The ensuing design is primarily based on the Indian values of living and at the same time converging a number of technologies, applied in a creative and innovative way.

Evolution of Form

The solar performance of various forms of the same volume has been analyzed to evolved the ultimate profile. A cuboid oriented with the longer side along the east west axis gets heated throughout the year.

NIT Trichy view

A semi-circular cylinder with inclined walls performs exceptionally with insignificant heating in the summer and increased heating in winter.

Influence of space and volume on psychology

Variation in temperature and volume along the transition spaces increases user receptivity.

Interaction between the atrium and the various levels, facilitates cognitive mapping of the form.

Progression from formal to informal spaces promotes interactive group behavior.

The circulation staircase invokes a sense of accessibility in the building.

Space Analysis

Centralized organization implies a concentrated composition with a large dominant unifying space and respective spaces about its perimeter.

NIT Trichy

These spaces differ from one another in form and size in order to respond to individual requirements of function, express their relative importance, or acknowledge their surroundings. Seminar halls, meeting and board rooms have been grouped into functional clusters. Multipurpose hall and atrium have been provided with access to exterior activity spaces.

Provision of additional mechanical heating and cooling facilities in the appropriate spaces (the multifunctional hall, workshops, guest rooms) is made to contextually respond to the modern requirements.

The multipurpose hall and workshop rooms are flexible in use and can be freely manipulated by providing multiple entries, pre-function spaces and facilities. Indoor fountain and water bodies increase the humidity.

NIT Auditorium

Major spaces can function simultaneously without hindrance to any concurrent activity, for instance, the multipurpose hall and the auditorium are zoned apart with individual auxiliary amenities. The inclined glazing along the circulation area acts as an interface between the interior and the exterior expanse.

Earth air tunnel

A network of underground earth air tunnels circulating cool subterranean air throughout the block require effective insulation and trees providing shade.

Tunnel

Rate anti-space of air change=190 cubic metres/min

Diameter=0.75m

Length=70m

Embedded 4m below the ground level the material for the tunnel is a Hume pipe.

Wind tower is located north-west with a height of 14m and the AHU is attached to the atrium.

Solar chimney in the form of an inclined double glazed wall is provided where the inner layer of glass is properly insulated with a low e-coating.

NIT - Trichy

Material Analysis

ACC or autoclaved concrete blocks have been used in the interior walls, it being light-weight reduces the structural load, retards fire, has acoustic properties and is good thermal insulator. Stabilized compresse earth blocks in rat trap bond have been used in the northern walls

Low energy input in processing and handling soil (only 1% of the energy required to manufacture and process the same volume of cement concrete) which are non-combustible with excellent fire resistance properties. Thermochromic laminated glazing has been used in the south and west walls to be able sense changes in the light and adjust accordingly as TLG has a good UV stability, is cost effective, easily fabricated and no electric driving power needed.

Energy efficiency

Creation of AC and non-AC spaces by making informal spaces non-AC without compromising on comfort reduces energy consumption. These spaces have been effectively conditioned by passive technologies. (earth air tunnel, form)

Day Lighting

Usage of artificial light in circulation spaces has been avoided. Optimum amount of daylight is permitted through thermo chromic glazing in the atrium and the inclined walls.

Average day light factor 1.2.

PV panels

A grid supplementing solar plant of capacity 209KW is situated on the roof consisting of 160 PV panels and is capable of handling the lighting load of the top three floors independently.

PV panels energy production (1.25kWh/m) and energy required = 200kWh/day

Therefore 160sqm of PV panel is required.

Rainwater Harvesting

Area of the roof top-1500sqm

Expected harvested rainwater = 6,48,000 litre/year

Total consumption of the convention centre = 14,81,170 litre/yr

Rain water satisfies 45% of requirements, charcoal water filter made of gravel, sand and charcoal, gutters, conduits are made of PVC and are 10cm, 90cm diameter respectively.

Grey Water recycling

Total production = 1674litre/day

Recycled grey water satisfies 84% of flushing needs and saves 41% of the water lost.

Eco Roof

Extensive eco roofs have been used which are easy to maintain lightweight and use shallow soils.

Mosses and lichens and sedum are to be used as vegetation . They are the lightest vegetation, which are capable of surviving extremities of temperature.

Advantages of Eco-roof

Provides insulation and lowers cooling and heating costs for the building.

Green roofs are good acoustic insulators and can absorb and dampen sounds.

Fire retardant plants with high water content leaves and the stems (sedums) help to create a natural fire retardant effect.

High tech facilities

Interactive screen embedded with optical pixels, at the reception helps user to obtain information regarding the functions taking place in the centre.

Occupancy sensors detect motion and emission of heat, manipulate comfort environments (lighting levels, cooling) to suit user requirements.

