Construction and Architecture magazine 03 jan feb 2010

Inculcating bestpractices for land-mark structures

Inculcating bestpractices for land-mark structures

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14 January – February 2010 ▲ Construction & Architecture Magazine

Shashi Prabhu a well known name associatedwith prestigours structures and projects inrous projects like the Lilawati Hospital inWankhede stadium, Mumbai,. C&A take youthrough his remarkable journey

Shashi Prabhu

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Construction & Architecture Magazine ▲ January – February 2010 15

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The most historical landmark ofMumbai, Wankhede stadiuma project done by Mr Shashi

Prabhu as an young boy. It was a verychallenging project when began theconstruction of this stadium. Whenbuilt there were disputes between theCricket Club of India which ownedthe Brabourne Stadium and theMumbai Cricket Association over theallocation of tickets for cricketmatches. “Initiative of SK Wankhede,a politician and the secretary of theMumbai Cricket Association, builtthe new stadium in flat six monthstime and opened in time for the finaltest between India and the WestIndies in 1975. Since then theWankhade stadium was taken over

from BrabourneStadium as the maincricketing venue inthe city. The stadium has the capacityof 40,000 and is always in contentionto host an international match inIndia. Wankhede stadium has its owncharm,” adds Mr Prabhu.

Mr Prabhu's designing expertisecan be seen in numerous stadiums inthe country including the DadajiKondeo Stadium in Thane, Jullundurstadium andKalinga CricketStadium in


January – February 2010 ▲ Construction & Architecture Magazine16

Bhubaneshwar, Vidharbha CricketStadium and the most recent RajivGandhi International Stadium inHyderabad.

The beginningShashi Prabhu & Associates

founded in 1967 has deliveredvarious acclaimed projects withnational and international accolade.To name a few Indira GandhiIndoor Stadium in Delhi, SportsCity in Hyderabad that hosted theAfro-Indian Games and NationalGames in 2002 and Lilawati KirtilalMehta Hospital in Bandra.Currently, the firm is managing theconstruction of the Balewadi SportsComplex in Pune that will host theYouth Commonwealth Games in2008.

Some well-known projectsSportsIndraprastha Stadium (IG Stadium)-New Delhi, Delhi DevelopmentAuthority

Budget: Rs 35 croreDuration: 1981 - 1983Status: Operational

This 20,000 capacity complex wasdesigned and constructed as one of thevenues for the Asian Games that wereheld in Delhi in 1982. Six large pylonsconstructed along the perimeter of thebuilding house the main staircases of thefacility in addition to supporting theentire RCC roof of the building. Thesepylons also act as an air-conditioningplenum to re-circulate the air in thecomplex. Large compression ring in theroof structure equally divide the loadof the roof and transmit it equally tothe pylons.

Reconstruction of Balewadi SportsComplexFor Commonwealth Youth Games 2008,PuneClient: Directorate of SportsBudget: Rs 192 cr.Duration: 2006 - presentStatus: Construction CommencedAssignment: Project Management ConsultantsIn 1992, SPA designed the Sports City at

Balewadi which hosted the NationalGames. In 2006, SPA was re-hired asProject Consultants to design andmanage the renovation of entire facilitywhich will host the YouthCommonwealth Games in 2008. Thenew facility will include six new stadiumand renovation of six existing venues. Anew indoor badminton stadium as shownon the right will be the highlight of thiscomplex.

Indoor Cricket Academy & Sports Clubfor MCABandra Kurla Complex, MumbaiClient: Mumbai Cricket AssociationBudget: Rs 75 crore.Duration: 2005 - 2007Status: Nearing CompletionAssignment: Architect

A traditional 'county cricket' styledclub house accommodates a state of theart indoor cricket academy which cansimulate weather patters of numerousinternational cities such as London,Delhi, and Barbados. The temperaturecan be adjusted between 8* and 40*Cand the relative humidity can be adjustedbetween 40 percent and 80percent. Inaddition, the facility accommodates a 7-star club house with a large basementaccommodating 600 cars. The club alsohouses 2 squash courts, 2 badmintoncourts, Tennis Courts, Swimming Pool,Billiards, Cards Rooms, 3 largerestaurants a resto-bar and a largebanquet hall that can accommodate a500 people. A large inner courtyard isbeautifully landscaped to accommodateopen air café and leisure facilities.

BCCI & MCA HeadquartersChurchgate, MumbaiClient: BCCI/ MCABudget: Rs 30 croreDuration: 2005 - Present

This modern office building housesexecutive offices, administrative offices,meeting rooms and a large board room tohouse 50 people. In addition, the there isalso a 5,000 sq ft cricket museum and alarge audio video room that will allowshowing of cricket movies to the fans.The exterior of the building is clad in ahigh performance glass, ACP and Graniteto achieve an ultra- modern look. TheACP and steel pergola at the top of thebuilding highlights this building in theneighbourhood. The interior of theBCCI HQ was completed in a recordtime of 3 months - right from conceptionof design to the occupancy of the staffinto the building. The entire building iswired with Wi-Fi and high speed dataconnectivity.

Lilawati HospitalBudget: Rs 45 croreDuration: 1992 - 1996Status: CompleteAssignment: Architect

SPA designed this 300 bed (inclusive of100 ICCU beds) multi-specialty hospitalin Mumbai. This ultra-modern facilitycaters to all medical specialties such ascardiology, critical care, dermatology, anddialectology, gastroenterology, internalmedicine, nephrology, neuroscience,oncology, paediatrics, psychiatry,respiratory and rheumatology. Thisaddition, the hospital caters to all

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surgery specialties such as,andrology, oncosurgery,ophthalmology and orthopaedics,ENT, urology and plastic surgery.The facility boasts central airconditioning, central music system.Central paging system, central firedetection with interlined centralsprinkler system, well controlled andsafe climate with soothing ambience,100 percent standby power backupfor the hospital with critical areaslike operation theatres and ICUfurther backed up with UPS.

