Unfolding Narratives

editor speaks 

Editor & COO*: Sheldon Santwan 

Consulting Editor: Anurag Yadav 

Assistant Editor: Prasenjit Chakraborty 

News Editor: Odelle D’Silva 

Editorial Team 

Mumbai 

Sub Editor: Apoorva Nandish 

Reporters: Disha Shah Ghosh, Itee Sharma 

New Delhi 

Bureau Chief: P Krishna Kumar 

Sr. Reporter: Akansha Pandey 

Online Co-coordinator: Manasi Ranade 

Advisors (Technical) 

Prof. Akhtar Chauhan 

Principal, Rizvi College of Architecture, Mumbai 

Ar. Karan Grover 

Karan Grover & Associates, Vadodara 

Ar. Manit Rastogi 

Principal Architect, 

morphogenesis, New Delhi I Bangalore 

Prof. K. Jaisim 

JAISIM-FOUNTAINHEAD, Bangalore 

Ar. Dikshu C. Kukreja 

CP Kukreja Architects, New Delhi 

Marketing Team 

Mumbai 

Sr. Manager Sales & Marketing: Sunil D’costa 

Manager Sales & Marketing: 

Millind Pandhare, Anuj Jain 

Online Sr. Executive Sales: Diksha Singh 

Pune 

Head-Special Projects: Sumit Jha 

NEW Delhi 

Manager Sales & Marketing: Saurabh Shukla 

Marketing Consultant: Umesh Sharma 

Hyderabad 

Regional Head (South): Y S Venkatswamy 

Marketing Coordinator: Rameshwari Salunkhe 

Accounts Coordinator: Jhanvi Thakur 

Head - Circulation: Raju Chendavankar 

Circulation: Amol Thakur 

Subscription & Database: Darshana Bhosale 

Design Team 

Senior Designer: Madhukar Ingavale 

Designers: Haresh Limbale 

Photo Editor: Anthony Azavedo 

*Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act 

Printed and published by Bharat Bhushan Bahal on behalf of 

Saffron Synergies Pvt. Ltd., published at Sterling House, 5/7 

Sorabji Santuk Lane, Off Dr. Cawasji Hormasji Lane, Dhobi 

Talao, Mumbai - 400 002 and printed at Jayant Printery, 352/54, 

J. S. S. Road, Murlidhar Temple Compound, 

Near Thakurdwar P. O, Mumbai - 400 002. 

Editor: Sheldon Santwan 

www.architectureupdate.in 

*Cover Page 

Photo courtesy: OpenIdeas 

The new financial year will begin more or less with a good note for 

construction and real estate sectors with the announcement of the 

Union Budget 2016-17; although an in-depth budget proposal would 

have brought a dramatic change in its functioning. 

Tax exemption to entities constructing affordable houses and defining 

'affordable' in terms of size of a flat as against its value, has surely 

projected a serious plan of action for realising 'Housing for All by 

2022' initiative. But it marginally missed out to consider the ground 

realities! 

This time, budget plan on infrastructure development took away the 

limelight with multiple agenda lined up. Upgradation of 50,000 km of 

State Highways to National Highways and reviving of 160 airports for 

better regional connectivity, besides focusing on the overall growth of 

the country in terms of the economy, gives a tremendous opportunity 

for private investors. 

The disclosure on the budget plan for the fiscal year 2016-17 may 

have given an impetus to real estate developers, but the vagueness in 

spelling it out right has added to the speculation in the industry. 

Although for the past few days, there has been a lengthy talk on longawaited 

budget plans in churning the country's economic growth and 

on the expectations by the industry leaders, it's been interesting to 

note some aspirational policies taken up by the government for the 

development of the country coming to life. One such policy is the 

cluster development of Bhendi Bazaar, after juggling through a 

rigorous impact analysis and policy making, is now been fructified. 

The redevelopment of 16.5 acres of urban landscape in the heart of the 

city, which has pre-certified LEED Gold certificate, stands testimony to 

such projects in the future. 

Inarguably, a handful of government policies have reduced the pace of 

the development of this industry. But, Rome wasn't built in a day! So 

let's have patience and work persistently to the growth of the Indian 

economy. 

Peace and Grace 

Apoorva Nandish 

Sub Editor 

apoorva.nandish@saffronsynergies.in 

4 Architecture Update March 2016

INDEX 

Statement about ownership and other particulars of Architecture Update, Mumbai, as 

required under Rule 8 of the Registration of Newspapers (Central) Rules, 1956 

FORM IV (See Rule 8) 

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Address : Saffron Synergies Pvt Ltd, 

Sterling House, 5/7, Sorabji Santuk Lane, 

Off. Dr. Cawasji Hormasji Lane, Dhobi Talao, 

Mumbai - 400 002 

4. Publisher's Name : Bharat Bhushan Bahal 





Mumbai - 400 002 

5. Editor's Name : Sheldon Santwan 





Mumbai - 400 002 

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own the newspaper and partners and Sterling House, 5/7, Sorabji Santuk Lane, 

shareholders holding more than one Off. Dr. Cawasji Hormasji Lane, Dhobi Talao, 

per cent of the total capital Mumbai - 400 002 

Shareholders holding more than one per cent of the total capital: 

1. Madan Bahal : 154/B, 15th Floor, Twin Towers, 

Off V. S. Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai-400 025 

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Andheri - West, Mumbai 400 061 

3. Saffron Media Pvt Ltd : Sterling House, 5/7 Sorabji Santuk Lane, 

Opp. Dr. Cawasji Hormasji Street, 

Dhobi Talao, Mumbai 400 002 

I, Sheldon Santwan, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge 

and belief. 

Sd/. 

Bharat Bhushan Bahal 

Dated: 1st March, 2016 

Signature of Publisher 

INDEX OF ADS 

Page nos. 

Classic Marble Company ............................................................................07 

Encraft India Pvt. Ltd. .................................................................................IFC 

Fanzart .......................................................................................................IBC 

Hansgrohe India Pvt Ltd .............................................................................03 

Hindware ....................................................................................................BC 

Supreme Industries ....................................................................................05 

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Contents 

MARCH 2016 ISSUE 2 VOLUME 10 

DESIGNED FOR THE 

PEOPLE 

Bhendi Bazaar Upliftment Project 

URBAN 

INSERTION 

Design Forum 

International 

10 12 13 14 19 22 28 

NEWS 

Studio Mumbai to design 2016 

MPavilion 

NEW LAUNCH 

Godrej Appliances introduces 

energy efficient inverter AC 

HIKE CORPORATE 

HEADQUARTERS 

A Serious Plug for Informality 

NEW LAUNCH 

VitrA introduces Water Jewels collection 

MARKING A SUSTAINABLE 

FUTURE 

Rainwater Harvesting 


A STROKE OF LIGHT 

OpenIdeas 

POST EVENT 

The 7TH GRIHA Summit 2016 

THE QATAR SHOWCASE 

Arup Associates 

STRATEGY IN 

LIGHTING DESIGN 

Roopesh Gupta 

Founder & CEO 

P3 Architectural Solutions 

33 36 40 43 44 46 

48 

AMELIORATING URBAN FABRIC 

Archohm 

PEP UP THE WORKPLACE 

WITH SMART KITCHEN 

PLANNING 

Mehaa Seth Marwah 

Co-Founder, Modspace.in 

POST EVENT 

ACREX India 2016 

Architecture Update March 2016 9

Pulse 

architechts 

BIG selected to 

design the 2016 

Serpentine Pavilion 

Bjarke Ingels Group has been 

announced as the lead designer 

for 2016’s iteration of the 

Serpentine Pavilion. Furthermore, 

the Serpentine Galleries’ 

announcement revealed their 

expanded program of 4 new 

‘Summer Houses’ built by 4 other 

commissioned architects. 

Now in its 16th year, the 

temporary Serpentine Pavilion is 

one of world’s top-ten most visited 

architectural and design 

exhibitions, and is renowned as a 

site for cutting-edge architectural 

experimentation. Every year, an 

internationally acclaimed 

architectural practice—that has not 

yet completed a permanent 

building in England—is selected to 

design the 300 sq. m pavilion and 

is given a maximum of 6 months 

from invitation to complete the 

structure. The architects aren’t 

constrained by budget; thanks to 

generous sponsorship, help-in-kind 

support, and the eventual sale of 

the Pavilion. In addition to serving 

as a design destination, the 

Pavilion is used as a cafe during 

the day and a forum for education 

and entertainment at night. 

The four 25-square-meter Summer 

Houses will be located a minute’s 

walk from the Serpentine’s Gallery 

and will complement the Pavilion. 

The idea for the Summer Houses 

were inspired by the classical-style 

18th-century Queen Caroline’s 

Temple located nearby. The 4 

Summer House architectural 

practices are: Kunlé Adeyemi – 

NLÉ (Amsterdam/Lagos); Barkow 

Leibinger (Berlin/New York); 

Yona Friedman(Paris); and Asif 

Khan (London). The expanded 

proposal will be submitted to the 

Westminster City Council 

Planning Office and District 

Surveyor’s Office for planning 

permissions. 

(source: www.inhabitat.com) 

The Mumbai International Airport receives ‘GreenCo 

Gold Rating’ 

The Mumbai International Airport Limited 

(MIAL) has become the first brownfield airport 

to receive the ‘GreenCo Gold Rating’ by 

CII–Sohrabji Godrej Green 

Business Centre based on a site 

assessment carried out by a team 

of GBC. 

‘GreenCo Rating’ system is a 

first of its kind framework 

evolved by CII to assess and 

analyse the environmental 

performance of the company’s 

activities and operations so as to 

achieve ecologically sustainable business growth. It 

is an industry benchmark for exemplary work in the 

areas of Environmental Management (water 

Studio Mumbai to design 2016 MPavilion 

The Naomi Milgrom Foundation has selected 

Indian architect Bijoy Jain of Studio Mumbai to 

design the 2016 MPavilion. 

The essence of Studio Mumbai’s approach lies in the 

relationship between locality and architecture. The 

practice draws on the traditional skills and local 

building techniques of artisans and technicians in the 

creation of its works. 

Jain has said he wants his MPavilion installation to be 

a “symbol of the elemental nature of communal 

structures.” 

The annual MPavilion was launched in 2014, drawing 

Cox Architecture appointed for Tokyo Olympic 

Aquatic Centre 

After coming runner-up in 2012 international 

competition to design the Tokyo Olympic 

Stadium, Australian architecture practice Cox 

Architecture is getting a second chance to make its 

mark on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. 

Obayashi Corporation, Japanese construction 

company has appointed Cox Architecture to consult 

on the Olympic Aquatics Centre. 

The 2012 competition was originally won by Zaha 

Hadid Architects. But after a long period of 

controversy with the stadium design attracting wide 

spread criticism, the Japanese government 

abandoned the design in July 2015. The government 

announced a second, design and construct 

competition, which was awarded to a joint venture 

between architect Kengo Kuma and construction 

companies Taisei Corporation and Azusa Sekkei. 

Kuma’s design trounced a rival concept by Prizker 

Prize Laureate Toyo Ito and construction partners. 

In November 2015, the Tokyo Metropolitan 

Government held tenders for the design and 

construction of the aquatic centre, along with venues 

for volleyball, rowing and kayaking events. 

A consortium led by Obayashi Corporation, which 

lost out in the competition for the Olympic Stadium, 

was awarded the tender for the ¥53 billion (AU$657 

conservation, waste management, greenhouse gases 

emission), Energy Management (efficiency and 

renewable energy), Green Supply Chain, Material 

Conservation, Recycling and 

others. 

MIAL has been, in the past, 

conferred with several other 

prestigious accreditations, 

ratings and awards for its 

design, systems, processes and 

initiatives, all of which 

contribute to energy efficiency, 

environmental conservation and 

sustainability. ‘GreenCo Gold Rating’ is one more 

feather in the cap of GVK MIAL, reflecting Mumbai 

Airport’s all round growth. 

on inspiration from London’s 

Serpentine Pavilion concept. The 

inaugural installation, designed 

by Australian architect Sean 

Godsell and opened in October 

2014, was gifted to the Hellenic 

Museum. The second installation, 

designed by London-based architect Amanda Levete, 

closed on 7 February 2016. 

The third MPavilion will be open from October 5, 

2016 until February 5, 2017. 

(source: www.architectureau.com) 

million) aquatic centre in January 2016. 

A spokesperson from the Tokyo Metropolitan 

Government told the design/construction contract 

will be signed in March 2016. Cox Architecture 

director Alastair Richardson will travel to Japan in 

March to formalise the practice’s role with 

contractor, as reported in the Australian Financial 

Review. 

