Green buildings are a hallmark of economically sound decisions, thoughtful environmental decisions and smart human impact decisions. Cyberwalk is one well planned structure that smartly reflects all of these.
The first LEED Gold certified building in Gurgaon, Cyberwalk redefines the society it gives birth to by utilising sunlight, water, air and power in the most efficient manner.
‘Man belongs to nature and that is how he has been designed to function.’ Originating from this notion, the architectural firm, Design Forum International explains, “Cyberwalk aims to create green office environs with characteristics similar to trees unlike the regular working spaces or the monotonous cubicle farms that are no place to draw inspiration from.” It stands over a sprawling expanse of 1.4 million square feet and is a part of a 150 acre dedicated IT hub comprising of the Evergreen Tower, Eco Towers and the Eco Suites.
A society is defined not only by what it creates but what it refuses to destroy. The first LEED Gold certified building in Gurgaon, Cyberwalk redefines the society it gives birth to by utilising natural resources like sunlight, water, air and power in the most efficient manner.
Conceived as a self-sufficient green building, it stands out as a mixed use development enveloped by an oasis of green in the otherwise concrete jungle of Gurgaon. For some years now, glass has characterised modern architecture and in the words of the architects, “In modern architecture there is a tendency to open up our buildings by using large and transparent facades.”
Popularly labeled as the ‘green building glass’, SGG Envision, a high performance glass was used. As the architects inform us, “Use of punched windows with high performance double glazed glass and argon gas fill helped reduce our air conditioning load by almost 30% and induced higher visual light transmission”.
“Use of punched windows with high performance double glazed glass and argon gas fill helped reduce our air conditioning load by almost 30% and induced higher visual light transmission,” inform the architects.
The Evergreen Tower is a skyscraper topped with a sloping roof which gives you access to green open areas and clean fresh air at soaring heights. The green roof not only enhances the open air 6000 sq ft cafeteria but also helps in absorbing direct heat and improving the overall energy efficiency by reducing heating and cooling costs within the building. The four floor high central sunlit atrium is an architectural marvel along with the grand entrance overlooking the lush central plaza.
At The Eco Towers, plush, cultivated terrace gardens seamlessly merge the indoors with the outdoors, once again acting as a shield to solar radiation. Food courts and cafeterias, plug and play business centers, retail outlets, pre-strengthened server areas and crèche facilities induce better work-life balance under the limelight of smart human impact decisions.
Ozone friendly refrigerants come forward as environment friendly substitutes of the conventional coolants.
The Eco Suites are twin towers that house 147 serviced apartments which were developed keeping in view the ‘walk-to-work’ concept. They not only cater to the increasing lodging requirements of modern day business but also aid in catalysing healthier and simpler lifestyles. A connecting corridor at the ground floor houses the reception lobby.
These days architecture can in some of the most predominant ways direct how people live, and green architecture is most certainly an environmental and social responsibility. Cyberwalk, has effortlessly combined architecture with green ideations to enable a relaxed working environment.
Cyberwalk, has effortlessly combined architecture with green ideations to enable a relaxed working environment.
While the West façade of the Evergreen Tower is shaded by vertical and horizontal fins to minimise heat gain, Design Forum International tells us how lower depths of floor plates have enabled 75% areas to be day lit. “Large cut-outs in the basement have enabled us to reduce the ventilation requirement and get natural light to the basements,” informs DFI, consequently inducing a reduced carbon footprint.
The use of air quality sensors to manage carbon dioxide levels assist in availing increased employee efficiency. The use of local stones and recycled materials levy a positive environmental impact by reducing energy usage. 80% of the used water is recycled and used for HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) and irrigation.
Ground water recharging is done in order to engage in efficient management of water resources to enjoy sustainable development and a viable economy. The use of water saving fixtures in toilets helps to decrease the diversion of water. The use of heat recovery wheels in HVACs results in higher heat transfer efficiency.
Conceived as a self-sufficient green building, Cyberwalk stands out as a mixed use development enveloped by an oasis of green in the otherwise concrete jungle of Gurgaon.
Ozone friendly refrigerants come forward as environment friendly substitutes of the conventional coolants. The use of higher COP (Coefficient of Power) centrifugal chillers with VFDs (Variable Frequency Drive) leads to year round energy efficiency.
As green buildings gain momentum, India secures third position among the top ten countries to host LEED green buildings. Cyberwalk is another step forward towards a building suited to its time whose relevance will only continue to increase. Eventuating emission reduction, water conservation, temperature moderation, waste reduction, decreased infrastructure strain, increased employee productivity and improved lifestyles it indeed fortifies the concept of green architecture.
Text By Kanupriya Pachisia
Photographs Courtesy Design Forum International
Contact
Web: www.designforuminternational.com
