16 SUITES

P resent in the Institute of Space and Technology, Islamabad, this eye-catching façade has in fact, been retrofitted to the already existing building somewhat recently. The updated design follows the existing concept of the building which treats the entrance as the focal point of the entire square.

Housing residential quarters for the staff at IST, the extruding cubes symmetric to the entrance help break the otherwise linear axis of the building. The marble in the exterior envelope of the building extends onto the massive floor of the entrance, bringing about a certain connectivity to the design. One of the challenges in this project was how the ducting and piping was completely exposed; this problem was resolved by marble cladding as well as smart placement of aluminum louvers in the façade which served as a buffer between primary allied facilities and the outdoors. Special attention was paid to the entrance of the quarters by adding shading devices in the shape of louvers as well as a double heighted roof, keeping in mind the heavy monsoon rainfall that is experienced in the capital city. The entrance was defined further by being mindful of landscaping details which shape views to the building itself.

This façade uplift project not only adds to the building aesthetically but also ensures energy efficiency and durability