25 minute read
FLOATING ROOF HOUSE
Introduction Chandigarh--one of the well-designed cities of India--is known for its eyecatching architecture, sparklingly clean roads, and lush greenery. Passionate and proto-typical Ar. Floating Rahul Bamba hails from the same Roof accentuating architectural land, where he created this spectacular 8500-sq. ft. floating roof house. Situated in Zirakpur (Mohali), Silver City Greens is located at the foothills of Shivalik. It reflects the fusion of latest architectural technology and modern lifestyle. House Clients’ Requirements With a plot measuring 50ft x 90ft, the Goels had a long awaited plan of getting designed a residence-cumoffice, which eventually got a planner in the face of Ar. Rahul Bamba. Their requirement was pretty simple: to Duplex with Internal Courtyard have a spacious house-cum-office with the feel of openness and greeneries around. Having elements of nature imbibed into Design Quotients it, this office-cum-house is connected yet Considering the same, the office has been designed in a manner that separated giving the homeowners a sense despite being an inevitable part of the residential property, its operation of relaxation with ample open spaces doesn’t disturb the decorum of the inside the four walls. residence. It got connected directly with the outer periphery to avoid any
Ar. Rahul Bamba, PRINCIPAL, ARB
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movement of office staff or clients from within the residential area. The lift is mounted in the duplex to give the homeowners and other occupants a sense of relaxation.
The ground floor of the residential part has two bedrooms--one each in the front and the back. Drawing room, living area, kitchen and dining space are all on this floor and conjunct in the central area or the internal courtyard. The double height puja room gives a gracious feel to the space. All these are placed in manner that whole view of the house can be enjoyed standing in any part of the central area, which also has a wooden staircase giving access to the duplex.
Standing at the main entrance, one can see the last wall of this office-cum-residence bringing a feel of openness to the inhabitants. So, no claustrophobic feeling despite staying inside the four walls. Presence of water bodies in the back and right at the main entrance underneath floating steps bring a different feel altogether.
In all, this house has four bedrooms. Besides a master bedroom, there are three more bedrooms--one each for parents, children, and guests. The terrace is entirely open although there is a garden area that houses a gazeebo and a bar for a family get together or to occasionally treat the guests.
The Greeneries
The house is surrounded with the green areas in the form of gardens in the front, rear, and sides. There is a huge walking closet connected to the toilet, which is separated by glass door partitions. Inside the toilet, there also is a green area that allows natural light to keep the washroom illuminated during the daytime.
Apart from the glass railing towards the central area, the first floor also sports a glass bridge enhancing the double height area of the internal courtyard. There is a home theatre and an open family lounge on this floor for entertaining sessions and family bonding. These would allow them to enjoy music, movies and tea together.
Key Features
These include the double floating MS roofs adding hue to the entre architecture, the double-height entrance--all covered with louvers, the triple-height glass windows at the front that connect it with the outer world and make it look far more spacious from inside. The side passage that appears to be a part of the residence is entirely segregated and leads to the servant quarter, giving the servants access to kitchen and all the floors through the corridor--and not from inside the main residence. BMR SPECIFICATIONS
FLOATING ROOF HOUSE
Location: Zeerakpur, Silver City, Chandigarh Architect: Ar. Rahul Bamba Design Team: Ar. Rahul Bamba & Team Project Area: 8500 sqft Photo Credit: Vinit Kumar Singh (BMR)
LE CASA DELUXE ONE POINT SOLUTION FOR INTERIOR & EXTERIOR NEEDS
It’s the story of an ambitious man, Mohit Singal, who, after completing his PG in Business Economics, worked in various organisations in different capacities. His dream of being an entrepreneur never let him settled. And in 2004, he flagged off his own venture, Zap Exports Pvt. Ltd. and started catering to the needs of Scandinavian countries. In 2006, he launched a couple of brands–D'Spaze and Luxe Touch–serving the requirements of interiors and exteriors through imports. Moving forward, in 2011, he went on to launch a retail brand, Le Casa Deluxe, under a sister company Intext Concepts through which he introduced various other items of the Gen Next choice. The BMR Editorial Team caught him at his office to explore his journey. Excerpts:
How many brands do you have and which all products do you offer under each brand?
