Research Proposal Nupur B.

Bhadra | PD002416

Analyzing architecture of shopping malls of Ahmedabad concerning sustainability

Research problem
The rate of increasing urbanization and peoples demand for lavish lifestyle has led to an increase in
excessive use of air conditioning systems for cooling of indoor spaces. Electricity consumption of India for
the year 2012-13 record highlights that, residential and commercial sector contributed to 30% of total
electricity consumption (Jindal, 2016). The commercial building sector consumed about 8% of the total
electricity generated in India and this is growing at 11%12% annuallyi. Existing trade buildings in India
(retail shops, food courts, shopping malls, etc.) alone itself has maximum energy consumption (34% of
total energy consumption in commercial buildings) because of its high operation and maintenance (O&M).
(Fig.1)

Fig. 1- Energy consumption in commercial

buildings of India.
Source - Jindal, A. (2016)

Recent study also stated that, Indias carbon emission grew over 5% in 2015 as maximum production of
electricity in India is done using coal and even an increase in atmospheric carbon-dioxide (CO2)
concentration was observed globally in 2015 which is recorded highest as of nowii.

Therefore there is a need to study existing shopping malls to find out design fault if any which lead to such
excessive use of electricity and rectify it in the coming future malls to build a healthy and sustainable
environment.

Purpose statement
To inquire about the architecture and design of existing shopping malls of Ahmedabad through survey to
learn about the factors which lead to excessive use of electricity in malls and its sustainability.

Research questions
1. Is the shopping mall designed considering design elements? What materials are used in the
construction process?
Research Proposal Nupur B. Bhadra | PD002416

2. What are the systems provided in the shopping mall and is there functioning proper?
3. Is there any natural system provided in the shopping mall and how efficient it is?
4. What are the barriers preventing people from adopting to sustainable construction techniques
for shopping malls?

Objectives
The main objective of the study is find out architecture and design faults in existing shopping mall which
leads to excessive use of electricity by carrying out survey.
The specific objectives that the study will try to achieve are as follows:
1. To examine planning of shopping mall considering design features like orientation, form, climate,
etc.
2. To carry out and evaluate thermal comfort of occupants of shopping mall through a survey.
3. To examine the functioning of shopping mall considering heat gain, lighting quality, HVAC system
and indoor air quality.

Methodology

Stage 1 - Data collection

Literature study Through survey

Of design and planning elements Of shopping malls to
Of various sustainable materials understand space planning and
Of factors that constitute indoor air working
quality and its maintenance To understand the reasons
which causes excessive use of
electricity

Stage 2 Decoding the survey data

The collected data is interpreted in terms of sustainable design

Stage 3 Comparative analysis

The data collected from literature study is compared with the survey data and
analyzed

Stage 4 Conclusion
The study is concluded by providing improvement solutions for shopping mall if
required.
Research Proposal Nupur B. Bhadra | PD002416

i
Indo-Swiss Building Energy Efficiency Project. (n.d.). Energy efficiency in commercial buildings. Retrieved
Aug 20, 2017 from focus areas section of Indo-Swiss Building Energy Efficiency Project website
http://www.beepindia.org/beep-commercial
ii
IANS. (2016, November 14). Indias carbon emission grew over 5 per cent in 2015: Study. The Indian
Express. Retrieved Sept 05, 2017 from
http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/indias-carbon-emission-grew-over-
5-per-cent-in-2015-study-4374889/