Cracking the Efficient Buildings Code: The Offices, Factories, Hospitality, Retail Building that win customers 9789390251087

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Cracking the EFFICIENT BUILDINGS Code The OFFICES, FACTORIES, RETAIL & HOSPITALITY BUILDINGS that win Customers

Manu Goel Nishant Goel

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Published by: Gurucool Publishing #102, SaiKrupaNilayam, Nagendra Nagar, Habsiguda, Hyderabad – 500 007 Ph: 040–69999200, E-mail: [email protected]

© Manu Goel and Nishant Goel Price: INR 1299/ISBN: 978-93-90251-08-7 First Edition – 2020 Production Executive Cover Design by Printed at

: Madan Mohan R, Hyderabad : Majestic Designs, Hyderabad : Devanshi Digital Printers Hyderabad

Author and Publisher disclaim any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for error, omission, mistake or discrepancy. However, if brought to our notice, we will take care in next edition. Read preface also. All The Author of this book is solely responsible and liable for its content including but not limited to the views, representations, descriptions, statements, information, opinions and references [“Content”]. Disputes are subject to Hyderabad Jurisdiction only.

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To each and every person who has placed their trust in us……

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Preface The origin of a thought is the mind and that of passion is the heart!! I am one of those lucky few, whose mind and heart zoomed in on the same profession… that of Architecture. The profession of architecture is not simply about being creative by nature, but it is also a work of emotional responsibility, that teaches you to be non-judgmental about the lifestyle, design language and material choices of others. Your job then is to initiate a process of co-creation with the end user, and your entire team of experts, who will evaluate the requirements of ‘need vs want’ and add the right technical perspective to it. The process is a joyful one, right from anticipating the mental and emotional state of the end user, to answering those thousands of unanswered questions in their minds. Over the past 20 years of having completed the studies, interacting with individuals, CEOs, business owners, developers and several other end clients as part of the TEAM NOVARCH, I realized that it is time now to put together some of those questions in the form of this book that most users ask infrequently. Writing this book has been more of an internal journey for me, as while the thought was playing on my mind since long, the large part of the writing happened during the forced lockdown period of April- June 2020. Writing this book has not only helped me structure my thoughts iv

better, but also forced me to break down the subject of “Efficient Buildings” to its smallest components. All through while writing the text, our approach has been to keep an attitude of offering, that of the book being a help and support for those who may be in the process of making new efficient buildings and campuses. It will help crack the word “efficient’ that is often loosely used in our profession. The attempt is to prepare the end user for further steps enabling them to make conscious decisions and co-create an era of “Efficient Architecture” Manu Goel 21st June 2020

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Acknowledgments "A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles." Thank you the divine spirit mystery of the universe, for the rhythm of nature, positivity and belief. Our utmost gratitude is for each other for the trust and mutual respect which is the key essential of co-existence. Thanks to our parents and parent-in-laws, children and to all three of our sisters who constantly supported and encouraged us in all our endeavors. We are lucky to have chanced upon our mentors Sameer and Shalini, who helped us overcome emotional barriers and guided us on the path of conscious entrepreneurship. What is life without the support of family and friends. We are blessed to have them by our side and we are grateful to each and every one of them for their positive support, kindness and love. Our utmost gratitude and best wishes are for all our clients and well wishers, who have always placed their trust in us and in our team. Finally the book would not have seen the light of the day without the support of Team Novarch and that one person, Akriti Srivastava, who has been that rock solid pillar of strength, who patiently and single handedly compiled the entire text with us. Thank You.

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Prologue/Introduction To ask the right questions is already half the solution to the problem….. The purpose of this book is to help make informed decisions and choices. This is a world of information overload. Most of all, the most easily accessible vast sea of information, with many design ideologies and sometimes conflicting opinions expressed by the people from various cultures and backgrounds, leave the customer confused. This book samples some of the common questions posed by the end user looking for design solutions, and attempts to put a structure to their thought. It also focuses on helping prepare for asking the right questions. The list of questions here may not be exhaustive, but surely helps initiate the design process as well as guide the reader to have a more fruitful and joyful interface with the consultant. Each topic is also supported by appropriate project case studies, designed by the author and their team as an organization The Novarch and have been illustrated here to simply showcase the idea being discussed.

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CONTENTS Foreword Preface Prologue EFFICIENT ARCHITECTURE: An Introduction Factors determining Efficient Buildings  Key Tenets of Efficient Buildings 

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EFFICIENT OFFICE BUILDINGS Introduction How should you arrive at the design concept for your office? How can architecture communicate brand identity? Can offices be designed to enhance employee productivity? How do I use topography to my advantage in an office campus? Can your Workspace Design impact your Organization’s Culture? How should the Planning and Detailing of the office building be done for efficiency? How many people can I seat in the area available? What is the best way to plan my data cabling? How can I manage the segregation of the Cabling? What if I want to run my office entirely on Wi-Fi. Would this also help me save on the cost of wiring and networking? How will social distancing impact my Office Building? Why should I make natural elements intrinsic to my Office Building? How can I obtain cost efficiency? How can we make clean environments like research centers or laboratories more efficient? Summary FACTORIES AND WAREHOUSES Introduction What are the essentials to an efficient Factory design? How can I plan the most efficient flow layout in my space?

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What are the most efficient ways to stack the materials in a factory? How to Plan the utilities efficiently in Industrial buildings and campuses? What kind of worker conveniences do I have to provide? How should the Pre-engineered Building (PEB) shed be designed for efficiency? How can the building through design manage the waste efficiently? What are the environmentally friendly ways to treat the discharge from industries? In what ways can the external areas on the site be developed efficiently? How do I optimize lighting in the factory? What are different kinds of flooring solutions for flooring in the factory? How can factory circulation be optimized? How do I ensure Safety in my factory premise? How do I plan for future expansion in my industry? What are future trends in Industrial architecture design? Summary INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS Introduction How can I make the master plan of the area most efficient? How can I make the Industrial cluster attractive for retail industries? What are the various buildings components of an industrial cluster? How to best utilize the topography to work as an advantage for design? How to optimize the cost through the design - elements boundary wall, road length, plots access roads? What all kinds of infrastructure are required on the site? How can I optimize energy consumption in my campus? How to optimize the water-balance on site as the norms becoming strict for the industrial sector for their waste water discharge?

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How can the process of effluent treatment be optimized for the retail industries? How to integrate low maintenance green spaces in an Industrial Cluster? Summary HOTELS & RESORTS | RESTAURANTS & CAFE Introduction What is Hospitality with reference to Architecture? What are the key essential factors to consider before deciding the theme for my site? How do I conceptualize the visitor experience in my facility? How can I best utilize the land topography to my advantage? How can I maximize my revenues through the design of the facility? How can I increase the footfall in my Facility through building design? How should I make sure that my facility is up with the market trend and context? How important is it to create thresholds by design in a hospitality facility? What kind of lighting should I go for in the indoor and outdoor spaces in my facility? How can I optimize operational costs for my property? How can I design the services efficiently? Summary MALLS & RETAIL Introduction What are the key essentials to design efficient retail buildings? What are the upcoming trends in designing malls and retail buildings in recent times? How important is it to have a strong design concept for retail buildings? How can I best represent my brand in the retail building? How to attract more and more investors to the retail building through efficient designing? What steps are needed to be taken to obtain cost efficiency?

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In what ways can these facilities be made universally accessible to everyone? How do showroom interiors impact the sale of the product? How can my design be commercially successful for saleability? Should I plan for a Mall type or Galleria type shopping experience? How can I maximize the retail space? How can I maximize the storage space in the retail space? Summary

Epilogue

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Chapter 1

Efficient Architecture: an Introduction Building: a structure with a roof and walls, such as an office or house or factory. Architecture: the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings. Design: a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is made.

The Approach to building design Architects have long been the “dream merchants” for the habitats. As an architect, I feel this is more of a 1

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responsibility than privilege. Designing buildings is a collaborative process that involves working with the end users ideas, perceptions, preferences and imaginations and working collaboratively with a technical and intuitive approach. Before we go on to understand what efficient buildings are, it is important to understand that designing efficient buildings is not something complicated; it simply means to have the courage to follow common sense ideas, to understand the needs of the users, their perceptions and preferences, uncovering their needs and wants and requirements and providing the solutions balanced for both their micro and macro level contexts. Design calls for stories yet unimagined, thoughts yet to be reproduced, fresh encounters and good vibes. The human mind perceives its surroundings in five different ways – sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. For a complete experience of any space, the built form has to cater to all five senses superimposing upon each other, but not overpowering any.

The common sense approach to design endeavors to try and create a balance between the built and non-built. It is the approach where the end result is in respect with the forces of nature at the same time elevating the status of the building from being a mere aesthetic expression. We architects tend to mystify the creative process with tradition, philosophy, art, a lot of immeasurable parameters. It is easier to demystify and start with measurable parameters like technology, climate, functional needs and then move on to reach the immeasurable. 2

Efficiency Efficiency is the ability to avoid wasting materials, energy, efforts, money, and time in doing something or in producing a desired result. In a more general sense, it is the ability to do things well, successfully and without waste. Effective and efficient use of space means creating the right environment for learning, communication, and collaboration. Efficient Architecture is the approach to building design that calls for Optimizing Design in its entirety achieving the maximum utilization of the unbuilt and built elements with the same consumption of resources. This book provides a structure to simplify and demystify this process.

Factors determining Efficient Buildings Multi Functionality How many times do we see something and appreciate the way a design, no matter how simple it may be, about the way it appeals to our senses, to the way it creates awe within us. You may end up appreciating the way it functions so well, ways in which the little details fit in and add character, functionality and charm. You will find that most of the time these are the things, places and items that have stood the tests of time, having great adaptability and resilience. Adaptability Tested by time and proven to be utilitarian, traditional architecture continues to be the best example of multifunctional and adaptable design. It is also the most 3

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suitable and sustainable model for best climate responsive design. The best traditional designs: • Use locally available building materials. • Respond to the climate. • Work sensitively within the landscape setting, taking advantage of solar orientation, shade, local trees, prevailing breezes, and topography. • Reflect the region’s culture. Cultural appropriation Culture is about absorption, not about elimination. So, when we really start looking at our culture, we like to assimilate a lot of things, we have memories and contextual reference latched on to everything. Sustainability Our design thinking always revolves around the five elements of nature. We have always found ourselves striving towards a more sustainable approach towards Architecture. Climate and context are the two main factors around which the designs are centered. Instead of aping the west and designing glass blocks unsuitable for India’s climate, one needs to act with common sense while constructing spaces and design spaces responsive to local climates. Design Process Me and my team at Novarch believes in making the design process highly intuitive as well as well as process oriented. We start with asking many questions and simultaneously 4

keep exploring possibilities. Then there comes a point when these two intersect and a new idea is born. This helps eliminate randomness and addresses many issues which are extremely important at various levels. This approach is rigorous and relevant and brings a kind of criticality to the design process while guiding it with the help of common sense.

Key Tenets of Efficient Buildings Promote Health and Well-Being: Indoor environments strongly affect human health. An effective environment should be designed to support and enhance the health and well-being of its occupants. Sustainable design principles also help achieve this objective. Provide Comfortable Environments: An environment designed and operated to provide the highest achievable levels of visual, acoustic, ergonomic and thermal comforts. Design for adaptability: Providing spaces with flexibility, social support, and technology to promote new ways of working, learning and engaging in several activities is a cornerstone of change and innovation. Use of the right technology: Effectively integrating technological tools and distribution networks required in today's environment to enable occupants to perform activities or their duties starts first and foremost with properly designed pathways and spaces. Microclimates: This approach is about getting down to the lowest scale, looking at the local climatic factors to curate and create spaces, make the spaces adaptable to different seasons, different times of the day.

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Human factor- comfort delight: Human comfort and delight is one of the greatest concerns for building occupants. It directly affects their safety, health, and comfort. Occupants must be able to rely on sufficient functional space, building systems, equipment, and tools that function consistently and are properly maintained. Provided below is a 10 pillar structure to help decode Efficient Buildings. Efficient Buildings: Factors 1. Planning · Zoning · Services · Movement and accessibility 2. Future Planning · Phasing · Projection based approach · Managing growth 3. Joy · Pride · Comfort · Sensorial experience 4. Safety · Thresholds · Surveillance · User groups based approach 5. Detailing · Material detailing · Scenarios · External development 6. The Land · Site Alignment · Investigations · Context and use 7. Waste Management · Segregation 6

· ·

Mapping Treatment systems

8. Services · Water · Air · Energy 9. Spatial Character · Understand the Culture · Evaluate the space · Plan for adaptability 10. Innovation · Identify the challenge · Create a USP · Think out of the box

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Chapter 2

EFFICIENT OFFICE BUILDINGS Introduction How often have you been faced with a plethora of questions, standing outside the consultant’s office or while trying to visualize your building in your head, overwhelmed, where to start and how to best obtain a design solution that is TRULY YOUR OWN!! 8

Let us begin by deliberating on some questions that traverse the domains of architecture, branding, business growth and employee performance, all through building design.

How should you arrive at the design concept for your office? What should be the one experience when the customer visits my office? This is a key question to ask while working out the design concept. This is the time to Show off your brand and its personality. The design of even the minutest aspects of this experience makes a lasting impression––for better or for worse. The design should focus on crafting an enjoyable experience, for both your employees and your visitors. Communicate your brand the moment visitors arrive!! Invest in your front of house. Visual cues, graphics, use of colours must all not only display but imbibe the company philosophy and core values. With your office design, first impressions are everything. Your workspace should provide an experience that will allow visitors to get a feel for your company but most importantly, want to come back and continue working with you. Companies like Google and Amazon have invested in quirky, fun spaces that show off their approach to company culture and create a visually dynamic visitor experience, but refrain from copying the imagery of others, rather try to implore your own office culture, philosophy and style. Architecture beyond time-bound trends: The context of the site comprises all the site conditions and stakeholders. Concepts which respond to the context, eliminating the limitations and deriving innovative solutions are the ones which can stay relevant to all times. 9

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It is also important that the aesthetics are timeless. Since buildings have a large shelf life and the aesthetic criteria of image and architecture evolve over time, so the buildings need to be flexible, having the ability to allow changes and renovation. Case Study 1: Corporate office campus for IOCL at Paradip, Odisha Client: Indian Oil Corporation Limited Area: 12760 sq. m. on a site of 17.6acre USP: Designing for High Wind Speed & Harsh Climate. The site is located around 1 km from the coastline in Orissa with saline atmosphere, high humidity and is extremely prone to cyclones. The four floor building was designed along the wind path in an aerodynamic form to offer least resistance to the cyclone enabling the high speed wind to pass easily without colliding with the structure.

