INVESTIGATING THE RELEVANCE OF VERNACULAR … · VERNACULAR PARAMETERS IN DEVELOPING A...

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International Journal of Architecture (IJA)

Volume 6, Issue 1, January-June 2020, pp. 43–55, Article ID: IJA_06_01_004

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INVESTIGATING THE RELEVANCE OF

VERNACULAR PARAMETERS IN

DEVELOPING A PASSIVE-RIGHT APPROACH

FOR DESIGN - IN THE CONTEXT OF HOUSING

IN BANGALORE

Anup Naik

BMS College of Architecture, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Snehal Oswal

Urban Frame, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

ABSTRACT

The construction industry consumes 40% of the total energy consumed globally.

Energy being a non-renewable resource needs to be used prudently. Using, passive

techniques to achieve optimum living conditions in a building and promoting local

methods of construction will help minimize the overall energy consumption. This

paper discusses how passive strategies derived from the regional, vernacular factors

lead to energy-efficient solutions for the rapidly growing housing sector in the city of

Bangalore. The transforming social communities, changing climate, and progressing

technologies imply a transmuting local context which in return mutates the vernacular

of a region from time to time. Also, as the city grows the outlook towards housing and

occupant’s requirements have changed with rapidly increasing aspirations and

varying socio-economic influence. This paper aims to document, study, and analyze

the changing manifestations of the vernacular factors over time and finally suggesting

passive-right guidelines for future housing developments in Bangalore.

Key words: Passive-Right, Vernacular, Housing, Bangalore, Energy-Efficient.

Cite this Article: Anup Naik and Snehal Oswal, Investigating the Relevance of

Vernacular Parameters in Developing a Passive-Right Approach for Design - In the

Context of Housing in Bangalore, Chennai. International Journal of Architecture

(IJA), 6(1), 2020, pp. 43–55.

http://www.iaeme.com/IJA/issues.asp?JType=IJA&VType=6&IType=1

1. INTRODUCTION

The passive right approach implicates, maintaining an ideal environment within a built space

using free, unlimited and, naturally available resources from the immediate surroundings like

the sun, wind, trees, geographical features, and the micro-climate (M.Taleb, 2014). With an

increasing awareness of sustainability, limited and non-renewable resources and,

Investigating the Relevance of Vernacular Parameters in Developing a Passive-Right Approach

for Design - In the Context of Housing in Bangalore


environmental impacts of climate change, a need for passive solutions has come to light

recently – particularly in the last decade – across the globe. Most of the current approaches

towards sustainability today are active, where the ideal human living conditions are achieved

and further maintained by consuming electricity or using techniques that convert natural

resources like sun, wind, and water into electricity (e.g.: solar panels, turbines or windmills).

These technologies, though functioning on renewable energy sources, often involve a high

monetary investment and hence aren‟t readily accepted amongst the lower economic groups.

Passive-right strategies, on the other hand, focus on design solutions, like orientation, building

envelope, available features, material, and construction technologies (taking advantage of

natural resources in their available form), to attain human comfort (Kate Bode, 2007).

The passive solutions, originate from the surrounding context, hence changing from

region to region catering to the different climatic conditions, users‟ functional needs, and the

available skills and material. Human comfort is achieved by maintaining optimum indoor

thermal conditions, air quality, and humidity ratio. For example, the hot and dry regions of the

Arabic states or the desert regions of Indian sub-continent have narrower streets protecting the

users from the sun and harsh winds, these streets forming wind tunnels further ventilate the

indoor spaces and maintain the ambient temperature, or creating smaller openings further

reducing sun rays entering the space. Similar low energy consuming solutions for colder

regions are demonstrated successfully in Ireland and Switzerland. Spaces created with

insulated walls and roofs, and protected openings to reduce heat retention or loss based on the

day and night cycles create simple environment-oriented, regional solutions.

Passive strategies, as discussed above, generate from the local frame of reference – using

the surrounding for its benefits – to form architecture in synchronization with nature rather

than against it. The evidence of such architecture being successfully attempted and achieved

is seen in our past until the industrial revolution hit our buildings, settlements, and cities with

standardization. India being a land of cultural, climatic, and topographical diversity, has and

needs a variety of solutions for similar issues based on varying surroundings. Every region

has its unique method of tackling similar problems and requirements. These diverse solutions

were visibly well distinguished in the past – until globalization became the new language of

development in this rapidly urbanizing world – which took over the vernacular of a region

with monotony and stereotypical end products based on their typologies.

