Fact File
Project: IT Park at HITEC City, Hyderabad
Built-up area: 4.50M sqft
Client: Meenakshi Infrastructure, Hyderabad
Architects: R. Chakrapani & Sons, Chennai
Principal Architects: C. Vijayram & Priya Vijayram
Design Team: Agalya Saran, Deepa Lakshminarayanan
Completion: September 2019
Project duration: 50 months
The site, in the heart of IT development in Hyderabad, is flanked on either side by a 120-ft and a 100-ft road. The modulation of development required was a two-phase development of approximately 1.4-m sqft as saleable area. The site is generally flat, flanked by roads on the north and the south, with a permanent green zone on the east, and a residential development in the west.
The basic concept based on site parameters was to develop a Twin Tower for Deloitte with a large landscape deck between the towers which would provide a visual continuity across the site, creating the notion of a gateway - in a metaphorical sense. In addition, the linear blocks were diagonally mirrored to form an interesting composition and provide variation to the building form. The building forms are similar but not identical due to site constraints.
The linear form was articulated into three major components with the glass cylinder forming the fulcrum to the composition. The form is articulated through a fourth element - the base - that ties the entire composition together. The base and the super structure are separated by a skip floor (recessed floor plate) to enhance the glass super structure. The architectural form is articulated through soft edges so as to enhance the linearity of the form and also the overlay of curvilinear and straight edges.
The glass form is further articulated with a triple height refuge terrace that provides a breakout space, in addition to providing relief to the glass form. The solid is articulated with random punctures to maintain the solidity of the form. The dark grey solid facade, to reduce heat gain, is composed of a custom designed aerated sandwich panel that insulated the building. A helipad and a connecting bridge complete the composition of the Twin Towers into a unified scheme.
The primary advantage of the site was the important arterial roads on both ends, which became the starting point for the architectural conceptualization of the project. The monetised system was custom designed to meet sustainability requirements that adhered to American laws on heat absorption, which posed some unique challenges due to the project being located in India. This requirement entailed the design of mullions and frame coatings that were extremely reflective to heat yet able to withstand more than the usual thermal coefficient of expansion in semi-arid latitudes. This was a part of the design strategy to counter the effects of climate change, which has been a high priority in design risk management for the firm.
C. Vijayram & Priya Vijayram
