Firm Hall 宴會廳、社區中心 by Vigneswar Vasulingam Sivanesan

Firm Hall 宴會廳、社區中心 by Vigneswar Vasulingam Sivanesan is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award 銀獎 in 建築、樓宇及結構設計 Competition Category.

銀建築· 2020

Firm Hall 宴會廳、社區中心

by Vigneswar Vasulingam Sivanesan

Client: Architecture plus Value

A' Design Award 銀獎 Winner in 建築 Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Firm Hall 宴會廳、社區中心

Firm Hall係印度清奈嘅一座宴會兼社區中心。呢個項目係將一幢位於繁忙十字路口嘅現有住宅平房改造再用。外牆維持原貌，而內牆就經過改動，喺每層形成一個大型活動空間。地下設有家庭廳，一樓設有配備視像會議設施嘅廳堂，天台就係一個帶有園林花園嘅半開放式亭閣。立面下方由帶質感嘅棕色體塊組成，上方係白色體塊，飾以由鋁板切割而成嘅屏風圖案，並由背後打光。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銀獎

Firm Hall 宴會廳、社區中心是 A' Design Award 銀獎得主，這是授予頂級、華美而令人印象深刻的設計的極為崇高的認可。銀獎得主是極其卓越、極具創造力的作品，展現出其設計師傑出的專業技能、才華與敏銳。預計Firm Hall 宴會廳、社區中心將成為一件出色的典範之作，兼具非凡的專業性與深刻的創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銀獎的設計是一項備受矚目、令人欽佩的發明，造福並拓展藝術、科學、設計和技術的界限。Firm Hall 宴會廳、社區中心是一件令人羨慕的創作，它喚起渴望，帶來積極的情感，並激發驚嘆與讚嘆。

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