As the definition goes, vernacular architecture is a category of architecture that is based on

local needs, construction material available, and local traditions. It evolves with time to reflect

the environmental, technological, cultural, and historical context in which it exists (Anon.,

2020). Considering the importance of environmental, technological, and local context, it

forms an ideal reservoir for passive-right strategies of construction.

The energy consumption in the building sector is increasing noticeably. By 2040, the

energy used for the residential segment will reach 14% of the total energy consumed

worldwide, with an average 1.4% rise per year from 2012 to 2040 – thus exacerbating the

energy use by 48% in the considered period (Halder, 2020). India a developing country has a

high demand for shelter with an acute shortage of housing units, specifically amongst the

Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). Housing being a sector with the highest requirement

of development in the construction industry, reduced energy consumption and promotion of

solutions with minimal dissipation of natural resources is the need of the hour. According to a

survey conducted in Bangalore in 2017, nearly 25% of the population resided in slums

(approx. 3.1 million people) due to a shortage of residential development and increased

demand for manpower in the urban area. Out of the total population residing in slums, 1/3rd

fall below the poverty line. The number of slums has grown from 159 in 1971 to 2000 in 2015

(Ravi, 2018).

Anup Naik and Snehal Oswal


This paper explores vernacular architecture to find and establish constructive methods,

derived from the surrounding environment, to achieve passive solutions for low energy

consuming, cost-effective dwellings in India, focusing on the city of Bangalore.

Aim of the Paper

The focus of this paper, is to investigate and discuss affordable energy-efficiency and passive

design techniques used in the housing sector of Bangalore, across its timeline, pivoting on the

intersection of passive strategies and vernacular practices.

Objective

Understanding and evaluation of housing typologies for their response to vernacular

parameters, towards creating comfortable usable spaces in Bangalore.

Analyzing the documented techniques for energy efficiency, through the lens of

passive- right approach.

Proposing a set of guidelines for future residential developments.

Limitations of the Research

The passive-right approach considered in this paper is focused and limited to reducing

energy consumption, out of many other aspects that fall under this premise.

Though vernacular is based on many corporeal and incorporeal factors; this paper

considers only the tangible factors to achieve the set conclusion of the paper –

guidelines to preserve energy in residential buildings of Bangalore.

2. EVOLUTION OF HOUSING IN BANGALORE

Construction is a huge industry consuming energy and emitting CO2 and other greenhouse

gases, promoting global warming and climate change. The residential sector being the largest

section of all in the construction industry as well as a basic social necessity is a topic that

needs immediate attention (Nand Kishore Gupta, 2013). Developing economies like India,

with a considerable population under the poverty line and facing issues like urban migration

and sprawl, have a huge demand for housing units at an affordable construction cost.

According to the data offered by Bangalore Mahanagarpalika, 40% of the city‟s land is used

for residential development (Anon., n.d.). The green solutions proposed currently are

expensive to be adopted by the economically weaker sections, thus leading to high energy-

consuming and insensitive growth of residential buildings.

Housing or shelter, when fragmented to its simplest form, has been a necessity since the

human race has existed. The built form and technologies have evolved ever since based on the

occupant‟s requirements and surrounding context – until recently, when western influences,

globalization, and materialized aspirations have created a whole new language of housing in

present times.

The city of Bangalore has evolved from being a forted city, laid in the 16th

century, to its

current situation of being the land of opportunity, attracting a huge number of migrants from

various parts of India and abroad (Aravamudan, 2019). Shelter being a basic need for any

society to thrive has existed since the beginning, changing its forms and types based on the

population, its requirements, and culture. The city has witnessed varying communities right

from Vijayanagara Empire to the Maratha dynasty, then the Mughals and British and finally

now a mixed, cosmopolitan crowd from across the country and globe.

