Sustainable Interiors Design Strategies - For a Cabin at Kochi

KOCHI PERIYAR
BY,
1. REBEKAH R. PREMAKA,
2. AR. MITHUN KADRI,
3.AR. PRATIKSHA NEEL SHAH

CONTENTS
1. PROJECT INTRODUCTION
2. UNDERSTANDING THE CLIENT
3. KOCHI CLIMATE ANALYSIS
4. ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE
INTERIORS (VISION BOARDS)
a. ECO DESIGN
b. WATER CONSERVATION
c. ENERGY EFFICIENCY
d. GREEN INTERIOR MATERIALS
e. INDOOR ENVIRONMENT
f. INNOVATION IN INTERIOR DESIGN
5. INTERIOR DESIGN (MOOD
BOARDS)
a. PORCH
b. STUDIO
c. BATHROOM
6. RESEARCH / CASE-STUDIES

1. PROJECT INTRODUCTION
• A young and dynamic couple wants a cabin to get decorated in Kochi. They’re currently
based out of Bangalore, but have decided to shift to the city of Kochi to enjoy the sun and
the beach while they start their new restaurant.
• The couple wants the interiors to be as sustainable as possible.

2. UNDERSTANDING THE CLIENT
• A young well educated couple who want to add value and be a part of to the society by
going green.
• Wants to live and experience the rural lifestyle after living for in an urban area for long.
• Wants to escape the corporate life to a relaxed lifestyle.
• Wants live in a cottage that is stress free, relaxed space, organic and connected to nature,
a complete change from their organised urban lifestyle.
• Very much open to new ideas and technologies.
• Requirements of the cabin
• A Studio (Bedroom, Living, Kitchen)
• A Bathroom
• A Front porch

3. KOCHI CLIMATE ANALYSIS
1. Kochi falls under Warm and Humid
climatic zone
2. Most of the time the climate is
bearable with adaptive comfort
ventilation, however the following
strategies as per psychrometric chart
which suggest to make the
uncomfortable period, comfortable.
a. Sun Shading of Windows
b. Fan-Forced ventilation cooling
c. Dehumidification
d. Cooling and Dehumidification
KOCHI

4. VISION BOARDS
ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE INTERIORS

• We like to make the sustainable interior design,
measurable and certified so we propose to
follow the IGBC Sustainable Interior Rating
System.

4.a ECO DESIGN
Building Design to
Minimize Overheating

Natural Barrier Against Harsh Sun High Performance Glazing

High Efficiency AC Natural Ventilation

Ceiling Fan instead of AC Shaded Outdoor Buffer Zones

Roofs :
• The most prominent feature
of traditional buildings is the
sloping roof with 'roof ears'.
The carpenters considered
the roof design as the most.
The important and difficult
part. It comes down very
low and protects the walls
from rain and sun, thus
keeping the interior cool.
By Shishirdasika - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69475342
Padmanabhapuram Palace

4.b WATER CONSERVATION
Low Flow Water Fixtures
Aerating & Laminar Flow Dual Flush System Sensory Faucets

Rain Water Harvesting Grey Water Recycling

4.c ENERGY EFFICIENCY
CFC free
refrigerant
BEE Star
rated
Photo
Voltaic cell
Solar Water
Heater

4.c ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Sun Dried Mud
bricks (locally
made)
Lime made from
locally procured
shells
On site
excavated
laterite bricks or
locally made
LED LIGHT
FIXTURES

Traditional Kerala Materials & Architecture
• Kerala, God’s own country is blessed with immense natural resources.While sustainable
development is the need of the hour, we have to take lead in initiating activities that would
minimize the exploitation of our natural resources resulting in their effective utilization.
• The traditional Kerala architecture, as elsewhere, had developed according to the climate,
local materials, and socio-economic relations. Bamboo, earth, lime, timber, leaves etc. were
used in the warm humid climate of Kerala.
• In Kerala, we are blessed with lush green paddy fields, coconut palms, plantains, tapioca,
pineapple and cotton from which we can extract rice husk, straw, coconut husk, banana
fibre, tapioca stalks, pineapple leaf fibre and cotton fibre respectively. All the above natural
fibres form part of sustainable building materials.

