Bioclimaticism

An Approach to Integrate Vernacular Architectural practice and its

techniques to Contemporary settings – Tamil Nadu as a case study

An Analysis Based Report by Ar.A.Purushothaman PhD Semester-I Reg.No: 401115002

Under the guidance of Architect Dr.K.Thirumaran, Associate Professor Arch, NIT, Trichy

Aim

It is a Systematic approach towards the integration of bio climatic design concepts of nativity into modern practices as a

solution to the current climatic issues and Energy problems, it also embraces Traditional energy efficient building

techniques practiced in traditional vernacular Architecture of Tamilnadu houses.

“An Approach to Integrate Vernacular Architectural practice and its techniques to Contemporary settings – Tamil Nadu as a case study”

Housing Demand

The report of Suresh Tendulkar committee said that 82% of deprived of basic needs in the

country(2008).

Due to drastic demographic increase the housing demand goes to the top nearly 35% of

Indians are living without shelter(2014).

“More the People = More we need Cities/villages = More the Energy = it reflects More the

Impact”

Our villages the traditional practices of constructions are getting vanishing and slowly the

contemporary buildings conquers everywhere – there everyone needs energy

Improper Survival FacilitiesUnavailability of Living Standards

Development Without considering Energy saving vernacular Architecture

Urban and Rural Context of India

India the worlds fastest developing nation going to reach 50% of itspopulation in urban areas by 2030.

In India we possesses 5480 urban cities and 640 867 villages.

Due the rapid growth of urban cities there is a huge lag in considering the

quality of environments urban Living as well as rural villages.

All the urban cities of India Possess unhygienic slum environments and

villages are in need of basic amenities and infrastructure facilities.

Demography – In and Around - problems

For about 2.9 million years the population growth rate remains constant but

from 1000 AD to till date the population hike to about 70%.

In population India ranks number 2 in the list of countries by population.

The population density in India is 386 people per Km2.

India's population is equivalent to 17.5% of the total world population.

27.8% of the population is urban India in which 40% lives without proper

houses. China and India consuming nearly 35% of world energy at present.

http://www.indiaonlinepages.com/population/india-current-population.html

Society - Vernacular

The human society is the totality of an integrated set of people who lives in a

particular geographical location.

India is the land of diverse culture and heritage.

In its own India has 122 major languages and 1599 other languages.

The most structured integrated living from its historic background itself.

Our Indian civilization is one of the oldest civilizations of the world with wide

knowledge of building science in its own without disturbing environment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_India

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=vernacular+architecture+of+tamil+nadu&biw=1366&bih=633&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIs8vwvN7ExwIVCXCOCh2CvwLE#tbm=isch&q=indian+civilisation+and+culture+richness+of+housing+&imgrc=yHmbLtmcHXaWvM%3A

Vernacular Architecture

“vernacular architecture is an area of architectural theory that studies the structures

made by empirical builders without the intervention of professional architects. There exist

many areas of non-professional architectural practice, from primitive shelter in distant

communities to urban adaptations of building types that are imported from one country to

another” – Paul Oliver

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=vernacular+architecture+of+tamil+nadu&biw=1366&bih=633&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIs8vwvN7ExwIVCXCOCh2CvwLE

As Society we• For Daily needs we are draining energy resources from the earth, almost 45% of world land mass is

already occupied and nearly above 50% of natural resources are completely drained by we people.

• Around 1.8 million species are identified so far in which more than 20% vanished and 15% is in danger.

• Construction Industry consumes 40% of total energy obtained.

• Not only consuming things from the earth we also do…..disturb…..pollute……destroy.

• Together we are juicing up the non renewable energy sources but our tradition possess a wide

knowledge of using renewable energy sources.

Disturbing and ruining

https://www.worldenergy.org/

Pollution - Man Vs Environ• Human Activities • 9/10% of Pollution is by Humans not by Nature • Nature

Volcanic eruption releases 8000 to

30000 metric tonnes Carbon per day and

per annum all around the world it is

calculated as 200 million metric tonnes.