The preliminary design of the aquatic centre has been 

prepared by Japanese architecture and engineering 

practice Yamashita Sekkei. The 77,000-square-metre 

centre, which will be located in Koto ward on the 

waterfront of Tokyo Bay, will host swimming, 

diving and synchronised swimming events. The 

building is scheduled to be completed in 2019. 

(source: www.architectureau.com) 


Pulse 

brand 

Hansgrohe 

unleashes 

Rainmaker Select 

The new Hansgrohe Rainmaker 

Select models turn showering 

into a sensual experience, and 

because of their elegant glass 

surfaces they blend harmoniously 

with any bathroom environment. 

The use of glass emphasises the 

clear design language of the 

Hansgrohe overhead showers with 

their smooth surfaces and slender 

chrome rims. Glass reflects 

perfection, precision and lightness, 

making it a preferred material in 

contemporary design. 

Glass for open spaces and more 

interaction 

Hansgrohe developed its 

Rainmaker Select overhead shower 

in partnership with Phoenix 

Design. Glass, along with wood, 

ceramic and stone, is one of the 

most natural materials used in an 

oasis of rest and relaxation. When 

developing the Hansgrohe 

Rainmaker Select overhead 

shower, Tom Schönherr, MD, 

Phoenix Design and his team were 

particularly inspired and fascinated 

by the timelessness of the material 

and the ways in which it could 

harmoniously be integrated into 

any room. 

The design process 

The showerheads offer upto 3 

spray modes and a 46-centimetre 

spray disc. ShowerSelect control 

units are equipped with 

Hansgrohe’s Select technology, 

allowing users to switch spray 

modes easily and intuitively at the 

touch of a single button. 

Function and design in harmony 

For a product designer such as 

Tom Schönherr, good design and 

ease of use go hand in hand. Glass 

is the material of choice for flat 

surfaces because it is robust, 

hygienic, scratch-resistant and also 

resistant to cleaning agents; and 

‘Select’ buttons provide hassle free 

water control under the shower. 

Classic Marble Company now in Worli, Mumbai 

Classic Marble Company (CMC) has announced 

the launch of its exclusive showroom at Worli in 

Mumbai. The Classic Galleria has been strategically 

launched in the heart of the city and will be home to 

some of the finest varieties of 

marble available in the world. 

Besides marble, the showroom 

will also maintain an exhaustive 

collection of many other designer 

stones including exotic granite 

and quartzite, onyx, travertine 

and limestone. The company’s 

flagship brand Kalinga Stone 

with its marble and quartz will 

also be part of the array of products available here. 

With over 300 varieties of stones and a section 

dedicated to internationally acclaimed porcelain tiles, 

Techlam from Spain and Iris from Italy, this will be 

Hettich, winner of iF Design Award 2016 

Two Hettich products were declared winners at 

the iF Design Award 2016, one of the world’s 

most prestigious design award 

programs. 

Hettich’s AvanTech, the drawer 

system for the premium segment, and 

the Sensys thin door hinge impressed 

the 58 international jury members of 

iF Design Award 2016. The 2 

products were chosen from among 

5,295 entries in the design competition. 

The AvanTech drawer system features perfect sleek 

lines, sharply rounded edges and the Actro 5D 

drawer runner with no cover caps on the high quality 

one of the grandest and the most ostentatious 

showrooms in all of Mumbai. 

“Born from the idea of creating a showroom which 

would resemble an art gallery and be both accessible 

and interactive, Classic Galleria 

is cladded with 3 mm thin 

Techlam slab from Spain with 

designer look,” says Amit Shah, 

Director, Classic Marble 

Company. 

The marble giant already has 

over 10 showrooms across the 

country many of which 

accommodate its stocks as well. 

With the showroom in Worli, this will be the 

company’s second exclusive showroom in Mumbai, 

the other being in Bhandup which also serves as its 

head-office along with stockyards. 

Panasonic’s Solar Business India Operations 

awarded The Best Rooftop Solar Module Company 

Anchor by Panasonic was declared winner in the 

category of Rooftop Solar Module Company in 

recognition of its continuing efforts and outstanding 

contribution towards the development of rooftop 

solar industry. 

Upendra Tripathi, Chairman, SECI (Solar Energy 

Corporation of India); K S Popli, CMD, IREDA 

(Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency), 

both Central Govt subsidiary companies of Ministry 

of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), conferred 

the awards at the IRSS Indian Rooftop Solar Summit 

organised by the First View Group & Solar Quarter 

in New Delhi. 

The High Efficiency Photovoltaic Module HIT is 

manufactured using advanced technology and is an 

ideal match for the Indian environmental conditions 

as it offers more energy production per square meter 

of area utilised and lowest negative temperature 

coefficient. 

Having over 4 decades of experience in Solar Panels 

business, Panasonic started its India Solar Business 

Operations through its 100% wholly owned 

subsidiary company M/s Anchor Electricals Private 

Limited, as a supplier of high efficiency Photovoltaic 

Module HIT in April 2014. The company today 

offers end-to-end solution to its customers right from 

feasibility study to high quality engineering, 

procurement, construction (EPC) services and longterm 

operation and maintenance. 

Panasonic has successfully completed supply of 2.9 

MW of Photovoltaic Module HIT to a large 

sanitaryware manufacturing company in India (for its 

roof top project) and now executing ~2 MW roof 

top project for the same customer on EPC basis. The 

company has also successfully completed and 

commissioned 700 kWp of roof top power plant on 

EPC basis with the photovoltaic modules for a large 

IT company in South India and is executing an 

additional ~1 MW of roof top plant for the same 

customer in western India. 

Aligned to the aggressive business plans of the 

company, Panasonic Eco Solutions, one of the 4 

strategic business segments of the Japanese major 

also has announced the expansion of its solar 

business by increasing the energy generation capacity 

of its High Efficiency Photovoltaic Module HIT. 

13mm aluminium drawer side profiles. 

The new Sensys 8646i thin door hinge with an 

extremely shallow cup gives furniture 

makers maximum design flexibility: 

It permits the use of thin core board 

panels from just 8mm in thickness 

with a design defining surface 

application layer such as glass or 

concrete. Thin solid front panels 

made of solid surface materials are 

also an option. 

The iF Design Award presentation took place on 

February 26, 2016 at BMW World Munich. 

(source: www.architectureanddesign.com.au) 


new launch 

NTL Lemnis 

launches Pharox 

Scoop Spotlight 

for the retail space 

NTL Lemnis launched a 

new product ‘Pharox 

Scoop Spotlight’ -- a sleek 

and unique design for 

enhancing décor of retail 

space where luminaire 

aesthetics and optical 

performance is of utmost 

importance. 

It gives a high efficacy, 

consuming significantly 

lesser energy and offers 

longer life. 

Its pressure die cast 

aluminium body ensures 

efficient heat dissipation and 

long life of the light source 

and it can be rotated freely 

upto 320°. It also offers 

Zoom in Zoom out feature to 

adjust light output as per 

requirement. This is designed 

for multiple applications like 

shop windows, shopping 

malls, museums, Retail 

Showrooms, Art galleries, 

hotels, event venues, etc. 

The MRP for 25W is INR 

7450 and for 35W it is INR 

8750. 

NTL Lemnis designs, 

manufactures and sells the 

Pharox range of LED lighting 

solutions for India as well as 

for the global audience. The 

USP of the ‘Pharox’ range of 

products is that they are 

direct replacements of 

conventional lighting 

solutions, at market price, 

without compromising on the 

quality of light. The focus is 

especially on industries such 

as retail, IT/ITeS, hospitality, 

healthcare, automobile & 

consumer. 

Parryware’s In-Slim 

reflects European design 

Parryware brings in a new range of super 

slim wash basins – In-slim. The washbasin 

architecture fulfills the pre-requisites of space-saving trend and gives a perfect mix to the surface 

treatment and creates patterns with a fine definition. The surface pattern is partly decorative and 

partly functional as they prevent objects from slipping and leaving stains. 

In-Slim’s unique aesthetic allows a very tight radii of 4-5 mm which has wafer-thin walls, 

lightweight and sustainable, economises on space for contemporary bathroom. It is a nifty 

solution to a powerful extraction with the ease of maintenance and a sleek-looking product which 

enhances the sense of space and gives a visual lightness. 

Following the trend for slimmer basins, the range offers 2 circular and 2 square shape table top 

forms with varied size, providing a broad choice to the washing area solutions. In-Slim basins 

advent continues a long-standing tradition of inventiveness that Roca Group design philosophy has 

fostered, to come up with ceramics waste coupling at this mid-economic range that makes them 

a great fit in the modern-day trendy bathroom spaces. 

VitrA introduces Water Jewels 

collection 

VitrA introduces fascinating range of washbasins of different 

shapes and colours adding motion to living spaces. The Water 

Jewels Series was created by the Italian designer Matteo Thun 

together with the VitrA Design Team. This series artfully showcases 

the designs of ceramic washbasins finished with brilliant metallic 

coatings that draw inspiration from traditional Turkish craftsmanship. 

This collection’s seemingly simple form and function are enhanced to 

incredible effect with PVD coatings, a state-of-the-art process of 

vaporising and depositing metal powder onto a surface, which 

remains corrosion-free and scratch-resistant. 

The Water Jewels Collection is available in gold, copper, platinum and traditional white gloss and 

suitable for bench mount, semi-inset and under counter installation; the basins add texture, depth 

and a unique identity rarely seen before in bathroom design. 

Grandeur launches Anteprima 

wardrobes by Pianca in India 

Grandeur has introduced the latest collection of Anteprima walkin 

wardrobes by Pianca in India. The premier Italian design 

house, Pianca, has built-on the previous Anteprima collections to 

unveil the 2016 range that combines optimal storage design with 

innovative accessories to deliver the best in luxurious closet spaces. 

The Anteprima walk-in wardrobes, symbolising luxury, can be 

customised to any size, finish and internal accessories. 

Accessories such as pull-down hanging rods, fabric lined drawers and 

trouser-racks can be added to the wardrobe’s design to suit individual preferences. 

At Grandeur, Anteprima wardrobes can be complemented by a wide variety of beds and 

casegoods that help create bespoke bedroom compositions that reflect one’s individual style. 

Anteprima walk-in wardrobes are available in lacquer, glass and veneer finishes along with 

various other wardrobe interpretations by Pianca. 


new launch 

Marshalls 

Wallcovering 

goes online 

Online shopping has 

w i t n e s s e d 

unprecedented growth in the 

past 2 years. Keeping up with 

this trend, Marshalls 

Wallcoverings, offers its 

customers a wide range of 

wallcoverings at the click of 

a mouse. Now, one can 

browse through 10,000 plus 

designs & finishes in 

wallcoverings only at 

www.marshallswallcovering. 

com 

At Marshalls, one can 

customise their search 

experience by clicking on 

multiple options ranging 

from price, design type and 

colours, thereby giving shape 

to their interior design 

imaginations aesthetically as 

well as financially. 

Taking its customers 

experience to the next level, 

Marshalls Wallcoverings can 

do installations anywhere 

across India due to its wide 

network of professional 

installers. Marshalls has 

taken special care to 

understand its customers 

concern with payment 

options while purchasing 

their products online. 

Therefore Marshalls has 

setup an easy secure payment 

gateway and also option of 

Cash on Delivery for selected 

product category. Bringing 

real convenience to its 

customers Marshalls will 

also deliver wallcoverings 

within 5 days once the order 

is placed. 

Godrej Appliances introduces energy 

efficient inverter AC 

Godrej appliances launched energy efficient air conditioner under its 

premium sub-brand NXW with an ISEER of 5.2. 

Launched under the sub-brand NXW, this new range of ACs will be 

among Godrej Appliances’ super premium offerings. Inverter ACs is the fastest growing segment 

with 75% growth every year and 10% contribution to industry sales. After having achieved 15% 

market share in the premium and 5-star AC segment, Godrej Appliances plans to have a market 

share of 15% in the 5-star inverter AC segment with this launch. 

Godrej NXW ACs work on the Green Balance technology using R290- the most Energy Efficient 

Refrigerant which has 0 Ozone Depletion OPtential (ODP) and the lowest Global Warming 

Potential (GWP) of 20, as against an industry average of 1810, making them the most energy 

efficient and the greenest AC range in the country. 

They are available in 5000 W and 3440 W cooling capacities. They are priced between the range 

of INR 45,000 and INR 55,000. To make it even more delightful for consumers, Godrej 

Appliances is offering a 10-year compressor warranty and a 5-year condenser warranty. 