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How can identity?

architecture communicate brand

Brand image is “the general impression of a product held by real or potential consumers”. It is how customers think of a brand. It can be defined as the perception of the brand in the minds of the customers. This image is created based on their interactions and experience with the organization. These interactions take place in many forms and not necessarily involve the purchase or use of products and services. For designers and architects, buildings are a great opportunity to create a distinctive brand style as well. Besides the corporate brand, the building, its location and history can provide points of differentiation and contribute to brand awareness and reputation. A well thought through strategy for brand communication through architecture which draws it inspiration can build on the corporate identity of the brand. The case study below is of an office building of a government office. The brand of the company can be 11

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displayed in direct and indirect ways. Direct ways would be to highlight the logos and the name. Indirect ways could be through ceiling patterns, colour scheme, wall textures and in general the choice of design language etc. Designing for a fairly hierarchical and structured organization, we developed a design language that would reflect the nature of the organization. Here are two case studies which demonstrate very different kinds of brand image. Case Study 2: Corporate office tower for ONGC Geopic, Dehradun Client: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, India Area: 20000 sq.ft USP: Architecture as a communication for Brand Identity The design was proposed in response to the organizations Brand and its hierarchical culture. This is a Government office building, hence the formal grand entrance, use of neutral shades in colour palette, use of dark wood, detailing of ceiling and flooring patterns were used along with the introduction of greens. The overall effect was to give a formal look with respect for tradition.

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Case Study 3: Corporate interior for an Energy sector Organization Client: Go Energy Area: 3000 sq ft USP: Brand identity in Office Interior The graphic imagery was derived from the company’s logo of energy bolt. Use of light colours enhanced its depiction as well as made the office look more spacious. All furniture including the reception table, center tables, the ceiling and flooring designs were customized to be in sync with the company’s Brand identity.

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Can Offices be designed to enhance employee productivity? Productivity is understood to be measured in terms of the rate of output per unit of input. Efficient architecture is an important factor in determination of productivity. Effective and efficient use of space means creating the right environment for learning, communication and collaboration. In terms of architecture, productivity can be segregated as Individual Productivity as well as Organizational Productivity. Individual productivity Architecture greatly impacts personal productivity of the user. Buildings that are visually appealing offer safety and thermal comfort besides a great overall sensorial experience greatly impact the user experience. Architecture is a balance of art and science which together if planned well on the factors listed here can greatly enhance the individual productivity of the user. Organizational productivity Space should be in sync with the organizational culture, requirements, hierarchy and other organizational tenets. Buildings shelter activities performed by groups of individuals that together perform as a team. The built and unbuilt aspects of architecture should reflect the organizational culture for optimum efficiency. For example; in a factory if the spaces are not allocated according to the process flow, the building can actually result in a lot of loss of productivity and vice-versa. Organizations that are extremely hierarchical need to respect the same. Right from spatial allocation, space sizes 14

to visual and sound privacy, creation of thresholds to types of desking all need to reflect the same. Look at non hierarchical organizations in contrast. Open plans with collaborative spaces, ample room for flexible use of space, visual connect and breaking of thresholds would be the requirement there. Architecture as a visual identity Your office building is the most primary tactile and visual identity you can create as an expression of how you want your brand to be perceived. The space aesthetics, its functionality, the work environment, the materials used, the design language, the environment sensibility and several other parameters interplay to express this. Architecture as a communication channel Whether interior or exterior, architecture is the communication channel for brand qualities. Buildings and their campuses create scenarios in which the interaction between customers, the public and employees take place. One of the roles of architecture itself has always been to transmit messages of diverse nature constituting a powerful element of informative and persuasive communication. The architect acts as a translator of culture and corporate image, making them tangible, turning them into something physical.

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Case Study 4: Office Building for Eschweiler Micromed, Okhla, Delhi Client: C.L. Micromed Private Limited Area: 9000 Sq. ft.. USP: Minimalism & Efficiency Efficient Space planning resulted in receiving Glare Free Natural light in almost all the rooms and working areas. A minimal, stark, clean & hygienic look & depicted the efficient equipments being marketed by the company.

How do I use topography to my advantage in an office campus? Firstly, a detailed topographical survey must be done and analyzed. Respecting the gradient of the slope, the built masses have to be planned on higher ground so as to avoid water logging or flooding during rains. Low lying areas must be used for rain water harvesting, STP, ponds or water features. Challenges with the site have to be understood, such as if the water table is very high then construction of any basements will be problematic. 16

Whereas, if the water table is low then rain water should be harvested depending on the inferences drawn from the water balance chart. Approach towards the issues must be to turn limitations into opportunities. The holistic knowledge of the kind of landscape, type of soil, climatic conditions, etc. must be put together to devise unique solutions as per the site. If given proper attention to detail, low lying areas can be turned into spots for rain water harvesting without any equipment. What is a zero discharge campus? To manage water better on site, a water balance chart must be prepared. It involves identifying all sources of water; amounts of water being drawn and used/ discharged, quality of discharge. Then ETP or STP will be designed accordingly. Maximum amount of water discharged should be recycled and reused. This reduces the dependency of basic resources on external sources and cuts down on operational cost as well.

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Case study 5: Hitachi GDC office, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Client: Johnson Controls Hitachi Area: 30 acres with 20000sqm built USP: Architecture using topography to advantage The case study below is a project in Ahmedabad having a fairly large plot size. The site had one prime corner that was potentially waterlogged being the lowest area on site. This challenge was converted into an advantage by creating raised driveways teamed with Bio-Swales (detail in next box) in the landscape design. As a result, a calculated amount of water was scientifically recharged into the ground without causing any water logging. This sensitive design feature not only enriches the design, it also recharges the ground water very effectively enabling the organization to apply for additional ground water extraction and usage.

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Bioswales: Bio- Swales are shallow sloped, scientifically designed channels meant to treat storm water runoff. As water flows through the channel, vegetation slows the water and allows for sedimentation and filtering of pollutants through the subsoil. When covered with Grass, they are called “Grass swales” These are a fantastic way to recharge a calculated capacity of storm water into the soil without water logging. They also make beautiful great landscape features.

Can your Workspace Design impact your Organization’s Culture? No matter how strong an organization is in its planned procedures, culture trumps strategy when the two are not aligned. Culture's all that invisible stuff that glues organizations together. Organizations are driven by a primary culture; there is also a subculture that runs in organizations. Understanding the cultural context can help an organization design a space that encourages desired behavior.

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Culture can be categorized as either, “Collaborate, Create, Control or Compete”. All of these may be required in various proportions to model an ideal workspace for the particular organization. “Collaborate” culture thrives in empowered environments, typically focusing on ‘lets do things together’, with values such as team building and a ‘people first’ approach. “Create” culture prizes experimentation and individuality and focuses on ‘think out of the box’ approach. “Control” culture works for a company/ department where focus is on ‘linear communication’ and ‘doing things right’. “Compete” culture thrives on competition and is result focused, quite often translating into ‘doing things fast’. Most organizations will have one amongst these as a dominant culture along with several subcultures in the organization. Workplace is usually seen as a cost rather than a ‘DRIVER OF PERFORMANCE’. Design’s role is to help companies either reinforce good cultures or change bad ones. Companies need to be careful on not to jump on to “trendy office” images or to try to ape the workplace cultures of other organizations. Most often clients walk into the architect’s cabin with images of the open offices of the “Google” or the “Facebook”, aspiring their spaces to look fun and feel young. They most likely are visualizing a funky space with colorful furniture, ping-pong tables and bean bags. Problems arise if their culture is not corresponding to that of the reference project they are looking at, in which case these ideas would backfire. 20

Employees have seen hanging around on bean bags or playing ping pong while working will not be seen as creative innovators but more like a worker who are sabotaging their daily work. Such spaces will then either not be used at all or will foster anarchy. Space design with right planning and use of right elements can be a great tool and a means for culture building for an organization. Case study 6: National Head Office for Hitachi, New Delhi Client: Hitachi Home & Life Solutions Area: 20000 sq ft USP: Branding and organization culture, efficient planning blending Hierarchy with Collaborative spaces It’s a Japanese Company with clear hierarchy & structured working with Indian employees who love collaboration. The high volume space available is celebrated by creating a large open and structured work area interspersed with Interesting colourful collaborative pods. The layout allows employees to work in solace or gather in the central area for discussions. Colour scheme plays a very important role as it takes away the visual monotony and gives a vibrant feel. Neutral shades have been used only at the reception. Some spaces have multi utility functions such as library can also be used as informal working desks especially for employees who are visiting from other company branches.

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How should the Planning and Detailing of the office building be done for efficiency? The design for a new office space starts with one essential step: correctly estimating the amount of space your company may need. But how do you know what that number is? and where do you start? The first step would be to take a thumb rule estimate of the seating vs. available space. This would give an idea of the area available for functions other than desking. Also it is best to have a clear idea of the requirements of enclosed spaces, cabins, meeting rooms etc. It is best to design them as flexible spaces, to avoid making the largest chunks of spaces unused for a large number of hours. Case Study 7: Office building for Exports, Rohini, Delhi Client: Sumitron Exports Pvt. Ltd. Area: 7000 sq.ft USP: Detailing for efficiency: Indoor Temperature optimized for comfort. Since the front facade was west facing, it is treated with metal screens to cut the excess heat entering the building. This resulted in cutting down the load on air conditioners and keeping the indoors cool along with giving comfortable visual connectivity from inside. 22

How many people can I seat in the area available with me? The general rule of thumb is to allow anywhere between 125 and 225 usable square feet of office space per person. This of course, depends upon the type and style of the business and the workspace layout. However, with experience and analysis of our projects, we have found that a good efficient layout can easily be planned in the range of 75 to 100 sq ft per person. It is also always a good idea to plan for growth. Estimating a possible growth over time would help plan the future requirements along with the current planning and avoid a need to retrofit in future.

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What is the best way to plan my data cabling? Network cabling is at the heart of the connectivity which drives businesses in today’s digital age. It is a fundamental part of office systems, enabling computers to connect to the internet and powering communication. Despite living in the so-called “wireless era”, office cabling still plays an important part in the planning of the office spaces. Here are some of the key aspects fundamental to efficient cabling in an office. Layout and planning for efficient length, route and density: Efficient routing and planning can enhance equipment and eventually personnel performance. Some thumb rules to keep in mind are the maximum lengths for different types of network cables. If you use Cat6, it has a maximum length of 100m (300 feet approx). It may work fine with longer lengths too; however the speed performance may drop. Optic fiber is good for miles. You can always put a switch in the middle if you only need 1–2 hops, but for any serious increase in distance you should be looking at fiber optic cable. The quality of the installation work itself can have a major impact on the reliability of an office network. Even seemingly irrelevant details, like how much a cable is bent, can have a significant impact over a network’s lifetime and defect rate. Simply bending a cable past this limit (or installing cables that do not conform to this requirement) can lead to degraded network performance or connectivity loss. Choosing right and quality equipment and the Right Cable Type. The quality and effectiveness of network cables will affect the speed in which data is transferred between devices, 24

meaning that without a good cabling set up, you are not going to have the connectivity you require.

How can I manage the Segregation of the Cabling? Planning in advance and Ease of operation: As the saying goes, fail to plan, plan to fail. When looking at your network cabling it is important to plan every aspect, right from the cables themselves through to the logistics of the installation. It’s important to plan the installation for when the office is quiet, when there are no visitor and minimal staff members. Before finalizing the layout, make sure you have considered all the requirements and structured the layout fully will aid in getting the best network cabling for your business requirements. Also pay attention to the location of the server room and the routing. Colour Coding and labelling It can become difficult to keep track of cables running through walls and across several rooms if they are not properly marked. By categorizing groups of cables of the same type, it will be quicker and simpler to troubleshoot connectivity problems. Using different colours for cables with certain purposes can help cables be easily identified and checked if a network issue arises. Knowing exactly where each cable originates and where it is intended to go proves very beneficial. Since office networks require a multitude of cables to work effectively, not labelling the network cables will be problematic if you need to disconnect any cabling or relocate your office. Labelling the cables will therefore avoid costly wasted time, as well as the uncertainty of where to reconnect cables.

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How can I ensure that cables are of correct length? Cables which are too long for the connection they are making can cause unnecessary issues. Some types of cable provide greater signal at shorter lengths. This will make the maintenance of cables easier and reduce the amount of time needed to rectify any connection problems. It will also help to keep your office tidier, compared to cables which are tangled and winding around the data server. If you do not want to cut cables in case you move or reconfigure your office in the future, you can secure them with cable ties to prevent safety hazards and keep them looking tidy. In essence, the office cabling must be looked at as an investment that keeps on giving back. Get it right from the beginning and you’ll be free to focus on your core business full speed ahead.

What if I want to run my office entirely on Wi-Fi. Would this also help me save on the cost of wiring and networking? It CAN work. However, years of experience of designing office floors of different scales have shown some challenges offices running entirely on Wi-Fi. Though it is easy to setup and access, scaling is easier and faster and there is a great amount of flexibility for employees. The first question however, to consider is the number of users and how heavy equipment using the network be. What are some key advantages of running an office on wi-fi? Lets us first look at the advantages of using a wireless network for work. For most small to medium sized businesses, a wireless network has become the order of the day. Running cables throughout the office can be time 26

consuming and expensive. A wireless network is cost effective and also a lot less cumbersome to set up. For a small business, a wireless network offers many benefits, the most prominent ones are:Convenience The wireless nature of such networks allow users to access network resources from nearly any convenient location within their primary networking environment with the increasing prevalence of plug and play systems like laptops, this is particularly relevant. Mobility With the emergence of public wireless networks, users can access the internet even outside their normal work environment. Most chain coffee shops, for example, offer their customers a wireless connection to the internet at little or no cost. Productivity Users connected to a wireless network can maintain a nearly constant affiliation with their desired network as they move from place to place. For a business, this implies that an employee can potentially be more productive as his or her work can be accomplished from any convenient location. Ease of setup Initial setup of an infrastructure-based wireless network requires little more than a single access point. Wired networks, on the other hand, have the additional cost and complexity of actual physical cables being run to numerous locations. Expandability Wireless networks can serve a suddenly-increased number 27

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of users with the existing equipment. In a wired network, additional usage would require additional wiring. Cost Wireless networking hardware is at worst a modest increase from wired counterparts. This potentially increased cost is almost always more than outweighed by the savings in cost and labor associated to running physical cables.

