Ozone, the leading player in Architectural Hardware Segment, introduces Smart Glide Automatic Sliding Door System under its flagship brand Ozomotion. The New Ozone Smart Glide System runs on magnetic linear motor technology which is a noiseless, safe and reliable operating mechanism. Unlike other automatic door operators that run on motor and belts, Ozone Smart Glide is a low-energy operator. The Door System comes with a remote control and push button, though other access control devices can be integrated with it like microwave sensor & handwave sensor. It is offered in two variants, Smart Glide 80 for door weight 30-80 Kgs and Smart Glide 150 for door weight 50-150 Kgs. Ozone Smart Glide’s compact and linear construction offers design flexibility to suit the user’s aesthetic and functional needs. It can be applied for single or double sliding door panels of wooden or glass finishes. With its slim linear size and alterable...

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Now consider the majority of new constructions where the traditional brick walls with small window-to- wall ratios have been replaced by expansive glass, aluminium and stone façades.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...

Renson is opening the Renson Concept Home just a stone's throw away from its headquarters in Belgium. Concealed behind the façade of this modern family home is a genuine test centre where the Waregem manufacturer of ventilation, solar shading and outdoor living can conduct and monitor experiments under real living conditions. [caption id="attachment_30213" align="alignnone" width="774"] The Renson Concept Home is an experience centre.[/caption] The Concept Home is first and foremost a real life test environment – at a later stage with residents – where a lot of practical data can be gathered. These data are of inestimable importance for research into the development of new technologies and to be enable realistic objectives for energy-efficient, healthy and comfortable living. CEO Paul Renson cites an example: "This home is equipped with no fewer than three different ventilation systems so that they can be compared under exactly identical conditions, for example. But the...

The company, Ultra Innovations, was started with the aim of providing aesthetically pleasing and technically competent aluminium glass railing systems to the Indian market. The focus was and is on developing newer and better glass railing systems that answer to all the needs of the industry. Systems for external, internal and staircase applications have been developed keeping in mind the needs of developers, architects and interior decorators. Innovative designs of railings with LED lighting options are also available in many configurations. The company undertakes turnkey contracts for the railing systems which include providing designs for the railings as per load and space requirements, supply of all materials involved and installation at site. The railings are tested for safety with regard to both human load and wind load for both internal and external applications. The company also provides training for the installation and assembly of the railing systems to their partner...

Architect Ponni Concessao has been awarded the ‘Jewel of Chennai’ for her award winning projects in architecture and contribution. Born into a family of professionals, Ar. Ponni Concessao graduated from the illustrious Church Park Convent, Chennai. A pioneer in women’s technical education, she was the first woman undergraduate student of the prestigious National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli, University of Madras, graduating in June 1987. After completing her post-graduate studies in Cornell University USA in 1989 with the JND Tata Endowment Scholarship and Scholarship from Cornell University, she worked with Edward Larrabee Barnes Architect, New York City, USA, and with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Washington D.C., USA. Ponni did her Advanced Professional Studies at Harvard University, USA in the areas of affordable housing, hospitals and research labs in 1992, and has been conferred with Honorary Doctorates from the University of Malaysia and University of Milano for Modern Architecture and...

Software has changed the way we do business in the 21st century. These amazing programming tools can manage a range of business processes right from the inquiry stage to site installations. Fenestration companies in India can now benefit from the variety of software available to enhance their business. Fenestration industry software can be categorised into two types. To begin with, let’s talk about software that specifically focuses on designing and fabrication of doors, windows and façades; here the profile and the hardware database play a key role. Then we have ‘Enterprise Resource Planning software’ (also known as ERP systems) which can manage an array of your entire business. ERP systems bring all business processes and data to one platform. This not only increases efficiency but provides real-time visibility for your fenestration business. Design and Fabrication Software Design and fabrication software is equipped with databases of numerous well-known architectural profile system suppliers...

ITES, the IT building designed by Ar. Sangeet Sharma of SD Sharma & Associates, is an interesting and a composed architectural project. As a plotted development, it was imperative to design a building which was most functional and eco-friendly. The longer sides were covered with the adjoining buildings so the essential lights was from front and back. The plan is a block of two large halls/working spaces with the central vertical circulation. The central lobby consists the entrance, staircase lifts and toilet blocks-there by giving two large halls an obstructive columnless space. The halls are oriented southwest in the front and northeast on the rear. The design challenges included a perfect environment conducive to IT and an area full of vigour. The key principal design factor of this project is the consideration of the orientation. Being a plotted development the phases of the building faces South West (SW). The challenge...

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...

