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,...

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,...

Building façade is one of the most vital pieces of design, which refers to the side, normally the front side of a building structure. It provides a great opportunity for designers and architects to play around and display their design skills and artistic talent. But a façade is more than just for show to the public. The design of façades is highly complex, at the same time extremely important in determining the success of a building. The façade does not only integrate with architectural context, but also play a key role in the building performance. In theory, a façade designer has to strike a balance between visual and thermal performance of the façade, which plays an important role in energy consumption and thermal comfort of the occupants inside the building. Façades are not only designed for their aesthetic reasons, but there are also several factors that need consideration such as...

Please Tell us about Your Firm Rajinder Kumar Associates (RKA)? Our firm was established in the early 1970s by my father Rajinder Kumar, and it is regarded as one of the leading architecture, planning, landscape and interior design firms in India. We have been practicing in India and abroad for nearly five decades. [caption id="attachment_33838" align="alignleft" width="217"] HCL Technology Campus, Noida[/caption] My father had practiced architecture under the able guidance of the team of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanerette for many years, designing several important buildings in the capital city of Chandigarh. He worked closely with these stalwarts and had a very close relationship with them. In the late 1960s, Rajinder Kumar forayed into the tourism industry and designed tourist accommodation in the hilly areas of northern India. Five decades later RKA has contributed more to the tourism industry in India than any other architect, by designing the largest number...

Aluminium doors, windows and curtain walls are considered to be the technological and architectural elements with designed functions to interact between two inside and outside environments and are supposed to guarantee general comfort within the home. The main functions between others are mechanical properties, air, water and wind resistance, thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, light and shade, ventilation and safety. Current Trends In Aluminium Windows, Doors & Curtain Walls In Context To The Acoustic And Thermal Performance Nowadays, an important element in the design of low energy buildings is the use of high-performance windows coupled with passive solar design strategies. As energy efficiency becomes more important, north Indian designers sometimes look to Europe for energy-efficient standards and technologies, such as the passive house approach. However, comparing European and Indian windows is complicated by the significant differences between European and Indian energy performance rating standards. The different evaluation methods and boundary conditions...

When you consider that asphyxiation from smoke and noxious gases accounts for more than 40% of fatalities (according to the DCLG) and that most deaths happen to people who were not in the room where the fire originated, it is easy to see why firestop is critical to prevent the passage of flames and noxious gases from one floor to the next. The risk of fire spread through articulated elements of the façade or vertically around the façade via the mechanism of flame leap poses new concerns for the newest class of super high-rise structures. The concerns revolve around the issues of fire department response capabilities, reliability of sprinkler systems and associated water supplies and the characteristics of the building and building occupants. More importantly, as architects develop a new and leading-edge creative curtain wall designs, it becomes more critical to consider the risk factors that can impact the building’s...

In a conversation with WFM, Ar. N.  Mahesh talks about his practice, inspirations, design approach and his milestone projects. ♦ Please Tell us About your Practice? I started my architectural practice in 1976, i.e., 43 years back, the firm has designed a wide variety of projects ranging from a small “Home” to “5 Star Hotels”. Perhaps some of the largest, the tallest and The research block is a 6 level modern, sleek structure which is planned to house at least 300 biotechnology researchers in a spacious and well-appointed laboratory environment. This technological building faces south-east and northwest, and solar penetration and heat gain are controlled by the use of vertical aluminium fins, which are rotatable. As per the solar study, the incident sunlight on the large glazed windows will be reduced by 80 percent. The U-value, therefore, is expected to be less than 1.5. Bio-Innovation Centre at Aakulam, Trivandrum for...

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...

The energy and resources we consume on a daily life basis are precious and very limited. That affects all kinds of industries and their working. With the construction industry being at its highest demand today, there is a need for reducing energy consumption for the operation of a building. In the near past, the major focus was concentrated towards designing aesthetically-pleasing facades. Today, building smart façade still need to look beautiful, but also help save energy or even generate energy and regulate operations such as ventilation, light etc. to optimize its performance. “A facade can be described as truly ‘smart’ if it uses natural, renewable energy sources such as solar radiation, airflow and geothermal energy to meet the building’s energy needs concerning heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting”. : Andrea Compagno , Smart glass façades - Material, Application, Design, Birkhäuser 2002 So, a smart façade or an intelligent façade is truly...