What are the areas where running an office entirely on Wi-Fi can be limiting? Lets us now assess the limitations of the Wife system of networking for an office. It is quite common that the network load is not considered when determining the number of access points required. You may think in terms of the number of users but users rarely operate a single device. Each user usually has multiple devices such as a laptop, smart phones, and a tablet. Additionally, other office devices must be considered such as printers, video conferencing equipment, and security cameras. It is therefore important to be on the side of caution by installing multiple access points. This helps not only in preventing network congestion but also prepares you for additional network load coming from new hires in times of growth. Security To combat the safety concerns, wireless networks may choose to utilize some of the various encryption technologies available. Some of the more commonly utilized encryption methods however, are known to have weaknesses that can be broken through.

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Range The typical range of a common Wi-Fi router network with standard equipment is on the order of a few meters. While sufficient for a typical home, it will be insufficient in a larger structure. To obtain additional range, repeaters or additional access points will have to be purchased. Costs for these items can add up quickly. Reliability Like any radio frequency transmission, wireless networking signals are subject to a wide variety of interference. Important meetings, or video conferences, besides regular working may face disruptions from interferences, thereby posing a reliability issue for Wi-Fi. Speed The speed on most wireless networks (typically 1-54 mbps) is far slower than even the slowest common wired networks (100mbps up to several gbps). Thus where speed is of paramount concern, it is always a safer bet to go for a wired network over Wi-Fi.

How social distancing will impact my Office Building? Every challenge is an opportunity in disguise. As the world around us is ever evolving and fast changing, social distancing in these trying times is impacting our perception about our workplaces and the way we work, more than anything else. As people become more familiar with the idea of distant working – (i.e. collaboration without physical contact) collaborative platforms are fast developing. Quarantine, Isolate: these terms which carried a negative impact upon them, a few years ago, have become a reality and in a manner necessity of today. In times of social 29

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distancing the concept of personal space and digital collaborative space is fast becoming powerfully distinct. The three major spaces where we remain engaged and spend most of our working hours that will get impacted are: Personal Work space: The concept of zoning out (basically getting into your own mind space) and keeping yourself motivated and directed towards your work goals having compact personalized workspace, equipped with all basics like acoustics, communication tools, writing/ sketch boards and digital tools for communication organized within the personal space will see an upward trend. Personal space will also tend to acquire elements from one’s own personality and become more of a reflection of who we are with our likes and dislikes and what keeps us going. Corporate Work spaces: Current decade will see a major shift in corporate work culture. We know collaboration increases productivity, innovation and the quality of work. On the likes of change in our personal spaces, collaborative spaces are too likely to evolve with the changing times. There is going to be a major impact on corporate work space. Corporate work spaces will be geared to help people internalize and connect with themselves apart from working within teams. How will our office spaces respond? Screening: a. Thermal screening along with Metal detectors. b. Thermal monitoring along with CCTV monitoring.

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Action: a. b. c. d.

Carefully designed Isolation rooms. Doctor & Hospital on call. 3D printing our own PPE masks etc Better First aid Measures & protocols.

Self Sustainability: a. Reducing dependence on Outside Goods & materials b. Designing spaces to enable the new hygiene Social Distancing: a. Rearranging work desks, Entrances, Café’s, shop floors to enable a 1.8m distance. b. Box-In-Box design concept. Sanitization Stations: a. Modular Stations (sanitisers, PPE’s) that allow for people to sanitize & use PPE before and after the use of a space. b. Entrance lobbies – create Buffers for sanitization and air filtration. Sanitize all outside goods. Touch less Equipments: a. Lifts, doors, attendance machines, turnstiles etc. b. Water stations, taps, printers etc.

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Why should I make natural elements intrinsic to my Office Building? Humans have an instinctive bond with nature and natural surroundings. This affinity of human beings with the natural world is called Biophilia. Biophilic design is a concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions. 32

Biophilic Architecture brings natural elements into everyday spaces, triggering positive biological responses. Importance of biophilic design in workspaces: • Being surrounded by biophilic elements can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and steady the heart rate. • Helpful in navigating the pressures of work life while maintaining one’s health and mental well-being. • Employees are able to derive a higher level of satisfaction from their job, which in the long run, helps companies retain talent. Workers entering natural environments are much happier and inspired. In contrast, workers who do not have greenery and other elements of nature within their work environment feel more anxious or even bored when they enter the workplace. The incorporation of biophilic design such as the use of natural elements, nature resembling colours and patterns, indoor plants and views of greenery can improve and maintain mental well-being. This will translate into a reduction of stress, enhance creativity and clarity of thought, improve productivity and energy levels, and expedite healing and promote healthy living. Case study 8: Hitachi GDC office, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Client: Johnson Controls Hitachi Area: 30 acres with 20000sqm built USP: Biophilic Design: Green walk to form a collaborative workspace between the building blocks 33

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Access to nature increases productivity. Creating green microclimates is a powerful technique to improve user efficiency & personal productivity. Most unproductive spaces in the design can be energized by adding: - Biophilic Design Features : Access to Nature -Thermal comfort (controlling temperature, humidity, solar radiation) - Character (Water, Greenery, Furniture) and - Utility Here the walkway space between three Building blocks is designed to create a powerful microclimate to accommodate water features, a gym, a badminton court and Greenery to not just tie the space together but also make it a collaborative workspace.

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Case study 9: Hitachi GDC office, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Client: Johnson Controls Hitachi Area: 30 acres with 20000sqm built USP: Energy Efficiency The entire rooftop was installed with solar panels. It reduced the dependency on the main power supply.

How can I obtain cost efficiency? One of the most effective ways of obtaining cost efficiency is cutting down the operational cost by saving energy and water. Also the most common myth is that green buildings are costlier. The right approach is to make wise and thoughtful investments into appropriate technology while being mindful of its payback over time. While initial investment may be there but in the long run, the energy savings and recurring costs are reduced, thereby obtaining cost efficiency. To cite a simple example, if we consider a 25-30sq.m room, one may want to save initial cost by installing a 100W tube light with a 60W bulb. This will take an initial cost of approximately Rs.500 and power consumption will be 160W. If we replace these with two 18W LED lights and four 3W LED spot lights, it will cost approximately 35

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Rs.2000 and power consumption of only 48W. So even though the regular tube light and bulb will cost less initially, its running and replacement cost will be much higher than the LED fixtures. The same logic when used for larger buildings, result in much larger cost savings as well as energy efficiency. Case study 10: Hitachi GDC office, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Client: Johnson Controls Hitachi Area: 30 acres with 20000sqm built USP: Cost Efficiency: approx. 5 Lakh saving per month EDGE certified 47% energy saved in the building, resulting in cost efficiency 4.97lakh/month. Since it's a global brand, certification proved the reduction in carbon emissions as well.

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How can we make clean environments like research centers or laboratories more efficient? Circulation and space allocation for different functions are the key factors for making clean environments efficient. Lesser the crossing of paths, more the local environment is likely to be clean as it prevents the transfer of microbes. One of the key details is the creation of thresholds to direct and limit user movements. Teamed with use of touch less building equipment such as sensor based taps; anti-microbial material paints and floor tiles, it can add to the efficiency of the clean environment building being designed. Specific activities may encourage or discourage the natural light or direct sun; hence the building and the spaces within also need to be planned with respect to the sun. Case study 11: Quality Evaluation Laboratory, Mahape, Mumbai Client: Spice Board of India Area: 3500 sq. M. USP: Innovative design & Construction & Hygiene standards.

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Case study 12: Research & Testing laboratory for Johnson Controls – Hitachi, Kadi, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Client: Johnson Controls Hitachi Area: 36,000sq.ft. USP: Efficient Research laboratory The facility is equipped with research and testing laboratories, including reliability labs, annual performance factor labs, electromagnetic compatibility labs, electronics labs and Semi-anechoic labs besides capabilities to create designs, simulation, controls, project management and engineering information systems among others.

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Summary Office building can make or break the aura of your organization! With the right design solutions, they can become high performing energy saving, cost optimizing machines. These can be spaces where employees are happy to come and work a building that evokes a sense of comfort and pride in the user. Find below a checklist that provides a framework covering all aspects of Efficiency for office buildings.

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EFFICIENT OFFICE BUILDINGS CHECKLIST DESIGN CONCEPT ● Branding ● Comfort and Pride ● Innovation ● Material and colour palette EFFICIENT PLANNING ● Space Utilization (zoning and circulation) ● Future planning- Managing growth ● Material Palette ● Aesthetic appeal ● Cost efficiency ● Connectivity EFFICIENT SERVICES ● Efficient ventilation and lighting ● Green Areas ● Well optimized Wiring and Connectivity ● Water Recycling ● Indoor Air Quality

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Chapter 3

FACTORIES AND WAREHOUSES Introduction Industrial buildings are one of the most ignored but extremely pertinent areas of specialization. One often comes across industrial buildings, with a lack of structured design approach. You may find materials stacked right at the entrance way, creating hindrances for visitors walking in and out of the campus. Worker conveniences may not be designed well, water logging on the side margins due to lack of improper side design, inability of the structure to take in the expansion works that arise with business growth to name a few. 41

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Designing manufacturing spaces is a matter of expertise and practice considering the variety of sectors of manufacturing spaces and their unique requirements, challenges and solutions. A well designed building with improper material life may start looking rundown in a matter of a year due to the impact of the industrial processes. The trick to a successful, elegant and most importantly “Efficient” industrial or warehouse building lies in the questions being discussed in this chapter. Read ahead to get a sense of this subject. What are the essentials to an efficient Factory design? Building Design should be functionally optimized and aesthetically pleasing, but that is not all. The Visitor experience needs to be carefully thought about, planned and designed. The design should also incorporate elements that workers feel motivated. Proper breakout zones for workers also need to be planned as part of the premise. Last and not the least, a joyful working environment should be planned and curated with adequate noise barriers and green elements in place.

How can I plan the most efficient flow layout in my space? Material Flow efficiency Identify all types of materials required in the factory. Trace the movement pattern for the materials. Plan for the shortest movement paths right from entry to the movement from stage one to the next. Machines should be serviceable. Staff cross movement should be minimal. 42

Spans of the shed should be planned with respect to the machines and vice versa. Most of the factories these days use conveyor system to minimize the human efforts and increase the productivity so the most efficient layout would be that there should be a loop so that raw material can be loaded on one end and finished goods are received on the other end and in between there should be other activities. People movement Efficiency All user groups to be using the premise need to be identified along with their traffic volume. Just like material flow, their paths need to be planned on the site to obtain people flow efficiency. Ideally worker movement and staff movement should not overlap or clash. Visitor movement path needs to be carefully planned separately. Ideally the locations of the plant head cabins should be overlooking the factory premises. Worker frisking areas, conveniences, locker rooms, dormitories need to be planned away from visitor areas. Services flow efficiency Industries are a bundle of well planned services, organized together. Different industrial functions need different services. For example a heavy metal industry may need a different service network than a distillery. Various service networks need to be mapped and their discharge, their pipelines, their paths etcetera have to be integrated with the building design. This task needs to be planned with the process engineering team.

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Case study 13: Factory at Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh Client: Epothane Civlec Pvt. Ltd. Site Area: 4000 sq.m USP: Efficient & Segregated Flow of staff, workers and materials.

What is the most efficient way to stack the materials in a factory? Racks, shelving, bins, hoppers and other structures for the storage of materials should be adequately designed to support and contain the materials for which they are used. Allowance and adequate precaution should be made for the possibility of stored materials becoming waterlogged 44

and for shock loads from placing materials or from accidental contact by handling equipment. Storage areas should be specifically designated, be clearly marked and be in the charge of a responsible employee. Aisles should be clearly marked, be of ample width for the type of storage, and be kept free from obstacles and waste materials. Depending upon the type of industry the exact nature of stacking and the options should be discussed with the architect beforehand to design adequate sizes and nature of Raw material and finished goods stores. Automated material stacking system:

Case study 14: Manufacturing Unit for Aluminum Composite Panels at Jammu Client: Alstrong Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. Area: 6 Acre Campus USP: Efficient Material Stacking Customized pellets for horizontal stacking of aluminum sheets, well defined material handling bays and adequate use of the vertical volume of space.

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Case study 15: Edible Oil Manufacturing Units at, Bareilly, U.P. Client: B.L. AGRO OILS LIMITED Area: 7.5 Acre USP: Fully Automated Warehousing stacking system from Daifuku The Edible oil processing and bottling factory incorporates fully touch free Automated material stacking and retrieval system using pulleys and tracks. The factory has filtration units, Bottling plants, Warehousing, Packaging lines, ETPs and even a dedicated rail line to export the oil products.

