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ApproachesHelpedBuildInColdClimateEnvironmentalSciencesEssay

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ApproachesHelpedBuildInColdClimateEnvironmentalSciencesEssay
CoolArchitectureNoal,2003herereferstocreativearchitecturethatrespondstoplacesthataredefinedbycoldclimate.Thestudywillfocuson
zoneslikeHimachalPradesh,Ladakh,KashmirandTibetwheremaximumsummertemperaturerangefrom15to28degreeCelsiusandminimum
wintertemperaturerangefrom1to40degreeCelsius,zoneswheretemperaturesarelowandthereiswidevariationsintemperature,whereoutside
workismadeunsafebythewindandcold,whereremotelocationsandchangingweatherconditionscomplicatelogistics,wherepermafrostdemands
specialenvironmentfriendlyconstructiontechniques.Alltheseregionsinvolveafragilebiodiversitywhereenvironmentalprotectionisareal
concern.
Buildingincoldclimateischallenging.Therearesomanyconsiderationstobetakenlikesoilinstability,extremecold,permafrost,limitedmaterials
selection,bioclimaticdesignsomanyobstaclestotacklelikeshortbuildingseason,siteswhicharelocatedinremoteareasfarremovedfrom
transportationroutes,meltingsnowandice,waterproofingandsomanyrisksinvolvedintermsofthesafetyoftheworkersandthebuilding
occupants.Buildingincoldclimatewithappreciationofthesurroundingandclimateinmindisevenharder.Butithasbeenamajorfactorin
motivatingandinspiringinnovationandbrilliantideasinthefieldofarchitecture.Itisappealingbecauseofthechallengeofdealingwithsomany
constraints.Youhavetoconfrontlogicalrealities.Climaticconditionsaremajorfactorandcannotbeignored.Thereareissuesoffunctionalityand
environmentalimpactwhichwillgreatlyinfluencedesigns.Efficiencywillbethedrivingforceindecisionmakingandmostofthetimetheonly
option.
Manypotentialoptionsareeliminatedbecauseoftheneedforbuildingstorespondinspecificways.Designinginsuchenvironmentisentirely
differentfromdesigninginmoderateconditionswheresometimesanythingworks.Thereareneedsforscientificapproachesinthedesign
methodologyandanecologicalapproachintheformerscenario.
Technologyhasagreatimpactonarchitecture.Itimpactsbuildingmaterials,thebuilding,thestructureandservices.Builtenvironmentisa
manifestationofthetechnologicalinnovation.Thewaytechnologiesareappliedindesignandconstructionofbuildings,havedirectimplicationson
theamountofenergyconsumed.(Vyas,2005)
Innovationsandtechnologyhasmadesomeofthemostdifficulttaskspossible.Ithasmadepeopleslivesconvenientandcomfortable.Thisresearch
paperwillfocusonlocalarchitecturalinnovationsinselectedsiteswithcoldclimateandthekindoftechniquesusedtoachievethat.
1.2.ResearchQuestion
Howhaslocaltechnologyandinnovativeapproacheshelpedbuildincoldclimatesandwhyaretheyneededinatimewhereeverythingismachine
drivenandheavilyreliedonfossilfuel?
1.3.NeedIdentification
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ApproachesHelpedBuildInColdClimateEnvironmentalSciencesEssay

Climatehasaffectedmansincetheverybeginningoftime.Itisshownintheeffortsputbythefirsthumanswholivedincavesandbuiltsheltersto
fightoffallsortsofweatherelements.Thatwashowpassivetechniqueswereinventedandadoptedindesigningofbuildingsinvariousregionsusing
localmaterialsandmethodsthatwerethemostsuitableinthatparticularregion.Slowly,peoplestartedadoptingInternationalStyleswithno
considerationtothelocalclimaticconditionsthatreliedsolelyonenergyconsumingsolutions.Theeffectivevernacularfeatureswereputaside.Now
webuildwithnoknowledgeofthephysicalenvironmentinwhichwelive.Thearchitecthasalwaysbeenatafreewilltodecidethedesignofa
buildingwithscienceasasupporttohelphimmaterializehisdream.Butanarchitectisnotonlyadesignerorasculptorofabuildinghisartisa
technicalone.Thusheasageneralistmustknowwhatgoesbeyondadesign.Notonlywhathissensesmakehimfeelofabuildingbutalsoasa
futurist,whathappensyearsafteritsexistence.
Wecannotignoreenvironmentandthelocalconditionswhiledesigning.Atthispointoftime,youjustcannotdependonpassivetechniquesthough
butamixtureofbothpassiveandactivetechniques.Climateresponsivearchitectureshouldbegiventheforemostpriority.
