VERNACULAR AND SUSTAINABLE WAYS

OF BUILDINGTHROUGH CASE STUDIES

GROUP 8
ARB28 RIFA KK
ARB29 SANDRA P UNNIKRISHNAN
ARB31 SONA SAJI
ARB32 SOORYANATH P B
ARB34 TARUN N GEORGE
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING-INDIRA PARYAVARAN

• Location : New Delhi,India

• First on site net zero building in India
• Awards and prizes: LEED India platinum and GRIHA 5 star

• located in a composite climate zone, a mix of hot, dry, humid,

and cold climatic conditions, and the design involves multiple
active, passive, and renewable strategies to achieve net zero
goal.
• The building is divided into 5 sections:Vayu (Wind), Agni (Fire), Jal
(Water), Prithvi (Earth), and Aakash (Space) depicting the 5
elements that all matters are composed of, as per Hinduism
 PLANNING
• Consists of two blocks within the premises
connected through a corridor
• Each block is a G+7 story structure with 3
basements.
• The total floor area of the campus is 32,000
sq.metre.
• Each floor consists of office spaces, meeting
rooms, conference rooms etc.
• The building consists of 7 elevators and a central
atrium located in between the two blocks
PASSIVE STRATEGIES
• Orientation:
• The building is north-south oriented, which is
favorable for effective ventilation.
• Two separate blocks connected through
corridors for optimum integration with
nature and a huge central courtyard
provided which again helps in better air
circulation and provides skylight also.
• The courtyard has been provided with
natural vegetation which reduces
surrounding temperature, enhances air
movement thus cool air is preserved and hot
air escapes easily and provides a green view.
• Orientation minimizes heat ingress.Window
to wall ratio of the building is optimum
according to the energy conservation
benchmark
Landscaping:
• Greater than 50% area outside the building is covered with plantation especially native plants that have been planted to
reduce water consumption.
• Circulation roads and pathways are softly paved to enable groundwater recharge

Ventilation:
• Courtyard in the center of the building helps in air movement as natural ventilation happens due to the stack effect.
• Windows and jaalis add to cross ventilation.

Day lighting:
• The courtyard is provided with skylight which provides indoor natural sunlight.
• 75% of building floor space is provided with adequate daylight, consequently reducing dependence on artificial sources for
lighting.
Materials and construction techniques:
• Building constructed with the use of low embodied energy and a recycled content- based product like AAC blocks with fly
ash, fly ash-based plaster & mortar.
• The building has been constructed by providing local stone flooring, bamboo jute composite doors, frames, and flooring
• .These products are of low embodied energy. High- efficiency glass, high VLT, low SHGC & Low U-value, optimized by
appropriate shading which-helps in energy efficiency.
• Light shelves have been provided for diffused sunlight.
• Stone and Ferro cement jaalis used.
WATER MANAGEMENT
The landscape and horticulture design of planting
native species along with efficient irrigation systems
are utilized leading up to 50% reduction in water
requirement. The remaining water demand is met by
recycling and reusing wastewater, and by
implementation of rainwater harvesting systems.
Additionally, low discharge and efficient water fixtures
are installed including sensor urinals and dual flow
cisterns.
• 55% reduction in overall use of water
• Low discharge water fixtures
• Low demand plants in landscaping
• Use of geothermal cooling
• Recycle of wastewater, for zero discharge
• Rainwater harvesting
• Recharge wells,
ENERGY EFFICIENCY - ECO-FRIENDLY FEATURES.
• Geothermal heat exchanger
• Regenerative lifts
• Fully automated car parking in basement
• Blocks connected with corridors and central courtyard
• Building envelope designed to ensure day light in 75%
occupied areas
• Vegetation in more than 50 % area
• Grass pavers in circulation areas
• Terrace garden
• Energy efficient air conditioning system and lighting
• Conversion of breaking energy into electricity in lift
• LED lights occupancy and lux level sensors
• landscaping with no hard pavings eliminating heat island
effect
• Sewage treatment plant for 30 KLD capacity
• Low discharge water fixtures
 VERNACULAR BUILDING-VERNACULAR DWELLINGS INTHANJAVUR
DISTRICT,TAMIL NADU, INDIA
• Location : Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
• Thanjavur is a traditional town which dates back to the 3rdcentury AD, and is located in south-east part of
India . Thanjavur is located in the Cauvery delta region, which is the main source for the evolution, growth,
and wealth of this region. Almost all the rural settlements are located along the banks of the river, and
the main occupation is agriculture and allied activities, due to the fertile soil condition. Thanjavur is considered
to be the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu.
• the town was the headquarters of the Mediaeval Cholas, it still retains a rich cultural heritage and
traditional values in art, architecture and literature. It is located at almost the geographical centre of
Tamil Nadu, and possesses a rich culture and tradition. It consists of a number of rural vernacular
settlements, which are occupation-based, predominantly agriculture.
Rural vernacular settlements in Thanjavur region could be divided into two groups. One is the consciously planned
settlements which are community based and the other one is the organically grown settlement which are
occupation based.