Vallabh Bhawan is the State Secretariat of Madhya Pradesh, located atop the Arera Hill in Bhopal. Flanked by a large lake on one side of the hill and a green expanse on the other, the site for Vallabh Bhawan enjoys views of the natural, scenic beauty of its vicinity. These views are framed by an apparent visual axis created by the Vindhyanchal Bhawan and Satpura Bhawan on either side, with an exquisitely landscaped belt acting as the foreground. The existing context reflects an amalgamation of modern architecture in the buildings and the traditional chaarbagh-style landscaped gardens, commonly seen during the time of the Nawabs of Madhya Pradesh. The design is inspired by the modern interpretation of the turrets, horizontal bands and stepped forms in the architecture around it. The concave, U-shaped form of the structure not only creates an inviting entrance but also forms a seamless loop between the three...

Please give us a brief introduction of Merino as a global brand and its inception in India Merino Group is a Rs. 1200 crore establishment providing décor solutions to consumers for nearly five decades. Built on the ethos of economy, excellence and ethics, Merino Group has strived to provide consumers with an entire range of products and services that complement the furniture and panelling industry. Over the years, the group has invested time and resources into its R&D so as to bring innovative products to its customers that reflect superior quality while following the current international trends. The Group has also successfully executed a number of CSR projects aimed at creating a positive impact on the lives of the underprivileged sections of our society. The first product launched in 1974 was plywood, and the group then diversified into high-pressure decorative laminates in 1981. Today, it has three units, two in...

Please tell us about your practice. An elegant and efficient built environment is a product of collaboration between creativity and engineering. This multidisciplinary expertise enables CPKA to stand out and produce memorable architecture. Today we are recognised as one of the top 100 architectural firms in the world which bears testimony as much of our meaningful body of work as to our work ethic and philosophy developed over the last 50 years. What inspired you to become an architect? My father has always been an inspirational figure to me for his commitment to design. At a time when terms like “sustainability” and “environment-friendly architecture” were yet to be coined, he emphasised the need for an architecture that responded to the site and climate. For example, the entire Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus was built on undulating, rugged terrain, and the design reflected this in its planning and choice of materials....

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...

India is a home to an extraordinary variety of climatic regions. The site being located in Surat, Gujarat falls into hot and humid climatic zone. High humidity, strong sun and glare from the sky characterise the climate. The client having a family of five members, Kanji Bhai Bhalala is a public figure whose only purpose is to serve the mankind and in constant touch with people in the neighborhood and visitors throughout the day. The site is a part of residential society, a corner plot approached from       Undulating Red Brick Façade Brick Curtain House, Surat, Gujarat road on the west edge. The layout was organised in such a way that the private zone was at the inner side and public zone at the front facilitated by a centralised connecting services. On the ground, the front occupies parking while the rear consists of a servant room and a multi-purpose...

The prestigious CP Kukreja Photography Awards 2018 organised by “Foundation for Design Excellence” has been a huge success. The winners were chosen on the basis of their architectural expression, degree of freshness, aesthetic qualities, intention and charm. The jury who critically examined the competition included eminent personalities like Manoj Mathur, Head of Department, School of Planning and Architecture; Hardev Singh, internationally acclaimed Photographer; Vivek Sabharwal, Director of Apeejay School of Architecture; Nayan Raheja, Architect, Developer and Photographer; noted photographer Sharat Sharma, Sunaina Anand, Art Curator and Director of Art Alive Gallery and artist Manav Gupta. Based on certain parameters, Satish Kumar was declared as the winner of the competition for his effective use of perspective and framing in his photograph of JNU campus. Shivam Arora for his photograph of Army College of Medical Science, Yash Jeena for Gautam Buddha University campus and Vivek Aggarwal for Ambadeep Tower got Special Mentions...

Our journey began in 2013 with the launch of the magazine Window and Façade, the bi-monthly publication. Window and Façade Magazine provides information on façade and fenestration materials, designs, trends, technologies, etc., along with other architectural and sustainability aspects. The magazine is committed to investigating the latest news, trends, products, and technologies, which make it a must-read for the members of the industry and design professionals. Effective distribution ensures that the magazine reaches the target audience, providing a cost-effective advertising platform for suppliers who cater to this continuously growing segment. After years of publishing magazines specific to the façade and fenestration industry, we realized that it was near impossible for the print version to cover the vast information on the industry. Such is the information explosion, which leads us to initiate our work on a digital platform. We created www.wfmmedia.com with the user's perspective in mind. We wanted to offer...

One of the primary purposes of a building is to protect the inhabitants, contents and the structure itself from the harmful effects of extreme weather and to keep them comfortable during more typical conditions. On the subcontinent of India, where the range of climatic conditions includes some of the most extreme climates in the world, this is no small challenge. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="392"] Map showing average onset (monsoon arrival) dates and wind directions prevalent during India’s southwest summer monsoon[/caption] For example, some northern areas near the Himalayas have a temperate and even alpine climate, whereas north-western parts of India have an arid hot desert climate. Beyond that, however, much of India’s coastal areas can be classified as tropical wet or tropical wet-dry (monsoon) climate. In addition, the Bay of Bengal, to India’s east, regularly spawns a half dozen or more cyclones per year—the equivalent of hurricane season in the...