Coldclimaticregionshaveresultedinalotofcreativebuildingdesignssincetheverybeginning.Thisisthetimetopromotethoseageold
techniques,modifythemandcomeupwithbettersolutionswhenthereissomuchdemandonthefossilfuel.
1.4.Aimoftheresearch
Theaimofthisresearchistogettoknowselectivecoldclimaticregionsandthenanalyzethefactorsthataffectdesigningclimateresponsive
structuresintheseregionswithaclearunderstandingofhowsuchenvironmentsfunction.Thiswouldtakeupasystematicanalysisofthe
shortcomingsandpositiveattributesoftheseregionsandthencomeupwithsolutionsfordesignrelatedissues.Primefocuswillbeonunderstanding
howlocaltechniquesandinnovationshavealteredthecourseofdesigninginharsh,coldenvironment.
1.5.Scope
Thestudyaimsatunderstandingselectivecoldclimateareasandhowdesigningclimateresponsivestructuresinsuchenvironmentischallenging
butpossible.
Thestudywillincludebothpassiveandactivestrategiesadoptedincoldclimatedesignsbutwillmainlyfocusonpassiveinnovations.
ThestudywillbebasedonselectedsiteslikeHimachalPradesh,Tibet,LadakhandKashmirandbrieflycoversomestructuresinAntarctica.
Thestudywillbeconcentratedonimprovingtheimmediatesurroundingsofabuiltmassratherthanplanningonaglobalscale.Onlytheclimate
sensitivefactorsshallbeconsideredwithoutlayingstresstoexplainthesettlementpattern.
Thedesignrelatedissueswillfocusonclimateresponsivedesignsaswellascostandconstructionrelatedaspects.
Naturewillbediscussedonlyintermsofthephysicalsurroundingandtheecologicalrelationships.
1.6.Limitations
Tostudyenvironmentalimpactofabuilding,constantmonitoringforanextendedperiodoftimeisrequired.Monitoringofenvironmentaldatawill
notbepossiblethereforethestudywillrelyonthedataprovidedbyauthorizedorganizations.
DuetounavailabilityofrelevantmonitoreddatainIndia,aprimarysurveywillnotbepossibleforotherlocationslikeAntarcticaandTibetandthe
studywillhavetorelyonsecondarysources.
Forthecasestudies,duetolackofconstantenvironmentalmonitoring,figurativedatamightbeabsent.Hence,ananalyticalcriticismshallbe
performed.
1.7.Methodology
Thestudywillbecarriedoutunderthefollowingstages:
Figure2variousstagesforthestructure
source:author
CollectionofdataDataandinformationshallbecollectedfrombooks,magazines,publisheddissertations,assessmentreportsandonlinearticles
relatedtothetopicfoundinthelibrariesandontheWorldWideWeb.Thesedataarethenarrangedaspartoftheliteraturesurvey.
CaseStudies
Figure3methodology
source:author
Analysisofcasestudiesforimpactofinnovationandtechnicalsolutions.
PersonalInterviewsinterviewsshallbeconductedwiththefollowingprofessionalsforadditionalinformation:
I.ProfessorArvindKrishan
II.ProfessorRanjeetSingh
Recommendationsthisshallconsistoftheauthorsviewsandrecommendationsontheissuewiththeobjectiveofcommentingonexisting
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solutionsandapproachesandsuggestingfuturestrategiesinareasofresearchorapplicationtodesigninginextremelycoldclimates.
Chapter2COLDCLIMATE
2.1.UnderstandingColdClimate
Coldclimatehereistakeninreferencetoregionswheremaximumsummertemperaturerangefrom15to28degreeCelsiusandminimumwinter
temperaturerangefrom1to40degreeCelsius.
Thestudywillfocusonthefollowingregions:
1.HimachalPradesh
Summermax.30degreeCelsiuswintermin.10degreeCelsius
Sanglahasatemperateclimatewithwarmsummersandverycoldwintersaccompaniedwithsnow.
2.Tibet
Summermax.24degreeCelsiuswintermin.40degreeCelsius
Tibethasacoldanddryclimateinmostareasexceptforsouthernandeasternregions.Eastisfairlywarmbutwestisextremelycold.
3.Ladakh
Summermax.33degreeCelsiuswintermin.15degreeCelsius
Ladakhhasextremeclimaticvariations.Itexperiencesextremewinters.Thereisverylittlerainovertheyears.DecemberandJanuaryarethecoldest
months.ThedriestmonthsarefromApriltoOctober.
