Theory of Architecture: Concept to Commissioning

THEORY OF

ARCHITECTURE

CONCEPT TO COMMISSIONING

AR. PROF. INDRANIL SEN

Notion Press

Old No. 38, New No. 6

McNichols Road, Chetpet

Chennai - 600 031

First Published by Notion Press 2016

Copyright © Ar. Prof. Indranil Sen 2016

All Rights Reserved.

ISBN 978-93-5206-696-4

This book has been published in good faith that the work of the author is original. All efforts have been taken to make the material error-free. However, the author and the publisher disclaim the responsibility.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

Ar. Prof. Indranil Sen

MUSIC is the Sonic Expression of Harmony, Rhythm, Unity & Variety.

So also is ARHITECTURE

Should you wish to contact the authors, please use the below contact information:

M: +91 98313 85880/+91 94323 67946

E: IndranilSen.Net@gmail.com

Dedicated to my sister Rinku

Contents

Title

Copyright

Dedication

Foreword

Introduction of the Author

Preface

Acknowledgement

CHAPTER – 1 PROJECT INCEPTION

PROJECT INCEPTION – Part 1

PROJECT INCEPTION – Part 2

PROJECT INCEPTION – Part 3

PROJECT INCEPTION – Part 4

PROJECT INCEPTION – Part 5

PROJECT INCEPTION – Part 6

CHAPTER – 2 STAGES OF DESIGN

STAGES OF DESIGN – Part 1

STAGES OF DESIGN – Part 2

STAGES OF DESIGN – Part 3

STAGES OF DESIGN – Part 4

STAGES OF DESIGN – Part 5

STAGES OF DESIGN – Part 6

STAGES OF DESIGN – Part 7

STAGES OF DESIGN – Part 8

STAGES OF DESIGN – Part 9

CHAPTER – 3 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN & DETAILING

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN & DETAILING – Part 1

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN & DETAILING – Part 2

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN & DETAILING – Part 3

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN & DETAILING – Part 4

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN & DETAILING – Part 5

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN & DETAILING – Part 6

CHAPTER – 4 ENGINEERING DETAILING

ENGINEERING DETAILING – Part 1

ENGINEERING DETAILING – Part 2

ENGINEERING DETAILING – Part 3

ENGINEERING DETAILING – Part 4

ENGINEERING DETAILING – Part 5

ENGINEERING DETAILING – Part 6

ENGINEERING DETAILING – Part 7

CHAPTER – 5 PROJECT PROTOCOLS

PROJECT PROTOCOLS – Part 1

PROJECT PROTOCOLS – Part 2

PROJECT PROTOCOLS – Part 3

PROJECT PROTOCOLS – Part 4

PROJECT PROTOCOLS – Part 5

PROJECT PROTOCOLS – Part 6

PROJECT PROTOCOLS – Part 7

PROJECT PROTOCOLS – Part 8

PROJECT PROTOCOLS – Part 9

CHAPTER – 6 PROJECT PROGRAMMING PMC ONLY

PROJECT PROGRAMMING – Part 1

PROJECT PROGRAMMING – Part 2

PROJECT PROGRAMMING – Part 3

ANNEXURE

Introduction of the Author

Indranil Sen was born in Kolkata and is a graduate Architect from Bengal Engineering College, Sibpur, (erstwhile BESU and now IIEST) of 1980 batch and has always been a very serious professional.

In the last glorious 35 years of his career, he has worked in senior positions with leading Architectural and Developer organizations. Footprints of his project exposure are spread in 8 countries which include, Oman, Mauritius, Bangladesh to name a few.

He has also worked in projects in all the metros of India and in about twelve state capitals.

Presently he is a practicing architect in Kolkata and is the Principal Architect in Interface Design Studio, a firm jointly owned with his architect wife.

He is also the visiting faculty in the School of Architecture, Techno India University, Kolkata

Contact Information

Mobile: +91 98313 85880

E Mail: indranilsen.net@gmail.com

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE: CONCEPT TO COMMISSIONING

Preface

We all know that Architecture is a creative art with a lot of science embedded into this art. As Vitruvius had defined this Firmitas: Utilitas: Venustas – which means Firmness-Commodity & Delight, Architecture needs to serve all the three basic purposes. Being the mother of all art forms, the responsibility of an Architect is much more in the society at large. His creations will be standing there and no one can avoid seeing it.

But Architectural Design is also a science driven process. The process may be long or short for kinds and sizes of projects, but no one can deny going through this process while designing.