As a result of being ruled by many dynasties and governed by contrasting cultural beliefs -

the visual impressions of housing blocks in Bangalore have changed - whereas the housing

typologies have more or less been similar, evolving majorly due to changing population

density and availability of land. As this paper is considering factors which can be physically




measured and transferred into concluding guidelines, the evolution of houses is broadly

classified based on its typologies rather than its aesthetic features as follows:

Houses from the Pete area (old Bangalore), the settlements of the local communities.

Stand-alone bungalows seen in the colonial period.

Contemporary Row Houses and,

Present-day High-Rise structures.

In the post-independence era of India, when industrially deprived cities were swiftly

reviving from the British rule, mass production of housing units across the country inspired

by western norms overlooked the importance of the natural setting and surrounding context.

As a result of which the latter developments, including contemporary row-houses and high-

rise residential buildings, fail to showcase the manifestation of vernacular parameters;

Sustainability then has either been absent or achieved majorly through active techniques. The

objective of this paper is to draw out passive strategies from vernacular designs, hence further

analyzing the former housing typologies from the old Bangalore and colonial period.

3. VERNACULAR PARAMETERS

Vernacular, meaning the one which is local and originates out of users need. Vernacular

Architecture is “the local or regional dialect, the common speech of the building. As such it

comprises a range of building traditions as wide as that of the linguistic traditions” (Oliver,

1997). According to Lawrence, the vernacular architecture of the region is designed by

humans and a continuously maturing relationship between social factors, economic

conditions, material availability, and ecological presence. Thus, revealing the combination of

culture, tradition, climatic condition, social life, and the technology found in the region

(Roderick J. Lawrence, 2006).

Though the vernacular architecture of a region as discussed above is defined by both, its

visual as well as abstract factors, the author considers only those reciprocating the climatic

conditions and corresponding tangible parameters - as this research intends to suggest passive

guidelines for energy-efficient design solutions achieving comfortable living conditions for

residents in Bangalore. To derive climate-responsive passive attributes, this section discusses

parameters responding to the microclimate, topographical conditions, material and its

construction technologies, natural features available, and daily lifestyle or social activities

helping maintain the indoor thermal conditions.

3.1. Location and Climatic Zone

India is divided into different climatic zones based on the microclimate of a region.

Bangalore, a city in the southern part of India, falls under temperate climatic zone (moderate

climate), which is said to have the most ideal conditions for living, with temperatures ranging

from 15 to 35 degree Celsius. It has distinguished wet and dry months receiving rains from

both southwest and northeast winds.

Bangalore is known for its non-humid, pleasant, and cooling breeze making natural

ventilation an evident and vital spatial characteristic of the structures in the city.

Though Bangalore has an optimal balance of hot and cold temperatures and dry and wet

periods, lately, over the past few decades the city has experienced extreme climates with

increasing temperatures due to globalization and climate change.



Figure 1 Climatic Zones in India

Source: National Building Code of India, 2005.

3.2. Geographical Features

Bangalore is majorly a flat land with no major rivers flowing through its terrain.

Kempegowda had established many lakes, ponds, and reservoirs for the use of citizens which

with development are lost or filled - to create new land for development - except a few which

contribute to the city‟s water requirements. Bangalore known as „garden city‟, known for its

thick foliage consisting of deciduous trees, is losing the character to rapid deforestation to

create room for the urban infrastructure supporting the fast-growing population.

Land reclamation by filling existing water bodies and heavy deforestation of local

vegetation top the list of reasons contributing to major issues of the city like severe water

shortage, increasing urban temperatures, loss of local flora and fauna, and depleting quality of

air. To combat these unfavorable conditions a considerable amount of energy is consumed,

pressurizing the limited resources in return – forming a vicious circle of creating a new

problem to solve the previous one.

3.3. Local Construction Materials

Material selection and its method of construction play a very crucial role in lowering the

energy consumption of a space. Material has a three-fold impact on a building‟s energy-

efficiency and cost-effectiveness; First, in the construction stage, the energy and cost

consumed in the manufacturing of a material, its transport to the building site, and techniques

required to assemble them. Secondly, in the later stage, post-construction, the material used

determines the energy consumed to attain a comfortable indoor environment as well as

maintenance of the material itself over the life span of the building. Lastly, after the material

is discarded and needs to be disposed of.

