DD 41 September_2017

September 2017 | Vol 4 | Issue 41 | `200 the architecture magazine

WORK SPACES - II
SPECIAL FOCUS

ARCHITECTURAL ROMANCE
AR. GURJIT SINGH MATHAROO
September 2017 | Design Detail 1

2 Design Detail | September 2017

September 2017 | Design Detail 3

Vol. 4. Issue 41. September 2017

DESIGN DETAIL IS A COMMITTED FORUM THAT
INSPIRESDESIGNERS, ARCHITECTS AND STRATEGIC
PARTNERS TO NURTURE OUR HERITAGE AND
CULTURE TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE INDIA

EDITORIAL

Chief Editor : Ar. Karan Grover

Editor & Publisher : Ar. L. Gopakumar

Group Editor : Dr. Rema S. Kartha

Consulting Editor : C. J. Punnathara

Coordinating Editor : Asha Parvathy

Sub Editor : Renjith. T.R

Architecture Writer : Ar. Meenu. K

Contributors : Ar. Gayathri Padmam
Ar. Gayatri Mutum
Ar. Gazala Amreen
Ar. Himani Ahuja
Ar. Kavya Bhat
Ar. Nipun George






Head of Design : Deep Das Gupta

Designer : Suneer E.H

MARKETING & ADVERTISING : R. Rajeev
: K. T. Vinayachandran
Group General Manager : K. V. Johnson
Publication General Manager : Nitha Oommen
Senior Manager - Marketing : Rajesh V. S.
Senior Manager : A. J. Sebastian, R. Rajesh
Manager
Asst. Manager

CIRCULATION : C. K. K. Nair
: Praveendas M.
Group General Manager : Pramod P. P.
Officer : Rakesh N. K.
Executive
Co-ordinator

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Senior Manager : Balakrishnan R.
: Shiney John
Senior Accountant

Corporate Office:
Designer Publications Kerala Pvt. Ltd.,
39/4722, DPK towers, R. Madhavan Nair Road, (Old Thevara Road),
Kochi-16, Kerala Ph: 0484-6456290, 3296534, 2367111

Copyright : All rights reserved by Design Detail. Any part of this publication may
be reproduced only with the written permission from the Editor.The Editors do
their best to verify the information published but do not take responsiblity for
the absolute accuracy of the information. All objections, disputes, differences,
claims & proceedings are subject to Ernakulam Jurisdiction.

4 Design Detail | September 2017

editorial

On an average a person spends about 90,000 hours at work
over their lifetime. Interesting, isn’t it?

With all of us spending a major amount of our time at
work, the quality of the work environment assumes special
significance. In our second edition on workspaces, we
explore projects from around the world discovering new and innovative
designs, creation of facilitating work environments and delve into novel
materials which help to improve and ease work ethics.

Through Renaissance, post-Renaissance,
Industrialisation and post-Industrialisation
numerous architects and ergonomists have
together brought about new perspectives on
work culture. However, recent advancement
in technology and availability of newer
building materials has further accelerated this
evolutionary process.

Today, several companies use the design of the
office and workspace to reflect the company’s
ideology and advertise its consumer policy. The
basic design and frequent monitoring of the
design is often seen to have a direct correlation
with employee productivity, further enriching
his sense of involvement and commitment to
the organization.

Finding a perfect balance between the essential
work-order while at the same time breaking
the monotony of the contiguous work style is
the main challenge in evolving a designed space for work! Indian firms
like Anagram architects, HCPID, Apical Reform and Mofa studios have
done exceptional work in this regard. Each of their projects feature a
breakthrough from the conventional design philosophies and have very
skillfully adopted and adapted to the Indian style of living, culture and
climatic considerations.

Such thoughtful design philosophies can make considerable changes in
improving the quality of the Indian work environment and work spaces.
With Indians being one of the most hardworking people, some easing up
is very essentially required. We ought to learn to have some fun time at
work so that the monotony and tedium of the work schedule is broken.

Our Master for this issue Ar. Gurjit Singh Matharoo, founder of Mathroo
Associates, is a pioneer in creating spaces that very boldly integrates the
elements of architecture, science and environmentalism. His projects like
the ‘Moving Landscapes’ and ‘House with Balls’ are interesting examples
of his inquisitive mind.

Interesting take on workspace design by international firms like Henning
& Larsen, Cadaval & Solà-Morales and Coulson are also in the `must see’
list of projects for this issue.

