Key parameters and useful materials

for bioclimatic architecture in Kolkata

and other hot & humid regions

Laurent Fournier, Kolkata

2010-2018
Climatic parameters: Air temperature, Moisture and Breeze

• Air temperature and humidity in Kolkata

• Givoni-Milne’s Bio-Climatic Chart (1979)
• Maps the Human Thermal Comfort Zone on Carrier’s psychrometric chart (T° and R.H.)
• The Comfort Zone can be extended with conventional Architectural Design
• Chart extended by Laurent Fournier (2012) with ventilation data from Joseph Khedari (2000)
Reading the Givoni-Milne chart

June
Night T° and R.H.

Day T° and R.H.

January

Shade Line

• small temperature differences between day and night: Thermal mass not very effective
• most of the time on the right side of the “Shade Line”: Shade is essential
• ventilation required during the day from February to November
• air speed of 1m/s to 3 m/s required from April to October = outdoor or fans
Sun Path
Diagram
• Kolkata is on the
Tropic of Cancer :
The sun is practically
vertical at noon,
from April to June

• The roof receives

maximum sunlight

• East and West: a

lot of sunlight in the
morning and
evening

• The South receives

sunlight only in
winter – which is
nice!!!
Calculation of Solar Gains on building surfaces

A solar panel software gives the hourly solar irradiation on building surfaces at various azimuth
and tilt. After scaling to peak power = 1kW and time span = 6AM to 6PM, the graphs have been
projected on the respective cube surfaces. (East and West sides are mirroring each-other).
This gives a quantitative idea of the exposure to sunlight of the Roof, East, and West surfaces.
 No beam for more and
Light softer light on ceiling
shelves
Room
dimensions:
15ft x 28ft,
14ft height

5-feet- deep
shading
overhang to
stop sunlight

5-feet-high
continuous
glazing

2ft x 3ft
windows for
cross- Chamfered wall jambs for
ventilation Jalan House, Tarpongi 2012 softer light transition
Translucent walls: Glass bricks (expensive…)

Terra Indica, Kolkata 2006

More affordable translucent walls:
Beer bottles

Kachapucca
Terra Indica, bari, Baruipur
Kolkata 2006 2017
Beer bottles can be combined with
brick jali:
Brick jalis provide ventilation and more light than beer
bottles, and are often more elegant.

They are suitable for verandas and any place where a

soft light and security are required but not for sound,
rain or dust protection.

Kachapucca
Terra Indica, Kendall-Nath
Kolkata 2006 bari, Baruipur 2017
Bricks jali combined with galvanised
flats (first floor) or galvanised
windows (basement)
make extremely transparent and very strong walls, with a
soft light.

Living Farms College, Muniguda 2017

Mud walls and Climate Control

According to Tim Padfield, foremost expert in archives conservation and low-energy museums,
moisture-buffering materials like mud and natural fibers are the safest materials for long-term
protection of sensitive artifacts, because they stabilise both temperature and humidity.

What is best for fragile artwork is also good for people!

http://www.padfield.org
Mud walls and Climate Control Cement wall T.

Mud wall T.

Mud wall R.H.

Cement wall R.H.

John Moroni (2004) and Tim White (2009) have explained why mud houses are so comfortable.
From temperature and moisture measurements in Adobe (sun-dried mud bricks) and cement
houses, they found that mud is a Phase-Change Material. The latent heat of condensation and
evaporation of the moisture exchanged between the mud walls and the ambiant air regulates
temperature and moisture, even with very thin walls and even with just a mud plaster.
Measurements in the Veranda

Baruipur House (April 2018):

Cement wall

- Temperature, Mud wall

- Relative Humidity
- Absolute Humidity
Temperature: The Mud Room (Brown) is the coolest.
in 3 locations: Veranda
- In the Veranda
Cement wall
- In the Brick Room
- In the Mud Room
Mud wall

Conclusion: The Mud Room

is the coolest, the least
damp, has the least moisture Relative Humidity: The Mud Room (Yellow) is the least damp.
content, and also has the Veranda
most stable climate. Cement wall

Mud not only keeps people Mud wall

comfortable, but is actually
ideal for preserving Veranda
artworks! Absolute Humidity: The Mud Room (Green) is the most dry.
Bamboo & Mud walls in Baruipur (2017)

• Mud floor hardened with lime and mustard oil

• Bamboo and mud partition walls finished with lime and gobar
• Bookshelves made of Kadappa stone and bamboo Kendall-Nath House, Baruipur 2018
Bamboo & mud walls, mud floor Kendall-Nath House, Baruipur 2018
MS windows
galvanised
after
fabrication

Kendall-Nath House, Baruipur 2018

Lime-Gobar, an
antiseptic tribal Gujarati
tradition, can also be
applied on cement
plaster, covering the
whole range of Honey
colours, from pure white
(Acacia) to dark brown
(Pine)…
Mitra House, Kalyani 2017
MS windows
galvanised after
fabrication

Kendall-Nath House, Baruipur 2018

An affordable door solution
without PVC, plywood or polymer:

Bamboo panelling in steel frame

Can be
plastered with
mud-gobar, or
with cement
plaster in
bathrooms!

Mitra House, Kalyani 2017

Detailing

Kendall-Nath House, Baruipur 2018

Jeet Paul Auditorium, Alliance Francaise, Park Street, Kolkata (2021)

•Light-reflective and sound-absorbtion ceiling panels

made of galvanised frame, bamboo slats, white jute cloth, inverted clay pots

• Bamboo luminaires
Mud is:
• Sound-absorbent
• Fire-proof
• Moisture-regulating and Temperature-regulating

Lime and Gobar are antiseptic

Zinc (coating on galvanised steel) is antiseptic

Bamboo treated with Borax and Boric Acid is termite-proof and non-toxic,
child-food-and-toddler-friendly

A low-plastic, low-polymer interior is better for health (low-VOC) and

reduces the severity and casualties of fires