Vernacular suggests using material naturally available within a radius of 50kms of the

construction site and can be easily reused. This, along with saving energy during transport and




disposal, also promotes local skills, labor, and economy along with imparting a distinct

character to the region which is unique to the locality. Clay soil and quarries of lime granite

and laterite stones are easily found in and around the city of Bangalore, thus most of the

construction - pre-independence - exhibit an architecture dominated with stone or clay brick

walls, lime plaster, and thatch or clay tiles on sloping roofs.

Material availability changes with time and so does the local material of a region. For

example, granite and limestone mined from a local quarry earlier have exhausted and are no

longer environmentally sustainable options. As vernacular parameters rely on the surrounding

context, they change with changing time, making it timeless and future-ready. This paper

suggests deriving and replicating the qualities of the material used then. For example, clay

readily being available even today forms an apt material for construction. Multiple composite

products like adobe bricks, perforated bricks, and insulated clay tiles have been built over the

knowledge from the past.

3.4. Social Requirements

A typical housing typology is tailor-made, after several trials and errors over a period, for a

community residing in it. The development of spaces in a housing unit and the bigger cluster

is a manifestation of a groups living habits, lifestyle, occupational requirements, and cultural

beliefs. The spatial organization stands on the cross-section of climatic conditions and the use

and purpose of the space, to make it comfortable for the occupant.

According to the Battelle Environmental Evaluation System (BEES), used to calculate

biological, physical, and socio-economic factors of a city, Bangalore‟s air quality and socio-

economic parameters lie way below the average index. The socio-economic aspect of a region

refers to the quality of life, traffic conditions, and availability of urban infrastructure (Anon.,

n.d.). This evaluation showed a dire need for reorganizing the social fabric of the city in 2003,

which over the period has deteriorated because of uncurbed economical polarisation in the

city.

The factors discussed here are very evidently sighted in the structures until late modern

and contemporary history or immediate post-independence period (Anon., n.d.). Urbanization

hit the city of Bangalore with growing migration and infrastructure demands, leading to the

rapid standardization of the building products. This along with a massive boom of technology

and economy in the silicon city resulted in a strong influence from western countries -

yielding in resolving the urban issues in isolation which otherwise should have reflected the

reality on the ground. The housing typologies analyzed in this paper, interpreting the

vernacular factors, are considered as follows:

3.4.1. Typical houses from Kempegowda’s Bangalore (Pete area or old Bangalore)

When Kempegowda started developing the city of Bangalore, he divided the region into

smaller parts and called them as pete’s. As a result of globalization, these regions are

threatened by the upcoming developments in the city. Halsuru, Devanhalli, and Gavipuram

are a few areas from Kempegowda‟s era - struggling for their identity in the current urban

fabric – and analyzed in this paper for their vernacular features. All these areas have been

established around a temple, with the temple‟s Vaastu (physical existence / architectural

planning) dominating the surrounding settlements. Though orientation and placement of the

housing units co-exist with the temple complex, the basic footprint of the house being

typically a linear rectangular block with longer shared walls and single or multiple courtyards

at intervals for daylight and ventilation.



Figure 2 Plan and Elevation for a Typical Housing Unit in Devanahalli

Source: Priya Joseph, 2017, Typical Plans and Elevations of House in Devanhalli, International

Journal of Emerging Technologies,30.04.2020.

Figure 3 Typical Courtyard Choultry in Gavipuram.

Source: International Institute of Art, Culture and Democracy.

Courtyards formed within the houses cater to several aspects of a comfortable liveable

space including diffused sunlight, natural ventilation based on the scientific principle of warm

and cool air, segregation of private and semi-private spaces, transitional or spillover areas




between two activities, and a multipurpose space adding life to the man-made skeleton. The

inner division of a unit is generic without specific assignment of activity to a room thus giving

users the flexibility of using the space as per their comfort and requirement.

Materials selected with sensitivity towards high temperatures along with external shading

devices, decorated facades, and buffer spaces like veranda‟s, or jaggali as called in Bangalore,

help maintain thermal conditions inside.

3.4.2. A Typical Colonial Bungalow

The 19th

century saw a widespread influence of the western colonial style of housing units and

gothic influence on Indian carpentry. Mostly symmetrical, stand-alone plan aligned along

North-South axis, with central rooms for public and then semi-private and private activities

planned in adjoining grids on either side. The houses generally are divided into three or five

vertical grids depending on the space available and the economic status of the resident.