• The traditional architecture of Kerala was modest. Houses never attained the
brilliance of the places of North India; they were simple, small, but refined. The rich
lived in buildings built with laterite blocks, granite, lime, timber and clay tiles. The
poorly constructed buildings with less permanent building materials such as earth,
bamboo and coconut leaves. But the predominant features are visible in these
houses as well.
•
Natural Materials Vs Local Materials
There is a difference between local materials and natural materials.
● Traditional Kerala architecture has used local materials. Gandhi ji had said that
architecture shall use materials which are available within a radius of five miles.
● Natural materials such as marble etc. may not be available locally. They may not
be sustainable because of the extra distance in transportation.We are looking at
some aspects of achieving sustainability to the maximum extent in the cabin to be
built at Kochi.

4e. INDOOR ENVIRONMENT
Avoiding windows in East
and West direction and
promoting windows on
North and South with
proper shading for good
Daylighting
Taller Ceilings allow
hot air to rise in the
room for better
Thermal Comfort

Cavity Wall to
reduce heat
gain
Cross Ventilation to
improve Thermal
comfort and Air
quality
Ergonomic Design

Cavity
Wall to
reduce
heat
gain
Indoor Plants
Fiddle Leaf ZZ Plant
Rubber Plant
Montera

Mesh Screen on
openings
Outdoor
Openings
with views

Choosing
appropriate light
temperature for the
are or task
Choosing the appropriate
type of lighting such as
Accent, Task, Ambient and
appropriate fixture types

Workers with
Mask on site
Low VOC or VOC free
Paint, adhesive etc.
Workers
cleaning
site after
work

4f. INNOVATION IN INTERIOR
DESIGN

AgroFibre - Latest Sustainable Materials in Kerala
• In Kerala, we are blessed with lush green paddy fields, coconut palms, plantains, tapioca,
pineapple and cotton from which we can extract rice husk, straw, coconut husk, banana
fibre, tapioca stalks, pineapple leaf fibre and cotton fibre respectively. All the above natural
fibres form part of sustainable building materials.
• Sustainable building materials include rapidly renewable plant materials like bamboo
(because bamboo grows quickly) and straw, lumber from forests certified to be sustainably
managed, ecology blocks, recycled stone, recycled metal, and other products that are
non-toxic, reusable, renewable, and/or recyclable) The EPA (Environmental Protection
Agency) also suggests using recycled industrial goods, such as coal combustion products,
foundry sand, and demolition debris in construction projects. Building materials should be
extracted and manufactured locally to the building site to minimize the energy embedded
in their transportation

5. INTERIOR DESIGN STYLE (MOOD
BOARD)
• Preliminary understanding of the client's intention to
move to Kochi and experience living close to the coast
makes us believe the MODERN BOHEMIAN STYLE would
be apt.
• The core of the bohemian aesthetic is that it’s
PERSONAL and RELAXED. Boho styles are not styled for
any other person’s enjoyment but your own.

Distressed Teak Wood Frame +
Antique Teak Columns.
Terracotta Tiled
Flooring. Juxtaposed
with colorful
4”x4”ceranic tiles.
Outdoor Furniture
made of Rice Husk
Boards.
Outdoor Seating -
Laterite Stone Slabs.

Light Colored Walls & Floor
with hues of bright colors in
furniture, artefacts etc.
Walls - Mix of Adobe &
Laterite stone.Majority
covered with Lime/Clay
Plaster

Ceiling
Bamboo Sheets with Teak
Wood Framing
Bamboo Panels for flatter
portions. (Below upper room)
Matt Finish Ceramic
Tiles for Flooring.

