VASTU SHASTRA IN GREEN BUILDINGS

AP-403, Research Paper

Submitted By:

ABHISHEK VASHISHTA
Enrolment No. 43559301615
Session: 2018-19

GURU GOBIND SINGH

INDRAPRASTHA
UNIVERSITY

Research Co
Co-ordinator: Prof. Hari K.G.Nambiar
Research Guide: Ar. Praveen Arora

December 2018

MBS School of Planning and Architecture

Sector-09,
09, PSP Area, Dwarka Subcity, New Delhi
Delhi-110077
110077
 CANDIDATE’S DECLARATION

I, Abhishek Vashishta, hereby declare that this Research Paper entitled Vastu
Shastra in Green Buildings is the outcome of my own study undertaken under
the guidance of Ar. Praveen Arora, of MBS School of Planning and Architecture,
Dwarka, New Delhi.

The Research Paper is formed under the B.Arch Degree Program of Guru
Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi.

I have duly acknowledged all the sources used by me in the preparation of this
research paper.

Abhishek Vashishta

i
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Research Paper entitled Vastu shastra in Green
Buildings is the record of the original work done by Mr. Abhishek Vashishta
under my guidance and supervision.

The result of the Research presented in this paper is formed under the B.Arch
degree program of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi

This Research Paper has been submitted by Mr. Abhishek Vashishta with
Enrolment No. 43559301615, student of 4th Year, B.Arch, Session 2018-19 at
MBS School of Planning and Architecture, Dwarka as per the partial fulfillment for
the Five Year B.Arch Degree course of GGSIP University, New Delhi.

Originality of information and opinions expressed in this Research Paper is of the

author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Guide or the Co-ordinators of
the institution.

Student’s Signature :

Student’s Name : Abhishek Vashishta

Date :

Guide’s Signature :

Guide’s Name : Ar. Praveen Arora

Date :

Research Co-ordinator’s Signature:

Research Co-ordinator’s Name : Prof.H.K.Nambiar

Date : 14 December 2018

External Examiner’s Signature :

External Examiner’s Signature :

ii
 Acknowledgements

This research would not have been possible without the help of IP University,
which gave me an opportunity to write a research paper on the topic of my
interest.

I am especially indebted to Ar. Praveen Arora and Ar. Deepak Kumar for their
guidance and constant supervision, as well as for providing necessary
information regarding the topic and also their support in completing this research
paper.

I would like to express my special gratitude and thanks to my supervisors, Ar.

Sonali Chawla and Ar. Pulkit Rana for imparting their knowledge and expertise
in this study.

I would also like to thank my parents for their kind co-operation and
encouragement, which helped me in the completion of this project.

I would like to appreciate my colleagues and all the people who have willingly
helped me out with their abilities in this research paper.

ABHISHEK VASHISHTA

iii
 Table of contents

Candidates’ Declaration i

Certificate ii

Acknowledgements iii

Table of Contents iv

List of Figures vi

List of Tables x

Abstract

Chapter-1 :Introduction 1-3

1.1 : Background 1

1.2 : Need of the study 1

1.3 : Aim 1

1.4 : Research Questions /Hypothesis 2

1.5 : Objectives 2

1.6 : Scope and Limitations 2

1.7 : Methodology 3

Chapter-2 : Vastu shastra and its Design principles 4-21

2.1 : Introduction to Vastu Shastra 4

2.2 :Vastu Purusha mandal 5

2.3 :Vastu Basics 7

2.3.1 : Understanding Directions 7

2.3.2 : Selection of Site 7

2.3.3 : Orientation 8

2.3.4 :Brahamasthana 9

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2.3.5 : Foundation 10

2.3.6 : Compound Walls 11

2.4 :Vastu living at various habitable spaces 11

Chapter-3 : Green buildings and its Design principles 22-27

3.1 : Introduction to Green Buildings 22

3.2 :Elements of Green Building Design 23

3.3 :Benefits of Green Buildings 25

3.4 :Informational Resources on Green Buildings 26

3.5 :Important abbreviations related to Green Buildings 27

Chapter-4 : Comparative analysis of the Design principles (Relation) 28-31

Chapter-5 : Case Studies 32-52

5.1 : Parameters for selecting the case study 32

5.2 : Literature Case Study (2) 32

5.3 : Live Case Study (2) 43

Chapter-6 : Comparative analysis of the Case studies 53-54

Chapter-7 : Conclusion 55-56

Recommendations 57

References

v
 List of Figures

Fig 2.1 – Location of the Deities on the plot 6

Fig 2.2 – Vastu Purusha Mandal 6

Fig 2.3 – Pitha in mayamata 7

Fig 2.4 – Shape of the Plot… 7

Fig 2.5 – Plot with NE growth 8

Fig 2.6 – Magnetic Compass 9

Fig 2.7 – Vastu purusha Mandal 9

Fig 2.8 – Energy lines in the Vastu purusha Mandal 10

Fig 2.9 – Digging of Soil inside the plot 10

Fig 2.10 – Laying of Foundation inside the plot 10

Fig 2.11 – Building must be at some offset from the compound walls 11

Fig 2.12 – Vastu at habitable spaces 11

Fig 2.13 – Building offsets from the compound walls 12

Fig 2.14 – Paisacha Zone 12

Fig 2.15 – Typical roofs of a Prayer room 13

Source (Fig 2.1- Fig 2.15): Handbook of Vastu by Niranjan Babu

Fig 2.16 – Layout of an Office 16

Fig 2.17 – Central Delhi : Financial district of Delhi 17

Fig 2.18 – Plan of a reception 18

Fig 2.19 – Well lit courtyard from natural light 19

Fig 2.20 – Dark and foreboding reception area 19

Fig 2.21 – Arrangement of Equipments in an office 20

Fig 2.22 – Idol of Kubera 21

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Source (Fig 2.16- Fig 2.22): Vastu Living by Kathleen Cox

Fig 3.1 – A Green Buildings 22

Fig 3.2 – Path of the airflow 23

Fig 3.3 – Sun path around a building 24

Fig 3.4 – Logo of USGBC 26

Source (Fig 3.1- Fig 3.4): Google Images

Fig 5.1 – Cyber Towers 32

Fig 5.2 – Site Plan 33

Fig 5.3 – Boundary wall at the NE Side 33

Fig 5.4 – Empty Central portion as viewed from the site plan 34

Fig 5.5 – Floor Plan of the 10th floor 34

Fig 5.6 – Placement of furniture 35

Fig 5.7 – Glass Partitions 35

Fig 5.8 – Part of the building in which Bricks are used 35

Fig 5.9 – Part of the building showing the use of Glass 35

Source (Fig 5.1- Fig 5.9):

https://property.jll.co.in/office-lease/hyderabad/hitec%20city/cyber-tower-q1-ind-p-0003zj

Fig 5.10 – Bird’s eye view of the building 36

Fig 5.11 – Wind circulation through the building 36

Fig 5.12 – Solar panels placed on the roof 37

Fig 5.13 – Natural light entering the building 37

Fig 5.14 – Double glass used 37

Fig 5.15 – Use of Jaali walls 38

Fig 5.16 – Low height of the building 38

Fig 5.17 – Green roof over a large exposed area 38

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Fig 5.18 – Landscaping of the complex 39

Fig 5.19 – Sketches showing the Climate response of the building

Complex 39

Fig 5.20 – Grid pavers that soak water 40

Fig 5.21 – Root zone treatment at the site 40

Fig 5.22 – Wind tower at the site 40

Fig 5.23 – Location of various elements on the site 41

Fig 5.24 – Fly ash bricks 41

Fig 5.25 – Tables made of Bagasse board 41

Fig 5.26 – Floor tiles 42

Fig 5.27 – Structures made from recycled material 42

Source (Fig 5.10- Fig 5.27): https://www.slideshare.net/hamzaaaaaah/green-buildings-case-study

