Learning - Creative Architects & Interiors

Disappearing Sunshades and Stylish Buildings

“Hot, Hotter, Hottest that is the climate in Chennai”- We all laugh alike at the humorous mention. However, it’s quite close to reality, the humid and Sunny weather is always sultry and scorching.

Designing buildings for warm and humid climates requires careful consideration of passive design strategies that can help to reduce energy consumption, enhance thermal comfort, and improve indoor air quality. They are important for creating buildings that are resilient, sustainable, and adaptable to changing environmental conditions.

Anna Salai is an Arterial Road that runs through the Chennai city in the NE to SW direction. It is the most important road in Chennai. The head offices of many commercial enterprises and public buildings are located along Anna Salai. It is the second longest road in the city. This explains why a casual drive through Anna Saalai will show you a road dotted with contrasts clearly reflecting the changing times and trends of the built environment.

The buildings built well in the past have a composition of grids and punctures donning the façade and next to it we see the sharp contrast of glazed ones standing taller and perhaps pronouncing the place in a more prominent way.

Fins are versatile components that allow us to customize their usage depending on need and orientation. Observing from the fact that usually Horizontal shading is preferred on the Southern facades and Vertical shading is preferred in West and East.

With respect to the buildings on Anna Salai, Eggcrate shading is the go-to option given NW and SE facing orientation to the buildings. The Vertical and Horizontal fins effectively keep out the sun and heat while the punctures (window openings) warmly welcome the breeze and diffused light keeping the insides cool and well lit. A simple and excellent way to tackle the Chennai weather.

Looking at newer buildings, you immediately feel a sense of sophistication, and foreignness that gives it a stoic stature. Almost literally it is so. The building doesn’t feel or respond to context, the glazing simply increases the complexity of solving ventilation and thermal comfort issues. Increase in heat gain and restricted openings make the buildings depend on Active mechanized HVAC systems and a whole vortex of maintenance, installation, energy expense and other concerns are an inevitable part.

A contrast in idea, a reform in thought and its reflection on the built fabric are all signs of evolution. It reflects the culture and ideology that is predominant in the people. A building thus stands as a testimony to be analyzed well, and a meter to gauge the evolution process.

The facades are not just the skins of a building but are challenging questions that demand our attention.

What are we looking at? A future with simpler solutions or one that needs high sophistication? A future that’s efficient and sustainable? Or one that’s flashy and fashionable? We clearly see a shift in focus and change in priorities, but are we compromising on basics?

Designing buildings for warm and humid climates requires careful consideration of passive design strategies that can help to reduce energy consumption, enhance thermal comfort, and improve indoor air quality. With the growing importance of sustainability and energy efficiency in building design, passive strategies are becoming increasingly important for creating buildings that are resilient, sustainable, and adaptable to changing environmental conditions.

Computational techniques such as high performance building analysis help in understanding the environmental impact of a project. You can use these tools to your benefit and create designs that are healthier, more resilient, and more sustainable.

Is Vertical Living a Solution towards Urbanization in Chennai?

Urbanization is rapidly shaping the face of commercial real estate in India, allowing an opportunity to create a better future for the upcoming generations. Demand for an urban lifestyle and lack of space for low-rise residential development in the city center’s is making high-rise buildings a necessity rather than a luxury. With an average density of 6.44% of Tamil Nadu (Census 2011), the social fabric of Chennai is primarily defined by its enriched culture and diversity and is known for its Warm and humid climate. The district city is one of the four metropolises of India, accumulating 11.5 Million (1.15 Cr) of the Indian population, making Chennai the fourth largest urban agglomeration city in India, the 22nd most in Asia, and the 30th largest city in the World.

Industrialization has led to the migration of citizens from rural areas to urban locations in search of employment, resulting in modern urbanization. This sudden change from villages to cities and shift from agricultural occupations to trade and business reimburses the ideology of going ‘High-Rise.’ Alongside, essential measures must be taken into consideration by collaboration of Government Authorities, Architects, Urban Planners, Real estate developers, and builders of Chennai to develop conscious design rules and regulations in urban cities that can lead to a sustainable lifestyle when implemented in vertical living.

As per the prevailing norms in Chennai, going vertical creates large open spaces (Setbacks) around the building. Reducing the Ground coverage retains the maximum of mother earth undisturbed. These undisturbed land parcels can be used for creating green spaces and recreational spaces developing the communal interactions. Providing sizable balconies and open areas within the residential towers enhance the vertical living experience in housing. Such interactive spaces define the social fabric and engender an active social life for the residents. Multifunctional purposes can be achieved by reusing refuge floors as green spaces and creating niches in the structures for recreational purposes for the residents.

Implementing new technologies such as pre-engineered building technology is also gaining momentum in the commercial segment, enabling larger spans and flexibility and improving the quality and nature of the construction processes. This technology reduces the Waste generation and Time duration of the project. While going vertical, this can save a large number of raw materials required for construction by reducing the waste.

Studies worldwide have shown that denser cities produce a lower per capita energy demand because the infrastructure load is shared among larger masses than less densely populated areas. This indicates that India’s urbanization has the potential to help rather than hinder the efforts to cut carbon emissions in terms of Infrastructure energy demand. The rhythm between high-rise designs, practical space planning, and a conducive environment is crucial for setting up newer benchmarks. Conceding that green development is catered and resourced by the developers and realtors of Chennai to the populace with adequate infrastructure, the vertical living model has massive potential to reduce the per-capita carbon footprint and bring about a revolution in the Indian real estate industry.