FURNITURE & MISC ITEMS
Windows - Recycled
Pinewood Shutters
Lights - Made from
Banana Fibre
Lampshades
Furniture - Made of Cane

Self Composting Dry Toilets
Indoor Plants
Ceramic Toilet
Tiles

CLIENT LIFESTYLE - OUR ASSUMPTIONS
• A young well educated couple who want to add value and part of to the
society by going green.
• Want to live and experience the rural lifestyle after living for in an urban area for
long.
• Want to escape the corporate life to a relaxed lifestyle.
• Want live in a cottage that is stress free, relaxed space, organic and connected
to nature, a complete change from their organised urban lifestyle.
• Very much open to new ideas and technologies.

INTRODUCTION
The history of Kochi begins in 1341 when it was first established as an ancient port city.
Throughout the middle ages, traders from Kochi established strong business ties with
people from myriad cultures across the world. The Portuguese, Dutch, Arab, & the
English had traded in spices with Kochi before establishing their individual bases in the
port city.
As a result of this eclectic mix, Kochi has been a cosmopolitan city since it’s early
days. Today, it’s one of the fastest growing cities in India and a center of trade and
commerce for the entire country.

KOCHI
CLIMATIC
ZONE
KOCHI
Kochi - Warm and Humid

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE - Analysis
• The average temperature is generally between warm and hot.
• July to September shows monsoon season and is generally warm.
• The remaining months experience experience both warm and hot temperature.
• From late Feb to mid May we see that it's hot even after sunset, which is also the summer
season and is experienced for longer hours.
• Also the temperature starts to usually rise close to noon and drops before sunset expect
during summer months.

CLOUD COVER - Analysis
• The average cloud cover is generally mostly cloudy.
• December to April has clear / partly cloudy skies.
• The remaining months experience mostly cloudy or overcast skies.

AVERAGE RAINFALL - Analysis
• Rainfall is from May to November.
• June has the highest amount of rainfall.
• The remaining months experience very less to no rainfall.

SUN - Analysis
• Sunrise starts after 6am.
• Sunset doesn’t exceed 7pm.
• Generally have around 12 hrs of sunlight.

HUMIDITY - Analysis
• Humidity is miserable and oppressive throughout the year.
• December & January have comparatively lesser miserable humidity.

Psychrometric Chart- Analysis
• From the chart we see that 61% of the whole year is comfortable w.r.t adaptive
comfort ventilation and the remaining time need to dealt accordingly.

Psychrometric Chart - Design Strategies

Psychrometric Chart - Design Strategies
For the remaining uncomfortable hours of the year the following strategies have been
suggested:
1. Sun Shading of Windows
2. Fan-Forced ventilation cooling
3. Dehumidification
4. Cooling and Dehumidification

Psychrometric Chart - Design Guidelines
As most of the solutions for better comfort within the space is architectural, here are a few guidelines
for interior designing.
1. Good natural ventilation can reduce or eliminate air conditioning in warm weather, if windows
are well shaded and oriented to prevailing breezes.
2. Screened porches and patios can provide passive comfort cooling by ventilation in warm
weather and can prevent insect problems.
3. Traditional passive homes in warm humid climates use high ceilings and tall operable windows
protected by deep overhangs and verandah.
4. On hot days ceiling fans or indoor air motion can make it seem cooler by 5 deg or more.
5. Minimize or eliminate west facing glazing to reduce summer and fall afternoon heat gain.
6. Use plant materials (bushes, trees, ivy-covered walls) especially on the west to minimize heat
gain.
7. Use open plan interiors to promote natural cross ventilation, or use louvered doors, or instead use
jump ducts if privacy is required.
8. In wet climates, well ventilated attics with pitched roofs work well to shed rain and can be
extended to protect entries, porches, verandahs, outdoor work area.
9. Shaded outdoor buffer zones (porch, patio, lanai) oriented to the prevailing breezes can extend
living and working areas in warm or humid weather.

