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The future is glassy

Morphogenesis Design Studio is coming up with three buildings using innovative ideas

Like most fields, definitions in architecture are no longer the same - new materials, new technology culminating into a new look. Cynics may call it a rude detachment from the cherished past, but the new breed of architects call it building on the lessons from the past. Morphogenesis Architecture Studio is one group that believes in the phrase.

The Studio is working on three major projects in different parts of the country and each one is said to be unique in its own way.

If Doon Cyber Tower for State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttranchal, Dehradun is the first computer generated self-shading building, the administrative office of the Jindal Steel manufacturing plant in Raigarh is said to be the first cable-stay suspension building.

Then the Central Mall is the first building in Chandigarh to break way from Le Corbusier's legacy. Says Manit Rastogi, who is one of the directors, "Concerned with the glare and heat gain through glass and problems on energy consumption, Morphogenesis developed an in-house software program for generating self-shading forms using the theory of solar geometry.

Since the building has doubly-curved surface, direct sunlight will never penetrate the body and it will remain suitably shaded during the daytime." The building has an all-glass façade. On the excessive use of glass in buildings, which is traditionally considered to be a heat gathering material, Manit agrees traditional glass or regular float glass was indeed seen as one.

Security issue

"Secondly security was seen as an issue. Both these problems have been addressed today through advanced techniques like high performance coatings and films." Manit says Low emissivity, PVB and lamination are encouraging architects to use glass not only in elevation, but floors, walls and partition. "One can't deny the design advantage with glass either. Glass is being seen as an environment augmentative material, the world over." He holds in India where we always look out for outdoor and indoor connection, glass becomes a highly desirable material both on technical as well as aesthetic fronts.

On the usage of cable in the Raigarh project, Manit says their primary concern was creating a very lightweight building using steel as the main material. "Cable stay suspension provides aesthetic superiority and provides maximum utilisation of space."

As for breaking away from the heritage in Chandigarh, Manit claims as it is going to be the tallest building in Chandigarh, a modern interpretation of the city's skyline was required. "We have not broken away from the heritage concept but accentuated ad modernised the learning of the past to match it with the requirements of the future."

ANUJ KUMAR

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