SUSTAINABLE DESIGN PRACTICES IN ARCHITECTURE: LESSONS FROM HERITAGE STRUCTURES AND SITES OF INDIA

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1 International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET) Volume 8, Issue 11, November 2017, pp , Article ID: IJCIET_08_11_079 Available online at ISSN Print: and ISSN Online: IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed SUSTAINABLE DESIGN PRACTICES IN ARCHITECTURE: LESSONS FROM HERITAGE STRUCTURES AND SITES OF INDIA Prof Jitendra Singh FIIA, FITP, FIE Ar Pratheek Sudhakaran AIIA Ar Gaurav Singh AIIA, AITP Ar Nayana R Singh AIIA ABSTRACT Review of the heritage buildings reveal that they were very environment friendly and depended on the natural systems. The buildings also reveal many sustainable practices. Some of such practices are relevant even today and can be adopted in most of the buildings. The ancient India actually encouraged the basic principle of sustainability now being propagated by the developed world. In fact many of the yardsticks set up by the developed world encourage consumerism such as the electrical consumption and waste production. Higher these factors, higher are the developmental status. On the contrary, India had been encouraging the basic principles of reduced consumption, recycling and re-use of the material. Out ancestors understood the environment very well and adopted the same in their life cycles and in all of their activities including buildings. All our buildings have followed these basics. The examples discussed in this paper clearly exemplify these facts. Keywords: Heritage, Water management, Climate adaptive, passive design, natural ventilation Cite this Article: Jitendra Singh, Pratheek Sudhakaran, Gaurav Singh and Nayana R Singh, Sustainable Design Practices in Architecture: Lessons from Heritage Structures and sites of India, International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 8(11), 2017, pp editor@iaeme.com

2 Jitendra Singh, Pratheek Sudhakaran, Gaurav Singh and Nayana R Singh 1. INTRODUCTION India is at a risk of losing its architectural identity and socially the appreciation of local heritage and traditions is also at risk as development in the country is concerned with the mimicking of the aesthetics and practices of other countries, rather than learning from the legacy of their predecessors. This is also the reason that various faceless skyscrapers are being built in India which are energy and resource intensive. It is also a point of concern that various historic buildings being demolished without concern, for instance the Hall of Nations built in 1972 was demolished last year. India has a rich tradition of heritage buildings distributed all over the county, and there are various lessons one can learn from them. 2. THE TOWN PLANNING IN ANCIENT INDIA The Indus Valley settlements Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, Lothal and Nalanda exhibit excellent town planning practices taking full consideration of the environment. The roads were straight and so laid that the buildings could get maximum of the wind and sun and could remain comfortable most of the times. Figure 1 Nalanda University, Nalanda, Bihar Figure 2 Mohanjodaro (Now Pakistan) 2.1. Water Harvesting Macro to Micro Level- Indians new the importance of water for the human survival. They ad all the efforts to make best use of the same and save it from wastage. Their schemes even helped in the recharge of the subsoil water also. They used conservation at the town level and also at the bulding levels. Follwing are some of the examples editor@iaeme.com

3 Sustainable Design Practices in Architecture: Lessons from Heritage Structures and sites of India 2.2. Water Harvesting at Town Level- Bhopal Town: The town of Bhopal is popularly known as the city of lakes. The Town has three lakes the Upper Bhopal Lake, Lower Bhopal Lake and the Middle Bhopal Lake. These lakes form the main source of water supply to the town. The water from upper lake flows to the next lower lake making best use of the runoff water. The Upper Bhopal Lake has a catchment area of square kilometer and has a capacity of 108 MLD. While these lakes helped in fulfilling the water requirements of the town to a large extent, they also helped in the ground water re-charge. Figure 3 Inter Connected Lakes of Bhopal 2.3. Nahargarh Fort Jaipurprovides one of the best examples as to how the kings of Water Scarce state of Rajasthan developed water collection and conservation system. Nahargarh fort is on the hill top and there is no direct source of water. It was through the elaborate system of water channels, canals and bridges that the fort was conserving every drop of water falling on the hill top, directing it to the lower levels, collecting in to open wells and then utilizing it for human habitation. Figure 4 Drains channelizing the water to the reservoir (Source: Author) Figure 5 Google image showing Aqueduct connecting the two Hills editor@iaeme.com

