Green Practices

“The making of anything and everything starts with a good intention of creating spaces that respond to the micro climate and facilitate circulation of natural elements through the building apart from testifying to the norms of green ratings” Sensitive planning while following elements of vernacular architecture, thoroughly using the natural resources (sun wind)  is the focus of design in this project. For this campus creating a work environment, wherein the workspaces are surrounded by the landscape elements and flushed with natural light, exerts a positive influence on the psyche of the users.

1. Eco-friendly material palette: Use of locally available sustainable material and in situ work for building & interiors (locally made brick, vacuum dewatered floors , Metal in its raw form and concrete)has been the basic material palette.
2. Water: Introduction of water body in the front building façade facilitates circulation of water-cooled air throughout the office premises in the hot summer months.
3. Breathing wall: The front façade of the building, the breathing wall as we call it, is comprised of perforated metal panels and green plantation in & out, which enables circulation of air, cutting off the harsh summer glare.
4. Courts & Light: Introduction of courtyards facilitate seepage of abundant natural light, drastically reducing dependability on artificial lights. Use of intelligent lighting system through LEDs, occupancy sensor and zero night light pollution.
5. Avoided (toxic): There has been no use of non-biodegradable &toxic materials such as POP, paint, artificial cladding and tiles in this project. 
6. Waste Management: Waste segregation at source and onsite waste treatment and generating valuable manure contributes to reducing carbon footprint.
7. STP: 100% water from STP is used for Flushing, landscape and HVAC system.
8. Water Management: 30% water is saved through waste water cycling, rain water harvesting systems, low flow fixtures, dual flushing system etc.
9. Landscape: Project land area is landscaped with lawn and ground cover which consumes less water, altogether adding to improve atmosphere and surrounding air.
10. BMS: Integrated building management system to control and monitor operations and to optimize energy, water and air utilization.
11. Site Management: Reuse of excavated soil for landscape and filling which has reduced land erosion and air pollution.
12. Environmental Awareness: All indoor and outdoor units for HVAC system are CFCs and HCFCs free which are ozone depleting substances. Halon gas free fire fighting system installed for entire campus.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

A 40,000 sq ft. (Phase-1) Corporate office cum factory set-out in the city of Hanoi, Vietnam, explores the rustic and discreet material palette aligning the client requirements to the site context. Being a corporate office and factory setup within the same campus (in fact adjoining each other), spaces were planned introvert. A series of courts interwoven in the work zones breathe freshness in the ambience. A gaze across the office presents one with the pleasing view of landscape and water instead of the blind partitions and decorative interiors.

 The whole building is divided into front and back bays. The front bay of the building adjoins the factory floor beyond, separated from it by a long brick wall. The reception area is a bold statement in itself. The brick wall as the backdrop of the wooden reception desk is distinct. The court basks in brilliant shadows casted by the vertical brick offsets in the plain unobtrusive brick walls. As one traverses through the passage, a series of courts are encountered along. The partition walls for all the cubicles and workspaces give way to transparent glass. Hence the spaces seem interwoven into each other looking into all the intermediate courts. The mass is a simple form-finished concrete envelope with long colorful perforated metal screen adorned with landscape. Grid planning while carving out the quintessential courtyards is the strength of design. 

SPECIAL FEATURES

Hanoi experiences a warm humid sub-tropical climate with enough rainfall while winters are dull and hazy. Hence the effort was to create an ambience which would do justice to the interior spaces both in summers as well as winters. Series of ‘internal courts’ as many as eight keep the office areas fresh by bringing in enough natural light even when the sky is dull. A long perforated panel’s screen (the breathing wall, as we call it) adorned with landscape in and out on the front facade cuts off the glare in the summer months. This screen also negates the use of blinds/curtains in the front façade. The panels painted in different hues stand-out in the otherwise restrained concrete façade. 

MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION DETAIL

Demand for understated interiors in the tropical-temperate climatic zone of Vietnam, allowed us to fully utilize the beauty of earthy materials. The strong sunlight beautifully enhances the material palette. Be it the vacuum dewatered floor, the brick wall or the raw metal, light reflects brilliantly through them. Brick is the main element of interior design in this office space. Various forms and hues of brick make for a unique element in the interior spaces. The twisted brick wall forms the reception backdrop and it drew inspiration from a visit to a local brick kiln in Hanoi. The building envelope in form finished concrete offers a subtle contrast to the fierce red of the brick. The floating MS staircase imparts the lightness to the circulating areas. Customized stretched metal ropes in place of staircase railing offer the transparency.

There has been no use of boastful materials and whole palette is locally sourced while fully exploiting the abundantly available resources and local labor. Usual interior elements such as cladding, carpentry, POP  false ceiling, painting and flooring work have no role to play in this project & are completely eliminated.