INTERIORS

The Spirit of Place with Ceilings

Ajay Sharma

For over a decade, the rapidly changing global and regional requirements of human endeavours in interior construction have resulted in a new genius loci or spirit of the place. While some old features continue to exist, some have reinvented themselves, while still others merged with influences from others. One of the most notable among the reinventions and harmonious influences is a new genre of ceiling systems. Enabled by technological sophistication as well as futuristic entrepreneurism, the interior construction value-chain has been brought to a new spirit of experience.
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he construction industry is such an important component of the growth index that the level of its activism gives a measure of the development pattern in a particular geography. While the trends that emerge from time to time impacting the industry signify its dynamics, its dimensions are determined by the interwoven domain of design and architecture. The extent of harmony between these two essential domains in terms of technology, innovation & ingenuity, and eco-logics is what will define the excellence of living, and this is exactly what is happening in India, as also in most other developing geographies. According to The Economist, construction industry had been recording phenomenal growth rates around 8 per cent every year in India. This growth is attributed, understandably to

the economic upsurge and some proactive policy initiatives from the governments. Rated as the fastest growing economy in the world (after China), India is slated to attract FDI of USD 360 billion in the next five years with around USD 140 billion slated to flow in 2010 alone. It is in this backdrop that the Eleventh Plan has emphasized the need for introduction of efficient technologies and modern methodologies in construction to raise productivity levels. It has also underscored a continual pursuit of R&D so that sustainable development is possible. The markets, led by spirited entrepreneurism, have responded quite well albeit with the crippling effects of the recent recession which is why the industry today has some truly innovative systems of design and construction. Product manufacturers and systems/ solutions providers have carved niche areas of expertise bringing more value to the design and construction domain. The most notable value addition among many aspects of interior construction is ceiling systems. The new ceiling systems and concepts that have come to the marketplace are simply revolutionary i.e. they are technologically sophisticated;

qualitatively certified; architecturally versatile; aesthetically appealing; acoustically comforting and economically viable. For instance, Designpanel Pixel ceilings which is microperf gypsum-based acoustic ceilings. Myriad design options based on gypsum-made ceiling systems are made available in India today with significant value-add to the entire developer-designer-user chain. Coming with microperf of just 3x3 mm tiny squares at 8mm pitch which actually makes them almost invisible they not only give a typically beautiful look to the surface but also a strong, sustainable design that meet all indoor environment regulations. They are gypsumbased products, lasting for as many as 25 years and are eco-friendly. More, they come in large formats making lesser joints and enable faster install, resulting in full-span seamless finishes. Anutone, the Bengaluru-based leader of ceiling systems which had launched these products in association with European major Danogips had actually recently innovated with smaller and more economical models to meet the wider demands emerging from India and GCC markets. Though cheaper alternatives to their parent products, the new launches are no less in functional properties of architecture and

acoustics. Designpanel 900 instead of Designpanel 1200 and Plaza instead of Belgravia are two examples. That the space developers and their designer teams are challenged for creating sustainable built spaces, particularly from the corporate sector, the product manufacturers and solution developers too have reinvented their offerings to meet the new green construction challenge. The best example, again, can be AnutoneSuite a complete, yet versatile set of ceiling solutions for offices and corporate campuses with a mix and match of different ceiling models suitable for different functions. A typically new age office set up can have Subtex Nubby texture ceiling for reception, front office and lobby areas; Serge Lay-in metal ceilings for the corridors; Subtex painted texture ceiling for the CEO/chairmans cabin; Subtex Pebble texture ceilings for boardrooms; Sconz Whiteline foam ceilings for meeting rooms; Smery Sybil texture ceilings for teleconferencing rooms. That these spaces are of smooth and delicate functioning type demanding elegant handling, the texture, foam and metal ceilings perfectly meet the requirements. On the other hand, spaces like cafeteria and kitchen created within the office building can be surface finished with MatVin Shale and Shingle ceilings that stand rugged usage, An open-plan office can have Sisoli Safari mineral fibre ceilings that again are rugged and stand hard usage. All these products are not only guaranteed for their lasting performance, they also typify a dynamic architectural appeal across the structure. That each space looks

radically different from the other, as also comforting, the design quotient has been found to be contributing to enhancing the productivity of the space users. So, there is a value addition to the entire chain. These systems are, of course, in addition to the white ceiling systems and modular ceiling systems that had been instrumental in bringing about a paradigm shift, primarily, in the mindset of space designers, and secondarily amongst the space developers. The reason for their wide appeal across the spectrum: they are essentially technocommercial- tested, tried, and proven (rewarding with LEED points); they look and sound good; they bring in all the more essential feel good factor across the spectrum. There are many ways of harmonising the architecture and construction. This is one way of doing it- meeting both the construction challenges of the day, and the designer ingenuity, and achieving the spirit of the place.

Ajay Sharma is General Manager North, Anutone Interiors, New Delhi. He can be reached at ajay@anutone.com Photographs: Courtesy the Author.

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