“Impressive and attractive facades play important role in enhancing the urban skyline”

Surinder Bahga, Architect, Saakaar Foundation talks about the importance of facades in the urban landscape.

What are the emerging trends in residential as well as commercial facades?
With the advent of nuclear families, demand of small houses or apartments has increased considerably. Normally people want houses having different look than other houses in the street. In commercial segment also, there is a desire to have aesthetically appealing, yet different looking facades. A long list of materials has come in the market. Till few years back, there was a trend to use exposed concrete, exposed brickwork or cladding with stone keeping its original colour intact. But with the passing of time, weathering affects on such materials and non availability of skilled labour have motivated owners of residential or commercial buildings to opt for other man made or machine-made cladding options like different types of tiles or metallic finishes.

How has the contemporary design sense of global Indians enhanced the importance of facades in urban skylines?
Impressive and attractive facades play important role in enhancing the street picture and urban skyline. People have lot of exposure through internet and by visiting foreign countries. As a result sense of design and appreciation of art has developed in most people. When clients come to consult architects, they normally come with collection of selected photographs of facades to communicate their taste to architect. In planned cities like Chandigarh, there are façade controls, material controls and height controls too. Owners of buildings have to abide by building bye-laws too while finalizing façade designs.

What are the challenges in installing facades in high-rises and how do you address the problems involved?
Challenges in installing facades in high-rises are many. Materials and design should take care of high wind pressure and temperature at high level. One can imagine the kind of detailing and selection of materials which is needed for structures like Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

Next challenge is fire. There are various examples when fire from lower storeys have reached upper levels. Stringent fire guidelines are there to follow. Fire retardant materials should be selected in designing facades. Maintenance of high-rise facades is another big issue. Manually cleaning facades is really very risky and problematic. Durable materials which need less maintenance should be preferred and facade cleaning equipments should be used.

Surinder Bahga, Architect, Saakaar Foundation

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