USHA expands its Air Cooler Range by 

launching new models 

USHA International launches 5 new evaporative Air Coolers: personal 

coolers (Stellar Range), tower coolers (Tornado Range) and window 

coolers (Azzuro Range). They are designed to cater to varied climatic and 

weather conditions across India with combination of smart design, healthy 

cooling and durability. 

USHA’s new ranges of Personal and Tower Coolers are designed smartly with dual tone finish 

and packed with features such as powerful airflow and dust-filter for effective and healthy cooling 

during peak summers. Personal coolers are available in a capacity of 20 litres with three-sided 

honeycomb cooling medium and an added ice compartment, while Tower coolers’ tank capacity 

are 34 litres and 19 litres. 

Window Cooler comes with a honeycomb cooling medium to ensure effective cooling. With a tank 

capacity of 50 ltrs, they ensure a wider air throw of 20 ft. In addition, it has 3 speed levels to adjust 

cooling requirements, auto water fill and a water level indicator. All the products come with a 

unique safety protection feature where-in the motor is equipped with a self-resettable TOP. 

Zynna introduces fabrics from 

Duralee 

Zynna introduces an elite and high-end range of fabrics from 

Duralee. Crafted in USA, the fabric easily fits into the habitat 

giving a luxurious look to the interiors. 

The fabrics are elegant with generous colours and whimsical handdrawn 

designs. The collection will add depth, giving an individual 

look to the interiors. With the new launch, Zynna has satisfied the 

necessity of sophisticated style in an extensive series of colour palette 

from bright enticing colours to light and sober shades. 

Each Fabric is vibrant and beautifully crafted. The speciality of the 

collection is their pioneering designs, simplicity and endurance. Each 

textile is designed with an exceptional quality while maintaining a 

unique style for the interiors. 


Special Feature 

cluster redevelopment 

view of high street shopping centre 

Apoorva Nandish 

Mumbai – a land of many charms and inept – holds a 

disparate socio-cultural dialect of growing luxury hotspots 

and deteriorating habitats, interweaved as a labyrinth in 

the urban ecosystem. There have been several irresolvable issues 

pertaining to the lifestyle or the living conditions of the people in the 

unhealthy neighbourhood. But lack of initiatives and smart 

development programs have further deteriorated the rich community 

fabric. 

One such example is the community dwelling of Bhendi Bazaar. Wellknown 

for its historic boom in the commercial sector, today, it's a 

menace! The dramatic growth of the commercial segments, the 

uncontrollable influx of people, limited spatial expansion (or say, no 

scope for expansion); the disregarded or ignored dilapidated 

conditions of the buildings by the owners, unhealthy living conditions 

of its inhabitants and inefficient development policies have turned this 

to a lousy urban chunk. 

Looking at the distress of the area, the late His Holiness Dr Syedna 

Mohammed Burhanuddin envisioned uplifting the living conditions of 

this neighbourhood for a healthy environment to work, live and play, 

and further, to empower the inhabitants. "Through this project, we are 

trying to socially, culturally and religiously uplift the lifestyle of the 

people," says Abbas Master, CEO, Saifee Burhani Upliftment 

Trust. 

Thanks to the Government of India for its forward thinking attitude 

towards Cluster Development Program. With this program set in 

place, the late His holiness vision of redeveloping Bhendi Bazaar to a 

self-sustainable community is now in its construction phase. 

With the inception of Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT) to roll 

out the redevelopment program, they appointed Mandviwala Qutub & 

Associates as a Master Planner for the urban rejuvenation of Bhendi 

Bazaar through Cluster Development Module. 

THE PLANNING 

The scope of the project is to redevelop 16.5 acres of Bhendi Bazaar 

urban fabric through efficient infrastructure that, besides rejuvenating 

the acquired chunk of urban space, the program should also blend with 

its existing neighbourhood in harmony. 

Today, Bhendi Bazaar is a home to more than 20,000 people who are 

habited in crapped up chawls which are marked unfit to living by 

MHADA. The growing commercial and residential occupancy has 

Abbas Master 

CEO, SBUT 

Ar. Qutub Mandviwala 

Mandviwala Qutub & 

Associates 


Designed for 

the People 


scope of the project 

only increased the population density with lack of efficient 

infrastructure causing congestion in vehicular and non vehicular 

traffic, improper/inadequate sanitation facilities, inadequate fire & 

safety measures, lack of open spaces for community 

dwelling/children play area, lack of commercial identity, etc. - 

ineffective governance has only aggravated to the diluting urban 

fabric of Bhendi Bazaar. 

The area under redevelopment, abutting the J J Flyover to the East, 

consists of a mosque and mausoleum to the South; 250 dilapidated 

buildings; narrow arterial roads running through West to East and 

North to South; and an age-old tree on the periphery of the project 

site to the East, beyond which is a run-down neighbourhood with 

handful of soaring towers marking the urban skyline. 

The redevelopment and rejuvenation lies at retaining and 

maintaining the cultural hubs; accommodating the existing 3200 

families and 1250 shops in residential and commercial transits, 

respectively; ripping off the dilapidated buildings to construct 17 

state of the art towers; widening the existing arterial roads for easy 

flow of traffic along with dedicated pedestrian pathway; and 

plantation of more than 700 trees and shrubs in the vicinity. 

Working closely on the project, Qutub Mandviwala, Principal 

Architect, Mandviwala Qutub & Associates, says, "This project 

aims at uplifting the community centre - the lifestyle and housing 

of the people, infrastructure of the community - and create a 

module which will become a pilot project for such projects in the 

future." 

The planning process underwent a vigorous study on its 

infrastructure right from soil testing, sewage system, building 

survey to the living conditions of the residents, social and 

commercial aspects of the shop tenants. The planning is worked out 

into 9 sub clusters; close to 80% of land given back to its people 

past: dilapitated buildings 

past: unhealthy living conditions 


through housing them in 13 towers and the rest 4 towers in the 

North allowed for sales. 

“The master plan is envisioned to create a green environment. All 

the buildings are oriented to North-South, leaving East and West 

opened - increases natural light and reduces heat transmitted 

indoor. Further, wind tunnels connecting every apartment reduce 

on the electric consumption significantly," elaborates Mandviwala 

on the design idea. 

Each sub cluster is designed to sustain independently. A sub cluster 

consists of G+2 floors for commercial spaces, few floors of 

parking facilities topped by a podium with several amenities for the 

inhabitants housed on the top. Master explains, "Each sub cluster 

is designed to function independently. It has its own STP, RWH 

plant, solar panels and sub stations for efficient energy supply. 

Besides, the amenities like multi-functional hall, prayer halls, 

gymnasium and a large terrace garden on the podium provide 

congregational spaces at multilevel and also safety and security for 

children." 

The sub clusters are designed in a way to enrich socio-cultural 

status of the people, increase economic growth and enhance the 

overall human experience with its neighbourhood. Each cluster has 

a dedicated access point to both commercial and residential units to 

avoid crossover of the vehicular and pedestrian movements, further 

respecting privacy and security of the residents and shop tenants. 

HOUSING 

Upon building residential transits, at Anjeerwadi in Mazgaon, 

accommodating 750 units and 250 in process, and further acquiring 

an additional 1500 housing units from MHADA in Sewri and Sion, 

SBUT has shifted, so far, 1700 families from Bhendi Bazaar. 

3D view of proposed residential layout (min. 350 sq. ft) 

Being a philanthropic project, the residents are provided with basic 

facilities of living to all age group. Every individual is housed in a 

250 sq. ft (min) of carpet area with attached bathroom, kitchenette, 

wardrobe and a washing machine; as against less than 200 sq. ft 

area in the past. They are also facilitated with community hub for 

socio-cultural interactions among the residents where one can find 

mostly old age people in prayers; as against a closed claustrophobic 

space in the past which confined them for lack of provision of 

elevators in the buildings. An ample amount of open space for 

vehicular parking and for kids to play around is provided in the 

vicinity, thus catering to the safety and security of the inhabitants. 

COMMERCIAL 

Currently, commercial units are fallen prey to unhygienic 

ecosystem and lack of scope for extension has restricted the 


expansion of their businesses. Further, this malice has reflected in 

the consumer sector who restrains to purchase the goods. 

The proposed commercial outlets are envisioned to provide 

organised high street shopping experience. Keeping in mind the 

feasibility of businesses, the project is planned to house 

commercial spaces in G+2 structures. This increases the 

customer engagement and in turn increases the economic stature 

of the shopkeepers. Talks are in process to extend the idea of 

increasing the footfall in the 2nd floor plate of the commercial 

spaces via connecting skywalks between the clusters. 

Nevertheless, the placement of the outlets fosters consumer 

interaction with the shopkeepers. 

residential transit with ample parking facility 

ASPIRATIONS AND ANTICIPATIONS 

The redevelopment program is set to provide a minimum of 350 

sq. ft carpet area to the residents, systematic parking facilities, 

round the clock security, and overall development of the human 

growth. 

"Our lives have changed after shifting to the transit apartments. 

We have got bigger space to live in. There is ample natural light 

and ventilation. The place has been maintained very well. We 

have electricity and water round the clock. We used to have 

trouble doing our prayers during monsoon. Now that we have got 

our prayer room on the ground floor, we seemed blessed as we 

can do our prayers without a hitch," expresses Khatija 

Kalimuddin, a resident of Bhendi Bazaar who currently resides in 

Anjeerwadi transit. 

residential transit: open space for outdoor activities 

commercial transit: exterior view 

It is quite challenging to change one's lifestyle that's been adapted 

for generations. "The residential and commercial transit units are 

like training camps. We aim to uplift not only the lifestyle of the 

people but also their mindset. For instance, in the residential 

transits, people have already got used to living in a 15 storey 

building. They are adapted to systematic parking facilities, 

elevators, segregation of garbage, and majorly to live in selfcontained 

apartments," says Mandviwala. 

The relocation of the existing commercial tenants, spread across 

16.5 acres of land, is designed in a high street shopping format. 

This strategic planning of their positioning has certainly given 

them new hopes to expand their business. Hatim Mithaiwala, a 

businessmen & owner of Farsan shop recalls his childhood days 

when his father used to run the place. He says, "There were many 

visitors to our shop. They used to park their vehicles right in front 

of our shop and enjoy the delicacies we prepared. In the evening 

one could notice a large number of visitors, travelling from far 

away, flocking in to enjoy an evening walk eating sweets and 

savories. But now it's disappointing to see only vehicles passing 

by. And a constant honking has left us nearly deaf." With the ongoing 

project of rejuvenating the entire Bhendi Bazaar, he 

anticipates to witness the past reflecting back in current time. He 

hopes to further increase his business and serve customer with 

many more sweets and savories. 

The redevelopment project certainly has a lot to give it back to its 

people. The vision to uplift the status of its people may seem an 

additional baggage. But to SBUT, it's a strength that drives them 

to do much better and excel. 

commercial transit: interior view 

May this ray of hope be a beacon to the future projects and 

programs. 

 


Special Feature 

rainwater harvesting 

Marking a Sustainable Future 

Rainwater Harvesting is more about a need for 

planning and incorporating systems at the 

construction stage than mere high technology 

Anurag Yadav 

March 22 is celebrated globally as World Water Day. In 

India, this day needs to be marked with still greater 

emphasis for obvious reasons. Water scarcity in Delhi, 

Mumbai and other metros is appalling and the crisis in smaller 

towns can be critical indeed. With increasing worldwide focus on 

climate change it is no wonder that sustainable initiatives such as 

water harvesting comes centre stage. A typical commercial 

rainwater harvesting system in one building can save millions of 

liters of municipal drinking water each year. That savings could 

quickly add up to billions of liters per year if public and private 

buildings are enforced, incentivised or encouraged towards it. 

Now let’s face the facts. Few private buildings and government 

buildings too, barely spared a serious thought for water harvesting. 

So far it has been a localised sporadic effort because closely linked 

to rainwater harvesting is the issue of reusing grey water. 

There have been many but one example of the country’s previous 

first citizen will illustrate it best. In November 1998, the then- 

President of India K R Narayanan evinced interest in harvesting 

water at the Rashtrapati Bhavan campus which covers 1.33 sq. 

kms. The total demand was about 2 million liters of water per day. 

This demand was met through the New Delhi Municipal 

Corporation supply and the estates own borewells. 