Architect KARAN GROVER
Chief Editor

September 2017 | Design Detail 5

CONTENTS

26 THINK CRICKET, BUILD CRICKET 44 RED DIGIT
Cricket merges with architecture in the Delhi
daredevils office designed by MOFA studio The digit by Anagram Architects defines its
identity through a red façade that shimmers in the
34 CITY’S SWEET HEART breeze
The intelligent design of Siemens’ new headquarters
by Henning Larsen Architects integrates into a rich 54 THE ESSENTIAL RETREAT
culturally relevant urban context strictly adhering to
stringent sustainability standards Hidden within the boreal forest near Minnesota,
the Disappear Retreat by COULSON offers a
minimalist lifestyle approach strongly rooted on
optimal use of resources

12 ARCHITECTURAL ROMANCE
Ar. Gurjit Singh Matharoo

6 Design Detail | September 2017

84 INSIDE OUTSIDE 62 UNFOLDING SPATIAL DRAMA
70 SCHOOL-FULLY INDIAN
Nestled within a wild countryside, Tepoztlán 78 MAKING OF A FAÇADE
Lounge by Cadaval & Solà-Morales provides a 92 ALTERNATIVES FOR POPULAR
communal space for nature lovers
PROPRIETARY SOFTWARE BUNDLES
96 PARIS THROUGH VIEWFINDER September 2017 | Vol 4 | Issue 41 | `200
the architecture magazine
Ar. Prasanth Mohan captures within his
frames the mind-blowing architectural pieces
from Paris

SPECIAL FOCUS WORK SPACES - II Cover image
SPECIAL FOCUS Courtesy:
WORK SPACES-II
ARCHITECTURAL ROMANCE EDMUND SUMNER
26-82 AR. GURJIT SINGH MATHAROO

September 2017 | Design Detail 7

OUR PARTNER SPEAKS

Mitsubishi’s City Multi range of VRF air conditioners
is the solution for stable and comfortable internal

environment within malls and commercial buildings

With the changing commercial By using our indigenously developed unique Branch
landscape, the buildings of the Controller (BC), the City Multi heat recovery system
modern world are increasingly requires two refrigerant pipes throughout the entire
air tight and filled with heat VRF system to deliver simultaneous heating and
generating office equipment and cooling with heat recovery. World’s only two-pipe
lighting. So, it is important to maintain a stable and technology, City Multi VRF is durable, reliable,
comfortable internal environment. energy, efficient, and provides superior levels of
control accuracy.
Through our state-of-the art research and
development facilities, we came up with a panacea Benefits of City Multi range of VRF air conditioning
for this issue of dealing with temperatures. Our systems
innovative and pioneering City Multi range of VRF
air conditioning systems deliver the ultimate in Wide range of capacities: This City Multi VRF allows
efficiency and ability while providing comfort and 4.5 to 60 HP delivered capacity per system.
control to many commercial buildings and malls.
Extensive range of indoor units: Over 80 indoor units
VRF stands for Variable Refrigerant Flow. VRF is of varying capacity including AHU, floor standing,
a multi and direct expansion type air conditioning ducted, ceiling cassettes, ceiling suspended and wall
system where one outdoor unit is connected with mounted; up to 50 indoor units can be connected to
multiple indoor units, intelligently modulating the one system.
flow of refrigerant depending upon the capacity
requirements of each Indoor Unit within the building. Selectable system evaporating temperature: By
Its ultimate purpose is to regulate the internal air changing system evaporating temperature, during
temperature and comfort levels in the most effective system partial load operations, without disturbing the
and efficient manner possible. comfort, having the benefit of energy saving.

There will always be global climate challenges and Choices of two defrost methods: Offering the
what providers of cooling systems need to do is to find traditional reverse defrost method or / the new hot
local solutions to them. The aim largely has to be to gas defrost technology allowing complete flexibility
help individuals and businesses, to reduce the energy in design, providing continuous heat to indoor units
consumption of their buildings and their running during the defrost cycle.
costs. Providing accurate and controlled comfort
all year round, the need is to have air conditioning Modular system: Compact and decentralised modules
ranges that can work on their own or in conjunction allow simple phased installations.
with other systems in a hybrid solution. Solutions like
VRF work whatever the requirement is and match Flexible piping configuration: Providing solutions
the needs of almost any building and malls. to internal layout of any
application.
First developed over three decades ago, City Multi is
the market leader in VRF technology. It is specifically Simple to design: VRF
designed to address the key market issues. It provides offers simple design
solution utilising two key variations, City Multi range with everything inbuilt
can provide a buildings heating or cooling through a for operation and smart
heat pump system, or heating and cooling at the same control.
time using a heat recovery system.
Fully integrated control
City Multi VRF air conditioners offer the benefit of solutions: User friendly
simultaneous heating and cooling using with heat control solutions which
recovery. By transferring energy between indoor can be integrated
units input is reduced by up to 30%. City Multi VRF through 24/7 access over
air conditioners offer flexibility, operability, comfort the internet.
and control, making it ideal for hotels, malls, offices
and leisure. Mr. Yozo Ito,
Director & Business Head - Air Conditioners
Mitsubishi Electric India Private Limited

Further Information: Email: [email protected], Customer care toll free: 1800 102 2626

8 Design Detail | September 2017

September 2017 | Design Detail 9

EXPERTS SPEAK

Design Detail magazine becomes one of the most
critical publications in the architectural design
industry. The focus is always on stories which are
contextually relevant to Indian setting. Being a
key influence in publication, it has lot of impact on
professionals as well as students. Being professionals,
we gain a lot of knowledge and take many references
from their articles. Lastly, Ar Karan Grover’s Editorial
compels one to rethink contextually in duality with
the ‘State of Practice’.

