When we discuss eco-friendly architecture, the most talked about features focus on alternative materials and construction, with some attention to ecological factors.
Equally important considerations such as cultural dimensions, lifestyle and owner aspirations have taken the backseat. It's possible that these parameters are more abstract, which require deeper professional applications not possible in every building project, especially in smaller places. However, in most cases, simple changes in our design methods are also not attempted.
Many enquiries in recent times have referred to an existing building performing rather badly, where the major reason could be the design itself, creating a rectangular box instead of a breathing home. We may introduce a few options for day light or displacement ventilation, but the larger ecological problems with the building would continue. As such, there is a need to re-look at the design approach, before we go on to roof or sunshade details.
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Traditional village homes should surely be among the first teachers to take lessons from about ecologically comfortable house designs.
Look how neat and compact they are, ensuring that most walls are in the shade, often cast by a neighbouring building.
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Our cities promote completely detached buildings where walls tend to receive direct solar light, hence radiation and heat. To ensure our walls are under the shade, either we grow large trees around or work within our own walls.
Laurie Baker had experimented with folded walls, primarily to give thinner walls better strength, wherein the wall goes a little inside, then outside and again inside. The final form is not a straight line, but a staggered one. The outside projected part shades the wall part moved inside!
Going against tradition
If we extend this concept to the plan of the whole building, we can imagine an otherwise rectangular box having rooms either jutting out or pushed in. So, the box-like form of the building disappears!
Of course, setting the building out and constructing the foundation will not be along one line, which a traditionalist may oppose. However, see how each room gets windows at two external walls, essentially needed to create indoor air movement.
The building elevation improves without spending more, for the staggered form is generally more appealing. The small pockets created by varied setbacks are suitable for beautiful house plants.
Side setbacks
This would mean the side setbacks would have varied widths compared to what the local byelaws stipulate as a standard minimum width. By having this depth of setback around or more than 6 feet, we can locate a small private home garden within.
Now the rooms around this garden could face it, have all the windows open towards this “our own little space” instead of looking at the neighbour's direction.
Even if the neighbour builds close to our building, we are still ensured light and air, for this garden works like a light well and wind catcher.
(The writer is an architect working for eco-friendly designs and can be contacted at varanashi@gmail.com)