GREEN ARCHITECTURE

Genzyme Corporation, a biotechnology company, required a new headquarters in Cambridge, with a range of public amenities, completely encapsulated with “Green” features. The building, completed in 2004, was for seen as a focal point for employees and visitors and offers exemplary working conditions. The design team, client and the construction team balanced aesthetics, cost, constructibility and reliability  to design an environmentally responsible corporate headquarters.

New environmental design approaches encompass a holistic approach to architecture. Genzyme addresses issues recognized as possible causes of 'sick building syndrome', with a floor plan that provides external and internal views and contact with nature's ever-changing conditions, pre-empting the new European 'blue green legislation' now coming into force.
Genzyme's floor plates are varied in shape around a central open atrium, with stairs and circulation bridges spanning departments and numerous, dispersed inner gardens, all of which create opportunities for greater staff interaction and communication. Natural window ventilation further enhances the office space wherein the mechanical systems serving those rooms  automatically close down to save energy when the windows are open. The building's outdoor ventilation systems are continually being monitored via the Building Management System (BMS) as is the quality of the indoor environment via CO2 sensors., The controlled use of natural light plays a major role in both the quality of the indoor environment and economic aspects of the project. As the interiors are flooded with daylight, workstations are provided with local, individual controls to protect against glare and excessive solar heat gain. The daylight enhancement system is designed to bring the greatest possible amount of natural light into the building, and consists of the following.

components: 
...A natural light collection system, with heliostats and mirrors mounted on the roof, which  redirects sunlight into the building atrium.
...Automated Louvered blinds continually adjust in the interior façade, according to the sun's position, both
controlling solar gain and bouncing natural light into the office floor. The lighting system design has contributed to a dramatic forty- five percent reduction in the building's annual energy consumption.
All these measures resulted in a LEED rating of platinum — the highest, quantifiable US standard for sustainable architecture.

Sustainability was the key design factor

Transparence Success Story 2007

It is with a view to endow budding designers with an adequate understanding on glass as a building material  and to kindle their curiosity on the structural and aesthetic possibilities of this versatile material that, Saint-Gobain Glass India (SGGI) launched Transparence – Design Competition for the students of Architecture and Interior design in the year 2005.

Ethos partnered with Saint-Gobain in this venture to reach out to students. Transparence is an opportunity for students of architecture to explore the unknown and give flight to their imagination. For Saint-Gobain and Ethos, Transparence is a forum to showcase and encourage young talent.As Mr. B Santhanam, President - Flat Glass, South Asia and Managing Director, SGGI puts it, “This is a unique event because we are trying to engage the student community – it's the first of its kind in the glass industry. We want to energise the student community and, ignite the passion of our youth.”

OVERVIEW

The enthusiasm of the participants and the overwhelming response from the student fraternity and faculty members justified the launch of the next edition – Transparence 07, albeit in a slightly altered avatar. The competition was announced on July 15th 2007. The last date for students to register as teams with a maximum of three members was 31st of August 2007 and the final date for submission of completed entries was 15th of September 2007. Transparence 07 was also a two-stage competition but with the first stage being judged at Regional levels – North at Delhi, East at Kolkata, West at Mumbai and South at

Chennai.

Regional Rounds

The regional rounds were conceived to encourage more participation. The top two teams that emerged winners at each of the four Regional Rounds received a cash prize of Rs.18000 each and presented their designs at the Grand Finale during the Golden Jubilee convention of NASA on 30^th December 2007. The overall prize money for the event was in excess of Rs. 3 Lakhs.The theme chosen for Transparence 07 – “A Fashion Retail House” is in keeping with the times. The participants were asked to design a signature building for a brand of international repute in the field of fashion, accessories and fragrances to be launched in India. This building was to be designed as an icon not only for the brand but for the city as well.

Theme

The theme chosen for Transparence 07 – “A Fashion Retail House” is in keeping with the times. The  participants were asked to design a signature building for a brand of international repute in the field of fashion, accessories and fragrances to be launched in India. This building was to be designed as an icon

not only for the brand but for the city as well. 

The design brief was just a guideline and the participants were expected to create their own data. All the

participants were expected to work on the architectural  design as well as the interior design and arrive at a comprehensive solution. There was only a single category of adjudication unlike

the previous edition to encourage holistic thinking of the students. Eminent architect Ar. Raman Sikka was the driving force behind this year's edition by being the “Mentor” for the entire event.

Judging Criteria

The criteria for judging included :  

1. Layout & Design Purpose Achievement
2.  Technical Competence
3.  Transparency & designed use of glass in Exteriors
4.  Transparency & designed use of glass in Interiors
5. Presentation 

Participation

Transparence 07 saw a total of 364 registrations from 80 colleges across India, 133 of which translated

into submissions from 56 colleges.

GRAND FINALE

The second and final stage of competition enabled the finalists from the regional rounds to take their designs to a logical end.

The jury's comments and feedback helped the teams evolve and develop further on their schemes and exploit their creative potential to the utmost.

All the finalists came up with full fledged comprehensive final submissions with 3D walkthroughs and presented their designs

to an eminent panel of jury comprising Ar. C.N. Raghavendran, Ar. Atul Shah and Ar. Achal Kataria. The Jury was extremely impressed by the quality of the entries - the sheer innovation, the use of computer graphics and the stunning designs. The amount of research the teams had put in designing the entries came in for special mention.

This event also saw the launch of “Glass Academy” a knowledge platform form Saint-Gobain which has been envisioned to share with the industry and the student community the latest trends and technologies in architecture related to glass and allied sectors.

Transparence has come a long way within a short span of time in playing a major role in integrating the academia and the Industry.

National Winner

  Subhajit Das 

(Jadavpur University)

National Runner up 1

TM.Kavitha, B.Malli Saravanan

T.Satish Vasanth Kumar

(SAP Chennai)

 

National Runner up II

Arun Kumar

Ramanan

(SAP Chennai)

Alokananda Banerjee

Palin sikari

Sutirtha Bagchi

(Jadavpur University)