• The planned settlements by Mediaeval Cholas

• The organically grown settlements are mainly agriculture-based located mostly along the banks of the river
Cauveri.
• The upper caste people live in the core area, whereas the lower caste people reside along the
periphery, closer to the agricultural fields.

The specific characteristics of the vernacular settlements found in this region are:

• All the settlements in this region are compact in size and population, and surrounded by agricultural fields
and woody groves.
• A single large water body or number of water ponds form an essential element of the settlement, which was the
source for its growth, and has a greater impact on its micro climatic conditions.
• A strict row housing pattern is adopted,and all the streets are in the east-west orientation.
• Community clusters are very much evident within the settlements.
• Different typologies of dwellings are seen in each street
 STAGE 1
The most primitive form of rural dwelling which forms the origin of the vernacular architecture of Tamil Nadu, is a
single space multifunctional unit constructed using mud, thatch and other temporary materials.
They were circular in plan with a domical roof because of the materials used.
Rectangular plans also became common.
These rudimentary forms of dwellings are highly sustainable in nature, because they were built by the users
themselves ,using the locally available temporary materials.
STAGE 2
In the second stage of development,
the dwelling has a tripartite division,
• Thinnai(the front raised verandah),
• Koodam(the living hall) and
Samayal(Kitchen)
• The front part is the male zone, the
middle part is the family zone and
the rear part is the female zone
Thus segregating the public,
semiprivate and private activities in a
dwelling.
• These structures were constructed
using the locally available
permanent materials, such as
dressed undressed stone, Laterite
stone, mud mortar, country wood,
bamboo and tiles.
• The roof is pitched with a two
sided slope and covered with
locally made country tiles.
STAGE 3
The introduction of the courtyard in
the middle part of the dwelling is an
important development in the
residence with tripartite division,
which forms the final stage of a rural
dwelling.
The courtyard facilitated not only
additional activities, but it is an
important climate conscious design
element.
These structures were built with
locally available permanent materials,
such as bricks, stone, wood, tiles,
mud and lime mortar.
The roof now has ridges and valleys
for the first time in vernacular
tradition, to accommodate the
internal open-to the-sky space.
This unitforms the core,or nucleus of
the later fully developed courtyard
type dwellings of Tamil Nadu.
TYPOLOGY OF HOUSES
There are three major typologies of houses seen in the settlements of Thanjavur region among which, typology 1
and typology 2 dwellings are common in all the settlements ,whereas typology 3 dwellings are seen only in very few
settlements as they possess unique characteristic features and functions.
• Typology-1:Thecourtyard at the centre as the focal element, organizes all the spaces around it, to form typology
1 of this settlement.
• These houses have a thinnai(raised platform)-a public and private intersecting realm, and deep over hangings
in the front, which will facilitate the wind to get inside from the road to the house.
• The hot outside air gets cooled by crossing through the deep shaded front thinnai spaces.
Typology-2:The courtyard shifted to one side, and the habitable spaces on other the three sides form typology
2 dwellings.This type of dwellings is located in narrow plots in a row housing pattern.
• The front part consists of a raised platform (Thinnai),and the buffer space (Rezhi) constitutes the public
zone of the house.
• The middle part of these dwellings consists of the courtyard and living space, which forms the semi private zone
of the dwelling.
• The main and back doors are still aligned to the courtyard in an axis,but the whole alignment is shifted to one edge
of the side.
• The private spaces / rooms are located either in the front or at the rear portion ofthe house. Since the
courtyard is shifted to one side with an enclosing side wall, it has a surface to cast light patterns and shadow
patterns, which keep moving as the day progresses.
• It permits to have a small width but more room spaces.
 Typology 3
Dwellings with a double height central space with clerestory openings on all the sides form typology 3,and they are
referred to as Kalyanakoodamor Eduthukkatti houses.
These structures belong to the wealthy group, and are normally used to hold family functions and religious rituals, or
to accommodate large gatherings of families (as in Someshwarapuram), or people who have close links with the
religious sect of the community, and engage themselves in performing rituals and related activities(as in Melattur).
This type of dwellings do not have any open courtyards within the house. It has three main spaces,
• theThinnai(raised platform)
• the Living hall with a central double height space
• Kitchen
COMPARISON STUDY OF SUSTAINABLE BUILDING-INDIRA
PARYAVARAN AND VERNACULAR BUILDING- VERNACULAR
DWELLINGS IN THANJAVUR DISTRICT