Insurance Training Institute forLIC/ IICBKC Complex, MumbaiClient: Insurance Institute of IndiaBudget: Rs 22 croreDuration: 2005 - PresentStatus: Construction Commenced

This project was awarded toShashi Prabhu & Associates in anational design competition that washeld by Life Insurance Corporationof India who is also the Project

Manage on this project. SPA's design wasselected as the best design consideringnumerous factors such as buildability,aesthetics, functionality, usability andgreen usage. The building is clad in glassand aluminium and shall be one of theeye catching structures in the area. Thefacility will be owned by the Insuranceinstitute of India and managed by one ofthe leading American Universities to trainnational and international studentspursuing career in the insurance sector.The lower floors of the building shallhouse lecture halls, auditorium, computerlabs and student gymkhana andadministration area. The six upper floorsshall house forty residential suites for thefull time students.

Renovation of Municipal CorporationCity of MumbaiClient: Municipal Corporation of GreaterMumbaiBudget: Rs 53 cr.Duration: 2006 - 2009

Architect & Construction ManagerShashi Prabhu & Associates has been

hired as the designer and ConstructionManager for the renovation of theMunicipal Corporation Headquarters inGreater Mumbai. The project consistsof master planning and reorganising theentire facility so as to achieve an inter-departmental functionality and efficiency.

The main building of the corporation,which is a 'National Heritage Structure',will be restored to its original grandeur.This includes repointing and repairingthe façade, stain glass and the interior.The Annex building, which houses theadministration, will be transformed intoa modern corporate office block with Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the building.

Sharad Pawar International SchoolPune

The school was designed to provideboys and girls with superior educationalopportunities in a caring, well-structuredand supportive environment. Thisresidential school offers an academic,sporting, co-curricular and personaldevelopment programme that affordsstudents every opportunity to grow in

knowledge, self-confidence, skill andunderstanding. The school houses junior,middle and senior school on-campushouses provide exceptional home-base tostudents, teachers and staff. The school isdesign to accommodate various sportssuch as basketball, cricket, softball, andtennis, athletics, badminton, crosscountry, hockey and soccer.

DY Patil GroupBudget: Rs 45 cr.Duration: 2003 - 2006Status: Construction completeAssignment: Architect and PMC

City of Mumbai has taken a boldinitiative of educating the poor section ofthe society and integrating it into themain stream society. This involvesupgrading the entire education systemused by this section of society andtransforming it into modern and high-tech learning environment. By creatingan environment that can exceed. One ofthe steps involved in this process is toupgrade all the Municipal School Systemin the City of Mumbai. The new schoolwill have ergonomic furniture, lockerfacilities, well lit and ventilated classrooms, computer labs, wi-fi connectivity,projectors and smart boards in classrooms, etc.

Finally.....Shashi Prabhu & Associates offers

comprehensive range of services rightfrom design concepts all the way throughconstruction management. To deliverbest practices, the firm works very closelywith the clients, to meet their strategicbusiness and financial objectives utilisingwide range of skills and leaders fromvarious industry.

Mr Prabhu believes in catering to thegeneral masses what is affordable by thepeople should be consulted and thengiven otherwise there is an imbalanceproportion of real-estate. Talking aboutthe overseas market and the projects theentire process of doing is very organisedand done with fair mean views MrPrabhu. As far as Indian projects areconsidered we should create structurethat remains in the minds of people thatare long lasting just like heritagestructures. ■

18 January – February 2010 ▲ Construction & Architecture Magazine


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Prem Nath

High stan-dard of designing excellence


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in the complex field of hotel design.Keeping on with the new trends, theorganisation considers theresponsibility of creating school andcampus architecture as institutionsof identity, and hence as designers

and are familiar with various aspects ofeducational trends and needs.

Some of his landmark projects IT SEZ Park at Delhi NCR:

Anant Raj Group, Delhi - a groupestablished in 1969, owning to its creditof landmark projects created through 3decades of trust and experience; inperseverance to conceive their edificetech-park sought creative excellence ofPrem Nath & Associates.

Located at Rai-Sonepat on NH1, 40km from Delhi and about 10 km drivefrom Delhi-Haryana Border; ‘RaitechTechnology Park’ is being developed, asan intelligent techno-township, with fullydeveloped construction of more than 5million sq ft spread over 25 acresof land.

An impressive landmark featurescreating greater ‘sense of arrival',combined with pollution-free andeco-friendly environment with lushgreen milieu, consisting of 4 nos ofcommercial towers providing flexiworkspace ranging from 35,000 to70,000 sq ft floor plate (heights of 4.05M) fitted with most integrated services

for IT and ITE firms. The project,currently in execution stage - withPhase-I nearly completed, shall beanatomically fit for Seismic Zone Vand boasts of using eco-friendly andmost energy efficient constructionmaterials, well synchronised withengineering service.

The project is planned with anintention to save natural resources and toreuse and recharge them: 'ZeroDepletion' of an important resource likewater, thru efficient systems like STP andrainwater harvesting; non-stop powerwith power backup and dedicated bus-ducts for energy efficient and economicalinternal power tapping; entire complexshall be managed by IBMS for most

optimum energy consumptions.Reduced cooling loads shall be

achieved through most efficient doubleglazed system - using low-E glass; censorcontrolled façade lighting, solar poweredstreet lighting and emergencies servicebackups, will help the complex performbetter.

Education valley in Gujarat:First of its kind, educational township,

is planned to be equipped with all kindsof advancements and futuristicdevelopments.

The concept shall change the wayworld looks upon India: This E-hub isbeing developed as world university: aneducational township, spread over about750+ acres of land, that housesuniversities, colleges and educationalinstitutes of the world.

