ECOLOGICAL STRATEGY.

Hypothesis/ Concept Sheet Statement.

The most interesting existing natural feature of this semi urban site is a crater formed out of an old mica-mining quarry. A primary, strategic response to the site involves filling the crater with water, in the light of Delhi’s continuing severe water crisis for the last decade or so. This ecological intervention looks at harvesting rain and runoff water and recharging the area’s critically low ground water supply. The design intention is to exemplify the site as a complete micro-ecological system and treat it as an extension of the Delhi Ridge- the green lung of the city. We want to conserve, nurture, enhance and exemplify the healing characteristics of the Delhi Ridge through a process of ‘editing nature’. The masterplan is thus organised around this water body, which serves a variety of ecological functions- from being a significant contributor to passive cooling methods for the buildings and courts to serving as a wetland habitat encouraging local wildlife.

ECOLOGICAL STRATEGY

- PASSIVE RESPONSE TO SITE ECOLOGY
- MICROGENERATION

The Ecological Strategy would be designed to work at two principal levels:
1.) At Masterplan Level
2.) At Building Level

PASSIVE RESPONSE TO SITE ECOLOGY.

THE LAKE and SUSD.
1. Use the existing crater to create a substantial water body on the site, with the water level capped off at 254m level.
2. The water body acts as a healing system in terms being a water reservoir and a source of nourishment and replenishment for the critically low ground water table in these parts. According to the INTACH study, rainwater runoff and flood discharges constitute a major resource to be conserved. The usage of monsoon waters during the rainy season needs to be dispersed over the year. It is estimated that water harvesting and recycling within Delhi would totally eliminate the demand-supply gap by the year 2021.
3. The water filled canyon can be integrated into a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) whereby most of the rainwater and run off water during the monsoons from the site is captured and redirected into the crater to ensure that it stays replenished during the peak of summer. This would be an artificially created natural water storage feature based on a water harvesting system which captures runoff and water from building terraces and paved areas, roads, gullies and drains and natural rainwater drainage channels through the site.
4. A water reservoir of this kind in the middle of the site also becomes a Microclimate Governor influencing temperatures and encouraging local biodiversity for the site and its surrounding areas.
5. The water reservoir is envisioned to become a valuable ecological resource both in terms of adding to the ecology of the biodiversity park nearby and in creating its own micro-environment wherein the presence of such a large body of water makes it ideal for replenishing and sustaining local flora and fauna- large shady trees can be planted to augment the existing woodland on site- and it can become a sanctuary for local mammals and for native and migratory birds.
6. The large water body also creates a potential for a city level recreation space in its relationship to the masterplan, contributing to the health and well being of citizens.
7. The water reservoir would be the principal feature of the passive cooling strategies adopted for the campus.
8. Passive cooling of buildings, courtyards and the main pedestrian spine would be achieved by orienting the massing and the main pedestrian spine to the predominant wind direction such that the cool air flowing over the water body flows into the courts and pedestrian spine by creation of negative and positive pressure zones that would stimulate air flow.
9. PDEC and Water Source Heat Pump- In the summer, water from the lake would be used in a cyclic loop to power the micronisers in the cooling towers of a Passive Downdraught and Evaporative Cooling (PDEC) system. In addition to this an air tunnel/cooling pipes would be run at the canyon floor bed level and this cooled air could be then circulated in the buildings.
10. The lake environs would also work for incorporating reed bed filtering systems like root zone treatment for grey water recycling for the waste water generated from the residences and from the café kitchen, laboratories, workshops and administration areas of the scheme. This water can then be used for irrigation purposes.
11. A visible feature of the Sustainable Urban Drainage System would be deep boreholes connecting to the ground water table where part of the run off and rainwater harvest would be directed. These boreholes would be distributed throughout the low-lying areas of the site.
12. The masterplan also envisages rainwater harvesting for ensuring a sustainable supply of water for the whole complex throughout the year. The provision of underground rainwater storage tanks (min. capacity 40000 L) is a salient feature of the ecological strategy. These would be distributed through various important elements of the masterplan. The runoff from the roofs of some of the buildings would be directed into these tanks after being passed through a filtration chamber.