4 Jitendra Singh, Pratheek Sudhakaran, Gaurav Singh and Nayana R Singh Figure 6 Bridge Connecting Two Hillock and canals for Carrying water to Reservoir(Source: Author) Figure 7 Aesthetically developed Reservoir for use of the Nahargarh Fort (Source: Author) 2.4. Indian Places of Worship- Water has been an essential part of all of the Indian Worship Places and as such a water tank became a necessity of all Such Places. Sun Temple Modhera Gujarat presents an excellent example of the same. Remarkable to note is the similarity of steps leading to the water level, with the design steps of Abhaneri step well, though both of the places are several hundred KM away. These tanks helped in water conservation, recharge of the subsoil water and helped in the Temple rituals editor@iaeme.com

5 Sustainable Design Practices in Architecture: Lessons from Heritage Structures and sites of India Figure 8 The Modhera Sun Temple, Gujarat (Source: Author) Figure 9 Pavapuri Jain Temple, Bihar (Source: Author) Figure 10 Tajul Mosque, Bhopal (Source: Author) editor@iaeme.com

6 Jitendra Singh, Pratheek Sudhakaran, Gaurav Singh and Nayana R Singh Figure 11 Golden Temple Amritsar (Source: Author) 2.5. Abhaneri Vav- Rajasthan- The Vav a step well or Sub-Terrain Structure take the seeker of water to the depth of about 35 meters. It is located in Abhaneri Village, Dausa about 90 km from Jaipur off the Jaipur Agra Highway. It is square in plan with 35 m each side. There are systematically arranged steps forming a nice and convenient patter on there sides. On the fourth side are the rooms. The well is part of Harshat Mata Temple. It is a great architectural feat where the seeker is made to feel the importance of water. By the time one reaches the water level one gets pleasure to coolness of about 6 degrees less. The steps all round the well while act as retaining wall, they provide place for the celebration of Water. The well has places for rest as well at different levels. The well is protected from the scorching summer winds by an enclosure wall- a feature not noticed in the step wells of Gujarat, though this well has less carving if compared with the step wells of Gujarat. Figure 12 Views of the Abhaneri Vav. Left shows the rest structures. Right the View (Source: Author) Rani ki Vav-Patan Gujarat- Rani-ki-vav is one of the largest and most beautiful of the step wells located in Patan, Gujarat. It is a World Heritage site since Rani ki vav was built in the complex Maru-Gurjara architectural style with an inverted temple and seven levels of stairs and holds more than 500 principal sculptures. The step well measures approximately 64 m long, 20 m wide & 27 m deep, with six clear levels. A stepped corridor compartmented at regular intervals pillared multistory pavilions is a unique feature. It was one of the largest and the most sumptuous structures of its type. The entire step well is an excellent example of editor@iaeme.com

7 Sustainable Design Practices in Architecture: Lessons from Heritage Structures and sites of India structural engineering, where the outer walls and corridors at different levels, while provide movement it also act as retaining wall to support the earth pressure of nearly 30 meter depth. The columned bridges that connect the two side walls also keep the two walls away and also provide links. The central wide steps take the water seeker to the lowest water level. The lower levels gradually get cooler. The temperature at the lowest level is about 6-8 degrees below from the outside. The steps also acts in collecting the scanty rain water. Standing on the connecting bridges one enjoys the excellent cool breeze. Figure 13 The Rani-Ki-Vav, Patan, Gujarat (Source: Author) 2.6. Jal Mahal Jaipur Udaipur- There are the Palaces located in a large water Body providing and excellent example how on one hand Hot and Arid climate could be modified through the vicinity of water, it also provides and example how physical and visual security could be achieved. The water body used to collect scarce rain water that in turn was a great help in re-charge of the subsoil water. In the race of urbanization may of such water bodies have been filled up and converted transformed into complexes consuming water, rather than conserving the same. Similar Palaces are located in Udaipur as well. Figure 14 Google images showing the Jal Mahal Plan and the lake around (Source: Google Earth) 2.7. Water Harvesting in Residential Buildings-The residential buildings had elaborate arrangement of rainwater collection and its use till last drop. Some of the existing buildings show the entire piping from the roof carrying the water to the ground level, where it got collected in an underground reservoir for different uses such as clothing/ washing etc. The used water was again diverted for irrigating the plants etc. making fullest use of water editor@iaeme.com