Building materials:
Indira Paryavaran is constructed using eco-friendly materials
like fly ash bricks, hollow concrete blocks, and stabilised mud
blocks, while vernacular dwellings typically use locally
available natural materials like mud, stone, and thatch.

Energy efficiency:
Both Indira Paryavaran and vernacular dwellings aim to
minimise energy consumption through passive design
features like proper orientation, shading, and ventilation.
Design and construction techniques:
Indira Paryavaran is a modern sustainable building that utilizes advanced design and construction techniques such as
passive solar heating and cooling, green roofs, energy-efficient lighting, and HVAC systems. On the other hand, vernacular
dwellings in Thanjavur district are traditionally constructed using locally available materials such as clay, cow dung, and
thatch. These materials provide natural insulation and help in maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures.

Energy consumption:
Indira Paryavaran utilizes various energy-efficient systems such as LED lighting, energy-efficient appliances, and solar
water heaters to reduce energy consumption. In contrast, vernacular dwellings rely on natural light and ventilation,
reducing the need for artificial lighting and air conditioning.

Water management:
Indira Paryavaran has an advanced rainwater harvesting system and wastewater treatment plant, reducing water usage
and ensuring sustainable water management.Vernacular dwellings traditionally have systems for water collection, storage,
and distribution, such as wells and tanks.

Adaptation to climate:Indira Paryavaran is designed to adapt to the changing climate, with features such as green roofs
and rainwater harvesting systems that help mitigate the effects of climate change.Vernacular dwellings are built to suit
the local climate and natural surroundings, providing thermal comfort and protection from extreme weather conditions.
Water conservation:
Indira Paryavaran incorporates rainwater harvesting and wastewater treatment systems, while vernacular dwellings may
rely on traditional water conservation practices like building tanks and ponds. Sustainable buildings like Indira
Paryavaran may require specialized knowledge and skills to design and install complex water conservation systems.
Vernacular dwellings in Thanjavur district, on the other hand, may have simpler water conservation methods that are
easy to implement and maintain.

Cultural relevance:
In terms of cultural relevance, both Indira Paryavaran and vernacular dwellings in Thanjavur district are rooted in the
local context and reflect the cultural values and practices of the region. Indira Paryavaran buildings incorporate
traditional design elements and materials, while also incorporating modern sustainable technologies.

Vernacular dwellings in Thanjavur district, on the other hand, have evolved over time to meet the specific needs of the
local climate, culture, and way of life.

However, one key difference between Indira Paryavaran and vernacular dwellings in Thanjavur district is the level of
government involvement. Indira Paryavaran is a government-led initiative that promotes sustainable building practices
through policy and financial incentives.Vernacular dwellings in Thanjavur district, on the other hand, are largely built by
local communities using traditional knowledge and techniques.