This is Just One Simple Example

By using fossil fuels coal, crude oil and

Natural Gas we produced 26,8 Billion tonnes

by 2003. from that day to till date the carbon

Emission by fossil fuels increases in a rate of

60%.

Atmosphere – GHG emissions

We are keeping Heavier footprints over the Earth.

Things are happening which was not happened

before 600,000 years where organisms initiated the

beginning

Polar Ice Melting – Global Warming.

Issues such as climatic changes, environmental issues, pollution, Resource depletion, Genetic engineering, toxic and non degradable wastes etc.,

Polar Ice melts

Global climatic changes

Acid Rain

Ozone Depletion

Earth core disturbances

Global Warming

Even Superhero's Can’t able to Save – Coz Reason IS..!

What will be the solution….?

Conserve energy To Save the Humanity

How to conserve energy in residences..?

Bio climatic Architecture

Light structure walls losses heat instantly by allowing air

Circular structure buildings which exposes minimum towards external and maximizes comfort level in hot dry climates of India

Loose roofing elements releases hot air out – stack effect.

interconnected walls provide less external impact from sun so it will be suitable technique to reduce heat into building.

• The term Bio climatic was first used by Victor Olgyay in 1963, Architect, Norway.

• The Architecture of vast Era’s & practices of our native scholar's who designed their own homes by understanding the native climate and

using the locally available materials to reflect the culture and heritage of their own.

• i.e., The process of being reconnected to the environment, during the design of buildings are called BIOCLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE.

Bioclimatic “ism” A movement of Climate responsive vernacular Architecture

• He stated that Climatic responsive building from the vernacular architecture is a perfect ideology of understanding climate

and natural components of earth to provide a comfortable indoor environment to the users.

• Even today Architects like Charles correa, Karan Grover and various earth architects practicing our vernacular techniques and

systems to achieve maximum comfortable indoor environments with less energy sources.

Bioclimatic “ism” A movement of Climate responsive vernacular Architecture

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=environmental+issues&biw=1366&bih=633&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIhP6YgejExwIVw2qOCh1WTAXW#tbm=isch&q=charles+correa+works

https://www.google.co.in/search?q=environmental+issues&biw=1366&bih=633&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIhP6YgejExwIVw2qOCh1WTAXW#tbm=isch&q=karan+grover+works&imgrc=OzLiFOD4AEg4lM%3A

Need of the Project – Based on E-Demand

World Energy Council 2013 World Energy Resources: A Summary

?E

• Demand for energy will continue to grow for decades to come.

• Population increases and a growing rate of electrification will place huge requirements on energy supplies.

E.!• Global primary energy demand could increase by 50% by the middle of the century.

• At least 80% of this increase is expected to come from developing countries.

E..,

• The total primary energy demand of India is expected to increase by almost 150% by 2035

• Due to huge population and developments Energy demand in housing sector will be 200%.

In India the early Rig Veda clearly states the importance of five natural elements sky,

air, water, land and fire(Vaanam, kaatru, neer, nilam and neruppu). Also these

elements should be clearly analyzed before experimenting building.

Traditional building construction guideline vasthushastra also says the same.

“Scientifically it signifies, heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting and positioning of

building should be designed after considering these elements which will decrease

energy demand and support supplement source naturally”.



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This is not about going back to traditional systems, and it is all about acquiring traditional practices and techniques to

modern buildings without satisfying current needs.

As Indians we posses our own rich and diverse range of high culture and heritage, for example our Indus valley civilization

cities Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa is the only settlements of that time which posses drainage network and it clearly defines

how systematic our traditional vernacular practices are….!

Our vernacular building construction system practices are starts with site considerations, soil & physical considerations,

climate considered, also considers techniques and materials available etc., it is collectively a perfect passive designing

system with climatic loads and energy consideration.

Scope and Limitations

Vernacular architecture have been developed and practiced by the people over generations & they are tried and tested

practices which sustains over the ravages of time using Locally available materials for their building erection which

responds climate without disturbing the environment.

Among other achievements in bioclimatology, Victor Olgyay developed a bioclimatic chart, which relates climatic data to

thermal comfort limits, to identify design strategies (OLGYAY, 1973).