2.2.BuildinginColdClimate
Themainapproachinbuildingincoldclimateistotrapsolarheatwhereverandwheneverpossible.Atthesametime,insulationinthebuildingsin
theseregionsisamajorconcernandprovisionofagoodinsulationisamustsothattheinternalheatisretainedwithminimumlosstothe
environment.Thereshouldalsobeminimalexposuretowind.
Objectivesinvolvedinbuildingincoldclimateare:
A.RESISTINGHEATLOSS
Inordertoretainheatforalongerduration,thefollowingmeasuresmaybetakenintoconsideration:
Minimizetheexposedsurfaceareaofthebuilding.
Usematerialsthatheatupfastandreleaseheatslowly.
Providebufferspacesbetweenthebuiltandunbuiltspaces.
Minimizetherateofventilationinsidethebuilding.
B.PROMOTINGSOLARHEATGAIN
Heatgaincanbepromotedby:
Avoidingexcessiveshading.
Utilizingtheheatfromappliances.
Trappingtheheatofthesun.
Designelementswhichdirectlyorindirectlyaffectthermalcomfortconditionsandtheenergyconsumptionsinabuildingare:
A.SITE
Landscaping
Ratioofbuiltformtoopenspaces
Streetwidthandorientation
Orientationandplanform
B.BUILDINGENVELOPE
Roof
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Walls
Glazing
Fenestrations
Colourandtexture
C.TECHNIQUES
Trombewall
Waterwall
Roofbasedairheatingsystem
Sunspaces
SITE:
LANDSCAPING:
Treesaretheprimaryelementsofanenergyconservinglandscape.Climaticconditionsdeterminethetypeoftreestobeplanted.Deciduousplantscut
offdirectsunduringsummer,andtheyallowthesuntoheatthebuildingsinwinterastheyshedleavesinwinter.
RATIOOFBUILTFORMTOOPENSPACES:
Thevolumeofspaceinsideabuildingthatneedstobeheatedorcooledanditsrelationshipwiththeareaoftheenvelopeenclosingthevolumeaffects
thethermalperformanceofthebuilding.ThisisknownastheS/V(surfacetovolume)ratio,andisdeterminedbythebuildingform.Incoldclimates,
buildingsaregenerallycompactinformwithalowsurfacetovolumeratiobecauseforanyvolumeofabuilding,thelesswastefulitisingainingor
losingheatifmorecompactitisinshape.Theairflowpatternaroundthebuildingisalsodeterminedbythebuildingformandaffectsitsventilation.
Thedepthofabuildingalsoaffectslightingconditionsandneedforartificiallighting.Thegreaterthedepth,themoretheneedforartificialsourceof
lighting.
STREETWIDTHANDORIENTATION:
Thestreetorientationshouldbeeastwestincoldclimatestoallowformaximumsouthsuntoenterthebuilding.Solaraccessshouldbeensuredby
providingstreetswhicharewideenoughsothatthebuildingsononesidedonotshadeonesontheotherside.
ORIENTATIONANDPLANFORM:
Buildingorientationisamajordesignconsideration,mainlywithregardtosolarradiationandwind.Foracoldclimate,anorientationslightlyeastof
southisfavored(especially15eastofsouth),asthisexposestheunittomoremorningthanafternoonsunandenablesthehousetobegintoheat
duringtheday.Livingareasshouldbeprovidedinthesouthernsideandutilityareassuchaspantriesshouldbeprovidedinthenorthernsideofthe
building.Also,thenorthernsideshouldbewellinsulated.Anothermethodtoreduceheatlossistoprovideairlocklobbiesattheentranceandexit
pointsofthebuilding.Otherpartsofthebuildingcanalsobeheatedbytheheatgeneratedbyappliancesinroomssuchaskitchens.
BUILDINGENVELOPE:
ROOF:
Thereshouldbeprovisionsforfalseceilingswithinternalinsulationsuchaspolyurethanefoam(PUF),thermocol,woodwool,glasswooletc.for
housesincoldclimates.Generallyaluminumfoilisusedbetweentheinsulationlayerandtherooftoreduceheatlosstotheexterior.Incoldclimates
wherethereisfrequentsnowfall,drainageofrainwaterandsnowisalsoaconcern.Thereforeslopingroomsareprovidedinthesescenarios.Onthe
southernfacingslopeoftheroof,asolaraircollectorcanbeincorporatedtoretrievehotairwhichcanbeusedforspaceheatingpurposes.Providing
skylightsontheroofsisalsoagoodideaasitadmitsheataswellaslightinwinters.Inordertoavoidoverheatinginsummers,skylightscanbe
providedwithshutters.