Ar. Abin Chaudhuri
Founding Partner / Design Head
Abin Design Studio, Kolkata

OUR READERS RESPOND...

gistered KL/EKM/751/2017-19 KL/CR/EKM/WPP-02/2017-19 Total Pages: 116 Fresh as dew Featuring Interviews

n Detail Magazine Licensed to Post Without Prepayment ISSN 2320 - 2408 Price `200 The freshness of a morning flower We await each issue of Design Detail
filled with dew. That’s the feel that with great zeal. In every issue there
August 2017 | Vol 4 | Issue 40 | `200 the architecture magazine design detail arouses in me. It was by will be at least a few projects that are
mere chance that I picked the magazine out of the box. The August issue was
Design Detail EAT, DRINK, SLEEP from our college library a few months also not an exception. The tent resort
SPECIAL FOCUS ago. I was very much excited to see the in Jaipur had a special charm of its
August 2017 projects featured and equally excited to own. It was also an immense pleasure
GREEN, GREENER, GREENEST see the stunning layout of the magazine. to read the interview with Iwan Baan,
Vol. 4 Issue 40 AR. PREM NATH Right from the front cover design to the the master photographer and see some
back cover, the magazine provides an of his creative stills. As a reader, I would
Price `200 interesting and informative journey for like to see more such interviews with
the readers. I have started subscribing great architects, designers and persons
the magazine and also wish to be a part closely associated with this profession.
of the magazine once I complete my It always gives the magazine a humane
graduation in architecture. I consider touch to have the personal stories and
it my privilege if this letter is featured views of geniuses. Please try to include
in your prestigious magazine. Wish all more such articles in the coming issues.
success.
Treasa Mary, Goa
Jyothy Chandra, Hyderabad

Send your feedback: [email protected]

10 Design Detail | September 2017

September 2017 | Design Detail 11

MASTERS

ARCHITECTURAL Text : Renjith.T.R
ROMANCE
Governed by emotion over calculation,
and affected by beauty more than
gain, Matharoo Associates likes to be
conferred the title “romantics”. They
prefer integrating blue with green, a
turquoise approach to architecture, so that science
and environmentalism goes hand in hand.

Matharoo Associates, which began operations
in Ahmedabad, India in 1992 has numerous
achievements to their credit which include AR
Emerging Architecture Award, Architectural Review
(2009), International Architecture Award, Chicago
Athenaeum (2011) and Conferred International
Fellow, Royal Institute of British Architects (2013).
The firm believes in extreme restraint, ‘when in
doubt, reduce; when not in doubt, surely reduce.’
Their projects feature a potent dose of wit, which
makes the buildings a playful fun to be in, instead of
being sterile.

Moving Landscapes

The central idea behind this project was integrating
the requirements of two opposing lifestyles — joint
and nuclear families — making it equally imperative
to provide opportunities for communal collision,
while providing privacy. Situated on the outskirts
of Ahmedabad, the house is meant to accommodate
one of the city’s most prolific real-estate developers

12 Design Detail | September 2017

September 2017 | Design Detail 13

1 and his wife, along with his two sons’ families
2 and the extended visiting members. The client
also shares the grounds with his two other
14 Design Detail | September 2017 brothers’ houses and their joint families in a
large 20,000 sq.m plot.

The house is envisioned as a linear pavilion,
ensuring that every space in the house is
lined with glass on the facing side – the first
enclosure. The rest of the structure is built in

1) Bidaser stone 3) The stone
walls sliding along panels create a
each other to create buffer between the
multidimensional inside and outside
spaces 4) Thin walls of
2) The lounge concrete forms
designed with state another layer
of the art furniture beside the Bidaser
and lighting stone panels

FACT FILE

PROJECT : MOVING LANDSCAPES

LOCATION : AHMEDABAD, INDIA

DESIGN YEARS : 2010

YEAR : 2012

ARCHITECTURAL : MATHAROO ASSOCIATES
FIRM

PRINCIPAL : GURJIT SINGH MATHAROO
IN CHARGE

PROJECT TEAM : GURJIT SINGH MATHAROO
(PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT)

PROFESSOR MC GAJJAR
(ARCHITECURAL ADVISOR)

AVNEESH TIWARI (ARCHITECT)

MOHIT MARU (TRAINEE)

IRENE GIUBINNI (TRAINEE)

SHILPA SUSHIL (TRAINEE)

CLIENT : MR. TRILOK GOYAL

CONSULTANTS
STRUCTURAL : MATHAROO ENGINEERS
MECHANICAL : HARSHAD JHAVERI & ASSOCIATES
INTERIOR : MATHAROO ASSOCIATES
LANDSCAPE : VAGISH NAGANUR

GCOENNETRRAALC TOR : SAHHRMEEEDRAABMADBUILDERS,

PROGRAM : PRIVATE RESIDENCE - 5 BED ROOM,
2 STOREY HOUSE.

SSTYSRTUECMTU RAL : CSTOENECLRCEOTLEUWMANLSLS AND SLABS,

MAJOR MATERIALS :
EXPOSED REINFORCED CEMENTCONCRETE
BIDASER FOREST STONE, GLASS
STEEL FRAMES FOR MOVING WALLS.

SITE AREA : 3500 sq. m.

BUILDING AREA : 1313 sq. m.

TOTAL FLOOR AREA : 1900 sq. m.