Fig 5.28 – View of the building 43

Source: Author

Fig 5.29 – Site Plan 43

Source: Google Earth

Fig 5.30 – Compound wall at the South side 44

Fig 5.31 – Fencing and less dense trees on the north side 44

Fig 5.32 – Placement of workstations 45

Fig 5.33 – Use of ACP and UPVC panels 45

Fig 5.34 – Landscaping on the site 45

Fig 5.35 – A view of the reception area 46

Fig 5.36 – Axonometric view of the building 47

Fig 5.37 – Central atrium 47

Source (Fig 5.30- Fig 5.37): Author

viii
Fig 5.38 – Site plan 48

Fig 5.39 – Cross Ventilation through the complex 49

Fig 5.40 – Vertical air flow inside the building 49

Source (Fig 5.38- Fig 5.40): Slideshare

Fig 5.41 – Landscaping at the site 49

Source: Author

Fig 5.42 – Water management System (Cycle) 50

Fig 5.43 – Various systems involved in conserving energy

inside the complex 51

Source (Fig 5.42- Fig 5.43): Slideshare

Fig 5.44 – Roofs with SRI tiles 51

Fig 5.45 – Terrazzo Flooring 51

Fig 5.46 – Fly ash Lime Gypsum bricks 52

Fig 5.47 – Wall made of the FALG bricks 52

Fig 5.48 – Section showing the reflection of light 52

Source (Fig 5.44- Fig 5.48): Author

ix
 List of Tables

Table 1: Plots with growth in different directions 8

Source: Handbook of Vastu

Table 2: Comparative analysis of the design principles 28-30

Source: Author

Table 3: Comparative analysis of the case studies 53

Source: Author

x
 Abstract

This research focuses on the relevance of the design principles of ancient Vastu
Shastra with the design principles of the Modern Day’s Green Buildings. My goal
was to change the expression on people’s face when they hear about this topic.

This research processes with the individual analysis of the design principles of
these two types of buildings and later comparing them to find out the extent to
which the design principles of these two theories overlap with each other.
 CHAPTER – 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND

Vastu forms the basics of each construction; one must follow Vastu from the
initial level i.e. from choosing a plot to shift in the house. Everything could be
done according to the principles of Vastu, since Vastu is not merely a word but it
is a Science and a bridge between man and nature. Vastu is such a deep
science that it is a pool of information and one can have any doubts cleared with
proper reasoning.

Whereas, A Green building is a building project that would allow us to preserve

most of the natural environment around the project site, while still being able to
produce a building that is going to serve a purpose. The construction and
operation will promote a healthy environment for all involved, and it will not
disrupt the land, water, resources and energy in and around the building.

1.2 NEED OF THE STUDY

In this day and age, we hear everyone talking about going green. This is because
at the rate we are going, the earth is simply not sustainable. This means that
over the years, we will begin to run out of certain natural resources that are
needed in order for us to survive. That is alarming to some people, which is why
there are so many people that focus on green buildings.

And, Vastu is one of the most ancient sciences of Indian architecture and is
composed of specific rules, regulations and directions, set down by sages of
the Vedic times. For the modern society it is the highly evolved,
comprehensive building philosophy. Over the years, people have really grown
to use Vastu Shastra for better life. They have started to appreciate the
concept a lot.

1
1.3 AIM

How the principles of Vastu Shastra are relevant to the Green Buildings.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS (HYPOTHESIS)

1) Is there any relationship / overlap between the way we design a Green

Building and one according to Vastu Shastra?

2) Can a Modern day’s Green building be designed using the ancient design
principles of Vastu Shastra?

1.5 OBJECTIVES

1) To study Vastu Shastra and its Design Principles.

2) To study Green Buildings and their Design Principles.

3) To compare and Analyze the design principles of Vastu Shastra and Green
Buildings.

4) To study and analyze, how a building is designed according to Vastu shastra

and a Green Building.

5) To find out the relationship between the principles of Vastu Shastra and Green
Buildings.

6) To find out whether the design principles of Vastu shastra and Green buildings
overlap or not.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

This research will find out the relationship between the design principles of Vastu
Shastra and Green buildings for any habitable space, particularly offices. It will
help us to find the extent to which the principles of these two types of buildings
overlap with each other.

This research would be limited to office buildings only.

2
 1.7 METHODOLOGY

How are the principles of Vastu Shastra and

Green Buildings relevant to each other

Vastu Shastra and its Green Buildings and Compare and analyze the
Design Principles its Design Principles principles

Literature Study

Case Studies

2 Live Case Study 2 Internet Case Study

Parameters

- Location
- Site Context
- Scale
- Typology
- Extent to which
it satisfies the
topic

Compare and Analyse

Conclusion

Recommendations

3
 CHAPTER 2: VASTU SHASTRA AND ITS DESIGN PRINCIPLES

2.1 :Introduction to Vastu Shastra

It is necessary that the Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and other Sectors, are
constructed according to vastu, so that destructive vibrations emerging from nature
due to the materials used, are screened off.

The research takes the reader in a graduated form through the essentials of Vastu
and its practical application.

Vastu is defined as a dwelling in the Sanskrit dictionary. Amarakosha of

Amarasimha defines shastra as a treatise. Vastu shastra therefore means the
treatise on dwelling or the science of architecture.

The principles of Vastu as enumerated in classical texts are universally applicable

irrespective of religion or place. These principles can be adapted to suit modern
conditions. Vastu’s concern is not only material prosperity, but also mental peace and
happiness and harmony in the family, office etc.

The science of Vastu takes into primordial consideration the energies radiating from
the four directions ,i.e. North, East, South and West. It explains in simple language
the selection of site, the construction of a dwelling and the placement of the various
rooms in the dwelling for bettering our lives.

Morris Schindler, a Philadelphia architect who has built houses based on vastu
principles says:

“In particular, the design of a space should automatically stimulate one to feel the
quintessential qualities of its intended purposes. For example, the dining room should
stimulate the experience of hunger, the living room sociability, the study alertness
and the bedroom rest.”

Some greatest examples of Vastu shastra in the ancient times are –

- The site plan of Ayodhaya city was similar to the plan found in the great
architectural text Manasara.
- The Jataka contain detached references to individual buildings.
- Viharas, Monasteries or temples, Arthayogas or buildings which are partly
residential and partly religious, Prasadas or residential storeyed buildings and
Guhas or residential buildings for middle class people.

4
Qualification of an Architect according to a book Manasara- “ An Architect should
have novel ideas, be apt in acquisition of knowledge, be a good writer, a skillful
draftsman, versed in geometry and optics, informed in the principles of nature and
moral philosophy, not ignorant of the sciences of law and physics and the most
important he should also be well versed in astronomy- astrology and mathematics.”

Every plot and building is said to have life and hence has to be built to perfect
proportions based on certain formulae. When a building is so constructed, it is
ensured of long life and the residents live happily with good health, wealth and
prosperity.

Our ancients were not hair splitting philosophers but men of intuitive and scholarly
abilities. They had made great strides in the science of not only architecture but also
in Jyotisha, Vedanta, Yoga, etc.

Even today we have great monumental temples in India like the Vidyasankara temple
of Sringeri, the Rameswaram temple, the Meenakshi temple of Madurai, the
Venketeshwara temple of Trimula and many others which have withstood the
onslaught of time. These temples are visited by thousands of people with all sorts of
problems day in and out who return back to their homes with mental solace and
peace.

2.2 :Vastu Purusha Mandal

Who is Vastu Purusha ?

Brihat Samhita, Chapter LIII, slokas 2,3 says :

“It is said some Being obstructed the earth and the sky with its body. The gods
suddenly caught the being and laid it face down. Whichever limbs were held by
different gods, had those very gods as their presiding deities. The creator ordered
that the Being be the god of the plot (or house).”

The story also runs as follows : When Lord Shiva is fighting the demon called
Andhaka, his (the Lord’s) perspiration falls to the ground. Out of this is born the
Vastu Purusha. Being hungry he starts devouring everything that comes his way.
The gods then go to Lord Brahma. He tells them to hold the ‘being’ face down. 45
deities press him down. Lord Brahma blesses him saying that he will be the deity of
all plots and offering have to be done to him. In return Vastu Purusha is said to take
care of the inmates of the house.