WALLS:
Sincethebasicmotivehereistogainheatquicklyandloseitslowly,materialselectionrequiresattention.Hencewallsshouldbemadeofmaterials
thatfulfilltherequirement.Thewallswhichareexposedtosolarradiationi.e.thesouthfacingwallsshouldbeofhighthermalcapacitysuchas
Trombewalltostoreheatcapturedduringdaytimetobeusedforlateruse.Thewallsshouldalsobewellinsulated.Theinsulationonthewalls
shouldhavesufficientvapourbarrieronthewarmsidetoavoidcondensation.Suitableoptionsforthisarehollowandlightweightconcreteblocks.
Onthenorthsideorthewindwardside,acavitywalltypeofconstructioncanalsobeadopted.
GLAZING:
Theidealglazingforcooltemperateclimateissouthfacingglazingbecauseitcanbeeasilyshadedinsummersanditallowsmaximumsolaraccess
inwinter.Forlivingareas,maximizesouthfacingglazingwithsolarexposureanduseadjustableshadingandminimizeeast&westfacingglazing.
Useofinsulatingglassandframesorsnugfittinginsulatingdrapeswithsealedpelmetsisdesirable.
FENESTRATIONS:
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Itisdesirabletohavethemaximumwindowareaonthesouthernsideofthebuildingtofacilitatedirectheatgain.Inordertoavoidheatlossduring
winternights,theyshouldbeproperlysealedandpreferablydoubleglazed.Theairspacebetweenthewindowpanesshouldbefreedofcondensation
takingplace.Adjustableshadesshouldbeprovidedtopreventoverheatinginsummers.
COLOURANDTEXTURE:
Sincedarkercoloursabsorbmorelightandheat,theexternalsurfacesofthewallsshouldbepreferablydarkincolouralso.However,incaseof
extremeclimaticconditions,itisnotpossibletoachievecomfortableindoorconditionsbyutilizingjustthesedesignconsiderationsonly.Thereare
othertechniquesandstrategieswhichhavebeentestedandestablishedwhich,ifappliedtoadesigninsuchclimaticconditions,areabletolargely
satisfythethermalcomfortcriteria.Thesearecategorizedasadvancedpassivesolartechniques.Thetwobroadclassificationofadvancedconcepts
are:
PASSIVEHEATINGCONCEPT(directgainsystem,indirectgainsystem,sunspaces,etc.)
PASSIVECOOLINGCONCEPT(evaporativecooling,ventilation,windtower,earthairtunnel,etc.).
Advancedpassiveheatingtechniquesareusedbyarchitectsinbuildingdesigntoachievethermalcomfortconditionsincoldclimate.Passivesolar
heatingsystemscanbebroadlyclassifiedas:
DIRECTGAINSYSTEMS
INDIRECTGAINSYSTEMS
Directgainisthemostcommonpassivesolarsystem.Inthissystem,sunlightentersroomsthroughwindows,warmingtheinteriorspace.Theglazing
systemisgenerallylocatedonthesouthernsidetoreceivemaximumsunlightduringwinter(inthenorthernhemisphere).Theglazingsystemis
usuallydoubleglazed,withinsulatingcurtainstoreduceheatlossduringnight.Thesouthfacingglassallowssolarenergytoenterintothebuilding,
whereitstrikesthermalstoragematerialssuchasfloorsorwallsmadeofadobe,brick,concrete,stone,orwater.6075%ofthesunsenergystriking
thewindowsisusedupbythedirectgainsystem.Theinteriorthermalmassalterstheintensityofheatduringthedaybyabsorbingmoreheat.Also
thethermalmassradiatesheatintothelivingspace,thuswarmingthespacesatnight.
Directgainsystemcanbeachievedbyvariousformsoffenestrationssuchasclerestories,skylightwindows,etc.designedfortherequiredheating.
Eventhoughtheyareinexpensiveandrelativelysimplytoconstructandmostwidelyused,directgainsystemsalsohavesomelimitationssuchas
degradationofthehousematerialsbecauseofstrongsunlightglareandalsoreasonsforlargetemperaturesavings(typically10C)becauseoflarge
variationsininputofsolarenergy.
Thermalmassislocatedbetweenthesunandthelivingspaceinanindirectgainsystem.Thesunlightthatstrikesthethermalmassisabsorbedbyit
andthentransferredtothelivingspace.3045%ofthesunsenergystrikingtheglassadjoiningthethermalmassisusedupbytheindirectgain
system.