With my 35 plus years of work behind me with building footprint in over 8 countries and over 50 Corporations, Municipalities, Notified Areas, Special Zones, etc. in India, I always felt that Architectural design is a combination of good skills in Mathematics, Science, Common Sense and the Power to Imagine. Although many may not agree to me, if any of the faculties mentioned above are missing, the experience of Creation may not be fulfilling.

The purpose of this book is to share and note down the various aspects of this process of going through the exercise of Architectural Design. What are the dos and don’ts of this process? How to avoid making mistakes and latter correct them at someone else’s’ cost. There is a theory to this entire game of dreams, which I call the Theory of Architecture.

The Industry often talks about C2C, which means nothing but Concept to Commissioning. What are the various steps that lead us from one to another? This book tries to document this process and share the experience that I have gained in my exposure to this grand industry.

Acknowledgement

I had never thought that one day I would end up writing a book on Architecture, my second Love. Everyone knows that my first love is music and will always remain so. In fact I wanted to become a singer, but for my father, Amal Nath Sen who always believed in my ability and kind of forced me into this wonderful world of Architecture. Baba, I must thank you for whatever a person I am today.

My Mother was the motivational force behind me. In all the odds that we faced in life, she was the one who kept us all smiling and was person who always supported my creativity. Maa, thank you so much for motivating me in my life.

Architects are moody and so was I. The person who tolerated all the mood fluctuations in my life needs to be thanked most. My dearest wife Buli Sen, whom I had met in college 40 years ago, and have been the driving force behind me. Sometimes I feel guilty that she has sacrificed her career because of me. A very big thank you to her.

The knowledge that I have tried to share in this book had started flowing into my system is from the Teachers of my school Don Bosco and BE College then and IIEST now, Sibpur, where I went to study Architecture. Thanks to all my teachers in school and college, especially Mr. Dias and Bother Maurice in school and Prof. Joydeb Sarkar, Prof K K Palchoudhury & Prof Debi Mullick, my thesis guide in college.

Once out of college, I was put to the real world of the profession and that too in a foreign land. My heartfelt thanks to Ar. Hiranmay Biswas, Noorani Biswas Associates, Muscat for giving me the first break of my life and instilling the importance of Site in our trade. Here I must also thank Ar. Ashok Borker, who taught me the importance of Detailing and Ar. Kalyan Roy, my first boss, who kept on harping the importance of good drafting.

My career went ahead and was fortunate to have some wonderful seniors and colleagues. My special thanks to Ar. Gour Das Roy, who always mentored me, Ar. Partha Ghosh, my boss in CES, who exposed me to the world of big projects and induced in me the sensibilities of a good architect & Mr. Subimal Ghosh of Ghosh Bose & Associates, who made me learn the importance of Discipline.

As life moved on, I became a Client from being a consultant. My sincerest thanks goes to Mr. Rahul Saraf of Forum Projects, for exposing me to some of the best international practices in Architecture, and allowing me to deal some real time big and prestigious project.

The knowledge that I have tried to share in this book has come in many ways. The one person who has always encouraged me is Mr. Sudipta Biswas, and no word of thanks is enough to show my gratitude to him.

Knowledge is best kept when shared. I learnt this when I started off as a visiting faculty in Techno School of Architecture. Some of my students believed in me and always pushed me to write a book. Thank you all so much. Here I am.

Finally, the person who made me write this book, my lovely daughter Oindrila. I was in the USA during autumn 2015, enjoying a much deserved holiday with her. There was lots of free time and the time difference between India was leaving me tortured. I did not know how to make best use of this available time. The idea of penning this book comes from there….

Indranil Sen

PROJECT INCEPTION – Part 1: Summary

1.1.0 PRELIMINARY DATA

1.1.1 Project Use

• Study of relevant portion/schedule of Land document

• Ascertain use of the Project

• If required, Advise Client to apply for Land Use Change or Modification

1.1.2 Project Location

• Find out exact location

• Identify Control and Approving Authorities

1.1.3 Project Jurisdiction

• Identify the Project Jurisdiction

• Identify applicable Statutes

1.1.4 Applicable Control Regulations

• Collect & Study all applicable Rules

• Advise Client if necessary on the Mandate

1.1.5 Documents Study & inference

• Study all other available Land Documents like Tax etc.

1.1.6 Authorized Signatories

• Architect

• Structural Engineer

• Geotechnical Engineer if Required

PROJECT INCEPTION – Part 1

1.1.0 PRELIMINARY DATA

For a project to start, that is, its inception various kinds of data and information’s are required for the Architect and his team to take a holistic call on the design parameters and other functions of the building. The important aspects of such information are listed below.

