Ventilation doesn’t just mean opening a window, but it’s a part of the home design process that increases occupant’s comfort, reduces energy use, and improves indoor air quality. Architecturally, the city of Bhopal has very hot, humid summers; thus, using natural ventilation maximizes thermal comfort without using too much mechanical air conditioning in residential buildings.
Professional architects consider ventilation during the planning process and will typically use traditional design techniques, as well as modern technology, to plan for air movement within the home.
Architects in Bhopal typically begin with the planning and design of the home’s orientation and layout. The homes are structured in such a way that the longer sides face the prevailing winds, allowing the breezes to enter and pass through the living spaces. This is referred to as cross-ventilation; it allows for the unencumbered flow of air from one side to the other and removes the hot, stale air by flushing with cool, clean air. Architects can therefore significantly improve the effectiveness of ventilation by orienting rooms and windows according to the direction of the winds without using any mechanical technology.
Architects understand the placement and size of openings such as windows and doors are equally important. Many architects create large operable windows and operable ventilators located on opposite sides of a building to facilitate the flow of air from one to the other. The presence and arrangement of these openings allow the flow of air into a building and create a pressure differential between the openings, thus allowing for the natural flow of air into and throughout a building using natural methods. In addition, when designing traditional and modern Indian houses, architects will typically avoid narrow window locations on the walls and, instead, provide balanced window locations that facilitate the continuous flow of air into the house. This approach is an example of how this simple but highly effective design approach decreases the need for mechanical means of heating or cooling (such as fans or air conditioning) for much of the year.
Another design approach that has been developed by architects in Bhopal is the use of the stack effect. The stack effect is created by using the temperature difference between warm air and cool air to achieve an efficient ventilation system; as warm air rises, it is released from vents or clerestory windows located high in the building, while cooler air is pulled into the building through lower openings. Properly designed vents and skylights will create a vertical airflow path so that the upward-moving warm air is naturally pulled out of the building, which results in a more comfortable indoor environment without using any energy.
In addition to the above mentioned design techniques, architects will also use various design archetypes, such as courtyards, atriums, and voids to create additional ventilation within buildings. For example, the placement of central courtyards and two-story spaces acts like thermal chimneys that will pull hot air from the upper portion of the building upward and out of the building while drawing in fresh air from the lower levels of the building.
Architects in Bhopal today have incorporated several traditional architectural solutions into their designs. Examples of these traditional solutions include perforated screens (jali walls), louvers and shaded openings. They allow free air circulation, limit glare and direct sunlight. They act as breathable façades – allowing air, blocking heat while maintaining privacy and comfort. Jalis have been used in Indian architecture for centuries to promote air circulation and diffuse light. Modern designers are continuing to incorporate similar principles in their use of newer materials.
Hybrid solutions are also used by many architects. They combine natural and intelligent mechanical systems and utilize mixed-mode ventilation techniques. When natural ventilation is adequate, architects have designed buildings that bring in outside air; when natural ventilation is inadequate, they improve indoor air quality with mechanical ventilation. This strategy reduces energy consumption while maintaining comfort throughout each season. Simulations are used to develop controls to quantify the airflow performance of buildings to provide a comfortable environment throughout the year.
Among other things, sustainable landscaping and foliage (i.e., trees and plants) within the vicinity of entry points help to cool off incoming air via shade and evaporation/transpiration. The result is the augmentation of the natural ventilation process. The creation of both shaded outdoor areas (i.e., courtyards, pergolas, green screens) create microclimates that both reduce the heat gain, therefore decreasing the amount of heat retained and allowing the breezes to flow through living areas.
Architects in Bhopal optimize on the natural ventilation of a building by means of orienting the building properly, position of the openings, utilisation of vertical airflow techniques (stack effect), and by integrating both traditional and modern styles of design. The combination of these strategies not only enhances the level of comfort and quality of air within the residence but also reduces the reliance on energy sources and contributes to healthy, sustainable residences.
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