Waste Management
• Waste Management is an integral part of Kochi Municipal Corporation.
• Being an integral part, every hold has a role to play in waste management.
• The household waste are segregated at the source were Solid and Wet waste are
collected separately and sent forward to the primary collection centre.
• However the Wet / Biodegradable waste can be processed at source by Composting
and Bio-Methanation, which is practiced in many households.
• Types of household level treatment
• Pot Composting (including 3 pot composting)
• Kitchen Bin, Ring Compost
• Bucket composting
• Bio - composter
• Indoor vermicomposting

Water Supply
• Kochi has piped water supply system.
• Rainwater harvesting cannot be realistically considered as a main source for supply.In
urban areas water collected from large roof areas can be used for groundwater
recharge, if careful attention is taken to prevent contamination.
• However, rainwater harvesting is considered for small communities outside the range of
the piped water supply system and where groundwater may be saline, such as coastal
areas around Kochi.
• Kochi being situated in on the coast and due to indiscriminate abstraction of ground
water without consideration of its potential, the groundwater has become saline in many
areas.
• Ground Water Authority would have to be approached and necessary regulations and
rules have to be followed if we require to sink a well.

ACHIEVING
SUSTAINABLE
INTERIOR

1.VISION BOARD FOR SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES
2.OPTIMISE CIRCULATION SPACES
3.PROXIMITY TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT & FACILITIES
4.TENANCY IN GREEN FACILITY
5.LONG TERM OCCUPANCY

Rain Water Harvesting Grey Water Recycling
BEYOND THE FENCE TECHNIQUES

1. CFC / HALON FREE APPLIANCE
2. HVAC SYSTEM / DAYLIGHTING / BEE RATED APPLIANCE
3. SUBMETERING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC / PLUMBING / HVAC SYSTEMS
4. RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS
5. LOW EMBODIED ENERGY

1.SEGREGATION OF WASTE
2.USING LOCAL MATERIALS
3.USING RECYCLED MATERIALS
4.USING SALVAGED MATERIALS
5.ECO-FRIENDLY WOOD BASED MATERIALS
6.PURCHASE OF GREEN CONSUMABLES
7.ECO-CERTIFIED INTERIOR FURNITURE

Earth
• In many large buildings, the earth was used. The sun-dried mud bricks may be used for
the second storey of a two-storey building, laterite being used for the ground floor.
They may also be used for the less important part of buildings. The use of earth blocks
(without ramming or sun-dried bricks) was common only among the poor. Mortar using
earth is also used in many buildings constructed with laterite so as to reduce the cost
of construction.
Sustainability in Current Times
• If the earth from the site
where the building is used,
then it becomes very
sustainable. But if the earth
has to be transported over a
distance, then the embodied
energy will go up. But one has
to remember that even burnt
bricks have to be transported,
so why not earth. It is still a
recyclable and biodegrable
material and better than
burnt kiln bricks.

Earth - Sustainability in current times.
• If cement is used for strengthening the earth blocks, then the sustainability the
aspect will be less in such a case depending among the amount of cement being
added. If interlocking earth blocks are being used, then the sustainability will be
more since no cement mortar is being used for the construction of the
superstructure.
A House-made with interlocking
earth blocks without the use of
any mortar. This is designed by
Benny Kuriakose.

Granite
• Mostly, the stone used in Kerala
for buildings is granite. They do
not have deposits of limestone
or sandstone. Granite is very
hard and used in the
foundations. It was rarely used
for the superstructure until the
present century, except in
temples.
•
Sustainability in Current Times
In the olden days, it was very much a local material, but now big quarries have come in the
western ghats, many of them invulnerable and fragile areas. Granite which is being
quarried from these places is not sustainable, because of the harmful effects it causes on
our environment in the form of landslides and other natural disasters.

Laterite
• The foundations were usually
built with laterite blocks. They
are dug out from the earth.
Laterite is a hardened earth
layer formed due to the
weathering of acid rocks. The
compressive strength can be
higher than that of burnt bricks.
It is very porous and cannot
hold water. Usually, they are
found in layers of 3 to 15 metres
below the ground. The top one
to two metres will be soft.
Towards the bottom, it merges
with the clay layer. Laterite can
be called the “Blessing of
Kerala” since 80% if Kerala’s
surface is covered with it. It was
widely used for the
superstructure. The use of burnt
bricks was rare except in the
case of few palaces.
Peralassery Temple

Laterite - Sustainability in current times
Nowadays, the laterite which is being used can be the
machine cut. The advantage is that the blocks have
much higher compressive strength. The disadvantages
are that these are transported over a long distance,
the process involves more energy and the big quarries
cause lot of environmental issues.

