This document provides information about the Crosswinds Apartment project in Hyderabad, India designed by VSDP architects. It includes basic details about the project such as the location, architects, number of bedrooms, area, and year completed. It then discusses the site conditions and climate of Hyderabad. The rest of the document summarizes the site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, and how the design addresses the local climate through features like cross ventilation and the use of a central water body. The dramatic sloping site presented structural challenges that were addressed through the building design.

1. DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN III
SUBMITTED BY: MASOOMA DAWOOD
ROLL NUMBER: AR-032-2017
SUBMITTED TO MA’AM: AR. AFSHAN JAMSHED, AR. NAFEESA
AHMED, AR. SABEENA NAEEM
DATED: 31st Dec, 2018

2. HOUSING PROJECTS
APARTMENT CASE STUDY
INTRODUCTION
BASIC INFORMATION
CROSSWINDS APARTMENT/ VSDP
 ARCHITECTS: VSDP
 LOCATION: HYDERABAD, INDIA
 PROJECT TEAM: VIVEK V SHANKAR, DHANAPRAKASH,
CHRISTOPHER, JHANAVI
 NO. OF BEDROOMS: 4 BED ROOMS APARTMENT
 FAÇADE INSTALLER: SRINIVAS
 STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: PASE GROUP
 BUILDING CONTRACTOR: BABJI MALI
 LANDSCAPE DESIGN: EARTHWORKS
 AREA: 8300.0 M2
 PROJECT YEAR: 2009

3. SITE/LOCATION:
The project is located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Where the
climate is like in Mar–Jun is very hot, before the Jul–Sep peak monsoon rains. Nov–
Feb is dry, with warm days and mild evenings.
EXPLAINATION OF SITE’S CLIMATE:
Hyderabad has a tropical wet and dry climate bordering on a
hot semi-arid climate. The annual mean temperature is 26.6 °C
(79.9 °F); monthly mean temperatures are 21–33 °C (70–91 °F).
Summers (March–June) are hot and humid, with average highs in the
mid-to-high 30s Celsius; maximum temperatures often exceed 40 °C
(104 °F) between April and June. The coolest temperatures occur in
December and January, when the lowest temperature occasionally
dips to 10 °C (50 °F). May is the hottest month, when daily
temperatures range from 26 to 39 °C (79–102 °F); December, the
coldest, has temperatures varying from 14.5 to 28 °C (57–82 °F).
MATERIAL USED:
Concrete 2) Wood 3) Steel 4) Aluminum 5) Glass 6) Stone
7) Paint 8) Ceramic tiles

4. PLANNING:
The design intends to establish a strong dialogue with the dynamic
landscape by allowing views of the open spaces and the valley from
all the levels of the built form. The buildings are seen as vertical
extrusions of the landscape rather than mere insertions. The natural
contours have not been altered and the architectural design of the
apartment blocks and the parking levels negotiate the contours to
create dramatic spatial scenarios at various areas of the site. The site
plan was informed by the natural markers and the orientation of the
blocks in order to offer nice views. The overall configuration consists
of 18 apartments measuring 390 sq m to 420 sq m each and spread
across 3 blocks consisting of four floors each. The planning of the
apartments was worked in such a manner that the central core was
linear and was for interaction i-e living, family and dining and the
bedrooms were aligned on either side of this core. The linear core is
attached with a large balcony that overlooks the city.

6. SITE PLAN:

7. PARKING LEVEL PLAN:

8. TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN:

9. ELEVATIONS:

10. SECTIONS:

11. CLIMATE RESPONSIVE DESIGN:
CROSS VENTILATION:
As the apartment name “Cross winds apartments” indicates the type
of building design. The cross ventilation factors has been achieved by
the unique construction techniques and the effects of nearly
constructed natural landscape and as well as the pool as beautiful
water body inside the building.
The Openings are created in front of the natural landscapes.

12. Due to the cross ventilation throughout the building because of the
unique design the interior contributes with:
 Helping to moderate internal temperature.
 Reducing the accumulation of moisture, odors and other gases
that can build up during occupied periods.
 Creating air movement which improves
the comfort of occupants.
Where cross ventilation can be occur?
Cross ventilation occurs where there are pressure differences
between one side of a building and the other. Typically, this is a
wind-driven effect in which air is drawn into the building on the high
pressure windward side and is drawn out of the building on the low
pressure leeward side. Wind can also drive single-sided ventilation
and vertical ventilation.
If there are windows on both sides, then cross ventilation might be
suitable for buildings where the width is up to five times the floor -
to-ceiling height. Where there are only openings on one side, wind-
driven ventilations might be suitable for buildings where the width is
up to 2.5 times the floor to ceiling height.
WATER BODY:
water absorbs a lot of heat, water bodies are good heat sinks because
the heat does not produce a significant increase of water temperature
because of the water bodies’ thermal inertia and evaporation at its
surface. The inertia of a water body is directly proportional to water
mass and therefore to its depth. With increasing water body inertia,
the water temperature decreases. The daily range of water
temperature (difference between maximum and minimum) is reduced
and there is a phase shift between air and water temperatures. When
the water body is in shadow (for instance a pond in a courtyard), the

13. incoming solar radiation is reduced, with a further reduction in water
temperature.

15. The use of water bodies such as ponds, streams and cascades for
evaporative cooling is best suited to warm and dry climates. Outdoor
evaporative cooling mechanisms can help to provide outdoor comfort
and to lower indoor cooling costs by lowering the air temperature
surrounding the building.
water bodies also affects the climatic conditions in and around the
site. Wind movement from the water body during the day, and
towards it at night, is caused by temperature differences of the air
close to the surfaces of the soil and water. The relative humidity of
air is also affected, since the air coming from a water body is more
humid.
THE CHANGING OF SLOPE THROUGH NATURAL VEGETATION:
The dramatic slope of the site was the biggest challenge to respond to
in terms of sectional placement of facilities such as parking,
recreation and the first level of the apartments. The Structural design
had to be quite exciting in order to blend with the unique design.

19. STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS:
The use of strong iron in formation of columns in the bases of
building stable the best stability throughout the building and
resulting in the best combinations with contour. therefore set out to
make the Structure also an aesthetic aspect of the building rather
than seeing it just as a support system.

20. OTHER VIEWS:

22. The End