Video conferencing, seminar halls and press rooms are equipped with adjacent video conferencing rooms, internet, wi-fi to facilitate easy, immediate internet connectivity through out the centre without the help of wired net, wi-fi to facilitate easy, immediate internet connectivity through out the centre without the help of wired ports.

Intercom facilities enable interaction between the various levels and activity spaces.

Originally posted 2010-02-07 06:34:08.

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When considering the economic benefits of smart technologies one must include many factors, such as health cost, future economic stability, quality of life and costs of operation.

In India, Thiagaraj Convention Center in Chennai is one such place where green building technology has been extensively used. Many of the building techniques can easily be adapted to existing buildings. For example, the transition from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs can lead to energy savings of upto 75% of costs. The small increase in initial costs to purchase the bulbs would easily be recouped many times over by the savings and extended life of the new bulbs.

Design Development

With the mushrooming if satellite towns and there down right demand of energy, lead to the understanding of coming out with techniques to conserve and use the natural resources. The inherent potential of the earth and various elements of nature, hence form the base of design further giving direction to the concept of coming out with a structure on the lines of green building.

Thiagaraj Convention Center - Green Building Exemplified

Zoning

Zoning of the entire convention has been done considering the sensitivity towards climate. Spaces which require ambient light and not glare like the exhibition spaces are hence placed north facing. To get enough exposure from the sun, the solar chimney is located in the south of the centre. The pre-convention spaces along with the restaurant are around a central open space such that it avails controlled lighting.

The Structure

The convention hall is a space occupying 1200sqm spanned by a space frame made of steel and aluminum castings over which the frame support, the solar panels eventually giving double protection from the sun. Due to the flexi wall installed in the convention hall, the space can be transformed into a bigger area which can hold double the members required. It is strategically located near the service entry only to allow easy transportation of materials for re decorating the interiors as per the need.

Auditorium building at Thiagaraj Convention Center

The exhibition space is located in the ground floor with provisions of providing convenient options of interiors.

The front lobby serves as the main connecting space offering the view of all other spaces which form the structure. This is connected to the guest room placed in the south zone via an open space. The 50 guest rooms, near the solar chimneys though south facing have been provided with double glazed windows. The natural draft created by the solar chimney sucks the stale air out without any effort which is done by the intelligent sensors that adjust the overhang and sunshades length according to the weather.

Auditorium

This acoustically efficient designed space can at once cater around 320 people. The important feature which stands out is the flexible stage operation which can be used for performances and for showing movies depending on the need of the moment.

Auditorium

Special Features

Control light system, a glass technology that produces uniform lighting throughout the year. A 30mm translucent polycarbonate panel is installed in between which has intelligent light controllers. These louvers have an opaque reflective surface. The atrium and preconvention spaces experience the luminous effect brought by this system…

Hybrid fiber optics uniformly distributes sunlight through a single point source. This technology uses rooftop mounted 1200mm diameter collector and secondary mirror to track the sun throughout the day. A single holder holds 127 individual fibers each 3mm in diameter.

The collector system focuses the sunlight into 127 optical fibers connected to hybrid light fixtures equipped with diffusion rods visually similar to fluorescent light bulbs. These rods spread light in all directions, one collector powers 8-12 hybrid light fixtures which can illuminate an area of about 30-40 sqm. The guest rooms treated with terrace gardens that reduce heat absorption in the building. It has hexagonal mat of fiber, enclosing small gaps which are filled with soil to grow grass. The mat prevents corrosion and the grass helps in controlling the heat intake by the roof.

Earth-Air Tunnel

It spreads over a large portion of the ground in order to effectively retrieve the coolness possibly gained by the earth.

Section - Earth air tunnel

The use of eco-friendly technology to save energy and the efforts to channel natural elements to their benefit has allowed them to develop a system which can be integrated with the proper usage of space.

Green building offers us the chance to benefit everyone: residents, owners and neighbors, by reducing the carbon impact as well as reducing the energy costs. In the long term, green building technology is a net benefit to the consumer.

Originally posted 2010-02-07 18:16:26.

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5. Case study | School of Planning and Architecture | Delhi

As the world reels under the stress of economic recession and Peak oil, efforts are being made to minimize the use of energy, to maximize return on invested resources by recycling and optimum use of natural resources. Such efforts have culminated into the new Green building movement across the planet.

Brief Introduction of the Project

A contemporary convention centre having state of art facilities, using modern building techniques and energy efficiency as the prime design parameters.

Main Concept

The main idea was to integrate the climatic considerations in the form and landscape, yet preserving the monumental character of Chennai, keeping in mind the need of open green spaces in the metropolitan city.

TKM- College of Engineering

Site Analysis

The site measuring 100mx100m is situated in Chennai, free from any features like trees, HT and LT etc. The key elements in the centre are the amphitheatre and auditorium for 300 or 400 persons, common convention and seminar facilities, exhibition spaces, library and resource centre, health facilities, guest rooms and offices which have been provided well in the very prominent curvilinear design.