This E-valley shall provide space foraffiliated schools, colleges and institutesand shall house more than 30,000+students annually in various levels ofaccommodations, hostels, studioapartments, guest houses, etc.

Acres of land are planned in mostintegrated manner, creating the rightbalance between, various zones,educational, residential and recreationaland entertainment, heath-care and safetyand Infrastructure requirements - asper the UGC / NBC norms andinternational standards. ■


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Prem Nath and Associates have excelled in variety of projects across the sectors and stillgoing strong. C&A details important facts of his outstanding projects

Prem Nath and Associates established in 1967 havingprofessional practices doing variety of projects inarchitecture and interior designing. The architect likes to

believe that he is a complete solution provider specialising indoing variety of projects from multi-storey buildings,commercial buildings, schools and colleges, institutionalbuildings, hotels and resorts, hospitals, temples, churches,airship, casinos, IT structure. He says he has done a pathshallato madhushala.You name it and it is done. First in creatingiconic structures best describes the architect. First multiplexbuilding in the country, first temple for ISKON, first health spain the country. We have become a trend setter says Mr PremNath, “The interesting thing is, we have never plannedanything but as architect it makes us think and visualise thingsthat we can do anything in the sky. Whatever came to us weknew it was challenging and I was the first one to take upinterior designing. Talking about his journey in 1967 he

mentions.” There were no interior designers and he was the firstperson to take up interior designing when there was no one atthat time. He did some prestigious project that includescelebrity homes, commercial offices and interior spaces. Wemade path breaking kind of beginning and were able to take upchallenges because of our attitude that has helped us taking upvariety of projects and doing skillfully. Though traditional inthinking but being technology savvy they never feared doinganything. The projects are of ultimate luxury projects and at thesame time can do project in club housing that are different.

The firm handles total design services for architectural andinterior design, including associated services and projectmanagement as per clients requirements and is familiar withlocal and international codes, regulations, financial pattern ofinstitutional projects, liaison work thus seeking approvals fromstatutory authorities. In recent years, the design profession hasevolved from an art to almost as science. This is especially true




Architect Sanjay Puri has executed projects totalling over 40 million sqft and currently involved in over 200 projects totalling over 50 millionsq ft. C&A explores this remarkable journey

spread over 300 acres and TDI City, oneof Delhi's largest residential townshipsspread over 1,600 acres. Currently theirprojects span across 43 cities in Indiawith a few projects in UAE.

Their recently completed ChromeHotel in Kolkatta that was short listed intwo categories while Triose-a food courtin Lonavala was short listed in the mixeduse category and Bombay Arts Society atBandra, Mumbai, currently underconstruction was short listed in the futureprojects category. Some excerpts of theinterview:

When you started out in the year 1992what was your first project? Where wasit? What is the specialty of that project?What kind of challenges you had toovercome?

In 1992, we established our firm withthe project of 54 acre residentialtownship called Vasant Nagri at Vasai,Mumbai for Sheth Developers. This wasa project with 3,000 apartments, schools,shopping club and other facilities and itgave us the opportunity to plan an entireenvironment. The project was to beplanned within a very short time spanof only two months and within a veryrestricted budget since the sale prices inthat area was very low. We emphasisedon openness, creating a layout whereevery apartment overlooked large gardenspaces, and whilst movingthrough the entire site, one perceiveslarge green areas circulating a centralpark. This project gave us valuableinsight into the numerous aspects oftown planning.

Your firm has an extensive experience ofundertaking and completing wide rangeof projects including townships,software parks, residential buildings,retail malls, hotels and entertainmentcenters? Which of them is the most theenriching and interesting experience foryou to do? On what basis and criteria'sdo you undertake them?

All projects are interesting in their ownway and sometimes ones with themaximum restrictions allow us to create adesign that is unique in the way itaddresses each aspect and overcomes therestrictive parameters to emerge as aninnovative solution. We undertake allkinds and scales of projects consideringeach one as a challenge to create a newseries of experiences.

‘Transcending Style’to create a new


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Sanjay Puri graduated from theAcademy of Architecture,Mumbai in 1988 and has

established his firm Sanjay PuriArchitects in 1992. Completingextensive range of projects includingtownships, software parks,residential buildings, retail malls,hotels and entertainment centers,the firm strongly believes inexploring new territories of design.Having executed projects totallingover 40 million sq ft and is currentlyinvolved in over 200 projectstotalling over 50 million sq ft.

Two of their buildings have beenincluded in the 47 most excitingarchitectural projects coming up inUAE, making him the only Indianarchitects to be included in the list.

The firm has won several awardsfor both interior design andarchitecture including seven IIID(Indian Institute of InteriorsDesigners) Awards and five IIA(Indian Institute of Architects)Awards, winning the IIIDAccomplished Practice of the year2008 recently.

Sanjay Puri Architects becamethe first Indian Architectural firmto win an award at the MIPIMARCHITECTURAL REVIEWFUTURE PROJECT AWARDSheld at Cannes for their officebuilding project, Cubes at Pune.Their current projects includeMumbai’s largest residentialtownship, Evershine Global City,with 15,000 residential apartments


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Sanjay Puri



Comforting ambience and elegance ofstyle

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Simple, novel, sophisticated, impressive best describes Reza Kabul's work. C&A features his outstanding contribution

Philosophy to provide exclusivity and elegance of stylecoupled with excellent value for money that wouldmake any project or scheme an undeniable

proposition beyond comparison. Architect Reza Kabul'swork is a balanced mix of architecture and interior designthat includes residences, offices and hotels. Some of hisoutstanding work includes Shell Inn International; one ofAsia's fastest growing conglomerates, a swanky new hotel inDubai with the Saturaio and Red Verona Italian marble cladlobby that is indicative of the elegant style within. Aninteresting plaster of Paris star shaped lightning arrangementon the ceiling that is dramatically reflected on the marblefloor. He has designed India's tallest building Shreepathi

Arcade.Architect Reza Kabul and his firm specialises in

multidisciplinary solutions that offer solutions in interiors,urban design, planning and landscape projects. Theseprojects have won in competitions or commissioned directlyby the clients, banks, national and local authorities, privateenterprises and individuals.

