The Energy Research Institute building in Bangalore utilizes passive design strategies to reduce energy usage. It is oriented along an east-west axis for maximum northern exposure. A double cavity wall on the south side insulates from heat. Skylights and fenestrations provide natural lighting while solar panels and heaters harness solar energy. Landscaping, terraces, and earth berming maintain indoor thermal comfort. Passive ventilation is enhanced through solar chimneys. The design skillfully integrates natural elements like sun, air, water, and earth with the built form.

1. THE ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
BANGALORE
A CASE STUDY
MD SHAHNAWAZ PARVEZ 21011NB014 M.ARCH (ED)

2. ABOUT
LOCATION : 12.97O N 77.56 E
ALTITUDE : 920 M
GREEN COVER : 40%
CLIMATE : Moderate
TEMPERATURE :
MEAN MAX MEAN MIN
SUMMER 35 C 20 C
WINTER 28 C 14 C

3. Established in 1974.
Designed by: Ar. Sanjay Mohe
Total no of floors: G+2
Total builtup area: 26663 sq.ft
Project is designed to house an office block with workstations and a small guest house attatched to it.
Concerned with effective utiization of energy, sustainable uses of natural resources, large scale
adoptation of renewable energy technology.
The design displays an interplay of five basic natural elements (sun, air, earth, water, sky) with the built
form to meet the requirements of thermal, visual, and aural comfort.
INTRODUCTION

4. LOCATION
The site is located at domlur, about 3km
from bangalore airport.
It is a long and narrow site with roads on
eastern and northern sides, the former
being the major road.
The western side is an open ground and
on the southern side is an open drain
about 9m wide
Schematic layout showing the
surrounding roads and the drain.

5. ORIENTATION
The primary winds blow from south tonorth.
The building was oriented along the east-
west axis so as to have maximum exposure
along north and south.
The building opens towards the northern
side, taking advantage of glare- free
light.
South wall is a double wall to provide
insulation from southern sun.
Site Plan showing longer sides facing North-South

6. 1.Natural wind flowing through south (high
pressure zone).
2.Heat from solar rays falling on the south west
wall.
3.Convectional currents moving upwards due
to heating of air in cavity wall (low pressure
zone).
4.Cool wind drawn in by convectional current
system to equalize pressure.
Double cavity wall clad
with KADAPA stone

7. Abundant natural light inside due to
intelligently designed fenestrations.
Openings have been designed such that
requirement of artificial lighting is minimal
throughout the day when the building is
under maximum usage.
Numerous skylights
minimize the lighting load
Liberal fenestration enhances daylighting
By creating atrium spaces with skylights, the section of the
building is such that natural light enters into the building,
considerably reducing the dependence on artificial
lighting.
Intelligent systems like energy efficient lamps, luminaries,
and control devices further reduce the lighting load.

8. The suns energy is further used in the
form of solar heaters which is used
to generate all the hot water in the
guest house.
Photo voltaic cells are used to capture the suns
energy thus generating electrical energy for
the various stations.
These photovoltaic cells have been arranged in
line with the primary orbit of the sun the panel
are integrated with dynamic truss to optimize
the generation of energy.

9. Unhygenic foul breeze
flowing from south
Cool breeze down in by
convectional current system
to equalise pressure
Ventilation is enhanced by the use
of solar chimneys and vents
Allows breeze to flow over building.
Creates negative pressure setting
up convectional currents.
Generates reverse wind circulation
Starts pulling fresh air flow at body level to provide thermal comfort
Hot air rises towards the top on southern façade
The primary winds blow from the
south to north over the nallah, hence
the building needs to react to this
if,the foul unhygienic air has to be
prevented from entering the building
.
The blank wall carries a system of
cudappa.
The colour black was deliberately
chosen because of its
heat absorptive power.

10. The sun’s rays heat the black south wall
increasing the temperature of the
immediate environment around.
This causes the air in the cavity to rise
upwards naturally.
These convectional currents are blown
away by the winds blowing south to
north.
This creates a vacuum at the at the top
To fill this vacuum, air from inside is
drawn up.
This system of hot air rising and drawing
in of cool fresh air is a continuous
process.
WORKING
core structure.
DETAILS OF THE SOLAR CHIMNEY IN THE BUILDING

11. As thermal capacity of earth is high, and annual
temperature fluctuations keep decreasing with
increasing depth of earth.
At depth of 4m below ground, temperature
remains constant and equal to annual average
temperature Earth berm is created to retain the
heat.
The building has been designed with landscaped at various levels.
These courts help to enliven the working environment as well as
enhance the micro climate within the structure.
The various levels of terraces also have been landscaped which
reduces the heat exchanges and heat flow between the structure
and the outside environment hence act as good inslation device.

12. Indoor Environmental quality is very well achieved with the help of non Voc
Paints and local flooring material with less embodied energy.
Indoor air quality is very well maintained with effective technique and Use
of cavity wall in south.
Plants are used in the interior common connecting spaces for refreshment
and air Circulation .
Proper maintenance is taken care of in the interior to make an HYGNIC
living
North lighting is provided for glare less lighting system and its made to be
used in the workspace areas.
Solar Chimney plays an major role in maintain constant air flow in the
interior
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ENHANCEMENT
Use of double glazed windows with coating
Locally available kadappa stone used to clad the
southern wall

13. The thermal comfort levels are mainted by the use of filler slabs which
provides insulation between the inside and the outside of the building.
Filler slabs are designed with alternate panel of concrete and hollow
blocks.
The holow blocks help in reducing the transimission of heat from outside to
inside of the building.
Use of double glazed windows with coating.
Use of cavity wall construction with kadappa stone which is a heat retentive
material.
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ENHANCEMENT
Trombe wall helps in insulating the hostels
Abundant natural light is available in the work spaces

14. CONCLUSION BUILDING CONVEYS SKILLFUL INTERPLAY OF NATURAL ELEMENTS WITH
THE BUILDING FORM TO REDUCE ENERGY DEMAND

15. THANKYOU