Lime
• Lime made from shells was
used as mortar for the
superstructure shells were
burnt in kilns. Lime
produced by adding water
was beaten thoroughly.
Special tanks were
constructed for beating
lime with a special tool
made of wood. This has
been found to increase
strength. The beating up
process increases the
workability, thereby
reducing the amount of
water to be added. Lime
gains strength by air drying
and less amount of water is
good for attaining strength.
In Kerala, main source of lime is shells
Lime
Mortar

Lime - Sustainability in current times
Lime is very sustainable as binding material and a lot of studies have shown that it is much
less energy-consuming when compared with cement which is used in the present days. In
our textbooks, we learn more about the disadvantages of lime such as it is slow setting, not
having enough strength etc.
Cement is a high energy consuming and limestone is one of the main ingredients in its
manufacture. If cement is used as mortar in making a wall, then the bricks cannot be
recovered for future use when the building is demolished. If lime is used as the binding
material, then the bricks can be reused, which makes the use of lime mortar in buildings
more sustainable.

Timber
• Timber is the most
predominant building
material. It was widely
available and many
varieties are very durable.
Teak, jack wood, anjali
and thembavu were
commonly used. In the
typical traditional
architecture, timber was
used for walls, doors and
windows, intermediate
floors and roofs. Buildings
with timber walls were built
in Travancore till about 100
years ago.Timber walls,
timber ceiling and timber
roofs were very common in
many traditional buildings in
Kerala. Roof and columns made of teakwood

Timber
• Timber was getting scarce toward the end of the 19th century as a result of the advent of
the railways. Although there were many private forests, in course of time, the Government
wanted to have the monopoly of the kinds of timber generally used for house building.
Laterite came to be used for walls instead of timber.
• Because of the prominence of the timber in traditional Kerala construction, the carpenter
was the head craftsman. Since there was little masonry work, masons were of negligible
importance in the case of building the timber walled buildings (Arayum Nirayum).
•

Timber - Sustainability in current times
According to some architects, timber is going to be the future building material. Unlike earth,
burnt bricks, granite etc., this is a material which can be renewed. It is a material which can
easily be recycled.
The biggest advantage of timber is that by using them in our buildings, the carbon gets locked.
Also, trees are the only things which can convert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into
oxygen. If timber is allowed to decay or used as firewood, then the carbon is released back
into the atmosphere, thereby completing the carbon cycle. If more and more timber is used in
buildings, then the carbon in the atmosphere will get reduced. We should grow more and more
trees which will reverse global warming.

Timber - Sustainability in current times
Every timber that we use in our buildings need not be sustainable. If the source of the timber is
from cutting down a virgin forest, then it is less sustainable. Is the process of cutting the timber,
sustainable in the long run? In the processing of timber, if there is an exploitation of labour, then
it is to be questioned.
The best is to use recycled timber (from demolished buildings). Now the usage of recycled
timber is much less and they are used by the poor in constructing small houses. The prices are
also cheap for recycled timber.
Wood Certified from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is also a good option, as there is an
ensurity that trees from such forests are replanted and taken care of on a regular basis.