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How to Plan the Utilities efficiently in Industrial buildings and campuses? Industries operate on networks of utilities. A wide array of utility lines may be required for a particular type of manufacturing sector. Some specific types of inlets, carrying raw water, distilled water, certain gas lines, compressors, coolers, heaters, equipment for water treatment and wastewater treatment, exhaust gas filters etc may need to be not only overlaid but also integrated into the internal layout of the factory floor. Following points need to be kept in mind while planning the utilities: Utility mapping Utility mapping needs to be done on the factory floor plan. Every single piece of equipment in a processing facility – from processing equipment to compressors, chillers and the machine room – requires some form of power whether it’s electricity, steam, hot water or compressed air. Determining the utility requirements of the plant’s operating systems is a critical part of the design process that involves the plant’s owner, as well as the mechanical and electrical engineering team. This step also helps forecast energy costs based on the plant’s utility requirements. Utility Route Optimization and Planning for Utilities Efficient Route planning will improve the response times. It provides your utilities with 100% optimized routes. Create routing using Material Flow. A product routing displays the flow of the manufacturing process for the given product through the factory. A well optimized utility routing ensures: 47

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● Good machinery functioning with preventive maintenance ● Reduce manufacturing lead time and meet timelines ● Lower the total time required for converting raw materials and parts into completed products ● Prove factory compliance and the compliance of suppliers. Safety and security of the Utility lines Adequate safety measures to be planned to keep any fire hazard, flooding hazard, or any other kind of risks at bay. Also the integration of utilities with services like transformers, electrical panels, emergency rooms and much more will enable better control and safety of the utility lines. Location and footprint (area occupied by utilities) have to be planned for safety as well. They can be planned in external development. Some solutions around integrated utility panels can help optimize the space as well as ensure their safety. Case Study 16: Factory for Industrial hydraulic Equipment Client: Dantal Hydraulics Pvt. Ltd. Area: 4000 sq.m USP: Efficient Utility Management

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What all kinds of worker conveniences do I have to provide? Speaking in order of worker movement, sanitization areas followed by frisking areas should be there before they enter the building. Lockers, uniform stores, changing rooms, are to be provided. Workers’ retreat area has to include a dining hall, kitchen and toilets. If there is a hierarchy in the workers then additional cabins can also be provided. Providing dormitories are also seen as a solution to build resilience against an emergency situation like COVID19 so that workers are not stranded and leave the factory. As long as the workers stay in the premises, the production can be continued. Cycle stands or two-wheeler parking has to be provided for workers. Where should the worker conveniences be located? This is the first and most pertinent question the owners face while identifying the various zones during the planning stage of their Factory design. The best design clues always result from asking the right questions. How many workers? What are their timings? Would any workers be staying on site? Is there a need to plan any 49

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dormitories? If yes, are they going to stay there individually or with family? The entire gamut of worker conveniences needs to be assessed first. Their movement paths need to be plotted across the site. Depending upon the nature of the industry, workers may be needed to frisk before entering the manufacturing zones. Some checkpoints may need to be created in the wake of safety, hygiene, skill based worker group. The first task would be creating the right checkpoints, their changing rooms, sanitization rooms, toilets, lockers, lunch areas, bicycle parking. In general it is preferable to give the worker convenience on the backside so the worker movement should not hinder the office moment; however, each case may have a unique solution. Case Study 17: Worker Conveniences Building, Noida Client: Haldiram Foods Private Limited Area: 12000 sq ft. USP: Efficient design for Worker Conveniences A separate building block for Worker conveniences such as the changing room, locker area, sanitization zones, uniform stores, dining hall, and kitchen was made. Being a Food Industry, these utilities maintain hygiene, safety and a sense of security amongst workers.

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How should the Pre-engineered Building (PEB) shed be designed for efficiency? Key aspects of PEB buildings Pre Engineered Building (PEB) is the buildings which are engineered at a factory and assembled at site. Usually PEBs are steel structures. Built-up sections are fabricated at the factory to exact size, transported to site and assembled at site with bolted connections. This type of Structural Concept is generally used to build Industrial Buildings, Metro Stations, and Warehouses etc. They can be used on large spans without any column support in the middle. PEB buildings are an effective way to optimize cost for large span buildings and its quick installation saves time as well. Various options for sheet material such as pre-coated sheets, Sandwich Panel GI sheets, Fiber sheets, and Polycarbonate Sheets are available to suit different requirements. Spans and structure planning While planning for PEB shed bays, factors like Gantry movement, width of production lines, circulation areas have to be taken into account. The arrangement of machines and equipment within a factory includes the 51

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layout of departments within the factory site, the layout of machines within the departments and the layout of individual workplaces. A range of 25-30m is preferred for PED shed. More than 30m can be costly to install. For example, in one of our projects, we optimized the overall span of the shed that was 55 m by splitting it into 2 bays to help optimize the bay width of PEB. Other Factors for Efficiency Some other factors to consider while discussing with the Pre- Engineered Building vendors are earthquake safety, wind and fire resistance. Coordination with the foundations on site with the engineers for accuracy and loading criteria is equally pertinent. Additional benefits of PEB (Pre-Engineered Buildings) can be that solar panels can also be installed on them to optimize the energy consumption. It must have good enough strength to bear wind loads. The Design Basis Sheet is the single most important factor to get all coordinating teams to be on the same page and for avoiding any unforeseen misunderstandings.

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How can the building through design manage the waste efficiently? Industries work with processes at all stages. Various kinds of wastes are generated at various stages, which may require different levels of treatment such as: ● ● ●

Preliminary / Primary Secondary Tertiary (or advanced)

Some waste products that may impact the building directly are heavy metal scraps and corrosive liquid and gaseous wastes. Managing Corrosive Fumes to safeguard factory building! Corrosive fumes can potentially eat into the metals, weaken the shed structure, and erode the paints and other 53

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surface finishes, besides damage to human health and to other machines over time. A very efficient way to manage corrosive fumes is to understand and also direct their movement path inside the building premise. Fume extraction systems from the shed clubbed with scrubbers is an efficient method to manage the corrosive fumes and prevent them from damaging the environment around them. Having the right HVAC system installed not only helps keep staff safe but can also extend the life of equipment by extracting fumes and managing environmental conditions that have adverse effects on delicate electrical and mechanical machinery.

What are the environmentally friendly ways to treat the discharge from industries? Natural technologies of wastewater treatment use modified natural self-treatment processes that take place in the ground soil and water environment. Wastewater with high organic content and high load of fats, oils, oil derivatives without pre-treatment are unsuitable for natural wastewater treatment systems. The design and size of the ETP depends upon: • Quantity and quality of the industries discharge effluent. • Land availability. • Monetary considerations for construction, operation & maintenance. Every waste product is also a resource, if planned for in an efficient manner. Here we will look at two case studies, 54

where innovative methods have been used to manage waste as a resource. Case study-18: Chrome Plating Factory at Sanand Gujarat Client: Vibewell Techniks Pvt. Limited Site Area: 2000 sq. m. USP: BIO ETP for waste management (DEWATS) It can treat organic wastewater from both domestic and industrial sources with flows from 1 to 1000 m3 per day. The DEWATS system is an effective and efficient wastewater treatment solution that minimizes water and soil pollution in surrounding settlements.

Case study-19: Heavy Metal Manufacturing Factory at Secunderabad, Greater Noida. Client: R S Infraprojects pvt. Ltd. Site Area: 5 Acre USP: Corrosive fume management Fume extraction system and Scrubbers were used in combination in this factory, where heavy metal 55

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processing, and galvanizing and coating is done.

In what ways the external areas on the site can be developed efficiently? All the unbuilt space there on the site is referred here as external development, which includes side margins and back areas. These are the spaces in factory premises which often get turned into waste dumping grounds. These spaces can potentially be used for bicycle parking, transformers, fire hydrant lines, boundary wall designs, water tanks, service storage tanks, natural ETP. Efficient space utilization can be achieved by a well informed planning process. As much as the space utilization is important, the slope of the ground also needs to be kept in check. The slope in these external areas should move the water away from the factory building. Additionally, it can also be safeguarded by constructing a plinth protection. Fire tender movement area, any ramps, worker queuing areas, frisking zones, truck parking loading unloading areas can also be planned in these areas.

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Case Study 20: Chrome plating Factory at Dharuhera, NCR Client: Vibewell Techniks Area: 2000 sq.m USP: Efficient External development

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How do I optimize lighting in the factory? Since factories have large structures, if every corner then had to be lit up by artificial lights then it would raise the operational cost of the factory. Provisions must be done to let in glare free natural light to save the cost of electricity at least during the day time. Openings in the north direction will let the diffused sunlight to enter the building causing any glare or harm to the machinery and inhabitants. Also depending upon the industry type, additional lights can also be used where sunlight is not enough. Artificial Lighting Assess the need and type of the lighting required. The most important aspect of any industrial area, be it assembly lines, warehouses, process areas and commercial complexes is lighting. Owing to the fact that they are high precision working environments, they demand the highest quality and reliability as lighting has a major contribution to performance. Cold storage needs temperature resistant lighting, assembly lines need more of task lighting, certain sensitive types of manufacturing may need specific bandwidth of spectrum of light. Industrial high-intensity-discharge (HID) luminaries are generally of two types. In a high-bay area, the spacing-tomounting-height ratio is 1.0 or less, and the mounting height is not less than 25 feet. In a low-bay area, the spacing-to-mounting-height ratio is more than 1.0 and the mounting height is less than 25 feet. In addition to HID fixtures, twin-tube, quad-tube, and linear fluorescent fixtures are also widely specified for manufacturing facilities and warehouses applications, and they can be placed under the same high-bay and low-bay categories. Direct/indirect fluorescent lighting provides a 58

comfortable atmosphere for most industrial laboratories that handle tasks that range from critical research to routine preparation. Case Study-21: Paper packaging Factory at Greater Noida, NCR Client: Premier Paper Packaging Industries Pvt Ltd. Site Area: 3200sq.m USP: Use of Natural diffused lighting to light up the indoor spaces

What are different kinds of flooring solutions for flooring in the factory? Factory floors need to be highly durable and slip-proof to function well. They cannot afford to react to chemicals, let in moisture or make it any easier for factory accidents to happen. Material selection should be based on traffic and abrasiveness of the movement. Materials are often thrown or dropped on ground hence material selection must be so that it absorbs shock and is low maintenance. They come 59

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under constant and heavy use, especially near loading bays, which means that factory floors can only be made from several different materials that have the necessary protective qualities- simple, quick installation, suitable for use with forklifts, chemical resistant, reduces dust and noise, exceptional durability. High traffic Areas: Concrete is the most basic form of factory flooring. As long as it is stable and perfectly level, it functions well but they can be damaged through impact. So in that case, it can be covered with rubber that comes in large rolls that are carefully spread out over the floor and nailed or glued in place, making it slip-free. Machine Areas: Epoxy flooring can be a suitable option. It is a type of chemical resin that cures to form a very hard, durable surface. Floors covered with epoxy are especially good at resisting impact and chemical spills, as well as high temperatures, making them ideal for many factories. Since they leave slightly shiny finish, additional treatment needs to be done to make it rough. Material Stacking Areas: A range of tiles are available in the market that can be installed. Colour variation in tiles can be used to demarcate the circulation area from working areas. It is a time saving and efficient way of getting suitable aesthetics and functionality right.

How can circulation be optimized? To achieve efficiency in circulation, one must ensure that there is minimum crossing of paths. It can be imagined as a central spine of access with further branching out to reach the other side of the machines. This is a generic layout but works very well for factories. 60

Spine and branch model also ensures visual access till the end of the aisle. Branching done at 90 degree gives enough time to pause if goods or people are crossing each other. This type of layout gives visual access on the left, right and front aisle. Flow of materials and people have to be planned prior to the planning the production areas. It should be in line with the process diagram. Horizontal and vertical circulations need to be integrated. Stairwells need to be closed for fire safety. If machine size is not utilizing the entire height of the structure then mezzanine floors are a great way to use up the unutilized vertical spaces. Case study-22: Factory for Label Printing at Greater Noida, NCR Client: Kumar Labels Site Area: 2000 sq.m USP: Efficient Floor Space Utilization & Work flow

How do I ensure Safety in my factory premise? The first question to ask would be what type of risk factor is involved in your industry? Depending upon the type of manufacturing process, different levels of safety may be needed for different types of manufacturing setups. For example safety for a jewellery factory would hold a very different meaning than it would for a chemical factory. 61

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There should be medical assistance in the factory depending upon the risk factor, all the fire equipment should be there and regularly checked. Safety drills for workers so they should be aware about the risk. All safety pertaining signage should be planned in advance and well displayed and explained. Fire Safety Depending on the kind of industry, a fire fighting layout has to be planned. It will comprise the layout of the sprinklers and smoke detectors, connectivity to fire tank, critical points must be easily accessed by fire extinguishers or sand tubs. There should be medical assistance in the factory depending upon the risk factor, all the fire equipment should be there and regularly checked. Safety drills for workers so they should be aware about the risk, signage etc.

How do I plan for future expansion in my industry? Since factories are large amount of investment in time, energy and money. It is always an intelligent step to plan for future expansion also. Planning for growth of the industry will inform the amount of space required for expansion. Industries are most likely to expand. Growth of the industry and expansion of physical infrastructure can be aligned if planned in phases. Provision for adding another shed, more production lines, may be a new product is to be added or a packaging line; there can be many areas in which the industry might expand. Blueprint for future planning should be prepared beforehand. It will act as a road map to go about the expansion.

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What are future trends in Industrial architecture design? IOT (Internet of Things) Many sectors have been influenced by the wearable technology and Internet of Things (IoT), one of them is the Industrial sector, manufacturing and production of goods and components. Moreover, in industries with maintenance and manufacturing tasks of high risk – such as the mining, oil and gas – the wearables can play a key role in security. One of the upcoming technologies integrated with production will be Smart Glasses. It will give hands-free and accessible information in real time about robots and production line machinery can return great benefits:Building/Machinery performance display indicators: ● ● ● ● ●

Air quality: O2 Co2, PM1, PM10 Production line status: Availability, Average power consumption, change of components, the latest dates and next revision. Ongoing process indicators: remaining time, product reference, exit date, incidents, and so on. Receive alarms and integrated alerts from robotics and machinery. Access to supporting documents (videos, photos, manuals, etc) in the resolution of incidents and work on industrial machinery.

