FACT FILE:
Typology : Commercial
Name of Project : Temenos
Location : Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi
Name of Client : Mr. Archit Garg
Design Firm : Studio Lotus
Built Up Area : 25375 sq ft
Site Area : 6600 sq ft
Date of Commencement : June 2015
Date of Completion : June 2018
Design Principal : Sidhartha Talwar
Design Team : Pankhuri Goel, Karishma Kalra, Shoaib Kamili,
Deepak Mahour, Akanksha Luthra, Priya indal,
Siddharth Wadhwa
Photographer : Andre J Fanthome
The aluminium skin is wrapped around the top half of the glazed
superstructure, gently undulating to create a peripheral buffer space
between the façade and the interiors. Linear gardens run through these
buffer spaces; the workspaces – separated from the aluminium façade
with floor-to-ceiling glazing – overlook the linear gardens, which
are illuminated with diffused light filtering through the perforated
façade like sunlight through tree canopies. The second floor features
a terraced garden that extends along the western and eastern flanks
of the office floors in the form of narrow planters. On the roof is a
landscaped court, with Washingtonia palms planted on the periphery
of the pergolas bearing solar photovoltaic panels; the panels help cut
down the building’s dependence on the municipal electric supply by
taking care of on-site water heating needs.The perforations in the façade continue along the east, west and north
side, creating a seamless appearance for all passers-by. The perforations
have been carefully calibrated to cut out solar glare and dampen external
noise, to create a tranquil indoor experience for the user. Taking the
necessity of advertising space into consideration, the façade of the retail
floor features metal louvers that can be customized for display. With
the folded façade staggered backwards, the placement of the louvers
ensures that the overall aesthetic scheme of the building is not marred
by the display, especially when viewed from the Ring Road. The custom
perforations also reduce the visual weight of the monolithic façade, and
lend it a glowing quality at night-time when the lights come on in the
office spaces and illuminate the building from within like a lantern.Aesthetic distinction aside, the façade of Temenos also aids energy
saving. The perforations have been prototyped to admit upto 50% of
the incident solar radiation, reducing the heat gain of the building
considerably. As the second barrier to incident radiation, the buffer
space between the façade and the glazing acts as a heat sink, which
is enhanced by the potted plants placed within this cavity. The third
barrier is the glazing itself, which consists of high-performance glass
which reduces ingress of heat and maximizes penetration of diffused
light. As such, the workspaces receive ample natural light during
daytime, reducing the requirement for electric lighting.Standing in stark contrast to the concrete buildings surrounding it,
Temenos asserts a unique visual identity in the urban milieu. The
building also provides an indoor environment that is conducive to
concentration and productivity, despite its vicinity to heavy traffic.
In addition to these, the integration of elevated gardens, sustainable
interventions for energy efficiency, and an inward-oriented planning
intent has helped create a truly distinctive commercial complex that
defies the challenges posed by its context.