5
 The figure names the deities responsible to
keep the Vastu Purusha on the plot.

The Vastu Purusha is said to have three

positions viz., 1) Nitya Vastu 2) CharaVastu
and 3) SthiraVastu.

Nitya Vastu

The Vastu Purusha’s gaze changes every

three hours in a day.

Fig 2.1 – Location of the Deities on the plot

CharaVastu

Vastu Purusha’s change of position are closely linked to the various seasonal
changes.

SthiraVastu.

The third and most important position is the SthiraVastu where his position is as
below.

As the name implies SthiraVastu is concerned with

the construction of a house, temple, village, town,
etc and their permanence.

Brihat Samhita clearly recommends a square or

rectangle site with the following sloka.

If the “Vastu Nara” god has no right arm, the

owner will lose wealth and will be miserable
through women. If he is without the left arm, there
is loss of money and food. If his head is absent,
he will fall from all virtues. If his feet are missing
male children will die, the master becomes weak

Fig 2.2 – Vastu Purusha Mandal

6
and there will be troubles through women. On the other hand if the House godis
endowed with all the limbs in fine shape, the inmates of the house will be happy and
live with health and honor.

2.3 : Vastu Basics

2.3.1 : Understanding the Directions

Before we go in for selection for a site let us understand the various directions with
the help of the following diagram. This diagram
is referred to as Pitha in Mayamata.

1. Refers to North-west (vayuvya)

2. Refers to North (uttara)
3. Refers to North-east (eashanya)
4. Refers to East (Poorva)
5. Refers to South-east (Agneya)
6. Refers to South (dakshina)
7. Refers to South-west (nairutya)
8. Refers to West (pashima) and
9. Refers to Brahmasthana (the central
portion)or the space around the navel of

Fig 2.3 – Pitha in mayamata the VastuPurusha.

2.3.2 :Selection of site

Selection of a site is very important. Just as you would take care to select a bride or
groom, be equally cautious while selecting your site. Avoid buying plots which are
not oriented to cardinal directions.

Select Rectangular or Square sites.

For rectangular sites let not the length be more

than twice the width.

Mayamata, however prescribes a ratio of

1:1.25.

Fig 2.4 – Shape of the Plot

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Avoid sites in the vicinity of temples and near or on burial grounds. Sites near
factories should also be avoided East and north facing plots are good. It however
does not mean that south and west facing plots are bad. We have to put in extra
effort to give vastu strength to the plot. The plot need not be rejected.

Avoid plots in the shape of Triangle, Oval, and other irregular shapes

Sites with North-East growth are good.

If you already have a plot and are planning to buy additional land, avoid buying land
that is to south, west, south-west, south-east or north-west of your plot. Buy any land
that is to your north, east or north-east.

The examination of the soil is another

important aspect of Vastu.

Brihat Samhita says that the soil should be

soft, of sweet smell and taste and not
hollow underneath.

Corner Plots

North-east corner plots are the best.

Fig 2.5 – Plot with NE growth

Plot North-east South-east North-west South-west

Result Generally Tensions Addictions, Master,
Healthy and And monetary Bad thoughts Eldest son
Prosperous problems And mercurial Weakened
(contented) In thinking
Table 1: Plots with growth in different directions
2.3.3 :Orientation

The compound wall and the building should perfectly orient themselves to the
four cardinal directions, viz., east, west, north and south.

The modern simpler method is by using The compass which indicate the
directions without much effort.

Once the directions are fixed, construct the compound walls exactly in line with
the orientation. The east facing building is considered to be highly auspicious.

8
 By having the building face east, the morning rays
of the Sun which are said to consist of ultra violet
rays and are scientifically proven to be good for
health enter the house. Thus the day begins well
for the residents of house.

Fig 2.6 – Magnetic Compass

2.3.4 :Brahmasthana

In ancient times villages, towns, temples (Prasada), palaces (Rajagriha) and

even dwelling places (Sala) were constructed in such a manner that the central
portions either contained a temple, deity, courtyard or in the case of a village or
town a huge central hall for the assembly of people.

The central portion called the Brahmasthana corresponds to the nine squares of
the 81 grid plan (also called the paramasayikapadavinyasa).The Brahmasthana
is the region round the navel (Nabhi) of the Vastu Purusha (plot deity).

Brihat Samhita says :

A house-owner (Yajamana) who wants happiness should guard very

carefully Brahman (the central nine squares). Affliction in this area by way of
dirty things like leftovers would harm the owner in it.

The Manasara categorically states that in

the Brahmasthana, the temple of the family
deity can be built. As these lines
corresponded to severa body parts of the
Vastu Purusha, they concluded that much
care was to be taken in building a structure,
so that these parts were not ‘hurt’. The
points at which these lines cut the
Brahmasthana were also to be guarded
carefully.

Fig 2.7 – Vastu purusha Mandal

9
 It becomes clear that the
Brahmasthana and the energy lines
have to be safeguarded.

Fig 2.8 – Energy lines in the Vastu Purusha Mandal

2.3.5 :Laying the Foundation

Before digging begins appropriate pooja should be performed in the North-east

corner of the lot by a learned purohit facing the East.

Digging of the soil for laying the foundation should be in the following order.

1 North-east Sector
2 North-west Sector
3 South-east Sector
4 South-west Sector

Fig 2.9 – Digging of soil inside the plot

Laying of the Foundation should be in the

reverse of the above viz.,

Fig 2.10 – Laying of Foundation inside the plot

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2.3.6 :Compound Walls

The compound walls must be constructed next. Depending on the road the
gates can be provide

Always have your compound walls on the

south and west higher and thicker than the
north and east walls. Depending on
security factors you can study the possibility
of having on the north and east sides
fencing instead of a wall. This will ensure
that the plot is flooded with the positive
energies from the Sun.

Fig 2.11 – Building must be at some offset from the compound walls

Stone walls on the South and West and brick walls on the North and East may
also be thought of.

The space to be left between the building and the compound wall should be
atleast 1/9 of the length and breadth of the site.

2.4 : Vastu living at various habitable spaces

The following figure gives a general

overview of the various rooms:

Fig 2.12 – Vastu at habitable spaces

11
It is advisable to have the structure of building constructed in south-west portion
of the plot. More space on the north and east may be allowed.

Fig 2.13 – Building offsets from the compound walls Fig 2.14 – Paisacha Zone

The classical works recommends the paisachazone to be kept free.

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom can be in the south-west of the building. This room may be
occupied by the father or the eldest son of the family.

The Bathroom

The bathroom, where one has his daily bath is best in the east. The morning
rays of the Sun are said to be extremely beneficial. Hence proper windows (of
course with due provision for privacy) may be provided on the east wall of the
bath room. The slopes within the bathroom can be towards north and east so
that water drains into the north-east of the bathroom.

Children’s (Study) Rooms.

Children’s rooms can be in the west or north of the building. They can have their
beds to the south-west corner of the room with heads on the west.

A green bulb will be effective in enhancing the intelligence of the child.

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Guest Rooms

North-west rooms are ideal for guests and newly wed.

As the deity ruling north-west is Vayu or the wind god, it is best to avoid children,
especially in their formative years to occupy a North-west room.

Kitchen

South-east portion of the building is the place for your kitchen. Even though
some authors permit the north-west, the writer feels that as south-east is ruled by
Agni or the fire-god, the south-east kitchen is best.

Dining Room

The suggested place is west. However the writer feels it is wise to have the
dining room in the east as it would be near the kitchen if placed in south-east.
However if the kitchen is in the north-west, you can comfortably settle for a west
dining room.

Living Room

These can be the north, east or north-east sector of the building. As far as
possible have an east of north-east door. If the living room happens to be the
direct entry into the house, construct it in such a way that it is more spacious to
your right as you enter it. This is necessary since the first impression one gets
on entering is one of spaciousness.

Prayer Rooms

Depending on the size of the plot or the nature of the building the prayer room
can either be in the north-east sector or in the Brahmasthana.