8 Jitendra Singh, Pratheek Sudhakaran, Gaurav Singh and Nayana R Singh Figure 15 Pipe for collecting the rain water from roof to ground (Source: Author) 3. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS: Indians have excellent examples showing the passive environmental adversaries to human benefits. Some of the examples are given below: Smaller Openings on the periphery of the buildings- leading to cooler air inside and checking from harsh sun- Hawa Mahal. The Hawa Mahal is only an aesthetically designed screen. There are functional spaces behind the screen, used for view outside/ stay etc. While the smaller openings protected the interiors from harsh sun light, they provided enough light for the normal use of the spaces. The smaller openings also helped in creating cooler environment in the inside spaces. Figure 16 The Hawa Mahal, Jaipur (Source: Author) Use of Courtyards with verandah- giving cooler livable areas. The Jaipur and Amer fort has different areas for public gathering, public meetings, living areas. All these areas are planned in an introvert manner around a courtyard of the size suited for the kind of the gathering and number of persons living in the area. Largely the settlement inside used to be the living playing areas for the families where as the outside used to be the spaces for commercial activities. The windows of the living rooms used to open towards the courtyardthere by remaining under shadow and keeping the rooms cool. The courtyard also helped in editor@iaeme.com

9 Sustainable Design Practices in Architecture: Lessons from Heritage Structures and sites of India keeping the sound pollution away. It also helped in maintaining the privacy of the ladies and security of the children who had opportunity of playing safely in the courtyard. Figure 17 Images of Jaipur Town Showing Chain of Open Courtyards (Source: Google Earth) Buildings in close proximity as in Jaisalmer- providing shadow on other and checking dust storm effect. Though this may not be very relevant to the present times with automobile as the source of mobility but it can judiciously be applied to the residential and pedestrian movement areas Overhangs, projections providing shade to the windows/openings. Most of the Rajasthan buildings exhibit excellent system of openings, jharokhas and chajjas (overhangs). These projections have been a great system of passive environmental control. Figure 18 Jharokha, Large overhangs and projections-jaisalmer (Source: Author) editor@iaeme.com

10 Jitendra Singh, Pratheek Sudhakaran, Gaurav Singh and Nayana R Singh Garden and water channels near living areas and enclosed corridors were very nicely used in the Amer Fort to ward off the effect of heat. Figure 19 Water Cascade and channel passing through and cooling he Living Spaces- Amer Figure 20 Terraced Garden in a Lake-and Landscaped Courtyard in front of the habitable spaces (Source: Author) Figure 21 Long Naturally Ventilated and lighted corridor with Jali towards the Courtyard (Source: Author) editor@iaeme.com