PHOTOS : EDMUND SUMNER 3

200mm thin walls of concrete, eliminating 4
the need for any beams and columns. It saves
the constructed dead space by about three per
cent, which amounts to almost 540sq.ft or the
size of an average room.

The pavilion is oriented around the margin
of the site as three wings. The flanks hold the
house’s private spaces with suites for each of
the sons’ families, while the central one hosts
the living space for all communal activities.
The residual corner voids are snugly protected
by tall circular walls to form smaller sheltered
spaces. While one cradles the houses’ utility
space, the other acts as a court distant from
the joint families’ gaze. These also carry the
staircases and lift, rendering outer spaces clear
of all encumbrances. The composition as a
whole footprint defines a large multifamily
courtyard at the heart of the site.

The second enclosure is an impregnable layer
of massive Bidaser stone wall along the entire
perimeter. It possesses an impression, as if, of
tropical arid landscape fossilized within itself.
Its polished surfaces against the native verdure

September 2017 | Design Detail 15

1. Vestiblue GROUND FLOOR PLAN
2. Living Room
3. Formal Drawing
4. Waiting Lounge
5. Powder Room
6. Dining Room
7. Kitchen
8. Store
9. Master Bedroom
10. Toilet and Dress
11. Guest Bedroom
12. General Purpose Room
13. Puja
14. Utility
15. Staff Quarters
16. Overhead Tank

1. Library of the Ahmedabad region made for the perfect
2. Gymnasium setting, blurring the lines between reality and
3. Lounge/Bar illusion. Akin to the amethyst’s hard exterior
4. TV Lounge cracking open to reveal its crystalline heart,
5. Sons Bedroom this imposingly heavy stone wall cracks open
6. Grandchildrens Bedroom at the push of a button to form an array of
7. Bathroom and dress panels spinning gently about their centres or
FIRST FLOOR PLAN sliding away to reveal a transparent cocooned
interior. It can be employed at will whenever
16 Design Detail | September 2017 desired, and dissolved when not.

This layer of stone panels create a buffer
between the inside and the outside, protecting
the inner layers from intense sun light, thereby
reducing AC consumption. This saving is then
channelled into making in-house custom
designed motorised pivots and giant sliding
systems. This entire layer is kept completely
detached from the inside, and is only supported
on hidden structures within the sliding and
pivoting systems. The spectacular display of
thick concrete slabs floating on moving stones
would never fail to fascinate the viewers.
Moreover, this space doubles up as passages,
verandahs, entrance vestibule, circulation
space, and also as protection from rain.

Lights are machined out of alabaster stone
providing for the most natural ambience. Most
of the furniture is purchased from various
design houses in Italy along with a sole bar
table custom-designed by the architects. It is
a three-dimensional mobius strip in stainless
steel, locally fabricated, that can be used for

5
6

5) With the stone discussion and intellectual discourse after a
panels open, the couple of drinks. Lights and water under the
glass walls form a moving walls make the heavy stones appear
transition between floating on water creating the illusion of a
the interiors and moving landscape.

the exteriors Toilets are open on opposite ends and the
6) The varying water closet, the shower and the basin, all
three are positioned on three sides of the duct,
phases of the the fourth side left for easy service access
Bidaser stone walls and ventilation to the duct from outside.
In line with the same philosophy of easy
maintenance and serviceability, AC units have

September 2017 | Design Detail 17

7
8

18 Design Detail | September 2017

9

7) Thin been kept on the roof with just holes cut in the hidden in the scrub. The mandatory margin
concrete walls slab for blower. This approach has not only required is used for the tank space, while
surrounding the made it easy to service, but also saved a lot of the walls of the plot and house are used as a
time during construction. The entire building retention structure for the tanks. These tanks
project was ready within 18 months time from start to are enclosed by glass windows which runs
8) Concrete furnish. the entire length of the living space, the added
baubles act as a bonus being that the glass works out cheaper
counterweight House With Balls than a concrete wall, more so for aquarium
that holds the manufacturers.
metallic shutters Scooped out of a plot of farmland 20 minutes
outside Ahmedabad city, this house has been On entering the house one steps into a
9) The built for an aquarium shop owner to function corridor opening to a small powder room on
entire space as a place to breed fish as well as to serve as a the left, followed by a choice to either take
intermingles weekend retreat. Its design is centred around the left into the bedroom, or to carry on down
four fish breeding tanks and an observation directly into the long living space. The layout
when the room which could double up as a living room. of the house is such that several differing
shutters open Every aspect of this design is set out to strip views of the water bodies are provided; in the
expense from the project; be it using 125mm bedroom space, the sitting ledge is just above
thin concrete walls with standard concrete, the water level and looks down the long
one duct space for its three bathrooms, doors length of the pools; while the living space
and windows made by pressing GI sheets or affords the inhabitant an uninterrupted
using bent rods to function as a handle and view over the tanks when the windows are
locking aldrop. open, and view of the fish through below-
the-sill glass windows.
On approaching the entry from the country
lane one finds the entrance nondescript and Resting half-sunken under the ground level,
negating the need for foundations, the long