Let the deity can be on the east wall so that we face the rising sun while paying
obeisance to the deity.

To enhance the intended purpose of the room, viz., spirituality, communion with
the Almighty and
meditation, a pyramid roof
is recommended.

Great spiritual energy is

said to flow from the tip of
the pyramid into the room.
A person doing prayer is
Fig 2.15 – Typical roofs of a Prayer room

13
immensely benefitted. It is also said that a pyramid has healing properties.

Toilets

These can be in the north-west Sector. The alternate place is the south-east, but
avoid having the toilet either in the north-east or south-west.

As eashanya is the confluence of Kubera and Indra, it is said that toilet in the
north-east will gradually weaken the finances and the general prosperity of the
master of the house. Similarly toilets in the south-west make the master
indecisive and his health may suffer.

Rooms in general

Avoid bedrooms in the south-east .A South-east bedroom if occupied by couples

generally indicates constant quarrels between them over petty matters as also
encourage in excessive expenditure

Basements and Cellars

A height equal to the ground floor height is generally recommended.

Staircases

The staircase can be placed in the south, west and south-west. Avoid staircases
in the north-east as they can cause problems with your finance.

Levels of the Floor

The ancient texts do not approve of various levels in the structure itself. Brihat
Samhita, for instance says that if one wishes for the prosperity of one’s
household, one ought to raise the level of the floor uniformly on all sides.
However some scholars opine that to strengthen the niruti,the south-west rooms
can be higher. The author does not subscribe to this view.

Work Place

According to the vedic texts, the divine exists within the building as well as in the
external environment.

Fortunately, Vastu can out us on a track top reverse whatever negative churns
around the workspace. It can help us turn our workplaces into friendly spaces,
introducing energies that celebrate life.

14
In many situations there is no apparent reason why one business has major
financial problems while another is booming. Customers may walk past and
barely notice some stores and yet mysteriously be drawn into others. Whatever
the scenario, it is always best to employ the services of an experienced Vastu
practitioner

Keep the pathways wider in the north and east of the workspace. Pathways
should be free of heavy furniture so that positive energy that enters from the
northeast can move easily through the space.

The optimum direction for an entrance door is near the northeast corner, which
receives positive energy.

Taking maximum advantage of the morning sunlight through the eastern

windows is wise. And windows in the west and south must have curtains,
blinds,etc, that permits you to control the intensity of the afternoon sun.

The centre of every space should be clean, and empty. This is the realm of
Brahma.

When you sit down for work, ideally you should face the east, the northeast, or
the north. East is a smart choice since it is the direction of enlightenment, and
thus is ideal for creative work, from writing and composing to inventing software
programs, etc.

Directions and shapes

If the nature of your work is research or study, then the best part of the home
to work in is the north. However, for other business purposes the ideal
location is in the south-west area of the home. It is preferable if your
designated room is a considerable distance from the main entrance of the
house, so that you experience fewer disturbances. Your office should either be
square or rectangular; if it is an irregular shape you can use screens or built-in
cupboards to remedy the problem. If the room has a dual purpose as a
bedroom and an office, it is best to place the bed in the south-west corner
and keep your desk in the north-east corner of the room.

Your desk
Wherever your office is located, you should try to position the desk so that you
face east or north while working, though you should ensure that it does not
touch the north-east corner. The desk itself should be made of a good
material such as wood or marble; try to avoid metal or plastic. Place the desk so

15
that you will not be facing the wall when you look up, as it is much better to
have an extended vista before you. Avoid having windows at your back,
otherwise you will feel too exposed. A good seat is also essential, as it
represents the lotus seat and needs to be fit for the gods. It should be a good
height and well proportioned, with a high back for support.

Organizing your equipment

Like the rest of your home, the area where you work should be kept clean
and organized to prevent the accumulation of stagnant energy. Keep filing
cabinets to the south-west side of you. Computers or other electrical
equipment, such as a photocopier, need to be positioned in the south-east
section of the room. The wastepaper basket should be in the south-west
and never in the north-east section.

Layout for a home office N

This office is basically a square, as recommended by Vastu
experts, and the desk faces the eastern wall, in which there is
a window. Filing and storage cabinets are kept to the south-
west and the water cooler is situated in the north-east direction.
The room is decorated a fresh yellow, to stimulate the mind E
and keep it alert.

Fig 2.16 – Layout of an Office

16
Decorations

It is a good idea to have a small indoor water fountain in the north-east, for
this keeps the room fresh and symbolizes abundance. Other images of
wealth, such as Lakshmi, the Indian goddess representing fortune, or pictures of
water, can be hung on the north or east walls. Freshly cut flowers make the
room fragrant and are another symbol of abundance. A shade of yellow is a
good color to choose for the walls, as yellow is mentally stimulating and
awakens the mind.

What kind of business?

Finding the right location for your offices depends upon the nature of the
business. For example, shops need to be located where there is a high
proportion of pedestrian traffic, whereas other specialist industries may
need certain amenities readily available.

Fig 2.17 – Central Delhi : Financial district of Delhi

Choosing materials

When looking for suitable premises the same principles that apply to
apartment blocks also apply to businesses It is best to avoid complexes
that are built of reinforced concrete or contain too much metal, as
exposure to such material over a long period can cause major health
problems.

If the business does not depend on retail, then it is better to avoid

buildings at busy junctions or where four roads meet, on roundabouts, or at
any other location that is too chaotic. A taller building or flyover should not

17
overshadow the property. Likewise, avoid buildings with veedhi sholas pointing
directly at them, such as roads or the sharp corners of other buildings.
Ideally you should choose a building that is either square or rectangular and
not one that is an irregular shape.

Access
There must also be easy access to the building.

The reception area offers the first impression of a business: it is the buffer
zone between the company and the outside world. The area should reflect the
nature of the business, whether it is a waiting room at a dental surgery or the
reception of a multinational corporation, and should be designed accordingly,
giving an overall positive impression to visitors.

Locating reception

The location of the reception area in the building will obviously depend upon
the position of the main entrance, as this is where visitors will expect to be
welcomed. Because the reception area is the receiving zone of a business, it is
ideally located in the north-east corner of the building, as prana flows in from
the north-east. If the reception area is positioned in the north-east, it should, if
possible, be at the lowest point, with either steps or a lift leading up into the
heart of the company.

Fig 2.18 – Plan of a reception

18
The reception desk has been placed in the south-west corner. The
receptionist has a clear view of any visitors coming in, while feeling
protected by having a wall behind. The waiting area is located in the
north-west area—the best area for the coming and going of visitors. The
north-east has been left open, allowing for the free movement of
prana..

Improving the atmosphere

Its important to create an appropriate atmosphere in the reception. Too many

reception areas are buried in the centre of a building and have no natural light
or proper ventilation, both of which are essential to convey natural harmony in
the company. If there is no alternative, then a collection of house plants or
colorful freshly cut flowers will quickly improve an airless, windowless
environment.

The use of sound is equally important:

harmonious sounds attract prosperity and
wealth, so you should either play uplifting or
soothing music or install a small indoor
fountain, as the sound of running water is
very pleasant and relaxing. Aquariums
and small fish tanks can also provide a
soothing, calming influence.

Light, airy, and welcoming (Fig No. 2.19)

This reception area is located in a central

Fig 2.19 – Well lit courtyard from natural courtyard, with plenty of fresh air and light.
light There is greenery and water to provide a good
atmosphere and the place feels efficient and well
run.

Dark and foreboding (Fig No. 2.20)

By contrast, this centrally located reception area

is located away from natural light and, although
house plants have been used to lighten the
atmosphere, the prevailing feel is oppressive
and cheerless.

Fig 2.20 – Dark and foreboding

reception area

19
The ancient Vastu texts take great heed of the direction you face while working, as
practitioners believe it is fundamental to your state of mind. If you face east you
will have peaceful and noble thoughts. Facing south-east, however, induces
drowsiness and sleep. Facing south encourages cruel, devious mind with
determined thoughts and business deals. The south-west fosters a sinful and
aggravated mind, while facing west is good for learning and play. Facing the
north-west incites thoughts of travel and restlessness and facing north is
good for spiritual development and accumulating knowledge. The north-east,
however, is connected with transcendence and can be overwhelming,
making you feel disconnected and otherworldly.