We have three brands and under each brand we have different kind of products and services. Under our brand, D'Spaze, we are offering WPC panels, PVC panels, 3D Foam stickers, 3D PVC panels, and artificial grass. We launched our brand, Luxe Touch, to cater to the luxury segment of interiors, wherein we offer soft leather panelling and leather boards, while Le Casa Deluxe is our retail brand under which we offer all the products related to floors, walls and ceilings. This includes solutions for exteriors, terrace and decking.
We offer WPC decking, cladding, pergolas, terrace developments, and many ranges of flooring solutions, which include carpet tiles, wooden flooring, PVC flooring, and SPC flooring. All the paneling solutions that we have are also fit for ceiling. In windows, we offer insect bash, interior & exterior blinds, curtain rods, etc.
Of the numerous products, which one is your star product?
Presently, outdoor products are doing very well owing to the rapidly picking concept of terrace development. People are investing in their terraces, and, in turn, pushing the demand up for pergolas and gazeebos. Apart from that we do offer solution for paneling, which is our strength. Along with that a market for louvers is really hot which we are concentrating on.
How did you get this idea?
Nowadays, markets are very dynamic which forces to think forward to be in sync with it. We observed that clientbased requirements are changing as they also want service. Most of the clients that we have come across and the way we understand them, lack the understanding of both products as well as solutions that suit them best. They also lack the understating as to how to get the job done. Considering all this, we came up with the concept of complete service offering to the clients with an expansive range of solutions alongside the guidance in selection of the most appropriate products. Thus, we have become a one-point solution for their interior and exterior needs.
How do you market your products? Do you also have a distribution network?
Under Zap Exports, we have 150 dealers spread across the country for selling our D'Spaze and Luxe Touch brands. For Le Casa Deluxe, we are concentrating more on NCR. But the concept developed through Le Casa Deluxe has immense potential, and hence, we have decided to expand our presence. Accordingly, we are targeting around 20 franchisees across the country. BMR
Mohit Singal, MD, Zap Exports Pvt. Ltd.
How Le Casa Deluxe is different from the rest of your brands?
Under Le Casa Deluxe, we don’t only offer the products but also guidance and end-to-end services-right from measurement of the space to guidance in selection of the most appropriate products and then to installation, followed by aftersales service.
Smart Bathrooms AN INEVITABLE FUTURE
Introduction
The way technological innovations and inventions are breaking the boundaries, and appliances are being turned into gadgets while sensibly responding to human voice, it’s no wonder home automation, as a ‘must have feature’, is rapidly making inroad in the Indian mind-set. By the way, it’s already a global trend. In a way, home automation solution converts a home into a smart home, simply by combining electrical, multimedia, and telecommunications technologies into a single user-friendly smart or automatic home solution.
Smart Homes
Therefore, these include smart products and personal assistant devices that allow users to connect to a central hub, via a phone, tablet, or computer from anywhere, making life easier. From voice-controlled virtual assistants to app-controlled thermostats, the automation technology has steered the future into our homes. As technology continues to improvise, even spaces as personal as our home bathrooms, will likely only grow more and more.
The Boom
Last couple of years have witnessed an unprecedented boom in smart home devices to an extent that those devices have become must-haves for tech-savvy homeowners looking to monitor their homes, protect their kids or have smarter kitchens, among other things. And, smart bathroom technology is one of the latest inclusions in it. Smart bathroom gadgets can offer convenience, safety, reduced waste, and improved health.
However, these smart technologies aren’t limited only to affluent residences. While the hospitality industry is rapidly implementing smart technology to improve their customer experiences, these are also becoming popular additions in a variety of business sectors, including spas and salons, malls, and sports & leisure centres. In this issue of Building Material Reporter (BMR), we are focussing more on what, why and how of smart bathrooms in near future.
What’s Smart Bathroom?
In one line, it’s the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) into bathrooms. Just like many other household appliances, bathrooms are also getting automated with the use of smart technologies at various levels; and smart bathroom is a collection of feature-rich components/devices, such as smart lights, smart mirrors, smart showers, smart WCs, smart taps, and smart bathtubs. All of these can connect with each other and integrate with the existing smart home network-giving users more control and elevating their overall shower experiences.
Asmart bathroom gets connected with smart home devices, including smartphones and voice control systems, to provide users with complete control and customisation of bathroom experience, enabling them to use features, like personalised temperature control and bath fill control options. A recent report on smart bathroom emphasises that areas for device charging, smart lighting, and smart toilets are leading the pack, in terms of popular smart bathroom additions.