September 2017 | Design Detail 19

10) The fish tanks
lend a cool ambience
to the house

20 Design Detail | September 2017

FACT FILE

PROJECT : HOUSE WITH BALLS

LOCATION : AHMEDABAD, INDIA

DESIGN YEARS : 2003

YEAR : 2004

ARCHITECTURAL : MATHAROO ASSOCIATES
FIRM

PRINCIPAL : GURJIT SINGH MATHAROO
IN CHARGE

PROJECT TEAM : GURJIT SINGH MATHAROO
(PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT)

HARDIK PANDIT (TRAINEE)

CLIENT : MR. MAHESH MOHATTA

CONSULTANTS
STRUCTURAL : MR. RAJENDRA SINGH MATHAROO,
MATHAROO ASSOCIATES
INTERIOR : KOMAL MEHTA
MATHAROO ASSOCIATES
LANDSCAPE : MATHAROO ASSOCIATES

OTHERS

GCOENNETRRAALC TOR : SAHHRMEEEDRAABMADBUILDERS,

PROGRAM : LIVING ROOM, BEDROOM,
CARETAKER’S ROOM,
4 FISH BREEDING TANKS,
KITCHEN, 3 TOILETS, PARKING

SSTYSRTUECMTU RAL : CONCRETE RAFT AND WALLS

MAJOR MATERIALS :
REINFORCED CEMENT CONCRETE

SITE AREA : APROX 530 m2

BUILDING AREA : APROX 130 m2

TOTAL FLOOR AREA : APROX 130 m2

PHOTOS : MATHAROO ASSOCIATES

concrete-box house splits the plot space into
two distinct yet continuously mingling spaces;
it opens on one side to the garden and to the
four fish breeding tanks on the other. The
living area can be opened to either of these
two spaces by top hung metal shutters which
extend at eye level through the entire length
of the walls. When closed it is a 13m long and
3.6m wide space rendered by light through
the fish tanks. On opening the shutters this
linear space transforms into an infinite one
perpendicular to its original direction. The
metal shutters are held by handmade concrete
baubles, the cheapest counterweights possible;
they either swing in the wind when windows
are partially open or dip out of view into the
lily padded pools when the windows are fully
open making the house animated.

The concrete frame around the window plays
multiple roles; as a seat from the garden side,
steps for children to climb on from the garden
or a weather protection device while also
providing a rat and snake proof section. It starts
serving as a bar counter with the attached
10 kitchen platform for larger gatherings. The
grassy knoll that rises in front of the long

September 2017 | Design Detail 21

11 11) The concrete
12 baubles immersed
in the pool
22 Design Detail | September 2017 12) The curving
wall allows one
to walk up to the
terrace along a
gentle slope

opening bears under it a bio-gas plant, fifty

thousand litres of rain water storage, and an

earth heat exchange tube. Back through the

shrubbery and fields the house assumes a

squat position. The curving wall to one side

allows one to walk up a gentle slope on to the

terrace running over the length of the house.

The weekenders enjoy the feeling of floating

over a bed of lily petals while being weighed

down by the baubles. dd

FOR EXCEPTIONAL BATHROOMS,

START WITH THE EXPERTS.

At Hindware, we know exactly what goes into making the perfect bathroom.
And that’s why we have dedicated expert services, that are available to
provide all the assistance to help you build your dream bathroom.

Download our Call us on Consult with Browse our new
DreamBath app DreamBath Vol.II
1800 200 75 77 our in-store experts

www.hindwarehomes.com

September 2017 | Design Detail 23

24 Design Detail | September 2017

SPECIAL FOCUS

Work plays a major role in Design Detail prolongs the journey of
the life of every human exploring various workspaces into yet
being. People engage another issue. From the Law Office in
themselves in various Chennai which makes the tiresome job as
works for multiple reasons, relaxing as a play to the Delhi Daredevil’s
the major one being earning a livelihood. For Office that makes play a work, the journey
some, work is a play and for others play is a continues. We invite the readers to embark
work. It all depends on the nature and attitude this journey through a few interesting
of the work and its area of happening. So the workspaces that are truly functional
workspace is a vital element that determines and blend with the work culture of the
the physical, mental and intellectual well being inhabitants.
of the inhabitants concerned.
Renjith. T.R

WORK SPACES-II

PAGE 26 - 82

September 2017 | Design Detail 25

INTERIORS

1

THINK CRICKET,
BUILD CRICKET

1) Panoramic Text : Team Design Detail / Photos : Dev Singh work-play-meet spaces and to provide
view of the ‘Swirl the sporting energy vibe throughout
cloud’ installation The recently renovated the office. Apart from a formal
office space of the Delhi conference room meant for sponsor
2) Reception Daredevils in New Delhi meetings, it includes two more meeting
with the Delhi resonates the sportive spirit areas — one near the reception as an
Daredevils retail and energetic vibe of Indian informal discussion space that could be
product line in Premier Cricket League. The Delhi reorganised in multiple configurations
the backdrop Daredevils went in for a complete image and another called ‘think tank lounge’.
makeover in 2014. Not only were all the
players replaced with a new squad, but Prior to designing, the architects
a new logo was also launched. Keeping analyzed multiple movie frames of
the new brand image in mind, the office batsmen hitting various strokes and
has been planned as a youth-oriented bowlers swing arms. By carefully
and semi-formal open space with overlapping various shots were derived
multiple overlaps between working the splines that led to model a swirl
and meeting areas. cloud that was a true representation

The idea was to blur the lines between

26 Design Detail | September 2017

2
September 2017 | Design Detail 27

3 of various cricket balls hit by multiple
4 batting strokes in all directions all across a
stadium. This NURBS (Non Uniform Rational
28 Design Detail | September 2017 B-Splines) model was further resolved to be
constructed economically, using slender steel
cage covered by wooden planks recycled
from waste shipping pallets - a size that is
approximately close to a cricket bat.

