Hi Tech Gears Ltd. is an auto component manufacturer (a Tier 1 supplier) of world class repute. It is situated in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. The project designed by Shilpkaar Architects has received a Gold rating under the Green Factory Rating System administered by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). The project comprises a compost pit to minimize the solid wastes, facilities for the staff including breakout spaces and gymnasium to increase their productivity, Energy efficient HVAC system, cavity walls to reduce HVAC load, efficient light fixtures with motion sensors, water harvesting plant, and water efficient fixtures.

Design Philosophy adopted in this project aims to minimize heat gain. It caters to natural principles to achieve the desired comfort conditions. The project focuses on following alternative features.

Walls: Double walls of Brick with sealed air gap between, Use of hollow blocks made of fly ash brick and Shaded wall surfaces with horizontal/vertical louvers.

Glazing: Use of vacuum sealed double glazing.

Shading Devices: Use of horizontal and vertical louvers for shading of glazed openings.

Landscaping: Shady trees on the South & West sides to prevent direct sunlight falling on the walls and Grass cover around the building to prevent reflected radiation from hardscape areas.

Paint: On external surfaces - use of light-colored reflective paints to prevent heat absorption of walls.

Roof: Use of heat insulating finishing on RC terrace slab via mud phuska/lime tile terracing. Selection of roof profile to minimize exposed area thereby reducing heat gain and use of roof extractors for dissipating heat from inside the work area.

The project also undertakes the Principle of 3-R in its functioning -

Every resource used by the architects was evaluated to ensure that it suited the principle of reduce, reuse and recycle, or the 'principle of 3-R'. Hence, it ensured minimal wastage of energy and water during construction. Also, designs were optimized to save material, and every construction material was evaluated for its recycled content. The use of water fixtures with low flow rates as indicated in the IGBC reference table helped them achieve 58 per cent net water reduction, following the same principle.

Fact File

Project Name: Hitech gears ltd. (E & TC nova plant), Bhiwadi (Rajasthan)

Principal Architects: Shailendra Singh Sengar  and Vivek Kumar Jindal

Areas - Site Area: 20000 Sq.m, Built-Up Area (RCC): 2000 Sq.m, Built-Up Area (Shed): 10000 Sq.m

About the Firm : Shilpkaar

A leader among medium-sized regional practices, Shilpkaar is focused on delivering innovative solutions that build on context, explore new technologies, and leverage our client's programmatic objectives. Combining vision with 26 years of experience realizing projects, they design buildings that create new spatial paradigms, deliver experiential richness, withstand the test of time, and maximize return on client investment.

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