42 Chowringhee Architecture: Design, Facade & Key Features

42 Chowringhee Architecture, also known as The 42 Kolkata, is one of the most distinctive residential skyscrapers in India’s eastern metropolitan landscape. Located at 42B Chowringhee Road, Kolkata, the tower rises approximately 249 metres with 65 floors, creating a slender vertical presence above one of the city’s most historic urban corridors.

Completed in 2019, The 42 was designed as a high-end residential tower with a strong emphasis on panoramic views, slender proportions, high-performance façades and structural engineering. The project brought together architects, structural engineers, façade specialists and other consultants to address the challenges of constructing a very tall building in central Kolkata.

The 42 Kolkata: Quick Facts

Feature	Details
Building Name	The 42
Location	42B Chowringhee Road, Kolkata
Building Type	Residential skyscraper
Height	Approximately 249 m
Floors	65
Completion	2019
Architect	Architect Hafeez Contractor / project team
Structural Consultants	JW Consultants and other specialist consultants
Façade Consultant	BES Consultants
Developers	Mani Group, Sattva Group, Alcove Group & Diamond Group

The project documentation lists Architect Hafeez Contractor and Subir Kumar Basu among the architects, while the West Bengal housing project record also identifies them as architects for the development.

What Makes 42 Chowringhee Architecture Unique?

The architecture of The 42 is primarily defined by its slender vertical form, square plan, extensive glazing and restrained exterior expression.

Rather than relying on elaborate decorative elements, the building creates its identity through proportion, height, transparency and carefully engineered façade systems.

The tower’s square plan and vertical massing allow the apartments to benefit from views in multiple directions. Its position on Chowringhee Road also gives the building a prominent relationship with Kolkata’s historic central-city landscape.

For readers interested in how façade systems contribute to the appearance and performance of high-rise buildings, see our guide to building cladding and its role in building facades.

1. Slender High-Rise Form

One of the most recognizable characteristics of The 42 is its extremely slender appearance.

The tower rises vertically from a relatively compact footprint, producing a strong contrast with the lower-rise urban fabric around Chowringhee. According to architectural documentation, the tower has a slenderness ratio of approximately 1:10, making structural stability and wind performance important aspects of its design.

The slender form is not simply an aesthetic decision. At this scale, architects and engineers have to consider wind loads, structural movement, seismic forces, façade performance and occupant comfort.

This makes The 42 an interesting case study in modern high-rise architecture and structural engineering.

2. Square Plan and Panoramic Views

The tower uses a largely square plan and is aligned with the cardinal directions.

This planning approach provides the apartments with broad views toward Kolkata’s surrounding landmarks and urban landscape. The building’s location near the Maidan also contributes to the importance of views as part of its architectural character.

The architectural team used the tower’s height and orientation to create residences with extensive outward-facing glazing and terraces.

3. Glass Façade and Large Windows

The façade is one of the most important elements of The 42 architecture.

Large glazed areas create a visually light appearance while allowing natural daylight and extensive city views. BES Consultants describes the façade as incorporating high-performance glazing, large glazed windows and specially engineered façade systems.

The building also uses operable glazed windows in apartments, providing natural ventilation alongside the building’s mechanical systems.

This combination of transparency and solid exterior elements gives the tower a contemporary architectural expression without making the façade excessively decorative.

4. Triple-Height Entrance Lobby

The entrance is another major architectural feature of The 42.

The tower incorporates a triple-height entrance lobby, creating a dramatic transition between the street and residential tower.

Architectural documentation describes the lobby as approximately 12–14 metres high, with large clear-glass openings and long aluminium structural members that minimize visual obstruction.

The result is a highly transparent entrance that reinforces the building’s premium residential character.

5. Independent Tower and Parking Structure

A notable planning decision was to keep the residential tower independent from the multi-level car-parking structure.

This allowed the project team to create a separate parking and club facility while maintaining the tower as a visually dominant vertical element.

The parking structure and tower are connected through a bridge above the entrance lobby, creating a distinct relationship between the horizontal and vertical components of the development.

