India has taken a leap in fenestration product technology. The use of alternate materials such as UPVC and aluminium instead of traditional wood not only furthers green initiatives but also reduces costs in the long run. Lingel, a German-based veteran and one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality doors and windows in Europe entered the Indian market in the year 2006 with Mario Schmidt at its helm. With a meagre workforce and little experience of the nascent Indian market, it wasn’t a cakewalk for the company and Mario to reach where they are now. Mario Schmidt, Director, of Lingel Windows and Doors, shares the details of his journey of 10 years in the Indian sub-continent, the growth of his company and the industry, their newly launched product and his company’s future plans with WFM. WFM: Please give us a brief background of your group and your products. Mario Schmidt (MS):...

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...

During the times of modern architecture and the international style the dream of fully glazed highrise buildings became a sparkling reality – creating astonishing façades, allowing an interaction between inside and outside and paying homage to great views. But in present days due to building regulations and higher sustainability demands this architectural intent has become more and more impossible to realize. Therefore the recently opened Festo Automation Center with its all-glass façade points out the enormous technological accomplishments and the intelligence that lies within the design of the building. [caption id="attachment_38099" align="alignleft" width="217"] Fig.1: The Festo Automation Center Tower standing proudly in Stuttgart[/caption] A normal or rather passive building envelope is transformed into an active building component reacting dynamically to changing environmental conditions. As a result cooling energy needed can be reduced by up to 20 per cent and the user comfort can be increased. This high-performance façade is based...

Nitin Bhatia is the Managing Director & Principal Consultant of FACET Façade Consultancy, a specialist façade consultancy practice executing projects across India, Middle East and Africa. Nitin has trained as an architect and has worked across disciplines including design, management, R&D and forensics and is currently working on several projects in India and overseas including super tall buildings such as the 117 oor World One Tower in Mumbai with an added experience in engineering, manufacture, installation, project management, procurement and testing of façades. Nitin Bhatia spoke eloquently on evaluation and selection of glazing systems for optimal performance of façades and fenestration.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="204"] The curtain wall concept is implemented in the façade design of Altitude[/caption] The proposed 383m tower, Altitude, will be 211m taller than the current tallest building - World Trade Center - at Colombo, Sri Lanka. This mixed-use high-rise development, is planned as a revenue-generating landmark structure that shall mark Sri Lanka’s presence on the world map of high-rises. The skyscraper will incorporate various private and public spaces including luxurious apartments and penthouses, retail and commercial spaces, a revolving speciality restaurant, an indoor cricket training facility, and a 360degree observatory. Facade The curtain wall concept is implemented in the façade design of Altitude, amounting to an approximate of 1, 10, 000 Sq m of glazing area. The research below traces the underlying decision that led to the development of the overall curtain wall concept; focusing on the design options at different location on the exterior, and also...

The Bharat Diamond Bourse project had started in the 1980s and had changed many hands before it finally progressed to Architect Reza Kabul in the early 2000s. Located in the suburban commercial hub of Bandra – Kurla Complex, Bharat Diamond Bourse had a distinguished architectural character and is one of the largest commercial complexes in India. Every structure built and proposed in Bandra – Kurla Complex has a unique personality of its own: the buildings stand out and yet gel with the overall scheme which is modem and fresh unlike any other place in India. The challenge at ARK was to give a fresh look to the Bharat Diamond Bourse structure designed in a different outlook. The project needed to be revamped considering the revised utility requirements, which involved detailed site analysis of the existing structure and studying the previous drawings. As it was not possible to make major structural...

A 35-key boutique hotel located in a prominent area in Kolkata en route the airport; ‘The Gallery Hotel’ is designed to be a definitive landmark along a busy arterial road of the city. Standing along the straight and densely bordered road, the building is mainly viewed from a tangential direction rather than from the front. Keeping this in mind and our intention to create a pause in the midst of urban chaos, the façade was envisaged as a striking metallic sculpture. The elevation of  ‘The Gallery Hotel’ was designed to seemingly drape the building with a glittering screen. Swathed in 13,818 shiny metallic gold, silver and black ‘shingles’, the building appears to shimmer as these polished butterfly shaped elements sway gently in the wind. The placement of these shingles was detailed meticulously so as to limit visibility from outside while still enabling light and ventilation to the interiors of the...

Newtown School façade design project came to us when construction of the buildings had already begun. Located on a long, narrow, curved site, one approaches the school along the inner curve. It comprises two academic blocks placed apart and at a slight angle from each other. Our approach towards the façade design of Newtown School,was to create a screen with a strong character that visually unifies the seemingly separate blocks while lending the school a distinct identity. A graphical representation of relatable alphabets, symbols and numbers became an inspiration for the bespoke screen around the otherwise unremarkable building masses. The fenestration would provide shade from the harsh sun while allowing ample natural light within. 488 panels made of Fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) measuring 3.2x3.2m in 13 different alphanumeric patterns were designed and placed in various orientations to achieve a randomized effect. Slabs were systematically projected beyond the building on all sides...