Flexible Segregation: Open Hall can be transformed to have flexible segregation by using industrial curtains. Especially in Post COVID scenario, it is important to maintain distance and avoid contact. It might also be ensured by staggering time slots of usage of common 63

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infrastructure like entry / exit, lockers, toilets, cafeteria, conveniences etc. Touch less technology: Automatic gates can be installed to replace the conventional ones, so that physical contact is avoided. Sensor based operations: This technology has been there for many years but has not been used to its full potential. To avoid contamination of any kind, sensors can be installed in many ways. A face / palm detection sensor can be used for touch less doors, as it will keep the security of the factory intact. It can be used with touch less water taps, lighting systems, etc. and also to measure temperature humidity and concentration of other gases. UV based disinfectant chambers: All the goods entering the factory can be scanned under UV based disinfectant chambers which will kill germs to a large extent. Anti Bacterial nano coatings: Table tops, cabinets, storage areas etc can be coated with anti bacterial nano coating so that no room for breeding is left.

Summary Solutions-focused industries are progressive, ready to meet international standards of safety, hygiene and design standards. Industries of tomorrow are worker centric, focusing on creating a strong network of services, and mapping the above mentioned networks to the minutest detail, so as to enable smooth operations, low maintenance and enable growth and expansion of the built spaces as the organization grows. Find below a checklist that provides a framework covering all aspects of Efficiency for industrial buildings: 64

EFFICIENT INDUSTRIES CHECKLIST EFFICIENT PLANNING ● ● ● ●

Flow Efficiency Materials: Raw materials, In process materials, Finished Goods People : Labour, Staff, Clients/ Visitors Facilities: External and Internal Components, Worker Conveniences

EFFICIENT STRUCTURE AND SERVICES ● ● ●

Shed Planning Offices and Laboratories External Development

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Chapter 3

INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS Introduction Industrial clusters are harbingers of change. A relatively new concept to India, but a very powerful one, that has the strength to channelize collaborative growth for entire areas, regions and sector specific industries. Cluster campuses are a unique area of architectural design and Master planning, where various scales and multiple expertise’s are involved at the same time. The typical Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) is prepared for approvals are devoid of proposals for design solutions, 66

let alone talk about efficiency in design. The key to design successful industrials clusters is to provide a balance of Infrastructure, Aesthetics and Services. The Efficiency approach to design industrial clusters begins right here.

How can I make the master plan of the area most efficient? Saleability Whatever shall be the scale of the park, optimizing the size of plots for each industry is the most crucial step in planning for industrial parks. One has to be aware of the average size of the industries in that nearby area and understand the space requirements for various industries. Areas allocated to infrastructure like roads, electricity, IT etc. must be optimum and as per the applicable norms. Intent of the master plan should be to help make the maximum area saleable. Connectivity Use the location to your advantage. Proper road planning or rail connectivity can be a huge advantage. To assess all the data, the consultant should make a detailed project report, analyze data and assess viability of different sizes of plots. USP Attempts should be made to add some innovation, such as common waste management facilities, road infrastructure, manufacturing support etc to help create a Unique Selling Proposition for the project. This will help attract the local manufacturers into the campus. Case study 23: Mega Food Park at Kapoorthala, Punjab 67

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Client: Sukhjit Starch & Chemicals Ltd Area: 55 Acre USP: Efficient and well planned Infrastructure increasing productivity

Case study 24: Cycle park, Ludhiana, Punjab Client:Punjab State Industrial Corporation (PSIC) Area: 253 acres USP: Site Development , Road and Junction design, Efficient Planning

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How to make the Industrial cluster attractive for retail industries? Few of the pointers that are important to attract retail industrialists are amenities, aesthetics and infrastructure. If any of these three are inadequate, then the results might not be very promising. Aesthetics: The aesthetics of the cluster are normally ignored and therefore makes it unattractive. Addition of local flavour may add to its visual appeal. It must hold its identity in terms of visual appeal. Amenities: As per the requirements studied by the consultant, a wide range of amenities can be provided to cater as much type of industries as possible. Infrastructure: This is certainly the most important because if the campus lacks adequate infrastructure then it can be very limiting for the industries to operate in the park. The infrastructure of the campus is further subdivided into basic Enabling Infrastructure and NonCore Infrastructure as listed below.

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What are the various buildings components of an industrial cluster? Following are the various Building Components of an Industrial cluster. These are the most essential buildings that are required in an industrial cluster for making it attractive for sub industries. Admin: Administration buildings where the management and accounts staff can function from. This is the main building block usually located closest to the entry of the campus. This building acts as the control hub for the entire campus. Gatehouse: The visual identity of the Industrial cluster, it is the first structure that is visible from outside hence it can be designed in ways that can act as a landmark for that place. Central lab and training: Ideally should be located along with the admin block, preferably close to the entrance. Laboratory and training blocks are the most premium 70

services the leasing parties get access to and should be designed to international standards to attract the investors. Club/ Guest house: This facility shall be invested upon to make it attractive for resident staff or their families on campus. Hostels/ dormitories or staff housing: A basic essential if the staff for any factory needs to be stationed on site. It can be made rentable to them as well. Warehouse: This is one of the key components for adequate storage of the raw materials or finished products. Worker conveniences: Toilet blocks, worker canteen, a crèche, medical center.

Other Building Components Truck holding areas.

Packaging units.

Cold Stores,

Dormitories and Hostels

Block Ice Units,

Convenience Shops.

Fuel yards,

Medical Center.

Auction center.

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EFFICIENT BUILDINGS FOOD PARKS/ Mega Food Parks:

Case study 25: Sea Food Park at Deras, Bhubaneswar Client: IDCO Area: 257 acres USP: Well Planned Common Amenities 72

How to best utilize the Topography to work as an advantage for design? Landform planning is one of the key aspects to be considered while designing the road network and other master plan features. Large land areas tend to have larger discrepancies in the topography. Most of the time the site would have a hill or a few hillocks, or sometimes even a water stream may be passing through the site. Land features that are often perceived as hindrances in the planning, can be potentially be used to the design’s advantage. Services like storm water drain slopes, sewage etcetera can be planned according to the site slopes to save effort and money in installing pumps to move the water around the site. Similarly, low lying areas can be used for water bodies or treatment plants. Roads specifically, have to be planned keeping the degree of slope in mind because it should be flat enough for the heavily loaded trucks to 73

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move. Planning of circulation of access roads can be done in a loop to avoid intersections especially in mountainous regions. Case study 26: Mega Food Park, Arunachal Pradesh Client: Rangoge Foods Pvt. Ltd Area:50 Acre USP: Efficient Road Network to suit Topography

How to optimize the cost through the design elements boundary wall, road length, plots access roads? Zoning and Clustering: The development of the campus is most likely done in a phased manner. The key is in the management of the design such that at any stage the campus looks complete and presentable. The location of the Admin complex along with common built infrastructure is the key. This should be located as close to the entrance as possible. Parking, auditoriums, manufacturing support, office buildings, auction halls, can all be part of this cluster. The housing for workers and staff can be planned in the smaller plots on the site. Adequate green areas can be planned as part of the campus all across, rather than one large green plot in the key area. 74

Truck holding areas should be planned near the entrance for maximum efficiency. Material selection, like that of the roads or pavers can also have huge cost impacts that need to be assessed beforehand. Services and Infrastructure: Boundary wall: This is one of the most easy to ignore detail of the built components, which can help save cost by selection of right material and detail. Cast in situ materials would be preferred for smaller campuses, while assembled precast blocks would enable quick implementation for large campuses. The Hi-side electrical need to be close to the plots for optimum electrical efficiency and can be split into two or three if the campus is large. Also the fire safely lines should be designed to be optimized for length. Site slope is the key to the storm water planning. Similarly the location of rain water harvesting and waste water treatment should be in sync with the topography of the site for maximum efficiency.

What all kinds of infrastructure are required on the site? ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Road Network Vehicle Movement / parking Sewage Treatment Water Supply Storm Water drainage Electricity Fire Fighting IT/ Telecom

What are the basic parameters to lay an efficient road network? 75

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Roads shall be laid down, which shall consist of Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Roads of the following width: ● ● ●

Primary Road: 30m wide road at the entrance & main road; Secondary Road: 24m wide road with central storm water channel Tertiary Road: 18m/ 13m wide road serving the plots;

All road sections shall be carefully planned to maximize accessibility and provide aesthetic value to the campus by incorporating water features (optional), footpaths, street lighting, service ducts & greenery. The natural slope of the original land can be maintained to a large extent in designing the roads.

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How should the efficiency be obtained in drainage systems? The campus must be targeted to be planned as a ZERODISCHARGE self-sustainable campus. The campus shall provide uninterrupted treated water to all the manufacturing units and common amenities. The campus should receive water from the government appointed agency as well as back-up water supply from the bore wells planned within the cluster. It has to have its own water treatment plant (WTP) and pump house for water supply. The drainage network shall be very elaborate with separate sewer and storm water drainage connecting all the units. Thus, we try to achieve a ZERO discharge industrial park.

What should I know about electricity before planning? ● ●

All electrical power requirements, communication, security systems are brought under this category. Power shall be received through a Ring Main Unit (RMU) via metering at the substation of the complex. Each manufacturing unit will be supplied power through individual cable from the 11 kV 77

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substations as per required.

the

respective

load

Why is IT connectivity important for my campus? A converged communication infrastructure shall provide voice and data services across the park. This infrastructure shall incorporate state-of-the-art IT/ telecommunications infrastructure to provide advanced voice and data services. Voice services would imply facilities for STD/ ISD telephone lines, dedicated lines, mobile phone services, audio conferencing, emergency services, directory assistance/ operator services, fax services. Data Services would include Managed Bandwidth Services, Internet Access (Business & Residential), Internet data Centre Services, Internet/ Web Hosting etc., Content Delivery Management, Security Solutions, Payment Gateway, ATM etc. Case study 27: Tea Park, Assam Client: Tea Estates Association Area: 38 acres USP: Maximizing the covered area with efficient planning

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How can I optimize energy consumption in my campus? As industries spend huge amounts paying for electricity, on a campus level, solar and wind power are heavily explored. But wind power comes with its own limitations; hence, solar is one of the most feasible ways of optimizing energy consumption. Manufacturing companies make ideal spots for solar system installations for several reasons. First, these businesses typically operate out of fairly large plants with sizable roofs. These expansive, flat spaces are perfect for setting up a large number of solar panels. This open area lets companies set up longer strings that capture more sunlight and therefore generate even more electricity.

How to optimize the Water balance on site as the norms becoming strict for the industrial sector for their waste water discharge ? Zero discharge campus The principle of “zero discharge” is recycling of all industrial wastewater. This means that wastewater will be treated and used again in the process. Because of the water reuse wastewater will not be released on the sewer system or surface water. ZLD campus design: especially for textile industries, USP Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) is a treatment process designed to remove all the liquid waste from a system. The focus of ZLD is to reduce wastewater economically and produce clean water that is suitable for reuse (e.g. irrigation), thereby saving money and being beneficial to 79

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the environment. Many industries such as textile or paper pulp industries are very water intensive. They release water mixed with a lot of liquid waste. The benefit of treating this water is that it can be reused in the industry or for other purposes such as landscaping and road washing etc. Effluent coming out of secondary treatment contains nonbiodegradable matter. This effluent is passed through primary, secondary and tertiary levels of filter. Finally, the effluent is passed through an RO system for recycling and reuse. By adopting ZLD, approximately 75%–80% water can be recovered and reused. Apart from water, many useful chemicals can also be recovered.

How can the process of effluent treatment be optimized for the retail industries? The concept of common effluent treatment plant (CETPs) has been accepted as a solution for collecting, conveying, treating, and disposing of the effluents from the industrial estates. They have been installed and are in operation at numerous industrial clusters throughout India. The effluent includes industrial wastewaters and domestic sewage generated from the estate. They serve to reduce effluent treatment cost, provide better collective treatment and reduce land cost for smallscale industrial facilities that cannot afford individual treatment plants. Some of these industries may require preliminary treatment (for removal of solids) so that the receiving sewers can be maintained free flowing. It may be required to correct pH or removal of specific pollutants before the industry discharges in CETP. Optimum working conditions for treatment of effluent to be at par with discharge standards is a major mandate for any CETP. 80

How to integrate low maintenance green spaces? Green spaces are not very difficult to maintain if the slope is kept in mind while planning. As long as the water flows by the natural slope, green spaces will not have to be watered regularly. Selection of vegetation also matters when it comes to low cost maintenance. More the use of grass or topiary more will be the cost of maintenance. Hence, it is advised that locally found trees or shrubs must be selected to landscape the road sides and open spaces. They will be more resistant to the disease and pest attack. If possible, it should always be preferred to retain the trees present on the site. This will save a lot of the cost of planting the saplings. Since saplings also take very long to grow into trees, aesthetics of the site remain barren until they grow.

Summary Planning and execution for Industrial clusters is relatively a longer process. If done efficiently, it can yield great results. It acquires a large area and investment hence every step demands a sincere effort in evaluating the returns from every plot. Understanding the system of flow of materials and people is crucial to ensure the need for the project. Common amenities are the prime reason for the industries to be clubbed in a campus. Find below a checklist that provides a framework covering all aspects of Efficiency for industrial buildings:

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EFFICIENT CHECKLIST

INDUSTRIAL

CLUSTERS

EFFICIENT PLANNING ● ● ● ● ●

Investment Vs Planning Saleable Area and key USPs Infrastructure Facilities: Roads, Boundary walls Optimizing common amenities Location & Connectivity

EFFICIENT STRUCTURE AND SERVICES ● ● ●

Water Recycling Energy Saving and Alternative Energy External Development

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Chapter 4

HOTELS & RESORTS RESTAURANTS & CAFES Introduction Hospitality segment of architecture is a dynamic one. It draws heavily from the market trends, changes with the times, changing customer preferences, new technology and market dynamics. It is also one of the fastest growing sectors in commercial architecture. No wonder then that there are so many market segments catering to various target markets. This 83

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sector feeds on the customer’s aspiration to improvise, experiment and succeed. With easy access to visuals from across the world via internet, there are infinite styles and ideas available for users to browse from and see it manifesting for their dream projects. It takes an expert’s knowledge to be creating a vision for the particular project considering the factors that may be important to THAT project. Context (the surroundings, soil type, existing vegetation, proximity to other resources) have to be taken well into account for efficient planning. This chapter will answer most frequently asked questions about the various aspects such as revenue generation, services, aesthetics and many more that form the base for design decision making.

