COLD CLIMATE
CHARACTERISTICS.
• The relative humidity is generally high and ranges from 70 – 80%.
• Annual total precipitation is about 1000 mm and is disturbed evenly throughout the year.
• This region experiences cold winds in the winter season. Hence, protection from winds is
essential in this type of climate.
• The sky is overcast for most part of the year except during the brief summer.
• In winter, the values range between 4 and 8 deg C during the day and -3 to 4 deg C at
night, making it quite chilly.
Thus trapping the sun’s heat whenever possible is a major design concern. At the same time,
the buildings in such regions need to be properly insulated so that the internal heat is retained
with minimum loss to the environment. Exposure to cold winds should also be minimized.
CHARACTERISTICS.
The main objectives of building design in these zones are -
Promote heat gain & To resist heat loss, the following measures may be
taken into consideration:
◆ Decrease the exposed surface area of the building.
◆ Using materials that heat up fast but release heat slowly.
◆ Providing buffer spaces between the living area and the outside.
◆ Decreasing the rate of ventilation inside the building.
Heat gain can be promoted by -
◆ Avoiding excessive shading.
◆ Utilising the heat from appliances.
◆ Trapping the heat of the sun.
LANDFORM – Buildings in WATER BODIES– If heat gain and loss can be
depression area, to avoid cool air. controlled , then having a water body enclosed
Vegetation in high areas helps in by the building is acceptable.
protecting cool breeze STREET WIDTH & ORIENTATION-
Wide east west streets to maximize
winter sun
OPEN SPACES AND BUILT FORM- compact
planning , small open spaces, hard and
absorptive surface.
VEGETATION – Evergreen trees can be
planted to cut of cold breeze
RECOMMENDATION .
The general recommendations for regions with a cold and cloudy, or cold and sunny climate are as
follows –
SITE
◆ Landform - In cold climates, heat gain is desirable. Hence,
buildings should be located on the south slope of a hill or
mountain for better access to solar radiation .
◆ Open spaces and built form - Buildings in cold climates should be
clustered together to minimise exposure to cold winds .Open
spaces must be such that they allow maximum south sun. They
should be treated with a hard and reflective surface so that they
reflect solar radiation onto each other.
◆ Street width and orientation - The street orientation should be east-
west to allow for maximum south sun to enter the building. The
street should be wide enough to ensure that the buildings on one
side do not shade those on the other side.
RECOMMENDATION .
ORIENTATION AND PLANFORM
◆ In the cold zones, the buildings must be compact.This is
because the lesser the surface area, the lower is the heat
loss from the building.
◆ Windows should preferably face south to encourage direct
gain.
◆ The north side of the building should be well-insulated. Living
areas can be located on the southern side while utility areas
such as stores can be on the northern side.
◆ Air-lock lobbies at the entrance and exit points of the building
reduce heat loss.
◆ The heat generated by appliances in rooms such as kitchens may
be recycled to heat the other parts of the building.
RECOMMENDATION .
BUILDING ENVELOPE
◆ Roof - False ceilings are a regular roof feature of houses in
cold climates. One can also use internal insulation such as
polyurethane foam (PUF), thermocol, wood wool, etc. A
sloping roof enables quick drainage of rain water and snow.
◆ Walls - Walls should be of low U-value to resist heat loss.
The
south-facing walls could be of high thermal capacity to store
day time heat for later use rest of the walls should also be
insulated.
Hollow and lightweight concrete blocks are also suitable . On
the windward or north side, a cavity wall can be
adopted.
◆ Fenestration - It is advisable to have the maximum window area
on the southern side of the building to facilitate direct heat gain.
They should be sealed and double glazed. Double glazing helps to
avoid heat losses during winter nights
◆ Colour and texture - The external surfaces of the walls should
TECHNIQES
TROMBE WALL
A Trombe wall is a system for indirect solar heat gain and,
although not extremely common, is a good example of thermal
mass, solar gain, and glazing properties used together to
achieve human comfort goals passively
It consists of a dark coloured wall of high thermal mass
facing the sun, with glazing spaced in front to leave a small
air space. The glazing traps solar radiation like a small
greenhouse.