The lower part of this installation was divided
into trapezoidal panels each representing a
player over the six years of Delhi Daredevils.
The installation gives multiple experiences
from various angles. From outside, it emulates
the energy of batting strokes whereas from
inside, it resonates the collective force of
thousands of spectators cheering during the
match. This space in its true sense became
the spine of the office with individuals
working here at their will, occasionally away
from their workstations, discussing game
strategies, holding team meetings; all that has
encouraged a cohesive team spirit across the
organization structure.

Conceptualised in collaboration with
Steelcase, the workspaces were designed to
encourage flexible collaborative working,
yet keeping the identity of an individual desk

5

FACT FILE 6

PROJECT : DELHI DAREDEVILS OFFICE
LOCATION : NEW DELHI
ARCHITECT : MANISH GULATI
DESIGN PRACTICE : M:OFA STUDIO

COST OF THE : 1.2 CRORES
PROJECT

COST OF PER sq. ft. : 4200/-

BUILT-UP AREA : 3200 sq.ft.

MATERIALS : CEMENT BOARD PANELS,
RECYCLED WOOD PLANKS FROM
SHIPPING PALLETS,
MDF UV PRINTED OR DUCO COATED
CORIAN, CARPET
CUSTOM DESIGNED LIGHTING

3) Informal
lounges

4) Transparent
Cabins for
the Senior

Management
5) Think tank
lounge inside
the ‘Swirl Cloud’

installation
6) Central
Corridor with
storage spaces
and cabins

September 2017 | Design Detail 29

7
8

30 Design Detail | September 2017

1. Reception
2. Work Stations
3. Pantry
4. Male Toilets
5. Female Toilets
6. Cabin
7. Meeting Room
8. Server Room
9. Storage
10. Services
11. Cafeteria

FLOOR PLAN

SECTION

7) Presence M:OFA STUDIO intact. Removing the opaque divider panels
of the ‘Swirl between the workstations and replacing
Cloud’ within Manifestation of Fluid Architecture them with low, dynamic-red acrylic panels
encouraged the team spirit between the co
the office (M:OFA) is realisation of a design workers. Also using the same desks with
8) Informal clear glass partitions for the executive cabins
theory that redefines and reinvents reduced the hierarchy within the structure
meeting leading to more free flow of ideas and
spaces architectural manifolds, moving strategies.

beyond the clichéd world of The entire look and feel of the office has been
sporty with the controlled use of corporate
regularised grids, dimensions, red and amber over the neutral grey palate
created by the cement board panelling. The
standards and principles. Founded in interplay of bright colours with neutral
greys has further been juxtaposed with
2002 by Manish Gulati and Tanushree the extensive use of recycled wood planks
and natural MDF panels thereby adding
Gulati, both graduates from CEPT, another layer to the experiential depth of
the office space. The light fixtures were
Ahmedabad and based in New Delhi, custom designed in association with Luzlight
Design Studio from New Delhi. The task
the firm has won more than 50 lights over the workstations are designed as
a group of three long and thin slivers of light
International, National Design awards, representing the three wickets in the game.
Similarly, a designed randomness of linear
special mentions and competitions.

Their works are published regularly work generates from an intense
in all leading design journals and are stimulation invigorated by life itself.
counted amongst the 50 top firms of Each project undertaken by the firm
India. goes through exhaustive research
and interactions to eventually derive
Being specialists in the design of intuitive spaces. Manish believes that
Public Spaces and Institutional a sustainable ideology can never be
buildings, M:OFA’s works range from an isolated entity and should be a part
large stadiums, retail and hospitality of an all-inclusive process of design.
architecture to Private Homes. Their

September 2017 | Design Detail 31

9

9) UV printed
panels of the
10 Player memorabilia

as the outer skin
over the Think tank
lounge

10) Open
workstations with
transparent vibrant
‘Red’ partitions

point lights within the ‘think tank lounge’
represents millions of flashbulbs going off
during a match in a stadium.