Site View of TKM College

The auditorium and amphitheatre are intentionally designed replicating the sculptural look amidst a large green space to find itself fitting in the monumental character of buildings offered by Chennai.

Special Features of the Project

Limitation of several measures to reduce thermal heat load in the complex with the help of east-west building orientation. Insulation of the roof with traditional earth material permits 50% radiation alone to the roof. This is provided with the view that contact of any surface with earth serves a better solution than evaporative cooling, cutting down on humidity levels. Induction of earth mass to the thermal mass of the building reduces fluctuations in the load besides acting as a form of shading and insulation.

TKM building - Novel roof structure

Partial power requirement along with features such as solar pump, waste water treatment plant and energy efficiency lighting. Reduction of the heat conduction through roof and walls is done by insulation and earth-berming. Control of ambient temperature and micro-climate is achieved by landscaping.

Adaptation of several measures to reduce thermal heat load in the complex with the help of east-west building orientation.

Insulation of the roof with traditional earth material permits 50% radiation alone to the roof. This is provided with the view that contact of any surface with earth serves a better solution than evaporative cooling, cutting down on humidity levels. Induction of earth mass to the thermal mass of the building reduces fluctuations in the load besides acting as a form of shading and insulation.

The Rise of Green Building Movement and LEED

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

LEED provides a third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO₂ emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

The Green Building movement is succeeding in a big way because there is a financial incentive to the owner of the building over a long term as a green building would reduce external energy costs to a large extent. Many new innovative technologies and products are being introduced everyday, which would help more architects and designers to incorporate the ideals of green building design into their projects.

Green Buildings technology in succeeding in a big way in India, which suffers from chronic electricity and water shortages. Maybe Green technology is the answer to resource scarcity in the nation of 1.2 billion people.

Originally posted 2010-02-07 14:05:24.

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5. The Art and Science of Structural Design Engineering

Concept

There are codes and with are de-codes. Environment by itself has a series of relationship with its elements with a certain pattern and alike to it is the city of Delhi. It holds within it layers of architecture of different time periods and eventually today it stands as a example of a place which has held all threads together yet attaining the cosmopolitan balance required to day. The design tries and depicts the essence of the spaces in Delhi like the gallis, chowks, dhabas…etc. by coming out with spaces which code and un-code visually or as per the activity pattern. The design further developed by understanding what a convention centre means in the Indian context hence consciously efforts have been on the lines to come out with a design which drifts away from the mall culture of Delhi and to come out with an amalgamation of ethnic elements of the capital city with the new age technology.

Site Justification and Analysis

Location:

Lodhi road, New Delhi

SPA - Delhi

The road in front being 25m wide. The area is surrounded by many historical and official buildings like the Humayun’s Tomb and the Indian Habitat Centre respectively for making the site desirable for the project. Also the fact that the chosen area has green spaces along with public transport facilities add to the viability factor of choosing the mentioned site for the design.

Design

The form tries to create visual impact to catch the attention of the moving traffic by playing with the height of the built structure depending on the function.

SPA - Isometric plan view

The entrance has been buffered with green spaces trying to match the visual context offered by the space around the Lodhi road. The site notices fragmentation of the spaces into blocks keeping in mind the coding and de-coding of spaces. This also facilitates the easy flow of wind plus providing more surface exposed to sunlight.

Convention block

This block is located near the entrance.  It has windows facing the lobby which have been consciously placed so that the interiors of the space experience diffused lighting by the use of Jaalis which has been an important element in historic buildings which are located in Delhi.

Convention Block Plan (Auditorium)

The three-stories building has an atrium which overlooks the lobby giving it  a well lit environment. The balconies which are provided in the floor for guest, has not been treated as an individual entity but as a part of the huge cut-out with seating facilities making it a space where interaction can take place.

SPA Auditorium Section

Library and Exhibition Block

The library and exhibition spaces have been designed as a part of a single block. The study area is on the third floor where in North light fixed windows are provided as roof hence allowing diffused light.

The south facing spaces have windows with slits which reduces the glare brought in the exhibition spaces facing that direction simultaneously creating  a dramatic play of light. Internally the exhibition space has flexibe cubicles in Euro bond. Care has also been taken to provide workshop spaces for people using the exhibition.

Administration Block and Restaurant

The form of this block is such that it provides relativity with the road in order to maintain the visual connectivity. The space has been provided with the reflection of dhabas with only roof and charpais hence breaking the monotony of modern restaurants.

Auditorium Block

This block required spill over spaces to dilute the heavy crowd and additional to that the entire space opens up to a water body creating a pleasing effect. Above the acoustically sound form, the OAT has been designed. This open area with the isolated arched openings at its end give the barren monumental touch which is again a part of the capital city.