11 Sustainable Design Practices in Architecture: Lessons from Heritage Structures and sites of India 4. USE OF LOCAL MATERIAL Most of the Heritage buildings have used locally available materials and indigenous technology. The buildings mostly used the material available next to the site to avoid and kind of major transportation 5. USE OF NATURAL LIGHT AND VENTILATION It has been made to the fullest extent. In fact since there was no electricity or fossil fuels, the work culture was dependent on the natural light and ventilation. Use of natural oil based lamps was there to a limited extent and only for special uses. For places of large gatherings, no walls were provided such as in the public assembly places-diwan-e-khas Amer Fort or even Diwan-e-Aam. Great Indian poet Rabindra Nath Tagore established Shantiniketan University. The University used gurukul system of learning. The students would gather around the teacher under the shadow of a tree and learn from him. Figure 22 Naturally Lit and ventilated Diwan-e-Aam and Diwane-e-Khas, Amer (Source: Author) 6. POSSIBILITIES It is quite evident that the Heritage buildings present a variety of sustainable practices. It is possible to revive a large amount of such practices. We need to use the abundantly and freely available natural light and ventilation to the fullest extent. Even if we are restricting to the design of building on a plot, we can certainly provide a system of openings/ louvers/ chajjas/ and jharokhas suitable to the climate and on appropriate sides so that the interiors are well lit and ventilated without use of artificial means. Today there are many software available that help you to test your building models to suite the local climate and factors effecting the same. The modern technology need to be adopted for efficient use of nature and other resources. We certainly need to shun the aping of the west and use of glazed wall even on Western face and then adopt expensive systems of expensive air conditioning and heavy curtains etc to counter the heat and excessive light. The AC load can certainly be reduced to a great extent through better planning of buildings and design of the openings, helping in reversal of the global warming. Most of the water conservation techniques are relevant even today. Besides the lessons for the heritage techniques, today there are software that help in conservation of material used in the building, There is possible of using the alternate systems of energy generation to save the fossil fuel. In modern structures attempt is successfully being to bring in landscaping to the topmost level to tackle the psychological and environmental aspects editor@iaeme.com

12 Jitendra Singh, Pratheek Sudhakaran, Gaurav Singh and Nayana R Singh 7. CONCLUSIONS To conclude I shall quote Sadhguru Taking care of environment is not our obligation-it is our Life. This quote aptly summarizes importance. Today we are much more advanced then our ancestors. We have better opportunities and aids. We can and we should put in all our efforts to save ourselves from extinction. And again as last words of Sadhguru I again quote him There is nothing Impossible. The word itself says I M POSSIBLE. Let us explore the possibilities. REFERENCES [1] Allchin, Bridget, Allchin, F. R. and Thapar, B. K. (eds.), 1989, Conservation of the Indian Heritage. Cosmo Publishers, New Delhi. [2] Arpin, Roland Building concordance among World Heritage Towns: a synopsis. Safeguarding Historic Urban Ensembles in a Time of Change. Proceedings of the International Symposium on World Heritage Towns, Quebec City, Canada, July 1991: [3] Ashworth, Gregory J Heritage, tourism and Europe: a European future for European past; in Herbert, D.T. (ed.), Heritage Tourism and Society. Mansell, London: pp [4] Ashworth, Gregory J Realisable potential but hidden problems: a heritage tale from central European Cities. Paper presented to the International Cultural Centre Conference, Krakow, 14pp. [5] Devereux, Paul Places of Power. Blandford, London. [6] Feilden, Bernard M. 1993a. Is conservation of cultural heritage relevant to South Asia. South Asian Studies, 9 (2): pp [7] Menon, A. G. Krishna Cultural identity and urban development. The Indian experience. Urban India (NIUA, New Delhi), 9 (1): [8] Orland, Brian and Bellafiorce, V. J Development directions for a sacred site in India. Landscape and Urban Planning, 19: [9] Singh, Rana P. B Heritage ecology and caring for the earth: a search for preserving harmony and ethical values. National Geographical Journal of India, 41 (2), June: pp [10] Singh, Rana P. B. and Singh, Ravi S. 1997b. Urban heritage in India: Towards orientation to planning; in, A. K. Singh, et el., eds. Strategies in Development Planning. Deep & Deep Publs., New Delhi : pp [11] Thaper, B.K Agencies for the preservation of cultural heritage in India; in, Allchin, B.; Allchin, F.R. and Thaper, B.K. (eds.), Conservation of the Indian Heritage. Cosmo Publications, New Delhi: pp [12] UNESCO-IUCN Eds. Masterworks of Man and Nature. Harper-MacRae, Patonga, Australia. Managing Editor: Mark Swadling. [13] Dr. Imad M. Assali, The Contribution of Interior Design Studio in Promoting Sustainable Design in Bahrain, International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology 8(10), 2017, pp [14] T. Subhashini, P. Maheswari, G. Sharmila and T.B. Gopinath, SVPWM Using SiC, GaN Power Driven Motors for Sea Water Cooling System & Ballast Water Management. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, 8(4), 2017, pp editor@iaeme.com