Firm Hall Primary Function: Holo ea Mokete, Setsi sa Sechaba by Vigneswar Vasulingam Sivanesan

Firm Hall Primary Function: Holo ea Mokete, Setsi sa Sechaba by Vigneswar Vasulingam Sivanesan is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award in Moralo wa Meaho, Dikaho le Dibopego Competition Category.

SileveraMeaho· 2020

Firm Hall Primary Function: Holo ea Mokete, Setsi sa Sechaba

by Vigneswar Vasulingam Sivanesan

Client: Architecture plus Value

Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award Winner in Meaho Category

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The Design

About Firm Hall Primary Function: Holo ea Mokete, Setsi sa Sechaba

Book Text: Firm Hall ke setsi sa mekete le sechaba se Chennai, India. Morero ona ke ho sebelisa bocha ntlo e teng ea bolulo mateanong a phahameng a tsela. Marako a kantle a ile a bolokoa a sa senyeha, ha marako a ka hare a fetotsoe ho theha sebaka se le seng se seholo sa liketsahalo mokatong o mong le o mong. Mokato o ka tlaase o na le holo ea lelapa, mokato oa pele o na le holo e nang le lipuisano tsa telefono, 'me phatlalatso e na le pavilione e bulehileng ka halofo e nang le serapa se hlophisitsoeng. Sefahleho se kopanya bongata bo bosootho bo nang le sebopeho ka tlase le bongata bo bosoeu bo nang le mekhoa ea skrini e sehiloeng ho tsoa liphapheng tsa aluminium le ho benngoa ho tsoa ka morao.

The Recognition

About the Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award

Firm Hall Primary Function: Holo ea Mokete, Setsi sa Sechaba ke mohapi oa Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award, kananelo e hlomphehang haholo e fuoang meralo e phahameng ka ho fetesisa, e ntle le e tsosang maikutlo. Bahapi ba Silevera ke mesebetsi e khanyang haholo le e nang le boqapi bo ikhethang e bontšang botsebi, talenta le bohlale ba baqapi ba eona. Firm Hall Primary Function: Holo ea Mokete, Setsi sa Sechaba e lebelletsoe ho ba mosebetsi o motle, oa mohlala, o nang le boprofeshenale bo bonahalang le mehopolo e mecha e tebileng. Moralo ona o hapileng Moputso oa Silevera oa A' Design Award ke mohopolo o hlokomelehang haholo le o ratoang o tlisang molemo mme o sutumelletsang meeli ea bonono, mahlale, moralo le theknoloji. Firm Hall Primary Function: Holo ea Mokete, Setsi sa Sechaba ke mosebetsi oo batho ba bangata ba o lakatsang, o tsosang litakatso, o tlisang maikutlo a matle le o tsosetsang ho makala le ho hlolla.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Firm Hall is an Iconic Community Project created on a Shoe-String Budget. Through sensitive Adaptive Re-use an existing residential bungalow, at a busy intersection, was converted into a state-of-the-art Event Venue. The Project not only acts as a revenue source for the developer but also serves the local neighbourhood as a Community Centre. It is environmentally sustainable and cost-effective. An innovative Facade system and Landscape features were developed to add value to the Project.
Dimensions & Packaging: A strong language was created by designing two different masses, a high glossy white mass with intricate Jali or Screen patterns was kept in the first floor above a solid textured brown mass on the ground floor. CNC cut patterns were made on a 3 mm aluminium sheets with back lighting to emphasise the patterns during night. A series of up-throw lights make the white mass look floating. The terrace was converted into a semi-open party area with a light metal roof and a landscaped terrace.
Tags: Event space, White, Facade, Community centre, Banquet Hall, Chennai, Anna Nagar
Production Technology: Adaptive Re-Use_The external periphery of the Structure was kept intact. The Existing internal load bearing walls were analysed and the smaller spaces were amalgamated into a single large event space in each floor. Separate Service areas and a service entry were provided to the project to ensure smooth servicing. A metal staircase was introduced in the rear service area to provide vertical service access and also act as a secondary fire-exit.
Design Challenge: The Property has become a land-mark in Chennai. It has a 90% occupancy rate since opening and has turned into a commercially profitable venture. Space utilisation and service strategy has ensured a smooth functioning for multiple events. The Space caters to multitude of aspirations hosting a range of events ranging from birth-day parties to weddings and convocation ceremonies. Firm Hall is a case-study on how sensitive design and programming can add a lot of value to the Indian urban fabric.
Research: The main aim of the Design was to provide a premium and plush environment for the event spaces. A detailed research was done on the existing event spaces in the city and on how to make this a profitable commercial venture. Being an Adaptive Re-Use project the building needed to be retained to its best possible manner and converted into an event venue. This provided additional challenges to the design.
Inspiration: Firm Hall is a successful prototype to unlock the hidden commercial & community potential in the Indian Urban Context. Third-world cities like Chennai lack good Community Centres. Private developers are concerned more on Commercial aspects. As Architects we knew that the key is to bring both these contradictory forces into one successful project. Through sensitive design and clever planning, Firm Hall has become a commercially successful community centre.
Project Duration: Firm Hall was started in December 2018 and completed in April 2019. It is located on a busy commercial through-fare in Anna-Nagar, which is one of the premium residential areas in the city of Chennai.
Operation Flow: The event spaces opened out into the front garden and lobby spaces were designed as break-out spaces and informal gathering areas The Ground floor was converted into a Family hall, First floor hall with Tele-Conferencing facilities and the Terrace was converted into a semi-open pavilion with a landscaped terrace garden. The Building was designed such that each floor could be used as a separate event space for three different events or could be used in a combined manner to host a larger event.
Team Members: Vigneswar V S
Swathi Kunimbedu
Image Credits: Photographer Prithvi M Samy