1. TOBACCO SMOKE POLLUTION
2. ENHANCED FRESH AIR VENTILATION
3. THERMAL COMFORT
4. DAYLIGHTING
5. CO2 MONITORING
6. INDOOR PLANTS
7. OUTDOOR VIEWS
8. MINIMISE INDOOR POLLUTANTS
CONTAMINANTS - FRESH AIR SUPPLY
9. LOW EMITTING MATERIALS
10. INTERIOR FLUSH OUT AFTER
CONSTRUCTION
11. DESIGNATED DINING SPACE
12. ERGONOMIC DESIGN
13. AIR QUALITY MAINTENANCE DURING
CONSTRUCTION
14. OCCUPANT WELL-BEING FACILITIES

LIGHTING
Entryways
You should have the entry ways and hallways well-lit for family members and guests. The lighting
should ensure safe passage from your entry to other areas of your home. Ceiling fixtures are perfect
for this. They can provide you with the ambient light necessary to provide a warm welcoming.
• Avoid potlights/downlights, which can create high contrast shadows.
• Use accent lighting on artwork.
• Consider using tracks lighting to create a wall wash.
• A pendant light near the door can create a welcoming area.
• Make sure switches are easily accessible.
• Use LEDs and CFLs to save money, as these lights are on for extended periods of time.

Stairs and Hallways
Your stairs and hallways should be lit well enough to provide safety for the people that are using it. In your
hallways, consider installing fixtures every 4-6 feet is an effective way of lighting the area, defining its form a
and shape while also highlighting artwork and textures. Light can also be used to make the space seem
more expansive, lighter, and spacious.
Utility Rooms and Garages
Your utility rooms and garages, such as laundry and work spaces, will want plenty of ambient and recessed
lighting. Your utility rooms require task lighting, which can be a combination of track lighting and pendant
fixtures of higher illumination. Add some color and illumination to your utility rooms to focus on things such
as sorting, mending, and fixing.
● Avoid potlights/downlights that create shadows.
● Consider installing moisture-proof fluorescent fixtures for full, even light.
● Don’t place lights directly overhead your vehicles.
● Use task lighting for work areas, and over appliances and tables

Bathrooms
The primary objectives of your bathroom are safety, function, and aesthetics, as they are for
most rooms. You should have bright light in your bathrooms that is even and shadow-free. We
recommend recessed lighting for your bathroom since it frees up space and provides a clean,
glare-free look.
● Above the mirrors and sinks, you can use a pendants hung from the ceiling or wall sconces.
● Make sure strong, neutral/cool light is directed toward your face as you stand in front of
the mirror.
● Consider adding a small LED light to your GFCI outlets to provide some emergency light at
night.
● If you have a tub, some dimmable lighting over the head area can be a great addition.
● If it hasn’t been done already, separate your light switches from your fan switch.

Kitchens
Kitchens aren’t just places where you cook anymore. They have become a center point for the
home and are used for a variety of tasks, including cooking, eating, working, cleaning, and
hanging out.
You will need plenty of ambient light, supplemented by some task lighting. You can add
undercabinet lights to add visual interest and illuminate your work surfaces, combined with
recessed lighting in your ceilings to reduce shadows and glare.
If you have a kitchen island or breakfast nook, you can light it using a pendant light or
chandelier (with a dimmer). Dimmers in your kitchen allow you to dim the lights for a more
romantic atmosphere or raise the lights for adequate task lighting for hobbies and other work.
● You can use undercabinet lighting under the front of cabinets to provide task lighting for
your counters.
● You use the kitchen a lot, so consider energy-efficient light bulbs like LEDs.
● Add multiple lighting layers with separate controls for greater flexibility.

Dining Room
Dining rooms should have the most beautiful light fixtures. They are the focal point of the room, so invest in a
good fixture for above the table. Typically, you will see a chandelier or some kind of pendant light above the
dining room table, but you have other options as well, including track lighting and string pendants. Elegant
glass can be used to dim the light and provide an almost candle-like feel.
And as with most rooms, we recommend installing a dimmer so that you can control the illumination levels.
For certain meals, you may want a soft glow, but for activities like board games and puzzles, you will want to
make sure everything is lit up.
● Recessed and wall lighting can help highlight art and other decorations and prized possessions.
● If you have a china cabinet or breakfront, you can mount undercabinet lights to highlight your
expensive china and silverware.
● Wall sconces can create a beautiful effect as well, especially if they are installed on both sides of a
decorative cabinet, sideboard, or buffet.
● If you have track lighting or recessed lighting, aim the light toward the walls to create ambient light.
● Create layers of lighting with chandeliers, pendants, downlights, and sconces.

