HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS….
We live in a city of high rise buildings. They are the crowning glory that dictates the skyline of Mumbai. High-rises define the city scape, the kind of living and lifestyle of the people living here. Their status and position all are rendered as a silhouette of grandeur in the sky of Mumbai against the backdrop of a vast expanse of the sea. The higher you are from the ground level, the more extravagant is going to be your living style.
The marvel of such tall buildings are measured by their colossal heights, the external features, color, the circlet design, their facade treatment, texture and the way they sparkle in the splendor of the evening sky. Each building glimmers as though as to endure as a spectacle not only on ground but also in the airspace.
The determination to go high comes from the fact that either it is a lack of ground space as an answer to the crowded metropolitan areas, or a trend to tower above the sea. The sea forms the utility sales products here. With a beautiful sea view, long enduring sea breeze, the calmness it brings after a hectic day all consolidate the aptness to rise above others and claim the horizon.
The design, planning and construction parameters change variedly if the building is to be a high-rise one. Firstly anything beyond 32.0m high would be termed as a high-rise. The most generic precondition is having a 9.0m wide road abutting the plot required to access such a building. A high-rise also induces high load of occupancy of people, vehicles, amenities which leads to more precautions, safety measures, efficient emergency entry and exits, obstruction free traffic movements. Planning evidently becomes the prime recognition for any project with many intricacies.
Additionally number of fire requisites is made mandatory given the stance of fire break outs. This includes fire lifts, fire evacuation lift, smoke stop lobbies, refuge areas, service ducts, Sprinkler systems and many more.
Structurally too the vertical and lateral movements of the buildings need to be closely calculated. As height increases, lateral forces (wind and earthquake) dominate design over gravity loads. The length to width slenderness ratio, the materials used for construction, structural seismic safety against cyclone / wind storms all can dictate the form and aesthetics of the structures.
Apart from this an Environment clearance is needed to assess and mitigate environmental impacts like increased traffic, waste generation, and water usage. This is crucial for minimizing ecological impact, thus promoting community well-being.
Construction of a high rise is a complex process. It requires careful planning and execution. A team of Architects, Engineers work in tandem to create a fine print of the planning process, and skilled workers collaborate to erect the building. Moreover there is a lot of injury risking equipment and machinery involved.
Though the High rises address the challenges faced by urbanization yet they form the foundation of the contemporary trends the city is being subjected to. Consequently all high-rises append to the alluring charm of the metro’s urban landscape while living it up to making a landmark for its own.
Ar. Rashmi Phulkar (Practicing Architect, Vile Parle EAST)
