Innovation in habitat design

As this issue goes to press, the knowledge capital of India, Bangalore, has witnessed the completion and formal opening of a new building, which proclaims in a practical manner the importance of eco-friendly building design and construction. The Hon?ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr S M Krishna inaugurated the new building complex of TERI?s Southern Regional Centre on 3 January 2002 on a bright and sunny day. This complex has been designed and constructed with unique features. Every corner of the building has a cheerful atmosphere because of the extensive use of daylighting through a provision of skylights and judicious provision of window area. The entire supply of hot water for use in the building including the residential areas, which consist of three suites and six single rooms, is provided by solar water heaters. The building also has a five kilowatt photovoltaic system installed, which meets a good part of the total electrical demand. All the rainwater that drains off the roofs is collected as part of a water harvesting system that minimizes the consumption of piped water substantially. All the taps are electrically operated, so that only essential quantities of water actually flow through each tap. Behind the building compound is a dirty water drain on the south side. Hence on that side a wall has been provided with a dark surface, which helps to collect all the solar energy falling on it. This is a double wall structure with space in between which allows air inside the building to rise up to the top thereby creating a draught which brings in fresh air from the northern side of the building, while the air from the drain on the southern side just flows over the building and avoids it completely. In all TERI buildings, such as the RETREAT (Resource Efficient TERI Retreat for Environmental Awareness and Training) complex on the outskirts of Delhi, attempts are made at a powerful statement on the importance of innovation in habitat design which is in harmony with nature. It is hoped that the new complex in Bangalore will inspire architects and builders as well as those who are planning new buildings in the future to employ some of the techniques prominently utilized by TERI in this structure.