Since about 35% of the water requirements were being met through 

groundwater sources, there had been an alarming decline of 

groundwater levels in the estate. Simply by diverting rainwater 

from the northern side of roof and paved areas surrounding 

Rashtrapati Bhavan to an underground storage tank of 1 lakh litre 

capacity a substantial saving was made. Recharge shafts were 

constructed in the staff residential areas and a dramatic rise in 

water tables was noticed in a few years. 

Today, it is a still more commercially sensible decision to invest in 

rainwater harvesting technologies in commercial and private 

buildings. In fact rainwater harvesting and grey water reusage 

should go in step. 


IMPLEMENTATION BLUES 

Since June 2001, the Ministry of Urban affairs made rainwater 

harvesting mandatory in all new buildings with a roof area of more 

than 100 sq. m and in all plots with an area of more than 1000 sq. m 

that were being developed. All commercial and institutional buildings, 

tourist and industrial complexes, hotels etc., existing or coming up that 

have a plinth area of more than 1000 square meters must have rain 

water storage facilities commensurate with the size of roof area. How 

many buildings followed that diktat can be anybody’s guess. 

Sophisticated water harvesting and usage systems need to be integrated 

into the design and mechanical specifications for all new buildings. 

The plans must accommodate areas for water collection, space for 

pumps, filters and storage capacity, and outputs for harvested water. 

Besides, mechanical designs must incorporate specialised plumbing, 

electrical requirements and access points. Architecture and by laws 

need to be tweaked to conform to these stipulations. 

There are many technically informed companies and experts who can 

design and develop custom-engineered solution tailored for specific 

buildings in different geographic and climatic conditions. However all 

systems need a modular approach that can minimize design and 

construction costs while delivering a system that is unique to each 

building project. This also ensures that even though each property 

requires a custom approach, the delivered system is built off a proven 

platform and process. This is but just half the story. Building this 

facility is not enough. It is important to have a fully documented 

designed system that includes drawings and tight specifications for 

building the final system. This is necessary so that builders can plan 

and project a cost for the system’s efficient maintenance. 

Water can be collected and processed with either a passive system or 

active system, depending on the amount of rainfall received in the 

region and measurements of the building roof and parking areas in 

case of commercial buildings and large community residences and 

apartments. 

In fact not all rainwater harvesting has to come through specially built 

structures. Builders can contribute towards this even if there is no 

mechanical method of collecting, cleaning and storing rainwater. 

Called passive rainwater harvesting, this can be done by creating areas 

to contain waters until they can naturally be absorbed into the land. 

Storm water drains usually lead the water into sewers. There are ways 

to lead it to ponds, water bodies, green roofs with intensive plantation, 

and porous concrete layering can also help in that direction. 

Ever since the metro trains started running in the capital and 

elsewhere, a new view of the city can be seen now. The roofs of 


houses and offices reveal concrete lumberyards. Converting these 

areas into green roof can be simple and inexpensive. It only needs 

inputs from the expertise of building and landscape designers 

during the planning process. It is next to impossible to create ponds 

or water bodies in crowded urban spaces so helping the water to 

rise can be a service that can be helpful as well. Constructing a 

green roof is not an indulgence but should be taken as a 

commitment to rainwater harvesting that may not have been 

planned or desired by the building’s owners. However, a green 

roof that uses municipal water to create lush greenery is no good at 

all. But such roofs naturally capture and absorb normal rainfall 

quantities reducing the amount of storm water discharged into 

municipal sewer systems. In dry areas these might appear of much 

use but wherever there is reasonable, it can be a very useful factor. 

IMPORTANCE OF RAINWATER HARVESTING 

Commercial water harvesting systems will become more popular if 

business establishments and commercial building owners are made 

aware of its benefits in rupee terms. Reduced usage of municipal 

water translates into substantial amounts of finances with many 

secondary benefits. It is also legally mandated in construction 

activity. 

In times when sustainability is used as a marketing gimmick at 

times, it is commercially sensible to include these systems in any 

construction for long term cost savings that come about with 

commercial rainwater harvesting systems. 

In fact rainwater harvesting and grey water reuse should be 

mentioned in the same breath. In USA, the National Sanitation 

Foundation has set a standard and certification process for 

commercial greywater harvesting systems. Greywater is the water 

used extensively and often mindlessly in sinks, showers, toilets and 

for general irrigation of lawns in commercial spaces. While USA 

may have established clear and realistic guidelines to define proper 

quality criteria for greywater reuse treatment systems, India is still 

struggling to create the need and drive for such measures. 

Not that there aren’t enough systems and guidelines in place. 

Commercial buildings and multi storey apartments blocks can befit 

hugely and architects and building owners can easily incorporate 

this in projects. Green Building rules, formalised by Indian Green 

Building Council, will result in the practice of recycling on-site 

water for non-potable uses and will eventually become popular in 

commercial properties and multi-unit housing. 

THE TECHNOLOGY IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE 

Rainwater harvesting has a demonstrable payback and many 

installations will pay for themselves in just a few years. On larger 

commercial applications it can be possible to achieve quantity 

savings on mains water in the order of 35-40% with commensurate 

savings on commercial water rates. 

Rainwater harvesting is now mandatory in India for hotels, malls 

and hospitals in major urban areas. 

The government has decided to make rainwater harvesting 

compulsory in urban areas considering the increasing population 

and burden on water supply. Low rainfall situations and drying 

ground water levels are main challenges in urban as well as rural 

areas to keep sufficient water supply since rain water harvesting is 

a sustainable way of water conservation. Such water can be used 

throughout the year for all basic needs after filtration and UV 

disinfection. 

It is not all about high technology since a simple roof water 

collection system, a pump and a storage tank makes a basic 

rainwater harvesting system. A pump is needed to circulate water 

between filter, storage tank and the building and UV disinfection 

systems like ALFAA UV are needed to destroy microorganisms to 

make water safe for drinking. However there are other ways for 

roof top rainwater harvesting through recharge pits, trenches, tube 

and recharge wells as well. By connecting with government, both 

at central and state levels, the building and construction industry 

can play a major role in resolving urban water woes. 

 


Cover Story 

corporate workculture 

Hike Corporate Headquarters 

A Serious Plug for Informality 

Anurag Yadav 

The first impression it creates is a cool lounge or café and one 

wonders where the office might be. The new office of Hike 

Messenger at Delhi is as different as it can get, challenging the 

straitjacketed, middle age approach to work place. Interior design for 

workspaces in India has often lagged behind the curve when compared 

with global best practices. It is not just about adoption of smart 

technologies or catering to a youthful attitude at communal work 

places, rarely has the Indian office transitioned beyond the 

conventional standard. 

The attitude of the workplace is thoroughly Indian. Despite the casual 

appearance, a clear and non intrusive nudge for serious business 

working is evident below the layer of informality. The cool factor of 

hammocks, artificial grass, sleeping bunks, café serving free meals, a 

The Corporate Headquarters for Hike brings that energy to design 

and the fact that no formal design company or expert was behind it 

all, the surprise can be quite substantial. The workplace 

conceptualisation has an open attitude and it shows at every nook and 

corner. A mural with coloured hand imprints of employees welcomes 

the visitor into a coffee-shop themed reception, with exposed brick, 

motivational posters, latest tech-enabled visitor registration; the 

accent is on a fun place. 


gym with showers and bean bags with a Japanese Tea room thrown in 

for good measure does not overlook the undercurrent of serious 

productive responses. It is called a ‘temple’ of excellence and the word 

does invoke a certain dedication in a subtle manner. 

That is the term used to define the space by the Founder and CEO, 

Kavin Bharti Mittal, who set the vision and personally led a small 

cross-functional team of Hike employees – designers, engineers and 

key workplace personnel. 

THE COMPANY 

Hike is a novel messaging app that simplifies connectivity between 

people and aims to change manners of mobile interaction. Reflecting 

that same informality and cool quotient, the office design’s inimitable 

approach stems from the belief that corporate operations in India and 

typical work environments have been frozen in time for the last 40 

years with little or no innovation. The highly tech-savvy, social, 

collaborative, adventurous, flexible, transparent and values-driven 

generation of today would really love to work in environs that support 

that freedom. 

Located just between Delhi and Gurgaon, in close proximity to the 

Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in prime NCR territory, and 

capturing magnificent views of the airport, Hike Messenger’s 

corporate headquarters redefines the conventional notions of spatial 

design of high-tech company offices. Situated in the Worldmark 1 

towers, the Bharti Realty green initiative within the NCR region, the 

office is located on the 4th floor with panoramic views of the airport 

landscape and the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway that are well-integrated 

into the spatial planning. 


The conscious attempt to minimise the branding colours, in order to 

retain the ‘culture and brand as ever evolving’, an ingenuous attempt 

has been made to craft a doughnut-shaped, global workspace that 

enables interaction. 

Given the fact that glass makes up the exterior shell of the building, 

most spaces receive a fair amount of natural light, while also crafting 

a sense of openness and transparency throughout the office. With a 

range of themed rooms and green workspaces that have stupendous 

views, the office creates an environment of flexibility, productivity and 

creativity by identifying 6 kinds of spaces: service areas, open 

workspaces, green gardens, spaces of solitude, collaborative spaces 

and recreational spaces. 

The service areas focusing on delivery form the core of the office that 

has a central circulation spine that runs through and all other spaces 

branch out from here, forming the periphery of the doughnut shape, 

allowing for easy segregation of space. The server rooms entitled 'Top 

Secret’ form the basis of this core, while augmenting the fun element. 

grass in these areas is at various heights to create a sense of excitement. 

The international airport and flights taking off and landing, especially 

at night, offer a beautiful view for those working late hours. A picket 

fence has been inserted to separate the office area from the garden zone 

and all the furniture is hand-picked. The rocking chairs, hammocks, 

bean-bags, wooden chairs, tables, etc. were all handpicked. In line 

with the overall vision, these green ‘parks’ intensify the non-office like 

environment, into a more campus-like atmosphere that fosters 

imagination and creativity. 

COLLABORATIVE SPACES 

High standing tables, 4-seater sound-absorbing furniture can be found 

at nooks and corners. Collaboration areas have been placed after every 

15-20 seats and the Collaborative rooms, each carrying a unique 

personality, have been developed with a different intent. Some 

encourage discussions and brainstorming; some enhance creativity, 

allowing people to feel as though they're away from the office in 

fantasy-land, while others have been created for the sole purpose of 

relaxation. 

OPEN WORKSPACES 

Workstations of a minimalistic nature are laid out in a linear pattern, 

flowing into one another, allowing for a clear line of visibility from 

either ends. Cross-functional teams that each handles a project comprise 

of 6-8 people from various departments; this concept guided the 

workstation design and hence, seating has been planned accordingly. 

The code- 'Company > Team > Self' is seen to be reflected in these 

spaces with boundaries being blurred in the segregation of spaces and 

the company being at the core of the office. The paint used on walls and 

columns enables writing on them, giving further room for brainstorming 

and ideation that reinforces the team collaboration. 

GREEN GARDENS 

Green spaces are integrated within the workspace to allow one to be in 

sync with nature, creating a stress-free environment. The artificial 


An exclusive spatial quality is achieved within the office by translating 

Principles of Zen into the collaborative spaces through Zendo, Yon 

and Shoshin rooms. Zendo for instance, is covered entirely by glass 

and allows the entire office to be able to look inside. Floor seating 

allows one to take part in conversation in a typical Japanese tradition. 

Shifting away from the typical congregation space, The Don Julio high 

rise bar, in contrast allows one to view half the office, creating a sense 

of openness, while also being the space to gather together informally. 

Driven by an array of ideas, these spaces allow people to either shut 

off from the office or have a view of the entire office, giving 

employees the freedom to work in an environment that is best suited 

for each, again reinforcing the idea of the ‘self’. 

Gaming is an important component of Hike Messenger, and soon to be 

incorporated in its tech platform, has also been encompassed into the 

themes for the group activity rooms, and is manifested in nattily named 

rooms, all of which have handpicked, custom furniture, with fun 

graphics on their feature walls. 

Writeable walls and both dim and ambient lighting allow the employees 

to personalize the setting depending on their moods. ‘The Workshop’ is 

a space designed to be dedicated entirely to the tech designers. Hoping 

to 'Solve for the User first', is a room where all the design thinking takes 

place, and has limited access to only employees with key cards. 

Consisting of a long writeable wall, high seating, a television and a 

green-area with bean bags, this is planned as an all-in-one space that can 

enable people to work comfortably for as long as possible. An added 

feature is a multiple-mood Philips lamp - one that can change the lighting 

colors based on mood, using a mobile phone app. 