If the business requires any heavy machinery such as printing equipment

or photocopiers, then they and any other heavy items should be kept
either in the south or west of the building. Similarly, heavy items that need
to be kept throughout the premises, such as desks or heavy cabinets,
should be positioned in the south-west of individual rooms. Any equipment
relating to fire—boilers, welding tools, or kilns—needs to be placed in the
south-east of the business. This also includes computers, for although they
are a modern invention and are not incorporated in the ancient wisdom of
Vastu, modern Vastu practitioners group all electrical appliances under the
fire element, relating to the south-east

Fig 2.21 – Arrangement of Equipments in an office

Wastepaper baskets should be placed in the south or west of the office,

never in the north. The same applies to industries with large amounts of
waste products, which should be disposed of in the south or west of the

20
premises. Any finished products waiting to be dispatched can be stored in
the north-west of the premises, which naturally imbibes a transitory energy.

Protecting your finances

Kubera watches over the north of the building

and is the protector of wealth, so this is the best
area for any dealings with money, especially
the accounts department.

. Fig 2.22 – Idol of Kubera

Choice and flexibility

The best arrangement is to offer flexibility so that, without moving the

workstation, the employee has the option of facing any direction. Movable
screens are also important to allow different personality types to create their
own individual environments and control the flow of light themselves. The
workstations should be positioned more towards the south-west of the room,
leaving the north-east corner clear.

21
 CHAPTER-3: GREEN BUILDINGS AND ITS DESIGN PRINCIPLES

3.1 :Introduction to Green Buildings

There is no single definition of what constitutes a green building, but it can be loosely
defined as one in which all of the materials and systems are designed with an
emphasis on their integration into a whole, for the purpose of minimizing their impacts
on the occupants and on the globe.

The green refers to a method of design

and construction that minimizes
burdens on our natural resources and
the environment.

A building which adopts the best

practices of environmental technology
for optimizing the use of natural
resources for providing the clean and

Fig 3.1 – A Green Buildings

cost effective working ambience is known as Green Building.

Green Building has the following attributes:

 Eco friendly
 Utilizing minimum natural resources and preserving them for future
generations
 Sustainability i.e. having internal means of generating resources as far as
possible, central to the concept of green buildings
 Conservation of energy by means of smart devices
 Using recyclable materials.

The general principles adopted for the Green Buildings are to:

 Create a quality building that is commercially viable

 Minimize the consumption of materials and maximize their reuse
 Protect the natural environment by astute selection and use of materials
 Minimize energy consumption of mains water and maximize recycling of
treated wastewater
 Adopt environmentally sound and healthy work practices, during both
construction and occupancy.

22
The building design considered four interrelated aspects:

 Daylight- Maximizing the natural light available to tenants.

 Natural Ventilation- Maximizing the use of natural systems rather than
blocking out the natural world and then use air condition technology to
replicate it.
 Comfort- Providing a combination of acceptable temperature and airflow in
order to provide a healthy and productive workplace which maximizes the
potential productivity of its inhabitants.
 Demand management- Offices are rarely fully occupied all of the time, and
not all areas require an optimum comfort environment. Also office
equipment can be operated so as to minimize energy consumption and
heart generation

A green building places a high

priority on health, environmental
and resource conservation
performance over its life cycle.
These new priorities expand and
complement the classical
building design concerns:
economy, utility, durability, and
delight.

Fig 3.2 – Path of the airflow

Most green buildings are high quality buildings; they last longer, cost less to operate
and maintain, and provide greater occupant satisfaction than standard developments.

3.2 :Elements of Green Building Design

1) Site - Start by selecting a site suited to take advantage of mass transit. Protect
and retain existing landscaping and natural features. Select plans that have low water
and pesticide needs, and generate minimum plant trimmings. Use compost and
mulches, this will save water and time.

Only the buildings above the site area of 105 Sq M and above, are be considered
as Green Buildings.

23
Buildings are categorized into 3 categories on the basis of the area of the site, that
are –

A. 5,000-20,000 Sq M
B. 20,000-50,000 Sq M
C. 50,000-1,50,000 Sq M

2) Building Orientation – North and west facing facades include large glass areas
that take advantage of winter sun. A large inner atrium with light shelves also brings
sunlight into the core of the building.

The building heating system is designed

to make the best of passive design
principles. Heat that has been absorbed
during the day into the brick and
concrete structure can be eliminated at
night by using the computer controlled
louver venting system.

A rooftop solar array generates power of

use in the building, In times of low
demand, the solar array supplies energy
back into the electricity grid

Fig 3.3 – Sun path around a building

3) Energy Efficiency –Passive design strategies can dramatically affect building

energy performance. These measures include building shape and orientation,
passive solar design, and the use of natural lighting.

Use a properly sized and energy efficient heating/cooling system in conjunction with a
thermally efficient building shell.

Electricity Substation of an area of 50 Sq M is required in the Basement or on the

Ground floor to serve 500 DUs (3.5 M – Height of the ESS)

4)Materials Efficiency- Select sustainable construction materials and products by

evaluating several characteristics such as reused and recycled content, zero or low
off gassing of harmful air emissions, zero or low toxicity, sustainably harvested
materials, high recyclability, durability, longetivity, and local production.

5) Water Efficiency- Design for dual plumbing to use recycled water for toilet
flushing or a gray water system that recovers rainwater or other non portable water
for site irrigation.

24
Rain Water Harvesting plants must be set up in the building having an area of 5000
Sq M or more.

135 L of water is required by each person per day , out of which 63 L can be
recycled and further used for flushing and gardening.

6) Occupant Health and Safety – Recent studies reveal that buildings with good
overall environmental quality can reduce the rate of respiratory disease, allergy,
asthma, sick building syndrome, and enhance worker performance. The potential
financial benefits of improving indoor environment exceed costs by a factor of 8 and
14.

Provide adequate ventilation and a high –efficiency, induct filtration system. Heating
and cooling systems that ensure adequate ventilation and proper filtration can have a
dramatic and positive impact on indoor air quality.

7) Ventilation and Air Quality- Ventilation is the process of supplying or removing

air, to or from a space, by either natural or mechanical means in order to maintain an
acceptable level of air quality.

8) Occupants Discipline and Green Effect- Ultimately, buildings are about people,
not technology. They exists to provide clean, safe and healthy environments in which
we can live, work and enjoy ourselves.

9) Waste Management - 0.25-0.50 Kg of Solid waste is generated per day by one

person.

The solid waste must be recycled by having 2 dustbins – One that carries
Biodegradable waste and one that carries Non- Biodegradable waste. This
segregation of waste helps in recycling the biodegradable waste for manure.

Decentralized waste water treatment plants (DWWTP) can be installed in small scale
buildings , to reuse and recycle the liquid waste.

3.3 : Benefits of Green Buildings

Lower running Costs– An intelligent building has the ability to adapt and to respond
and to take advantage of opportunities offered by natural ventilation, lighting, heating
and cooling, resulting in savings by cutting down on its imported energy
requirements.

Lower maintenance costs – By utilizing sophisticated monitoring technology, an

intelligent building is able to alert occupiers to imminent faults thus saving more
costly maintenance at a later date.

25
Increased Productivity – By providing an environment that is capable of adapting to
individual or collective requirements, an intelligent building can pr
produce
oduce a comfortable
atmosphere and help to raise the productivity of the people who live and work within
it.

Adaptability – An intelligent building is robust in its design, allowing it to respond to a

person’s or organization’s
ation’s changing requirements, m mood and taste.

The benefits of green buildings are measurable in terms of environmental, economic

and social impacts. The economic benefits come from reduced operation costs and
improved occupant performance. The social benefits come from ht improved health
and comfort of the occupants.

3.4 :Informational
Informational Resources on Green Buildings

There are two excellent

llent professional resources for
sustainable design information: the AIA’s Committee
on the Environment (COTE) and the US Green
Building Council (USGBC).