What is Hospitality Architecture?

with

reference

to

Hospitality architecture is inspired by human experience. It refers to right from boutique urban hotels to beachside resorts, from cafes to restaurants, stand alone banquet buildings to outdoor party lawns. Hospitality architecture is influenced by business objectives, as well as local physical, environmental, jurisdictional, and economic factors. Hospitality design needs to focus on providing innovative design, environmentally responsive solutions, and enhanced value for the client. The look and feel of the facility, whatever is the nature, can tell guests a lot about the experience they can expect during their stay. Talking specifically about hotels and resorts, with guests increasingly choosing their accommodation based on images alone, architecture and 84

design play a major role in capturing a consumer’s full attention. The external visual appearance of the hotel is the first thing the guest will see and his/her ‘arrival’ experience will deeply influence their overall impression of the hotel and the resulting satisfaction with the stay. It is therefore very important to create a special, innovative and visually exciting combination of not only architecture, but also interior design and the surrounding landscape environment to give the guest such a feeling of uniqueness.

What are the key essential factors to consider before deciding the theme for my site? Market segment It is very important to understand various market segments and identify the one in which your facility lies. It is an important component that needs to be applied to hotel revenue management. It allows you to target and market to a variety of consumer groups with different behavior with an offer that matches their needs and budget level. Market segmentation shall help to identify the purpose of the trip: either business or leisure. Price eventually is derived from the market segment. These analyses are done before proposing any particular facility on a site. Site development, USP and requirements depend on the market segment. Clear distinction must also be achieved between individual and group business. In the past, hotels were just a place for staying for people who were travelling. Things have changed for the better now. Hotels are now more than that with multiple facilities. Based on the cost for accommodation and additional 85

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facilities, hotels can be classified as Budget hotels and Luxury hotels. 



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Budget hotel: Budget hotels were established for the people who can only spend a minimum amount for staying. They have basic facilities like clean bed, bathroom and washing facilities. Rooms are generally not so spacious. There are many budget hotels with facilities like television, air conditioners having a decent look as well. Generally budget hotels are best suited for people who are travelling alone and those who are looking to stay for a short duration. Luxury hotel: Luxury hotels are for the people who can spend more money. In addition to the basic facilities, these hotels have additional features like refrigeration, bars, swimming pools etc. These luxurious hotels are more spacious and rooms have more aesthetic looks. Luxury hotels are best suited for business travelers and the people who are travelling with their family and children. Restaurants / Cafes There various categories, Fine Dining, Casual Dining, Family Style, Fast Food, Café, Pub, Lounge. Each type varies majorly in the kind of cuisines, ambience and budget.

Guest Aspirations Hospitality architecture needs to first and foremost satisfy the aspirations and emotions of the visitors/ guests. It is most important thus to first identify the target clients. Understand and enlist their aspirations, desires and what they may be expecting out of the property. Visitors to a beach side resort for example may want the views of the 86

sea from some key locations if not all, may prefer to see palm trees, a beach poolside and some sand as part of the landscape, while visitors to a resort in the hills may prefer the view of the snow peaks or the valley side. May want to see use of local rocks/ stone in the landscape and construction and may be a heated pool if the climate so demands. Similarly for the restaurants / cafes, the visitors may aspire to have a special theme based experience, which may even be related to the kind of cuisine being served. All in all, a mapping of the guest aspiration and experience is the key to a great theme planning. Hospitality architecture needs to first and foremost satisfy the aspirations and emotions of the visitors/ guests. It is most important thus to first identify the target clients. Understand and enlist their aspirations, desires and what they may be expecting out of the property. Theme The visitors may aspire to have a special theme based experience, which may even be related to the kind of cuisine being served. Theme for the facility is derived from the intention of the owner as to what he/she desires to provide a facility like. Several themes that have evolved over the years are Business hotels, heritage hotels, hill resort, beach resorts, boutique hotels, cliff restaurants, underwater restaurants, 90s theme cafe, any TV show theme cafe etc. A pub/ disc would evoke a different aspiration than a breakfast diner. Types of hospitality spaces like resorts, hotels, cafes, restaurants can run successfully only if the supporting spaces are in close vicinity. For example, business hotels should be in close vicinity to transit areas. 87

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Moreover, before deciding on the theme, practical reasons have to be put in place. Spatial Character Once the guest movement is traced on the plan, different zones can have a unique spatial character to it, for example, a reception area. The appearance and arrangement of the reception area exposes the character of the hotel and way of treating its guests. The design of this space should efficiently serve and pleasantly surprise guests. Every detail matters. It can be simply put as Stand Out or Die Out! Similarly, the details in the restaurant or bakery in the hotel must be worked out to have its own character. Architectural detailing in the bakery cannot be done the way it is done at the reception. Case study 28: Bread and Breakfast, South Delhi Client: Indie Homes Area: 3000 sq. ft. USP: Urban low cost accommodation Services and interiors accustomed for a specific budget market segment

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How do I conceptualize the visitor experience in my facility? Visitor’s experience is all about the visitor feeling valued or heard. It is an intangible component which expresses why a guest may prefer a particular hotel/café over others. The feeling can be joyful, peaceful, satisfying, refreshing, entertaining and even unhappy or unsatisfying. It can be related to food, staff service, comfortable seating, ambience, value for money. It can be a first impression which leaves an everlasting impression on our visitor. These factors give an experiential journey to our visitors which are very essential to build in a space of hospitality sector. The architecture of the hotel/restaurant can have an everlasting impression on the visitors. Any unique innovation in terms of design or a new kind of facility can be introduced. That becomes the USP of that place and people shall visit regularly to experience the same. These days it's very essential to work on that one aspect which makes the place stand out in its own unique way. Technological interventions integrated with architecture can be a great way to make your facility stand out. For example, the rotating restaurants were a great hype at some point and attracted people from all age groups. 89

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Similarly, if a cuisine is introduced for the first time in a town/city at a new restaurant then interior detailing can be a great way to bring the desired sensorial experience to the visitors to add to the theme. Case study 29: German Bistro and Pub, South Delhi Client: Zu Tisch Foods Pvt. Ltd. Area: 2500 sq. ft. USP: Theme and Detailing Recreating an “ Old World” Quirky Experience Stucco walls, Wooden structure, Live Edge wood counters, barrel tables, Raw Sleeper wood floor, exposed metal frames, Petrol hose taps contribute to creating a Quirky and stylized Old World charm in this project which transport the customer to a different ambience.

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How can I best utilize the land topography to my advantage? Before the design is conceptualized, a detailed survey is done to understand the gradient of slope, natural elements like trees, boulders, site flora and fauna, any interesting views from the site etc. Land development is the major cost to consider. The approach should be to keep the cut and fill activity minimum and use the slope to enhance visitor experience. In case of a hill resort, where the slope is expected to be quite steep, different zones can be taken of different levels so as to ease the circulation and efficient functionality. The services are also then designed to move along the slope. Similarly in an urban setting, if a restaurant has to be designed then some kind of an interesting view, such as a monument can be a great USP for the facility. Case study 30: Resort at Corbett, Uttarakhand Client: Suman Grand Hotels Area: 1.6 acres USP: Living with Nature, use of local materials Nature is Celebrated in this project and the buildings are designed to merge thus, creating a very serene & calm ambience. The use of local stone from the river and other local materials helps to complete the experience.

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Case study 31: Hill Resort at Binsar, Uttarakhand Client: Suman Resorts Pvt. Ltd. Area: 2 acres USP: The Views - “On Top of The World” The contours of the site are used very sensitively to create a magical view of the snow peaks from each room and space in the resort. Local Materials and simple landscape further accentuates the natural beauty of the space.

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How can I maximize my revenues through the design of the facility? Revenue generating spaces- Assessing the Requirements Owners should look to every inch of their properties for opportunities to maximize revenue, and that includes spaces that might be underutilized. In clear terms, rooms, banquets, rentable lawns spaces, courtyards (for smaller events), restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries are the revenue generating spaces. But when owners think of new ways to use these spaces, their bottom line will thank them. For example, if the hotelier’s requirement is to accommodate a gathering space of five thousand people, then a hall for two thousand and lawn space for three thousand people can be provided to minimize the maintenance cost of a huge hall. Moreover, space requirements should be clearly laid out: Number of rooms, Banqueting options with people’s capacities, numbers of seats in the F & B section etc. Non revenue (supporting) spaces- Dining rooms, kitchen, common services (stairs, lift lobbies) waiting areas: Designing the Non-Revenue Generating spaces to support Revenue Generating spaces is the ideal approach to designing a facility. The best views or spaces in terms of sun and wind direction, lighting, views can be marked and saved for revenue generating spaces whereas spaces like common lobby, lift lobby, corridors, space around the pool etc. should be optimized to provide just enough space for functioning and rest must be included in to give a different function. A compact footprint can be created by this, which is to say that dead spaces must be identified and facilities like service areas or utility areas can be planned there. Needless to say those norms must be 93

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followed for hospitality design to achieve efficiency in design. Value adding spaces- Hotels having additional services allow the guests to spend time at the hotel in a more productive way. This enhances the user experience and overall stay of the guest. Facilities like gyms, pool, theme restaurants, and spa add up to become the USP of the hotel. For other hospitality spaces like restaurants, additional facilities like a game zone for kids or small gathering space for parties can attract different kinds of customers. USPs acts like lead magnets to bring in the target audience. Flexibility / adaptability to the need The more a space can become flexible, the more it is likely to generate revenue especially through events like, conferences, weddings, fair, exhibitions, etc. Adaptability to the number of people using the space is also important. Large capacity halls can have seamless partitions to fit the number of people required by the guest. There is a need to change the function of spaces as consumer behavior changes. For example, the meeting rooms used to have a boardroom table with a whiteboard, leaving little room for customization. Today, meeting rooms are designed to accommodate different groups’ needs with flexible furniture, multimedia projections, iPod connectivity and other technology, all of which offer a customized experience that will help to drive revenue. Case study 32: Ramada Hotel, Aligarh Client: Silverpark Hotels Area: 2.5 acres USP: Urban Comfort, Luxury & efficiency 94

The project responds to the luxury living aspirations of the smaller towns by creating expansive amenities clubbed with efficient space and utility planning to provide a comprehensive Luxury experience to the customer.

Case study 33: Suman Resort, Kausani Client: Suman Resorts Area: 1.5 acres USP: Views, space optimization All the rooms had a view of the mountain range from windows. 95

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How can I increase the footfall in my Facility through building design? Spatial Planning of the facility has to go parallel with programmatic structure of the management. For facilities to keep having a regular and incremental footfall, the planning process must account for different age groups, seasons, economic groups, day and night (different times of the day) and genders. Moreover the programmatic plan also has to be planned from the beginning and the client should be clear about the target audience. One of the techniques that work well at hospitality facilities is building a brand through architecture. People feel a sense of pride and exclusivity while enjoying the space. Attracting customers can also be a seasonal process. With diverse programs like jewelry exhibitions, conferences, annual corporate offsite meetups, any event or concert in the city can attract a lot of footfall, having membership 96

format for spa/gym facilities, organizing events during festivals etc can attract footfall.

How should I make sure that my facility is up with the Market trend and context? As the times changes, people’s idea of luxury also changes. Hospitality is one sector that runs on the guest’s aspirations. Let's take the case of Luxury Hotels. Owners often come across lots of pictures of hospitality facilities sourced from the internet and communicate a vague idea of what they want for their site. This does not help at all because pictures of other facilities are set in different contexts of time and place. It is sometimes an outdated / failed idea in foreign countries but because nothing that sort has been built in India, they see a great potential in it. It does not work like that. Unless the concept responds to the local context, it tends to have faulty technicalities or end up looking like a poor replica. The entourage of luxury hotels has changed from what it was ten years back as compared to now. The change reflects in the furniture, cutlery, colour scheme of restaurants and rooms. Some trends may be more relevant for a particular context, for example a minimal boutique hotel would fit in an urban context better that in the countryside. A built-by-hand local material based architecture may fit better in the landscape of a non-urban setting. Trends like social distancing can bring a great change in designing of the common spaces like lobby, swimming pool, restaurants etc. to make the guests feel safe and hygienic.

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Case study 34: Bakery and Café at Greater Noida, NCR Client: Crème Castle bakeries and Kitchens Area: 2500 sq ft USP: Designing a specific Customer Experience This Café takes the customer to a modern, chic and cozy environment where they can savour the handmade delicacies on offer. The space aspires to become “your local” with its warmth and coziness. There are no pretences here.

How important is it to create thresholds by design in a hospitality facility? Thresholds first have to be understood with respect to various user groups. Different people use the facility for different purposes. People who are staying at the hotel shall have clear access to all the facilities in the hotel but people who have come to the cafe or restaurant shall not have access to the room. Hence, circulation planning becomes very crucial at this point. Same goes for a small 98

scale facility. USPs for the target audience can help attract an audience to any kind of facility if the functions are placed well connected in the facility. For example, a restaurant is a place where people like to have a sense of exclusivity but with clear visual access to the staff and the ambience. In a good circulation plan, customers should not feel that they are sitting in the way of people’s movement as an obstruction. Case study 35: The Ballroom, Bareilly Client: Hotel Uberai Anand Area: 6000sqm USP: Luxurious Elegance & Segregation A former parking space of a hotel was converted into this plush Banquet facility. The strategy was to create an Inward looking space which keeps the outside mayhem of the market bay by the sheer starkness of the exterior and the Luxurious interior design.

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What kind of lighting should I go for the indoor and outdoor spaces in my facility? Natural Lighting Natural light plays on the comfort, health and mood of the human, but it varies depending on where we are. In architecture, it is integral to the design of a building, it brings added value. There are different types of natural light that come into a building, here are some of them: Diffuse and uniform light coming from larger and more regular openings, for example: strip windows around a room or glazed wall. Then comes the Direct light (from the direct sunlight at the desired location on the floor or other surface). Zenith light (from the ceiling like a skylight). It is preferred mostly in colder regions. Light reflected from other high rise buildings or high mast lights might enter into the building. The best thing to do is to avoid this type of light entering because it causes glare. Artificial Lighting Daylight planning is complex – due to the constantly changing position of the sun and the quality/quantity of light – but planning artificial lighting involves addressing many factors. For the day time, lighting fixtures need to light up areas where natural light does not reach. During the night, a range of the different physical properties of the light sources, their specific beam characteristics and light colours, even their impact on the interiors and objects illuminated need to be assessed and considered in the lighting design. That is why for hospitality facilities, mood or accent lighting is best suited.