The air conditioning ducts run openly

throughout the office with words “Delhi

Daredevils” spray painted in 10 Indian

languages representing the multi-cultural

player profile of the team. The reception

desk is designed in white Corian with display

boxes of various sizes in the backdrop. Apart

from this, autographed bats, hand prints

by the players over the last six years, LED

screens playing matches, permanent display

of player profiles over the cloud installation;

all connect the new with the old creating that

high intensity and madness that cricket is

associated with in India. dd

32 Design Detail | September 2017

September 2017 | Design Detail 33

IN DETAIL

34 Design Detail | September 2017

1

CITY’S
SWEET HEART

Text : Team Design Detail / Photos : Hufton + Grow

Siemens’ new headquarters Featuring green inner courtyards,
built into the heart of a café and a restaurant, the highly
Munich city is intelligent accessible ground level creates
design played onto a rich a new pedestrian passageway

culturally relevant urban enabling Munich residents and

context while strictly adhering to visitors to the Bavarian capital 1) The Siemens
Headquarters
stringent sustainability standards. to stroll directly from the city’s seamlessly integrates
with the cityscape
It offers about 45,000 square center to its art district. of Munich in its
aesthetics and
meters of above ground floor space, Even during the early planning function
providing a working environment phase, Siemens not only integrated
for around 1,200 employees.

September 2017 | Design Detail 35

2 input from relevant offices representing the
3 city of Munich, but also from employees
and the local residents. A pathway through
36 Design Detail | September 2017 green courtyards leads diagonally towards
the art district from the direction of
Wittelsbacherplatz – in other words, from
the city center. From the opposite direction,
the “Wings” sculpture created by architect
and artist Daniel Libeskind establishes a
visible reference point and connects the
museums with Siemens and the city center.

After passing this sculpture, anyone
can enter the new building’s publicly
accessible atrium, which features the
Siemens Technology Showroom, or
continue walking in the direction of
Wittelsbacherplatz. All the exterior
grounds and inner courtyards feature an
open and inviting design.

2) The ground floor 4) About 50 tons
is publicly accessible of glass, 150 tons
and provides a new of aluminum and
footpath between 3,500 tons of
downtown Munich steel that are 100
and the city’s museum percent recycled
district have been used
3) Compared to 5) Inside the
the former building building, a central
complex, the new vertical structure
building reduces the – the ‘spine’
9CO02pfeorocetpnrtint by nearly connects the
entire complex

4

Since they are planted with different
5 types of trees, each of the courtyards has

a character of its own. A diverse range of
culinary offerings invites people to spend
time in the area. The café in the atrium
and the ‘Rocca Riviera’ Mediterranean
restaurant – which is also open in the
evening – offer seating inside the building
and in the inner courtyards. A water
feature creates a relaxing atmosphere.
The public green space adjacent to the
Oskar-von-Miller-Ring road has been
relandscaped, but the existing trees were
protected and left untouched.

In this way, the new corporate headquarters
does more than establish a connection
between the city center and the art district.
They render it possible to experience
Siemens in Munich, and enrich the city.

Due to its sustainability, Siemens’ new
headquarters building has received the
highest certification possible (platinum)
at the national level from the German
Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) and at
the international level from the U.S. LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) system.

The new headquarters consumes 90
percent less electricity and uses 75 percent
less water than its predecessor. The tilted
inner facade increases the amount of
natural light that penetrates the building’s
interior spaces and reduces the need for
artificial lighting.

September 2017 | Design Detail 37

SITE PLAN

SECTIONS SIEMENS
SITE PLAN
38 Design Detail | September 2017 HENNING

AA
SIEMENS HEADQUARTERS
SECTION A.A - SCALE 1:500
HENNING LARSEN ARCHITECTS

C
C

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SIEMENS HEADQUARTERS
LEVEL 1 - SCALE 1:500
HENNING LARSEN ARCHITECTS

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

SIEMENS HEADQUARTERS
LEVEL 0 - SCALE 1:500
HENNING LARSEN ARCHITECTS

BASEMENT PLAN

September 2017 | Design Detail 39

SIEMENS HEADQUARTERS
LEVEL -1 - SCALE 1:500
HENNING LARSEN ARCHITECTS

6

6) All workspaces HENNING LARSEN ARCHITECTS 7
are arranged
along the Henning Larsen

floor-to-ceiling Architects founded in
windows in order
to maximize the 1959 is an international

use of sunlight architecture company
7) Ample spaces
withstrongScandinavian
offer open areas
for sharing roots. It has more than

information and 300 employees spread
for collaborating
out on six offices in
across
departmental Copenhagen, the Faroe

boundaries Islands, Hong Kong,
8) The office
Munich, New York, Oslo
levels are
connected by foot and Riyadh.
bridges, creating
Henning Larsen Architects works with complex office buildings for
a continuous large organizations around the world.Among newly finished projects
floor stretching are the Spiegel Group headquarters in Hamburg (2011),the newNovo
through the entire Nordisk headquarters in Bagsværd (2014), and Microsoft’s Danish
Domicile in Lyngby, Denmark (2015). Under construction is Nordea
complex Bank’s Danish headquarters and a number of buildings in the Middle
East.

Louis Becker, the Design Director and Principal Partner at Henning
LarsenArchitects has a profound experience with modern sustainable
building and is an internationallyacclaimed speaker and lecturer.Louis’
broad international experience includes cultural, educational and
commercial buildings as well as masterplans in Scandinavia, Europe,
the Middle East,Africa andAsia.

As Partner and General Manager of the company office in Munich
and Project Director for Siemens’new headquarters in the city,Werner
Frosch manages the daily contact to the client,collaboration partners
and interdisciplinary consultants. He has worked as project manager
for a number of large complex projects with public as well as private
clients.

