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Architect Uses Ancient Techniques To Cool Modern Building in India : TreeHugger

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Architect Uses Ancient Techniques To Cool Modern Building in India

Lloyd Alter Design / Green Architecture February 29, 2012

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has a high-tech solution", and points to yet another example of how low-tech solutions can work very well, without burning a lot of energy or needing a lot of fancy technology. TreeHugger has shown quite a few projects in temperate climates that use old tricks, but Jaipur, India is HOT, like 45 degrees C or 113 F. Architect Manit Rastogi or Morphogenesis designed the Pearl Academy of Fashion in Jaipur using a number of old technologies to create "an environmentally responsive passive habitat."

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Morphogenesis The exterior is clad in a perforated screen, described by the architect:

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The building is protected from the environment by a double skin which is derived from a traditional building element called the Jaali which is prevalent in Rajasthani architecture. The double skin acts as a thermal buffer between the building and the surroundings. The density of the perforated outer skin has been derived using computational shadow analysis based on orientation. The outer skin sits 4 feet away from the building and reduces the direct heat gain through fenestrations, yet allowing for diffused daylight. The jaali thus, serves the function of 3 filters- air, light, and privacy.

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Morphogenesis A traditional way of cooling in India was the Stepwell, a pond dug into the ground or surrounded by walls above ground so that the air is cooled by evaporating water in an enclosed, shaded zone. Rastogi tells CNN:

"How did they think up something so elaborate and yet so simple in its basic philosophy? "How do you begin to think that you can dig into the ground and use the earth as a heat sink, have access to water, put a pavilion into it so that its comfortable through the year? It takes a lot of technology for us to think up something that simple now."

Wikipedia/CC BY 2.0 Not quite as impressive as the Chand Baori stepwell.

Morphogenesis The architect writes:

The entire building is raised above the ground and a scooped out under belly forms a natural thermal sink which is cooled by water bodies through

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Architect Uses Ancient Techniques To Cool Modern Building in India : TreeHugger

evaporative cooling. These water bodies are fed by the recycled water from the sewage treatment plant and help in the creation of a microclimate through evaporative cooling.

Morphogenesis

The materials used for construction are a mix of local stone, steel, glass, and concrete chosen keeping in mind the climatic needs of the region while retaining the progressive design intent. Energy efficiency is a prime concern and the institute is 100% self sufficient in terms of captive power and water supply and promotes rain water harvesting and waste water recycling.

Before air conditioning was invented, people living in hot climates developed many different strategies for coping with heat, many of which have been forgotten or ignored. But what Rastogi says about the Pearl Academy holds true anywhere in the world:

We've been able to demonstrate that good green building is not only cheaper to run; it's not only more comfortable to live in -- it's also cheaper to build.

More at Morphogenesis Tags: Big Steps In Building | Green Building | India

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8 comments Leave a message...

Best Community A numak onda Jagadees h
2 years ago

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Excellent. Traditional housing designs,domed structures etc., offer comfort and climate friendly. There is the need to revive ancient wisdom in housing design. MODERNISE THE TRADITIONAL - TRADITIONALISE THE MODERN. Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore (AP), India E-mail: anumakonda.jagadeesh@gmail.com

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Linda Fos s

2 years ago

Y es. Passive design is the way to go. And shade does more than expensive windows and insulation or anything else you do to seal yourself up indoors.
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a year ago

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y rag01

Does Architect Manit Rastogi resurrecting of India's ancient techniques help to reduce the uncomfortably for those within the building versus the outside environment? I'm sure they do. But come on Lloyd, let's stay grounded in realitythere is NO WAY that as laudable as those techniques are, that 45 degrees C or 113 F and 90 percent humidity (which you don't mention) is going to be fully amelioratedespecially if Western dress codes are in force. Every little bit helps, but I think you're trying to oversell these good ideas as total solutions, which I don't think they are.
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Luc iano

2 years ago

Are those air conditioning units in the second photo?

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pres 68y

2 years ago

talk about forgotten technology, caves or underground structures provide winter heat and summer cooling.. free.
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2 years ago

A RCHE FFE CT

I love reading about passive cooling strategies. I think it is time we begin to implement the simple building techniques with integration of local materials worldwide. The ideas of harvesting rain water, or water recycling, are needed in many countries today. This building serves as another example of energy efficiency.

Thanks for the post.

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Deborah Diet z

> ARCHEFFECT
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2 years ago

I am interested in designs to retrofit our amazingly dim construction white elephants....

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Linda Fos s

> Deborah Dietz

2 years ago

Me too. I think that we should look to many Midcentury modern designs for ways. Many of our lame inappropriate boxes could be mid-centuried up with the deep over hangs and strategically slanted shed roof lines. Coated with white, light or reflective coatings of course. I would love to do that for a living. My Grandmother had a house like that and it only had a rarely used window AC in the bedroom and I don't recall it being too miserable in the brutal hot and humid Beaumont Texas summer.
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