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Lighting fixtures that add to the aesthetics and illumination are used in warm colours to enhance the sense of luxury. Hotels and restaurants are classic service enterprises. As such, they require a lighting atmosphere designed specifically to meet guests’ or diners’ needs. The quality of lighting this necessitates does more than just enhance the visual impact of the hotel or restaurant architecture; first and foremost, it sets the stage for the guests themselves. 

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Ambient Lighting: Most of the fixtures used to light up the space in general are of this category. This has to be optimized to be used in combination with day light and during night separately. It includes a combination of cove lighting, recessed lighting, and track lighting. Lamp post lights on gardens or lawns are also of this category. Task Lighting: As the name suggests, these lighting fixtures are used to light up areas which requires focused light on the area of work. LED down light, study table, kitchen work station lights are of this category. Mood /Accent Lighting: These types of lighting fixtures are mostly used to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the space. Fixtures like chandeliers, lamps, metals cased step over light on stairs or plant highlighters are of this category.

Case study 36: Ramada Hotel, Aligarh Client: Silverpark Hotels Area: 2.5 acres USP: Interior Lighting Apart from ambient lighting, accent lighting with 101

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contemporary lamps and decorative light fixtures were used to enhance aesthetics.

How can I optimize operational costs for my property? Whatever the budget might be for the project, there is always a possibility of cutting down the operational cost of the building. Two of the most efficient ways are:Managing Waste Water discharged from the storm water, discharge from laundry, kitchen, bathrooms and other utility spaces should be recycled for a facility like a hotel. Instead of 102

letting all the water go down the municipal drain, it can be recycled and used for flushing purposes in WC or for watering the landscaped area. Hotel and resort facilities usually have large landscaped spaces for which fresh water can be spared from getting wasted and rather be saved for future use or other purposes. For example, owners can opt for plumbing fixtures that take up more water than usual fixtures to give luxurious experience to the guests because anyway that water isn’t getting wasted and enhances guest experience. Optimizing energy consumption The introduction of the energy efficient practices allows enriched guests comfort, increased hotel aesthetic value, reduced maintenance system failures and so forth. There are many ways the operational cost of energy consumption can be optimized such as, use of solar power. The hotels have their rooftops saved for different services related equipment to be installed. But if space management is done to install solar panels as well then it can yield profits in the long run. LED fixtures can be a great way of optimizing energy consumption. These have proven to save a lot of running cost as well as replacement cost. Life of an LED bulb is much longer than the incandescent bulb. Then comes the third one: Solar water heaters. They can be installed to save a good amount of energy. Moreover, other than technological interventions, building block placement, green cover and the use of glazing in the wrong direction also determines the energy consumption as it might put a huge load on the HVAC system to maintain the temperatures. 103

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How can I design the services efficiently? HVAC Water cooled chillers with higher Coefficient-ofPerformance (COP) are preferred. Chillers, pumps and cooling towers should have variable-frequency drives installed. This can help the hotel to save energy and cut costs. Another trend is the use of a raised floor with under-floor HVAC system. Using this system, fresh air can be supplied by air diffusers from below the floor directly into the occupied space. As a traditional overhead service distribution design uses walls and columns to place cables and HVAC systems, an under-floor system can save more space and support more facilities. Plumbing A well-designed plumbing installation has an optimal capacity, which avoids oversized piping and equipment. Smaller booster pumps and water heaters have both a lower upfront cost and a lower running cost. But the fittings use less material and this increases pressure loss due to internal friction. As a result, it requires more pumping power to overcome piping losses. On the other hand, pipes with a larger diameter have reduced friction losses but with higher price. Best way to do it is to follow a balanced technical norm based approach. Electrical These services are supposed to be the most long lasting component of the building; hence, a serious thought must be put before selecting the brand and quality of the wiring and conduits. It can cost a lot if low grade material is used. The length of the wire should not be cut short on the corners to avoid short-circuiting. 104

Fire Fighting There is a fire fighting building code provided by Bureau of Indian Standards(BIS) for hotels and similar facilities which needs to be followed before designing the fire fighting layout. Usually it is seen as a best practice that rooms are designed for people to smoke and then there are no smoking rooms where smoke detectors are more sensitive. This helps the guest to select their choice of room.

Summary: Great network of services, robust infrastructure, low maintenance and low running costs, are the right foundations of a profit making hospitality building or campus. In addition to these, every facility of this nature needs to create its own USP to attract the right footfall, to help manage the staff and service, and create a comfortable and aesthetic space for the customers. Whatever may be the scale of the project, the bottom line in every case is to make profits by saving and generating monetary benefits to run a successful facility.

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EFFICIENT CHECKLIST

HOTEL

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RESTAURANT

EFFICIENT PLANNING  Requirements and Area allocation  Revenue generating areas and key USPs  Thresholds and Circulation planning  Optimizing common areas  Vehicular movement and Parking  Site development and land utilization  Revenue maximization through design VISITOR’S EXPERIENCE  Theme and USP  Aesthetics and detailing  User interface design  Signage and navigability of spaces  Emotive experience EFFICIENT STRUCTURE AND SERVICES  Cost saving and minimizing running services costs  Water Reuse and Recycling  Electricity and Energy Saving  Alternative Energy  Luxury services

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Chapter 6 MALLS & RETAIL Introduction The trends of commercial retail architecture change more quickly than other building types in terms of concepts, material finishes, technology and demands. Responding to these needs and requirements becomes an important step in the process to enable the place to connect with its potential customers. Focusing on experience of the customer and understanding user base is as important as getting the building details right in the project. This chapter talks 107

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about factors that are essential for the process so that the building runs efficiently in long run.

What are the key essentials to design efficient retail buildings? Commercial Planning A successful retail building will first attract the right investors and shops by availing proper infrastructure and commercial value by giving frontage, access to all shops and the right mix of activities to increase the footfall. The right commercial planning will make the building or campus fail- proof and will help attract the right investors and brands that would eventually lead to attracting the end users. Some kind of background understanding really helps to have an efficient planning for the mall. Since, in India malls are usually built within the city, which makes the real estate prices very high; malls are a serious investment to make and it is important to get the payback. Factors that matter the most for planning a mall are location and the market. Location is undoubtedly very important in terms of accessibility and visibility of the mall. Unless it visually connects with the masses, people will not gravitate towards it naturally. The second factor is the market. Again, it is extremely crucial to understand if the market is really ready for it. If the people around the site location do not have the economic stability to enjoy a space like a mall then it might not attract as much footfall as it could if put in a better location. Customer Experience From entry till exit, the experience of the person will factor in, whether the customer will revisit the mall or not. If everything is right with the mall but people are stuck in traffic jams right outside the mall then it is difficult to say 108

for how long it will run successfully. Considering the retail experience, density of people, natural light, colours and aesthetics, addressing visitors’ aspirations have to be kept in mind while planning the sensorial experience of the mall. It is absolutely a point of poor space management if any wall is left blank or does not enhance the aesthetics. The experience curated through the interiors must have a storyline or anchor to it and not just random advertisements hung to the wall. Apart from the visual appeal, the narratives of advertisements guide the customer about which part of the mall they are in. For example, if the first floor has brands for men then advertisements of women or children centric brands will only confuse the customer. Other than the sensorial experience, thermal comfort, ventilation, proper ambient lighting along with infrastructure and amenities like parking, green spaces, and open spaces play a crucial role in giving a complete experience to the customer. Shopping can be a tiring experience and hence people must have some space to resort away from the “crowded” spaces and take fresh air. Multi functional approach As a step forward from zoning, in which horizontal and vertical zoning is done of the building mass, some micro planning is required to obtain revenue or indirect returns from every square meter of the mall. Every turn in a mall should have a surprise or interest element. No dead areas will be profitable to the retailers. More the focus is built on attracting customers, more innovative ideas can fill up the dead spaces and bring in a constant flow of people in malls. 109

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Case study 37: Mall and Shopping complex, Bhatinda, Punjab Client: Skynet Infra Developers Pvt. Ltd. Area: 7 acre campus USP: Efficient space planning, Cost Efficiency: A power packed efficient and functional small town mall with shopping arcade, Multiplex, food court, restaurants, banquets and hotel.

What are the upcoming trends in designing malls and retail buildings in recent times? Open planning: Doors were essentially provided for security purposes, so that nobody without permission or recognition enters the space. But with the advent of malls being a secured space in itself, the trend of open planning came into implementation. People could enter or come out without 110

having to open the door. Only metal detectors are placed at the entrance to keep a check on theft activities. It improves visibility and has changed the idea of window shopping. People could enter and move out without having to cross a “barrier”. Pop up spaces: Depending on which market segment is targeted, it is always a good idea to accommodate some flexibility in spaces that can be temporary. To attract people from different age groups, especially the age group that can spend money is very important. New events that require temporary pop-up spaces are flea market, book launch or book reading events, pet shows etc which can make a mall become popular. Specialized experiences: As times are changing, people are more expressive and appreciative of customized experiences. Customers prefer to shop or dine in an ambience that appeals to their taste. It isn’t about shopping anymore. The changing trends show that people are not visiting malls only for shopping. No matter how architecturally sound it is, people like to switch to new places for new experiences. Hence, no longer is it good enough for malls to be passive places to buy stuff. They have to be engaging places to ‘do’ stuff. Reimagining the retail spaces with different functions can continue to attract the footfall for a much longer time. Safety, hygiene and comfort: It is important that chaos must be avoided in any and every situation. People generally have become more conscious of hygiene regimes. Especially in the food court area, proper spacing between the tables, view or visual connectivity from the tables give a sense of openness even if there is no direct way to approach the other corner but a blocked view really kills the sense of accessibility. 111

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In recent times there are machines that can read the barcode of all the items present in the bag and hence self checkout can be done to avoid touch of any other person. The new age sensor based approach is also saving time of people in long billing queues. Parking: No touch, seamless parking options are potentially a very successful way to enter and exit the mall premises. Integration of such technology can enhance the user experience. Number of basement floors can be cut down by installing and planning for mechanical parking. People don't have to worry about not getting parking space. Case study 38: Skymall multiplex. Bathinda Client: Skynet Infra Developers Pvt. Ltd. Area: 10,000sqft USP: Efficient design, Colour Scheme & Branding The client launched their own Cinema Brand with this project providing a great viewing experience to the customer. Innovative lighting accentuates the clean lines used as an underlying design concept in this project

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How important is it to have a strong design concept for Retail buildings? Concept is the essence of the design project. It is an anchor around which the entire project can be explained. It is important to build a strong design concept because it is based on owners’ expectations and the designer’s imagination in response to the context. Malls were developed as places for brands to have retail stores for customers to give an experience of exclusivity and ease while shopping. So essentially, these were the evolved versions of market places with enhanced aesthetics, functionality and entourage. Customer Magnet: Concept of the retail space can be anything, from its structure to the architectural style or just the brands that are going to be there. An attractive building form also makes customers intrigued about the place and draws them to cool down their curiosity of how it feels from inside. Sometimes the main attraction is not the mall itself but the activities that one can indulge in, for example, bull ride or artificial sky diving, ice skating etc. Identity and Landmark: The outer appearance and scale of the building plays the major role in building the identity for the mall. Sometimes a different facade treatment or 113

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structure that is visible from far can become a feature with which people can identify that area. USP: The concept of the mall can itself be the USP. For example if the concept is developed to replicate a certain city or trend from another country can be very effective in attracting footfall. It will give the local people an experience of a different city. As another example, malls are there for some very specific audience like a sports mall. Only the sports related brands will get to have a store there and it will attract people enthusiastic about sports. Similar concept is like a wedding mall also, wherein, brands that sell stuff related to weddings only will get to rent a shop there. Case study 39: Coremall, Ansal Aquapolis, Ghaziabad, UP Client: Concept Capital Area: 2 acres USP: Unique Building form Urban Malls are landmarks. The unique Egg Shaped form of this building defines the project.

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How can I best represent my branding in the retail building? Brand identity is crucial because that’s what separates it from other brands in competition. The exercise of branding is primarily conveying the story to the world with the hope that it will resonate, and consumers will want to associate themselves with the brand. Every time a consumer has an interaction with your brand — in store, email, social media, your website; the experience has to evoke the same emotion. The brand identity must remain the same. Signage at the entrance, the logo on advertisements and on the store especially on the feature wall helps to make an impact on the customer. Colours Choosing colors is extremely important and it can have a psychological impact on customers. Red evokes excitement, boldness and youth, traits that are typically associated with target. Health and wellness retailers might go for grays or greens; to spark feelings of peace, calm, balance, and health. Blue is associated with trust, purple with creativity, orange with friendliness, and yellow with optimism. Softer and more universal colour palette with seasonal decors highlights that stands out. Case study 40: A specialized salon for Children and Teens. Delhi Client: Flick Salons Pvt. Ltd Area: 3000sqft USP: Customized designs for fun experiences for kids. Feature walls and interiors were worked out to suit the age group of 4-18.

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Design language: Depending on what the concept is, a design language is developed to connect every corner with the customer on a psychological level. If the architecture is inspired from a typical style then the details of construction will be customized to follow the language of the design. Building the brand of the retail with a key building design element can be the binding thread to connect with the customers. For example, a certain Grand Venice mall is inspired by the city of Venice. It has a built in water channel to move through all the stores like it is 116

done in Venice. Many such buildings are designed in Las Vegas, which it is famous for. Case study 41: Robobull Outlets & Kiosks Client: Robobull Electronics Area: 200 sq. ft to 1500 sq. ft. USP: Branding. Colours, brand language

Brand recall Consumers see established and reputable brands in a different light because brands create aspirations in the mind of the buyers. This gives those brands the ability to charge their customers a premium. A consumer more often trusts a brand and its products that are trusted by his or her family and friends. Brands are always associated with luxury. Innovative concepts like Kingdom of Dreams 117

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have branding playing a very important role in attracting customers. The larger than life experience offered here are a specially curated and a unique one. Case study 42: Retail Metal Large Span Building at Zirakpur, Chandigarh Client: Decathlon Sports Pvt. Ltd. Area: 5000sqm USP: Space optimization, Brand Identification Decathlon has their design guidelines to showcase the brand. For every store, the same colour palette and finishes are used for customers to identify with the brand. The stand alone building is designed to achieve international standards of architectural excellence.