Living Room
The family/living room is usually where families spend the most time. Sometimes the dining room is the living
room. In any case, since we spend the majority of our waking hours in the living room, it’s especially
important to have a lighting scheme that works for you.
Keep in mind the activities that are performed in the living room— watching TV, working on the computer,
reading, hanging out, and much more. For the living room, we recommend installing track lighting and
adjustable recessed downlighting that can help highlight artwork, sculptures, and architectural details.
● Use multiple lighting layers with dimmable light.
● Use portable lighting for more flexibility and control.
● Use wall washing for bookshelves and artwork to make the space seem more spacious and luxurious.
● If you have a fireplace, it always looks good when there are sconces or wall lights flanking it on both
sides.
● As in the dining room and kitchen, if you have cabinets and shelving, undercabinet lighting can really
add to the visual interest of the room.
● Make sure that when you are installing your lights, you don’t have glare on your TV screen. Use
dimmers and lower light levels for these areas.
● Downlights, accents, and portable lights, combined with some ambient lighting, can make your living
room more intimate and interesting.

Home Office
More and more people are working from home, which means that the home office is taking on a higher
importance. In order to be focused and productive, you will want enough light for reading and other tasks.
You may not need as much ambient light since accent and task lighting can usually provide enough
illumination, but some sort of ambient/accent combination should be utilized. Darker offices require more
ambient lighting as dark colors absorb more light.
● Try to minimize glare, especially on computer screens.
● Use direct and indirect lighting to create bright, low-glare light.
● Use energy-efficient light bulbs.
● Cooler light (3,000 – 5,000K) is better for home offices.
And consider the importance of natural light on productivity levels. You will want to choose your office space
wisely, as windows can increase your health, happiness, and productivity.

Bedroom Lighting
● The bedroom is an extremely important area to pay attention to. You will want to take
several factors into consideration, including the size and scale of the room.
● Bedrooms usually have some sort of ambient lighting combined with task lighting for
reading and other tasks. Consider adding recessed lighting with dimmer controls above
the head of the bed, but avoid installing lights directly above the bed.
● Smaller, light-colored bedrooms may not need as much ambient lighting. If you have a lot
of mirrors in your bedroom, there may be enough reflective live from other lighting sources
to compensate.
● If you have darker colors in your bedrooms, you might want to add some more ambient
lighting. If you have artwork or details that you want to highlight, consider adding accent
lighting.
● A game-changer for the bedroom are dimmer and other lighting controls. This gives you
the ability to control the light levels for different lights in your room. You can change the
lighting situation depending on your mood at the moment.

Other tips for bedroom lighting include:
● Consider the scale and height of the room.
● Use softer, shaded fixtures for sitting areas.
● Use direct lighting for desks, vanities, etc.
● Don’t install lights directly over the bed.
● Try to use light bulbs of lower wattage.
● Consider colored bulbs to change the mood.
● Make sure fabrics are far away from hot bulbs.
● Use fluorescent lights for the closet.
● Install dimmers and other lighting controls.
● Use flexible lamps for your reading light.
● Create ambient light with downlights and pendant fixtures.
● Control glare for tasks like reading.
● Consider lights that can be changed from uplight to downlight.
● Choose efficient light sources, like LEDs and CFLs.
● Consider fluorescent lights above closet doorframes and downlights for your walls.

Cross Ventilation
Another way to improve thermal comfort is to provide for cross ventilation.
Cross ventilation significantly reduces the feeling of stickiness due to
humidity, hence it's extremely important for hot and humid places.
Walls

6. INNOVATION IN
INTERIOR DESIGN

Coir Fibre
• Kerala is rich with coconut trees. The coconut husk is abundantly available as cheap
residue from coconut production in many areas, which is known to yield the coarse coir
fibre.

