We consider our projects to be part of a larger whole, thereby enhancing the surroundings and stimulating human experiences.

- Saurabh Goenka, Senior Associate, S9 Architecture

New York based firm, S9 architecture has a unique design approach rooted in 'modern contextualism', inspired by urban narratives. Rejecting pre-conceived notions and artistic fixations, every design solution is informed by programmatic, physical, environmental, economic as well as contextual forces. “Over the years, we have leveraged the power of advanced architectural technologies to increase productivity, improve quality, reduce costs and mitigate risks. We often collaborate with the contractors and consultants to develop modular and pre-fabricated construction strategies, energy simulations and digital direct-to-fabrication processes. With unique task automation and analytical abilities, we have been able to save time, reduce manual errors and maintain excellence firmwide,” states Saurabh Goenka, Senior Associate, S9Architecture in an exclusive chat with Agith G Antony, Construction Times. Excerpts from the interview…

How do you assess the critical role of design & architecture in transforming cities into more of green and sustainable habitats without negatively impacting the inhabitants?

Any planned transition within the built environment requires well defined goals and keen foresight to anticipate future needs. Several small, yet thoughtfully analyzed moves are often more effective and cause minimal disruption to the living communities. It is critical to identify available opportunities in the existing fabric, rather than undertaking major interventions such as redesigning entire neighborhoods and displacing inhabitants.

Our master plans, although talking about mixed-use, have been the primary culprits in segregating uses and expanding city boundaries. Implementing strategies for urban infill and adaptive reuse is often more sustainable. If these infill sites are identified near public transit, it furthers walkability, accessibility and future growth. Most complex and densely populated urban environments offer dilapidated or underused sites, which can be turned into effective public spaces that promote wellness and social interaction.

Places such as abandoned harbors, yards or transportation infrastructure can be renovated and transformed into rejuvenating green pockets that enhance the surrounding urban fabric, while also increasing the economic value of the neighborhood. An outstanding example of this is the High Line in New York, which is a beautiful transformation of a discarded railway line into a successful elevated parkway. This development not only revived a run-down neighborhood with a high crime rate and poor living conditions but also became a focal point of several future design and construction interventions. Using parks as green networks and roads as green fingers can be effective in creating green and sustainable environs.

How seamlessly aligned is your firm's vision and philosophy towards creating greener and sustainable habitats / buildings / cities?

As architects and urban designers, we embrace our responsibility to maintain a perfect balance between public interest, interest of our clients as well as professional duties. The emphasis is on smart growth by creating contemporary mixed-use habitats and walkable neighborhoods yet preserving the natural and built environments.

We strive to understand transformation of the city structure over time, measure livability of places and carefully study the urban morphology. These processes help in defining design principles that shape new developments. The New York Wheel project for example, bridges the transition to an isolated waterfront, improves pedestrian access and provides an expansive public space near the water. We designed the terminal building and parking garage that provide an elusive backdrop to the observation wheel, as the buildings amalgamate with the surrounding landscape.

We also encourage inclusion of public spaces into buildings, while reducing the carbon footprint through vertical urbanism. Especially when designing in highly dense urban environments, there are several opportunities for creatively incorporating green spaces. One simple tactic is to design high-rise buildings with public and semi-public green atriums and parks, which can double as employee break areas while also activating the streetscape.

What do you think are the major factors that should never be kept aside while designing such a habitat / building?

Site selection is one of the first things to consider for sustainable designas it simultaneously tackles other associated aspects such as ecological impact, appropriate use, connectivity, day lighting and orientation. A deep understanding of contextual factors and respect for the authenticity of the surroundings offers several opportunities to develop innovative site-specific solutions. Buildings should be designed for longevity through flexibility, durability and adaptability. The degree to which we understand the form of a city and how to use it, directly affects our ability to succeed.

One of the proven benefits of a green habitat is the positive effect it has on occupant health, mental comfort and productivity. Being able to resourcefully manipulate design to achieve elevated levels of wellness is a key factor in being able to create successful green habitats.

Leveraging the power of building performance tools in making accurately informed decisions is of prime importance. There has been a swift progress in our ability to create digital twins and replicate life-like situations for energy analyses, façade analyses, construction feasibility and cost, daylight simulation and wind tunnel testing; all of which greatly benefit the design outcome.

According to you what are the major pain points in this space - from ideation to construction and maintenance? How critical is the role of tech-enabled solutions, especially integration of different solutions ensuring seamless flow of communication between all stakeholders?

A linear workflow and lack of communication have often been the biggest obstacles in successful translation of design to built work. While the traditional design-bid-build model uses tried and tested metrics, it frequently suffers from late participation of many stakeholders and experts.Increased awareness and gravitation towards integrated project delivery (IPD) have shown us the positive impact of collaboration and timely involvement of all participants from day one. The team then functions as a single unit working towards the common goal of designing and building in the most efficient manner.

Cloud based building information modeling (BIM), data analytics and inter process communication (IPC) have improved the pace of design-to-construction processes to unparalleled levels. Using a single source of coordinated, computable information and sharing real-time data with the entire team allows for clash-detection and reduces scope for human error.A BIM model is useful throughout the building lifecycle, from design and construction to facility management and operations. It is a database of information which can provide constructability analysis, performance analysis and building maintenance requirements. A connected data environment can also compute budget and schedule changes automatically, thus keeping the entire team well informed.