European Classical Architecture in India

The era of colonization in India marked a new chapter in the realm of architecture, thereby influencing the architectural style and language greatly. The Dutch, the Portuguese and the French too made their presence felt through their buildings, however, it was the English who had a lasting impact on the vast architecture of colonial India. Various styles of colonial architecture portray reminiscence to the past, including European Classical Architecture, even in the contemporary era.

Originating in ancient Greece and Rome, Classical Architecture can be characterized by symmetry, straight lines, column orders, proportions, rectangular windows, perfection and materials such as marble, to name a few. For centuries, the style of classical architecture has been reinvented throughout architectural history by architects who have drawn influence from these civilizations and incorporated traditional ideals into subsequent styles of architecture.

There are various examples of Classical architecture in India, for instance, ‘SIS bungalow’ – a stately edifice set in the Sholinganallur residential area of Chennai. Designed in typical classical style for a large family of twenty members by Creative Architects and Interiors (CAI), this bungalow showcases classical architectural style in India. Fit for royalty and defined by symmetry, proportion, and grandeur, this residence strikes the right balance between – client aspirations, strategic-functional design, and exquisite artisanship. A chosen combination of a beige travertine stone for the facade and black square tiles for the roof, inspired by traditional French buildings, such as ‘The Louvre’, have been used to attain a classical and elegant aesthetic. The residence stands tall above the ground level, creating a magnificent sight for the passersby, contrasting the built fabric in the vicinity due to its unique architectural language.

The luxurious ‘SIS Queenstown Apartments’ in Chennai, designed by CAI, bestow the fundamental elements and features of classical architecture and are endowed with fascinating and ornate details that reminisce the era bygone. Elements such as circular and slender columns with elaborate capitals, trapezoidal roofs, and straight lines define the facade, allowing a nostalgic feel to the golden classical era. Offering an experience of an English town in India, the design attempts to redefine Urban Living influenced by European Classical Architecture.

Winner of the prestigious award ‘Project of the Year’ by Indian Realty Awards, ‘SIS Acrople’ in Trichy is another splendid execution of an urban township offering a novel experience by CAI. Inspired by the ‘Acropolis of Athens’, the design is spread across 6.63 acres, with 680 apartment units meticulously planned within a group of high- and low-rise buildings. The core planning principle is based on symmetry – a key element of the classical style of architecture. Strategic use of spaces within the site context creates multiple advantages, such as compact units, ample natural light and ventilation, connectivity, as well as spatial and visual privacy.

Heavily inspired by the European classical style of architecture, these designs juxtapose with the luxurious and palatial design language of a given space, thereby adding a rich character to the building. While the design language is distinct and stands out within its context, ultimately, the contextual aspects of the site and design parameters are prioritized by taking cognisance of the local climate by adopting climate responsive techniques. This derivation becomes the functional and spatial design driver. Endowed with elegant and rich details harmoniously blending together, the buildings defining the European classical style of architecture in India serve their purpose to grab attention within the vicinity, allowing one to visually and spatially manifest the architectural essence of Europe.

Designing Cultural centres in India – Past, Present and Future

Art and architecture are regarded as a material record of the evolution of humankind through the ages. Over the past three decades, emphasis on the importance of the cultural aspects of Indian architecture has been reinterpreted by multiple innovative approaches. Newer ways of thinking about the design of religious or cultural centers have risen through exchanges of spatial experiences and architectural theorization of built forms.

A contextual approach towards designing spaces plays a vital role in harboring a sense of community while retaining the core values and beliefs. The impression of a structure that is able to attract multiple demographics, leads to various ways of using a cultural center to its fullest. A keen insight into the current trends is important in defining spaces and influencing people to use these spaces in the right manner. The cultural context of the present times infused with the essence of the past is a more direct parameter needed to design such projects.

A few such architectural examples are the Central institute of classical Tamil (CICT) at Chennai – an institute that celebrates the language and its evolution, Guru Ganesh memorial and Dialysis centre (GGMDC) at Rajasthan, which is of a mixed-use typology, and Dharamshala butati at Rajasthan. CICT was planned by the inspiration of the traditional Kolam Art depicts the cultural ideologies of the Ancient Tamil. GGMDC was inspired by the Swastika, the hearty symbol of the Jainism which depicts their cultural philosophy. Dharamshala Butati was designed with the notion of Classical Rajasthani culture in its design evolution. Designed by ‘Creative Architects and Interiors (CAI)’ and located in various parts of India – these architectural spaces evoke the culture and a sense of spirituality through efficient site planning, by using sculptural elements, local materials or vernacular architecture through a built form.

The surrounding context and parameters have always played an important role in Indian architectural designs evolving through the centuries while carrying along the religious, cultural, and traditional transfigurations. Amidst the changing trends and ideology, some masses are moving away from the novel culture of our heritage. These cultural centers symbolize the heritage and make the descendants aware of their Ancestor’s cultural legacy and their way of life. Thus, these centers will make sure that the future generation will also find their way back to their long lineage of heritage by experiencing these built forms. A fundamental feeling of oneness and emotive design is established by integrating architectural features, forms, materials, and artwork that helps imbibe the past as an active part of the future. Hence, it is essential to acknowledge and appreciate the creation of every society that leaves its own mode of expression and cultural impact through art and architecture.