Gaging Natural Ventilation by Exploring Architectural Elements Developed in Contemporary Abodes of Warm and Humid Region

Author: Parth Jamadar, Prof. Vibha Gajjar

Affiliation: Institute of Architecture and Planning, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India

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Abstract:​​​​

 

Contemporary built form is a manifestation of construction endeavours in which architectural elements plays a pivotal role of satisfying users from various parameters. The countenance present in built forms tries to address men – as user, building – as structure, and environment – as place or the context itself. This paper attempts to emphasize the interlude by anticipating the pertinent features of building’s thermal comfort achieved through design intervention. I.e. how diverse elements can be utilized, in order to cater natural ventilation, for contemporary houses of warm and humid region of Gujarat, India. Recent anxiety for global warming has subsequently sparked a flame of inquisitiveness towards naturally ventilated buildings, due to its efficacious way of enhancing internal air quality, thus minimizing electrical dependency. Henceforth, has been sought after as a primary technique to minimize the carbon footprint of the building. Provision of features like openings can cater cooling to the building. It seems very obvious in case of ventilation, but the pattern which occurs is rather more complex, which is a field yet to be comprehensively explored by designers. Existing built form worldwide remains entranced with the performance of structure as an organization, mostly via the prism of the amount of energy it utilizes. This indicates to the necessity for suitable acquaintance of the rudimentary principles of building physics. To satisfy the thermally comfortable environment the overuse of energy is evident and alternate mitigation possibilities are of greater concern. Hence, the study tries to address the possible design interventions in the climate by understanding the basics of thermal comfort and possible iterations of design explorations. Through analysis of various case studies, it will review modern ventilation designs with respect to traditional ones.

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Keywords: natural ventilation, relative humidity, thermal comfort, warm and humid climate, elemental manifestations​

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ISSN 3069-8200