Chapter3INNOVATIONANDTECHNOLOGY
3.1.ThreeTierDesignApproach
Thethreetierapproachmeanstheuseofefficientlyplannedbuildingdesignitself,localpassiveaswellasactivemethodsallinonedesignasa
sustainableapproachtocreatebuildings.
source:author
Thefirsttieristhebuildingdesignitselftominimizeheatlossinwinterandminimizeheatgaininsummers.Thisisapointwhereifyoumakecan
mistakes,itcandoubleortripleyourrelianceonmechanicaldevices.Ontheotherhand,gooddecisionherecaneasilyreduceenergyconsumption.
Thesecondtieristheuseofnaturalsystemssuchaspassiveheating,coolinganddaylightingsystems.Thefirstandthesecondtierarepurely
architecturalandifusedwiselycanreduceenergyconsumptionupto80%.Thethirdtieristheuseofmechanicalsystemsinthemostefficientway
possible.Thesizeofthemechanicalequipmentcanbeseenasanindicatorofthearchitectssuccess,orlackthereof,inusingthebuildingitselfto
controltheindoorenvironment.Allthetiersareanintegralpartoftheheating,coolingandlightingsystemofthebuildingandtheyaredefinitelythe
formgiversinarchitecture.(Lechner,2009)
3.2.BioclimaticDesign
Bioclimaticdesignisatypeofarchitecturethatstrivetoachieveconditionsofinternalcomfort,andthussubstantiallyincreaseourstandardofliving
bymakingthemostofoursurroundingsbyrespondingtoclimate,microclimate,positioning,winds,humidity,undergroundstreams,electromagnetic
fields,etcinapositivewayandmakinguseofagoodchoiceofmaterialstogiveusapersonalizedsolutionforabuildingintegratedharmoniously
intoitsenvironment,whichischeaper,morepleasantandaboveallhealthier.Themainelementsofbioclimaticdesignarepassivesolarenergy
systemswhichareincorporatedontobuildingsandpositivelyutilizeenvironmentalsources(forexample,sun,air,wind,soil,sky)forpurposessuch
asheating,coolingandlightingthebuildings.
Asalreadymentionedthechoiceofmaterialisacriticaltaskandhenceundergoesathoroughanalysis,takingintoaccountallthedataaboutthe
materialssuchasitslayout,behaviorandcompletelifecycle.Fromthis,thelifeofthematerialunfolds,asinhowitwasproduced,howitis,howit
canbe,howitlivesanddiesandhowitendsupbackinnature.Here,boththeeconomicaswellastheecologicalpointofviewisrevealed.
(Majumdar,2001)
Therearewaysinwhichwecanobtaincomfortlevelusingonlyarchitectureandwithoutanyadditionalcomplexsystemsorresortingtouseof
alternativeenergysupplyevenifwefeelitisnotpossibleatatimelikethiswhentheriseinincreaseinconsumptionofenergyisfarbeyondthe
energyreserves.
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Abioclimaticdesignhaspotentialtosaveahighamountofenergycostsusedupforheatingandcoolingbysimplyusingpassiveandpurely
architectonicdeviceswithoutincreasingtheinitialinvestmentintheconstruction.
Bioclimaticdesigntakesintoaccountthelocalclimaticconditionsandrespondsefficientlytoitandincludesthefollowingprinciples:
Useofappropriatetechniqueswhichareappliedtotheexternalenvelopeofthebuilding,especiallybyprovidingadequateinsulationandair
tightnessofthebuildinganditsfenestrationstoprovideheatprotectiontoabuildingbothinsummerandinwinter.
Asalreadymentionedbuildingorientationplaysavitalpartinincreasingefficiencyforbuildingsincoldclimate.Abioclimaticdesignusessolar
energyforheatingbuildingsinthewinterseasonandalsofordaylightingallyearround.Thisisdonebyusingtheappropriateorientationofthe
buildingsanditsfenestrationswhicharepreferablytowardssouthandbypassivesolargainsystemswhichcollectssolarradiationandactsasnatural
heatingaswellaslightingsystems.
Protectionandpreventionofthedegradationofbuildingsduetothedirectexposuretothesummersun,primarilybyprovidingshadingbutalsoby
theappropriatetreatmentofthebuildingenvelopesuchasuseofreflectivecoloursandsurfaces.
Providingnaturalventilationbymeansofpassivecoolingsystemsandtechniqueswhichcanremovetheheataccumulatedinsummerinthe
buildingintothesurroundingenvironmentandviceversainwinters.
Providingcomfortableinteriorssuchasincreasingairmovementinside,heatstorageorcoolstorageinwalls,etcbyimprovingtheenvironmental
conditions.
Wellinsulationbuildingscombinedwithsolarcontrolfordaylightinginordertoprovidesufficientandevenlydistributedlightininteriorspaces.