Design Efficiency Methods

Water Utilization

Storm water purification unit has been designed to enable the water to be used or fire fighting, AC refrigerant and facility requirements. Use of low flush toilets, use of auto flush urinal control.

Material Sourcing

Making use of cellular material for blinds and curtains, use of low VOC paints, use of recycle concrete for pavements and pathways. It helps in improving energy efficiency and making it a green project.

Lighting

Use of Y-8 compact fluroscent lamps, use of photo-sensitive dimmers, to massively reduce energy consumption and make it more sustainable in the long run.

Originally posted 2010-02-07 15:45:45.

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5. Application of Green Building Technology in India | Thiagaraj Convention Center

It is spread over an area of 5,495 acres of Shamshabad. The airport is 25km from the city of Hyderabd. The terminal building spans 105,300 sq.m. designed to handle 12 million passengers per annum and the cargo section has a capacity of 100,000 metric tonnes per annum. In the final phase the airport will reach its full capacity with an additional floor area of 430,000 sqm to be developed, bringing the total built-up area to 900,000sq.m. The master plan has been designed to cater to 50 million passengers a year. To achieve this, the present master plan allows freedom of expansion to both airside and landside facilities within the airport site.

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

The Plan of the airport is T-shaped. It ensures beautifully landscaped view from all the sides after the person is inside the airport complex.

The design of the passenger terminal building is simple so that the sequences of spaces facilitate easy and comfortable movement and orientation. The passenger terminal will cover 105,300m² of floor space and has systems in place to ensure rapid transit between the domestic and international concourses.

Airport Village

There is also a business hotel near the terminal building.

About the Airport Infrastructure

Check-in Counters

There are 130 check-in counters in the departures concourse in addition to 16 self-check-in counters for passengers carrying only cabin baggage.

There are 23 departure counters, 22 arrival counters and 1 transit.

Transfer Desk

RGIA has an integrated passenger terminal thereby providing ease of transfer from Domestic to International and vice-versa.

Customs

The customs have in-line baggage screening machines for the two international arrivals reclaim baggage belts. This in-line baggage system eliminates the need for passengers to queue up for getting their baggage x-rayed prior to checking in.

In-line baggage system

The system x-rays the checked in baggage at four levels.

Recreational facilities at the Airport

Lounges

There are 13 Business Class Lounges that enhance the elegant environment and also offer a place for the passengers to relax.

Lounge

These lounges have services like Business Centre, Baggage hold pick up and delivery, Limousine Service, Gymnasium, Shower, Napping areas and Massage services.

There are three VIP lounges located at Departure, Arrival and at remote gates on the ground level.

Nap and Shower

There is a facility for Nap and shower at the airport for transit passengers to unwind and get ready for the connecting flight. There is small cafeteria.

Cafeteria

The Lounge is located below the airport village area, opposite the car park. It comprises 28 spa rooms with shower and a TV, a lounge with seating capacity for 44, two meeting rooms, business centre, four shower rooms, a massage room, TV viewing area and a 24-hour bar.

Spa

There is also the provision of Spa facilities of the international standards at the airport.

There are Retail shopping areas inside the airport.

Parking

It has automated Parking Management System along with the unique ‘touch and go’ concept introduced for the first time in India. There is a provision to park over 3000 cars in front of the Passenger Terminal Building.

Parking

Originally posted 2010-01-02 10:38:36.

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Lantern light

A lantern light is constructed with glazed vertical sides and a hipped or gable-ended glazed roof. The vertical sides of the Lantern light are used as openings for ventilation.

Lantern lights were often used to cover considerable areas, the light being formed with substantial timbers or iron and steel frames in the form of a glazed roof to provide top light to large stairwells and large internal rooms. The traditional lantern light of timber or steel requires frequent or careful maintenance if it is to remain sound and watertight.

Lantern lights have also been used effectively in small factories and large halls where large number of people work together.

Lantern lights have largely been replaced by Dome lights for economy in first cost and freedom from maintenance.

The advantage of lantern light is the facility of ventilation from the opening upstand sides that can be controlled by cord or winding gear from below to suit the occupants of the room or space.

Lantern lights look similar to Dormer Windows…. But Dormer windows are usually constructed along a pitched roof whereas lantern lights are constructed over a flat roof….

Lantern lights on a flat roof

Dormer windows along a pitched roof

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Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Japan - World's Longest Suspension Bridge

To provide an overview of factors which are relevant to the successful practice of structural engineering, we have to look at the role of a structural engineer, understanding the needs and objectives of a client, the difficulties and conditions faced on site and the constraints put down by the Architect. A structural designer is capable of calculating different loads and stresses acting on a structure and designing the structure to resist there forces. For tall buildings, towers, tunnels, roads, marine structures, bridges and even space stations, structural designers are called upon to provide their expertise to ensure the stability of the structures.