Could you enlighten us on the impact of disruptive tools / software that is redefining the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry - the way we plan, design, manage and construct a project - into a more automated and digitalized one?

Large advancements in technologies available to the design and construction industry have empowered the process to be more efficient, accurate and cost effective. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have enabled us to design in an immersive digital environment with immediate visualization. No renderings or physical models can provide a comparable experiential three-dimensional analysis of the design. This technology is now sophisticated enough to measure dimensions and even make instantaneous adjustments on the go.

Using AI to manage the construction documentation and administration process allows the entire team to have synchronized information on budget status, critical path schedules and risk mitigation plans. Use of drones allow for faster surveying, management and inspection of project sites while also providing high resolution imagery. When combined with specific technique tools such as 3D printing and advanced data analytics, every component of the building comes together with extreme precision.

Accounting for life safety at the construction site is also essential. Technological developments in this area assist in identifying potential hazards through the use of connected hard hats and smart boots, consequently resolving several safety issues in construction.

Compared to the international construction practices in developed markets, how do you evaluate the future of the construction industry in India and the scope for tech-enabled solutions?

India is one of the largest developing countries and is building at a faster pace than many others. However, dependence on conventional methods and hesitancy to adopt new technology is often a culprit in slowing down progress. Technology comes at a higher initial cost which can be a little foreboding, but this cost must be evaluated against the long term advantages of improved quality, reduced life cycle expenses and faster construction, after all time is money.

The construction industry in India can take huge strides in the future if innovation is applied to the most basic yet important step in the value chain -construction techniques. Technological solutions are readily available, what is needed is education and awareness of clients, designers as well as contractors. Training more skilled labour is quintessential; the design, manufacturing and construction industries need to collectively pioneer efforts that can lead to industry wide use of technology and bring India at par with the developed markets. Extensive use of technology would allow for faster construction, reduced costs and improved quality.

There is a growing demand for environmentally sensitive construction, specifically creation of Smart Cities in India. What is your take on this? 

Increased migration from rural areas to metropolises has led to rapid uncontrolled urbanization, causing haphazard management of resources and infrastructure that neglect the natural environment. It is critical for new developments to pay attention to their ecological impact if they hope to sustain well into the future.

Smart cities as a concept, when approached as a comprehensive strategy with strong vision for the future can improve walkability, community safety and overall quality of life while reducing energy consumption and environmental impact. Approaching the idea with a bottom-up, rather than a top-down approach can offer higher levels of success. The transition should be organized as phased self-sufficient portions that combine over time to form larger, more complex systems. A delicate relationship exists between the old and the new and the future of our society depends on how wisely we make the transition.

Adapting to the changing needs is critical for sustenance of cities. The American city of Pittsburgh, for example, used to be the world's largest steel producer. But due to the collapse of the steel industry, it lost a considerable amount of population. The city found alternatives in the fields of medicine, smart technology, robotics, education and consequently tourism. From being one of the most polluted cities, it has transformed into one of the most livable cities in America.

How can the Indian construction industry benefit from advanced technologies and processes used abroad?

Leveraging the power of advanced architectural technologies and processes can increase productivity and improve value. Using a model-based framework provides a single source of information for the entire team, thus reducing errors and streamlining the workflow. There are applications where one can view, print, comment and share project information on the go, contractors are often using AI software at project sites to track construction progress in real time.

The most straightforward way to boost construction quality, cost and efficiency is by focusing on construction practices. While modular and prefabricated construction processes have some presence in India, they need to be exploited to their full potential. 111 Varick Street, a high-rise building we designed at S9 Architecture, consists of exterior façade panels made from precast concrete. The panels and windows were prefabricated off-site, then transported and assembled at the project site within just a few weeks. The off-site production occurred simultaneously with construction of the superstructure, thereby considerably reducing the overall construction time.

Do you think the pandemic has a major impact on the way we conceptualize and design in the future?  With the advent of IoT, Big Data Analytics, AI etc., how do you envision the future trends?

In today's era of social distancing and remote working, versatility of usage especially when designing communal spaces has become a major factor to consider. As we transition towards hybrid office and residential models, the ability for offices to become more flexible and for residential units to become live-work spaces has become a major area for innovation. Internet of Things (IoT) is making the environment around us smarter and more responsive, by amalgamating the digital and physical worlds. Digital twin, a digital replica of the physical building, gathers data through smart sensors in order to better understand and analyze a physical structure. Buildings can become more receptive to the living environment by using comprehensive, real-time data collection and analytics. Thermostats, rain sensors, smart day lighting and occupancy sensors not only help save energy and water, but also allow occupants to remotely control them via the cloud.

More so than ever before, due to the pandemic, we have seen a large influx of clients requesting for touchless systems and automatic operations. We are also seeing increased ventilation  and more stringent filtration requirements of HVAC systems. It is certain that while the shift to IoT has already begun, this pandemic is accelerating the move even faster. The ability to understand the synergies between various systems will allow designers to better envision future developments.

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