Climatic Principles

TRADITIONAL VS MODERN

Cliamte Responsive Architecture

(PA2801)

R O S H M I S E N , A S S I S TA N T P R O F E S S O R ,

D E PA R T M E N T O F P L A N N I N G A N D A R C H I T E C T U R E , N I T R O U R K E L A AUTUMN 2020
Traditional and Modern
TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE
MODERN ARCHITECTURE
Development through small adjustments to an accepted form- an
additive/iterative process from PRIMITIVE to VERNACULAR
TRANSFORMATIONS
Traditional societies dissolved through destruction of accepted ruling
Primitive
hierarchiesBuildings- in societies with little specialization both in
knowledge and in physical space
• Traditional rural solutions not easy to adapt to urban situations
 Increasing number of building types
Vernacular
 Buildings-differentiation
• Specialization specialization begins, tradesmen emerge
Rapid growth and
forced concentrationof trades - functionality
on quantity instead of quality –
 Loss of common
development of value system
mass housing
 Codes, regulations and zoning rules necessary

• Premium
Change inisfunctional
put on originality
requirements changes the housing structure
(Modified from:
with passage of time Energy Conscious
Design: Traditional
and Modern
• Tomorrow’s design? - climate responsive, technically sound, Concepts, Hans
Rosenlund, Lund
handling formal and informal sectors University 1997)
Climate and Vernacular
Vernacular Architecture

Vernacular Architecture is a
category of architecture
based on

• Local needs

• Construction materials

• Local traditions

Unfinished Igloo – Inuit winter dwelling

Vernacular Architecture

Vernacular Architecture is a
category of architecture
based on

• Local needs

• Construction materials

• Local traditions

Stone and clay houses in rural Nepal

Vernacular Architecture

Vernacular Architecture is a
category of architecture
based on

• Local needs

• Construction materials

• Local traditions

South African Rondavel

Vernacular Architecture

Vernacular Architecture is a
category of architecture
based on

• Local needs

• Construction materials

• Local traditions

Traditional Batak House - Sumatra

Influence on the Vernacular

Climate
◦ High thermal mass for hot dry or cold climate- sealed to prevent
heat loss/gain, windows small or non existent
◦ Lighter materials for warm humid climate in order to allow cross
ventilation
◦ Sloping roofs in climates with high level of precipitation
◦ Minimal area in the direction of prevailing winds in case of windy
climate

Culture
◦ Way of life- daily activities and habits, interactions, concept of
privacy etc
◦ Family size
 Climate- Extreme cold

1. High thermal mass

2. Small openings

Community of Igloos
(illustration by Arctic researchers, 1865)
 Climate- Cold

1. High thermal mass

2. Small openings

Leh District, Khalsi Tahsil, Farkethang Village

(Source: http://www.himalayan-architecture.org/locations/ladakh-nurla)
 Climate- Cold

1. High thermal mass

2. Small openings

•  Horizontal log construction

Small windows
• Clay or mud chinking between
logs
Side gabled roof
• Brick, stone or clay chimneys
• Irregular spaced window and door
openings

Swedish log houses (1638-1880)

(Source:http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/traditional_vernacular/2381/log_buildings/
292425)
 Climate- Hot-dry

1. High thermal mass

2. Small openings

In hot dry climate, the

traditional architecture uses
massive structures and the
earth itself to create a variety
of indoor temperatures so the
occupants can find conditions
which suit them.

(Source: http://www.new-learn.info/packages/mulcom/comfort/thermal/cfs/content/cont2.html)
 Climate- Hot-dry

1. High thermal mass

2. Small openings

Use of locally available

yellow sandstone

(Source: http://www.fullstopindia.com/maharaja-palace-jaisalmer-fort-rajasthan)
 Climate- Hot-dry

1. High thermal mass

2. Small openings

Bhandarej step well, Rajasthan

(Source: http://www.fullstopindia.com/maharaja-palace-jaisalmer-fort-rajasthan)
 Climate- Hot-dry

1. High thermal mass

2. Small openings

Syrian Bee Hive houses

Thick mud walls, high domes collect

hot air

(Source: http://www.eartharchitecture.org/index.php?/categories/38-Middle-East/P5.html)
 Climate- Hot-dry