1.1.1 Project Use

The appointed Architect must ask the Clients or the owners of the land to give him a copy of the land document or the Title deed. Some owners may have reservation on sharing the entire deed. In that case, the Architect must ask for the portion relevant, wherein the Land use of the parcel of land is mentioned.

He must also have copy of the Schedule where the Land area and its adjacent are mentioned along with the Map or Plan annexed with the Title Deed.

Upon study of the Land documents, the Architect must verify and satisfy himself that the proposed project is allowed and buildable on the said plot.

If required, the Architect may advise his client to make suitable modifications or changes in the deed through proper channel.

This verification is desired so that at an advanced stage, no such hold backs happen due to a bad oversight. This will also save the project plan from being disturbed at a later date when delay means money

1.1.2 Project Location

After having completed the above exercise successfully, it is important to find the exact project location. Once this is established, the Control Regulations can be ascertained. This, in other words mean that the Architect now have full information on the Building By-laws to be followed and what will be process to obtain a Building Permit or Building Sanction.

As is known to all, various Corporations and Municipalities have their own approval procedures and these must be known to the Architect and his team

1.1.3 Project Jurisdiction

Upon full knowledge of the location of the Project, the Jurisdiction of the project is also known. This means that the projects is in which Area, Ward, Borough, Tehsil, Taluka, Panchayet etc. is also known along with the Police Station, under which the Land is in. These information are required for understanding the Project Approval procedure clearly.

The Jurisdiction also helps in formulation the number of Pre approval or prerequisite Approvals that are required before the plans may be submitted to the Approving Authority. Detailed discussion on this is done in Chapter 2, Section 5.

1.1.4 Applicable Control Regulations

The applicable Building Bye Laws are the next important document that the Architect must lay his hands on. Building Bye Laws are Development Control regulations published by the Approving Authority for various types of Buildings. These control regulations specify the outer limits of development within a said plot of land for a said use.

Once these are understood clearly, the architect may advise the client on the basic applicable rules and the first take on this. Knowledge on this is thus a very important aspect for a project to succeed.

1.1.5 Documents Study & inference

The Architect must ensure through discussion with the client or his representative that there is no legal or other such problem with the plot of Land where his client intend to build. This fact should be carefully recorded so that it can be established at a later date that the Architect did raise this issue at an appropriate time.

The Architect must also request his client to update him on the Tax payment position of the plot so that he is appraised of such pending payments, if any. It must be made clear that all pending Taxes due with any statue in question must be cleared before the drawings are submitted for Sanction. If for some reason the plot is under the ambit of Urban Land Ceiling Regulation (ULCR), the client must be advised suitably to take necessary NOC from the Competent Authority on the same.

1.1.6 Authorized Signatories

It is job of the Architect to ensure how many kinds of Signatories are required for obtaining a building Sanction. In most Corporations and Municipalities, all Documents and drawings submitted for approval are to be signed by the Legal Owner and the Architect. However, in some areas, the Structural Engineer also needs to countersign all drawings. This information is generally available in the Development Control Regulations and must be strictly followed.

It must also be checked if the Signature of the Geo-Technical engineer is required for certain types of project parameters.

PROJECT INCEPTION – Part 2: Summary

1.2.0 CONTROL REGULATIONS

1.2.1 Plot Map or Drawing

• Fully Dimension Hard copy or CAD file

• Check boundary dimension for Plot area

• Check Closing Dimensions

1.2.2 Width of Primary Means of Access

• Check recorded width of Primary Means of Access

• Check recorded all other adjacent roads, abutments etc.

• Physically check all the above

• Report Discrepancies, if any

• Advice client to take necessary action on the above, if required

1.2.3 Permissible FAR or FSI

• Find out Index

• Calculate total Permissible Area

• Identify FAR Exemption Elements

• Add Allowable Non FAR areas

1.2.4 Permissible Ground Coverage

• Find Out allowable percentage

• Calculate the absolute figure in terms of sqm

1.2.5 Permissible Total Height

• Find out Total Height Permissible

• Identify the Statutory Datum

• Identify Height Exemption elements

1.2.6 Mandatory Set Backs

• Front Setback

• Rear Setback

• Side Setbacks

• Identification of Front for corner plots

1.2.7 Parking Regulation

• Parking Definition

• Mandate for provision of Parking

• Area Exemptions

1.2.8 Alignments

• Identification of Road Alignments

• Infer on impact of such Alignments

1.2.9 Any other applicable rule from any