LKLS, a manufacturer of a wide array of products including uPVC doors, uPVC windows and aluminium doors with international profiles like Aluplast and Reynaers, was founded in 2003. The company primarily deals with the fabrication of steel works and is engaged in interior & façade glazing design and execution. The company has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility (area 14,000 Sq ft.) in Manesar, Gurgaon to cater to market demands. In 2011, the company established its own brand to cater for the Indian market with high-performance uPVC & aluminium doors and windows. The company’s products not only give a face-lift to any room but also provides an antidote against fire, noise, dust, rain, pollution, rust and energy efficiency to make them ideal for Indian living conditions. LKLS has been consistently contributing significantly in the uplift of the Indian living standards with 100% customer satisfaction. Its vision is to be the world’s no....

In renovation or new construction, the emphasis nowadays is very much on advanced insulation and airtight construction. Not only these technologies are beneficial in energy consumption, but also pays a special attention to the quality of the indoor air and the indoor temperature. Continuous and controlled supply of fresh air and outdoor sun protection together ensures a healthy and comfortable indoor climate, even in high rise buildings. Black Forest Project, Shanghai, China : Preventing Overheating by Providing External Sun Protection Large glass panels ensure that there is sufficient daylight, but at the same time, the direct incoming sunlight often disturbs the visual comfort and increases the risk of overheating during hotter periods. The better insulated high-rises definitely include external solar protection to deflect the sunlight before it has a chance to reach the glass, which helps to avoid increasing costs for active cooling. [caption id="attachment_33263" align="alignnone" width="774"] External sun protection...

In conversation with the team of Window & Façade Magazine, Khan shared the journey of Emirates Glass and what they are planning to achieve in the near future. Here are the excerpts… Please brief us on the history and objective behind the formation of Emirates Glass ? Emirates Glass was established in 1997 by Mr. 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. Building an impressive project...

This article may be a bit too late as balconies seem to have almost disappeared from apartments with RERA kicking in. In most projects, flower beds seem to have faded out too, except in luxury apartments and stand-alone buildings. To retain the charm of balconies and enjoy a good ‘cuppa coffee’ or early morning tea, it’s important to have good quality doors. Balcony doors can be classified into three main types but are not limited to only these. Types Of Balcony Doors : Sliding Doors a. Two Track Two Shutter Sliding Door – The classic, always best suited for openings of around 1800 to 2000 mm X 2100 to 2400 mm. The Two Track Slider offers 50% opening with close to 900 to 1000 mm opening to enter or exit the balcony with ease. [caption id="attachment_33076" align="alignnone" width="774"] Balconies Add a Lot of Charm and Character to the Building Elevation[/caption]...

As our industry continues to evolve, harnessing and embracing new technologies and materials, our buildings morph and adapt, and our role as façade designers also changes. In the beginning, it was simple; a wall that supported the roof or floor with a hole to let in the air and light. There might be a door or a shutter to keep the rain out but very simple. Glass is a naturally occurring substance. It is disputed whether the Egyptians or the Mesopotamians developed techniques for making glass, but it was not until the Romans started to develop new ways of making glass that glass started to be used to create windows. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Venetian artisans kept skills for glass making alive during the dark ages - in parallel with those in India and China. Techniques and chemistry of glass continued to evolve through the Middle Ages...

When loss to human life and property bring about grief, we invest our resources to ensure such losses do not occur again. For decades, countries and jurisdictions have been writing and evolving guidance documents (building codes) to build-in safety measures in construction to prevent loss to life. These codes give requirements ranging from structural requirements, fire initiation and growth prevention requirements, and even requirements for the design of plumbing systems to ensure the health of building occupants. The development and implementation of such codes in many countries is usually driven by manufacturers of products who believe very strongly in prevention of loss. The ethos of such companies drives them to aid the adoption and localisation of such codes written internationally. Fire Safety Codes They are guidance documents which usually divide construction of different types of buildings by grouping them into what is called occupancies (the occupants and use of the...

[caption id="attachment_32604" align="alignright" width="217"] Omkar 1973 designed by Foster+Partners[/caption] WFM: Please tell us about your company and yourself? Navin Keswani (NK): Aluplex has been in the window, door and facade business since 1981. We started off as a window-door fabricating company in Mumbai and progressed to become one of the largest facade and fenestration companies in the country. Aluplex has built its reputation over brand credibility, which does not get built overnight. It is achieved only with excellence in whatever we do – excellence in terms of performance of the end product, customer service and team dedication. These three criteria took the company to super heights and helped us to earn an unparalleled name in the industry parse. To tell you a little about the company and myself, Aluplex was started 36 years back because we realised that there was a need for this product. I realised that I had...