Office Complex for Delhi Pollution Control Committee Proposal / M:OFA Studios
Architects:
M:OFA Studios
Location: New Delhi, India
Principal Architect: Manish Gulati
Principal Planner: Tanushree Gulati
Energy Consultants: TERI
Design Team: Shuchita Jain, Amit Palia,
Shabina Shahin
Site Area: 1350 sqm
Built-up Area: 3500 sqm
Completion Year: 2014
Commissioned through a design competition, the
Office Complex for Delhi Pollution Control Committee
proposal by
M:OFA Studios
houses about 200 officials , scientists and a
devoted work force responsible for making and
implementing policies, research and formulating
norms for keeping India’s capital Pollution free.
The significance of this office in the larger
context is an affirmation of this purpose itself
contributing towards a higher standard of living for
the populace of Delhi State. It was the
understanding of this purpose and sustainability in
the Indian context that became the core design
parameters for the DPCC head office building. More
images and architects’ description after the break
As an example of what the design preaches, here the building acts as an
‘Urban Sponge’ feeding on polluted air & water of its micro-climate and
gives out clean air & water back to the Environment much like the Aquatic
sponge which feeds on bacteria and gives out nutrients and oxygen. It’s been
designed as a next generation green building with multiple passive and
active systems co existing and supporting each other aimed at making the
building work like a machine that is self-sustainable.
tarting with the orientation of the Building, it
harnesses both the north western winds prevalent in
Delhi as well as adequate diffused daylight to naturally
ventilate, cool as well as minimize the use of lights
during the day time. Also bolstering this are the
automatic motion sensors, self dimmable ballasts and
smart lighting system.
The Parasol roof and window overhangs are lined with
Photovoltaic Cells to generate electricity that is
stored in the batteries to run the outdoor lighting
after sunset. The depth of the overhangs and the roof is
designed as per the sun direction and penetration so as
to keep a balance between the availability of natural
day light inside the office throughout the day yet not
increasing the ambient temperature inside the building.
Both bringing down the lighting and the air conditioning
loads significantl
The parasol roof like an upturned basin, collects
rainwater that is stored in the Underground reservoir
surrounding the entire basement perimeter not only
bringing the ambient temperature there but providing
sufficient Drinking water to take care of the
requirement of the entire office for all the year round.
The parallel cavity walls constructed with bentonite
clay lined foam concrete blocks act as filters to help
in cleaning out the polluted air of the micro climate.
Also the vertical green walls in various parts also
greatly help in the oxygen exchange. Mechanical filters
in the basement which force the polluted hot air from
the basement through the hollow walls in winters to act
as a heater while cleaning the pollution alongside and
in summers infused with fresh air from roof mechanical
filters to keep the pollution in check.
Due to its location adjoining the city sewage main
drain, tapping into the ‘black gold’ that the architects
call it, The Sewage Treatment Plant turns the black
water into grey providing the building three important
ingredients; (a) enough methane to run a co-generation
gas turbine to produce sufficient electricity adding
further to the energy bank, (b) grey water run through a
reed bed filtration system removed of its foul smell to
be cooled using condensation is then further passed
through the tanks filled with phase change material.
This cold water is run within the radiating chilled beam
system bringing down the air conditioning load
significantly. In the end, (c) all the manure left as a
final by product is used to bring alive all the
landscape planned as terrace gardens and green walls.
The two parabolic forms floating out of the building are
a symbolic expression to bubbles of fresh air released
into the atmosphere due to this ‘Urban Sponge’. These
bubbles house the Presentation room and the Meeting room
both which are meant as innovation rooms/ ‘think tanks’
for the scientists and the policy makers. Roof gardens
are built as intermediate open spaces throughout the
building for shading and cleansing of the air and the
much needed ‘step out’ for the employees to in reality
know how their efforts and policies have actually
impacted the air quality / pollution levels and the thus
the quality of life of the Residents of href="http://www.archdaily.com/tag/new-delhi/">
New Delhi.
The building with its aesthetics symbolizing hope acts
as an active-passive filter and represents the
transparency of work environment, co-relation and inter
dependence and conveys a strong message of Harnessing
every waste / outlet and re-utilizing it as a resource
and an atmosphere of trust and inter-dependence
ground floor plan
Multiple layers of philosophy, technology, vision
and function shaped the final design of the Building
which will also host a permanent exhibition on Green
Technologies and Innovations as an awareness drive
in its Plaza and Exhibition Centre for the people to
learn, percolate the information, implement and
through osmosis benefit the social fabric ultimately