A glimpse into his past projects: Rock Gardens

A sprawling residential complex entirely self sufficientresidential township designed to meet the needs of thegrowing elitist exodus to the far flung suburbs. Comprising

Reza Kabul

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In each of the projects whatuniqueness can we see? How do youexplore new territories of design ineach one of them especially inresidential, commercial structures?

New territories of designs can beexplored and new kind of spaces canbe created in any kind of projectwhether residential, commercial,hospitality or retail. The drivingneed to see each one in a differentperspective while alluding to theclimate, the users and theeconomical factors and sitegoverning conditions is what allowsus to create spaces uniquely.

In which of your projects there hasbeen maximum usage of renewablematerials, using less energy thusreducing the overall environmentalimpact? Which are they? Where?

We have always created designsthat take into consideration the sundirection and natural ventilation andtherefore all the projects we designare energy efficient to an extent.

Nowadays with newer technologies it ispossible to create more sustainablebuildings and environments. Synergy,Verve Hotel in Dubai is some of these.

Are your projects influenced by anyparticular style or kind of architecture?

If yes then which? Any particularreason?

Our projects are not influenced by anyparticular 'style'; instead they transcend'style' to create a new vocabulary.Developers all over the world areattempting to create buildings taller thanthe last.

Do you believe that architects areworking for that super high skyscrapers,are those structures the future of thecountry?

Buildings that are sustainable andevolve new ideas and spaces to create anew experience for its users are morerelevant than the creation of buildingsthat are taller than their predecessors.

In most of your projectsstructurally we seedesigns that are in variousgeometrical designs or inunusual shapes? Anyspecific reason for that?Tell us how you do youconceptualise suchunique buildings?

The underlyingconcepts of all our designsis the evolution of newkinds of spaces andexperiences that arefunctional and yetinnovative. The buildings,their spaces and theirforms are conceptualisedbased on variousparameters that are

different for each project and thereforecannot be generalised.

What challenges do you have toovercome while designing anddeveloping different structures?

The challenges in creating newstructures is firstly convincing theclients to evolve a new vocabulary andlook at a space differently and then todesign its feasibility with the structuralconsultants and finally with theconsultants.

What projects are you currentlydeveloping? Where? Any internationalprojects? Tell us about them?We are currently involved in the design

of over 180 projects in over 40 Indiancities with a few projects in Dubai.

What type of projects do you personallyenjoy doing? Any particular structurethat you have enjoyed doing thoroughly?

We enjoy designing and creating allkinds of projects.

What new evolving trends inarchitecture have you seen since the 90s?In future what new types would we beable to see?

Architecture is constantly evolving andthe future will bring more exciting andradical thoughts into reality creatingmore sculpted spaces. ■

Sanjay Puri Architects has beenshort listed in four award categoriesin World Architecture FESTIVAL WAF,09 at Barcelona that hasparticipation from leadingarchitectural firms worldwide. Theirrecently completed Chrome Hotel inKolkatta is short listed in 2categories while Triose, a food courtin Lonavala is short listed in theMixed use category and BombayArts Society at Bandra, Mumbai,currently under construction hasbeen short listed in the FutureProjects category.


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of Records in 2003.In novel move, thearchitect hasincorporated theimage of a dancingnative lady witha water potsymbolised withinthe design.

The chief construction materialsare reinforced cement concrete, glass,steel and aluminium, thus giving thebuilding a smooth and sleek finish.Covering a plot area ofapproximately two acres, the designof Shreepati Skies gives theperception of a dancing ladymounted on a platform comprisingof seven parking floors housing 300cars. The tower has an estimated 81floors. Among its many engineeringachievements, this building also hasa base to height ratio approachingone to ten, making it the mostslender skyscraper. It has the longestconstructed continual elevator lift by1,000 ft with 10 nos of elevators at

an approximate sped of 5 mts /sec.Shreepati Skies promises its residents

126 state of the art apartments, eachindividually designed by Reza Kabulhimself with apartment sizes rangingfrom 2 Bedroom, to 3 and 4beds, duplexand penthouses offering unique floorplans and breathe taking view of theocean, many with individual paddlepools. An additional private theatre,therapeutic spa, a state of the art gym, aswimming pool and a helipad on the topare also incorporated.

In order to meet with standard ofsustainability and an environmentalfriendly design the design will includerecycling of rain water and managementof waste water storage and its recyclingprocess amongst others. Constructionof the tower shall take approximately5 years.

Mogul Masjid, Mumbai Iranian influences in India

Mogul Mosque, constructed by anIranian trader over a century ago, hadsadly lost its lustre with cracks forming inthe 2'6" thick load bearing walls, rotting

wooden trusses and waterdamage as a result of leaks.

Tasked with repairing thegrand structure was ArchitectReza Kabul of India withwho the enormity of the taskwas not lost. Much of thestructure had to be

reconstructed. The Mangalore tiles wereremoved and replaced, wooden trussesdismantled before being repaired and re-erected and the walls were stitched bydrilling holes through the thick walls andplacing mild steel plates across the cracks.These were then bolted through andthrough the cracks and filled witharaldite in order to bind the crackstogether. Finally, the walls were plastered.

The inner walls are clad with acombination of Onyx and granite withinlay of several Surahs from the divineQuran. Years of oil paint on the woodendoors and windows was removed by theburn and scrap process. Thereaftermelamine polish was applied. The glasswindow panes were replaced along withall the hardware.