In fact, smart bathrooms--a combination of bathroom products with smart features, such as sensor, automatic, and touchless systems--are the need of the hour. Different types of smart bathroom products include smart showers, geysers, baths, water closets, lighting, and the like. Smart showers come with remote sensing, and help to control temperature, duration, and flow by using a phone or voice activation by paring it with home systems. Similarly, a smart toilet has sensors that provide night light, automatic flushing, automatic opening & closing of the lid, etc. All these products or fittings help save water and minimise carbon footprints.
Functionality Matters
But what factors are pushing the trend? Is it only the technologies that are influencing the GenZ who love to spend on these luxuries? Experts believe that it’s not only the inclination towards tech-savvy feature-rich products, but also the increasing awareness towards environment that is leading to the adoption of those sustainable or energy-saving bathroom products which are smart and high on functionality. It really feels awesome to be able to turn the geyser on remotely, and get the warm water ready to freshen up when needed.
At a time when there’s seemingly no product that hasn’t been tech-enabled to make users life a bit easier, functionality considerations are paramount in the smallest room of the house. From glass that shifts between transparent and opaque to voice-activated lighting, appliances and fixtures have been made all the more accessible with the rise in popularity of Google Home and Amazon’s Alexa. And, the story doesn’t end here. Market has more wonders. For example, there’s a lighting system that reproduces the effects of natural sunlight for internal bathrooms with no windows.
Driving Factors
Apart from the increasing inclination of GenZ towards technology and automation, the real push has been given by the pandemic. This is why post COVID-19, the bathroom product manufacturing industry has seen a rapid growth globally. Although companies in the smart bathroom market have kept their eyes on highgrowth institutions, such as hotels
Bathrooms nowadays have become an important personal space for every individual. The use of bathrooms is not just limited for cleaning and bathing purposes but people love spending a decent amount of time there. Considering the trend, we have introduced things like private green in bathrooms in most of our projects. This led us to bring in automation to cater to the maintenance requirements, which ultimately turns bathroom smart where almost every function including lighting, WCs, spouts, geysers, etc. gets automated.
and restaurants, to keep their businesses growing, they are also creating cheaper and more efficient alternatives. And, they are focusing more on research and development, to accelerate the production to feed the need of end users of smart bathroom products in the post pandemic era.
The rise in demand for smart and luxurious bathroom products is also aided by urbanisation drive and rising disposable income of the people forced by the pandemic to spend on their bathrooms and enhance their standard of living. Moreover, the demand for smart bathrooms is also growing due to increase in construction activities in both residential and commercial areas--malls, offices, hotels, etc. Moreover, luxury hotels are installing smart bathroom products to attract more customers and provide them with better experiences.
Furthermore, government’s mission to build smart cities--which include the construction of diverse infrastructures such as new smart public and commercial spaces, like smart offices, airports, transportation stations, etc.--are likely to further fuel the demand for smart bathrooms.
Benefits
Going forward, what benefits these smart bathrooms bring along? Experts believe that convenience, security, and savings are the main advantages. Due to their unprecedented IoT enabled AI-integrated features, which enhance automation and allow users a much better experience, these bathrooms bring both, convenience as well as security. Moreover, these feature-rich bathrooms also help lowering utility bills which is a plus, besides saving water through checking the plumbing leaks. Additionally, these can benefit our mental health and overall well-being and have additional customisation choices.
Whenever a new product is introduced, like faucet with sensor, it allows flow of water for specified period of time, which is simply awesome especially for the concern, like saving water. On the contrary, when these products become part of our lifestyle, the functions attached to it become gimmicks which the tech-savvy new generation love to play with. In 90% of the cases, these features are shrouded as noble which isn’t true. After all, it’s business with secured future! I am sure that the generations to come would love to opt such feature-rich bathroom products. The definition of ‘smart’ in my understating is simplicity. Smartest thing is that when you don’t have to use your brain while doing whatever you want to do. Frugality as in lesser requirements of objects or things to take decision is also smart. Having said that, smartness to me in the bathroom or any space for that matter, is more like funfilled. We try and invent fun-oriented simple thing in unanticipated spaces which create the moments of joy in one’s mundane life. Going forward, we have done bathrooms with plants below the WCs/urinals.
