• Temenos

    Mixed-Use | Commercial I New Delhi

    Inspired from sleek origami folds, a double-skin of perforated aluminium panels wraps around this new-age commercial complex in Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar.

    AREA 25,375 SQFT I STATUS ARCHITECTURE DESIGN COMPLETED IN 2018 | PHOTOGRAPHER ANDRE J FANTHOME

    Temenos is a built-to-suit office complex in Lajpat Nagar, a thriving retail hub in New Delhi. The design brief for Temenos contended with the issues of privacy for the individual, and visibility for the organization.

    Temenos has been designed to become a 'jewel' in the city skyline - with a distinct, monolithic appearance that differentiates it from the typical glass-box commercial complex covered in advertising banners. Taking inspiration from origami folds, the built envelope of Temenos is characterized by a tessellated 'skim' of perforated aluminium panels, rendered in a rich champagne colour.

    The aluminium skin is wrapped around the top half of the glazed superstructure, creating a seamless appearance for all passers-by. Linear gardens run through the buffer spaces behind the aluminium panels; the workspaces - separated from the aluminium facade with floor-to-ceiling glazing - look out into these linear gardens. The perforations have been carefully calibrated to cut out solar glare and dampen external noise, to create a tranquil indoor experience for the user.

    The first floor is earmarked for retail, whereas the topmost three floor accommodate office spaces. The building provides an indoor environment that is conducive to concentration and productivity, despite its vicinity to heavy traffic. Taking the necessity of advertising space into consideration, the facade of the retail floor features metal louvers that can be customized for display.

    The integration of elevated gardens, sustainable interventions for energy efficiency, and an inward-oriented planning intent has helped create a truly distinctive commercial complex that defies the challenges posed by its context.

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