Whenyoubuildathingyoucannotmerelybuildthatinisolation,butmustalsorepairtheworldaboutit,andwithinitandthethingwhichyou
maketakesitsplaceinthewebofnature.(Alexander,1979)Henceadheringtoalloftheaboveprinciples,themicroclimatearoundbuildingsis
improvedthroughthebioclimaticdesignofexteriorspacesandingeneral,ofthebuiltenvironment.
3.3.VernacularDesignStrategiesusedinColdClimate
Vernaculararchitectureistheinformalarchitectureofruralareasoroldurbansettlements.Thelocalbuildersusedtolocallyavailablematerialsto
constructsuchstructurestomeettheneedoflocalpeople.Theirdesignandworkreflectsrichdiversityofcultureandvariationsinlocal
craftsmanshipandtraditionalbuildingmethods.
Thefollowingaresomeofthecommonlyusedvernaculardesignsincoldclimates:
TROMBEWALL:
Atrombewallisamassivewallbetween200mmto450mmwhichiswellinsulatedwithventsprovidedatthetopandbottom.Itcanbemadeof
concrete,masonry,adobe,andismostlylocatedonthesouthernside(inthenorthernhemisphere)ofabuildinginordertomaximizesolarradiation
gains.Inordertomaximizetheabsorptionofsolarheat,theoutersurfaceofthewallispaintedandisdirectlyplacedbehindglazingwithanairgap
inbetween.Thewallabsorbssolarradiationduringthedayandstoresitassensibleheat.Thereisaspacebetweenthewallandtheglazing,whichis
50150mmandwhentheairinthespacegetsheatedup,itentersthelivingspacesbytravellingthroughthevents.Thisairisreplacedbythecoolair
intheroomandhenceconvectioncurrentissetup.Duringthenight,theventsareclosedupandtheheatwhichisstoredinthewallsduringtheday
heatsuptheroombyconductionandradiation.Thetotalareaofeachrowofventtakesupabout1%ofthestoragewallarea.Thetypeofwallshould
beadequatelyshadedforreducingsummergains.
WATERWALL:
Thewaterwallsalsoworksonthesameprincipleasthatofthetrombewalls,exceptforthefactthattheformeremployswaterasthethermalstorage
material.Awaterwallisalsoathermalstoragelikethetrombewallbutismadeupofdrumsofwaterstackedupbehindglazing.Itisalsousually
paintedblacktoincreaseheatabsorption.Eventhoughthetimelagislessasinheattransfersthroughthewaterwallsmuchfasterthanthetrombe
walls,itisstillmoreefficientinreducingtemperatureswings.Thedistributionofheatthereforeneedstobecontrolledifitisnotimmediately
requiredforheatingthebuilding.Buildingsthatworkduringthedaytime,suchasinstituitionalbuildingslikeschoolsandoffices,benefitfromthe
rapidheattransferinthewaterwall.Likeincaseofthetrombewalls,evenhere,overheatingduringsummerispreventedbyusingsuitableshading
devices.
ROOFBASEDAIRHEATINGSYSTEM:
Inthisparticulartechnique,theincidentsolarradiationistrappedbytheroofandisusedforheatinginteriorspaces.Thissystemgenerallyconsistsof
aninclinedsouthfacingglazingandanorthslopinginsulatedsurfaceontheroofinthenorthernhemisphere.Anairpocketisformedbetweenthe
roofandtheinsulationwhichthenisheatedupbysolarradiation.Amoveable/adjustableinsulationcanalsobeusedtoefficientlyreduceheatloss
throughglazedpanesduringnights.Thedetailingoftheroofairheatingsystemscanvarydependingondifferentsituations.
SUNSPACES:
Solariumorthesunspaceisthecombinationofdirectandindirectgainsystems.Thesunspaceisdirectlyheatedupbythesolarradiation,whichin
turnheatsupthelivingspacewhichisseparatedfromthesunspacebyathermalwall.Thebasicrequirementsofbuildingsthatgetsheatedbysun
spaceinthenorthernhemisphereareeitheraglazed,southfacingcollectorspaceattachedyetseparatedfromthebuildingoralivingspacewhichis
separatedfromthesunspacebyathermalstoragewall.Solariumscanalsobeusedaswintergardensadjacenttothelivingspace.
Chapter4CASESTUDIES
4.1.Criteriafortheselectionofcasestudies
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A.PrimaryCaseStudies
Sangla,HimachalPradeshLocalresidences
Criteriauseofpassivestrategiestoachieveclimateresponsivedesign
Source:author
SUNLIGHTPATTERN
Summers:8:00AM4:30PMWinters:10:00AM2:00PM.TheSanglasettlementisalongthesouthernslopetocatchmaximumsunlight.Theslope
ensuressunlighttoall.