The mostst visible activity of the USGBC has been the

development of the Leadership in Energy and
Environment Design Building Rating System. LEED
is a building performance rating system s which
evaluates all of the elements of a design that are
related to sustainability.
lity. Depending upon the

Fig 3.4 – Logo of USGBC

level of sustainability, there are four levels of LEED rating which are recognized:
Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum. LEED is currently in its pilot phase, with over 35
buildings being used to test the proposed standards, and the formal launch of LEED
is scheduled for next spring.

LEED was created to:

 Define green building by establishing a common standard of measurement

 Promote integrated, whole
whole-building design practices
 Recognize envi
environmental
ronmental leadership on the building industry
 Stimulate green competition
 Raise consumer awareness of green building benefits

26
3.5: Important abbreviations related to Green Buildings

1) ECBC – Energy Conservation Building Code

2) BEE – Bureau of Energy Efficiency

3) LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environment Design

4) IGBC – Indian Green Building Council

5) GRIHA – Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment

6) TERI – The Energy andth Resource Institute

7) EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment

8) ECC – Environmental Clearance Certificate

9) MOEF – Ministry of Environment and Forest

27
CHAPTER-4: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Parameters Principles as per Vastu Principles as per Green

Shastra Building

1) Site Selection -Square or Rectangular -Retain maximum no. of

plots are preferred. trees and other landscape
features.
-Do not cut any tree on
the site

-Plots with NE growth are

good.

2) Orientation and -Buildings should face - North and West facing

Directions the North and East Façade must include large
direction for the morning glass areas that can take
sunrays to enter the advantage of the winter
building sun.

3) Compound Walls -Compound walls must -Walls on the South and

be aligned in the West side must be thick
cardinal directions. and high and thin and
smaller on the North and
-Walls on the South and East sides.
West side must be thick
and high and thin and
smaller on the North and
East sides.

-The space to be left

between the building and
the compound wall
should be atleast 1/9 of
the length and breadth of
the site.

28
4) Central Portion -To be used as a temple ,
Courtyard, open assembly
hall , or to be left as an
open space
5) Toilets -Can be placed in NW and
SE directions , but to be
avoided in the NE and
SW direction.
6) Staircases -Can be placed in South,
West and SW directions ,
but to be avoided in the
NE direction.
-A Staircase should
descend from West to
East and South to North.
7) Materials -Avoid complexes that
are built of reinforced
concrete or contain
too much RCC.p
29
-A large inner atrium with
light shelves also brings
sunlight into the core of the
building
-There is no such design
principle used for
toilets in a green building,
except for the use Dual
water drainage systems.
-There is no such design
principle used for
staircases in a green
building.
-Select sustainable
construction materials
such as reused and
recycled content, zero or
low off gassing of harmful
air emissions, zero or low
toxicity, sustainably
harvested materials, high
recyclability, durability,
longetivity, and local
production
8) Equipments/ -Keep filing cabinets to
Furniture the south-west side of
you.
-Computers or other
electrical equipment in
south-east section of the
room
-The employees must
face the East direction
while working
9) Energy -Vastu only talks about the
Conservation flow of spiritual energy
into our habitable
spaces and not about any
such energy conservation
methods except for the
flow of natural lights as
much as possible.
10) Light and -North and East face of the
Ventilation building must have large
openings for good natural
light
-Use of natural ventilation
as much as possible
11) Indoor Air -Plant indoor sapling to
Quality purify the Indoor air.
Table 2: Comparative analysis of the design principles
30
-There is again no such
provision for the direction
of the Equipments/
furniture inside a green
building.
-Installing Solar Panels
-Rain Water Harvesting
System
-Recycling water
-Reusing Waste
-Mechanical and Natural
ways to enter efficient
amount of light and
ventilation for comfortable
environment inside the
building
-Using Air purifiers and
other mechanical and
natural means to cleanse
the air
The comparative analysis shows that nearly 55% of the results are same in both
the cases, be it a Green building or a Vastu compliant building.

For example- 1) Site selection

2) Orientation and Directions

3) Compound Walls

4) Central Portion

5) Materials

6) Light and Ventilation

And around 25% doesn’t have a specific design principle for that parameter.

For example- 1) Staircases

2) Toilets

3) Equipments

And the rest 20% has a different approach towards the same design principle.

For example- 1) Energy Conservation

2) Indoor Air Quality

Thus, it can be concluded that the design principles of Vastu Shastra and Green
buildings overlap with each other upto a major extent.

31
 CHAPTER-5: CASE STUDIES

5.1 : Parameters for selecting the case study

1) Location

2) Site Context

3) Scale

4) Typology

5) Extent to which it satisfies the topic

5.2: Literature Case Study

1) Literature Case Study 1 (Vastu Shastra)

Name- Cyber Towers, Hyderabad

Cyber Towers is a fully modern and brilliantly constructed commercial office space
that is located in Patrika Nagar, Hyderabad.

• Location :Patrika Nagar, Hyderabad

• Plot Area: 4.37 Acres
• Architects :L&T and APIIC
• Height :36 Metres
• Architects :L&T and APIIC
• Built In : 2000
p
Fig 5.1 – Cyber Towers
Cyber Towers, the software landmark of Hyderabad, located at Madhapur
surrounded by many software majors like Wipro, IBM and Accenture, the building is a
huge tourist attraction.

The Tenth floor of this building is Vastu Compliant.

It is a blend of Modern technology and the Design principles of Vastu Shastra.

32
Site

• The site is roughly square in shape with a

tapered edge in the North-West
West direction
• The site is away from any temple
or burial ground.
• The plot is North East facing.,
facing
Which is considered good as per
Vastu.

Fig 5.2 – Site Plan

Orientation
The building block has one of its entry from the North east side , thus allowing the
Morning sun into the building complex.

And the office floor is west facing, which allows light throughout the day into the
building (not
not the harsh sun).

Compound Walls
The South-East,
East, South and South South-West
West directions have dense trees along the
compound walls, to restrict the harsh sun rays to enter the building complex.

Fig 5.3 – Boundary wall at the NE Side

And the North-East, North and North

North-West
West directions have a low heighted
height boundary
wall , with Fence-railing
railing to allow the good sunrays inside the complex.

Central Portion
The central portion is used as an Atrium to house as the circulation space and an
enclosed plaza.

33
 Even as per Vastu’s principles, the centre portion of the
building must be kept empty, with no such build space.

Fig 5.4 – Empty Central portion as viewed from the site plan

Staircases
The Staircases are located in all the 4 directions separatel
separatelyy as per the different
blocks inside the building
building.

Floor Plan

This commercial office

comprises
omprises of 4 cabins, 70
work stations, dry pantry,
conference room, reception
area, waiting area and 4
common washrooms.

The desks are places in

such a way that the staff
facing the East Direction
while Working.

th
Fig 5.5 – Floor Plan of the 10 floor

Equipments

The Workstations are placed majorly in the South

South-West
West direction for efficient output.

34
 Fig 5.6 – Placement of furniture Fig 5.7 – Glass Partitions

Materials

The Desks are made of wood and marble. And the Partitions are made of Glass.

Fig 5.8 – Part of the building in which Fig 5.9 – Part of the building showing the
Bricks are used Use of Glass

The entire building is majorly made using Bricks and Glass.

RCC was used for the construction of beams and Columns.

Atmosphere

West-facing, this commercial office floor is faultlessly crafted as per Vastu, thus
ensuring financial prosperity in ones business.

The North light from the openings create a positive environment to work and this
office space offers a comfortable workplace to work conveniently without any hassles.

35
2) Literature Case Study 2 (Green Building)

Name- CII - Sohrabji Godrej Green Business centre

The Confederation of Indian industry(CII)– Sohrabji Godrej green business

centre in Hyderabad is the first LEE Platinum rated building in India.
It’s an Office building which consists of Offices, Research labs and Conference
rooms.

