A series of case studies showing various strategies used in the design of a vocational training center

1. THE IMPACT OF DAYLIGHTING IN TVET INSTITUTIONS TO ENHANCE VISUAL COMFORT AND SUSTAINABILITY
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CASE STUDIES
1. INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDY:
Ecove Centre of Vocational Empowerment.
Architects: SEZA Architects & Interior Designers.
Location: Aurangabad, India.
Area: 3500 m²
Year: 2022
The center is contemporary while honoring the historical context of its surroundings. It is locally
apposite and takes its cues from the cave complex in spreading a message of hope for the villagers. It
is a reinterpretation of the courtyard concept, here the administration area opens onto a series of
corridors having classrooms, technical rooms, a canteen, and an auditorium all arranged around the
courtyard. It offers vocations such as sewing, computers, dye making, electrical courses, and basic
English language. By segregating the activities into different blocks, interconnected by small courts and
transitional pathways, we created a dynamic mix of indoor and outdoor community spaces.
Fig 1. The central courtyard provides natural lighting to the interior spaces with angular
brick screens to limit direct sunlight to avoid glare.
Fig 2. View of the courtyard from the adjacent corridor
Source: https://www.archdaily.com

2. THE IMPACT OF DAYLIGHTING IN TVET INSTITUTIONS TO ENHANCE VISUAL COMFORT AND SUSTAINABILITY
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LEGEND
1. ADMINISTRATION BLOCK
2. MULTIPURPOSE ROOM/CAFETERIA
3. THEORY & DEMONSTRATION CLASSROOM
4. AUDITORIUM
5. VEGETABLE GARDEN
Fig 3. Floor Plan Source: https://www.archdaily.com

3. THE IMPACT OF DAYLIGHTING IN TVET INSTITUTIONS TO ENHANCE VISUAL COMFORT AND SUSTAINABILITY
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The center is designed to ensure optimal versatile spaces that are fluid or interconnected, ample ventilation and daylight, as well as natural greenery.
The planning is oriented along the East-West direction with the longer facades facing the North-South direction.
At the core of the space is an open courtyard, which the administration area at the entrance opens out to. “This wide and grassy space seeks to provide respite from the scorching and arid exteriors of the
facility and extends a cooling effect towards the whole space.
Taking cues from the ancient cave complexes, classrooms, technical rooms, the canteen, and the auditorium are designed as individual blocks that are arranged around the courtyard, and interconnected by
small courts and a series of corridors.
Fig 4. View of the angular brick screens from the exterior
Source: https://www.archdaily.com
Fig 5. View of the angular brick screens from the interior
Source: https://www.archdaily.com

4. THE IMPACT OF DAYLIGHTING IN TVET INSTITUTIONS TO ENHANCE VISUAL COMFORT AND SUSTAINABILITY
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September 28, 2023
Framing the central courtyard, these corridors are punctuated by angular brick jaali or lattice screens. The perforations on the screen cut down on the intensity of heat and direct sunlight entering the
corridors, providing a cooling effect while also ensuring ventilation. The classrooms each feature windows on either side, ensuring cross ventilation as well as reducing dependency on artificial lighting.
Fig 6. Interior view of a classroom Source: https://www.archdaily.com Fig 7. Interior view of a classroom facing the courtyard Source: https://www.archdaily.com
Besides the courtyard, the centre is dotted by several other green spaces and flanked by a large vegetable garden. The result is a dynamic mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, achieving a sense of
harmony with the local environment.
PROJECT SUCCESSES:
 Large windows allowing natural light into the interior spaces.
 Longer facades oriented facing N-S direction to avoid direct sunlight to reduce glare.
 Use of sun shading elements i.e., angular brick screens to filter direct sunlight while allowing adequate lighting to the interiors.
 Corridors in front of the spaces to provide additional sun shading.
 Courtyards with greenery to create a more pleasant and productive environment.

5. THE IMPACT OF DAYLIGHTING IN TVET INSTITUTIONS TO ENHANCE VISUAL COMFORT AND SUSTAINABILITY
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Fig 8. Interior perspectives and Exterior perspectives showing sun shading respectively Source: https://www.archdaily.com

6. THE IMPACT OF DAYLIGHTING IN TVET INSTITUTIONS TO ENHANCE VISUAL COMFORT AND SUSTAINABILITY
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2.LOCAL CASE STUDY:
Kabete National Polytechnic
The institution previously functioned as a Technical Training Institute before being upgraded to National Polytechnic Status in 2016.
The objective is to instill skills in the trainees that would enable them to be either self-employed or join salaried employed in the public and private sectors as skilled technical personnel.
Most of the workshops in the institution have poor lighting considered to be a place of heavy-duty activities that require adequate natural lighting for safety operations.
Fig 9. Poor light plumbing workshops. Students have to depend on artificial lighting. Fig 10. Small windows and lack of openings allow minimal lighting

7. THE IMPACT OF DAYLIGHTING IN TVET INSTITUTIONS TO ENHANCE VISUAL COMFORT AND SUSTAINABILITY
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PROJECT FAILURES: PLUMBING WORKSHOP
The plumbing workshop is oriented along the North-South direction with the longer facades facing the East-West direction. This allows direct sunlight into the interior space causing a lot of glare and heat
making learning uncomfortable due to poor ventilation in the workshop. No sun-shading elements on these facades, making it difficult to limit the amount of direct sunlight in the interior spaces of the
workshop. The windows are relatively small which allows a limited amount of natural lighting; thus the students have to depend on artificial lighting to enhance their visual ability. This results in high reliance
on electricity thus escalating energy consumption and increasing operational costs.
Fig 11. Floor plan showing orientation of the workshop
Fig 12. Window on the Eastern façade letting in direct sunlight

8. THE IMPACT OF DAYLIGHTING IN TVET INSTITUTIONS TO ENHANCE VISUAL COMFORT AND SUSTAINABILITY
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PROJECT SUCCESSES: METAL WORKS WORKSHOP
A new metal works workshop has maximized natural lighting through the installation of translucent polycarbonate roofing sheets and large windows.
The workshop is also oriented along the East-West direction with longer facades facing North-South direction thus minimizing direct sunlight into the
interior space. The workshop has also welding booths to limit the spreading of sparks thus enhancing the safety of the students. The windows have natural
ventilation louvers to maximize passive cooling. The workshop also has two emergency exits for safety in case of an emergency fire outbreak.
Fig 13. Floor plan showing orientation of the welding workshop. Oriented along the
East-West with openings facing the North-South direction to avoid direct sun light
Fig 14. Translucent polycarbonate roofing sheets to maximize natural lighting.