1. High thermal mass

2. Small openings

Adobe brick wall with dense Colorado Vernacular in hot-dry climate with
thermal mass adobe bricks

(Source: http://mgerwingarch.com/2011/07/04/colorado-vernacular-adobe/)
 Climate- Warm-Humid

1. Lighter thermal mass

2. Cross ventilation

The traditional houses used

in warm humid Malaya are
designed to allow the
maximum flow of air whilst
preventing solar heating
with a thickly thatched roof

(Source: http://www.new-learn.info/packages/mulcom/comfort/thermal/cfs/content/cont2.html)
 Climate- Warm-Humid
1. Lighter thermal mass
2. Cross ventilation

Lignan Architecture of
South China’s Warm
• Large porches and archways
Humid Sub-tropical
• Natural cross ventilation systems with special
climatic zone
perforated bricks
• Roof structures to let air move through the
building

(Source: http://arts.cultural-china.com/en/83Arts14269.html)
 Climate- Warm-Humid
1. Lighter thermal mass
2. Cross ventilation

Use of internal courtyards for air

House with verandah movement
Bengal Vernacular
Architecture

(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-propertyplus/building-it-scientifically/article5331243.ece)
Structural controls- wind
flow
 Windcatcher effect

‘Badgir or windcatcher in traditional

Iranian Architecture

(Source: http://www.inive.org/members_area/medias/pdf/inive%5Cpalenc%5C2005%5CAzami2.pdf)
Traditional approaches
towards climatic design..
Olgay’s bio-climatic chart (1963)-
designing for comfort

• Olgyay was the first to

outline the comfort zone
in architectural terms, i.e.
the range of
environmental conditions
within which the average
person would feel
comfortable
• The graph has DBT on the
vertical axis and RH on
the horizontal.
• The aerofoil-shaped zone
at the centre of this graph
is the comfort zone.
Mahoney Tables, 1971
 The Mahoney tables are a set of reference tables used as a guide to climate-
appropriate design, named after architect Carl Mahoney, who worked on them
together with John Martin Evans, and Otto Königsberger
 The system takes into account the duration and severity of various climate factors
 The system also helps in arriving at a decision when seasonal requirements are
contradictory
 Consists of three sets of tables-
 Table 1 assembles the climatic data from meteorological records and
tabulates the mean values
 Table 2 serves the purpose of diagnosis, demarcating the comfort limit in a
particular temperature/humidity group for each month, and compares the
comfort limit with the mean maxima and minima and hence derives the
thermal stress
 Table 3 gives the designer the specifications resulting from the above
indicators grouped under 8 headings- (layout, spacing, air movement,
openings, walls, roofs, out-door sleeping, rain protection)
Modern techniques
Whole building energy simulation
- parametric modelling
Simulation provides the
essential foundation for
engineering extraordinary
high performance
buildings. By modeling
building dynamics and
interactions, a building
can be analyzed as a
system, and energy
performance can be
optimized for comfort
and daylighting so that
buildings can meet their
design potential.

Source- http://www.heliocentric.org/building_simulation.htm
Prescriptive methods through rating systems

Practicing prescriptive guidelines as mentioned in rating systems-

• Use of energy efficient lighting systems (LED/CFL)

• Use of energy efficient faucets and fixtures
• Grey water recycling and rain water harvesting
• Solar powered lighting, Net metering system etc
• Use of building materials with low life cycle energy consumption
( low U-value, low embodied energy etc.)
• Use of occupancy sensors and other intelligent devices etc
 ECBC compliance code- building level
evaluation in India

ECBC compliance process

DESIGN PROCESS FOR WHOLE BUILDING PERFORMANCE METHOD
Prescriptive method
• Specifies prescribed minimum energy efficiency parameters for various components and systems of the
proposed buildings
• Deals with building envelop, HVAC, hot water and pumping, lighting systems, electric and power system

Whole building performance method

• More complex than prescriptive method, but offers more design flexibility
• Code compliance is achieved by optimizing energy usage through whole building energy simulation
• Determines annual energy usage and compares with standard design of buildings
Questions please..