ORIENTATION AND NATURAL VENTILATION

1. The masterplan looks to optimise on the 20 deg East of South orientation recommended for Delhi. The long faces of the building are oriented North South with minimal exposure to the harsh West sun.
2. Brise-soleils, mediating walls, double roofs and green roofs, naturally ventilated double facades and green living walls would be employed to keep the buildings cool and reduce direct solar gain where ideal orientation is not possible.
3. The built form, arranged around a series of courtyards, with irregular voids working as circulation zones leading into and away from these courts is organised such that negative pressure zones are created within the built enclosure and cool wind from over the body is channelled through into the courtyards and public spaces.
4. The courtyards also serve as a source of heat dissipations. (encourage water in courtyards)
5. Building widths are restricted to 16m to encourage natural cross ventilation with open windows on non peak summer days of the year.
6. Buildings will utilise a solar chimney to generate stack effect and generate cross ventilation on favourable days of the year. The solar chimneys would be in the form of functional elements like staircase and atriums and also in the form of visible, stand alone design elements which draw hot air out of the building with the aid of a suction fan and a plenum network.
7. This system coupled with a PDEC system would take care of the cooling requirement through the year.
8. The master plan also encourages double roofs over some of the buildings like the main auditorium. These double roofs could be used to organise plantations on the terrace below. The double/floating roof would generally be a thin filigree structure that would have climbers and other resilient plants and would serve as a major thermal buffer, shielding the building from direct heat gain due to solar incidence. In cooler climes, it would serve for framing views over the lake and shelter the terrace for informal and organized outdoor activities.
9. Green roofs would be encouraged where a double roof is not being provided. Green roofs encourage biodiversity and serve as effective microclimate governors in addition to insulating the buildings.
10. At building level- natural ventilation would be encouraged by active mechanical means for most of the year. A combination of Passive Downdraught Earth Cooling in tandem with a lakebed earth air tunnel, effective thermal mass with night time purging facilities, brise soleils, solar chimneys and naturally ventilated double facades would keep the buildings ventilated.
11. The scheme intends to achieve these temperatures all year round, through a combination of active and passive cooling measures: Target Internal Temperatures: 20 deg C in winter, 28 deg C in dry summer and 30 deg C in monsoon.

OTHER SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FEATURES

1. A covered pedestrian spine with sheltering and mediating elements connects the ends of the master plan and generates pedestrian cross movement through the site, encouraging people to walk (instead of driving) and reduce their carbon footprint.
2. A covered car park (with skylights and sun steals incorporated to have as much natural daylight as possible) is an integral part of the scheme. This reduces the amount of surface parking by a significant amount thereby reducing the need for large areas of paving and asphalt which would be subject to massive heat gains and which contribute to the Urban Heat Island Effect.
3. The builtform tries, where possible to use the natural slopes and contours of the site and minimise the cut and fill on site.
4. The scheme encourages the use of local and low embodied energy materials as much as possible to achieve a low carbon footprint for the building.
5. Extensive landscaping and provision of cooling water features. The scheme envisages conservation of existing woodlands and the planting of mature trees with areas of extensive landscaping to augment the existing micro ecology of the site. As part of the design, a large area of the site is also conserved with very little intervention so that the original Kikar forest is preserved…this area can then be demarcated for future expansion.

MICROGENERATION AND ENERGY AND RESOURCE EFFICIENCY.

The design for the integrated campus aims for a totally self-sustaining community where energy generation and energy efficiency are concerned. The design intends that a combination of renewable energy technologies like solar panels, wind turbines and a Micro CHP system be used to generate all of the energy required to run the institute with any excess power being sold back to the Delhi supply grid.
The scheme intends to restore SPA’s reputation as the premier institute for studies related to the Built Environment. One of the objectives of this exercise is to promote SPA as centre for learning on issues related to Energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies and Microgeneration, in the context of the Built Environment. The scheme intends that Microgeneration be a visible and demonstrable feature for students, faculty and public visitors to the site. These demonstration features would educate students and visitors (including school and college groups from all over the city) about issues related to global warming, the need for harnessing energy from the wind, sun and rain and about how to reduce their own carbon footprint by making improvements to their own lifestyles. The Microgeneration demonstration would be part of the school’s campus centre, where some of the programmes and activities could be combined to with the school’s Outreach programme.

POWER GENERATION:

Phase 1:
The scheme looks at using solar panels and wind turbines in generating power for the complex. Solar photovoltaic panels would be the primary source of power, with additional power requirements catered for by localised micro- wind turbines on high points of the site and building roof tops.
Phase 2:
Phase 2 provides additional power by the incorporation of a large capacity wind turbine- 50 KWH in a suitable area of the site. A sustainable design intention of the scheme is to introduce the concept of the Micro CHP (Community Heating and Power) into the scheme, whereby the waste generated by the institute and the neighbouring local communities could be used to power a biomass fuel powerplant located in the proximity which would then provide power to the locality.

RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES

1.) Solar PV Cells- banks to be placed on terraces of each buildings. System to be localised and controlled by the BMS of each building. Architects could also incorporate the Solar PV’s in the design of the buildings. ( on facades, elements of landscape etc.)
2.) Solar Water heating- for providing hot water in the hostel/ residential buildings.
3.) Solar photovoltaic cells to be incorporated into outdoor lighting design . street lighting etc.
4.) Micro Wind Turbines to be used in arrays on rooftops/ integrated into the building design.
5.) Building design to incorporate low-e lighting with presence sensors, controlled by BMS.
6.) Use of A- rated energy efficient appliances where possible.
7.) Use of water saving devices like low flush toilets and low water showers to be used in toilets in the residential and academic blocks.
8.) Effective daylighting devices like light steals, solar shading and brise soleils to be incorporated into building design.