MUMBAI SKYSCRAPERS

Text-Ar.Suvarna Lele

Shipati Arcade,Tardeo
India is most populous country after China which has a population of more than
1,000,000,000 residing over a land area of around 2,973,190 sq.km.
Mumbai occupies area of 437.71 sq.m. This is 14% of the total area of the state of
Maharashtra. It is India’s most populated city and sixth most populated agglomeration in
world. Mumbai Metropolitan area is divided in City District and Suburban Districts.
Mumbai is experiencing a huge building boom, although due to recent recession it
seems to slow down a bit.Several high rise buildings along with skyscrapers which are
more than 25 floors have come up over last two years.
The heights of the buildings seem to rise every year and with increase in F.S.I. from
4 to 8 the floors will rise as high as possible.
Possibly current year will see the buildings more than 80 floors. The mill lands as
well as the slum areas being redeveloped due to Slum Redevelopment programme the
number of this super tall structure would increase.
As a result of this development there will be a tremendous pressure on
infrastructure in terms of civic amenities, power supplies, and traffic.
The already scanty provisions will be severely affected due to increase in
population density over certain ares.
Moreover an extensive study is done by officials regarding the hazards which would
potentially affect city of Mumbai which include natural calamities such as earthquakes,
floods, landslides along with the fires, industrial accidents, chemical, nuclear,
biologicalhazards ,bomb blasts and terrorist attacks which are the latest additions to these
 Mumbai lies in Seismic Zone III as per Bureau of Indian Standards. Expert
committee has identified 10 sections along central railways and 12 along western railways
prone to serious flooding along with 235 flooding points.
Due to haphazard industrial growth the city seems to be prone to chemical,
biological and nuclear hazards too.One cannot overlook several other hazards as riots,
bomb blasts, terrorist attacks, landslides and cyclones.
Taking a general overview of Mumbai Scenario-
Mumbai has inadequate roads with number of vehicles increasing day by day. The
services as water supply, electricity, sanitation are inadequate for such a vast population.
Major risk factors also include reclamation of land over the sea. Large numbers of
commuting population, oil spills and pollution due to traffic and taking into consideration
all this back ground the question arises whether it is appropriate to go for high rise
structures and how face problems raised due to their extensive construction?

Elphinstone Mills Tower, Mill Lands: 60 stories

The DC rules 2005 state the inclusion of Multi disciplinary Approach right
through conceptual stage to planning, designing, construction, operation and maintenance
for the construction of high rise structures. It includes several clauses for building safety
such as- two stage building permit, provision of periodic renewal of certificate of occupied
buildings from structural, fire and electrical safety point of view. The fire safety norms are
revamped providing for prevention safety and protection from fire. Several new features as
substitution of halogen base fire fighting systems, promotion of new building materials and
techniques, latest provisions for earthquake resistant designs, chapter for prefabricated
construction, up gradation for provision of safety in construction are provided in new
byelaws.
To make a structure sustainable, economic, social and environmental issues are to
be considered.
A tall building is advantageous in several regards which include economies of
scale, standardization of large quantities of building elements, selection of environmental
friendly materials, occupation of smaller areas, better use of daylight and thermal mass due
to narrower depth of plans.
The negative effects include heavier structural frames, lower net gross floor area
ratio, wind effects, deeper foundations, complicated services, negative psychological
effects, and strain on infrastructure and so on. But in spite of all this, one can see a boom in
construction Industry with several skyscrapers coming up. So the detailed study structural
and services become quiet significant for actual site work.
 In a structure, choosing right type of foundation based on soil conditions is very
important consideration. While designing the super structure the exact calculation of wind
stress is necessary along with wind tunnel test.
Choice of external facades also becomes important in consideration with the
climatic conditions which may lead to effective energy saving.

Ventilated Double Skin Façade on the HSBC Headquarters

Design of services is a complicated issue in tall structures. The proper use of
daylight can reduce electricity consumption and the of use of photovoltaic cells can add up
to the electricity savings. Avoidance of energy intensive air-conditioning is also an
important aspect to be considered while design.

Design with photovoltaic panels

Lighting may account for 20% of electrical load hence the energy efficient fixtures, placing
of openings; use of colour schemes can enhance the day light use and reduce electrical
consumption.
Fire fighting system plays an important role in design of a tall structure. The prime
considerations for fire safety include different aspects such as the standard means of fire
escapes, provision of smoke control devices, facilities to assist fire services, use of fire
resisting materials, separation of floors, fire escapes firefighting shafts and vertical
transportation.
An effective water supply and planning for sanitation can save the water to large extent.
Rain water harvesting and recycling can save a large amount of water reducing the size of
storage tanks.

Low Flow Spray Tap with Sensor Operation Minimises Water Use

Natural elements can be put to utmost use for creating sustainable skyscrapers.
Building can be effectively oriented for maximum day light and solar passive energy.
Building can be designed to reduce maximum wind effects. The other important aspects to
be considered for maximum energy gain would be floor plate depth, ceiling heights, floor
slab thickness and core design. Façade should be designed considering optimization of
light, ventilation and reduction of dead mass.
Architects in foreign countries are experimenting over these issues since several
years. Norman Foster, Renzo Piano, Kean Yeang are few of them.

Commerzbank Heaquarters, Europe’s tallest building

Minara misineaga-A bioclimatic skyscraper by Kean yeang

Many new technologies and engineering options are available which include use of
natural day lighting and shading, energy efficient PV facades, wind power, systems, sky
gardens, rain water harvesting which are effectively used by the above mentioned
architects in their designs.
Ongoing research in Optimal Building Systems, Operation and Design may play a
significant role in design of future skyscrapers. All the structural, mechanical and electrical
systems need to be designed to incorporate innovative technologies.
 LA Law Courts designed for environmental integration
Building Automation Integrated Computer Controls also be effectively used in energy
saving. From a single workstation the controls and monitoring of HVAC, lighting, security,
fire fighting systems and vertical transportations can be achieved.

Building Automation
Tall buildings becoming more common, design of buildings can have major impact
on sustainability.

Orchid Views, Satrasta: two towers of 50 stories each

In Mumbai as per experts comments from town planners, safety and administrative experts
they are of a opinion that if the perfect DC rules are followed the high rise structures need
not congest the areas or add extra strain on the Infrastructure but the question remains
whether the DC rules are strictly followed and implemented and the result needs to be seen
in upcoming constructions.
Winter Garden Section (Buchanan)Building