MUMBAI | Namaste Tower | 62 FLOORS | 300 M | Site Prep
 

Credit for all the information and text compiled goes to IndiansUnite @ SSC

Namaste: Hotel and Office Tower
Category: Future Projects - Commercial
Location: Mumbai, India
Architects: WS Atkins, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Atkins, United Arab Emirates

The renders and text were submitted by Atkins to the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona (3-5 Nov 2010). Link to project page

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Following the long tradition of great Indian Architecture it was our aim that the Namaste Tower will stand as a landmark structure, representative of the burgeoning economic and cultural significance of India. We aimed to design a building that would become representative of the city: the picture postcard of Mumbai.


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Key Statistics:
• 120,000 m2 of Gross Construction Area
• 380 key luxury hotel
• Exclusive restaurants, bars, banqueting and spa facilities
• 9,000 m2 of A grade office space
• 6,000 m2 of world class retail space
• 300 m overall building height

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“Namaste"
The traditional Indian greeting of ‘Namaste’, where the hands are clasped together in greeting, is the inspiration for the design of this tower. In Sanskrit “Namaste` means “I bow to you`. It has a spiritual significance of negating one’s ego in the presence of another.

The Architecture of the Namaste Hotel builds on this ancient Indian expression. The two wings of the hotel are clasped together like hands greeting the city of Mumbai. In this way the architectural design of the hotel provides the ultimate symbol of hospitality and welcome, as seen in the as seen in the cultural context of India.

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Visual Relationships to and from the Site
With a proposed height of 300 m the tower will be seen from a distance of more than 40 km. Therefore the visual appearance of the project as a major landmark is of great importance to the city of Mumbai.

Views from the tower will extend to the South over the Mahalkshi Race course towards the Mumbai Peninsula and to the South West over the Indian Ocean. The views to the north East are towards a number of adjacent towers that are currently being constructed. The orientation and massing of the tower have been designed in order to make the very best of these visual relationships.

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The Building Skin
The tower has been designed to cater for large scale Indian weddings. The occasion of a Mehndi ceremony (where the hands and feet of the bride and groom are decorated with henna) is often one of the most important pre-wedding rituals in India.

The design seeks to build on the theme of the clasped hands by referencing the intricate Mehndi patterns through the treatment of the building skin. The tower is will be clad in fritted glazing that combines to form an architectural scale graphic on the exterior of the building. This will create a sense of transparency and depth to the building while at the same time helping to maintain the thermal qualities required to meet the building’s envelope design criteria.

It is proposed that the large scale canopies over the drop-off points area support an array of solar thermal collectors. Given the available surface area and annual sunlight conditions these have the potential to provide 12% of the energy required to heat the hot water for the hotel.

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Location (View on google maps):
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^Site prep underway


General Arrangement
The tower is made up of two separate wings (or hands) which together form the architectural expression of “Namaste”. The space between the wings forms the corridor spaces. At either end of the corridor space a pair of open atria will offer hotel guests dramatic framed views out over the city.

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Internal Atrium Gardens
These atria also serve to bring natural light deep into the plan. At the plant floor levels these atria are broken with internal gardens that serve to bring greenery into the corridor and atrium spaces. It was a central design aim to ensure that the circulation areas of the hotel, (including corridors) are just as impressive as the rooms themselves.

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The Podium
The geometry of the podium is designed to integrate fully with the design of the tower. Thus it is a highly symmetrical form that responds to the wing like canopies above the drop off. Containing mostly retail, the facade of the podium is activated with water features and fountains that cascade down to street level.

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The Summit
At the summit of the building a generous quadruple height atrium space encloses a Sky Restaurant and Bar which will provide a unique vantage point for patrons to gain panoramic views out over the city.

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Cheers,
Jai

Google earth site location, again courtesy IndiansUnite @ SSC
Location:
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Zoomed in (Jan 25, 2010):
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Site photo 17 Jan 2011, courtesy Coolguyz @ SSC

Groovilicious.

wow!

that is wicked

Really interesting. The facade is a neat idea. Wonder how it will actually look.

Oh my... :worship:

Paisley... nice.

:tup:

I really like this. Execution of the facade will be key. Lovely!

Amazing facade and general design on this tower.

its a wonder no one really has clad a super tall like that earlier i hope they are allowed to stick close to the renderings on top here.

and the sky atrium at the top floor will be amazing to be inside i believe

Amazing. I love it.

Can't wait to see the facade!

Oh wow - the Mehndi patterns on the skin mark the building as uniquely Indian, without in any way compromising the integrity of the structure. Can't wait to see the finished project.

The roof looks really cool.

Well, I now have a "most excited to watch" tower for the next few years. I'll echo other forumers' sentiments that the execution of the facade will make or break this tower. But conceptually I think it's one of the coolest towers to come out in the last 5 years.

According to this article, the tower will be ready by 2013-2014

India’s first W hotel coming up off Mahalaxmi racecourse

From Starwood Hotels & Resorts website:

Site pics courtesy/copyright Coolguyz at SSC India:

20 April:

10 May:

19 May:

Site pics courtesy/copyright Savz at SSC India:

30 May:


12 May Copyright Matthew @ Flickr

:previous: I know this is supposed to resemble two hands coming together in the Namaste gesture, but I see something else. :D I'm specifically reminded of the roof of the Virgin Galactic terminal building at Spaceport America. Hope this tower comes true.

Is this still progressing?

Such a great and beautiful tower. Proof that skyscrapers and office buildings can have a soul.