If one goes through a proper design process, it will give a much better output not only to the internal space planning but also to the elevation of the structure. Thus, designers need to be careful not to take elevation design for granted and always integrate them with the original space planning. [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="593"] Fig.1. Crushed stones and aggregates and can be used to create...

ZAK WORLD OF FACADES 2nd September 2016 - Hyatt Regency, New Delhi The 22nd edition of Zak World of Facades completes successfully in Delhi with a turnout of more than 400 delegates. The key focus of the event was “Shaping a Smarter and Safer Tomorrow in Façade Design & Engineering”. The building envelope remains one of the most important exterior elements for building functionality. It is the component that defines the significance of a building and also plays many critical roles related to the overall functioning and energy performance of a building. The Zak World of Facades is the largest conference series on facade design & engineering in the region and has become a specialized forum to discuss the latest innovations and challenges in the construction industry pertaining to the building envelope. Now in its 22nd edition globally and 16th edition in India, the conference also showcased the latest technological...

The design and structural performance of laminated glass in overhead glazing applications like canopies and skylights is very critical as it has an impact on the safety of occupants of a building and its maintenance workers. For such applications, the post-breakage strength of laminated glass construction is of utmost importance. Pre-breakage strength can be predicted with reasonable accuracy by FEM technique (Finite Element Method) based software packages, which allows the user to input mechanical properties of viscoelastic inter layers along with glass. This helps in inter-layer-based differentiation of pre-breakage structural strength and design optimization. However, the post-breakage strength of glass is still a little-known area as analytical models for this are inconclusive so far and thus destructive testing is the only reliable solution. This article will present impact and load testing, simulating the accidental fall of a maintenance worker. It was done to assess the “fall through” resistance of point...

  WFM: Please comment on the need for choosing the right kind of hardware for windows, doors and façades. Hiten Sethi (HS): Architectural hardware is becoming increasingly design-oriented. Any architectural hardware shall ideally provide the highest level of performance, security & safety without compromising on aesthetics. Hardware used for doors, windows and façades influences the overall look of any architectural project, hence choosing the right ones is of utmost importance! Selection criteria should be based on - firstly, the level of performance which means satisfactory operations and durability. Secondly, no compromise shall be practised about the visual appeal of hardware. Designs of hardware - the colour, texture and finish chosen - can be altered and redesigned based on demand. Ideally hardware product manufacturers should aim for products to perform, be durable and have an aesthetic finish, all balanced together. The overall quality of hardware matters because whether concealed or visible,...

Significant trends are emerging in the window and door industries. The new trend in the fenestration industry and the contemporary architectural solution is heavily involving aluminium envelopes, from façade to casement windows for residential projects. With the emerging trends, contractors, developers and building owners have to deal with various issues pre and post-construction. Some architects and manufacturers of aluminium windows and doors are monitoring the customers' evolving tastes and have identified the following key trends that are expected to affect the building industry in the coming years. Minimalist Trend In recent years, the ‘minimalist’ trend has strongly affected the world of buildings. The architects are redefining the rules of urban planning by designing more and more slender buildings. Constructive [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="300"] NP Supra Asia Handle[/caption] The design has become increasingly modern and daring. Large openings are in trend together with narrow profiles and stylish accessories with low aesthetic impact....

For centuries, the humble façades have stood tall with their archtypes in the overall aesthetic as well as technical performance of a building. While the Façade Engineering has evolved by itself as a science placing an impetus on solving aesthetic, environmental and structural issues of a construction, the industry is exploring new directions in terms of lighting up these spaces as well. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="414"] Candi Prambanan is a 9th-century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia[/caption] From the humble incandescent bulb to the state-of-the-art LED lighting to Laser lighting, the evolution of the light sources itself is a scintillating story to tell. With the world coming closer and spaces getting denser, the majestic façades have also received a face-lift with the changing times. The latest trend in façade lighting includes that of a Media Façade, which refers to a mode of lighting by which lighting and light sources...

Façade and fenestration are often considered the biggest hurdle in achieving higher levels of energy efficiency in buildings. Buildings have evolved from being predominantly passive systems to having high levels of internal control due to the addition of man-made materials. With the increase in artificial lighting in buildings in the 20th century, the size of fenestrations was reduced significantly as well as dependency on them. They now occupy only about 15 to 20 per cent of wall surface area and play many roles including supplying daylight, providing views, acting as ventilators, noise and heat insulators and glare protectors. Windows not only add to aesthetics but are also a significant component of heating and cooling costs. [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="160"] Ar. Vivek Bhole, Chairman & Managing Director, Vivek Bhole Architects Pvt. Ltd[/caption] Building owners opt for the most efficient façade and fenestration system which contributes to energy conservation and, thereby operational...

If some of the myth were actually true, uPVC fenestration would not have achieved world-wide acceptance and recognition. Besides, uPVC would not have entered the extremely challenging Indian fenestration market. But I dare to suggest that uPVC was actually invented for India. Coping with hot dry climate and hot humid climate; compensating for temperatures ranging from minus 10°C to plus 50°C; providing a non-corrosive framing alternative for India’s 7500 km long coast line; being thermite resistant; being dust and sound proof; have a negligible water absorption; being colourfast and durable, being energy efficient, environmental friendly etc. is quite a tall order! If someone would have asked, 60 years ago, top European engineers to develop a frame material that can meet India’s varied environment, they might have said “It is impossible, it cannot be done!” but decades of ongoing research & development and rigorous testing resulted into a material proposition which...

Max Exterior by FunderMax is a versatile product that is suited for all weather conditions. The technology used to produce this product is exclusive, patented and imparts all requisite properties to withstand varied climatic conditions and conserve energy at the same time. The range of products from FunderMax scale high on the quality aspect and do not need any maintenance as such unlike other products which are used for exterior cladding. FunderMax rear ventilated facade systems are light, easy to install and offer the below advantages: [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="216"] FunderMax panels used for cladding in a high rise building, France[/caption] They provide protection from direct sun radiation due to the ventilated air cavity that dissipates the heat. This air cavity enables the building to remain cool in summer and retain heat in wintertime. They reduce the transfer of humidity to the building during rainfall as the ventilated air cavity...