Fintec Iconic Tower: creating holistic urban experience

blocher partners has designed the Fintec Iconic Tower for the centre of New Town – a new district currently under construction on the north-eastern outskirts of Kolkata. The building complex is located at the end of a stretch of green, an oasis in the heart of this urban conurbation with its 4.5 million residents. The ensemble boasts two eye-catching towers which act as the landmark.

Residential buildings, commercial facilities, the relevant infrastructure and extensive green areas are currently arising across a total area of 2,800 hectares in Kolkata’s New Town district. The towers with their mixture of homes, offices, retail outlets and integrated parking, blend into the urban masterplan shaping the fabric of this new quarter.

The 140-metre-high towers with 39 stories have been designed to interact with their surroundings. The architects have opted for a greened podium with staggered levels that act as an extension of the park areas outside. The three stories in question house attractive retail units that stand out for the generous shop frontage. The four levels of day-lit parking situated directly above them make for convenient and easy access.

Intelligent façade structure, greened communal areas
Two corresponding towers, the one destined for residential use, the other for commercial activities, rise up from this joint podium. The idea behind the design is that the building looks completely different depending on your vantage point. The side facing the city presents the towers in a decidedly urban light. By contrast, the side looking out over the park is characterised by regular overhangs in the building volume. Greened atriums form the interface between the two and are protected by a refined “skin” made of wire meshing. This greenery again references the parklands outside and ensures pleasant ambient temperatures inside the buildings.

While the two towers share the same basic grid, they differ in terms of execution, which makes the structure eye-catching. The alternation between closed and open sections lends the residential tower a very vibrant, irregular appearance. By contrast, the office tower’s frontage features clarity and regularity. Its vertical shading elements together create diagonals and thus a three-dimensional building shell that changes its appearance depending on where you are standing.

Sustainability
Ecological aspects played a major role in the design of Iconic Towers. The footprints foster cross-ventilation and air exchange, thus lowering the energy inputs for air conditioning. Graywater recycling and the use of rainwater contribute to the buildings’ sustainability profile. Shading elements lend the façade its own special character. Moreover, the ground plans are very flexible. Access to the building complex was planned carefully, with different entrances depending on the type of usage – be it for retail, offices or residents. Overall, the focus is on clarity and ease of orientation.

A Sky Bar – the crowning glory: The roof-top terrace with its view out over the lines of the landscaped park below, forms a brand new hotspot. Especially when combined with the residential tower’s communal terrace. A great place to relax and enjoy the sunset which is open to public. The concept is rounded out by additional services and shared facilities including a swimming pool, café, restaurant, yoga terrace, gym facilities, movie theatre, library, multi-purpose rooms, playgrounds and play areas. In this way, both residents and visitors can enjoy a whole range of additional conveniences.

Architecture
Design means networking to create holistic concepts that users can experience. Experts from various disciplines work hand in hand and across disciplines: over 160 architects, interior designers, product designers, graphic designers, communication specialists and sociologist at three locations develop coherent projects, which take all the various details into consideration. In Stuttgart, Mannheim and Ahmedabad in India, the architecture firm creates projects for the public sector as well as private houses, hotels, office buildings, shopping centres, stores, department stores and hybrid buildings.

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