BHŪMIJA

Born of the earthAnd living in its

fold

HSR Layout, Bangalore, construction completed in November 2011

Design Brief

• To construct a house that involves ‘green concepts’ both in design and in execution

• To design a house that can be ‘green’ post-occupancy, in its running and maintenance

And

Motivation?

Part 1

Architectural Design and

Construction

Site

• Plot coverage < 50%• Building setback>

stipulated• Landscaping – no hard

paving• Soil-filling

Design

• Load-bearing• Optimal spans – minimal steel• Simple and efficient plan• Tall windows and shorter lintels• Ventilator design• Glass panes in doors for

pervasive natural light• In-built seats and bed

Materials

• Natural materials like stone and wood

• Material sourced from nearby as far as possible

• Judicious use of materials seen in stair design, terrace finishing, exposed ceiling etc

• Hoordi roof tiles to save on concrete

• Pre-polished, sun-dried traditional floor tiles

Design Details

• Kitchen interior with left-over stone pieces• Mechanical chimney• Parapet with left-over stone pieces• Staircase detail using stone treads only• Structure and aesthetics integrated through use of

arches and stone lintels• Dry and wet bath spaces reduce water used to keep

bathrooms clean

Design Detail Examples

Stone bay window

Stone lintel and wallStaircase windows

Brick bay

window

Bathroom with

separate dry and

wet areas and

skylight

Kitchen

Part 2

Interiors and lighting

• Hanging Pendant light fittings throws more light where you need it

• Very few plastered/painted walls

• Furniture – mostly cane and second-hand furniture from relatives

• In-built seats and bed• Stone Kitchen shelves • No skirting

Part 3

Home Utilities

Eco-friendly home utilities

• Solar power• Solar water heating• Grey-water recycling• Rain-water harvesting• Composting

• Use of organic soaps• Recycling bags• Eco-friendly fittings– CFL lamps– Water-saving flush tank– Energy saving fans

Solar PV and water heater

• No power cuts• No running costs, moving parts or maintenance• No pollution• BESCOM units consumed down to < 20 per month

2KWp Solar PV panels Inverter and battery bank Solar water heater (PV on roof)

Water and bio-waste

Reed bed for recyclingINPUT: grey water from

washing machine, showers, wash-basins

OUTPUT: recycled water for garden

Rain water harvestingWhenever rain water is

available, it is stored and used before BWSSB supply

is tapped

Organic compostingDaily Dump Khamba to

compost kitchen and garden waste to produce organic

compost

‘Green’ Everyday • Run the washing machine only on full load• Keep the soiled vessels wet by filling with water used to

wash vegetables• Segregate waste and reuse if possible – like broken toys and

used envelopes• Consume responsibly – no food wastage, allow things their

life-cycle• Cycle to the local grocer, walk to everywhere else cloes-by

AndBenefits?

The poster on our wall