Geographic coordinates of Leh, India

Latitude: 341000 N
Longitude: 773459 E
Elevation above sea level: 3599 m

COLD AND DRY
The cold and sunny type of climate is experienced in Leh (Ladakh).
The region is mountainous, has little vegetation, and is considered to be a
cold desert.
The solar radiation is generally intense with a very low percentage of
diffuse radiation.
In summer, the temperature reaches 17 24 C during the day and 4 11
C at night.
In winter, the values range from -7 to 8 C during the day and -14 to 0 C at
night. Winters thus, are extremely cold.
The relative humidity is consistently low ranging from about 10 50 %.
precipitation is generally less than 200 mm per year. Winds are
occasionally intense.
The sky is fairly clear throughout the year with a cloud cover of less than
50%.
As this region experiences cold desert climatic conditions, the design
criteria are to resist heat loss by insulation and controlling infiltration.
Simultaneously, heat gain needs to be promoted by admitting and trapping
solar radiation within the living space.


RELATIVE HUMIDITY
Rainfall
SOLAR CHART
INFERENCE
. South face receives the maximum sun radiation.
Therefore maximum fenestration in this climate are given on the
south faade

North Face receives almost zero sunlight , so this face has no
fenestrations
WIND CHART
BIOCLIMATIC CHART
Leh (Latitude: 34.15o N,
Longitude: 77.57 E,
Elevation:3514 MASL)
The chart (Fig. 2.23) shows that
Leh is predominantly cold
throughout the year. Outside
conditions are rarely within the
comfort zone except during
daytime in the months of July
and
August. In fact, the months of
December, January and
February experience sub-zero
temperatures
almost throughout the day and
night.
MAHONEY'S TABLE
GENERAL INFERENCES
O R I E N TAT I O N N O R T H A N D S O U T H ( L O N G
A X I S E - W)
C O MPA C T L AY O U T O F E S TAT E S
N O A I R MO V E ME N T R E Q U I R E D , V E RY
S MA L L O P E N I N G S , 1 0 - 2 0 %
H E AV I E X T E R N A L A N D I N T E R N A L WA L L S ,
H E AV Y R O O F S , O V E R 8 H T I ME L A G


Objectives:
Resist heat loss
Decrese exposed
surface area
Increse thermal
resistance
Increase thermal
capacity
Increase buffer space
Decrease air exchange
rate
Increase surface
absorbtivity
MAHONEY S
I NFERFERENCES


Promote Heat Gain
Reduce shading
Utilize heat from appliances
Trapping heat
PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION

Orientation and shape of building
Use of trees as wind barriers
Roof insulation wall insulation and double glazing
Thicker walls
Air locks/lobbies
Weather stripping
Darker kolors
Walls and glass surface
Sun spaces/green house/trombe wall etc.
PASSIVE STRATEGIES
INTRODUCTION:
Generally building design should be passive as far as possible to
minimize the need for energy input. If this solution is not satisfactory
complementary hybrid or active system may be used. However, these
systems should be simple and cheap and should meet system
requirements.
The various criteria's for which passive heating are used while
designing a building are:

Heating/Cooling
Orientation
Thermal mass of material
Shading devices
Natural ventilation
Water strategies
Building form

PASSIVE HEATING
Twin wall material should be used for roofing
and a layer of exterior glass with inner
layer of acrylic to maximise the heat gain
by solar light dur to green house effect.

Materials

Materials with high thermal mass such as
concrete can maintain a temperature by
absorbing heat from the day and then
radiating it in night
Roofs should be insulated by materials
such as rock wool , wood fibre etc. and
should be externally be covered by
corrugated aluminum sheets.
Timber frame should be used
DESIGN IMPLICATIONS

Orientation
Building in this type of klimate should have North-South orientation
Maximum windows should be on the South side since it receives
maximum sunlight.
Location




Building a pit style building is appropriate for
prevention of winds.By moving the building 2-3 feet
down, the exposure to wind is reduced and also the
temperature of the floor is maintained since ground
temperature is high.
The building should be located away from the river
since cold winds flow along it.
The building should always be made down the
slope or valleys in hilly terrain and to top of it
should be covered with thick vegetation to prevent
damage from the chilly winds.
STREET LAYOUT


In cold climate, wide streets especially
the east west streets allow buildings to
receive the south sun.
North-South streets should be narrow and
buildings should be low in height

Internal Layout
The layout of the building is highly
compact so as to maximize heat loss.

Bedrooms and living rooms areas
have to be warmer than the store
rooms and can be used as a buffer
between warm living and cold
outdoor.
VENTILATION AND OPENINGS
FENESTRATIONS
Fenestrations should be large, unshaded but sealed.This would enable
the heat gain but reduce cool breeze.
Fenestration should be on the south faade of the building.
Surface Area/Volume Ratio


In cold-dry climate the s/v ratio should be as low as possible to
minimise heat losses.
Greater the surface area more heat gain/loss
Shading Devices
In cold and dry climate no shading for fenesration is required.
Optimum glazing in desireable, hence to avoid glare vertical shading
devices with low projections can be provided.
PLANTING TREES IN COLD AND DRY REGION
It saves life by preventing and slowing down of mud slides and
avalanches.
Protects water qualities by capturing rainfall.
Improves the air quality.
Lower summer temperatures
Serves as wildlife habitat.
Raises awareness of global climate change in most fragile region
on earth.
Tree Height Girth
Apple tree 3-12 meters 6 meters
Apricot tree 8-12 meters 7.5 meters
Walnut tree 30-40 meters 1.5 meters
Mulberry tree 8-10 meters 21 meters
VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN LEH
Traditional tibetian architecture is well suited to the climate and
geography of Leh.

Sun-dried mud bricks can be made on site without specialized
skills . They are the cheapest building material but also have
very good insulation qualities.
Roofing is done by placing willow joists over the rafters,
then applying the traditional layering of mud and clays.
If done correctly, the traditional roofing method is very
efficient and can last for a long time.
This provides a good insulation and does not allow heat
to escape easily
Thick mud plaster is used to create
Additional insulation layers. Walls are
sometimes fitted with partly-timbered
frames for structural stabilization.

Mud plaster absorb heat from strong
sunshine during day and slowly
radiate it
during cold night.

Mud is used in many layers to provide
insulation for walls, floors and
ceilings.
Some houses are built at the downward slope of the hill.
Such houses have practically no openings except a door for
light and
ventilation.
Such houses are well equipped to retain heat.
Such houses are also built from mud and timber.
SOLARIUM
A solarium refers to a sun room built largely of glass to afford exposure to
the sun.
It also provides the view of the adjoining landscape with providing shelter
from cold winds.
It traps sunlight and heat by the green house effect mechanism.
TROMBEY WALLS
A trombey wall is a sun facing wall separated
from the outdoors by glass and an air space.
It absorbs solar energy and releases it
selectively towards the interior at night.
Modern trombey walls have vents added to top
and bottom to allow the heated air to flow via
convection into the building interior.
The vent have one way flaps to prevent the
convection in opposite direction.