| ARCHITECTURE: Ceilings of metal are rare in India, but here's someone who wants to change.
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| If at work, take a look above your head. What do you see? Chances are that you would see a mineral fibre acoustical ceiling panel suspended in a metal grid. That’s common since this type of ceiling is still the most popular system used in commercial buildings or spaces.
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| If Jatin Pasricha, director, NLDK Timber, is to be believed then there’s a revolution going on overhead. “We foresee a trend toward more dynamic accoustical ceiling visuals, both in public spaces like lobbies and corridors and not-so-public spaces like conference rooms and boardrooms, eventually,” he predicts.
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| Two of today’s more common alternatives to mineral fibre are metal and wood. And Pasricha is betting his money on metal.
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| NLDK Timbers has entered into an exclusive agreement with the US-based Gage Corporation and will introduce the concept of designing and manufacturing decorative metal ceilings, vertical surfacing.
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| Within the target sights would be the high potential hospitality, corporate and entertainment sectors. The landmark tie-up between the $500 billion-strong Gage Corporation and NLDK Timber is all set to revolutionise the premium interior segment.
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| While metallic ceilings have been popular in European commercial designs and architecture, Indian architecture is yet to welcome the trend in a big way. With Gage products, Pasricha hopes to attract people who are aware of the latest international lifestyle trends. It would be a challenge, he knows.
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| “It’s very difficult to bewitch the premium segment of society, not to forget the leading interior designers, architects, embassies, five-star hotels, corporate bigwigs and corporate houses,” he admits, “...nobody wants to experiment at their own expense.”
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| But why would anyone prefer metal up there?
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| “The main reason is metal’s durability and low-maintenance. A metal ceiling panel will usually outlast a mineral fibre panel,” he reasons.
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| Perhaps that’s why metal overhead costs a little bit more too. The pricing of Gage products — wall panels, lift fronts and ceilings — starts from Rs 600 per sq ft, and heads higher.
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| “The pricing might look prohibitive to begin with, but it is not a deterrent for the premium builder/architect who is spending crores on developing an internationally-styled property.”
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| Snazzy drawings, 3-D demos and the like have already been pressed into operation by NLDK’s offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore to woo India’s abovementioned style seeker. Other cities would be next.
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| “To begin with, it would be our main offices dealing with Gage products, and later on, we will distribute the same through our channel partners in B and C cities too.”
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| Expect plenty of ceiling talk, as interior planners get sensitised to an ever widening matrix of options. |
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