The bioclimatic design is an approach that takes advantage of the climate through the right application of design

elements and building technology for energy saving as well as to ensure comfortable conditions into buildings (GOULART

and PITTA, 1994; ERG et al., 1999).

Scope and Limitations

So at present if we consider the same Bio climatic approach during the designing phase at initial we can able to save a high

energy potential. However,

In tradition we have regulated design solutions which satisfies their needs but now in modern practices we have a variety

in need and it is diversified.

There is a huge gap between designing buildings with bio climatic design approach and meanwhile our teaching of

Architecture is different when you practice it should be defined.

Bio climatic vernacular practices travelled a long journey to reach its maturity and it has to travel a long distance again to reach

architects and designers to practice this bioclimatic “ism”. - it’s a step to shorten the gap

Integrating Bio-climatic Vernacular practices and techniques to modern buildings – Tamil

Nadu as a case study - Introduction

Abstract

Research questions and objectives

Literature Study

Research Methodology

Results and analysis of case studies

Conclusion


Nadu as a case study - Research

India the Youngest Nation which is developing faster competitively equaling to the rest of the world but in another side the sad part

is there exists a huge threat for its Survival in future. This Research if Mainly focusing to Provide a solution for the current emerging

Energy Demands in a Sustainable manner and also a Better solutions to standardize the quality of Life, in terms of Built environments.

It is a search Through various case studies of existing vernacular practices of Tamilnadu related with energy considered traditional

techniques and solutions, experiment it with recent simulation tools and providing solutions to the upcoming generations to practice bio

climatic design Approach.


Nadu as a case study - ABSTRACT


Nadu as a case study - Research Questions & objectivesR

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In India we have a wide range of traditional knowledge and practices with respect to built environments but why its not been practiced by all the architects

What are all the problems faced by architects those who are practicing traditional vernacular practices.

Advantages of the Architects who are not practicing vernacular traditional techniques and methods.

What actually stops to incorporate the techniques of traditional practices…? For example materials, current methods of construction etc.,


Nadu as a case study - Research Questions & objectives

Identifying the differences in practice - vernacular and contemporary design techniques with respect to energy considerations

Understanding the bio climatic concepts of Tamilnadu in various parts of the state.

Integrating design concepts of natural cooling, ventilation and lighting techniques to contemporary practices.

Various vernacular practices of Entire Tamilnadu related to Energy in terms of bio climatic design approach.

Styles like

• Folk and tribal practices

• Houses of farmers

• Houses of landlords

• Great mansions

• Commoner house - courtyard styles like chettinad, kumbakonam, nagarkoil, nagappatinam etc.,


Nadu as a case study - Literature study

It is not about creating a model of vernacular style to understand the energy consideration of traditional system

It is to understand the design techniques and practices of vernacular Tamilnadu architecture w.r.t. its native climate

After understanding the problems of practicing vernacular systems through interviews – A case study analysis of Tamilnadu

vernacular practices with respect to bioclimatic design approach – integrating bioclimatic vernacular practices to modern

contemporary design practice.


Nadu as a case study - Research methodology


Nadu as a case study - Results and analysis of case studies

• Understanding the energy considerations of vernacular practices through simulation.

• Using EcoTect and Energy plus software's

• Observation using equipment's understanding climatic responses of vernacular buildings


Nadu as a case study - Conclusion

After the understandings

With respective of integration – Bioclimatic design approaches

Vernacular architecture to Contemporary Architecture of today

Conclusion Via Bio Climatic ARCHITECTURE

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Integrating Bio-climatic Vernacular practices and techniques to

modern buildings – Tamil Nadu as a case study

An Analysis Based Study Report by Ar.A.Purushothaman PhD Semester-I Reg.No: 401115002

(A Systematic approach towards the integration of bio climatic design concepts of nativity into

modern practices to avoid the current climatic issues and Energy problems, it also embraces

Traditional energy efficient building techniques practiced in vernacular Architecture of Tamilnadu)

Bioclimaticism

Engineering