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How to attract more and more investors to the Retail building through efficient designing? Return on Investment: It is important to understand the commercial working of the mall or retail space. The investor mindset would be to maximize their return on the space they will buy or rent. By carefully working on aspects like retail stores visibility, down to the last kiosk would help attract the investors at the time of starting the commercials. The next big factor would be the adequacy of the shape and size of the retail space being offered. All details matter from shop frontages to the signage spaces that are being offered to the investor. Malls can be large spaces for people to navigate and find the right store for their needs. Recently, LED display touch screen help people to navigate through the mall. Infrastructure and amenities: Malls and retail stores usually go for hardscaping but if the retailer wants to attract people from all walks of life, some amount of soft scaping must also be done. This might include some high maintenance landscape trees and features but aesthetics are important to attract customers. Parking provisions must be well calculated in order to avoid chaos in future. Some additional space around the site really helps to get the parking sorted over the weekends or festive season to cater to the spillover from the mall parking. Service entries are an important core area that must be planned and should function without getting noticed by 119

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customers. Or else services can function after the mall closes down at night. Circulation of service areas should be avoided to intersect with customer circulation. Spaces for events- some atrium space or outdoor space availability to conduct events/ auditions / concerts should be provided. This attracts footfall in large numbers and helps maintain the revenue generation. Market segmentation Malls are not just the place to do shopping and buying the necessary stuff. It is more of a recreational space where people also visit just to move out of their daily routine. It goes for people of all age groups. Services in the mall must be accustomed to meet basic requirements of all age groups. People of old age can’t often visit markets because of health issues. Design process should account for these sorts of nuances to make the space more inclusive. It requires the right mix of activities, gaming, shopping, movies, cafes, kiosks, outdoor activities, anchor stores- big brands, adequate seating space, golf cart service for elderly in large malls, toy train or gaming zones for kids etc. to achieve balance in footfall. For retail stores, the target audience is very specific and it cannot mean to engage every one. So understanding the segment of the audience is very important to customize the digging and lighting of the store. Case study 43: Retail Store for Anisha Garments at Lucknow, U.P. Client: SGP Enterprises private limited Area: 1200sqft 120

USP: Lighting and storage planning, The store has been designed with contemporary detailing to target an elite market segment with effective use of Lighting and planning of storage.

What steps need to be taken to obtain cost efficiency? From the concept stage to the running stage, if some spaces are planned to account for the changing trends, it is surely going to stay relevant at all times. Planning of the project should not be done only for the purpose of recovering the cost for the investor but also to stay timeless and people having fun memories of the place. Currently, the trend to go to a mall is for shopping but a few years later, if brands like to showcase the process of producing a good and then every brand begins to do that. 121

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Building design needs to think that how such a change in trends will be accommodated. So the adaptive nature of the space will always make sure that the revenue will constantly flow in. One very relevant example of adaptive spaces is malls with amphitheatre. People always like to visit the amphitheatre even if they don't want to go to the mall. Proper planned investment in every square meter of the mall has to be made; some key areas identified would really help in material selection and creating the desired sensorial experience. Apart from the planning stage, once the building starts to operate; reduction in running costs, mainly energy costs becomes crucial because for a commercial building like a mall, running and maintenance costs can be really high. Lighting and air conditioning are the two major areas where operational cost can be saved. LED fixtures, optimizing temperature control through sensors, solar power can cut down on major expenditure. Apart from this maximizing revenue generating areas are obviously a good bonus to meet the expenditure.

In what ways can these facilities be made universally accessible to everyone? Universally accessible retail spaces can be very liberating for disabled individuals and families with disabled people. Accessibility in malls can be provided through various means like ramps, Braille enabled signage, space for wheelchair movement, disable friendly washrooms. National Building Code (NBC) has given detailed guidelines for making malls universally accessible though design and signage. Accessible design means that people with disabilities must be able to move through your retail space to access your goods and services. The space must 122

have a route at least three feet wide, not blocked by items like display racks, furniture, cabinets or plants, that allows employees and customers to get to merchandise, service areas, checkout areas, accessible restrooms and dressing rooms. Installing flashing alarm lights, accessible door hardware, grab bars in toilet stalls etc can make the space more inclusive. General sketches from NBC for universal accessibility

How do showroom interiors impact the sale of the product? From telling your brand's story and creating immersive shopping experiences, to putting together head-turning window displays and signage essentials, when it comes to retail, the devil really is in the details. In retail sector people buy from their senses first. They buy the look and feel of the buildings first. The first wall they see is often referred to as a "power wall" which acts as a high-impact first impression vehicle for your merchandise. So, be sure to give it extra special 123

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attention in terms of what you choose to display and how you display it. Comfort One must ensure that the aisle, floor, and displays allow customers to have more than adequate personal space when browsing your products. This can be achieved in the store by incorporating a waiting area with comfortable seats and benches to encourage customers to spend more time in your store. This is especially helpful for shoppers accompanied by someone who isn't interested in making a purchase. A small tip would be to keep the seats or benches facing the merchandise so that they're still top of mind for those lounging around in your store. Product visibility It is important to think about grouping products in a way that makes sense from a shopper's perspective. Also, keeping "higher-demand" products displayed at eye-level while placing lower-grossing products at the bottom or above eye level helps the customer spot the products easily. Lighting Ensure your customers have enough light to feel comfortable in the store. Too dim and the store look dingy, making it difficult to read product labels and making customers uncomfortable. On the other hand, if the lighting is too bright it is also uncomfortable for customers. Broadly there are four types of lighting done in any space, that are, ambient, task, accent and decorative lighting. Depending on the items sold in the store accent lighting 124

can be used to highlight specific areas in order to draw customer attention to specific products and give customers the sense that these products are important and noteworthy, whereas, decorative lighting is all about visual appeal and much less focused on illumination. Many decorative lamps or chandeliers add appeal to the store. Contemporary designs of lighting fixtures are preferred for stores that are selling products for the youth. The theme of the store will define the style. Case study 44: Arezzo watch showroom, Delhi Client: Divya Jewelers Area: 600sqft USP: Product Visibility and Lighting

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How can my design be commercially successful? An efficient Design Planning & Circulation is an important factor. Retail buildings can be efficient when it connects with the customer through the various touch points, whether the entry into the premises thorough pedestrian entry or entry to car park, proper & ample parking, easy connectivity from parking to Mall level etc. Access and Visibility This aspect gets covered in the location itself. It needs to have an easy to access area to attract footfall. Traffic management in and around the mall also plays an important role in attracting customers. Parking Well-designed parking areas, with good ingress, egress and circulation are important. Customers need the convenience of easy parking to contribute to the whole feeling of a satisfying shopping trip. Interiors It is important to give attention to the overall look and feel of the public spaces. Shop fronts should be maximized to give greater visibility to the merchandise; finishes need to be chosen for low maintenance, but hardwearing and attractive. Tenant signage needs to be controlled and designed to specific criteria. Lighting also plays a big role in setting the ambience of the mall, and consideration should be given to introduce natural light, bearing in mind the need to control heat gain. Mixed use building complex It is preferred that commercial development with multiple uses and multiple tenants should be designed with attached or clustered buildings with careful attention to 126

the interconnecting quality of landscaping, open space and pedestrian areas. Pedestrian facilities Various types of on-site pedestrian facilities, including interconnecting circulation routes, building entrance areas and the connecting spaces between buildings should be designed not only to address safety, function and efficiency but also to provide a high quality experience for people who work, shop and visit at the development. Green Spaces There are many benefits of having green spaces designed and installed inside shopping centers. Aesthetic values are increased and environmental and cultural factors are combined. Green spaces attract potential visitors. Case study 45: Anantam Store, DLF Emporio Mall, Delhi Client: Anantam Garments Area: 2000 sq. ft USP: Luxury interiors with clutter free detailing Use of indirect but product focused lighting to bring all the focus of customers on the product and keeping rest of the spaces adequately lit up.

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Should I plan for a Mall type or Galleria type shopping experience for a large plot? How can I maximize the retail space? Shopping mall A shopping mall is a specially built covered area containing shops, restaurants, food courts, multiplex etc. which people can walk between. The stores are laid out across multiple floors. Because it is being covered, it is ventilated through a HVAC system and is usually closed off from the natural environment.

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Open to air shopping complex This is usually more like a high street with shops laid out in a row. It gives the people an experience of walking along the shops with plazas, water features in between. It is generally single storey though at times one level up or down is also added.

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Entertainment Spaces Shopping mall houses a vast number of recreational activities like gaming arcades, multiplexes, indoor playgrounds, bowling alleys, etc. This is done in order to enhance the shopping experience and to cater to a broader age group of people. This is the idea that entertainment centers can be combined with the traditional shopping experience. This gives the users more reasons to visit the mall. Although an open type shopping centre offers a diverse range of products from daily needs to designer clothing showrooms, recreational activities are limited. Open air shopping centers integrate the old market shopping experience with new and modern facilities. Trend post covid: Looking at the situation from the point of view of a consumer, the outcome may vary across different goods. 130

While there have been instances of panic buying, the trends across essentials and non-essentials would vary. Post lockdown, consumer’s behaviour and shopping styles would change as they would want to spend minimum time outdoors. But essential goods would still be in demand and the ease to reach and buy the goods would affect the trend of consumers going to shopping malls and open air centers. Since the COVID Virus can stay in air droplets, people might not be comfortable going to indoor spaces with other people that are mechanically ventilated like shopping malls. The vents in the mall must be installed with MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) filters so that air is purified and free of any bacteria or viruses. Also, there are more touchable surfaces in shopping malls in terms of railings, escalators, lifts, etc. This could possibly be a source of virus transmission and hence unsafe for visitors if not cleaned and sanitized properly. Probably through an app, people can book slots to visit the mall and proper sanitization must be done at entry and exit points.

How can I maximize the storage in the retail space? Planning available space in the store helps you to increase sales. Having an understanding of the space available in the store helps you to decide the layout of your store and location of different categories of products. Storage is one of the key aspects for proper functioning of a retail store. Understand the storage need and location Anchor shops or large showrooms require separate storage rooms where they can stock up their goods. 131

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Depending on kind of goods sold, storage space must be calculated before planning the layout of the store. Several factors should be kept in mind such as , fire safety, any plumbing leakage, concealed electrical wiring, accessibility, shelving in the store, adequate lighting, CCTV surveillance (if required). Storage within the showroom In the process of managing the floor space, depending upon the type of product sold, adequate area should be reserved for storage in proportion to the floor area . Since store space is a limited resource, it needs to be used wisely. Adequate space has to be taken out within the showroom for keeping additional stock. It can be concealed in multiple ways. Signage Signage areas are the walls or areas where the name of the store or name of the section in the store is put up for way finding. Especially for the anchor shops, people have to have a sense of direction for easy navigating in the store. Customer movement must be studied well to identify spots for putting up signage. Utilize the challenging areas Adjacent to columns, tricky corners, sometimes we need to camouflage the storages. Create the illusion of a large display space. Sometimes the area of shop is too small to carve out separate storage rooms. It is then preferred that through innovative ideas, storage space must be taken out depending upon how much space the retailer requires. Hence, storage spaces must be considered before 132

conceptualizing the layout of the store. If it is a mobile store or cosmetic store, their requirements will be different from that of an apparel store. Case study 46: BTB Client: Below the Belt garments Area: 100 sq. ft USP: Innovative branding and Concealed Storage. Storage spaces were concealed on the wall with graphics. So the door was camouflaged with the wall. Brand was displayed through the furniture, saving the space and extra banners to display the name of the brand.

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SUMMARY Practical aspects and design concept go parallel to achieve efficiency in this category of buildings. Making a statement or creating a brand is all the purpose of having a USP. As one gets clarity on the USP they want to create, it makes it easier for both the owner and the designer to speed up the project. Getting influenced by too many ideas does not help as it only creates confusion. Speaking with an expert can help to give a structure to the thoughts. It is important to understand that the initial concept stage cannot be skipped even if the owner has clarity on what they want. Building a strong concept is the foundation stone of the project.

RETAIL SPACES CHECKLIST EFFICIENT PLANNING  Investment and space planning  Saleable Area and key USPs  Optimizing Frontage/ visibility  Customer Experience VISITOR’S EXPERIENCE  Theme  Aesthetics  Circulation and Connectivity  Branding EFFICIENT STRUCTURE AND SERVICES  Lighting  Fire safety 134

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Materials and Textures

Epilogue This book touches only some areas of commercial architecture and will be immensely helpful for those looking to establish a new building or campus in one of these sectors. However, many other sectors remain untouched, Healthcare, Institutional and Religious, to name a few. These will be addressed in a similar book focused on those areas. The questions asked in the text of the chapters are with the intent of sharing knowledge that only grows by sharing. All projects showcased in the book are authors their own and the answers also evolve from a personal experience of working with variety of clients across board. One often hears of Efficiency pertaining to buildings. Most often than not, it is used as a jargon. This book has attempted to decode this term and break it down to its 135

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components across variety of projects, illustrating with the help of case studies, how that same has been and can be achieved. We envision a future where the customers want to be “informed” and “aware”. They wish for a more collaborative process of design and solutions that are not only beautiful, but also functional, efficient in all other manners. This vision can come true only by sharing, respecting and drawing from each other’s though process.

Trust is the foundation for a great team work. "Remember, teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability." - Patrick Lencioni As subject experts, we have always believed is someone who knows how to see their subject down to its minutest components. This is simply the beginning of a dialogue. A dialogue of mutual sharing and learning, that begins with asking questions and seeking solutions that are evolved of our own thought process and not borrowed without context. In every end, there is also a beginning….

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