Owing to its inherent spirit of innovation in technology, a tele-presence 

robot enables people to be present even while they are away. This 

facilitates constant communication with regional office in Bangalore 

and for global outreach. A large common boardroom, with a seating 

capacity of 20 is facilitated with an LCD monitor, a webcam and a 

Japanese Gong that is rung to commemorate special occasions or 

milestones. The projector is attached to a puck that is able to track 

people and sends alerts depending on their location. 

SPACES OF SOLITUDE 

Individual Mastery and Autonomy & Ownership are some of the 

essential codes of the company that are facilitated by means of the 

more private spaces such as the wall pods that can be found all around 

the office. Seating is also enabled along the walls, to cleverly utilise all 

the space available. 

The ‘Nap Room’ is equipped with a bunk bed for those who believe in 

power naps to rejuvenate. 

RECREATIONAL SPACES 

The meditation room is subtly lit up by means of sound-proof, 

Japanese paper partition screens and a combination of bamboo and 

grass flooring fashions a serene environ, where one can unwind. 

Located right outside the gym, this space is completely sound proof. 

Stand-alone high tables are designed with an optimum height for 

people to stand and work, as sitting for prolonged hours is unhealthy. 

Suggestive of a 70's cafe, the cafeteria is a multipurpose space, used 

for meals, events and recreational purposes. 

Minimalistic in colour palette, an exposed ceiling painted white is used 

to create a sense of openness, where spaces are highlighted through 

bright colours in furnishings or as accents and feature pendant lights. 

Bright, solid coloured lounges can be found at core areas, for those 

who want to slip away to take a call or those who want to simply put 

their feet up or have a more casual work discussion. The building itself 

is inherently sustainable with features such as storm water 

management, on-site waste-water segregation and reduced water 

consumption. Waste segregation is enabled throughout the office. 

The ‘Codes’ that define the organisation’s work culture are embedded 

in the design philosophy which inspires the space. Trust and freedom 

encourage responsible behaviour and the company’s fast rising 

fortunes and growth is ample proof. 

It is one space design that does not stand by any overbearing stuffiness. 

In fact, as one can see, its Friday dressing every day! 

 


“The Office Space 

Should Ensure 

Agility, Ownership, 

Autonomy and 

Growth for the 

People Working 

in it.” 

Hike Messenger’s youthful and 

fresh attitude towards its 

customers has got to start with its 

staff first, according to its Founder 

& CEO, Kavin Bharti Mittal. 

He conceptualised and designed the workplace along with a small, 

fast moving team comprising a product designer, a graphics 

designer and the workplace head. All of 28, Kavin Bharti MIttal, heads 

the company that created the only communication app built out of 

India. With over 100 million users exchanging over 40 billion 

messages per month as of January 2016, Hike is by far the 2nd largest 

messaging app in the country. 

Kavin launched Hike in December 2012 and since, have had 

investments in the company from Bharti, SoftBank, Tiger Global and 

some of Silicon Valley’s top tech veterans. He completed his Masters 

in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Management (M.Eng.) 

from Imperial College, London. During his summer breaks at college, 

he interned at some of the world’s leading companies such as McLaren 

Racing, Google and Goldman Sachs. 

Today he has further plans for enhancing the work place for his 

employees as well says Kavin Bharti Mittal in conversation with 

Anurag Yadav. 

How do you define the modern office space in today’s times? 

A modern office spaces allow people flexibility in terms of freedom to 

work in an environment that is not restrictive but instead fosters 

creativity and productivity, and finally, the freedom to make space 

one’s own. It must allow people to walk in feeling inspired, a place 

where people would do the best work of their lives every day and most 

importantly, the kind of work that the employees of Hike would 

proudly tell their kids about one day. 

Do you think the ‘informality’ in an office space is a universal 

standard or there can be reasons for a straight jacketed and formal 

design as well? 

Every organisation has a culture and the workplace needs to be 

reflective of it. Having said that, times have changed; people live in 

highly connected and collaborative social environment. Workspaces 

need to adapt accordingly, especially when you’re engaging millennial 

employees. 

How does it help the staff to be more productive? 

At Hike, we have a flexible performance driven work culture. We have 

different kinds of workspaces – open workspaces, green gardens, 

spaces of solitude, collaborative spaces, recreational spaces and so on 

– that can be personalised to our employees’ needs such that they never 

get bored. Everybody has a different method of working and at Hike, 

we provide spaces that people can make their own, and work their best 

from while having fun. 


You mention autonomy and ownership as key factors that define 

your office space. How does it manifest in the design? 

Hike is a flexible performance driven company. Autonomy and 

ownership is the key to our culture. We believe in getting the best 

people on board and unleashing their potential. Employees then don’t 

need to be managed. Our workspace has so many options; spaces of 

solitude, hammocks and the most comfortable seating styles, gardens, 

recreational and fitness spaces and so on. We’ve got a café stocked 

24/7! 

Our people are organised in cross-functional teams of 6-10, which 

drive features and innovations you see at Hike. They are results 

focused and flexible in how they approach their projects. Once the 

project is completed, the team dissolves and team members align to 

other projects. This ensures agility, ownership, autonomy and growth 

for our people. 

Can this ‘newage’ look and feel of the design be a general standard 

for better staff productivity in any office? 

Technology is one of the most fast evolving industries today and hence 

this is the sector that is seeing most change in the way they approach 

their people and places. However, any company must decide its own 

work culture. Ultimately, every business is an organisation and its 

people set its culture and drive how the workplace should look like. 

How has your staffs responded to it? 

Most were lost for words. People love the new workplace and we’re 

still adding a few more pieces here and there. It’s a little more lived 

in. Once we got employees to the new workplace, I personally took 

them for office tours in small groups – talking about every little detail. 

Everyone was extremely excited when we did that. Today, it’s 

interesting to watch them utilise all the different workspaces to the 

maximum potential. 

 


Public Space 

skywalk 

The insertion of Dakhineshwar 

Skywalk in Kolkata has put a stop 

to a long haul of traffic congestion 

and lack of pedestrian safety. 

Designed by Design Forum 

International, the project sits in 

the urban palette – well-connected 

& segregated – in harmony with 

the surroundings 

Text courtesy: Anand Sharma & Renderings courtesy: Mayabious, Kolkata 

Urban Insertion 

Dakshineswar Skywalk, Kolkata Design Forum International 

kolkata, a city which is home to some of the most revered 

places of worship of Hinduism, is the seat of divine female 

power ‘Shakti’ – Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Located on the 

banks of Ganges at the Northern tip of the metropolis, this 

place of worship was originally built by Rani Rashmoni. 

Today, Dakshineswar continues to draw huge number of devotees all 

year round and is one of the most visited places of worship in Kolkata. 

In the earlier days, visiting by boat was one of the most preferred 

ways to reach the temple, and by road being the second. The approach 

road to the temple, that was once predominantly pedestrian, now has 

to cater to a growing vehicular traffic of private cars, taxis, two 

wheelers and goods vehicles. Increased footfalls over the years has 

brought in a lot of shops and kiosks catering to the visitors, offering 


prasaad, pooja material, embellishments for the deity and assorted 

food, sweets, snacks and tea stalls. Finding no other space to occupy, 

they built over the footpath, pushing pedestrians to the road, jostling 

for space with rickshaws, cars and goods vehicles. Further, the 

approach road is extremely slow moving and congested during regular 

days and a logistics nightmare on festive days. 

CASE FOR INTERVENTION 

Convergence of multi-mode means of access: The temple is accessed 

through a single 10.5 meters wide road, almost 400 meters in length 

aptly called the Rani Rashmoni Road. 

The street originates at a traffic rotary, a junction for the PWD road 

leading from Kolkata on South-East direction, the PWD road leading 

to Vivekanand Setu on the Western Direction and Ramkrishna 

Paramhans Dev Road leading North. The rotary is also the entrance 

point for the Dakshineswar Temple Railway Station and the bus stop. 

The convergence of buses, cars, slow moving traffic like rickshaws, 

railway commuters and goods vehicles causes massive pile-up at the 

rotary. 

Anand Sharma studied (B.Arch.) Hons, from IIT, 

Kharagpur and started the practice ‘Tevatia Chauhan & 

Sharma Architects’ in 1995. In 2003, the practice was 

rechristened as Design Forum International (DFI) with a 

clear intent to foster an egalitarian organisational ethos 

where distinctive architectural talent finds selfexpression. 

Sharma is an architect, talented singer and literary 

enthusiast. At DFI, he coined the slogan of ‘People first’ 

and constantly uses his leadership and people skills to mentor and upscale the 

creative and intellectual horsepower. 

He believes that cities must have a distinct character and as an architect, he lays 

great emphasis on including contextuality in design responses. He is an exceptional 

team leader possessing the capacity to carry a project from initiation to final 

production. 

AREAS FOR INTERVENTION 

The rotary is the first point of focus for an intervention, followed by 

the approach road, Rani Rashmoni Road, the streets leading out of it 

and the culmination of the approach road at the temple, at the entry 

gates to the temple compound. 

Collating key thoughts and ideas for design initialisation, the West 

Bengal Government tasked KMDA to create a design brief and 

project report to enable floating of tenders leading to ‘Design and 

Build’ solutions for resolving the situation. Primary concerns were 

segregation of traffic and pedestrian movement, further segregation 

of traffic into motorised and non-motorised, ensuring livelihood of 

the shop keepers, ease of movement, comfort and safety of the 

devotees along with seamless connectivity from point of 

disembarkation to the temple gates for the devotees. The resulting 

idea therefore aimed to transfer both the pedestrian circulation and 

the shops to an elevated concourse, thereby leaving the road level 


space for traffic, exclusively, and providing for multiple access 

means to and from the elevated concourse such as escalators, 

elevators and staircases. 

A crystallised design brief emerged in crafting the Skywalk – 380 

meters long and 10.5 meters wide – creating a connection between the 

traffic rotary and the entrance gates of the temple compound with a 

provision of 12 escalators, 4 elevators and 8 staircases to allow 

devotees and users to embark and disembark from the Skywalk. The 

skywalk also relocates over 200 shops that are currently operating on 

the Rani Rashmoni Road. Designed as weather-proof, user-friendly 

cross section 

and sturdy, it integrates the walking concourse, shops, escalators and 

elevators with a provision to connect it to the railways footbridge as 

well, with separate lanes for motorised and non-motorised traffic. 

By adopting one of the oldest approaches in design, ‘form follows 

function’, and adding some critical ingredients to a contextually 

responsive design – dynamism, fluidity and most importantly, 

modularity – the Skywalk is conceived structurally as an extremely 

basic formation – a tube mounted on top of a platform supported on 

its many legs. The platform turns and adapts to the street it is laid 

over, the tube twists and turns in sync with it. Some of its key design 

elements are: 

Modularity 

The entire stretch is divided into 

modules of approximately 8 meters in 

length, each module is a complete unit 

in itself. 

Fluidity 

The form is seamless, along its entire 

length, its shape accentuating its 

curvilinear profile. Since a distance of 

380 meters is available to create this 

experience, a pulsating wave pattern is 

made to create rhythm and enhance the 

visual and actual movement. 

Dynamism 

The MS support structure of the tube is 

superimposed with aluminum fins of 

varying lengths, reducing and 

increasing in a cyclic fashion, causing a 

wave formation when seen in 

continuity, conveying the dynamic 

nature of the tube. 


design consideration 

ACCESS TO THE SKYWALK 

The points of embarkment are on the PWD road, at the railway station 

and the Ramkrishna Paramhans Dev Road. Escalators, elevators and 

staircases service each of these points. The escalators flank a middle 

staircase for people reluctant to use those, elevators allow for 

convenience of movement for the old and the infirm as well as 

handicapped access. There are also plans for connecting the railway 

footbridge to the skywalk allowing for devotees using the 

Dakshineswar Railway Station directly from the railway platform level. 

There are further embarkment and disembarkment points at the other 

intersecting streets allowing for convenience of the local residents and 

shoppers. The temple gates at the end of the Skywalk have a set of 1 

escalator, 1 elevator and 1 staircase on both the disembarkation and 

embarkation ends. All access points are treated as all-weather glass 

enclosures with adequate safety measures taken at design level. 

Traffic lanes at road level: The two-legged structure of the Skywalk 

enables for a 6 meters wide central lane, earmarked for motorised 

transport going in both directions, and 2 meters wide lanes on both 

peripheries for slow moving traffic like rickshaws and bicycles. A 

lane separator wall will separate the slow moving and fast lanes. 