Structural engineering is a field of engineering dealing with the analysis and design of structures that support or resist loads. A structural designer has to constantly keep abreast of the latest technological developments in the field of material sciences. Many new earthquake-resistant techniques are developed every year. A good engineer would incorporate all the best practices in the industry. Continuously learning and innovation are very integral part of this profession.

Japanese Roads

The biggest objective of any client, be it a real estate developer  or a contractor, is to minimize costs. It is the duty of a structural designer to design the structure in the most optimal way, so as to keep the costs of construction to a minimum. Sometimes, to save money, complexity has to be reduced and the design has to be made more simple in order to enable the work to go on at a faster pace. It is necessary to standardize sizes of beams and columns, so that the contractor can speed up construction.

In the field of structural design, an engineer has to make a lot of compromises. There are additional constraints introduced by the architect. A structural designer might have limited options. He may be asked to work with too few columns. There could be a very large span cantilever beam or slab. Maybe there could be a special request for using hidden beams so as to not impede the view, or to design a flat slab.

Burj Dubai

A good structural designer would maintain a balance between what his clients want, and what can be considered safe. It is a very important job. You design a building to last for 80 years. During this long duration, concrete gets old and cracks. It can no longer have sufficient strength due to aging. The steel rods start weathering away due to oxidation. There might be occasional earthquake and other natural phenomenon which put tremendous load on the structure. So, while designing the structure, all these points must be considered. You have to identify and manage project risk.

These days, the structures have become extremely complex. And as this complexity continues to grow, manual structural design has become very difficult. So, most of the work is done on computers, using software like SAP2000, Etabs and Staad Pro. It allows for a complete 3-dimensional analysis of the structure for different forces which might act on the structure.

Structural designing is a very interesting and innovative field. It is extremely rewarding and fascinating to design structures that can stand the test of time, and attracts the best in the field of Civil Engineering.

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Centrair is classified as a first class airport and is the main international gateway for the Chubu region of Japan. The name “Centrair” is an abbreviation of Central Japan International Airport, also known locally as  Chubu Kokusai K?k? Kabushiki-gaisha. It is located near the city of Nagoya.

With over two million inhabitants, Nagoya is Japan’s fourth most populated city. It is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and the principal city of the Nobi plain, one of Honshu’s three large plains and metropolitan and industrial centers. The Toyota Motor Corporation maintains its headquarters just outside of Nagoya.

Chubu is Japan’s third off-shore airport, after Nagasaki Airport and Kansai International Airport, and second airport on a manmade island. There are currently 5 offshore airports in Japan, including Kobe Airport and New Kitakyushu Airport. Business Week rated it as 5th Best Airports in the world in 2009.

Centrair Airport is the gateway of Central Japan to the sky. It takes 28 minutes by train and 30-40 minutes by car from Nagoya. Furthermore, Centrair is connected to Tsu in Mie prefecture by High-Speed Boat.

Toyota Motor Corporation has a corporate headquarters in the city, and wanted an International airport in the vicinity. It especially requested the government for 24 hour cargo flights. So, finally the government relented, and construction for this airport started in August 2000. Initially, the budget for completing this airport was 768 billion yen (€5.5 billion, US$7.3 billion), but through efficient management nearly 100 billion yen was saved. PentaOcean Construction was a major contractor.

In addition to cost cutting measures, a number of environmental protection measures had been taken after learning from Kansai International Airport. The artificial island itself was shaped like the rounded letter “D” so that sea currents inside the bay will flow freely. Its shores were partially constructed with natural rocks and sloped to aid sea lifeforms to set up colonies.

When it opened on February 17, 2005, it took over almost all of the existing Nagoya Airport (now Nagoya Airfield)’s commercial flights, and relieved Tokyo and Kansai areas for cargo shipments. As a replacement for Nagoya Airport, it also inherited its IATA airport code NGO. It has had very stiff competition from local domestic airports, and in 2009, due to economic recession, the volume of passengers and cargo had gone down.

Originally posted 2009-12-29 18:08:36.

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An Example of Green Building Architecture

Alien Space Station, Hyderabad, India

Alien Space Station Plan

Location of a building is very important. It is located just next to the city’s IT hub, Financial sector, Hospitality services and the upcoming US consulate in Gachibowli, Hyderabad. Aliens Space Station is barely 3 Kms from the Outer Ring Road and 20 minutes drive from the new International Airport.

Aliens Space Station is an integrated township that covers about 20 acres of land, out of which 16 acres is lush greenery with breathtaking views, near the International airport, envelops the 13 towers of Space Station1 from all sides.