Figure 4 Plan and Section of a Typical Colonial Bungalow in Bangalore.

Source: http://www.archiestudio.in/when_there

were_only_pencil_pen_and_typewriter/old_bungalows _of_bangalore_in_1978

The outermost layer or grid particularly enclose services, storage rooms, and verandas,

forming a protective envelope, insulating inner spaces from the heat radiations, thus helping

maintain the internal thermal conditions. Also, multiple offsets, at different angles of the

façade, vary the intensity of sunrays incident on the external surface area, thus reducing the

heat gain of the structure. Thick, clay brick, or stone walls further form another layer of

insulation.



This typology conventionally is single-storeyed with varying heights of the roof for every

grid based on the requirement of ventilation grills, as seen in the section above (Figure 4).

These ventilation grills along with several doors in every room form the air circulation path

for internal ventilation. The hierarchy in roof heights, with outermost being lowest and

innermost being highest, not only offers an interesting character to these units but a vital

strategy for ventilation and diffused sunlight for the innermost dark rooms. Furthermore, the

very few windows were added with an elaborate, 18” deep triangular shading device, famous

as monkey tops then, screening the harshest perpendicular sunrays (Pillai, 2004).

These building concepts, architectural features, and material selection helped maintain an

indoor temperature, 2-3 degrees lower than that outside.

4. ANALYZING THE CITY OF BANGALORE

The considered housing typologies are analyzed against the listed vernacular factors derived

from the immediate surrounding context discussed in the chapter above. As industrialization

grew manifolds, standardization hit the construction fraternity with homogeneous skylines,

building facades, and materials. Due to which concrete and its products dominate the market

to date, overshadowing the local materials, skills, labor, and their innovation. Understanding

the locale for Bangalore in Table 1 will further help explore and evolve the regional skills and

formulate a set of guidelines for inclusive development for all.

Table 1 Interpreting listed Vernacular Factors from housing units constructed in the pre-

industrialisation period.

Vernacular Factors Early Settlements Colonial Bungalows

Microclimate - Moderate

Solar Influence

Insulation from radiations through material

selection and reduced openings.

Diffused natural light achieved through

openings like courtyards.

Insulation through materials, building

technologies, shaded openings, and large open

spaces around the house helping diffuse the

daylight.

Sharply sloped roofs change the angle of

incident sun rays, thus reducing its heating

intensity.

Ventilation

Courtyards placed in a way ensuring air

movement in all rooms.

Natural elements like wells and trees help cool

down the air and aid in its circulation.

Movement of air majorly through doors,

avoiding the glare of windows. Rooms

designed with multiple doors connecting to

adjacent spaces.

The stepped roof creates ventilator windows

helping in air movement.

Additional ventilation catered by courtyards if

space available.

Site Selection

Orientation

Linear elongated blocks, with shorter side

opening on to the adjacent street, with a

veranda, welcoming social interaction as well

as imparting a character to the street.

Ideal case: longer sides parallel to east and

west.

Other cases: longer sides acting as shared

walls.

Oriented along the North-South axis, with

longer sides parallel to East and West.

Form derived from the shape of the plot.

Mostly symmetrical structures with offsetting

façade and open gardens on all four sides.

Topographic Features

No major river crosses through the city of

Bangalore resulting in wells in the courtyards,

ponds, and lakes in the town forming the

topographical features.

The water supply now was through a

developed network from man-made lakes and

ponds as well as natural water bodies.

Structural Context

Houses in temple complexes ae generally

simple with minimalistic façade features and

lower in height than the temple, thus marking

the hierarchy of the structures.

Units along main streets enhance the user

experience by creating interactive spaces like

Mostly individual houses in structural

isolation, thus not impacted much by the

surrounding context nor did they affect the

surrounding built environment in return.

Gardens on all sides or minimum on the sides

opening to main streets formed a natural




verandas for the community, and a transition

of space from public to private for residents.

barrier for residents.

These bungalows were highly inspired by the

European and western construction styles with

a dominance of gothic carpentry.

Natural Features

Green Network

Bangalore known for its deciduous, dense

foliage trees, add life to elements like

courtyards, backyards, and streets.

These elements further create spaces for social

interactions and gatherings.

