CMC Launches One of the Rarest Natural Stones Classic Marble Company (CMC) has introduced a new natural stone ‘Spiderment’ - one of the finest marble products, from its 9th Avenue gallery collection. The newly launched natural stone is one of the rarest and most exquisite natural marble found on earth. Spiderment is a white marble, displaying a dark brown vein emerging from one edge, and subtly extricating on the other side to create a spectacular abstract piece of art. The unusual stone is embellished with dark and light orange veins and mottles. The classic marble surface with an orange and brown mix creates a mesmerising visual for the walls. A book-matching of the design further beautifies its appearance making it no less than a piece of fine art for any space. 9th Avenue is CMC’s exclusive collection of the rarest and most exquisite natural stones found on earth. These first-choice...

Far more than an aesthetic cover, a Green façade plays a major role in reducing building energy consumption and improving occupants’ comfort and well-being. This makes sense in the construction industry to look at more holistic approach when it comes to Green façade design and deployment. A thoughtful façade can meet high expectation of performance for the evolving green construction industry, owners and occupants. But equally important is to know what factors contribute to the façade design. [caption id="attachment_31201" align="alignnone" width="774"] Infosys Ltd - Juniper Building (Ascendas) - Pune[/caption] The dominant factors while designing a sustainable Green façade are location, site condition, climatic condition, orientation, sun path, function, building application, design and materials. These factors are not new to our building design; however, adopting such factors coupled with strategic use of daylight, glare control, shading, high-performance glazing and super windows improvise the performance of a building overall and offers great...

Renson, the industry trendsetter, is equipping its own Fixscreen 100 EVO with solar technology, delivering professional screen quality for a cable-free retrofit, for the very first time. The new Fixscreen Solar by Renson is wind tight and available in many fabric qualities and colours up to a maximum size of 10.8 Sq m. The self-contained system in a modern linear design is fitted with a solar cell and operated by remote control. Professional maintenance is also provided. As well as the drive unit, the battery is easily accessible too and can be replaced when necessary.   [caption id="attachment_35851" align="alignleft" width="217"] Renson's Fixscreen solar for retrofitting[/caption] Robust, convenient and versatile: The vertical sunscreen made of solid extruded aluminium profiles featuring Fixscreen-technology is available in all RAL colours up to a maximum width of four metres and a maximum height of three and a half metres. The square box on which the...

Our city scapes and how we work, live and relax within both the buildings and the surrounding urban spaces are set to change beyond all recognition in the next 20 years. One of the key drivers of this change will be the continuing digital revolution and the evolution of what many are calling the 'smart city'. A multiplicity of powerful and connected systems will be generating data on the health, status and well-being of not only our smart cities and all that which physically comprise e.g., transport, lighting, footfall, energy consumption etc., but also of us - their citizens. However, the generation of information is only part of the smart city story. The gathering of data is not beneficial in its own right; it will only become meaningful and have commercial value if it, the data or information is processed and presented in a relevant and timely manner. If it...

An architect with over 18 years of experience, Ar. Nilesh Dongre has been leading the Developer Spaces Vertical at Edifice Consultants Pvt. Ltd. (ECPL) for the better part of the decade. Handson and detail oriented, Nilesh specialises in the design and execution of large-scale corporate buildings and complexes. With his architectural expertise and a keen understanding of commercial viability of built environments, Nilesh’s projects consistently exceed performance and sustainability benchmarks and actualising their commercial potential. A part of ECPL for over a decade, he has been instrumental to the growth of the organization, especially with his work on award-winning projects such as Tata Tritvam at Kochi, the Ascendas-V Park redevelopment at Hyderabad, Incor One City at Hyderabad, the Samsara Residential Township at Vijaywada, and the World Trade Centre Development at Abuja, Nigeria. His projects, such as the Ascendas Campus at IT Park, Bengaluru, have further received widespread coverage in national...

Established in 1998, Art N Glass Inc. has made a name for itself in the list of top suppliers of glass & glass products in India . Founded by Lokesh pathak , the company has come a long way from its humble beginning to one of the most comprehensive and technologically advanced glass processors in the country, providing complete glass solutions for both interior and exterior applications . The company headquartered in New Delhi, has become a renowned name in almost all vertical related to glass - everything from decorative mirrors to laminated glass  , insulated glass, stained glass etc. In an exclusive interview with window and facade magazine (WFM). partners  at ART N Glass Inc., Swapnil Pathak and Satwik Pathak  spoke about their family business , state-of-the-art integrated processing facility at kala Amb in Himanchal Pradesh , their products and  projects the company's persistent efforts to improve quality and...

No doubt, façades are the most important building element from both the user's and the architect’s point of view. They are the most difficult to design too since the perception of iconic and technologically advanced facades is changing frequently. Designers are researching and experimenting with new and complex façade forms and patterns. The glass aluminium facades are bygones now as we see a lot more new materials in the market such as rusted iron panels, zinc, copper and steel, and even high-pressure laminates. Along with the materials that furnish the look and feel of a building, technologies applied to facades are also changing. Leading-edge technologies play a crucial role in terms of sustainability and operational cost-effectiveness. Truly successful facades do far more than merely project an iconic image, they play a vital role in driving or transforming building performance, engaging with the external environment, significantly enhancing durability, and reducing energy...