Only 20 % of the total land is used for the construction of permanent structures and the rest of the 80% of land is just beautifully landscaped gardens. It is expected to go up to a height of 87 meters and house 2,205 apartments including duplexes and penthouses.

With prime commercial & office space inside, this township is rubbing shoulders with a huge number of upcoming projects in the vicinity making it the landmark of the future. This project has made use of high technology and is bringing in hi-tech featured homes to live in. It is an unparalleled urban lifestyle township with features such as high-rise residences, home automation, biometric security, commercial and retail zone, work space, multiplex and state-of-the art club house with mini golf driving range.

The plan of Alien Space Station is S-shaped. It ensures beautifully landscaped view from all the sides of the building and also provides uniform air, light and ventilation to the building.

Aliens Space Station Penthouse

Structural elements of Alien Space Station

1. Framework

RCC framework is used in the structure.

2. Use of Shear Wall Construction

A normal building has columns that are designed keeping the concrete frame structure in mind. High rise buildings cannot withstand heavy winds and external forces along with dead load (weight of the building), Live loads (people living inside the building). Shear walls have been used beacause it disperses strong winds and gets a strong grip to the ground, hence resisting the action of external forces. Shear walls help in distributing wind and light in all directions.

3. Type of foundation used

Instead of Isolated footing, raft foundations are used. It is a mass foundation where the single mass takes the load and distributes it uniformly to a large area.

4. Transverse Slab

Generally, Normal Slabs are used in the construction of buildings. They transfer load horizontally and vertically to the ground whereas in Transverse Slab transfer the load horizontally distribute load and then transfers it to the ground. This also helps in having a clear view since there are no hindrances like the Pillars.

5. Interconnected Corridor

Interconnected corridor is 1.5km throughout the building. It gives strength to the structure and is also helpful in times of exigency.

Sustainable Techniques used in Alien Space Station

• This construction incorporates use of energy efficient, eco-friendly materials and systems into its development.

• At the construction level, soil erosion control measures were implemented to reduce the negative impact on the environment. A waste-reduction process is also being used during the construction for more effective resource recycling adherence.

• It has been designed in such a way that it reduces the heat island effect and maintains moderate temperature within the building. This in turn results in economic benefits such as lower electricity costs and health benefits such as low air pollution levels or any other heat related illness.

• Quality water management practices such as rainwater harvesting and the usage of water efficient fixtures for water conservation add another positive perspective to resource management. Effective use of recycled water will be practiced for plumbing systems such as toilet flushing.

• An energy efficient model is laid out to reduce the wastage of resources along with solar water heating systems and captive power generations. The common areas including corridors, lobby spaces etc will also optimize the usage of energy throughout the township.

• Another unique feature that reduces pollution effects in the micro-environment is the usage of Quality air control systems (such as Carbon-monoxide sensors) in the parking areas along with electrical charging points in each car park slot. There will be an economically beneficial waste disposal system with garbage separation, to ensure mercurial wastes does not lead to harmful effects and is disposed in the right manner.

• The interiors of each apartment equally eco-sensitized with thoughtful window/door placement that maximizes ventilation and natural lighting, and minimizes the need for natural lighting or climate control.
  

Originally posted 2010-01-06 16:27:58.

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2. Leading the Green Building Movement | TKM College of Engineering (Chennai)
3. Application of Green Building Technology in India | Thiagaraj Convention Center
4. Case study | School of Planning and Architecture | Delhi

The built-up sections shown in figure’ A’ and ‘B’ are used for heavy loads and small spans.

The built-up section ‘C’ is also used for heavy loads and small span.

The built-up section ‘D’ is used for light loads and large spans.

The built-up sections ‘E’ & ‘F’ are provided for Gantry girders.

Originally posted 2009-12-25 06:14:13.

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5. Metal Partitions

LBHS Mumbai - Site plan

This project is special because it has implemented many energy-saving devices and techniques to make it one of the first green building designs in India. From light sensors for auto-switching of lights, to water recycling, use of solar arrays and use of earth air tunnels, this project has done everything. It is a very interesting case study. The designers have aimed at developing an semi-autonomous building, almost self-sufficient building complex.

It is inferred that such buildings reduce environmental impacts, increase security, and lower costs of ownership.

Segmentation of Space

This project is spread into a vast area. The available space is divided into public and semi-public zones.

Auditorium, Restaurant and Exhibition halls requiring services are placed adjacent to the service road. Amphitheater, the main interaction hub, is placed centrally orienting in the North-West direction to capture the wind flow. This keeps the open-air amphitheater cool in the evening with a gentle North-Western breeze.

Auditorium

It is located near the entrance and given a formal outlook for usage reasons. There is an entire buffer floor for flexibility. Open spill-over areas around it provide a comprehensive view of the stage.

