The building that breathes

Designs that have the least frills are often the most efficient ones. Just ask Suraksha Acharya, founder of Midori Architects. The firm recently won two awards — Skyhive Skyscraper Challenge in Dubai and the Silver A Design Award in Italy — for its skyscraper design titled Aero Hive.

The design took three months to come to fruition. Besides the team of four from Midori, another Chennai-based firm and a Delhi-based firm also lent a hand. “The rendering was done by Vizis, Architectural Enhancer, Chennai and the parametric modelling by Rat[LAB] research in architecture and technology, New Delhi,” says Acharya.

The design is all about putting the immediate environment to good use, explains Acharya, “Aero Hive is a breathing entity. The breath of this building transpires through vertical diaphragms in the form of green sky atriums that behave as lungs, performing the intake of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide. This exchange is a way of natural ventilation and is the preferred option when attempting to deliver fresh air to any space due to its low energy requirements.”

She has plenty to say in support of her calling, “The expertise that architects bring to the table can have a significant impact on the financial bottom line of a project. For example, sustainable design features can significantly increase the value of a property. Another important driver of sustainability is resilience, referring to the ability of a building’s infrastructure to be self-sufficient enough to withstand storms and other violent natural occurrences. The new generation of skyscrapers are moving in a different and very green direction.”

Being energy-efficient is high priority. “By harnessing the local topography, climate, and vegetation, as well as cleverly manipulating a building’s orientation, we strive to create a comfortable indoor climate that reduces dependence on air-conditioning,” she says.

There are myriad ways of achieving this, says Acharya, adding that some of the best solutions can be found closer home. “Builders can realise zero costs from sustainable strategies. The evidence for this already exists in Asian markets. As we have demonstrated in our Aero hive project, tall buildings can employ natural ventilation as part of the design.”

A graduate of Anna University, and an alumnus of Sustainable Environmental Design programme at the Architectural Association, London, Acharya has always been driven towards sustainable architecture. “I have been fascinated with buildings ever since I started playing with my brother’s Lego sets as a child,” she says.