A successful Trombe wall optimizes heat gain and minimizes
heat loss during cold times, and avoids excess heat gain in
hot times.
Essential Features In Designing Of A House In Cold Climate
CASE STUDY
KOTI BANAL
ARCHITECTURE
UTTARAKHAND AND
HIMACHAL PRADESH
KOTI BANAL
ARCHITECTURE
Introduction
In the Rajgarhi area of Uttarkhashi
district of Uttarakhand, India a large
number of intact buildings of a distinct
earthquake resistant type known as Koti
Banal can be found. This construction
type has been in practice for more than
200 yrs & it is reported that Koti Banal
architecture withstood & performed well
during many past damaging earthquakes
in the region (e.g. 1991 Uttarkashi quake
of magnitude 6.6 on the Richter scale).
The building are considered as the
basics of modern earthquake- resistant
design.
DESIGN FEATURES:-
◆ Sitting & Orientation:
- Situated on a firm ridge or plane ground
having rock outcrop without any buildings in
the immediate vicinity.
◆ Thermal strategy:
- High thermal mass of the building envelope
retains heat.
-Small window opening prevent heat loss and
are south-facing.
-Low floor height (2.2 – 2.5 m) reduces the
internal volume of air to be heated.
-The attic space acts a thermal buffer.
Small window
opening
KOTI BANAL
ARCHITECTURE
BUILDING FEATURES :-
1.Typology
Multi-stoned detached structure of height varying between 7 – 12 m
above the plinth. They have rectangular plan configurations with the
length and width varying from 4-8m .
2. Structure
The building rest upon a raised dry stone masonry platform over the foundation
made in rubble masonry in the lower part. The walls consists of a configuration
with orthogonally arranged wooden logs interconnected at the junction by
wooden pins/tenons. For the two bottom most layers single wooden logs while
for upper layers double wooden logs are used. The infill between the logs is
furnished with well-dressed flat stones which are dry packed or by using A paste
of pulses as mortar. This wooden structure is not used for the upper part of the
wall where the dressed stones have a load- bearing function. The structure is
further reinforced by wooden beams which are perpendicular to the wooden
logs at the middle of the walls connecting two parallel outer walls.
BUILDING FEATURES :-
3. Roof system
Typically, the roofing span is half of the building width . The roof
constructed consists of a wooden frame which is expected to act
as a flexible diaphragm and is clad with slate tiles.
4. Wall system
50-60 cm thick timber- reinforced stone masonry. The
thickness of the walls is determined by the thickness of the
two parallel arranged wooden logs.
5. Floor
Wooden beams door and planks resting on wooden
joists
supported by beams or walls.
BUILDING FEATURES :-
6. Door / windows
A single small door access on the
ground floor and relatively small south
facing windows floors above with wooden
frames and shutters.
7. Semi-outdoor spaces
The upper two floor is have balconies
running around the whole building
cantilevering from the wooden logs of
the flooring system with a wooden
railing.
RESIDENCE FOR MOHINI
MULLICK
Cottage is oriented towards south to maximize solar gains. The shape
of the building reduces heat is compact thus reduces heat loss.
Trombe like wall also has been included to receive indirect heat gains
through out the night time.
Direct solar gain is ensured in living / dining and
kitchen areas by providing large south facing
glazed area.
The walls of the house are made up of thick
random rubble, which is available near site.
Roof is insulated with rock wool and house
entrance is from north through a air lock.
Minimum openings on the east and west and no
openings on the north
Earth berming for lower floor by setting the cottage
partly into hill
COLD AND SUNNY CLIMATE
Characteristics
• Mountainous regions with little vegetation.
• Solar radiation is Intense with low percentage of diffuse radiation.
• Consistently low Relative humidity (10-50%)
• Very low Precipitation generally less than 200mm per year.
• Winds are occasionally intense.
• Fairly clear sky conditions.
Note : design considerations are similar to cold and cloudy climate
