Sunday, August 13, 2006
Kochi's towering skyline
Is Kochi's skyline set to change dramatically? Is the horizon of the city going to sport sleek and slender columns of high-rises that resemble the skylines of the megalopolises the world over?
Though not quite soon, the chances are high. The Kochi buildings are going higher and higher. Once the upward trend has started, it is only a matter of increasing the height, it seems.
Strong foundation
It is only quite recently the buildings in Kochi started to grow taller. The three, four or a maximum of five floors gave way very fast to ten and fifteen floors. With deep rock foundation and piling, the builders discovered that high-rises could come up even in the clayey soil of Kochi. "Most of the new buildings coming up in and around Ernakulam now rest on the rock foundation," says the architect Lalichan Zacharias, chairman of the Cochin chapter of Indian Institute of Architects. "Which means, an average depth of 49 meters."
With such technology at hand, increasing the height of the building becomes quite feasible.
High-rise construction naturally throws up many challenges, right from the construction stage and throughout the long-term maintenance of the building. Energy efficiency and foolproof safety and security systems are essential for any high-rise building. However, the buildings coming up these days are fully equipped to deal with all such issues.
The tallest
The Mini Muthoottu Tech Towers, coming up at Kaloor, is at present the tallest building in Kochi, the construction of which has been completed. It has 22 floors.
However, it is reported that many more tall buildings are in the offing, with even a 30 storeyed apartment complex coming up in Kakkanad. But all the other projects are still in the initial stages.
The Tech Towers, conceived mainly as an Information Technology hub, is 21 floors, plus the ground floor and basement floor parking space.
The building will open next month, according to Roy M. Mathew, chairman of the Mini Muthoottu Group. He says that the height was `limited' to 21 floors only because the group would not have got permission for more given the available floor space ratio.
The building will have a total built-up area of 1,23,946 square feet. While it will mainly house IT offices, the top floors will also house nine executive residential apartments as well as three penthouses.
Star attraction
The rooftop will have a revolving restaurant, which is expected to be a star attraction of the building.
The entire building will be an `intelligent' building, according to Mr. Mathew. Which means, the moment anyone enters the premises, they will be `seen' by the building's intelligent systems.
The HVAC (heating, ventilating and air-conditioning) systems, fire fighting and security systems and energy management will have Intelligent Building Controls.
Besides, the building will also house an exclusive Gymnasium, fitness centre, clubhouse and many more amenities catering to its executive clientele.
To all appearance, this might only be the beginning. In a few years to come, the very appearance of the city might change, with tall structures transforming the skyline.
