Located in Bengaluru, India, this Additive manufacturing facility is the first development within the recently developed Bengaluru Airport City. Envisaged as a sustainable and innovative district, the Bengaluru Airport City is a 560-acre development consisting of Business Parks, Retail Dining, Entertainment Village, Concert Arena and an Exhibition Centre adjacent to the city’s International Airport. This 1-acre site is located at the edge of the Airport City - prominently visible as one approaches the airport.
Tasked with housing the world’s largest quartz silica 3d printing machine, the facility is also required to host a design centre, an experience centre, a space for public outreach and symposiums. The requirements of the production process determined the layout of this facility. Occupying centre stage, the shop floor is designed to have easy access to customers, employees, and services – each separated into distinct circulation paths. There are specific points at the entry an– customer centric areas where visitors can get glimpses of the shop floor and the manufacturing process.
The client – Peekay Steel Castings is a 70-year-old steel company that is making a foray into additive manufacturing. The core design idea was to capture this paradigm shift while remaining recognizable and relatable to the company’s employees and loyal customers. Carrying forward the company’s rich legacy, the new facility’s form is inspired by industrial sheds that are synonymous with steel factories and foundries. The design adapts new technology, materiality along with climate responsive strategies to create a contemporary manufacturing space that is future forward.
Owing to the site’s orientation and profile, the prominent façades of the facility are oriented towards the south and west which posed a considerable challenge as they were susceptible to heat gain and glare. Shading fins in different configurations were designed to mitigate these issues allowing diffused natural light into the shop floors on the south and creating shaded terraces and courtyards along the west. These distinct vertical fins transform into skylights allowing ample natural light into the shop floor. Clad in pre-weathered zinc panels, these fins bring warmth and familiarity to the façade. The standing seam composition with staggered joints highlight the idea of construct which is synonymous with manufacturing.
The west façade mimics the same form with a series of porous fins made of expanded aluminium mesh. These fins add layers of light and shadow into the public and customer facing areas creating an enjoyable spatial experience. Moreover, these screens adjoin landscaped courtyards that directly open into the customer areas and workspaces creating engaging volumes and experiences with light, texture and greenery.
The facility is designed with a focus on employee well-being. The workspaces and the design centre overlook the shop floor creating volumes that allow uninterrupted visual access. The landscaped open terrace on the third level houses a lounge and recreation areas where employees can experience the joy of watching aircrafts take off and land on the adjacent runway.
Adding to muted yet dynamic exterior, the interior spaces also reflect the clean lines and warm highlights of the exterior. Sustainability and energy efficiency is built into the design through active and passive features. Continuing the idea of build and construct, the unique light installation in the lobby and board room highlight the innovation in design that this facility hopes to inspire. This is further enhanced by the experience centre which showcases the company’s history to customers through an immersive experience.
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