SEMINAR 2021-22

THERMAL COMFORT
USING PASSIVE DESIGN
(from KERALA VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE)

AMRUTHA.T.S, SWATHY.NARAYANAN,
LSPT18CE029, ASST.PROFESSOR,
SIMAT. SIMAT.
 1. Introduction
2. Aim
3. Scope
4. Energy Scenario
5. Active v/s. Passive Design
6. scenario of housing in Kerala
7. Vernacular architecture
CONTENTS 8. Principles of Vaastushastra
9. Adaptation to increase thermal comfort
10.Conclusion
11.References
 INTRODUCTION
❖ Country with diverse climatic variations across geography
❖These built forms and their principles of planning ignored by the modern architectural
educational system.
❖Inspired from the western philosophies of design.
❖As a result, us getting colonized in the mind by the western ideas.
❖Our passive design solutions that the traditional vernacular architecture offered cannot be
ignored.

Hence, there arises a need to explore these strategies and reinterpret the knowledge of the past
to suit the needs of the present and the future.
 AIM OF THE STUDY

• To analyze indoor thermal environments of vernacular houses and to find out their
passive cooling techniques that can be useful for the terraced houses
• Bridge the gap between traditional and contemporary architectural practices.
• Evaluate and propose application of passive cooling techniques to improve indoor
thermal comfort.
• To understand the thermal adaptation of building occupants & the performance of
the passive cooling techniques.
 SCOPE AND LIMITATION

• Absorbing most appropriate technique & implementing with modern concepts.

• limited to the evolutionary changes residential architecture and identifying the
principles of Vastu.
• It does not advocate reverting back to the traditional vernacular architecture, but to
acknowledge the ingenious architecture that harmony with the forces of nature.
ENERGY SCENARIO
The 2011 Census had noted that
the continuing pace of In 2017-18, households accounted for about 24.2% of the total
urbanization of the country in electricity consumed in India (MOSPI 2019).
which a few states including
Kerala has registered a much
• The residential sector has the highest number of electricity
higher rate than the rest of the consumers
country. • The breakup of residential energy consumption is shown in
As such the share of census figure, about 41% energy consumption is towards thermal
houses in urban areas- Kerala comfort and 28% is for lighting.
has gone up to 48 % from just
26% while the all India increase
is quite modest.
 When at least 80% of a space’s users feel comfortable
for more than 80% of the time spent in the space.
⮚Key components: optimum temperature, natural
lighting, and fresh air.
THERMAL
⮚Significance:
COMFORT !?
❖Thermal comfort not only enhances ease of
living.
❖ Reduces dependence on active heating/cooling,
ventilation, and lighting.
 ACTIVE DESIGN PASSIVE DESIGN

ACTIVE v/s. PASSIVE LITTLE OCCUPANT PARTICIPATION SIGNIFICANT OCCUPANT

PARTICIPATION

ELECTRICITY USAGE IS HIGH AVOIDS/ REDUCES ELECTRICITY

DESIGN
USAGE

SMALL INCREASE IN OCCUPANT GREATLY INCREASES IN

AWARENESS ON CLIMATE OCCUPANT AWARENESS ON
&SEASONS CLIMATE &SEASONS

APPLICABLE TO SMALLSCALE TO MOSTLY SMALL SCALE

LARGE SCALE PROJECTS

CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AFTER INCORPORATED FROM PLANNING

PROJECT COMPLETION STAGE
 PASSIVE COOLING TECHNIQUES
• Evaporative cooling
• Natural ventilation -More the 30% energy can be saved for thermal
comfort
• Wind tower
• Solar shading techniques -By providing a roof cover .
• Landscaping
• Courtyard planning -save up to 25% of power consumption.
• Jharokha & LatticeScreen -reduced by about 9 % with shading
techniques.
 KERALA
Kerala occupies 1.8% of the
total land area of India however
has a high density population.
Location
• Kerala geographically covers a straight strip in southwestern
tip of india.
• Fertile strip of land between Arabian sea and Western Ghats.

