REACH FOR THE STARS

High-rises are more complex than they look. Modern engineering is making way to overcome challenges

- Jyotsna M

Typically, high-rises in India are designed keeping in mind many sustainable aspects -- good light & ventilation, zero water discharge, solar panels to provide electricity in common areas, STPs, energy-saving elevators, use of fly ash in concrete, etc. In most cities, high-rises have more or less similar sustainable aspects integrated into them.

A study found that modular construction comprises only 1% of India’s total $100 billion real estate market. The module shows maximum utility in high-rise buildings. However, the industry is yet to see technological advancements to accept this methodology to its full potential. Currently, only a fraction of builders has chosen to adopt this method. As long as technology seeps through construction technology, there is a high possibility for modular construction to take centre stage soon.

This time we will focus on the modular construction of high-rises. Many Indian developers now embrace pre-fab to build modular and affordable homes. Walls, foundation stones, and other construction units are manufactured in bulk, transported to the building site, and ‘fixed’ on-site using pre-fab technology. It provides a template that allows one to build multiple identical floors/units quickly. It also saves money and significantly reduces the cost of shuttering and labor. This method also reduces construction time and a building’s time-to-market, resulting in gains in terms of interest cost savings.