An Iconic, large, free flowing space being built at the ground floor of J W Marriott hotel in Kolkata is an epitome of technology. The Diagrid, coming up at the entrance lobby, is a triple height structure and on completion, it would be an architectural marvel. Free flowing space is enclosed with a mesh of rectangular tubes (Diagrid) which is glazed with laminated double glass units. The intent of the designers is to have a minimalistic support frame for the entire 2000 sq m of the Diagrid façade, hence there is no structural member supporting this façade. While the span is very large yet the intent was to have as less frame element as possible with a very high performance and acoustic insulated façade. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="340"] The complex structure of the diagrid[/caption] For the façade contractors Glasswall systems, diagrid project for J W Marriot was a challenging project,...

uPVC windows are no longer the novelty these days as more and more companies are coming and generating awareness about its benefits for the consumer. At WFM we have discussed at length the product and how it co-exists and often even outperforms the conventional aluminium and wood windows. As the market is evolving and the consumer is getting more inquisitive, there has been an onslaught of national and international brands entering and serving this ever-growing market. While there are various brands present, there’s one brand that we all recognise with much ado. Kommerling India is a success story internationally that has been running over more than 100 years. Kommerling is a brand with tradition under the huge umbrella of Profine Group. The company was established as a trading organisation in 1897 by Karl Kommerling. The company started the production of PVC roller shutters in 1957, and the extrusion of window...

With a principal focus on constantly evolving products of high quality and lasting value, the strategic division of Sobha Group by the name of Sobha Glass and Metal Works has successfully executed a plethora of projects for various prestigious organisations. Since its inception in 2001 as a backward integration exercise by Sobha Group, Mr. PV Varghese, is at the helm of its operations and activities. Starting his career as a civil engineer, working for a civil construction in Mumbai, Mr. Varghese worked in the middle-east for around 10 years where Mr.  Pv Varghese got his first brush with the façade industry, before settling to start up the glazing and metal works division of Sobha in March 2001 in Bangalore.

An architectural practice with focus on creating spaces that exist in equilibrium with their surroundings, at Studio Symbiosis elements of program, site, context, landscape and climate are studied and interfaced, thereby resulting in the amalgamation of these considerations in one coherent design. Bringing out their aesthetic best, Ar. Amit Gupta and Ar. Britta Knobel Gupta, along with their collaborative partner Ar. Vandana Sehgal designed this upcoming hotel in Ahmedabad which is yet to be titled. The uniqueness of the project comes from its concept where the built harmonizes seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. This is an inherent part of the façade design process whereby a feedback loop is established that constantly updates the formal language of the project thereby embedding environmental sustainability in the form itself. Design Challenges: Seamless waves flowing on the landscape and continuing onto the façade were the focal point of the design proposal for this full...

Project by Merge Studio, New York Led by Varun Kohli, Principal at Merge Studio, the team has created a rigorous process of such integration process where environmental analysis, financial feasibility and other parameters are assessed in tandem with the design process, thus allowing them to solve varying problems and often creating opportunities from initially perceived constraints. For architects of the 21st century, it is impossible to ignore the significance of building envelope design in most sizable projects. It is significant aesthetically as the primary visual element of the building, but more importantly, it is essential in negotiating the transfer of energies between the exterior micro-climatic and interior comfort environments. In addition to aesthetic and environmental considerations, the building envelope design must also address pragmatic issues of maintenance and safety whilst responding to market conditions such as financial feasibility, constructability and material availability. Creative design resolutions for such variable parameters can...

Mr. Romi Malhotra, promoter of Star Alubuild- North India’s leading façade design, fabrication and installation service company focusing primarily on doors & windows, curtain walls and solid surface façades for interiors and exteriors

Introduction: Located in a typical hot dry climate, 20 kilometers further from Jaipur, Pearl Academy of Fashion, boasts of a radical architecture that emerges from a fusion of the rich traditional building knowledge bank and cutting edge contemporary architecture. Various passive environment control methods have been incorporated in the design to reduce the dependence on mechanical methods due to the inherent budgetary constraints and the need to combat the adverse climate. Adaptations of traditional Indo-Islamic architectural elements and passive cooling strategies such as open courtyards, water body, a step-well or baoli and jaalis (perforated stone screen) have been incorporated giving the building a distinct feel of ancient-modern confluence. The Façade: The building is protected from the environment by a double skin façade, which is derived from a traditional building element called the ‘Jaali’ that can be found in abundance in traditional Rajasthani architecture. The double skin acts as a thermal...

The history of city of Delhi has seen it being built, ransacked and then rebuilt a number of times. The city boasts of being equally modern as it is ancient with iconic modern landmarks dotting its landscape amidst the ancient historical ones. Looking at modern architectural landmarks, one name that can be associated with a large number of them, invariably, is Alkarma. Be it Vikas Minar at ITO or India Habitat Centre on Lodhi Road, the firm has manufactured and installed windows at these buildings and continues to be one of the most reputed façade manufacturing in this part of the country. WFM speaks to Sandeep Chowdhry, Managing Partner at Alkarma and Managing Director at Durable Windows(a sister concern of Alkarma ), a man of fine taste and impeccable discipline in whatever he undertakes, as he relates various anecdotes along his exciting journey at Alkarma. Following are the excerpts –...

A piece of News that has been doing rounds of Façade and Fenestration industry off late, is “LIXIL Corporation’s acquisition of majority stake holding in Start Alubuild. At one hand is Japan’s largest building products company LIXIL Corporation, which also owns Permasteelisa, world’s largest and most admired façade company.In its drive to enhance focus on the Indian market LIXIL acquired a majority stake in Star Alubuild from DLF. On the other hand is Star Alubuild,North India’s leading façade design, fabrication and installation service company focusing primarily on doors & windows, curtain walls and solid surface façades for interiors and exteriors. Led by founder and president, Romi Malhotra, it has serviced an array of projects, ranging from residential to infrastructure, as well as from economy to premium segments, with key clients including DLF, IREO, and Larsen & Toubro. Together they have forged a partnership which promises to bring about a revolution...