The exterior was clad with Mosaic tilesbrought from Iran with inlays of theSurahs (verses) from the Divine Quran.Also imported from Iran were the threetier crystal chandelier and the Persiancarpets for the flooring.

To further maintain the originality of themosque and retain the Iranian heritage, theexternal facade of the mosaic/main doorwas clad with Mosaic tiles from Iranfeaturing an art form widely practiced inIran. Due to the presence of leakages thepond (Hauz) too had to be refurbished.The RCC raft and retention wall wereredone. The fountain was madeoperational adding blue colour tiles therebyenhancing the beauty of the Hauz.

“The time taken for completion of themosque to this stage was approximatelyfour years. This was mainly due to thefact that materials had to be identifiedand then shipped in from various parts ofIran. Having done that master artisansand expert labour also had to beidentified and brought in. The singleminded drive behind the renovation, atall times was to maintain the originalityof the mosque and retain the Iranianheritage," says Mr Kabul. And at alltimes what drove us on was theunderstanding that the mosque is whereone bows down in complete humility toone's Creator."

Prime Achievements / Alliances:Achievements:

Prestigious project ‘Shreepati Arcade’entered Limca Book of Records 2003 forthe tallest building in India.

In the chaotic Mumbai, flats thatpromise the sound of silence. Thesoundproofing techniques that hasbeen utilized in many residentialprojects. Ecstasy at Khar is one of them.

Finally the objective is to achieveexcellence in design, to analyse, plan anddesign for clients effectively in terms ofquality, time and cost, to developinnovative approaches to design,technology and management to provide astimulating work environment thatencourages the professional growth anddevelopment of individuals in the firmand to continue to strive for the best. ■



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of five apartment blocks and eight duplexrow houses in an area of about one lakhsq ft. The focal point however is abeautiful landscaped centralised gardenwith a swimming pool. All the buildingsin post modern style are positioned insuch a way as to overlook the garden.

Hospitality Two distinctive restaurants he designed

are the 49'ers and Dawaat. The 49'ers isinspired by the Texan Gold Rush havingWestern cowboy artefacts like boots,saddles, jeans cartwheels, stools and eventhe Texan route of the Gold Rush aregenerally used on walls furniture and tablemats to recreate the wacky Wild Westscene of 1949. Part of this restaurantoffers a night club ambience with loudmusic and a live band. While the otherside is conducive to sit down dinners andslow, soft music. A barbecue chicken and agrillroom serving sizzling steaks iscentralised in this 9,000 sq ft arearestaurant, Daawat. The Indian Restaurantexudes an all white post modern Indianarchitectural look. Tapestry andfurnishings in bright hues make the roomcome alive and complete the oriental look.

Architecture/Interiors:Interiors are an integral part of

architecture. It is the art of creating aninterior environment, rooms, and otherindoor spaces, that are comfortable,attractive and functional. Interior

designing involves complete design ofinteriors of a property and not just theaesthetics says Mr Kabul. We design ourinterior services to cater to the clientrequirements depending on the function,users, mood and the budget. Withcreative ideas and out-of-the-boxapproach we come up with innovativeideas for optimum usage of space thatblends seamlessly from a design andpractical point of view. Through our cost-effective solutions we give you the lookyou want with smooth on-timeimplementation. We specialise in theinteriors of banks, hotels, offices,shoppingcomplexes, residential properties, etc.

Services:● Site supervision● Site selection● Space planning● Building surveys● Budget and cost consulting● Furniture and fitting selection● Material research

One of the newest additions to Mumbai'sskyline

Dancing lady kisses Mumbai skySet to be the tallest building in Mumbai

standing 301 mt or 1,000 ft tall, ShreepatiSkies or the dancing lady shaped buildingpromises to be unlike any other structurein the India's or Asia's Skyline. This istallest completed building of India(Shreepati Arcade listed in the Limca book




Niteen Parulekar a name synonymous withcreativity, unique design practise and excellencein design for over the last 21 years. Interior

projects to architecture NPAPL has consistently redefinedindustry standards through unrelenting quality thuscreating numerous landmark projects, widely appreciatedfor their architectural excellence “There is a constantchallenge is to amalgamate the complexity of architecturalfunctions with diverse client requirements in the widerange of projects such as healthcare, hospitality, SEZ,town planning, education, urban design to individualbuilt-to-suit large commercial, residential projects, gatedcommunities, high end villas, luxury housing andaffordable housing besides corporate campuses explains,"Mr Parulekar.

Speaking about sustainability Mr Parulekar says,it is thebuzz word today and has become important to go beyondreceiving briefs as the design ought to become morespecialised in the near future and the way to beat thecompetition is with the right people.

Two of Niteen's design were short listed to be amongthe best examples of architecture in India. These wereEON Free Zone and the Syntel IT Campus. Both thedesigns were featured in a special edition titled goldenhands-The power architecture. EON Free Zone was alsoawarded as one of the top 15 commercial projects onNational level at IAD awards for excellence in interiorsand architecture design, Delhi. Passionate about designand art Mr Parulekar enjoyed doing any work the masterplanning ones, the interiors one that helps him tocreating the whole system of it.

Trends in future A lot of technology is evolving with time and again the

biggest technology boom will come now. Sustainability isgoing to be a big business with every product driven bysustainability. The way the buildings will change, withphoto voltaic cells start becoming affordable you willfind having jajjas or shading devices. There will besunshine in the building and be able to soak in as muchas sunlight as possible, your building will end up in glassboxes and you will have more surface area. You will coversome of the non green hills; with the photovoltaic cellswill start becoming affordable. So the entire planet isgoing to look different. The attitude towards technologywill be driven. We have that entire thing which willcontinue to be the way it is. Technology usage will behigh from renewable point of view. We will be attractedby nature that aspect will be retained but technologyusage will be from renewable point of view. It isimperative we do green structure, it is the need of thehour. The green thing is always going to be there.

