Low e Glazing – in the largest IT Park in Asia!

 

Saint-Gobain’s Nano used in TCS Siruseri 

Featured above is TCS Siruseri – a magnificent IT park in Chennai. The building uses advanced solar control glass from the stable of Saint-Gobain. Some say that TCS’ Siruseri Campus near Chennai is the largest IT campus in Asia, while some say that it’s quite simply an architectural marvel.

We say that it’s a symphony, made of cement and stone and glass, a composition so beautiful that it will spread awe amongst those who behold it. Spanning an area more than 28 hectares and a built up area of 70 acres –TCS Siruseri is the largest IT park in Asia. 12 buildings make up the TCS Siruseri Campus, arranged around a central spine that divides them into 6 on one side making the structure resemble a butterfly. The central spine is 400m long and 42m high. Designed by Uruguayan architectural firm Carlos Ott Architects in association with the renowned Indian Architect C R Narayan Rao, the park is a confluence of traditional Indian as well as modern design, of business and lifestyle. It is a great example of what a true vision can achieve for something that has the potential to go down the banal route, like any other IT park. Each building in the park is ensconced in a glass façade, as attractive as the structure itself. While glass has been the popular choice for commercial buildings in recent times, this glass is even more special than the usual. It’s a Low e Glazing solution provided by Saint-Gobain – SGG Nano.

SGG NANO is a high performance coated glass with advanced energy efficient solar control and thermal insulation (low e) properties. Like the other solar control product range, NANO cuts the external heat and radiations – thus reducing the cost for external cooling. Its high light transmission eliminates the need for artificial lighting during the daytime. Savings on energy costs is a key benefit from the solar control range of products – especially in a tropical country like India. It is an environment-friendly product that helps reduce energy consumption. Its low internal reflection properties assure the interiors have a clear outside view. It has a neutral appearance – making it aesthetically appealing. SGG Nano is a visual delight. It is available in a host of different colours, from virtually all shades of blue, green and even a few neutral hues.

TCS Siruseri used a combination of SGG Nano Icy Menthol and SGG Nano Moon Shine for its facades. SGG Nano – the green building glass has played a huge part in giving TCS’ Siruseri IT Park the grandeur it exudes, while making it a practical and green investment. TCS Siruseri is an IGBC Gold Rated building. Saint-Gobain glass used in double glazing has made its contribution for the green rating through energy savings by reducing artificial cooling and lighting costs.

Visit our blog for more SGG projects: http://bit.ly/LxMsFz

The DLF Building , Gurgaon

DLF Building in Gurgaon uses Reflective Glass

The 'DLF' building located in Gurgaon, India uses Sun-Ban Reflective Solar Control Glass that is energy efficient and the coating imparts a “mirror-like” appearance to Reflectasol, giving it visual appeal.

Sun Ban Reflective glass reflects a large proportion of incoming solar radiation, thereby restricting heat penetration into the building.

Reflective Solar control glass has been carefully designed to meet the twin requirements of architects - the functional and the aesthetic. The glass reflects the right quantity of sunlight so as to limit glare, while allowing adequate amount of natural light. Thus, the need for artificial lights as well as air conditioners is significantly reduced.

Reflective glass is energy efficient, and has high durability. Online coated glass, with high resistance towards surface abrasion undergoes minimal wear and tear.

DLF Building 5

This reflective solar control glass is best suited for buildings in geographies with tropical climate, where solar heat needs to be controlled in order to keep interiors cool.

DLF Building, Gurgaon

This reflective glass can be tempered and combined with many other products from the Saint-Gobain Glass range to prevent heat loss, cut out noise, or even stay clean by itself.

Know more about Reflective Glass: http://bit.ly/LCKhPY

Visit our blog for more SGG projects: http://bit.ly/LxMsFz

Anna Library – Asia’s largest library goes green!

The Anna Centenary Library

Featured above is Anna Library- a green building using Low e glass, a green building product from Saint-Gobain.  With blue glass facades glimmerings in the sunlight, the building is a delight to behold. The Anna Centenary Library is the largest library in Asia. A gasping monolith of glass and paper, it’s a haven for those bitten by the book bug, and an inspiration for architects. Named after C.N.  Annadurai, Tamil Nadu’s former Chief Minister who was a something of a famous bibliophile himself, the Anna Library can house up to a staggering 1.5 million books in various disciplines, newspapers and periodicals, manuscripts, books for handi-capable people including Braille, talking books, electronic and audio-visual media, computers and internet access.

A spectacular achievement by the State of Tamil Nadu, the Library is definitely a step in the right direction for Chennai’s infrastructure, breaking the stereotype that libraries need to be stuffy and chock-full of grim-looking wooden furniture. 

The different sections in the Library are the Braille Section, the Children’s Section, the Periodicals Section, the Tamil Books Section and the English Books Section. It even has an “Own Book Reading Section”, which allows you to bring your own copy of a favorite novel, sit back, relax and enjoy the tranquility. No one will disturb you here. 

Built on an 8-acre piece of land in Kotturpuram, the Library cost almost 180 crores to build. At any given point, the library can accommodate 1250 people, not including an auditorium of 50,000 sq.ft that can separately seat 1280 people. There’s also an amphitheatre on the terrace and two conference halls – is there nothing that this library doesn’t have? 