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT OF PLATFORM STRUCTURE 

There are 2 distinct segments of the skywalk: the segment spanning 

Rani Rashmoni Road and the segment spanning across the traffic 

rotary denoted as obligatory span by KMDA. 

The structure across Rani Rashmoni Road segment is a simple two 

legged structure with simply supported platform in the middle and 

cantilevers on both sides. The central span is 6.3 meters and the 

cantilevers are 1.8 meters each. The vertical supports are a pair of 

150x300 ISMC structural steel sections welded together. The 

platform is concrete deck over steel purlins of RHS 150x300. 

The structure across obligatory span is a central pier supported 

platform cantilevered on either side with the support being RHS 

Column 500x900. The platform is the same as the other segment. 

Tube mounted on top: A 10.5 meters wide tube at its base, it is 5 

meters high and will be fabricated using RHS 75x100 members and 

Dakshineswar temple complex 


skywalk: view of the plaza 

RHS 60x60 purlins for the wave formation. These members will be 

welded to the platform. 

The skin of the tube is 22 mm thick multi-wall polycarbonate sheet 

with 3-D lighting properties, being used in 2 colour shades. 

The aluminum fins are 75x100 sections fixed to the RHS 

understructure. 

The RHS support sections are protected with special coating for 

weather protection, anti-rusting and therefore longevity of the 

structure. 

The shops are aligned in a back to back manner, 2mx2m floor spaces 

there are 4 shops in a module of 8.1 meters on one side and therefore 

8 shops per module. A total of over 200 shops can therefore be 

provisioned for re-allocation to shopkeepers currently running their 

businesses. The movement of devotees is on the periphery of the 

Skywalk, a 2.8 meters wide pedestrian movement corridor with shops 

on one side and views of the temple, Ganges River at a distance and 

the neighbourhood on the other side. 

At the junction of every 6 modules there is a buffer space of 8.1 

meters length and 10.5 meters width, a plaza of approximately 85 sq. 

m. This plaza acts as an interchange, a place for rest and relaxation, 

amenities like café and water fountains, information desks. The 

placement of movement peripherally and shops centrally allows for 

uni-directional movement of the devotees, clash free movement and 

allows to handle large volumes of devotees. It also allows for external 

face access to the masses moving; freely allowing air and breathing 

space. It also reduces the hazard risk and would enable faster 

evacuation in case of emergency. The central placement of shops 

allows for concentrating the support services like water supply and 

wastewater disposal. It also allows for the higher vertical allowances 

within the shops, increasing the stack space within for the 

shopkeepers. 

Amidst the two approaches to the selection of an architectural 

vocabulary for the project, between monumental or futuristic, there 

was a strong case for monumental – beautiful and expressive façades 

of both the temple and the railway station building bearing testimony 

to that. However, the Skywalk as a concept is rooted in modernity, a 

contemporary response to the problems generated over the years, the 

aspirations of a rapidly modernising metropolis demands manifestation 

in its new urban landmarks. Therefore, it was a conscious decision to 

break away from classicism, bringing technology into play, and 

showcasing art through a long-winded monument of transport. The 

modernity of the concept found its reflection in the dynamism of its 

form, a never-ending stream of the faithful finding, its reflection in the 

pulsating waveform, the adaptability to context found, and its 

reflection in the fluidity of its form. 

 

traffic segregation 

fact file: 

project name : Skywalk 

location : Kolkata 

client : Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority 

client’s firm : Aarone Group 

principal architect : Anand Sharma 

design team : Navin Singh, Abhishek Sinha 

project scope : 380 m long and 10.5 m wide 

commencement date : December 2015 

completion date (scheduled) : March 2017 


Football Stadium Qatar 

FIFA World Cup is 6 years away but 2022 FIFA World 

Cup Qatar Showcase, designed by Arup Associates, 

indicates the innovative technologies that will dictate the 

construction at Doha 

Text courtesy: Anurag Yadav & Photographs courtesy: Arup Associates 

THE QATAR SHOWCASE 

Unveiling the look of the future 

2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar Showcase, Doha Arup Associates 

Sean Macintosh is a key architect within 

Arup Associates at London, having joined 

the company in 1997. A B.Arch, Dip.Arch 

from Glasgow School of Art, Riba 1 & 2, 

he was the project architect for the Kasc 

mosque, Coventry University Engineering 

and Computing building and a major data 

centre in the Middle East. He is also 

project architect for the Druk White Lotus 

School in Ladakh, which won 3 

international awards in 2002. 

Sean’s experience in the education sector 

encompasses school and university work. He is currently working on a new 

computing and engineering faculty building for the University of Coventry that 

incorporates a highly innovative façade system and biodiverse roof. 


arup Associates’ design for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar 

Showcase is the world’s most sustainable stadium, a radical 

piece of environmental architecture that was a major driver 

in Qatar’s sustainability plan and World Cup bid. 

Arup Associates’ design for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar Showcase 

is a distinctive building. The 500-seater ‘model stadium’ is carbon 

zero and a development platform to refine technologies for application 

across Qatar and potentially across all arid regions. 

The Showcase was commissioned in order to demonstrate to FIFA and 

the world-wide audience that the harsh climate over the summer 

months is no longer a barrier to hosting global events. It is an 

investigation into innovative, cutting-edge solutions for creating a 

controlled microclimate over and around the football field, and other 

public spaces. The Showcase serves as a proof-of-concept for 

innovative cooling and climate control technologies since it is designed 

with the most sophisticated techniques for capturing and storing the 

power of the sun. 

The Showcase is based on 3 key aspects: an exciting architecture and 

structure which develops traditional passive design ideas to a new 

energy-saving and comfortable architecture; photovoltaics that convert 

the energy of the sun into electricity; capturing and converting the 

sun’s heat into cooling for summertime air conditioning using underseat 

supply. 

Completed in 2010, the design of this unique stadium is at the 

forefront of future stadia design. The project, built over an area of 

3,411 sq. metres, was hailed as a trailblazer (Structural Awards 2011, 

shortlisted, Sport or Leisure Category & World Architecture Awards 

2011, shortlisted, Sports Category). 


THE BRIEF 

The original brief from the Qatar 2022 client team was for a simple 

pavilion that demonstrated some cooling performance technologies. 

However, after working with the client in workshops, Arup 

Associates developed with them the idea of a radical environmental 

approach and the idea of zero carbon technologies being a 

differentiator for their Qatar cup bid – a key part of the eventual Qatar 

bid brought to reality the themes of a responsible world cup in a very 

hot climate and the issues of being able to dissemble it and ship the 

technologies to other cultures. 

Working to an absolute deadline of the 

FIFA officials visit on September 14, 

2010 to have a completed stadium, 

fully operational under zero carbon 

conditions, the showcase was 

designed in just 8 weeks, and had a 

construction timeline of 4.5 months 

after the contract had been selected. 

Appointment in December 2009, 

work started at the site in May 2010 

and was completed merely 4 months 

later in September 2010. 

Whilst the imperative to impress 

FIFA was strong, budget constraints 

were still in place and costs were very 

carefully controlled throughout design 

and construction. During the FIFA 

visit, with an outside temperature 

having reached 44 degrees only 2 hours 

earlier, the temperature on the pitch was recorded as 23 degrees. 

THE DESIGN 

The stadium has been designed as a hybrid of fast and lightweight 

construction technologies with local, vernacular means of 

construction. 

The showcase form is directly informed by aligning the functional 

requirements of FIFA for player and spectator comfort and excellence 

of experience together with a radical environmental architectural 

language. Externally, this form is developed in response to sun, wind 

and macro climatic conditions; the showcase has a legible façade and 

logical form. The resulting language aims to articulate the integrated 

structural, technological and environmental concepts; whilst providing 

an enhanced setting for people to interact with the sporting spectacle 

and the building environment. 

THE REVOLVING ROOF CANOPY 

The compelling rhythmic geometry of The Showcase’s canopy roof 

plays an important part in the sustainability strategy of the stadium. 

The canopy roof rotates, in 14.5 minutes, to provide cooling shade 

within the building and insulated against the hot sun in summer. It is 

the first roof of its type and is already considered a pioneering move 

towards a more environmentally responsible approach to stadia 

architecture. The multi-skinned roof structure is cladded with 

permeable screens of triangulated PVC fabric with a low emissivity 

coating supported on a secondary steel frame, with an inner cladding 

of triangulated ‘pillows’ of translucent ETFE (Ethylene Tetra Fluro 

Ethylene) membrane, providing both 

thermal performance and light 

transmittance, keeping radiant and 

conductive heat out and allowing 

natural light into the arena. 

CHILLING THE STADIUM 

Just outside the Showcase is a 

photovoltaic installation – a sun farm, 

connected to the structure’s electrical 

system and the national grid. The 

venues’ solar panels will operate yearround, 

continuously exporting electrical 

energy to the national grid. On a match 

day, the higher electrical demand will 

bring electricity back into the facility 

from the national grid. 

The Qatar 2022 Showcase offers the 

most sophisticated techniques for 

capturing and storing the power of the 

sun. And, as all the energy for the 

showcase is generated from the sun, over the year, the building has no 

carbon emissions. 

The ideas used in this Showcase are intended to show how energy can 

be considered as an integrated aspect of architecture, engineering and 

infrastructure with renewable energy contributing for the first time at 

scale in Qatar. Following Qatar’s success in the bid, a range of stadia, 

fan zones and other facilities will be required for The World Cup 

Games which will take benefit from these design ideas and 

technologies. 

The Showcase has now been handed to the Qatar Science and 

Technology Park who champion research and technology business in 

Doha. It will be used for developing the technologies pioneered in this 

project for many sports and use in similar hot arid regions. 

The project is recognised as being at the forefront of future stadia 

design and sets a template for creating a positive sporting environment 

for spectators, players and the local community. 

 


Urban Redevelopment 

infrastructure 

Taj Ganj Urban Redevelopment in Agra is an envisioned project of Archohm who 

has strategically worked on upgrading the streetscape of the area by the insertion 

of urban infrastructure for the betterment of residents, retail shopkeepers and for 

enriched tourist interactions with the community 

Text, Drawings & Renderings courtesy: the architect 

Ameliorating Urban 

Taj Ganj Urban Redevelopment, Agra, Archohm 

Sourabh Gupta is the 

Founder & Managing Director 

of Archohm Consults. He is 

an alumnus of CEPT, 

Ahmedabad and Technical 

University, Delft, the 

Netherlands. 

Archohm was conceived as a 

design studio that offers 

design consultancy for 

architecture, urban design, interiors and product design. 

Working across diverse scales, from furniture to urban 

infrastructure projects, Archohm’s ‘mad and fun’ philosophy 

promotes it’s out of the box design solutions. 

With over 12 years of experience in Architecture and Urban 

Design, Sourabh is renowned for his capabilities in 

conceptualising, designing, and detailing. With his passion 

and a keen insight into the diverse design fields, he leads his 

initiatives towards the highest level of design quality. 

archohm has extended its opportunity of urban interventions in the proximity of 

the Taj Mahal into a master plan for an area within 2.5 km radius from the world 

monument. The master plan is both strategic and accretive in tying together the 

intents of ongoing projects like the Taj Ganj Urban Redevelopment, the Taj 

Orientation Centre, the Mughal Museum and the Agra Food Court & Pavilion. 

Further, it also identifies the potential for future projects in the form of the Taj Nature Walk, 

a pontoon bridge across Yamuna, the rehabilitation of Meena Bazaar and West Gate Parking 

and so on. The objective of the master plan is to attempt a comprehensive development which 

not only benefits the tourists visiting the Taj Mahal, but also presents to them the myriad 

facets of the city obscured by Taj’s overwhelming presence, consequently helping the local 

economy and people. 

Agra’s Taj Ganj exhibits urban decay yet holds immeasurable vibrancy. A highly dense 

fabric, crumbling infrastructure and acute lack of open spaces are juxtaposed with the 

richness of cultural life, socio-economic ingenuity and a built environment expressing almost 

amusing resourcefulness. Comprised largely of erstwhile markets appropriated into 

residential quarters, a few heritage monuments and havelis, and slums, Taj Ganj shares the 

extremities of its characteristics with the historical districts of numerous other Indian cities. 

However, it enjoys a direct relationship with the environment: river Yamuna flows to the 

North of the Taj Mahal, while the vast expanse of Shahjahan Park lies in the North-West of 

Taj Ganj and a large forest block in the North. 