Syntel Syntel, an upcoming IT company from US has looked

at a 35 acre site at Talawade MIDC for developing a

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Specialising infuturisticdesigns

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Niteen Parulekar since its inception has created numerouslandmark projects, widely appreciated for their architecturalexcellence. C&A tracks the journey



A visual impacthaving creative

desigingsensibilities

A visual impacthaving creative

desigingsensibilities

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Art of creating a visual beauty,giving an beautiful, classy impactcan best describe the work of

Mumbai based architect and interiordesigner Milind Pai. Established in1987 this is professional designing firmthat specialises in residential andcommercial interiors. One of the mostvalued aspects of the team’s service isbusiness knowledge that brings to theproject development. Adding to the

design creativity and cross industryinsight the firm has created a reputationof excellence in designing interiors of allkinds- be it commercial, retail, residentialand health care facilities. It is anopportunity to connect with people usingan integrated approach that affectseverything from strategic positioning totenant planning to environmentalgraphics, we shape unique influences intorich customer experiences at every turn.

The architect did his first residentialprojects in Mumbai, Andheri thatrequired intricate detailing. He says,"When he started out the concept ofinterior designing was not so great wherepeople preferred working with karigarand local furniturewallas. It was initiallydifficult to change people's perception ofinterior decoration. In those timesinterior decoration was confined toapartments in South Mumbai when the

Milind Pai

Designs complimenting withthe way world adapts says,Milind Pai, architect and

interior designer in his interviewwith C&A

36_39_Cover Story_Milind Pai.qxp 17/01/2010 5:27 AM Page 2

campus that would signify their global presence in India.When Syntel approached Niteen Parulekar Architects PvtLtd to design the campus, it was a test of its kind for thedesign team. The client spoke of assorted structures likethe corporate block, software block, food court, dormitory,power block, etc. A stronge urge to give the campus aunique identity, unlike the trend of IT buildings in Indiawith the trademark glass and steel look. The 35 acre sitehad a strong gradient with contours ranging from 6 to12mts, providing ample opportunity to explore designpossibilities. The challenge was to use the site featureswell to accommodate all the given requirements andprovide a look that was inviting rather than imposing.

The proposed design was given an institutional lookwith a unique classical feel that blended modern materialswith traditional forms to achieve a fusion between modernand classical architecture. The plans of individual blocksindicate that a great emphasis has also been laid on theefficiency of the space. On any particular floor the toiletsblocks are placed on the sides with the lift and staircasecore in the centre. Owing to this a clean floor plate hasbeen provided with maximum flexibility in the interiorfit-out. In the recreational and residential spaces a lot ofemphasis is been laid on interactive spaces. The mainlobby of each block is deliberately planned to have a lowerplinth in order to merge the interiors with the exquisitelylandscaped exteriors. The buildings are oriented along the

east west axis and hence protected from the direct heat from thesouth resulting in a considerable reduction in the HVAC load.The irrigation was also designed in such a way that all the rainwater from the various building blocks and the surface drainageis collected in catch basins and directed to a reservoir furtherused for irrigation. Solid waste mixed with the food waste istreated and used as manure.

EON The very name of the project ‘Eon' conveyed that the design

should be ahead of its time. Niteen Parulekar Architects PvtLtd took up the challenge and came up with a concept whichwas futuristic yet inspired by nature. The entire campus wasconceived as a cluster of four buildings each in the form of apetal. Each petal is a ground + 7 storey structure whereevery floor plate is different in size. Every floor can be furthersubdivided into four independent areas with three connectingcores. All four buildings put together make a beautifulcomposition of a flower. The angular façade ensures that thefloor plates keep increasing in size. Hence given that everyfloor could house up to four offices, the variety of options interms of area for one entire building was amazing. Whilst theexisting trend was to design a campus consisting of 4-5buildings with a typical floor plate of 40-50000 sq ft, thediversity that Eon provided made the project unique. On theother hand the four petals were exactly replicated in terms ofdesign; hence modularity was also an option.

The project was to be designed on a 45 acre land withcontours ranging from 20-25m. The contours were utilised for

accommodating vehicular parking in the lower ground floor.This helped reduce the cost of creating a basement. Alsonatural light and ventilation were provided for most sections ofthis floor. The podium created above was well utilised for greenspaces, water bodies and pathways. The services such as DGs,transformers were also located in the lower pockets hencekeeping the podium clear of any blemishes.

Though the form of the building is organic in shape, the vastsize of the floor plate make the space efficient for an office fitout. The angular façade serves as a sun barrier thus reducingthe AC load. The use of glass, aluminium composite panelsand stone cladding in the right proportions accentuates theform. The most fascinating element of the building is the roof.Deriving the shape of the roof from the cross section of anautilus, it curves in all three planes. This also made it themost challenging part of the structure to be executed. It isconstructed using the standing seam technology usinginterlocking metal sheets pressed together to become virtuallyseamless. The structure is designed as per IS standards.Earthquake resistance and fire and explosion safetyrequirements have been taken into consideration. Hydro-pneumatic water supply system using the natural contours ofthe site, ensures that load on the pumps is reduced by 50percent. The designers also exhibits regard for environment byusing features like rain water harvesting and double glazed unitsfor the façade.

Eon is a perfect study of how innovation in design can beachieved in the most challenging situations, how organic formscan be beautifully married to the required spatial function. Asone looks back at the design in totality, the biggest paradox thatappears is that the requirement for a futuristic design has beendeveloped out of a form inspired by nature. In a true sense thedesign lives up to its name ‘EON’.

