1. KANIKA ARORA, LEED AP BD+C
Master in Design Studies: Energy and Environments
Harvard University Graduate School of Design 2015

2. ‘‘I believe that the average guy in the street will give up a great deal, if he really understands
the cost of not giving it up. In fact, we may find that, while we’re drastically cutting our energy
consumption, we’re actually raising our standard of living.’’
- David Brower, Co-Founder Sierra Club

3. Table of contents
Academic Projects
20 Sumner
Gund Hall Facade
Visitor Center
Competition Projects
NESEA en+ Holyoke
Affordable Housing
Urban Agriculture
Green Cubes
Professional Projects
RAAS Hotel
RMX JOSS Factor y
Vocational Training Center
Facade Design
LEED Analysis
Fabrication
Volunteer
Value Engineering
Climate Analysis
Construction Supervision
Daylighting Simulations
Project Management
Financial Modeling
Thermal Simulation
Natural Ventilation Simulation
Site Planning
Renovation

4. en+ Holyoke, Residential Building
Northeast Sustainability Energy Association (NESEA)
Net-Zero Design Competition 2014
Awarded First Prize (Team of four)
Location: South Holyoke, MA, USA
Area: 22,500 sqm.
My Role in the Project:
I was involved in the project from the conceptual planning phase and actively
participated in the discussion on design strategies. I was also responsible for ther-
mal, and daylighting simulations and hand calculations for water harvesting.
To create a comprehensive design solution for the site, three fundamental prin-
ciples were identified which helped the team in decision making process through
out the design development and analysis phase. The principles were established
in resonance with South Holyoke revitalization plan.
• Net Positive energy (en+): By fusing climate responsive passive and active envi-
ronmental control strategies, a net positive energy building is achieved which
includes elements that promo te non-motorized mobility and a healthy social
environment for occupants and visitors. To achieve this target, energy use reduc-
tion and optimization became central components of the design process from
an early stage and later on-site renewable energy generation helped the final
design to go beyond net zero energy and achieve net positive energy status. The
excess energy is then connected back to the grid and shared with neighboring
buildings.
• Mixed-Use Residential Development: A combination of residential units on the
upper floors and commercial units at the street level respond to the guidelines
provided by the South Holyoke Revitalization Strategy and Urban Renewal Plan.
The design and placement of each unit further helps to improve safety and
security, promote social diversity, create a lively pedestrian friendly street setting,
thus improving the overall quality of life in the neighborhood.
• Improved Density and Economic Viability: The design maximizes density and
improves real estate value by achieving maximum density of 60 DU/acre on site
while taking into account cost effectiveness and economic viability. The total
number of units thus achieved are 86.