Fabric 

master plan 


south gate road plan 

section: proposed streetscape 

The urban redevelopment proposal attempts to tie the entire stretch 

with a coherent but non-uniform urban design, prioritising nonmotorised 

mobility through a radical change in the visual texture of 

the place. Several amenities such as landscaped seating areas, shelters 

for parking/boarding tangas, cycle rickshaws and battery operated 

carts security check posts, toilet blocks and drinking water facilities 

are also proposed across the project area. Community Centers, parks 

and other infrastructure are proposed for the slum areas. 

Families living in the Taj Ganj practice several household craft 

traditions – marble inlay, zardozi, leather artifacts and so on. 

However, the excessive focus on the Taj Mahal seldom leaves tourists 

with patience or interest in visiting and engaging with them. A one 

acres site, less than 100 M from the East Gate of the Taj complex, 

offers the opportunity of gathering tourists and orienting them towards 

Taj Ganj. The Taj Ganj Visitors’ Center responds to and 

accommodates the dual program: a tourist facilitation center as well as 

an institution for the living cultural traditions. 

The building comprises of a low-key, two-storey cuboid with a 6m 

structural grid, and a truncated pyramid surrounded by courtyards. 

While the cuboid is aligned to the South-East boundaries of the site, 

the pyramid is placed diagonally with its axis of symmetry orienting 

towards the Taj Mahal. The entire complex is sunk into the ground by 

one floor; the orientation of the green sunken square is cardinal. This 

lowering of the datum helps addressing two problems: one, the 

gallery 

section, aerial view and interior views of Taj Ganj Visitors’ Center 


fact file: 

Project name : Taj Ganj Urban Redevelopment 

location : Taj Ganj, Agra 

client : UPRNN & DoT UP 

principal architect : Sourabh Gupta 

design team : Siddharth Singh, Sujit Jacob, Shailesh Pathak, 

Kavana Kumar, Mukesh Devrani, Inakshi Mittal, 

Shivani Shastri 

site area : 230 acres 

architecture is scaled down as an urban gesture of respect towards the 

world heritage site; and two, it saves on the expense towards pile 

foundations. 

The tourist facilities are accommodated on the ground floor of the 

cuboid, while its lower level houses multipurpose workshop and 

training spaces and the Taj Gunj Heritage Cell: offices for the Director 

and a team of experts who will help restore and sustain the building 

traditions of the neighbourhood. The pyramid acts as a gallery 

showcasing Taj Ganj’s crafts. The Terrace is the space of connecting 

with Taj Gunj and the Taj Mahal visually and experiencing the dramatic 

tension radiating from this urban context which includes a world 

heritage monument, a dense built fabric and forest, all together. 

built-up area 

urbanscape & landscape : 30 acres 

built structures : 4000 sq. m 

commencement date 

(Archohm’s Scope) : 2015 January 

completion date 

(scheduled) : 2016 December 

project cost : INR 187 crore 

Consultants 

Structural : Ajay Gupta, Pristine Ideas 

Electrical : S P Gupta, Archohm Consults Pvt. Ltd 

Landscape : Amey Korgaonkar, Archohm Consults Pvt. Ltd 

HVAC : Siddiqui, LIMRA Consulting Engineers 

PHE : S S Bhatia, Techno Engineering Consultants 

section: proposed streetscape 

west gate road plan 


Industrial Design 

manufacturing unit 

Text & Photographs courtesy: OpenIdeas 

A Stroke of Light 

Nisan Electricals, Ahmedabad OpenIdeas 

Concept germinates from the tangible or intangible 

elements of existence; ingenuity lies within the 

creator for its execution. Nissan Electricals in 

Ahmedabad, designed by young architects of 

OpenIdeas, strides a right chord in the designing of 

the structure, reflecting the products manufactured – 

CFL Lights! 

nissan Electricals is located in a dense industrial area of 

Changodar, Ahmedabad. The client’s brief was to 

design an administrative block and a manufacturing 

unit for CFL lights to be carried out in 2 phases. 

Having a family business of textiles, it was client’s 

first venture into manufacturing industry. Being the first, he wanted a 

team of young architects who can bring in new design ideas without 

any baggage of a typical industrial architecture. Furthermore, having 

no prior expertise in carrying out industrial projects, Nisan Electricals 


came as a challenge to the architects to design the complex that 

reflects the products it manufactures. 

Considering this expression, the core concept of the lines running 

around the building to visually break the monolith mass was derived 

from the rays of light which are emitted from an explosion. 

In turn, the lines give an illusion and characteristic of glowing LED 

running around the surface and the explosion is depicted by the 

opening pattern created on the key façades of the building. By 

reflecting and integrating the character of the product it manufactures, 

this CFL light manufacturing and Export Company wanted to create 

its own distinctiveness and existence among the other neighbourhood 

industries. 

The overall layout arises from an internal garden that divides the 

factory building into 2 masses, placing the administration and the 

skewed mass reserved for future expansion. The administration block 

was placed in-between two manufacturing units for easier circulation, 

OpenIdeas, a multidisciplinary design studio based in 

Ahmedabad and Surat initiated in 2009, is led by 

architects Monarch Champaneri, Nilesh Patel & Niralee 

Champaneri. 

OpenIdeas believes in a collaborative engagement with 

clients and team to develop innovative ideas for unique 

and valuable design solutions. 

Their attempt is to present architecture for what it is – an 

intelligent and innovative response to local constraints. It 

has allowed them to set a professional practice of high 

caliber, where new technological innovation along with 

design excellence plays a leading role. 

Their philosophy lies at a continuous search for balance 

between process oriented approach, co-ordination of 

materials, technology and play of light. They believe in 

designing and constructing space that reflects functional, 

social and aesthetic consideration, providing a 

comfortable environment for their clients. 


design parti: the curvature of the wall in tandem with the façade design 

also when the future phase is constructed none of the existing activities 

get hampered. The administration block on the lower level houses 

reception, workspace and offices whereas the upper level has the 

director's office, conference room and guestrooms with a small 

kitchenette. 

Furthermore, the inviting fabricated metal canopy at the entrance 

reflects the same explosive character and blends in with the rest of the 

building. Thus the project emphasises to create an identity in itself that 

also blends in with the surrounding industrial area. 

 

entrance to the complex 

distinctive identity marked by the façade treatment 

fact file: 

project name : Nisan Electricals - CFL manufacturing unit 

location : Ahmedabad, Gujarat 

client : Nisan Electricals 

design team : Vishal Patel, Sahil Soni, Nishant Chauhan 

site area : 

10,000 sq. m 

built up area : 6000 sq. m 

commencement period : 2012 

completion period : 2014 


Post Event 

ACREX India 2016 

Facilitating ‘Make in India’ campaign 

The event has showcased worldwide trends in the arena of residential & commercial spaces, building 

design & the related product innovations primarily developed around energy conservation & 

sustainability 

ACREX India, South Asia’s largest exhibition on Air 

Conditioning, Ventilation, Refrigerating and Building 

services took place from February 25-27, 2016 at Bombay 

Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC), Mumbai. The event 

was inaugurated by Pankaj Dharkar, National Chair, Steering 

Committee, ACREX India 2016 and K Ramachandran, 

President, ISHRAE (Indian Society of Heating, Refrigeration 

and Air-conditioning Engineers). 

Speaking on the occasion, Dharkar stated, “Increased footfalls 

on day one of ACREX INDIA 2016 demonstrated the ever 

growing acceptance & reach of ACREX. 500 exhibitors had 

exhibited their products and technologies on the largest display 

area ever created by ACREX. Urbanisation through Smart City 

developments encompasses the integration of energy 

requirement with sustainability & convenience for the 

masses.The product & technologies showcased by global & 

domestic manufacturers will define a roadmap for future 

development & sustainability practices.” He further added, 

“We are delighted to have been able to provide a global 

platform for domestic & global manufacturers to network & 

ideate to create a sustainable future.” 

While speaking to media, Ramachandran stated, “ISHRAE has 

been promoting the need for benchmarking of energy 

consumption & manufacturing standards. Developing the 

domestic manufacturing set up is crucial for maintaining good 

quality practices & creating employment.The current 

government’s impetus on promoting low-cost manufacturing 

through the ‘Make in India’ initiative offers great potential for 

the domestic & global HVAC&R industry.” According to him, 

“ACREX INDIA 2016 is a good platform for both domestic & 

global players to showcase their offerings & offers a great 

opportunity for networking & sourcing with manufacturers to 

create a robust domestic HVAC- R Sector.” 

SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS 

Visitors in this exhibition were exposed to an array of 

workshops and discussions. The event presented a series of 

educative sessions during the 3 days. The knowledge sessions 

provided an opportunity to gain the much needed market 

insights from professionals in the industry and shared thoughts 

between industry experts and attendees. 

COUNTRY PAVILION 

The event witnessed an increase in global participation by major 

players. ACREX India 2016 has designed special designated 

areas called ‘country pavilions’ that accommodated participants 

from 25 countries viz Germany, USA, Korea, China, Turkey, 

Japan, England, UK, France, Canada, Taiwan, Singapore, New 

Zealand, Thailand, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, 

Malaysia, Vietnam and many more. Through these pavilions 

visitors had witnessed worldwide trends in residential & 

commercial spaces, building design & the related product 

innovations primarily developed around energy conservation & 

sustainability. 

 


Post Event 

The 7th GRIHA Summit 2016 

Emphasises on creating sustainable cities 

The 7th GRIHA Summit was organised from February 16 

– 20, 2016, in New Delhi. The theme of the conference 

was 'Cities of the Future' and it served as a platform for 

knowledge sharing on sustainable solutions for built environment 

both at city and building scale. Some of the key subjects covered 

in the conference were turning efficient building façades, water 

distress in growing cities waste into building blocks, social 

upliftment, income equality, etc. 

Inaugurating the Summit, Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General 

TERI and President GRIHA Council said, “Considering that 

two-thirds of infrastructure that will exist in 2030 is yet to be 

built, it presents us with a huge opportunity to ensure that all 

new buildings are ‘green’.” Dr A K Tripathi, Senior Director, 

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government 

of India, congratulated the GRIHA team for creating a 100% 

indigenous green building rating system. He said that out of the 

100,000 MW solar power goal of India, 40,000 MW will be in 

the form of rooftop solar power which will translate fully into 

the building stock and directly relates to green buildings. He also 

highlighted that the cost of renewable energy at INR 4.50/unit as 

compared to that of electricity from the grid at INR 5.25/unit, 

removes any question of its unviability. 

Setting the theme of the GRIHA Summit 2016, Mili Majumdar, 

Secretary cum Treasurer, GRIHA Council, said that GRIHA has 

evolved in the last 7 years and has grown from 30 projects to 

700, covering almost 28 million sq. m. of green footprint. 

“Although there is still a long way to go, substantial impact has 

been made thus far. This journey would not have been possible 

without the support of government and private stakeholders,” 

she said. 

Talking about the ideology of cities of the future, Dr Bimal 

Patel, President & Acting Director, CEPT University, said that 

the capacity to predict the future is very limited, and this 

uncertainty must be taken seriously and cities must not be 

subjected to rigid policies. He also pointed out that there is no 

cost involved in formulating the codes but there are huge costs 

involved in implementing them, which ultimately leads to 

difficulty in enforcing them. He emphasised that our focus 

should be on which problems must be solved immediately and 

may leave some problems to be solved by the next generation. 

TURNING WASTE INTO BUILDING BLOCKS 

Commenting on the waste management systems in India, Bharti 


Chaturvedi Director, Chintan Environmental Research and Action 

Group, stated that citizenship is the right to belong to a city and this 

citizenship needs to be maintained respectfully. Poonam Bir Kasturi, 

Founder, Daily Dump, highlighted the need to segregate household 

waste. She suggested ideas that would ensure that landfills in India would 

not become toxic hubs of the city. Ashok Behera, Vice President, Indian 

Metals & Ferro Alloys Limited, discussed on low-density aggregate 

(LDA) and suggested the use of fly ash for making LDA. He shared his 

experience of using LDA in industrial and residential projects, which he 

claims is more eco-friendly and sustainable. 

SOCIAL UPLIFTMENT AND INCOME EQUALITY 

The panelists in the social upliftment and income equality session 

discussed and presented their work broadly on 3 issues that aid in social 

upliftment, namely skill development, affordable housing and policy 

making. Preeti Sinha, Senior President and Global Convenor, YES Bank, 

presented various affordable housing schemes which are delivered by 

YES Bank. Selvam Ramanathan, CEO & Director, Geotrix Building 

Envelope Pvt. Ltd and J P Shroff, CMD, Shroff Group, shared their 

experiences in empowerment of construction workers through skill 

development. 