Available garden space houses local trees and

maintains the character of a garden city.

These form an element of privacy more than

that of social gatherings.

Blue Network

In the absence of natural water bodies, wells

and man-made ponds support the water

requirements of residents, thus forming an

important segment of these houses.

A network of water supply was established

thus reducing the number of smaller ponds and

wells in every house.

Material

Availability

Red Clay: Mud and thatch walls, mud-brick

walls, and clay roof tiles.

Stone Quarries: Granite stone walls without

mortar, lime mortar and lime plaster, laterite

stone foundations and walls.

Deciduous trees: Wooden beams, lintels and

sills, wooden carved columns, wooden rafters,

and ridges supporting the roof.

Refined products of red clay, granite, and

wood are seen.

A civilized version of burnt clay bricks and

upgraded clay roof tiles.

Clean cut granite stone walls covered with

lime and sand plaster and white-washed

facades.

Intricately carved façade elements.

Addition of cast iron features in balustrades

and shading devices, columns, and railings.

Nature of Material

Red clay and Stone walls having low heat

retention values, insulate the rooms within,

keeping them cooler than the outside

temperature.

Lime with its high heat reflective properties,

when used as plaster forms an additional layer

of insulation.

Water-resistant properties of lime also make it

a product for waterproofing for flat roofs along

with mud bricks and terracotta tiles (madras

roofing).

Red clay, lime, granite, known for low heat

retention are used.

Whitewashed facades reflect sunlight even

more thus further reducing the heat gained.

Stepped madras roofs mostly flat with a slight

angle for drainage and central roof with a steep

slope, covered with Mangalore tiles.

Local skills

Improvisation of the material as well as the

products of red clay.

Adobe bricks and random rubble stone

masonry, stone and wood carving, madras

roofing, red oxide flooring with distinct

patterns.

Local carpenters adopted and learned the

gothic style with growing colonial influence.

Improved skills in making red clay items and

masonry skills.

Construction Methods

The locals usually plan the flow of a project in

response to the climate.

Bricks are made in summers.

Footings are packed just before the rainy

season to naturally compact the dug soil.

Labor who also are farmers is arranged based

on harvest periods.

A western idea achieved using local material,

skills, and knowledge.

Knowledge from construction strategies

followed to build early settlements in

Bangalore.

User’s Needs

Daily Lifestyle

Disconnected kitchens avoiding heating of

other living spaces.

Verandas forming semi-private covered space

for social interaction.

Multipurpose spaces catering to different

activities.

Clear division of spaces into public, semi-

private, and private as shown in figure 4.

Kitchens partly detached through a veranda.

These spaces are also divided based on the

time of day they are utilized, thus maintaining

the thermal comfort for that period.

Public spaces are still designed to serve

multiple activities based on the requirement.

Social and Cultural Beliefs

Splitting living rooms for guests and family

members maintaining privacy.

Toilets detached from the main house.

The gardens are features picked up from the

western definition of beautification and

privacy.

Toilets usually form a separate block or the

outermost layer of the housing unit.



5. DERIVED PASSIVE-RIGHT TECHNIQUES

The passive right approach discussed in this paper constantly points towards achieving a stage

where we meet the needs of today without compromising the needs of future generations

(Vijai Shanker Singh, 2012). Most of the Indian cities, including Bangalore, have evolved

with constantly growing economic polarisation - making the rich richer and, the poor poorer.

Most of the population in Bangalore cannot afford a basic lifestyle with a comfortable living

environment. And the remaining population is excessively using up the resources of energy to

create an artificial environment, comfortable for living.

As per the analysis of housing typologies against vernacular factors, in the previous

chapter, five basic components are derived, based on their recurring considerations while

designing a house, as follows:

Sun

Wind

Topography

Local Material

Distribution of space

These broader components representing the natural environment enhance a housing unit

and/or building through various design strategies, which further formulate a set of passive

attributes for designers and residents. The table below suggests passive guidelines which will

help achieve economically affordable and comfortable residences for citizens irrespective of

their economic status.

Table 2 Guidelines for the city of Bangalore.

Local

Components Passive Attributes Guidelines for Bangalore

Sun

Orientation

With the increased shortage of land, a particular orientation

cannot be followed and a minimum of two sides are shared.