 Another important feather in this building’s cap is its eco-friendliness – it has been awarded the LEED Gold Rating (New Construction) by the Indian Green Building Council in recognition of its energy efficient design, with a rating of 43 points. A large part in this rating has been played by Saint-Gobain’s solar-control glass, Saint-Gobain Glass Nano, which regulates the temperature of the rooms and blocks the heat from entering the buildings, while allowing abundant light to pass in. This brings down electricity bills and reduces energy consumption by a huge margin In addition to this, the building’s skylight is made up of Antelio Plus ST 167 Sparkling Ice.The other factors that contribute to the building’s green nature are its planning principles – the Library Block has been built facing the North-East, which allows maximum daylight to penetrate the building, the amphitheater is built on the auditorium roof, minimizing internal heat gain. The vast expanse around the building is landscaped, so that it creates a barrier between external noise and increases aesthetic value. Plus, green is easy on the eyes, as well as the environment.

More than 60% of the materials used to construct this amazing structure are locally sourced and recyclable, and it also believes in waste-water recycling. The lighting is environmentally-friendly as well, with a combination of LED and CFL lamps illuminating the way. Further awareness regarding Environmental Conservation and Green Principles among the public is promoted through use of graphics, posters and even an artificial tree in the heart of the Children’s Area that promotes the message of nature conservation.

A brilliant green dream is brilliantly realized through the Anna Centenary Library, a truly altruistic and progressive construction by the State of Tamil Nadu. If you’re ever in the area, don’t forget to stop by for a visit!

Read more on the low e glazing product used for Anna Library -SGG Nano

Read more on website about Solar Control Glass  – used for Glass skylights.

Visit our Blog: architecture.in.saint-gobain-glass

Gen Next Glass - ELECTROCHROME

 Electrochrome Glass in a clear state - resembles a normal glass

Architecture is one of those rare fields in which art and science come together to compose a mellifluous harmony. Often, constructions of an era are a mere reflection of the activity on the streets they border, a product composed of social and technological excesses of their time. In the 20s, for example, Art Deco was born out of the Machine Age as well as the decade’s interest in archeology, which made it a curious combination of the modern and the ancient. Mankind and the buildings we build to dwell and work in go hand in hand, and the further we progress, the more intelligent and flamboyant our constructions get.  From the sunlit edifices of the Stonehenge to the glassical facade of the Burj Khalifa, architecture has been society’s silent expression throughout time.

Electrochrome Glass in a completely tinted state

There is no denying the role of glass in modern architecture. Not only is it aesthetically appealing, but it is also one of the most functional materials used in construction when it comes to providing transparency and letting in natural light. And now, as a result of our successful meddling, glass is about to elevate itself to a whole new level of function. We’re talking about an absolutely marvelous piece of innovation – Electrochrome Glass. An innovation that is bound to alter the way we think about glass and the way it’s used in architecture.

Electrochrome Glass, as the name suggests, is a smart glass. It’s a glass that can, under a low-voltage current, change its tint and reflective properties depending on the external temperature. It can run independently or under manual control, depending on how you want it, and in a hybrid mode. The innumerable sensors installed in the glass are sensitive to the sunlight falling on the exterior face and the occupancy of the room inside. The glass then employs combinatorial logic – and decides what mode each pane of glass should be in, based on its position and direction. The possible modes are Glare Mode, Daylight Mode, Clear Mode and Tinted Mode. The outcome depends on the light sensors, the occupancy sensors, the solar angle and BAS input. 

Electrochrome Glass in a clear state

To illustrate the effects – in a building constructed with Electrochrome Glass, the east-facing zone will run on Glare control mode in the morning, making the east-facing facades tint heavily. All other zones will run on Clear Mode to maximise light within each room. As the heat outside increases as the day passes-by, increasing the load on A/C, all zones shift to full-tint mode. In the evening, as the sun is setting, the west facing walls and bottom windows will tint to block glare while all others will clear to optimise available daylight. To put it simply, Electrochrome Glass can keep the interiors of the building snug, and the exteriors stunning. Wonderful, isn’t it? 

Innovative Glass used at Chabot College, Hayward CA

Electrochrome Glass also saves energy and lowers the electricity bill. Once it’s installed, the energy use of the building is reduced up to 20%, and the peak demand is lowered up to 30%. The need for blind/ shade maintenance is eliminated. What’s more, this glass also comes with a superior fading protection. Is it a wonder then that this smart glass earns you 12 LEED points for the building? That’s the highest earned by any other identified technology so far.  Not to mention the fact that it enhances the building’s sale and rental value. You can use this glass for office space, commercial buildings, penthouses, villas, restaurants and hotels, as well as yachts and cruise ships – even automobiles. 

Visit our page for more details: http://bit.ly/LEaZpY

 Read more on this next gen glass at our blogs: http://bit.ly/ML9WcL

See interesting pictures of glass buildings using Electrochrome glass on our Flickr! : http://bit.ly/LE8TXh

Courtesy: architecture.in.saint-gobain-glass.com