RAINFALLPATTERN
Overtheyears20042009rainfallisveryirregularduringJanMarandJulSepandreachesveryhighandlowrainfallduringthesamemonthsof
differentyears.RegularandmoderateduringAprJunandOctDec
SOUTHSIDE
SANGLA
RIVERBASPA
Source:author
SanglaisascenichilltownintheBaspaValley,alsoreferredtoastheSanglavalley.TheregionispartofKinnaurDistrictintheIndianstateof
HimachalPradesh.Thevalleyissurroundedbyrichlyforestedslopesandoffersdelightfulviewsofthehighmountains.Itisalsowidely
acknowledgedasoneofthemostbeautifulvalleysintheworld.
IntheTibetanlanguage,thewordsangactuallymeanslightandlameans'pass'.Assuch,thewordSanglastandsfor'passoflight',asoncrossing
themajesticmountains,onesuddenlyemergesintoavalleyfilledwithbrightsunshineandbreathtakingnaturalbeauty.
(http://www.thefullwiki.org/Sangla_Valley)
source:author
source:author
source:author
source:author
source:author
TheKathKonatechniqueisusedintheconstructionofwallsinthevillagegenerally.Itsatimberbeamandpoststructurewithalternatelayersof
timberandstoneasfillers.Themortarlessdryconstructionissound,dismantleeasy,andhenceisreusable.And,becauseofalternatingbandsof
woodandstone,thestructurebecomescompositeratherthanbeingloadbearing,thusmakingtheconstructionearthquakemitigating,sinceSanglais
alsoanearthquakeproneregion.The370450mmthickwallsprovideverygoodthermalmassandhenceareinsulatinginnature.Theyaregenerally
usedinthenorthfacesofthehousesandisaverysustainableapproachtoincreasingefficiencyinabuildingandagoodexampleofclimate
responsivearchitecture.
source:author
source:author
MajorityofthelocalresidencesinHimachalPradeshhasslateroof.Buttheynowswitchedtocorrugatedgalvanizedironsheetssincetheyareeasyto
maintainandiseasilyavailable.Slateishardandimperviousandalsoactsasagoodsourceofinsulation.Thisvernaculartechniqueofroofdesignis
notjustuniqueandgivesanidentitytotheplacebutitisalsoaestheticallypleasingandhasfeaturessuchasimperviousandinsulatinginnature.
B.SecondaryCaseStudies
1.Leh,LadakhDrukWhiteLotusSchool
Criteriabioclimaticdesign.Excellentexampleofasustainable,climateresponsivebuilding.
Projectfacts
Location:Shey,Ladakh
Country:India
YearofCompletion:2001
Client:DrukpaTrust&DrukPemaKarpoEducationSociety(Ladakh)
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Architect:ARUPAssociates
Pupils:risingto780
VentilationImprovedPitLatrines:
Traditionaldrylatrinesarecleverlyreplacedwithventilationimprovedpitlatrinestoeliminateodourissuesandtoreduceconsumptionofwater
whenitisalreadysoscarce.TheVIPlatrinesaredoublechamberedsystemswithanintegratedsolarfluewhichresultsincompostingtoiletsthat
produceshumuswhichcanlaterbeusedasfertilizer.
Source:http://www.dwls.org/SustainableDesignExamples.html
PassiveSolarHeating:
Ladakhexperienceshotsummersandverycoldwinters.Insummers,thesunlightisintenseandthebuildingheatsupfasterbecauseofthedouble
glazingandalsobecauseofcorrectorientation.
TheResidencesusetrombewall(doubleglazingairspacethickwallpaintedindarkcolours)andareorientedtowardssouth.Heatisabsorbedfaster
andstoredinthewallsandlaterconductedintothedormitoriesatnight.
Sectionthroughtheresidentialsouthernblock
Source:http://www.solaripedia.com/13/280/3073/druk_white_lotus_school_water_diagram.html
GravityFeedWaterSystem:
IthasbeenmentionedthatwaterisscarceinLadakh.Henceagreatdealofinitiativehasbeenputinconservingaswellasreusingwaterinthedesign.
Thegravityfeedwatersystempumpssnowmeltwaterfromthereservoirswhichareabout30mdeepandprovidesdrinkingwaterforthewhole
campusaswellasforirrigationpurpose.