Thus, maintaining shorter sides with the least solar exposure on

the North and South facades.

Transitional Spaces

Inserting transitional semiprivate spaces like verandas or

courtyards acts as a barrier for heat and direct sunlight.

Lights up the entire house with a gentle, naturally diffused light.

Building Envelope

Roof

Materials with low heat gaining quality for flat roofs.

Features like sloping roofs reflecting maximum sunlight and

minimizing the intensity of incident sunlight.

Walls

Façade treatment to be done to achieve a surface with multiple

angles thus reducing the surface area absorbing heat at a

particular time in a day.

E.g.: Coarse plaster or angled and offsetting façade.

Insulation using modern technologies of perforated bricks and

innovative infill materials.

Minimum use of Concrete and RCC as they have a high heat

absorption value.

Openings Very few openings on the outer walls forming windows, reducing

glare.

Shading Devices Use of appropriate shading (either horizontal or vertical)

components based on the solar analysis.

Wind Patterns Types of Openings

Natural ventilation to be explored through various openings apart

from windows.

E.g. openings in walls (windows, doors, and grills), and roofs

(courtyards and skylights).




Position of Openings

Strategic placement of openings catalyzes the natural movement

of the wind.

Based on the analysis of wind movement, placing intake and out-

take openings at different heights and relatively opposite

positions will enhance the wind patterns within the house.

Topographic

Features

Green Features

Using the local deciduous species as barriers for heat, excessive

wind as well as maintaining privacy.

Enhances the thermal comfort and visual character of the housing

units.

Water Body

The water shortages in the city prompt towards adopting water

harvesting techniques of forming and maintaining manmade

lakes, ponds, and recharging ground levels.

Built Context

Natural elements to tackle issues or benefit from the surrounding

context.

E.g.: Mounds to avoid sound and form visual barriers from an

adjoining highway; or a stepped ghat/amphitheater near water

catchment areas forming seasonal water bodies that otherwise

form socially interactive spaces.

Material

Local Availability

Material available in a radius of 50kms from the construction site.

Regional standardization of materials for improved quality;

Innovating with red clay, sand, bamboo, terracotta, and red oxide

flooring (as readily available).

Traditional materials like granite, laterites, and lime have

exhausted and not used for ecological sustainability.

Nature of Material

Materials with low heat gain values and high reflective capacities.

Minimal involvement of synthetic and factory-made substances,

thus further reducing energy consumption.

Response to Heat

Products with progressive insulating properties.

Multi-layered solution for insulation from heat, for e.g. - using

perforated burnt clay bricks with sand plaster (or any insulating

material like thatch and sand) and brick cladding façade, based on

the intensity of incident sunlight.

Construction Method

Promoting local art, construction skills and, regional knowledge

passed orally, generating local employment, and reducing energy

consumption.

Spatial

Organization

Daily Lifestyle

Planning of a multipurpose space supporting various activities

carried out by the resident community.

Distribution of spaces based on the daily lifestyle of the residents,

understanding their activities at different times of the day.

Sun

Placing services or storage areas on the sides hit with the

maximum intensity of sun (south side).

The presence of transition (usually semi-open) spaces on harsh

sides also diffuse the intensity of solar ingression.

Wind Pattern

Planning spaces like the kitchen (heat-generating activity) with

appropriate ventilation to reduce heating in the other parts of the

house.

Social Hierarchy

The presence of a hierarchy in communities to be dissected for its

positive impact on the energy efficiency of the housing unit.

6. CONCLUSION

The case studies carried above, and inferences derived prompt towards a successful

transformation of vernacular strategies or factors into modern construction technologies.

Balancing the basic elements of Vaastu or development, namely sun, wind, topography,

material, and spatial organization lead to reduced energy consumption. Structures to be in

synchronization with the natural elements than opposing them and then finding solutions

through technologies to curtail their adverse impacts.



Structures in rhythm with nature around and local context have minimal energy

requirements thus these basic elements form the building attributes of passive-right design

solutions for energy-efficiency.

In search of solutions, the authors have created a device visibly measuring energy

consumption by individual houses, and as a result of which the building techniques can be

promoted not only amongst the developers but also amongst the investors and users (Tsuyoshi

Ueno, 2006).

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