Climatic Conditions
• Kerala is situated on north eastern hemisphere& falls under the
warm and humid climate zone.
• South- west to north-east is the predominant wind direction.
• The temperature fluctuates between 21ºC to 33ºC, with relative
humidity 65 % to 70%.
• wet and maritime tropical, influenced by the seasonal heavy rains.
 ●Characterizes a place by giving it a specific social identity.

ARCHITECTURE
VERNACULAR ●Represent a guide to sustainable design principles.
●Using locally available materials, employing local people,
utilizing renewable sources of energy and adopting
construction practices that favour recycling and respect for
nature .
●Naturally respond to their surroundings.
●Live in harmony with nature.
●Based on the principles of thachu shastra, the science of
carpentry, and Vastu Shastra, the science of architecture and
construction.
 ●Vastushastra is an architectural science that prescribes rules
for design and construction of buildings.
VASTUSHASTR ●It gives instructions to create harmony between man, nature
A FOR KERALA and building.
RESIDENTIAL ●The geometrical pattern defined as floor plan is usually a
BUILDINGS ‘mandala’ stipulates all other concepts and patterns.
●The symbolic patterns and geometries of mandalas are purely
environmental in origin and picture the natural phenomena and
their influence on built space.
VASTHUSHASTHRA
PRINCIPLES OF ●Standardization of design is an important feature.
● The shape and spatial arrangements of the patterns, sun rays,
magnetic poles, concentric zones dictate the principles of vastu.

●The general spatial pattern of houses throughout remained the

same while the size and no.Of rooms vary.

●The basic configuration of blocks in courtyard format as a

module.
PRINCIPLES OF SHAPE AND SPATIAL ARRANGEMENTS

• The Vastupurusha Mandala is a square plan of a house which

defines the position of the rooms/spaces.
VASTUPURUSH
• design keeping the beneficial effects of the sun and wind
A MANDALA
direction in mind.

• The head aligns to NE direction which is the direction of the

rising sun.
• The rooms facing east (N-E and S-E)for kitchen.
• The wind from sw-ne the kitchen is allocated facing the east.
• The navel is the converging point of all the energies, left
open.
This is done through central courtyards aiding the Stack Effect .
 PRINCIPLES OF SUNRAYS
Sunlight is a crucial element of Vastushastra
it consists of the invisible spectrum– ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IF) rays.
❑The UV rays are known to kill bacteria and aid in Vitamin D synthesis in the body.
❑The IF rays are the cause of heat in sunlight.
❑Designing ensures that the occupants of the house are exposed to the useful rays of sunlight while
performing daily activities.
❑Since the sun moves in the clockwise direction from N-E to W, entrance doors are positioned in the
north/east direction to ensure morning sunlight.
 PRINCIPLES OF MAGNETIC POLES
⮚ The earth’s magnetic force field affect the reaction of cells to EM currents .
⮚ Geomagnetic anomalies can desynchronize circadian rhythms and melatonin
production.
⮚ The strong magnetic North Pole is said to have positive effects.
⮚ east-west or south directions for bed placements so that occupants are aligned
in the right magnetic axis.

PRINCIPLES OF GEOPATHIC ZONES

⮚ All heavenly bodies (sun, moon, etc.) Emit cosmic energy just like telluric radiations emitted by earth.
⮚ The invisible energy lines running like a large grid across earth.
⮚ When a building is placed, a balance is broke & it should be restored.
⮚ When buildings echo this fundamental cosmic doctrine, they vibrate in harmony with the universe
affecting the occupants in a positive way.
⮚ Electromagnetic disturbance cause detachment from nature.
 PRINCIPLES OF
●Principle concerned with the division of a large space into smaller
CONCENTRIC ZONES units:
●Veethinirnayam :Division of land into open and built areas in a
circumferential manner with respect to the centre.
●Four such ‘veethis’ are: Brahmaveethi (realm of Brahma)–
innermost sacred space left open;
●Devaveethi (realm of Gods)– semi-built space usually consisting
of corridors;
●Manushyaveethi (realm of man)– closed living quarters or
‘conscious space’;
●Pishakaveethi (realm of demons)–outermost veethi should be
open.
●The Devaveethi and Manushyaveethi form the habitable spaces.
THE TRADITIONAL DWELLING CULTURE