Red granite used for external and internal flooring, kerbingetc and red texture paint for the structures help create a strikingcontrast against the lush green landscape. A visitor to the Syntelsoftware park at Talawade is often left spellbound by thewarmth and charm of the language of architecture that itflaunts. The comfort, functionality and ease of design give morereasons to want to keep coming back. ■



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SP Patki of PG Patki Architects in over the years have created respectable name in the

industry having done the country's most prestigious projects of excellence

C&A shares some interesting facts

PG Patki Architects one of theleading architectural firms inIndia, with a portfolio of

projects from luxury hotels, multi-speciality hospitals, corporate and IToffice complexes, retail andentertainment centres, mixed usedevelopments. The firm believes ingiving a prominent identity and visualappeal of the building and efficientfunctional utilisation from within is thekey to designing successful landmarks.

We collaborate closely with our clientsand their communities to analyse all

the vital aspects and expectations toensure that every roll out meets withthese design objectives. The firm overthe years is been consistent in thebuilding of landmark projects with areputation for excellence for the last 45years. The legacy of distinction of LatePG Patki, the founder of the company,was amongst the foremost practicingarchitects in country with veryprestigious projects to his design creditcarried forward by SP Patki.

Services offered: Architecture

The firm has a proven record amongstall verticals, in all zones of country andhas the expertise right fromconceptualisation, master planning, anddesign development to completion ofthe project.

Township planning and urban design:From new economic zones, urban

districts to software parks, master plansmust withstand time and be flexibleenough to add value at every stage ofprogressive development. Planningapproaches must balance conflicting

interests of an idealistic community needswith the commercial drive of thedeveloper and the regulatory restrictionsof the municipality. The firm uses itsstrength in every vertical, to test a masterplan from outside-in to the individualplanning of every building from within.PGP is involved in a number of verylarge scale projects all across the countryin progressive stages of development andrelease.

Interior design:PGP creates breath taking interiors

with a diversity of materials, colours andtextures. Spatial planning at a micro level,taking care of every functional andtechnical aspect of user requirementensures a cohesive solution that addressthe client's requirements and culturalsensitivities. The architectural approachto interiors enables us to create inspiringand holistic community spaces that meetbusiness requirements within costconstraints and timelines.

Expertise verticals: Hotels:

The firm has executed all varieties of

Legacy ofDistinction


Visual appeal-Visual appeal-

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Market city, Mumbai, Area: 9,50,0000 sq ft

SP Patki

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rest of the city was in development stages. Their idea ofdecoration was to going to furniture shop to buy thefurniture and decorate the house. They were not exposedto the idea of murals on the wall with 3D shapes, wallpapers were the last and the ultimate thing they couldthink of decoration. We actually sucked upon that stage

where people were not clear about interior decoration. In andaround in the 90s people understood the importance of adesign, suddenly the regular people got sidelined and architect'scame into the picture.

Today the concept“Our design sensibilities have been constantly evolving,” says

Mr Pai. Thus, we see a continuous and visible transition fromprevious orthodox styles to a new revamped and contemporaryfeel that we lend to our institutional projects. In residentialproject there is use of minimalist design and subtle colours.Lifestyles are changing around the world. Burgeoningtechnologies, changing values, crossing cultures and economiesare influencing how we live and ultimately, the places we live

in. The environments should be designed in such a mannerthat should compliment changing ways the world adapts. Whileeach residence is unique in terms of location, density andcharacter, they all share a common thread. Each design isstructured in an appropriate interpretation of the occupant'sculture and lifestyle.

ProjectsWe are doing lot of residential projects in Tier II and Tier III

cities also like doing institutional projects that is enormouslymultifaceted. The functions and scales differ as per therequirements and the demands of the project. The spaceplanning is usually generous as the number of occupants isusually large, in most case, with a high volume of space withthe designs more disciplined and organised. This brings downthe planning skills to be competent enough in breaking themonotony using various design techniques like forms, textures,colours, and introduction of new concepts without breaking thestructural sequence. We also add basic and interesting elementslike backdrop and feature in terms of lighting, upholstery withinteresting elements that leaves a typical mark on the houses.

Every commercial, retail and public destination is acommunity in which each component is an opportunity toconnect with people. Using an integrated approach that affectseverything from strategic positioning to tenant planning as alsoenvironmental graphics, we shape unique influences into richcustomer experiences at every turn. ■



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Transformingdreams intoreality

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Sunil Patil & Associates(SPA) have designedvarious architectural and

interior design projects froman individual residence tolarge townships, from ashowroom interior tocorporate offices andcommercial complexes. Thearchitectural structures createdby him is in perfect harmonywith the nature. He says, “The architecture structures we create aresensitive to the nature as ourskin. I am trying to createspaces with the minimumintervention with the nature,going with the theme in-Harmony with the natureunique for the innovative useof materials in architecture.”

Sunil Patil&Associateshas designedvariousarchitectural andinteriordesignprojects

44_47_Cover Story_Sunil Patil.qxp 17/01/2010 5:38 AM Page 2

hospitality projects - luxury, budget, resorts, business,leisure and mixed use at various price points.

In the luxury hotel segment, the firm has designedprominent hotels like The Oberoi, Mumbai, HiltonTowers; Intercontinental Mumbai; Marriott Towers,Mumbai, Renaissance, Mumbai; The Oberoi, New Delhi;The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata; The Oberoi Cecil, Shimla;Crowne Plaza, Kathmandu; Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu;The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra; The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur;

and Osho, Pune.Currently, under design and execution are the Baglioni,

Mumbai; Shangri-la, Mumbai; Hilton Double Tree, Lavasa;Marriott Resort, Trivandrum; Marriott Courtyard, Mumbai,Ahmedabad; Park Hyatt, Hyderabad; Hyatt Regency,Hyderabad; Westin, Hyderabad; Radisson Plaza, Mysore;Novotel, Mumbai; Holiday Inn, Mumbai; Fairmont,Hyderabad; Royal Orchid, Mumbai, and a spate of boutiquehotels across the country for various international hoteliers.