40 Design Detail | September 2017

8

FACT FILE

PROJECT : SIEMENS HEADQUARTERS

LOCATION : MUNICH, GERMANY

CLIENTS : SIEMENS

ARCHITECT : HENNING LARSEN ARCHITECTS

AREA : 45,000 M2 (485,000 FT2)

YEARS : 2013 – 2016

SUSTAINABILITY : DGNB PLATINUM AND
LEED PLATINUM

The exterior employs building materials
from the surrounding region. More than
23,000 natural stone tiles that have been
used for the front facade and the flooring
comes from the Altmühltal nature reserve,
less than 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of
Munich.

Siemens smart building technologies
control the building and collects data from
30,000 data points to control the entire
heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
The people who work in the building can
adjust the lighting and room climate to meet
individual needs. The ventilation system
in the meeting rooms uses CO2 sensors to
measure air quality, and it optimizes the
intake of fresh air.

The building is composed of one volume
where four rectangular, rounded
courtyards are cutout. The ground floor

September 2017 | Design Detail 41

9 9&10) View of the
10 publicly accessible
inner courtyards
42 Design Detail | September 2017 and the green area
adjacent to the Oskar-
von-Miller-Ring road

is publicly accessible and provides a new
footpath between downtown Munich and
the city’s museum district.

One of the main architectural ambitions has
been to promote knowledge-sharing and
social interaction across the organization.

In the new building, the 1,200 employees
have visual contact with their colleagues
across the courtyards. All workspaces
are arranged along the floor-to-ceiling
windows. The employees can adjust the
heating, ventilation and air conditioning
technology in their areas as needed.
Ample spaces offer open areas for sharing
information and for collaborating across
departmental boundaries as well as quiet
zones for performing work that requires
greater focus.

Henning Larsen Architects has also been

responsible for the renovation of the

Ludwig Ferdinand Palais where Siemens

has had their headquarters since 1949. The

historic building is adjacent to the new

building and the two buildings have been

seamlessly integrated. dd

September 2017 | Design Detail 43

TACTICS TECHNICS

44 Design Detail | September 2017

RED DIGIT

Text : Ar. Meenu. K / Photos: André J Fanthome

What’s red, big and eye catching on
New Rohtak Road? The Digit.

With the client being a leading
OOH (out-of-home advertising)
firm in India, the intention of the
design project had to be dynamic, loud and clear in
its form and function. OOH advertising has become
a powerful tool in the recent years, widely used by
leading corporate brands to engage the customers
to their products and interests. With the core
philosophy of OOH advertising being ‘a high visual
impact in a fleetingly brief engagement’, the success
of the project is pronounced in the intelligently and
elegantly designed space which garners considerable
attention in its stature and highlights the services
provided by the client and becomes an entity of
brand promotion by itself.

The design concept is based on the notion of identity
(corporate, organisational and individual) and its
visual realisation in the urban scene.

With a limited street frontage set amidst a row of
narrow urban plots, the site profile presented an
opportunity in disguise. The design solution opted
by the neighbouring buildings to combat the site
constraint involved maximising the frontage and
conforming to the restricted built volume allowed
through a central void or atrium. As a result, the
front facade was considered as the main source of
light with the interiors being largely dingy that
required artificial lighting. The street facade, thus,
became an unbroken line of full rectangular facades
without relief.

September 2017 | Design Detail 45

1 The design team proposed a divergence
2 from the existing street form through
a singular formal articulation that
46 Design Detail | September 2017 symbolically referenced the extruded
or projected profile of a thumb. The
shimmering, fluttering, red screen
perforated with the company’s logo serves
as a “digital identity”of the company. The
‘thumbprint ceiling’ at the entrance of the
lobby within is an extension of the design
concept towards the inside.

1) The ideally
positioned louvers
infuses the spaces
with natural light
2) Greenery is
included to enhance
the overall appeal
and quality of the
workspaces
3) The eye striking
facade design
avoids the clamour
of the street and
the solar heat gain
considerably

3
September 2017 | Design Detail 47

48 Design Detail | September 2017

September 2017 | Design Detail 49

4) The FACT FILE
ceiling of the
entrance lobby PROJECT : THE DIGIT
is designed
along the DESIGN : ANAGRAM ARCHITECTS
concept of the PRACTICE
individual’s
thumb print DESIGN TEAM : VAIBHAV DIMRI
MADHAV RAMAN, ADITI SINGH
50 Design Detail | September 2017 RICHA GUPTA

BUILT-UP AREA : 15000 sq. ft. or 1400 sq. m.

YEAR : 2014

LOCATION : NEW DELHI, INDIA

The semi-elliptical cylindrical volume
creates linear voids that stretches along
the length of the building, infusing the
workspaces with natural light diffused
through a skin of louvers. Planters
projected into these voids along the edge of
the floor plates invest greenery into every
nook of the office.

The form of the building was a natural
development upon the consideration of
factors like the hierarchy of the organisation
and the need to manage daylight and heat
gain within the offices. The company’s
corporate structure is idealised in the
volume, with the hierarchical levels of the
work force and management segregated
into various floors of ascending seniority
and reducing occupancy.