ENERGY EFFICIENT 2012

Vikas Apartments, Auroville

ANUJ SHARMA, 2008BARC032 8TH SEMESTER, SCHOOL of PLANING and ARCHITECTURE- BHOPAL Project details Project description: 23 residential apartments housing 50 people, common facilities Building type: Residential Climate: Warm and humid Built in area: 1420 m Architect: Satprem Maini Period of construction: 19921999 Introduction A habitat is wider than a house and includes the surroundings, the neighborhood, the infrastructure used for the welfare of all, the environment, etc., and also deals with social relations and patterns. Thus the aspiration of a few friends to live a lifestyle related to the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo and Auroville culminated in this building with 23 residential apartments housing 50 people, and common facilities. Apart from the specific spirituality, the creation of the community aimed to share the financial resources - to build for everyone and not relate the finished product with the financial participation. In the early stages, people also willingly participated in the construction work, with a few working on the site, others doing accounts, supervision, etc. Constructed in phases, the building makes exclusive use of appropriate building technologies (earth and ferrocement), renewable energy (solar and wind), and ecological water management (water harvesting and waste water treatment). Vikas Apartments was designed with a view to create an eco-friendly habitat that not only creates facilities for everyone but also creates a synergy that leads to a different kind of lifestyle. Design features 1. Building orientation Prime perimeter: Day light, Radiation Buildings oriented longitudinally along the eastwest axis with openings along the northsouth for cross-ventilation and reducing summer gains. Pier walls oriented at 45 degrees to the predominant wind direction further aid cross ventilation

Department of Architecture, SPA, Bhopal

ENERGY EFFICIENT 2012

2. Vegetation Pattern Prime perimeter: Air movement, Radiation Because Auroville have hot and humid climate, In that case vegetation employs to maximum airflow and create a wind tunnel effect to pressurize the wind and help to reduce humidity.

3. Open space and built up form Prime perimeter: Air flow, Radiation we can show in site plan in the site of vikas apartment, There is a coordination between open space and built form which helps in reducing the heat loss and minimize to create heating island. 4. Ground Character Prime perimeter: Radiation The ground character in vicar apartment is treated with soft pale green grass and the pedestrian treated with sun-dried bricks and at some places it is manglore tile which have more heat absorb capacity and from this function more meat is settle down results the ground cools its surroundings atmosphere. Soil excavated for construction has been used in making earth-blocks for the buildings thus reducing the embodied energy 5. Plan Elements Prime perimeter: Radiation, air movement, air temperature. Terrace gardens and creepers on the west faade reduce cooling loads. Solar chimneys integrated with the building structures creating a natural draft that add to the ventilation. Partly sunken buildings with adequately daylight basement floors (1.2 m deep) that are cool in summer (earth stabilizes internal temperature. In humid climate courtyard and verandas aid to ventilation. Wind catchers, objects of much interesting. 6. Roof form Prime perimeter: Radiation, air movement, day light In warm-humid climate natural ventilation is very disable. The bulking should, in such a case, have its longer dimension perpendicular to the direction of airflow. Further, the roof overhangs and pitch should be as high as possible. This would results in the maximum pressure difference and consequences maximum airflow. Roof are flat in form and made of sun dried bricks with mud plaster of thick layer to prevent heat transmit ion inside the building which make interior cool.

Department of Architecture, SPA, Bhopal

ENERGY EFFICIENT 2012

7. Wall Prime perimeter: Radiation Walls are made of generally sun dried bricks or manglore tile. Mud plaster of thick layer to prevent heat transmit ion inside the building which make interior cool. 8. External color and texture Prime perimeter: Radiation In warm-humid climate, again, the aim would be minimize heat gain. Light colored and rough texture surface. 9. Fenestration control Prime perimeter: Radiation, air movement and day light. Fenestration with overhangs adequately designed to get enough daylight and cut off direct gains. In warm-humid climate window shade are not so much an issue since solar radiation is largely diffuse. Flywire nets are all the more necessary due to the insects that thrive under these conditions. The major need, that of increased ventilation, can be achieved by modifying the window section.

Department of Architecture, SPA, Bhopal