Façade audit or forensics is an emerging specialised service that does a diagnosis of the façade design at a micro level. The purpose of this service is to identify the weak links in the façade design and implementation before a disaster can destroy the building envelope and endanger lives of occupants and also people near the building. Façade is a dynamic industry where there is continuous learning and innovation. Due to this dynamism, there is a fair amount of experimentation that happens at most project sites. Sometimes things do not work out due to the lack of past data or experience on the performance of the façade. Unlike concrete, where there are volumes and volumes of books and references, façade is a neglected field when it comes to documented knowledge and technical approach as virtually every building has a unique bespoke façade. The information and learning remain with the people...

A century ago, in 1918, the first generation of cars looked much like a wooden cart with an engine mounted onto it, steering wheels were just starting to replace the tiller, and 50km/h was considered breakneck speed. When compared to the latest Tesla or BMW electric sports cars, these early automobiles simply pale. Similarly, the Curtiss NC-1 biplane of 1918 had a maximum speed of 144km/h and a range of 2,500km, while the modern Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor features a top speed of 2,500km/h in addition to a host of other high-end capabilities unimaginable back in 1918. Perhaps even more striking is the evolution of Information Technology. Only fifty years ago, a computer that was capable of performing only the most basic of tasks would have filled a very large room. Today, most of us have smart phones in our pocket that can perform the same tasks a billion times...

Profine Group, Germany, one of the world leaders in uPVC profiles and sheet business, through its wholly owned subsidiary profine India Window Technology Pvt. Ltd., has introduced its aluminium range of products under the brand ‘AluPure’ aluminium window and door systems for Indian market. Objective behind launching “AluPure” in India is to offer international quality, state-of- the-art window & door systems and manifold colour options that can compete with any international brand. The advantage of this systems is that they are produced in India under the stringent international quality parameters and specifications that ensure its 100 per cent functional efficiency and durability. AluPure systems are available for casement and sliding window and door systems with the highest level of quality and security. The profiles are extremely durable, and require only low maintenance over their long service lives. Moreover, AluPure aluminium elements are non-flammable, colourfast, and 100 per cent recyclable. Thanks...

Uniglaze, a Bengaluru-based company, is the first automated plant in the country for manufacturing façade and fenestration products. The plant, which started commercial production in the month of August 2017, is making enormous waves in the façade industry and is literally seeming to touch the sky off lately. In an exclusive interaction with WFM, Aditya Kankaria, who dreams to see his company in the list of top three façade manufacturers in the country in the coming years, discusses about the company’s specialities, strategies for the Indian market and the state of the industry. Tell us briefly about your company, your journey and the milestones achieved over the years. Uniglaze has started production in October 2017, our aim is to make Uniglaze India’s most trusted, innovative and technologically- advanced building façade company. We are already executing projects in in Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi and Kolkata. Prior to starting of Uniglaze, I...

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...

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. In India, there are numerous fire safety related codes and standards, however, they are scarcely followed. Worse is the case when it comes to facades, it is mostly influenced by the pure considerations of alluring appearance and pricing, and is yet to hit the nail on the head in terms of fire safety norms and testing methods. The majority of the population is still ignorant of the performance of the material and design of the façade play a decisive role in controlling or propagating the spread of fire....

Zak World of Windows, after successfully completing its 11 editions in various cities of India, was recently held at the Taj Coromandel hotel in Chennai. The event was an ideal amalgam of informative presentations by experienced industry experts, panel discussions, keynote addresses, exploration of new technologies and products, etc. The event, World of Windows, was organised with an aim to provide proper understanding of fenestration and addressing issues like design and Zak World of Windows Focuses on Trends and Challenges in the Industry 23rd February, 2018 | Taj Coromandel Hotel, Chennai application challenges, measuring the performance of windows and their affectivity in bringing life to the interior spaces. In tune with the main intent of the event, Amir Hashmi, National Sales and Marketing Head of Profine India, discussed on the topic "A Paradigm of Quality and Trust". He explained how the latest products and technologies from Koemmerling uPVC Window &...

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...

Ozone, one of the leading providers of innovative architectural hardware solutions, has introduced ‘Twisted Series of Spider Fittings’ with an all new look of twisted arms. The new design will impart a smooth look to the frameless glass façade. Its curvilinear design reduces stress concentration at transition points and therefore twisted arm designs have better strength to hold the glass panels. With Twisted Spider fittings, no dome nuts is visible on fin side glass, ensuring a seamless look. These are ideally suited for the maximum fin thickness of 25.52 mm and for higher thickness of glass, and allen bolts can be changed. These robust fittings are available in PSS finish and made with high tensile SS-316 material to make them more durable, safe and sustainable. This new range are offered from S Series of premium architectural hardware collection. The range includes the fin spiders in 2-way and 4-way types and...