The architecture ,environment
and culture of Kerala stand in
marked in contrast
, characterised by simplicity
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
• Influenced by Dravidian and Indian Vedic
architectural science (Vastu shastra)
• The Manushyalaya-Chandrika is an
Architectural science devoted to domestic
architecture has its strong roots in Kerala.
• The basic module of vernacular residential
building of Kerala is
known as nalukettu .
• Salient features of this style are:
1. Site planning and spatial organization
2. Materials specifications
3. Building specifications
SITE PLANNING
• preferably located in the windward side with trees all around.
• Moisture and heat generating areas of the house should be located
separately and ventilated.
• There should be proper spacing between buildings for not limiting air
movement.
• vegetation cover at specified points helps in unobstructed air flow &shading.

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION
• The semi open space used during day such as living are placed on S/SW side
to protect from harsh sunlight from the western side.
• kitchen is usually located at the north-east corner to avoid the spreading of hot
air, smell to other spaces.
• The courtyard being a microclimate modifier helps in retaining cool air.
• The rooms are sandwiched between two verandahs one exterior and one
interior.
• The external verandah acts as a buffer space reducing direct heat entry into
the living spaces.
• The internal verandah acts as buffer space dissipating and distributing light and
air coming from courtyard into the building.
 CONSTRUCTION • Stones Timber
MATERIALS • Timber
• A mixed mode of • Clay
construction was evolved in • Palm
Kerala architecture. leaves
• The stone work was • Mud
restricted to the plinth. • Terracotta
• Laterite was used for walls. • Tiles
• The exterior of the laterite
walls were either left as
such or plastered with lime
Abundance of timber from bamboo to teak for
mortar to serve as the base
joinery, columns, roofs etc.
for mural painting.
• Red oxide is used for
interior flooring while rough
granite is used for outside Laterite stone
flooring.
• The roof structure in timber
was covered with palm leaf
thatching / clay tiles
BUILDING SPECIFICATIONS
1.Roof
✔The roofs have steep slopes up to almost 45˚
✔ gables(mughappu) are provided at the ends of roof to enhance ventilation and warm air to escape.
✔Decorative jalli(ventilators) are provided for the ventilation of attic spaces that are formed by
the wooden false ceiling (tattu).
✔ encloses a large insulated air space keeping the lower areas cooler.
✔The lower ends of rafters projected much beyond the walls to shade the walls from the sun and
driving rain.
✔The overhangs, steep roof and eaves helps rainwater drain quickly during heavy rains.
2.Fenestration

⮚Various kinds of fenestrations are used ranging from typical two

panelled casement windows to wooden lattices.Wall
⮚ have openings for cross ventilation.

⮚Wooden jaali’s are usedin cutting the glare and providing diffused
light.
⮚The perforations increase air velocity and provides mild breeze
⮚Northern side has more widows and fenestration for bringing in
glare free light.
⮚to allow controlled winds while maintaining privacy indoors yet
giving veiled access to outside views.
⮚ littler size openings put on the windward side, wrt leeward side for
encouraging regular ventilation
3.Wall:
• double layer of laterite masonry with a cavity in between
that is filled with sand, this helps in insulating the interiors.
• White washed to minimize the heat absorption.