Retail:The firm has a reputation for building malls with unique

award winning identities. Our understanding of consumer andcommunity needs helps us to build successful spaces thatincrease client profitability. In this segment, the firm has

designed. The Phoenix Mall, Mumbai and Inorbit Mall,Mumbai and Inorbit Mall, Hyderabad and TI Mall in Indoreand is presently developing malls across India for companieslike Inorbit, Pantaloons, Phoenix. and EWDPL.

Township and SEZ:PGP's specialty in town planning and urban designs is to

provide comprehensive master plans, in a variety of projectsfrom new special economic zones, urban districts to softwareparks that must withstand time and be flexible enough to addvalue at every stage of progressive development.

The firm uses its strength in every vertical, to test a masterplan from outside-in to the individual planning of everybuilding from within. PGP is involved in a number of verylarge scale projects all across the country in progressive stages ofdevelopment and release such as Treasure Town, Indore, Verna,Goa, Godrej Garden City, Ahmedabad etc. Currently underdesign are SEZs in Pune and Hyderabad for prominentdevelopers.

Commercial Office & IT/ITES:Offices buildings and Information Technology Parks

innovative environments that promote productivity, leveragetechnology and reduce occupancy costs help the firm to benefitnot only the builder but also the end corporate client and user.Among such projects SP Patki has undertaken are Mind spaceIT Park, Mumbai and The Leela Business Park, Mumbai;Godrej Waterside IT Park and Godrej Simoco, Kolkata; GodrejIT Park in Pune and Hyderabad; ICC Trade Tower, and TheCerebrum in Pune, and Corporate Office Buildings for HSBC,ICICI Venture and K Raheja Corp.

Mixed Use:PGP is a pioneer in India in building self sustaining mixed-

use developments that combine retail, entertainment, hotel,residential and office. Our proven strength is in integratingmulti-disciplinary architectural buildings into one identity sothat the whole is much greater than the parts. Pan Indiaimplementations include Phoenix-Mumbai, Lumbini Terminus-Hyderabad and Market City at Mumbai, Pune and Indore.

Hospitals:PGP has designed India's largest and foremost multi super

speciality hospital. Some implementation includes KokilabenDhirubhai Ambani Hospital - Mumbai and the Raptakos BrettHospital-Mumbai.

Residential:PGP expertise in the residential segment is across a variety of

segments from townships,lifestyle towers to budget homes andredevelopment schemes. Every home, however, big or small and inwhatever budget is of paramount importance to its user. Weunderstand this significance to ensure that our design offers a valueadded dwelling experience. Projects include residential towers forGodrej Waldroff-Mumbai and 45 Nirvana-Pune, GodrejMangalore, and A16, Mumbai for K Raheja Corp, Mumbai. ■



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Hotel Hyatt Regency, Hyderabad, Area: 8,00,000 sq ft,

Godrej Simico, Kolkatta. Area: 10,00,000 sq ft

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The WALL ANDWHITES isdesigned for anindustrialistcouple. A home,studio and agallery rolled intoone. The love forart led to the realisation of the coreelement of this house; ‘The Wall’.The concept is consisting of a wallthat runs from the back compoundwall thus dividing the house intotwo zones; the living, dining andkitchen constituting the commonzone and the master bedroom, guestbedroom constituting the privatezone. Interconnection between thetwo zones is achieved by well-designed openings in the wall.

The wall, a panel for the display oftheir paintings, is illuminatedthroughout the day by sunlightpouring in through a skylight placedabove it. The guest bedroom can beconverted into a studio by the use ofinnovative furniture design. Thefront and side setbacks have been

utilised to enhance internal spaces by

introducinglandscape greens.The spaces freelyflow outwardsfrom the houseinto the beautifullandscape throughlarge openings.

The house is energyefficient and eco-friendly by use of natural resources.Use of artificial lightingduring the day has beeneliminated due to theprovision of variousskylights and openings. The use of large openings,providing natural ventilation,led to minimised use of airconditioning.

The wall is treated withtandoor stone, giving it arough grey texture, a perfectbackground for the paintings.Other elements have beentreated with differentmaterials, all in white. Eco-friendly materials are used. Innovative useof glass and laminate creates a new

material for the kitchen dado.The bar counter and the diningtable are designed with in-builtlighting. The water bodiesoutside the dinning and studioare lit with LED lighting. Itconsists of common area likeliving, dining, kitchen on oneside and private areas like masterbed and studio on other side.The studio can be converted intoguest bed room, allowing themultiple use of space. The wall isconceived as the panel for theexhibition of their paintings. It iswell lit by natural light with aprovision of a sky light in theroof to serve the purposeefficiently. The wall creates anexcellent interaction between thespaces on both sides through itswell designed openings.

The space flows in and outinto the nature through thevarious walk outs and openingfrom living, dining and bedareas, thus it perfectly blends the

architecture, interior decoration andlandscape to complement each other andnone of them stands alone to dominatethe other.

MATERIALS:The wall is treated with tandoor stone,

giving it rough grey texture which createsthe perfect background to enhance thepaintings on it. The rest of the elementshave been treated in white with differentmaterials. The use of natural wood andveneers is minimised. Eco- friendlymaterials are used. Innovative use of glassand laminate creates a new material forkitchen dado. The kitchen platform andthe dining table have been finished withsolid surface to give a homogenous effect.

LIGHTING:The light has been an important

element of design and is playing a vitalrole in creating a perfect mood for thevarious activities in the house. The barcounter and the dining table are designedwith built in lighting in it.The waterbodies outside the dinning and studioare lit with LED lighting, setting up aperfect mood in the evening. ■



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