Fig 5.10 – Bird’s eye view of the building
- Location: Hyderabad ,
- Site area: 4.5 acres ,
- Built up area: 1,858 sq. M ,
- Type: Office building ,
- Architect: Karan Grover ,
- Landscape Architect:
Md. Shaheer ,
- Ratings: Awarded the LEED
Platinum rating by the
U.S. Green Building Council
(USGBC) in November 2003.

- Easily accessible from Main Road,

- It has natural vegetations & water bodies,
- Less prone to pollution,
- Sloped in North-West direction.

Orientation

- South – East direction

- The climate of Hyderabad remains fairly warm most of the year,
- Receive less rainfall in the monsoon.

Wind Circulation

The blue path shows the

circulation of wind
throughout the building.

Fig 5.11 – Wind circulation through the building

36
 Energy Conservation

-Use of Solar photovoltaic cells on the

Rooftop grid provides about 24KW or
16 % of the building's electricity
needs.
- Placed appropriately on the roof
facing South and West to capture
maximum.
heat gain.

Fig 5.12 – Solar panels placed on the roof

Light and Ventilation

Fig 5.13 – Natural light entering the building

-Building layout ensures that 90 % of spaces have daylight access and views to
the outside.

- Low heat transmitting glass used Double

glass to further reduce heat gain.
- Natural lighting -no lights are used until
late in the evening.
- North facades are fully glazed for
efficient natural lights,

Fig 5.14 – Double glass used

37
Jaali walls

- Jaali walls which are good source of light

has been used in the passage of
washroom.

- Shading from trees are provided adjacent

to wall as sunlight directly enter the wall.

- Open courtyard provide natural light.

Fig 5.15 – Use of Jaali walls

Ground hugging
p

- Building (G+1) is kept ground

hugging gives a sense of being
close to nature.

Fig 5.16 – Low height of the building

Green roof

- Roof Gardens cover 55 % of the

exposed roof area of the building.

– High reduction of heat gain.

Fig 5.17 – Green roof over a large exposed area

38
Landscaping

- Influences microclimate and hence human

Comfort.
- Understorey trees suitable for small,
intimate courtyards.
- These trees are effective in screening mid
or low angle sun.
- Large expanse of ground cover used to
create focus on Local craftwork as
landscape elements.
Fig 5.18 – Landscaping of the complex

Climate Responsive Design

Fig 5.19 – Sketches showing the Climate response of the building complex
39
Water Conservation

- Rain Water Harvesting :Some rainwater

Goes into the soil by the use of grid pavers
used on roads for easy drainage of water.
- The remaining rainwater follows existing flow
patterns and is collected in the water pond.

Fipg 5.20 – Grid pavers that soak water

- Root Zone Treatment: Artificially prepared

wetlands comprising of clay or plastic lined
excavation and emergent vegetation growing on
gravel/sand mixtures .

Fig 5.21 – Root zone treatment at the site

- Waste water Treatment : All wastewater generated is recycled by "root zone

treatment" which simultaneously irrigates the vegetation.
- Low operating cost , less energy requirement and ease of maintenance
- Attractive alternative for wastewater management.

Indoor Environmental Quality

WIND TOWERS
- Fresh air is also drawn into the building through
Wind towers.

LOWVOC
- The use of low volatile organic compound (VOC)
paints and coatings to enhance the Indoor air quality.

Fig 5.22 – Wind tower at the site

40
 Fig 5.23 – Location of various elements on the site

Materials & Resources

- Fly ash bricks

- 65% walls are constructed with Fly ash bricks.
Features :
- Costs 20% less than traditional clay brick
manufacturing.
- Lighter than clay bricks,
- High strength, practically no breakage during
Transportation.
Fig 5.24 – Fly ash bricks

High recycled content

BAGASSE BOARD

- A byproduct of sugarcane industry,

- Low cost, durable,
- It has wide usage for making partitions,
furniture etc.

Fig 5.25 – Tables made of Bagasse board

41
 Fig 5.26 – Floor tiles

p
The floor tiles are used from broken
tiles, clay, paper and recycled iron
is used in the corridor.

Fig 5.27 – Structures made from

recycled material

42
5.3: Live Case Study

1) Live Case Study 1 (Vastu Shastra)

Name- Parsvnath Tower, Shahdara

Shahdara, Delhi

Parsvnath Tower at Shahdara Metro Station is an iconic project with a mix of retail &
Corporate offices.

• Location: Shahdara , Delhi

• Plot Area: 2 Acres
Ac
• Gross leasable Area :
97621 Sq M
• Architects: Parsvnath
Developers Ltd.

Fig 5.28 – View of the building

The location of project on GT road makes it one the bestt Corporate Destination in
EastDelhi.
A fusion of global expertise merged with philosophy of Positive energy flowing
flow
through the property,, the architecture complies with the principles of Vastu &
Feng Shui assuring prosperity and success.

Site

• The site is in the form of a proper

Square , as mentioned in the Vastu
Shastra.
• The site is away from any temple
or burial ground.
• The plot is East and North facing.,
Which is considered good as per
Vastu.

Fig 5.29 – Site Plan

43
Orientation

• The Compound wall is aligned in all the four cardinal directions.

• The building is facing the east direction which will bring morning rays of the sun
Inside the building.

Fig 5.30 – Compound wall at the South side

Compound Walls

• The Compound walls were covered

using thick trees and shrubs on the
south and the West side of the plot
to avoid the Harsh Sun, as
compared to the density of trees and
shrubs on the North and East Side.

Fig 5.31 – Fencing and less dense trees on the north side

Central Portion

• The Central portion of the building is left empty (termed as the Brahmasthana ).
• The central portion is used as an Atrium in the building.

Toilets and Staircase

• The Toilets are located in the North West zone of the building.
• The Staircase is located in the South West zone of the building.

The Desk and the Workstation

• The Desks and the partitions were made of wood.

44
• The Desks were placed in such a way , that the staff is sitting ,facing the East.

Equipments

• The workstations were placed

majorly in the South East
Section of the building.

Fig 5.32 – Placement of workstations

Materials

• The Building is majorly made using

Brick work.
• Rcc in only used for the
construction of beams and
columns.
• The building was majorly cladded
with glass and Upvc Panels on MS
frames.

Fig 5.33 – Use of ACP and UPVC panels

Atmosphere

• The building has a positive

atmosphere due to the presence of
ample of daylight due to the use of
glass in the North and East
directions.
• As soon as we enter the building, a
positive vibration is felt , due to the
open atrium in the centre of the
building.

Fig 5.34 – Landscaping on the site

45
Reception

• The Reception had wooden flooring.

• The Furniture was made of wood
and marble.
• It was located on the East side of
the building.

Fig 5.35 – A view of the reception area

Most of the Design principles of Vastu Shastra are followed by this Office
building. Be it in terms of the Orientation, Directions, Placement of the furniture or
other basic services, etc.

And thus, is a successful example of an Office building, designed according to

the principles of Vastu Shastra.

46
2) Live Case Study 2 (Green Building)

Name - Indira Pariyavaran Bhavan, Delhi

Project of ministry of environment and forests for construction of new office building
at New Delhi.

• The basic design concept of the

project is to make the net zero
energy green building.
• Plot Area: 9565sqm
• Maximum Ground Coverage:30%
• F.A.R : 200
• Height: 35m
• Built-up area: 3,1400 m2
• Year of completion: 2013
• Landscape Architect: Mr. Sodhi (CPWD)
Fig 5.36 – Axonometric view of the building

- India’s first net zero building, This

means that this is a building with zero
net energy consumption where the
total amount of energy used in the
premises on an annual basis is more
or less equal to the amount of
renewable energy created on the site.

Fig 5.37 – Central atrium

ACHIEVEMENTS

• 40% savings in energy

• Zero electricity billing
• 55% savings in water
•Largest roof top solar power system in any multistoried building
• Preservation of the local ecology,
•Tree Cutting approvals for 46, but only 19were Cut
•11 Trees Transplanted
• Excavated Soil reutilized at other construction sites and the Zoo

47
 Fig 5.38 – Site plan

Architectural design strategies

• Building form wrapped around a pedestrian-friendly shaded green open

Courtyard.
• A continuous green axis from front of site across the atrium.
• Large openings in building form on South and North sides.
• Conservation of natural soil and trees.
• Orientation of building has been planned reduce entrance of solar radiation.
• Large openings in the North and South faces.
• Green areas have been developed on smaller terraces.
• Shaded landscape areas to reduce ambient temperature.
• Provision of barrier free access.

