Name of building: Himurja office

building
Architect: Arvind Krishan and Kunal
Jain
Climate: Cold and cloudy
Location: Shimla,Himachal Pradesh
Built-up area: 635 m2

Shimla,Himachal Pradesh

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The official building for Himachal

Pradesh Energy Development
Agency.

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* Cold and Cloudy Climate

Generally, the northern part of India experiences
this type of climate. Most cold and cloudy regions
are situated at high altitudes. Ootacamund, Shimla,
Shillong, Srinagar and Mahabaleshwar are
examples of places belonging to this climatic zone.
These are generally highland regions having
abundant vegetation in summer.

Precipitation

The intensity of solar radiation is low in winter

with a high percentage of diffuse radiation. Hence,
winters are extremely cold and summers are quite
pleasant. In winter, the values range between 4 and
8 o C during the day and -3 to 4 o C at night, making
it quite chilly.

Vegetation
Radiation
Relative Humidity

The relative humidity is generally high and ranges

from 70 80 %. Annual total precipitation is about
1000 mm and is disturbed evenly throughout the
year. This region experiences cold winds in the
winter season. Hence, protection from winds is
essential in this type of climate. The sky is overcast
for most part of the year except during the brief
summer.

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* Temperature check for Shimla

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* Design Features
Main Highlights/Pointers of the building which the architect uses to enhance
the building functionally and aesthetically.
01.
Air heating panels
designed as an integral
part of south wall provide
effective heat gain.
Distribution of heat gain
in the building through a
connective loop that
utilizes a stairwell as a
03.
means of distributing
heated air.
Insulated R.C.C.
diaphragm walls on the
north to prevent heat
loss.
06.
Careful integration
windows and light shelves
ensures effective daylight
distribution.

02.
Double glazed windows
with proper sealing to
minimize infiltration.
04.
Solar Chimney.

05.
Specially designed
solarium for heat gain.

07.
Solar water heating
system and Solar
photovoltaic system.

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* Design Response

The climate requires buildings to be

heated throughout the year (a
requirement that becomes quite
necessary in winters).A detailed analysis
of the site revealed good southern
exposure and good possibility of solar
heat gain from western exposure.
Therefore the demand on the building; is for
heating for most part of the year, and for good
ventilation during summer, and for a good daylight distribution throughout the year

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* Daylight and Heating

The plan of building and

its three dimensional
form allow maximum
penetration of sun,
maximizing both solar
heat gain and
daylighting.
Air heating panels
designed as an integral
part of the southern
walls panel provide
effective heat gain
through a close
connective loop.
Since the solar heat gain
raises the internal
ambient temperature

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* Daylight and Heating

To optimize ventilation
the connective loop is
coupled with solar
chimneys designed as an
integral part of the roof.
Specially designed
solarium is built as an
integral part of southern
wall to maximize heat
gain.
Distribution of daylight is
achieved though a
careful integration of
window and light
shelves.
Light reflected of light
shelves is distributed

* Daylight and Heating

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* Insulation and Window Design

Good insulation of 5cm

thick glass wool and
minimum fenestration
(only in toilets) on
northern exposure
prevents the heat loss.
Infiltration loses are
minimized through
weather-proofed (with no
thermal bridges) hard
plastic windows.
Next point doubleglazing helps control
heat loss from glazing
without creating any
internal condensation.

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* Performance of building

It has been monitored both for thermal performance

and daylight distribution during active use and found
that it provides comfortable working environment.
In month of January, the coldest month of the year
the building does not require auxiliary heaters.
Ventilation effectively generates fresh ambient
condition within the entire building.
Daylight distribution allows good distribution of
natural light in the working zone.
Building doesnt require any external electrical
energy supply for heating, lightning in daytime, and
for hot water which is achieved by solar system.
Ventilation is achieved by the connecting loop
activated by air buoyancy.

The building can therefore be described as zero energy

consuming during the daytime-the normal hours of

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* Pointer Analysis of the case study

Excellent thermal conditions exist inside the

building, specially it is comfortable in winters in all
areas.

The top-most floor has the problem of over-heating

in summer.

Despite being a government building for HP Energy

Sector, the building is tagged as Zero Energy
Consuming Unit.

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* Biblography

Energy-efficient buildings in India

-Mili Majumdar {Pg. No. 20}

Web links:
http://himurja.nic.in/
(Official website of Himurja)
http://arvindkrishan.com/?p=222 (Arvind
Krishnan s official blog)

A presentation by-

Vratika Gujarathi
S.Y.B.Arch , SCOA

* Thank You