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 

Sumit Sharma, Fellow, Centre for Environmental Studies, TERI spoke 

about the integrated approach of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) 

improvement by reducing biomass fuel consumption and by adopting a 

green lifestyle in rural and urban areas. He highlighted how this would 

also help India in achieving the various Sustainable Development Goals 

(SDGs) set by the United Nations. According to Varun Pahwa, Executive 

Vice President, DRI, there is a revolution in the market for IEQ and that 

it can be enhanced through the use of mechanical ventilation techniques. 

He emphasised on how evaporative cooling can help reduce energy 

consumption in the Indian climate. Corey Enck, LEED VP, US Green 

Building Council, spoke about how US based standards like LEED and 

the WELL certification address the IEQ. 

SMART NETERING FOR BUILDINGS 

The urban world is becoming a platform for generating data on the 

workings of human society; human interaction with physical 

environment; and manifold economic, political, social processes. Dr 

Satish Kumar, Executive Chairman at the Alliance for an Energy 

Efficient Economy, mentioned that a variety of sensors and meters are 

designed and installed so that not only the users and occupants of the 

buildings are more comfortable (thermally, visually, and acoustically) but 

are able to control key performance functions in a simple and effective 

fashion. This is reflected in the proliferation of different sensors 

(temperature, flow, illumination, demand and energy meters, smart 

thermostats, etc.) that deploy different communication protocols, 

applications that allow users to control different operational attributes at 

the touch of a screen to achieve the final outcome. On the other hand, as 

distributed energy generation and renewables integration, demand 

response, energy storage become ingrained as part of smart grid and 

smart city focussed development, buildings are no more seen as passive 

structures but as a part of a larger urban ecosystem that can play a 

significant role in energy and environmental management at the macro 

level and contribute significantly to the economic value that is created 

inside and besides them. 

Talking about innovation in transportation, Dr Anvita Arora, Head, 

Innovative Transport Solutions, pointed out that ‘mobility is a derived 

demand’ which must be catered to. She talked about the current trends 

of digitalisation and the significant role it plays in creating a 

sustainable city. 

Talking about post disaster resettlement, Dr Ila Gupta, Director, MBS 

School of Planning & Architecture talked about the vulnerability of the 

Himalayan region. She highlighted a range of causal factors, such as 

disturbances in ecosystem, population growth, poverty, natural resource 

degradation, climate change, etc. In addition to this, she informed that 

owing to factors, such as physical isolation, lack of earthquake resistant 

building technology, poor communication technologies, the Himalayan 

communities were vulnerable to disasters. She highlighted the need for 

decentralised planning and assessment of tourism as some of the measures 

for decreasing the impact of disasters in the region. 

The summit was concluded on Green Lifestyle where the panellists 

expressed concerns about the growing disconnect between nature and the 

lifestyle and how environment aren’t been protected. 

 


Retail Space 

illumination 

Strategy in Lighting Design 

Roopesh Gupta, Founder & CEO, P3 Architectural Solutions 

“A well-illuminated 

store directly 

contributes to the 

overall personality of 

the shop. Retail 

Lighting is a strategic 

blend of colour, 

contrast and control as 

it is a key factor in not 

only enhancing the 

look and appeal of 

merchandise, but 

affecting the feeling of 

the space itself.” 

Lighting is a significant element in creating a 

unique retail space. It has to attract the 

customers and compel them to visit the shop. 

The perfect lighting also goes a long way to create a 

store personality while reflecting the brand and 

identity. Successful retail lighting is not something that 

is universal. It is a strategic blend of colour, contrast 

and control. More than application knowledge and 

experience, it requires proper application and lighting 

techniques utilising the latest contemporary lamp and 

luminaire technology. The quantity and quality of 

illumination, the impression it creates about the 

products, and the effect it has on the retail area’s 

appearance are contributors to the successful lighting 

design. 

A plethora of factors have to be considered while 

designing a retail space in order to achieve what we 

envision for. Some of the key characteristics that top 

the list are points of interest, cost, system control, 

colour rendering and appearance, light distribution, 

etc. 

The lighting should achieve the objectives of: 

Be a magnet for customers; pull them into the store 

and lead them through effectively. 

Make a statement: lay down the brand and identity; 

give a sense of price range. 

Create an aesthetically pleasing shopping 

environment; provide comfort and well-being for 

the customer. 

Highlight the various features and displays, enhance 

colours, textures and forms while avoiding glare. 

Reduce energy costs. 

Retail lighting must have great colour; choosing light 

with the right colour temperature and CRI is crucial. 

Lighting is a key factor in projecting and supporting 

store image; not only enhancing the look and appeal of 

merchandise, but affecting the feeling of the space 

itself. 

Understanding the contemporary needs of the retail 

space, P3 Architectural Solutions under its brand 

Flexa Lighting has lights that are made especially for 


high end retail spaces. Leveraging one of the 

fundamental qualities of the LED source, the small 

size, the range proposes in minimum size devices with 

high luminous efficiency, equipped with high 

chromatic rendering index LEDs, built in appliances 

with the utmost care for the dissipation and with a 

level of finishing that is at apt for retail spaces. 

The various aspects of lighting that can be 

amalgamated or used independently for retail spaces: 

Accent Lighting creates a dramatic prominence on 

merchandise using a focused light source. It adds 

depth, contrast and creates a focal point for 

merchandise to be displayed along with highlighting 

shape, texture, finish and colour of merchandise, 

pulling consumers to it. Accent lighting for retail 

stores helps to highlight certain parts of a store or lend 

a specific mood to the place. 

Decorative lighting serves 2 purposes – contributes to 

the lighting layers in a retail environment along with 

enhancing the look of the space as a design element. 

Decorative lighting includes pendants, sconces, 

chandeliers, table and floor lamps, etc. It should be 

kept in mind that decorative lighting should 

complement and add visual interest to the interior, as 

well as provide or contribute to the 

overall lighting plan. 

Window Lighting: Every retailer 

is competing for the customer’s 

attention; the retail window is an 

opportunity break the clutter and 

stand out. Attract customers with 

play, engage the passersby with 

intense white light using uniform 

saturated illumination, direct 

accent lighting to highlight and to 

define the merchandise. The whole 

idea is to create stopping power 

that will make people want to come 

inside and invest in the shop. 

Roopesh Gupta, the Founder 

and CEO of P3 Architectural 

Solutions, spearheaded the 

firm with a foundation of strong 

ethics and values in the 

businesses in 2010. Being a 

far sighted person and a man 

of strong principles and values, 

Gupta being a CA by 

educational attributes, looked 

forward to establish P3 

Architectural Solutions – one 

stop high end interior solution 

provider. 

P3 Architectural Solutions, for 

B2B and B2C consumers in 

India, aims to continuously 

satisfy the dynamic needs of 

the consumers, and building 

everlasting relationship with 

them. Its ability to meet the 

needs of the clients are based 

on the collective experience, 

the technical knowledge 

brought forth by the brands 

associated with it, and the 

passion to constantly innovate, 

develop and implement a top of 

the line tailor made solutions 

for each individual’s 

requirements. It provides all 

architectural and interiors 

solutions for residential and 

commercial projects. 

Shelf, Case & Counter Lighting: 

The most universal way to light 

these spaces is to use small sources 

– such as LED tapelight – close to 

the display objects, but hidden 

from view. It is crucial to display 

products creatively to heighten 

their appeal. Illuminance levels 

should be 3-5 times higher than the 

surrounding ambient light, 

highlighting merchandise for easy 

evaluation by the clients. 

A well-illuminated store directly 

contributes to the overall 

personality of the shop. Instead of 

increasing brightness in shops and 

therefore their energy 

consumption, use lighting that is 

high-contrast which makes 

perception easier and heightens the 

level of attention. 


Corporate kitchen design 

viewpoint 

Pep up the Workplace with 

Smart Kitchen Planning 

Mehaa Seth Marwah, Co-founder, Modspace.in 

“A dedicated space for 

refreshments and 

amenities in the 

kitchen is a must. A 

kitchen space with 

endless cups of coffee 

and conversations can 

provide a breath of 

fresh air for hardpressed 

employees, 

giving them muchneeded 

respite from 

the hectic pace of 

work.” 

It has been stated that human beings spend 

approximately one-third of their life at work, 

another one-third at sleeping or pretending to do 

so, and the remaining one-third doing everything else, 

including living off the money they have accumulated 

during their working years. So the question arises: if 

human beings are spending more waking hours at 

work than at home, what are their driving factors? It's 

no more a secret that a company's workplace has the 

potential to affect its employee retention, output and 

profitability. A great workplace does promote 

happiness amongst its employees and this can be 

achieved by doing the simplest of the things – a fully 

furnished interior and, of course, a well-designed 

kitchen! 

A dedicated space for refreshments and amenities in 

the kitchen is a must. A kitchen space with endless 

cups of coffee and conversations can provide a breath 

of fresh air for hard-pressed employees, giving them 

much-needed respite from the hectic pace of work. 

Kitchens are not only the biggest selling features of 

homes; they can be the greatest selling feature at 

workplaces, for being an indispensable community 


hub at the work place. It not only persuades the 

employees to mingle and share ideas but also becomes 

a breeding ground for innovative thoughts for the 

growth of an organisation. 

So how does one design this significant corner of a 

corporate administrative center? Any space, despite its 

size can provide various design options that can be 

beautiful as well as functional. Doing it up can be 

equally fun and simple if accomplished in an organised 

way. When designing a new kitchen in the workplace, 

it will be a smart move to keep up with the current 

trends, such as opting for walk-in pantries, mounting 

drawers over cupboards, and choosing appliances that 

are in vogue like, integrated coffee machines and 

induction cooktops. But foremost, it’s essential to 

work out a perfect layout for the space to be functional 

and fabulous. One may consider the below mentioned 

parameters: 

1.A kitchen space requires a careful planning and an 

unobstructed access. Begin with a well-defined layout 

that maybe small and space-efficient and accordingly, 

think whether it can be done up in an L-shaped, 

galley, U-shaped or an island form. Preferably, an 

open layout can make the kitchen easily accessible for 

everybody. 

2.Kitchens normally contain lots of stuff and require a 

lot of space to keep them concealed yet accessible. 

Thus, corporate kitchen spaces must have plenty of 

storage space for all its supplies. To further store the 

extra supplies, make space for lockable cabinets. 

3.Design your kitchen keeping in mind that the 

surfaces need to be cleaned up fast. Choose granite 

for countertops as it is extremely resistant to stains. 

Use quartz or any stone slab as backsplashes for easy 

cleaning options. For flooring, opt for something on 

which frequent damp mopping can work. 

4.The kitchens sink needs to be spacious enough for 

used several plates, cups and utensils that may pile up 

through the day. 

5.Regardless of a proper kitchen space, a corporate 

office must have a coffee maker, tea kettle and water 

cooler on every floor depending on the strength of its 

employees. 

6.The office kitchen space must house necessary 

appliances like microwave, small refrigerators, 

warmer, small induction cook tops to make life easier 

for the employees. 

7.Get your office an ample supply of reusable sets of 

cutlery, crockery, drinking cups and coffee mugs. 

8.To ensure that the office kitchen spaces are spick 

and span, there should be large capacity trash cans, 

waste baskets, slender waste baskets and corner cans, 

which will also help make tight spaces seem big in 

style. 

It is becoming an increasing trend to find a modified 

kitchen in today's workplace. Unlike a home 

kitchen, which is only meant for preparing food, 

workplace kitchens are a symbol of bonhomie and 

interaction with each other. As nurturing workplaces 

make one feel at home, it becomes necessary to 

introduce this element in the corporate space to 

allow employees to experience a comfort level and 

the genial, rejuvenating atmosphere they enjoy 

at home. 

 

Mehaa Seth Marwah is a cofounder 

of Modspace.in, an 

online modular furniture 

company delivering 

internationally designed 

customisable modular kitchens 

& wardrobes across India. 

Mehaa is the Social Media 

Manager for Modspace.in 

specialising in design 

aesthetics & content. 

Mehaa holds a dual bachelors 

degree in Psychology and 

Marketing and a Masters in 

Communication Studies from 

California State University, 

Chico. She enjoys health and 

fitness, travelling, movies and 

good food. 



Published on 3 rd of every month W.P.P. Lic No. MR / TECH / WPP-26 / SOUTH / 2016 Regd. No. MCS/179/2016-18 

Posted at Mumbai Patrika Channel Sorting Office Mumbai - 400 001 on 5th of Every Month

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