With the changing times, people’s tastes and preferences are changing, especially, when it comes to creating a space as personal as bathroom. In one of our recent projects, the client wanted a modern, contemporary, hitech feel for his dream residential project. He insisted us to bring in such systems which they had never experienced before, where automation tops the list. In this house, all rooms have attached, but open bathrooms, segregated from bedroom space either with glass or a curtain. Many new technologies have been incorporated to create a modern, stunning and functional bathroom design where all the components used are smart and can either be operated through sensors or smart phones. Smartness in bathrooms with fittings are very important. There are many such bath fittings which come along with app-based control so much so that even the flow of water can be customised and set as per one’s comfort level. It is the best used form of automation. In some of my latest projects, I have recommended faucets and mixers where functions like flow and temperature can be controlled using smartphones. Having said that, it would be vital to have sustainable solutions with luxury feel than simply going after smart ones.
ID Archana Baid, And Design Co
Experts’ Opinion
Team BMR asked the specifiers what their clients usually ask for, especially, when it comes to bathrooms. Majority, of them opined that more than anything else it’s the awareness about the environment that led their clients to opt for bathrooms sporting water-saving fixtures and technology. While hinting about future, they indicated that there would be a gamut from biophilic sanctuary to sleek, tech-enabled retreat in the bathrooms. The latest gadgets and products feature high on clients’ wish lists-- it’s that one room in the house where they can go a little crazy. They unanimously believe that bathrooms of the future would be smarter, cleaner, and sleeker.
Smart for me means more of IoT-based or AI-enabled products. After the pandemic, there is an inclination towards such featurerich products especially in the bathrooms to restrict the spread of germs, maintain hygiene and remain healthy. No doubt that these high-tech smart products are also gaining attention of the new-age buyers because they make life easier. However, unless they become affordable, these products wouldn’t find a place in majority of the houses.
Ar. Eishan Jain, ADP Architecture
There’s a certain procedure, we used to use our bathrooms, but things are evolving with the passage of time. Although, people are somehow accepting the change their personal space, it is limited to the extent of feature-rich bath fittings like sensor-based faucets and thermostatic showers. Smart WCs and urinals would take some more time to creep in homes depending upon the client’s choice and inclination. For now, smart is not simply turning the space automated, but also the sustainability that should be taken into account.
Ar. Vineel Mathey, MAP Design Consultants
Bathrooms nowadays are transforming. Gone are the days when bathrooms were fitted with simple diverters. Today, customers have become far more aware than what they were two decades back. They ask for newest products like rain showers, fittings with inbuilt lights/speakers, thermostatic bathware, sensor-based faucets, etc. The fascination for bathroom is so much so that it can soon become a separate project for specifiers. Automation and smart houses have become need of the time. This is why we highly recommend smart houses, and in turn, smart bathroom solutions – be it in the forms of look & feel, aesthetics, functionality or level of comfort in one’s personal space.
HIGH-TECH SMART SHOWERS
The high-tech smart jets in the latest rain-shower collections emits thousands of micro-fine droplets which help reduce water consumption without impacting the joy of shower. Besides saving water, these smart showers allow users to set the water temperature, flow rate, shower duration and more… not only through electronic LCD panel but also through a smartphone or voice-activated device. The main benefits of smart showers include consistent water temperature, more safety, remote control, and water & energy savings. Using a thermostat, these showers keep a steady water temperature to prevent users from getting burned with hot water. Such showers can save about 3% of monthly water usage. It also helps save on the energy used to heat the water.
It’s very interesting to question the smartness. It’s not always the products that should be smart, but also people who are going to use those smart products. Else, it might affect their efficiency. In a way, use of excessive technologies may force people to dumbness. So, smartness or use of technology can’t be the same for everyone. For me, smart can be that one product, which is efficient and also helps save water in the bathrooms.
SHOWERHEADS WITH BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS
Did you know they also make blue tooth showerheads? The new showerhead with Bluetooth enabled wireless speaker system allows users to listen to their favourite music, news/industry updates or podcasts while showering. Instead of cranking the radio up to hear it over the water, one can now listen through the H2O.
SMART TOILETS
Many smart toilets have features, like seat warmers, touch-free automatic lids, night lights and even speakers for listening to music while doing the business there. Smart toilets are more compact and better designed than traditional toilets, so they take up less space. They're also more hygienic since they’re touch-free and many toilets are self-cleaning. These are just a few of the perks of the new age bathrooms and they seem like a lot of fun. It will be just a matter of time before one uses smartphone to open the toilet seat. Meanwhile, the days of using toilet paper and wasting a considerable amount of water might soon come to an end. Smart toilets can reduce the risk of overflowing and detect water levels to only use the amount of water needed, saving on water bill as well.
