ArchShowcase Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. Business Bay in New Delhi, India by Design Forum InternationalAugust 4th, 2016 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: Design Forum International Business Bay is a boutique Eco-Office project designed in a clean contemporary architectural language using bold and playful masses of crisp granite juxtaposed with angular free edged surfaces of glass.
Located in Okhla phase II that is being developed by the Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation (DSIDC),as a part of their industrial reforms in the heart of Delhi, Business Bay is a novel office development that intends to redefine the typical office space morphology in urban cities. The DSIDC has a comprehensive plan to convert this existing industrial hub into a haven for offices and retail and it aims to address the issues confronted by the office/commercial typology in urban and suburban areas and take advantage of the recent DDA modification in the Bye-laws to allow commercial activity and residential activity in these former industrial estates. Along with the relocation of the polluting industries, connectivity to suburban NCR of Faridabad and Noida, infrastructural issues such as concrete roads, new sewer lines etc., are now being addressed. Over the next decade, one can expect OKHLA to blossom as a mixed-use, residential/commercial/small, non- polluting industry zone. In the midst of all amenities including the five-star, Crown plaza hotel, Apollo Hospital in close proximity as a prime health facility, the commercial Jasola development at just a stone’s throw distance, barely 5 minutes away from the DDA sports complex and with a main metro station, Okhla is no longer at the periphery but forms itself as a new center of Delhi. Business Bay is a project initiated by Nagpal builders, a bespoke development firm with a clear focus to deliver excellence and distinctiveness to their customers. With a crisp client brief of a live and interactive office space, together with an impressive structure, the project is spread over two plots of 2400 Sq. Yards that are sited adjacent to each other on a 60m wide road. Since, the prevalent laws at that juncture allowed for a height restriction of 15m only, the architects’ challenge was to create an impressive and imposing structure, within the height constraint. To counter this, a liberal volume is conceived within which a three-floor high aperture in the front facade which lends scale and clearly announces the entrance. The open space at the front is then fashioned as a hard-scaped plaza in textured granite that is juxtaposed with slim bands of greens and a quaint waterscape feature that also acts as the front boundary. Upon entering through the grand aperture, one arrives in a sun bathed atrium that sits in the north east corner and serves as a welcoming pause point with a reception and a common coffee lounge with an informal meeting zone.In keeping with its luxury tilt, the project is fitted with state of art Mitsubishi lifts that amaze you with their noiseless smooth rides and refined interiors. The common washrooms are well appointed in dark brown Italian marble that contrasts well with the sparkling china. The art work was carefully chosen which completes the aura of opulence. The office space is a neat ell shaped, approximately 16000 Sqft. at one level and based on a 8m x 8m grid. The plate is only 20m wide and is open on all sides so, a lot of natural light streams through the sound proof double glass unit windows, making the office plates a delight for any interior designer. All car parks have been pushed under into the two well-lit efficient car parks which can accommodate over 65 cars. The top terrace is fashioned as a combination of a gym and a cafeteria. so, the employees get the wholistic office experience which is the hallmark of office designs of our times. Business bay does complete justice to its name, the architecture ensures that businesses would thrive here. Goonmeet Singh Chauhan Partner, Design Forum International Goonmeet Singh Chauhan studied (B.Arch.) Hons, from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and started the practice called “Tevatia Chauhan & Sharma Architects” in 1995. In 2003, the practice was rechristened as Design Forum International (DFI), with a clear intent to foster an egalitarian organizational ethos where distinctive architectural talent finds self-expression and can contribute in a democratic and collaborative work environment across diverse typologies. DFI’s prime objective is to achieve excellence in design, perfectly in balance to both time and cost. Having won many accolades for our works, DFI has emerged as an institution which attracts great design minds; who love to thrive in a professionally charged environment focusing on every detail and exploring new design methodology for every project. Goonmeet is an Architect, Urbanist, aspiring author and a futurist with boundless enthusiasm to push the frontiers of possibility and bring forth ‘Newness’ that is both ‘Delightful’ and ‘Useful’. He believes that architects must go beyond the stated brief and use their imagination to discern the dynamic flow of life that shall happen within the containers called buildings to create habitats that are birthed in their context and irradiate experiential joy and visual delight.He Has Created Landmarks such as Select Citywalk, New Delhi And Cyberwalk, Kolkatta. Along with His Passion To Use Creativity, Design And Innovation, He Is Actively Involved In The Reform Of City Architecture With His Numerous Projects In Public Sector.He has a strong urge to change what is not right, his upcoming book “Betterment of civic life” is a response to the change. Contact Design Forum International
Category: Offices |