Auditorium Plan

Section at A-A'

Section at B-B'

Auditorium at LBHS, Mumbai

Exhibition Block

There are three large halls at different levels which are used to exhibit various things and host architecture fairs from time to time. Sit-out serves as an interaction space at the rear side of the block. The open-air exhibition has a retractable covering around the edges. Considering the rains and heavy winds in the Konkan area, tensile material has been chosen for roofing for the exhibition halls..

Exhibition Block at LBHS Mumbai

Eco-friendly Roof

Green, eco-friendly roof insulates the conference block, auditorium and exhibition block from external weather and temperature, thus saving energy costs over the long term. Shading, evapo-transpiration and filtering are functions of the green roof infrastructure.

Provision of Earth Air Tunnel

Another interesting feature of this college is an Earth Air Tunnel to cool down temperatures during the summer season, in order to reduce energy costs.

Earth- air tunnels may be considered as special types of wind towers connected to an underground tunnel. The cooling process is based on the fact that the temperature a few meters below the ground is almost constant throughout the year. A wind tower is connected to the underground tunnel, which runs from the bottom of the wind tower to the basement of the building. The wind tower catches the wind which is forced down the tower into the tunnel. The temperature of the tunnel, being lower than that of the ambient temperature, cools the air before it is circulated into the living space.

Source: http://www.learn.londonmet.ac.uk/packages/clear/thermal/buildings/passive_system/earth_air_tunnel.html

Water Recycling

In order to reduce water consumption, this project has implemented “water recycling” at the site. The recycled water is probably used for watering the gardens maintained by the college.

Solar Cell Arrays

Surprisingly, the college generates electricity with the help of 32 Solar Cell Arrays. There is not enough data to understand how this generated power is utilized and how it affects their power bills.

Air Conditioning by Gas-fired Ammonia absorption Chillers

The entire college is air-conditioned, and this unit provides air  conditioning at a very low cost. Infact, it uses 75% less power than a comparable conventional air conditioning unit.

Light Sensors

These guys don’t have to worry about switching off the light when they exit the rooms. There are movement sensors in important places which can detect the presence of people, which regulates the light switches. Incredible… I wonder if it actually works.

This is a very interesting case study. Many interesting and mature techniques have been used to reduce energy consumption and reduce dependence of the college on the grid.

Related posts:

1. Leading the Green Building Movement | TKM College of Engineering (Chennai)
2. Case study | School of Planning and Architecture | Delhi
3. Application of Green Building Technology in India | Thiagaraj Convention Center
4. NIT Trichy | Case Study, Documentation and Analysis
5. Aliens Space Station | Green Architecture Exemplified

• In Architecture and Structural Engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight slender members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes.
• External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in forces in the members which are either tensile or compressive forces.
• Moments (torsional forces) are explicitly excluded because, and only because, all the joints in a truss are treated as revolutes.

King Post Truss

King Post roof truss (spans upto8M)

• King Post Truss is a wooden truss.
• It can also be built of combination of wood and steel.
• It can be used for spans upto 8m.

Queen Post Truss

Queen Post Truss (spans upto 10M)

• Queen Post Truss is also a wooden truss.
• It can be used for spans upto 10m.

Howe Truss

Howe Truss (spans upto 6M to 30M)

• It is made of combination of wood and steel.
• The vertical members or tension members are made of steel.
• It can be used for spans from 6-30m.

Pratt Truss

Pratt truss (spans upto 6M to 10M)

• Pratt Truss is made of steel.
• These are less economical than the Fink Trusses.
• Vertical members are tension and diagonal members are compression.
• Fink Trusses are very economical form of roof trusses.
• It can be used for spans from 6-10m.

Fan Truss

Fan Truss (spans upto 10M to 15M)

• It is made of steel.
• Fan trusses are form of Fink roof truss.
• In Fan Trusses, top chords are divided into small lengths in order to provide supports for purlins which would not come at joints in Fink trusses.
• It can be used for spans from 10-15m.

North Light Roof Truss

North light roof truss (spans upto 20M to 30M)

• When the floor span exceeds 15m, it is generally more economical  to change from a simple truss arrangement to one employing wide span lattice girders which support trusses at right angles.
• In order to light up the space satisfactorily, roof lighting has to replace or supplement, side lighting provision must also be made for ventilation form the roof.
• One of the oldest and economical methods of covering large areas is the North Light and Lattice girder.
• This roof consists of a series of trusses fixed to girders. The short vertical side of the truss is glazed so that when the roof is used in the Northern Hemisphere, the glazed portion faces North for the best light.
• It can be used for spans from 20-30m.
• Used for industrial buildings, drawing rooms etc.

Quadrangular roof Trusses

Quadrangular Roof Truss (for large spans)

• These trusses are used for large spans such as railway sheds and Auditoriums.

Large Span Trusses

Large span trusses

Originally posted 2009-12-28 06:32:18.