Coir Fibre - Products
Coir Wood
Coir Brushes Coir Ropes
Coir Braids Coir Articles Coir Mats
Coir Pith Bricks

Coir Wood Curled Coir Coir GeoTextile
Erosion Control Blanks Coir Articles Needled Felt
Cork-Coir Insultaon
Boards

Organic
Manure
Plant Baskets Powerloom Creel Mats

Pineapple Leaf Fibre
• Pineapple leaf fibre, which is rich in cellulose, relative inexpensive and abundantly
available has the potential for polymer-reinforced composite.

Pineapple Leaf Fibre - Products
Pineapple Leather Cups made from
Pineapple BioPlastics
Threads for Embroidery

Pineapple Leaf Fibre - Products
Various Household Articles

Cotton Stalk Fibre
• Kerala is also blessed with adequate cotton
trees. Cotton is cultivated primarily for its fiber;
little use is made of the plant stalk.
• Cotton stalks can be an excellent source of
fiber. Cotton stalk fiber is found to possess the
structure and dimensions similar to common
species of hardwood fiber.

Banana Fibre
• Banana plant waste, as lignocellulosic fiber, was
treated with alkaline pulping and steam explosion
to produce banana fibers and banana micro
fibrils

Banana Fibre - Products
Various Household Articles
Veneer
Lampshades

Rice Husk
• Rice husks, an agricultural residue are available in fairly large quantities in Kerala. Rice husks are
quite fibrous by nature and require little energy input to prepare the husks for board manufacture.
• Rice husk ash, one of the promising pozzolanic materials that can be blended with Portland
cement for the production of durable concrete and at the same time it is a value added product.
• Recent studies have shown that the partial replacement of cement by ultra fine rice husk ash
resulted in improved compressive strength and workability of concrete but decreased its water
permeability.
• Rice straw can be used to supplement part of the fiber content in particleboard. Unprocessed
baled straw is being used to build homes in most of the countries. One primary benefit claimed
for straw bale building systems is that extremely high insulation values can be obtained.

Rice Husk Products
Particle Boards
Ash for adding to
concrete.

Rice Husk Products
Rice Husk Panels & Boards
Furniture from Rice Husk
Lamp Shades
Crockery

CASE STUDIES
(TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE)

PRAKRITI AWAAS
Aawaas is made up of 20
premium, eco-friendly designer
villas in a peaceful and tranquil 2
acres area.
It is located in Kakkanad,a major
industrial and residential region in
the city of Kochi in Kerala.

Eco-Features
● Rain Water Harvesting & Aquifer Recharges
● Organic waste management system
● High Yield Open Well
● Non Toxic Paints & Pollution free Zone
● Green Construction Practices
● Indigenous species in the landscape

Traditional Columns
Wooden Door Frames
Red Laterite Tiles
Sit - Out
Big Windows
SALIENT FEATURES

HOUSE OF HOPE
Architects Ajay Abey and Tara
Pandala have built a sustainable
and eco-friendly home on their
ancestral land in Kerala, using
methods that are half the cost of
conventional methods and kind to
the environment.
The cost of building this home is
almost 50% cheaper than that of
building one using conventional
methods, the architects say.

Aerated concrete blocks made
from fly-ash with mud wash.
Windows & Doors are carved
out of the thin wooden sheath
Metal chajjas for ventilation & light
instead of concrete & steel sunshades
Consistent inflow of air through
the metal mesh
SALIENT FEATURES

CASE STUDIES
(CONTEMPORARY & SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE)

RIVERFRONT VILLA (By Whitespace)
Design style was ‘tharavad,' which is a typical ancestral
home of Kerala

Characterised by an indoor courtyard and the heavy
use of wood, terracotta, greenery and bricks.

BEACH HOUSE (By Design Consortium)
Wide-open spaces accentuated with plenty of natural light and ocean breeze.

Bespoke furniture, sculptural lighting, textured fabrics and bursts of colour, as
well as the clients' playful art collection of paintings, photographs and sculptures.
Wooden Rafters
Mangalore-tiled roof

Hope you enjoyed the presentation!
THANK YOU

Sustainable Interiors Design Strategies - For a Cabin at Kochi

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