SeismicDesign&Safety:
Ladakhisamajorearthquakepronezone.Theschoolbuildingstructureusestimberframestocounterseismiceffects.Thecrossbracingandsteel
connectorsprovidestabilityandalsothetimberframeisnotapartofthewalls.
Source:http://www.google.co.in/imgres?um=1&hl=en&tbo=d&noj=1&tbm=isch&tbnid=5gyK76dA1OYeRM:&imgrefurl
2.TibetQinghaiRailway
Criteriaworldshighestrailwaystationbuiltentirelyonpermanentpermafrost.
Source:http://www.google.co.in/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&tbo=d&noj=1&tbm=isch&tbnid=Sjk87wiCHCBjdM:&imgrefurl
Outof1142km,550kmoftheQinghaiTibetRailwaygoesthroughcontinuouspermafrostregions,82kmgoesthroughdiscontinuouspermafrost
regions,275kmisinwarmpermafrost,134kmisinhighicecontent,171kmincoldpermafrost550kmincontinuouspermafrost.Permafrostcauses
significantchangesinengineeringpropertieswiththeeffectofclimatewarmingsuchasdroppingofpermafrosttable,risingofpermafrost
temperature,andthawingofgroundicenearpermafrosttableandsubsequentlyresultsinthawsettlementofrailwayembankmentthusweakeningthe
foundationofthestructure.(Ma,2004)
Theoriginalpermafrostbelowtheembankmentisraisedtoanewlevelwhenanembankmentisconstructed.Thenewpermafrosttableformedhasa
greaterdepththantheoriginalone.Thetemperatureinthenewlycreatedtableisalsomuchhigher.Thesoiltemperatureneartheoriginaltablerises
andreacheszeroandthusthepermafrostbeneaththetablebecomesunstable.Thereforethemainmotivehereistomaintainthethermalstabilityof
thepermafrostbeneaththeembankment.(WU,2006)
Thetypicaldistributionofmeasurementsitesfortemperaturesanddeformation
Source:
ftp://61.178.109.106/58%B7%FE%CE%F1%C6%F7%B1%B8%B7%DD%28%CD%E2%B2%BF%29/2006%C4%EA%B1%B8%B7%DD/2006/201
403/PDF/0129A2AE0BEA4C179103D04D699B74B8.pdf
MeasurestakenintheQuinghaiTibetRailwaytoensurepermafroststability:
Shadingboardisprovidedparalleltotheembankmentslopeatadistanceof65mtoadjustsolarradiation.
Source:
ftp://61.178.109.106/58%B7%FE%CE%F1%C6%F7%B1%B8%B7%DD%28%CD%E2%B2%BF%29/2006%C4%EA%B1%B8%B7%DD/2006/201
403/PDF/0129A2AE0BEA4C179103D04D699B74B8.pdf
Thermosyphonswereusedherewhichfunctionsonthebasisofheatexchangebetweenroadbedsoilandtheatmosphereandresultsindecreased
permafrosttemperaturefrostbelowtheembankment.
Ventilationfoundationsystemisusedforthefoundation.Ventducts,madefromconcreteorpolytheneandhavingdiameterofabout30to40cm,
areinstalledinthemiddleoftheroadbed0.5mabovethesurface.

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Pilesoflength25to30mbelowthegroundandhavingdiametersof1.2mwereused.Anegativefrictionalforceiscreatedbetweenthepilesandthe
soiltoensurestructuralstability.
Debrisandblockstoneembankmentswereprovidedforadditionalstructuralstability.
CONCLUSION
Weliveinaneraofostentatiousarchitecturewhichratherstompstheearthratherthanadoringit.Thustodayweneedrealdesignerswhocouldinfuse
lifeinarchitecture.Buildingsshouldhavearesponsetoadaptation,aresponsetonatureandclimate.Abuildingmustbeselfsustainingduringitslife
andmustregeneratetheenvironmentaboutituponitsdestruction.Mostimportantistherelationshipbetweenthebuiltenvironmentandits
surrounding.Thisrelationmustbemoreofharmonyratherthanofconfrontation.Buildingsmustbeanaturalextensionofthesitetheystandwithin.
Architectureshouldhaveasenseofbelongingtoasiteorsurroundingratherthanalienationintermsofscale,proportion,sizeorage.Natureand
naturalprocessshouldbelookedoverasasourceofurbanformandasasolutiontourbanproblems.
Itdoesnotmeantoabandonallthatexistsbuttobuildinharmonyfromnowonwards.Inordertotaketherightstepinthefuturewemuststriveto
becomeresponsibleplanetarycitizens.Buildingsshouldactascentrestoharvestnaturalenergylikesun,windandgeothermalandbeliterally
integratedwithnature.
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