    [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="192"] International Management Institute[/caption]             Kolkata is an ancient city in eastern part of India. Post-Independence, this city has not grown like others in India, and has not yet adopted any architectural character. On the contrary this city is becoming more chaotic & mono chromatic. But the city definitely has vibrant life, and people here have love and passion for art & culture. As client vision was to give the most expressive, vibrant, technologically advanced & sustainable management institute. We thought about adding colours to city life. PEOPLE + CITY: Community The Productive Collision. The site, situated in a very dense residential urban fabric, was a huge constraint and dictated linear planning. Special efforts were made to ensure creation of non-monotonous spaces which did not follow expected linear pattern. The curved glass façade, allowing naturally lit areas in the day...

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...

The International Conference Center truly seems to have been pulled straight from the future into the northwest Chinese economic and leisure metropolis of Dalian. Both the interior and exterior contain Aleris aluminum alloy 55HX®. This icon and symbol of urban development, located in 50 meters vicinity of the sea, is designed by COOP HIMMELB (L) AU and combines the rational elements of a modern congress center with the flowing lines of traditional Asian buildings and the smooth forms of the ocean. 700 tons of Aleris 55HX® were used both for the inside and outside paneling of the Dalian International Conference Center. There were a few reasons for choosing this Aleris alloy. First, the anodized aluminum has a high surface quality and is excellent for shaping. Additionally, Aleris 55HX® not only guarantees color uniformity across numerous casting batches but also longterm color stability under all weather conditions, which is an important...

Since inception, the primary function of buildings was to provide shelter and protection from the environment. As time passed, lifestyle changed and so did architecture where the original concept of providing shelter transformed into providing comfortable indoor ambiance. During this transition, building façades have gone through a lot of changes and modifications. The building façades remain one of the most important exterior components for building functionality. Apart from just aesthetic point, it also has a critical role related to energy performance and interior functioning of a building. [caption id="" align="alignright" width="260"] A hotel in Mumbai - achieved energy efficiency and optimum daylighting by controlling floor to window ratio, using recessed windows for solar shading and high performance clear glass[/caption] In case of a window, the basic objective is to admit daylight in a building and also provide view to the user. As quoted “a window that admits sunlight for winter...

Energy Conservation has gained momentum in recent years. The increasing demand for energy efficiency has influenced the technical development of right construction methodology and usage of right products for façades and windows. Nowadays advanced and technically superior innovative solutions are available which are cost effective and facilitate greener buildings with a low carbon footprint. On an average depending upon the location in the world, it is observed that buildings consume more than 30 – 40 per cent of energy. In extreme cold and hot regions this consumption may go more than 40 per cent as well. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="364"] Air Tightness and Insulation[/caption] Windows and façades are few of the most important factors while considering the overall energy efficiency of a building. Therefore the requirement and selection of right construction methodology and right products is very important and it helps in achieving the overall performance. Special type of products...

29th January 2016 The Gateway Hotel, Ernakulam, Kochi The 7th edition of ‘World of Windows’ was held on 29th January, at The Gateway Hotel, Ernakulam, Kochi. World of Windows by ZAK has always been the harbinger of technology and unprecedented networking opportunities for the fenestration industry. Continuing the endeavour, another successful conference culminated in the Port City of Kochi, Kerala. The 7th edition of ZAK World of Windows took place in the Ball Room of The Gateway Hotel by Taj, in the picturesque Marine Drive area of Ernakulam, Kochi, rendered yet another success story where delegates from the architect, developer, and window contractor fraternity attended and witnessed the enlightening presentations and interacted with the panellists during the discussion session. Windows are an integral part of timeless architecture, crucial in enhancing the functionality of the buildings. A typical fenestration component suffices the basic requirements of light and ventilation, but along the...

The Louis Vuitton Foundation is an art museum and cultural centre in the Bois de Boulogne overlooking the Jardin d’Acclimatation in Paris, France. The building was designed by Los Angeles-based architect Frank Gehry and was opened to the public in October 2014 after six years of construction. Foundation Louis Vuitton deploys SentryGlas® ionoplast interlayer and Dow Corning Silicone to float like a sailboat above the treeline of the Bois de Boulogne in Paris, showcasing one of the most fascinating glass roofs ever seen, with 12 unique, curved glass sails. Built at the behest of Bernard Arnault, a French businessman, art collector and chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LVMH, the Louis Vuitton Foundation building expands outwards from a central area into various galleries, referred to as chapels, with the whole structure covered by sails of white glass, inspired by the glass architecture of the end of the 19th century. Designed...

The Michael Schumacher World Champion Tower, Gurgaon was designed with racing, and more particularly Formula 1 as a strong inspiration and influence. The overall building form was designed with the aerodynamic curves and cutting edge features of a racing car, wrapped in a 3-dimensional metallic ‘ribbon’ which is reminiscent of the curves and chicanes of the many racetracks that Schumacher mastered. This striking emblem becomes a link between the two parcels of land divided by the road, physically joining tower with clubhouse, drop-off, Schumacher Museum and EWS. The Tower has other unusual features such as a cantilevered helicopter platform on the north side of the building, and a glass dome at the top of the building, inspired by the form of the Formula 1 cars raced by Michael Schumacher. The development includes a museum and cafe dedicated to Michael Schumacher, showcasing his legendary motor racing career which is ongoing. The...