Construction Opportunity Magazine August 2017

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Construction Oppurtunity Magazine August 2017

Project

Date

August 2017

Writer

Vinay Patil

We need intelligent buildings today in all sectors of construction in India

Vinay Patil Architects is an integrated architectural design consulting firm. Since its inception in 2008, Vinay Patil Architects has developed into a sundry and one among the respected design consulting firms in Mumbai. In an exclusive interview to CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES, AR. VINAY PATIL, DIRECTOR, VINAY PATIL ARCHITECTS, discusses emerging trends in tall buildings in India.

Your opinion on the rising population of tall buildings in India. What factors are fuelling the rise of tall buildings population in India.

In terms of geography which regions will see major rise in tall building population.

Metro cities will see Major High rise buildings mostly for commercial / office buildings. Also technology and building techtonics plays an important role in this development.

Do you think the fall building trend is going to be widespread in India. What is Its level of acceptance among urban residents across the country.

Large Metro’s who deal with day to day affairs of travel thru elevators/travellators will definitely have an open mind set for fall buildings. Smaller towns and cities will have a much lesser acceptance to the tall building trend.

Challenges faced in complying with tall building construction laws. Are India's existing laws of real estate construction adequate for tall building construction.

Tall bulidings have many challenges. The Fire Norms are very different in India than that of abroad. In western countries the fire staircase is pressurized and does not need natural light and ventilation, When as in India a fire stair needs natural light and ventiallation this causing hindrance in planning.

Forces of nature which react with buildings. Its gravitational forces at the lower end of the building but there is wind load and wind pressure which acts at buildings at high altitudes. This study and research is missing.

The last but not the least is the seismic force which is the most important also has to be addressed with high rise design. Earthquake resistant design is also important for any high rise.

Your views on tall buildings' design as a complete self sufficient unit including residential/commercial and retail mixed use design for its residents.

Environment is the need of the hour. We have to design buildings. which are energy efficient, self sustainable buildings. All building’s designed today need to be certified as green buildings by IGBC In India, LEED in USA etc. This ensures saving of natural resources, energy and sustainable architecture, Cohesive living is evolving. A self sufficient unit is a sustainable unit.

Tall buildings projects executed/under execution by your company.

My firm has designed and Executed 30 storey building in Prabhadevi. It’s a luxury residential building. Completion will be October 2019.

Another project is 21 storey 3 residential towers in Vikroli East Mumbai which will house low cost housing units. Launch of project is Sept. 2019

Major challenges faced in executing tall building projects and the most challenging project executed by your company.

The challenging part is the technology part to construct a high rise and time taken to complete a project. Earlier conventional frame structure was used as a construction technique, today to save time MiVan technology is used that saves a lot of time to complete a project.ect. Earlier conventional frame structure was used as a construction technique, today to save time MiVan technology is used that saves a lot of time to complete a project.

Also buliding envelopes and window fixing methods are very primitive, lots of leakages etc are caused due to inefficiency of vendors.

Good elevators are a must and I am glad to have installed state of the art elevators which work very well for vertical travel.

Façade maintenance for fall buildings have to be planned for.

Tall building construction technology used in your projects.

I have used MiVan Technology which works very well for iCC structures in India and I have used that currently in my projects. I have also used Steel structures while designing in USA. Steel is much faster to execute as a material but needs skilled labour. Cost of steel construction in India is still high that is why composite structure works well in India, The By-Laws need to be updated to today’s requirement and needs. Construction Techniques also need to be evaluated for high rise buildings. There are different Smart building systems featured in your projects.

Smart Building systems Used in my projects are as follows:

Sewage Treatment Plant-it helps re-cycle water back into the building. Saves water usage.

Motion Sensors: All the typical floor lobby have been provided with motion sensors this helps save electricity on every floor. Light get on only when someone enters the typical lobby of every floor and automatically shuts with no motion.
Water Saving Plumbing Fittings: There are plumbing fittings like flushing tanks which use less water per flush. This indirectly reduces usage of water.
Rain Water Harvesting: Charging pits are planning around buildings which help store rain water.
Garbage: Wet Garbage is treated and the manure is used for plants etc within the complex.
Automation System: Automation systern is used in projects which can be controlled thru cell phones.
Biometric Locks were proposed into Private elevators which open directly into each floor.
Vertical Landscape – Have proposed vertical Landscape in the high rise.

Future trends in tall building space in India

The façade of a building is seen differently today. An architect like me would suggest a intelligent façade which also breathes fresh oxygen into the atmosphere. Building needs to have Low Energy emmissions. We need intelligent buildings today in all sectors of construction in India.