The Senco Gold project was offered as a commercial building which was to be designed on the main Vikas Marg Road. The client wanted us to design it with halls that will be let out to other clients after the completion of the project.
The only challenge was to create a façade that was not only intriguing during the day, but also during the night as it was catering to two areas – one was the pedestrian, the vehicular as it falls on 150-feet wide Vikas Marg Road. The other was the metro line that was running just across it 75 feet away from the main building.
Since the direction of the plot was north-west, which didn’t allow straight natural light to penetrate inside, we had an option where we would completely close the building from the front, block the view outside that can support the future occupiers to highlight and focus on the interiors more.
We had to be very calculative as we had to suffice the FAR of the Government norms, we had to keep in mind the fact that the building had to be designed in a plot size of 36 feet x 80 feet. And on the other side, there were other properties.
The area in the backside, I mean the back lane was facing the residential part of the site, and the front was facing the commercials, so that was a challenge to us. Hence we decided that instead of having too many pockets inside the building, let’s have one big area at the back towards the northeastern side, which would also balance the Vastu of the structure. Also, I feel the role of an architect is also of a social uplifter, and not a booster to create a nuisance value by constructing a commercial building within a residential area although the frontal side was facing the main road.
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The real challenge was when I decided to utilize those gaps between each designed unit for some interesting lighting system which will highlight the façade. I had to plan and calculate how much intensity the lights should have because the distance to see this building was 75 feet from the road level and 150 feet which is on the other side of the road. The whole play of the lights had to be managed very intelligently.
There’s a saying for architects that for good thoughts and designs, he should not limit himself to his studio or office. The whole world can be a studio for him, anywhere anytime an idea of a design can just come up.
I had visited FOAID in 2018 at Okhla, where I visited the Aludecor stall where the new range of 3D designs and copper panels were displayed. I was stunned to see such a creation with sophisticated colour combinations.
The entire form of each unit made me realize that this has a direct connection with my project. After speaking to their representatives, I decided this is the material I am going to use for Senco Gold & Diamonds.
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When I saw the designs at the Aludecor stall, I felt this is the material I wanted to use, but the colour should not be the same as I was keen to utilize the gaps between each unit for the lights. So if the lighting pattern had to highlight the façade, then the panels should be in matte and not in glossy shades. Secondly, the shade had to be white, black or nearer to a combination of both, such as grey. White would have become difficult to maintain, and black would have been too much of a contrast to the lights.
I suddenly discovered that a Sand-finish grey colour existed in the Aludecor range of panels which suited the exact design I had in mind.
I also recalled the colour of the year 2018 was dominated by grey as most of the architects and designers were using various hues and shades of that colour.
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I appreciate my client for giving me a free hand to create a unique façade elevation. The only requirement he mentioned was that the façade elevation had to be very different from any other showroom in that area. And because he had given me the freedom to create it my way, I could achieve this level of façade design.
I feel no design pattern is tough to create as far as you have perceived everything well with all your working drawings and a design outcome in your mind. Today as I see my project shining and well lit up during evenings attracting every passer-by, I feel the satisfaction in my heart.
The story began from the time I saw the panels displayed at Aludecor’s FOAID stall that finally took the shape of the elevation. The choice was made basis the designs and colours of the panels. Not only me, but even my client was satisfied at the end of the project. I remember I was sitting at his office discussing the façade elevation when he had asked me to design a particular elevation with a unique style. At the end of the project, I am satisfied that I could give him the elevation he wanted, or I would say I also created the elevation that I had wanted.
Project Name – Senco Gold & Diamonds Showroom
Place – Vikas Marg, New Delhi
Architect – Ar. Neeraj Dhingra
Firm Name – Dhingra & Associates, New Delhi
Material(s) Used – Aludecor ACP Sheet – SD-6002 (Shadow Grey)