Related posts:

1. Tubular Steel Roof Truss | Trussed large span Constructions
2. Lantern Light | Architectural element of Roof lighting
3. Theory of Built-up Sections
4. Plate Girders | Structural Steel Components

Metal lath and plaster have been used in both residential and commercial applications to partition interior space and in non-load-bearing exterior walls where appearance and durability are key.

Various Metal Laths

Rib lath

Rib Lath

• Rib lath is widely used as a plaster backing on ceilings,walls and stud partitions.
• Rib Lath is also ideal for refurbishing damaged or aged masonry walls
• Material: Galvanized Steel for dry conditions.
• Stainless Steel for external use and condition of heavy condensation or persistent damp.

Expanded Metal Lath

Expanded Metal Lath

• Expanded Metal Lath has stiffening V ribs providing strength for its tenforce. Stiffened by longitudinal ribs, gives a uniform coat depth for large areas.
• Provides an excellent plaster base.
• provides a high degree key of mechanical bonding with plaster or render.
• Widely used as a background for plaster, render, stucco application in construction of suspended ceilings partition.
• When conventional plasters like (cement+gypsum)  used with expanded metal lath, they create a mechanical bond with the lath for maximum strength and durability.
• Metal  laths are fabricated from galvanized wire into a grid or hexagonal pattern and hence due to galvanization, corrosion is resisted.

Plaster Used:

• Plaster used in the construction of this partition wall must not only be strong but must also be crack resistant and economical to apply.
• Mixes prepared from Portland cement and some gypsum cements offer these qualities and is known as Gypsolite.
• Thickess:  It varies from 19mm to 64mm.

USES

• It is used where thinner walls are required…
• They are cost effective and light in weight and durable.
• They are used for inbuilt shelves and parapet walls.

1. First a framework of metal mesh is built.

2.  then it is Plastered from both sides.

Hollow Metal Lath Partitions

Hollow Metal Partition

Originally posted 2009-12-13 13:27:03.

Related posts:

1. Steel and Aluminium Partitions
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Types of Column bases:

1)      Slab base

2)      Gusseted base

Slab Base

• Slab bases are used where the columns have independent concrete pedestals.
• A thick steel base plate and two cleat angles connecting the flanges of the column to the base plate.
• In addition to these, web cleats are provided to connect the web of the column to the base plate.
• These web cleats guard against the possible dislocation of the column during erection.
• The ends of the column and also the base plate should be mechanized so that the column load is wholly transferred to the base plate.
• Area of base plate= (load of column)/(permissible bearing stress in concrete)

Gusseted base

Gusseted Base

• These bases are provided for columns carrying heavier loads requiring large base plates.
• A gusseted base consists of a base of reduced thickness and two gusseted plates are attached one to each flange of the column.
• The gusseted plates, cleat angles and fastenings (bolts, rivets) in combination with bearing area of shaft shall be sufficient to take all loads.

Originally posted 2009-12-15 06:01:45.

Related posts:

1. Plate Girders | Structural Steel Components
2. Tubular Steel Roof Truss | Trussed large span Constructions
3. The Art and Science of Structural Design Engineering
4. Theory of Built-up Sections
5. Steel and Aluminium Partitions

• Steel Sheets are specially formed steel panels that  provide continuous reinforcement for monolithic, high strength, fire-resistant plaster finish applications.
• This type of partition provides a cost-saving alternative to reinforced concrete or Concrete block.
• These thin, high-strength walls also easily accommodate electrical conduit and plumbing pipes.

• Lustrous high quality appearance
• Extremely durable
• Increased ease in maintenance and cleaning
• Recommended for areas of high humidity

End Uses

• Security walls in jails, prisons and correctional centers.
• Walls for vaults and counter areas at banking facilities and currency exchanges.
• Special storage rooms at high-end retailers, such as furriers and jewelers that store large, valuable items.
• Secured storage areas for items such as computer data records and financial records.
• Secured storage areas in residential homes.
• Steel Sheets are available in various sizes. Sheets can be overlapped and welded or screwed together, forming a continuous steel grid to fit needed room size. This minimizes scrap. Wall thicknesses can be adapted readily to meet design needs.
• High strength for continued security
• Lightweight for quick installation
• Galvanized to resist corrosion
• Can be screwed or welded
• Sheets can overlap for continuous steel grid fit

Aluminium Partition Walls

• Aluminum partition walls consist of aluminum frames which are mounted with either glass panes or particle board fittings to create partitions in business establishments.
• They are a very versatile design option and enhance the look of any interior space.

Originally posted 2009-12-18 08:02:53.

Related posts:

1. Metal Partitions
2. Hollow Block Partitions
3. Tubular Steel Roof Truss | Trussed large span Constructions
4. Column Bases | Design of Steel Structures
5. Hollow Cement Block Partition