48
 • Effective ventilation by
orientating the building E-W
and by optimum integration
With nature by separating out
different blocks with connecting
corridors and a huge central
court yard.
• Developing winter Southside
sunspaces for office employees.
• Natural ventilation due to stack
effect .
Fig 5.39 – Cross Ventilation through the complex

• Building punctures are designed to aid cross ventilation.

Fig 5.40 – Vertical air flow inside the building

•More than 50% area outside the building

is soft with plantation and grassing.
•Circulation roads and pathways soft with
grass paver blocks to enable ground
water recharge.

Fig 5.41 – Landscaping at the site

49
Water Use
55% reduction in overall use of water. This was achieved by using:

•Low discharge fixtures

•Dual Flushing system
•Waste water treatment
•Reuse of treated water for irrigation and cooling towers for HVAC
•Rain water harvesting

p Fig 5.42 – Water management System (Cycle)

Directions

• Appropriate Shading from Summer Sun, while allowing in winter sun Highest
efficiency (20%) solar PV panels

Geothermal heat exchange

• There are 180 vertical bores at the Depth of 80 meter all along the Building
Premises.
• Minimum 3meter distance is maintained between any two bores.
• Enormous water saving since no makeup water is required.
• Make up water pumping & treatment cost gets eliminated.
• Saves cooling tower fan energy.

50
Energy Conservation Measures
Fig 5.43 – Various systems involved in conserving energy inside the complex
Materials
Fig 5.44 – Roofs with SRI tiles
Fig 5.45 – Terrazzo Flooring
•Terrazzo flooring with locally available stone
materials.
•Jute bamboo composite for door frame
s&
shutters.
•UPVC windows with hermetically sealed double
using low heat transmittance index glass.
•Use of high reflectance terrace tiles for low heat
ingress.
•Avoided aluminum as it has high embedded
Energy.
•Sandstone Jails.
• Stone and Ferro cement Jalis
51
 Fig 5.46 – Fly ash Lime Gypsum

•FALG (Fly Ash Lime Gypsum) bricks

and AAC blocks are used in the
construction, instead of clay bricks.
Fig 5.47 – Wall made of the FALG bricks

•High Efficiency Glass, high VLT, low SHGC &

Low U-value,

Fig 5.48 – Section showing the reflection of light

52
 CHAPTER-6: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CASE STUDIES

Parameters Whether the buildings below, follow the design

principles as mentioned in the Chapter 4 or No ?

Name of the Building Cyber Sohrabji Parsvnath Indira

Towers Godrej Green Tower Paryavaran
Business Bhavan
centre
Location Hyderabad Hyderabad Delhi Delhi

(Type ) (Vastu) (Green) (Vastu) (Green)

1) Site Selection Yes Yes Yes Yes

2) Orientation and Yes Yes Yes Yes

Directions

3) Compound Walls No Yes Yes No

4) Central Portion Yes Yes Yes Yes

5) Toilets Yes - Yes -

6) Staircases No - Yes -

7) Materials No Yes No Yes

8) Equipments/ Somewhat - Yes -

Furniture Yes

9) Energy - Yes - Yes

Conservation

10) Light and Yes Yes Yes Yes

Ventilation

11) Indoor Air No Yes No Yes

Quality

Table 3: Comparative analysis of the case studies

53
This table leads us to a conclusion, that these case studies have followed the
design principles of the respective types of buildings, which proves the
authenticity of the building according to its typology (Green building or a Vastu
compliant building).

For Example-

1) Cyber Towers : 64%

2) Sohrabji Godrej Green Business centre : 100%
3) Parsvnath Tower : 82%
4) Indira Paryavaran Bhavan : 91%

This proves that the case studies selected to justify the design principles of two
different typologies of buildings is authentic enough to use them to further
compare it with the previous table (Table 2).

54
 CHAPTER-7: CONCLUSION

Vastu shastra forms the basics of each construction, starting from the foundation
level to the facade treatment. It involves the principles of ancient science of
Indian Architecture whereas, Green Buildings are the one in which we tend to
preserve most of the natural environment and still be able to create a building
that serves its purpose with some energy efficient techniques.

Vastu Shastra is an ancient philosophy towards architecture whereas Green

buildings are the modern philosophy towards architecture.

Earlier, people used to have more of horizontal growth, but later on, due to the
increase in population density and lack of habitable land to live; vertical growth
came into existence, which further brought the concept of Green Buildings.

With the growing interest of people towards Vastu Shastra and the need of
sustainable designs and Green architecture in this modern era of limited
resources, there is a dire need to find out whether these two philosophies can be
combined together and used in a single building or not , for a better life.

By comparing and analyzing the basic design principles of Vastu shastra and
Green Buildings it is observed that theoretically, both the philosophies talk about
the general orientation and directions. It is observed that more than 60% of the
parameters are based on the same design principles in both the cases.

Be it from the foundation part, to the boundary walls, more than half of the design
principles are based on the same logics. Talking in terms of the Case studies, it
can be seen clearly from the analysis that almost 60%-70% of the design
parameters overlap with each other.

This further brings us to a conclusion that the design principles of Vastu Shastra
are relevant to the design principles of the Green buildings. Thus, both the
ancient and the modern approach of design towards architecture is based on the
same grounds upto some extent.

Also, if we design a building according to the principles of Vastu Shastra and

Green buildings, the construction and maintenance cost of the building is also
reduced, as these design principles focus more on using natural ways of light
and ventilation, with the idea of preserving the resources and reusing them
whenever possible.

This research is limited to the design principles of majorly Office buildings.

55
This further answers the questions to the hypothesis, that:

1) There is a relationship/Overlap between the way we design a Green building

and one according to Vastu Shastra.

2) We can design a Modern day’s Green building using the ancient design
principles of Vastu Shastra.

It is also seen and observed that, apart from the office buildings, Vastu is
followed in various other sectors as well, like- Plotted housing , Group housing,
Trade and Commerce, Commercial and Retail shops, Industrial buildings ,etc.

Further research could be done on the same topic to enhance the results and to
find out whether the results are same for all the other forms of buildings as well?

56
 Recommendations

It is clear from the conclusions above that Vastu Shastra and Green buildings are
related to each other. But again, Vastu is a debatable topic and there are people
who still consider Vastu Shastra as more of an ancient approach towards
architecture which must be replaced with the modern approach.

Thus, to change that perspective of people towards Vastu Shastra, Further

research could be done on the roots of Vastu shastra.

And as we know Vastu Shastra is all about the science of directions and
orientations, this philosophy is also applicable anywhere abroad.

Apart from the reduction in the construction cost due to this amalgamation of the
design principles of Vastu Shastra and Green Buildings, these principles also
enhance the health condition of the occupants of the building.

Further research could also be done on this overlap of principles for various other
forms of buildings like –Commercial, Residential, Institutional and Hospital
buildings, etc in order to benefit all other sectors of buildings as well.

57
 References

Books:

1) Handbook of Vastu

Author – Niranjan Babu

2) Green Building Manual On Making Energy Efficient Buildings & Integrated

Building Management System

Author – V.K. Jain

3) Vastu Living

Author – Kathleen Cox

Websites:

1)http://www.vaastu-shastra.com/introduction-of-vastu-shastra.html

2)https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/green-building.php

3)https://www.lifelot.co.nz/Blog/11/going-green-what-is-a-green-building

4)http://ezinearticles.com/?Authenticity-Of-Vastu-(Science-of-Indian-
architecture)&id=19798

5)https://www.slideshare.net/hamzaaaaaah/green-buildings-case-
study?qid=e4b3be43-f151-4711-ba6a-dd556f17d19e&v=&b=&from_search=3