4.Shading devices:
• cut down solar heat gain.
• the eaves of the roofs projected to act as a shading device.
• And for windows two way sloping shading devices which is
in sync with the roof form are provided.
ADAPTATION TO INCREASE THERMAL COMFORT
Orientation
allow minimum solar radiation in summer and maximum in
winter.
• take advantage of the prevailing wind direction
• minimize the solar insolation
• Building depth should also be kept within the limit required to
provide good ventilation and lighting in different spaces.
Typology.
●The lack of space and the westernized design, along with the
changes in lifestyles of people
●The box-like design makes the modern house deeper than can be
efficiently serviced by natural ventilation.
●The use of courtyard typology allowed for ventilation through well-
shaded openings
●designing an atrium space with high-level ventilators and provision
for night cooling.
Fenestration design
● The modern house has large glazed areas not well-shaded from the
sun and oriented in all directions.
● The use of different types of openings for different purposes should
be incorporated in design .
● Jali windows make a distinct aesthetic expression but are a concern
for safety and pest control .
● used in high-level openings with pest screens.
● The use of louvers/blinds and tinted or heat-reflective windows
instead of clear float glass windows will increase the efficiency
● Shades must be designed to keep the solar insolation out while letting
the light in.
● Deep overhangs and verandahs are an efficient way of shading
windows as well as walls
Stack effect openings/wind towers.
●Modern design often ignores the principles of fenestration design
for ventilation, focusing on providing large glazed areas for visual
aesthetics.
●Well-designed wind tower can add to the aesthetic expression and
provide an efficient way to cool buildings.
● It can also be coupled with evaporative cooling techniques,
further enhancing the potential.
●Traditional design took the benefit of carved wall surfaces to
increase surface area for radiative loss and also to self-shade the
wall.
●Some modern designs also use textured wall finishes or exposed
brickwork in different courses to the same effect.
Roof design.
●The thin concrete roof characteristic of the modern dwelling is the
source of high solar gains and some traditional design principals
can be successfully adapted to reduce the solar gains.
●The use of double roofs is an efficient way of reducing heat gains
and can easily be incorporated in modern design.
●The use of high roofs to facilitate stack effect should be
incorporated in design to increase air movement.
●The pitched roof is generally preferred a warm and humid climate.
● The Huge shades shield the dividers and openings from sun
radiation and rainstorm.
●The rooftop must be made of materials that are lightweight with
and high reflectivity and low warm limit.
●The type of rooftop ought to be planned in a manner to advance
wind current.
●Vents at the housetop viably advance ventilation and draws hot air
out
PASSIVE DESIGN IDEAS FOR MODERN HOUSES

To achieve thermal comfort, minimize daytime heat gain, maximize night time heat
loss & encourage cool breeze access when available. Considerations include:
• Designing the floor plan & building form to respond to local climate & site.
• Choosing climate appropriate windows & avoid unwanted glazing.
• Positioning windows & design opening to enhance air movement & cross
ventilation.
• Shading windows ,exposed walls & roof where possible.
• Using roof spaces & Open lay-out living spaces as buffer zones to limit heat gain.
• Use of shingle roofs and protruding eaves as response to tropical rain, wind
• Use of grilled windows and porous walls as response to tropical sun glare.
• Planting trees as per favorable positions in the vacant space rather than
landscaping.
• Utilize sunlight by skylight or courtyard in the structures helps in the decrease of
counterfeit methods for lighting .
• Planting Deciduous trees provide shading in summer.
 CONCLUSION
●If the vernacular passive design is translated for every climate zone, it will contribute to solving the energy
crisis of the country.
●Incorporating the beneficial vernacular elements in contemporary buildings, in form, cultural essence as well as in
function.
Appropriate planning devices like courtyards, suitable orientation, envelope design, responsive roof design and
appropriate fenestration design should be employed.
●This form of residential will also create a more sustainable socio-economic balance.
●traditional passive strategies can be effectively adapted to modern design conditions and benefit the comfort
conditions in dwellings.
●Most of the design-based strategies are easy to adapt and the material-based strategies have alternative solutions
●Further exploration is required to understand the other strategies apart from the thermal performance of materials,
layout and shading; in order to fully comprehend the combined effect of these strategies.
●Shift over from the present practice of mechanical cooling to ancient methods of passive cooling methods in an
efficient modern way and hence evolve a built form, which will be more climate responsive, sustainable and
environmental friendly for tomorrow.
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Journal of the International Society for the Study of Vernacular Settlements. Vol. 2.
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THANK
YOU