In an exclusive round of question and answer with WFM Mr. Varghese talks about the window and façade industry, his choices and the uphill journey of Sobha Group Following are the excerpts - WFM: Please tell the readers how you got into the PV Varghese: I was working in Dubai for a construction company taking care of their cladding division when I got a call from Sobha Group. Mr. PNC Menon interviewed me and shared his vision of setting up a glazing and metal works division for Sobha  Group as a part of their backward integration initiative. The association worked out and I moved to Bangalore to set up the same. Since then I have been part of the illustrious Sobha group. WFM: So this division only does projects for Sobha’s in-house projects or have you diversified to other avenues? PV Varghese: Actually not. In fact only 15-20% of SGMW...

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="221"] Er. Cyrus Pithawalla[/caption] Enter the most upmarket locale of suburban neighborhood in northeastern Mumbai – Powai. Amidst the upscale hotels and commercial buildings, the place is marked by a distinct neo-classical styled architecture – Hiranandani Gardens. After 1985 , Hiranandani Developers purchased large tracts of land between Vikhroli hill and Powai lake and set up the present day township. Besides Powai, Hiranandani Developers have a prominent presence in Thane, another suburban township near Mumbai. Hiranandani group – focused on a larger goal of the Happiness of people and raising global lifestyle, has gone from strength to strength. Hiranandani Group is synonymous with quality, commitment, reliability and excellence in architecture. WFM brings you the edited excerpts from a candid tête-à-tête with Er. Cyrus K Pithawalla – Director, Engineering of Hiranandani Constructions Pvt. Ltd. In conversation with Er. Pithawalla, a force to reckon in the construction world, a...

“Mighty spirited in progressing from a 2 member team setup, in a small rental office premises to a team of 230 highly talented group of Architects, Interior Designers, Engineers and Professionals in a spacious office premises of 50,000 sq. ft. floor space. He has recently received several prestigious awards and recognition in multiple categories, HSBC Sponsored International Asia Pacific Property Awards 2012, Bloomberg Property Awards 2012 for best residential high-rise design in the world, CNBC Award: Best In Ultra Luxury Segment 2013, Artists in Concrete Awards Asia Fest: 2013-14 for best Educational Institute Design where his work was selected from amongst the top architects of the country. Felicitation by The Times of India followed by four-page coverage to celebrate the Architectural brilliance of Ar. Vivek Bhole and his contribution to transforming the Mumbai skyline is another feather in the cap.” Let us just go through the success mantra of Mr....

Developing the most prestigious buildings in south India, from UB City to Shantiniketan, from the Golfshire to the Polygon, Prestige group is the uncrowned king, at the helm of the real estate development scenario of Bangalore and other parts of South India. Known to rule the high end as well as the mass-scale residential developments with the same aplomb, Prestige group became the real game changer in the retail segment also when they built the first ever mall that the southern part of India ever saw – The Forum Read along as Mr. GOPAL V. – Executive Director of the Prestige group, talks about the journey, the vision, the challenges and the dreams, which set the developer on a paramount pedestal. WFM: Mr. Gopal, could you please give us a little background about yourself and how long have you been with Prestige? Gopal (Executive Director, Prestige group): I am a...

“A great leader's courage to fulfil his vision comes from passion & not position. With a legacy of over 45 years of excellence in architecture, PG Patki Associates continues to instil the creative spirit in their designs. Started by the late Mr PG Patki, the practice is one of the front runners in the country with a number of prestigious projects to their credit. Carrying forward this legacy of distinction, Mr S P Patki is now at the helm of PG Patki associates. With an azimuth zeal and passion towards the job, this spirit flows over to the whole team of P G Patki Architects. Mr Patki maintains: “It is not always about superficiality, for even iconic ones can be huge architectural failures. It is a balancing act where detail, character and fundamentals are not compromised, where structure reflects the mark of the individual; the soul behind it” In awe...

The enormous economic and population growth worldwide over the last four decades has together driven the impacts that threaten the health and well-being of our communities and nations. To name a few -  ozone depletion, climate change, fouling of natural resources and extensive loss of biodiversity and habitat. Amidst this, one word that drives all activities across the globe in today’s time and age is Sustainability. Ranging from ecosystems to buildings, from commercial buildings to urban habitats, you name it and it strives to be sustainable. Leaders in business, government, academia, public interest organizations, and communities are responding with innovative new solutions to sustainability. Large corporations, as well as small businesses, are progressing beyond simple regulatory compliance in favour of more proactive roles in finding solutions to sustainability issues. The Indian building and construction industry is not far behind in this race run for the cause. “For most urban projects,...

India has always embraced new technological advancements with open arms. With the advent of spurt in the growth of Indian construction industry in 2006-2007 many multinational companies forayed into India. One such Solution provider is Reynaers Aluminium. Headquartered in Duffel, Belgium, Reynaers Aluminium is represented in over 40 countries worldwide and is the market leader for developing and selling innovative and sustainable aluminium systems for the building sector. Reynaers Aluminium ensures its financial success by integrating social and environmental considerations into all its activities. [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="230"] Ajay Tenany[/caption] WFM got a chance to interact with Mr. Ajay Tenany, who is Director – Reynaers India and is responsible for sales, marketing and operations of the Indian Subsidiary. Mr. Tenany has a vast experience in the Building industry. He marketed interior application products like window coverings; blinds etc. and He had a brush with the façade contracting business when he...