This approach is particularly interesting from an urban-design perspective because the tower does not simply sit on a conventional parking podium.

6. Terraces and Glass Balustrades

Large terraces form an important part of the residential design.

According to architectural documentation, the apartments feature triple-height terraces on selected sides of the tower, while clear glass railings help preserve outward views.

The use of transparent balustrades reduces the visual obstruction created by conventional solid parapets and supports the tower’s overall emphasis on openness and panoramic views.

7. Exterior Finishes and Façade Materials

The exterior combines painted concrete elements, glazing, aluminium components and other façade materials.

BES Consultants describes the tower’s façade as using high-performance glazing and painted concrete elements, while the entrance incorporates a bespoke aluminium mullion system.

The relatively restrained palette allows the building’s form and vertical proportions to remain the primary visual focus.

If you are researching different exterior materials and façade systems, read our detailed guide to types of exterior wall cladding.

8. Structural Engineering for a Slender Tower

The architectural appearance of The 42 is closely connected to its structural engineering.

A very slender residential tower is exposed to significant wind forces and must be designed to control movement as well as maintain structural strength.

Architectural project documentation notes the use of high-grade concrete, flat slabs and full-height girders at service levels. The tower also incorporates damper tanks near the top to help control movement caused by wind and seismic forces.

This demonstrates how architecture and engineering work together in supertall and slender high-rise buildings.

9. Façade Engineering and Wind Performance

The façade of The 42 was engineered specifically for the demanding environmental conditions associated with a very tall building.

BES Consultants states that its scope included façade design and engineering from concept through completion, including structural design based on wind pressures and performance testing.

The project also incorporated high-performance glazing and bespoke façade solutions for the entrance and tower.

The building’s façade performance received particular attention following Cyclone Amphan in 2020, when the tower’s envelope remained intact according to project-related documentation.

10. Relationship Between Architecture and Kolkata’s Skyline

The location of The 42 makes its architectural impact especially noticeable.

Chowringhee is one of Kolkata’s best-known urban corridors, and the tower rises within a cityscape containing historic landmarks, commercial buildings and large open areas.

The contrast between the slender contemporary tower and Kolkata’s established urban character makes The 42 an interesting example of modern architecture within a historic city context.

Its location near the Maidan also gives the tower an unusually prominent visual relationship with the city’s open landscape.

The 42 Architecture and Modern Façade Design

The 42 demonstrates several principles that are common in contemporary high-rise architecture:

• Strong vertical proportions
• Minimal and restrained exterior expression
• Extensive use of glazing
• High-performance façade systems
• Large balconies and terraces
• Transparent entrance architecture
• Wind-responsive structural design
• Integrated architectural and engineering coordination

The project is therefore useful not only as a landmark in Kolkata but also as a case study in the design of slender residential towers.

For another example of innovative façade architecture, you can also explore our article on what are kinetic facades, which explains how responsive façade systems can alter the appearance and performance of buildings.

Architectural Lessons from The 42

The 42 offers several useful lessons for contemporary architects and designers.

1. Form can become the primary architectural identity

The tower does not depend heavily on decorative detailing. Its height, slenderness and proportions create most of its visual identity.

2. Façade design must respond to performance

At high-rise scale, the façade has to address wind, weather, thermal comfort, glazing performance and maintenance in addition to appearance.

3. Views can influence planning

The square tower configuration and extensive glazing make views a significant part of the residential experience.

4. Architecture and engineering must work together

The structural system, wind engineering, façade design and architectural form are closely connected in a building of this scale.

Frequently Asked Questions About 42 Chowringhee Architecture

Final Thoughts

42 Chowringhee Architecture represents a combination of contemporary residential design, high-rise engineering and façade technology.

Its slender 249-metre profile, extensive glazing, panoramic terraces and carefully engineered building envelope give The 42 a distinctive presence on Kolkata’s skyline. More importantly, the project demonstrates how architectural form, structural engineering and façade performance must work together when designing a very tall building.

For readers interested in contemporary Indian architecture, The 42 is a useful case study of how a modern skyscraper can establish a strong identity within one of India’s historic urban environments.