CHROMATHERAPY LIGHTS
These are high-intensity LED lights that can be controlled digitally, usually with a simple remote control, and one can change the setting as per the need, for instance, romantic or relaxing. Most devices come with multiple colour, intensity and brightness options. It’s said that colour plays a vital role impacting our thought and feeling. Each colour addresses a physical need, so they can help get one in the right mood for bath. For example, orange can make one feel happier and more energetic, while blue can make you feel calmer and more relaxed.
Enhanced awareness with each passing day has dramatically changed consumers’ behaviour. They have started giving more importance to bathrooms. In the last few years, bathroom has become extra special space where people love to spend time. This is why, it now needs more attention than ever before – be it in the name of aesthetics, hygiene, or comfort. All this when summed up together turn the bathrooms smart both, aesthetically and functionally.
Ar. RK Malik, RK Malik & Associates
Different types of smartness can there be in a bathroom – technical, aesthetical, or functional. It depends upon the requirement of clients. Although customers are well aware of the developments taking place in technology, it’s also our responsibility to keep our clients updated about the latest inclusion in that league so that their requirements can be fulfilled. Market is flooded with a gamut of smart solutions. In today’s context, many smart products come with water saving properties so that joy of luxury bathroom must not be compromised while use of water should also be optimised. Various techniques are in trend like aeration, powder flow, bubble flow, etc. Bathroom today has emerged as the most personal space and are designed emphatically.
SMART FAUCET/TAP
When it comes to going green and preserving water, one of the latest and newest techs is digital faucets. These touchless technology-enabled faucets with digital temperaturecontrol settings reduce tap flow and conserve water. Smart faucets use temperature gauges and efficiency sensors that allow users to control water usage in bathroom and preheat or cool water based on the specifications before the faucet turns on. This reduces the amount of wasted water and improves efficiency and savings. Thanks to the hands-free feature, it also lower allows the number of germs being spread while washing hands. Some faucets also come with infrared technology that feels user and turns off when it senses that hands aren’t under the faucet. Moreover, these faucets also sport programmable features, such as a timed shower setting or a teeth-brushing option that runs for an allotted time frame.
ADJUSTABLE PRIVACY GLASS
These smart glasses allow users to change between transparency and opacity in bathroom windows. The glass has a natural opaque look and blocks vision for total privacy, but it lets natural light pass through. It can change the glass feature from clear to frosted or set automatic controls using the smartphone or voice assistant. Adjustable privacy glass can give your smart bathroom a sleek and modern feeling, plus add privacy, versatility, energy efficiency and more hygiene, vis-à-vis traditional privacy options like curtains because it’s easier to clean.
SMART LED MIRRORS
The new age smart sensor mirror uses a light system to stimulate natural sunlight so that users can see their full colour variation. The mirror automatically lights up when users’ face approaches it, and because this cordless mirror packs a longlasting LED that can reportedly last up to 100 years, battery life shouldn’t be a problem. The added advantage: bathroom wouldn’t remain be a dark place to walk in. Moreover, there are smart LED mirrors which are interactive, and come with built-in display for certain things, like time, traffic reports, weather forecasts, news updates, reminders and appointments. An interactive LED mirror makes the bathroom enjoyable besides giving it a futuristic look.
WATER RECYCLER
Bathroom solution providers have come up with water recycler that recycles up to 95% of the water from shower, bath, washing machines and air-conditioning; and reuses it for toilets, garden irrigation and swimming pools. Not only does it provide enormous environmental benefits, but this smart device is also a profitable investment and will surely pay off the upfront cost in time. Most manufacturers claim that these water recyclers can save up to 45% on tap water and 45% on wastewater, and contribute to keeping water supplies stable.
It will take some time for people to understand how to use smart products or new-age futuristic technologies. Hopefully, the next generation would push the boundaries further by asking smarter products from the manufacturers/ suppliers and then getting them installed in their bathrooms. But for me, those products which are sustainable, energyefficient and save water, are definitely smart ones and must be picked up for use.
Final Thought
Considering that the biggest trend would be integration of smart bathroom products with AI and IoT devices, there is no surprise that technology would be one of the most desired qualities in the bathrooms of future. Majority of innovations shall revolve around gadgets that automate and enhance overall bathroom experience for the users, besides adding bringing convenience, adding safety and ensuring security. BMR
