The Crystal Hall L'interno Residenziale

Press Kit

Unique Properties

The Crystal Hall integrates sustainability, reuses material, and uses disadvantaged local talent. Glass is a modern material that can be recycled endlessly without loss of quality or clarity, recreating bioclimatic conditions that tackle climate change. It follows a minimalistic modern approach while taking inspiration from classicism and yet being culturally, emotionally and ecologically conscious. The building follows a zero-waste policy and is an example of socially responsible design

Dimensions & Packaging

Site area - 2322 meter square
Building area - 835 square meter
Gross - 418 sqm

Tags

Sustainable design, Sustainable Interior, Residential Interior, Ecofriendly Design, Innovative Design, Green Design, Interior design, White Interior, Modern Interiors, Minimalistic Interiors

Production Technology

The structure consists an eclectic mix of glass, MS columns and cast in situ concrete. Contrary to general opinion, glass is among the most eco-friendly materials, more than compared to mud or stone, as it can be recycled endlessly without loss of quality or clarity and is made of sand, which is among the most plentiful resources available. Glass recreates bioclimatic conditions that tackle climate change while using modern materials that are culturally, emotionally, and ecologically conscious.

Design Challenge

Glass is often considered inappropriate for a tropical climate. But the architect used a double-layered glass - one layer reflecting the longwave radiation and the other reflecting the sun's shortwave radiation, providing thermal insulation to the building. As the project is in the outskirts where the power situation is erratic, the architect used wind power generating towers to provide backup power during windy days. The power is stored in batteries, and the excess is fed back to the city grid.

Research

The Crystal Hall a big but small home is an essay on light nature and history. Apart from integrating sustainability along reusing materials and using disadvantaged local talent the architect ensured every space of the project was curated to reflect what has been religiously culturally and geographically experienced by the client. It has the worlds first residential windmill towers proprietary use of two layers of high performance recycled glass with noninvasive vegetation species within thermal insulation technology and rainwater utilization thus creating a glocal (global and local) building.

Inspiration

Inspired by the state of the Earths climate and the status of its poorest this is design as an instrument for social and environmental change. It is not just an aesthetic adventure but a tool to recycle and reuse modern materials in sustainable and affordable ways. He made it his mission to hire the so called unemployable from Indias oppressed people of color. This is a building of universal human values that is yet culturally specific being inspired by vernacular Indian design.

Project Duration

Located in Bangalore, India, The Crystal Hall was constructed over a span of five years, from 2014 to 2019.

Operation Flow

The Crystal Hall is an example of paleomodern design, paleo meaning first. This is to take design beyond form follows function to form follows feeling, to reintroduce beauty and pleasure in art, things which were once universal but now is seen as sentimental and commercial. Things like Square proportions, Golden mean proportions, rhythm, scale, harmony and the accommodation of local and climatological aspects makes this a traditional design with a modern outlook using Avant Grande technology and materials.

Patents

Thomas Abraham

Image Credits

Image #1: Sandeep
Image #2: Rashmi Srinivasan
Image #3: Dullu
Image #4: Rashmi Srinivasan
Image #5: Sandeep