5. The site is located in the heart of South Holyoke adjacent to the Carlos Vega
Park. Currently, the site is surrounded by three and four-story residential buildings;
however, in recent years, some of the surrounding buildings have become
vacant or demolished providing an opportunity for a large scale redevelopment
to revitalize the neighborhood.
Community Living and Quality of Life
Planning around Carlos Vega Park reinforces the importance of the park as an
important local community asset. The softscaped entrance plazas for both the
buildings frame the park and merge seamlessly with it. This physical and visual
connection with the green space has a positive psychological effect on the
residents of the building. Inter connected terraces help to promote the concept
of urban agriculture and community farming through hydroponics. This not
only helps to reduce island effect and decrease roof run off but also provides
opportunities to generate local employment from within the community.
Design Approach
The building units are staggered and organized so as to optimize solar exposure
to maximize solar gain through heating months and to minimize unwanted heat
gain through summer months. This approach resulted in the stepping form of the
building and allowed each residential unit to have access to north and south sun
while east and west buffer spaces have minimal openings.
The staggered form also frames the Carlos Vega Park which maximizes the vitality
of this central space and also establishes the visual connectivity with the open
space and providing opportunities for public gathering spaces.
Shadow Analysis
To refine the massing, shadow analysis studies were conducted in Ecotect for
three specific days of the year – namely, Summer Solstice (June 21), Winter Solstice
(Dec 21) and Spring/Fall Equinox (March/Sep 21). The blue and red colored shad-
ows in the image below represent morning and evening shadows averaged over
the entire day.
During the summers the building receive maximum solar radiation and are idle for
location of the photovoltaic. The dark red shadows show that during the summers
the windows remain shaded due to the mutual shading in the staggered units.
The graph above summarises the active and passive design strategies (1
-10) applied to create a net positive energy from the project. The x-axis marks
additional initial capital cost required for offsetting energy. The steeper the
slope the better is strategy in terms of energy reduction and capital costs.
For our reference we started with a base case energy consumption of 153.4
kWh/sqm. Henceforth, through material optimisation, iterative simulation
and introduction of active strategies, energy demand was reduced to zero.
With the introduction of geo-thermal, the project produced excess energy,
which could be sold back to the grid to earn revenue for site maintenance
and paying back initial investments of $3.8 million. The graph also serves as
a tool for the developer to pick which energy efficiency strategy he would like
to invest in the project relative to his capital budget.
RAINWATER CONSERVATION
Rainwater harvesting strategies decrease the
run-off from roof and soft areas to recharge them
directly to the ground
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS
Installed on building cores
generate enough energy to
reach net zero target
SOLAR CHIMNEY
Solar chimneys utilize outdoor air for ventila-
tion of units during the cooling months
(May-Sep) when the outdoor air tempera-
ture and relative humidity level is within
comfort range. This would amount to major
savings in the cooling utility costs
SHADING PANELS
The operable devices dynamically
change responding to both south
sun (folded in overhang mode)
and east and west sun (in vertical
mode)
Summer Solstice Shadows, June 21
The design incorporates solar chimneys to utilize outdoor air for ventilation of
units during the cooling months (May-Sep) when the outdoor air tempera-
ture and relative humidity level is within comfort range. This would lead to
great savings in the utility cost related to cooling during cooling period.
(a) Buoyancy Driven (Stack) ventilation:
To have appropriate airflow through the volume neutral plane has to lie
above the highest floor and below the exhaust shaft. This is achieved by (1)
creating a higher temperature differential in the solar chimney and housing
units by providing dark colored walls in the chimney to absorb more solar
radiation. (2) Providing a larger opening of the stack on top and (3) increas-
ing the height of the stack.
(b) Pressure difference driven natural ventilation:
The solar tower’s aerodynamic design also utilizes the pressure differential
created by annual wind movement from south-west direction during the
summer months. The higher pressure on the windward side creates a posi-
tive pressure zone, while the northern façade windows on the leeward side
create negative pressure, which creates wind movement through the unit
from north to south and ventilating the air through solar chimney.
Pressure difference driven ventilationBuoyancy driven (Stack) ventilation
Zero energy
+ve energy

6. RAAS, Boutique Hotel
Clients: Kangra Valley Resorts
Construction: 2012-ongoing
Location: Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
Area: 5,085 sqm
The site is a tea estate land of 210 acres in Kangra. It’s located at an altitude of
approx. 1500m and has very high humidity (around 80%). The challenge was de-
signing a 50 room luxury hotel with minimum impact on the surrounding existing
flora and fauna. In order to make this project ecologically viable experts from all
around the world including ARUP UK were involved in the project.
Great emphasis was laid on low energy systems, water conservation and local
skills while creating a high quality experience for the visitors. It was conceptual-
ized as a part of a self-sustaining tea cultivation based community with a focus
on ecological restoration, regeneration and revitalization of biodiversity in and
around the site.
Major construction was proposed on the denuded land and the concept was to
combine 50 keys in a single 250m long building on the ridge. The building was
divided into 14 modules, construction process as described on adjacent page.
The orientation of the building is North South, allowing penetration of maximum
winter sun inside the rooms. The ground floor has all public functions like F&B,
reception, lounge, spa etc whereas the first floor consists of all the rooms. Since
each room has its own individual staircase (entering the room from the middle),
therefore, room has balconies and views on both sides. This allows for a very
unique hotel experience without the conventional access from a corridor. The
staircase divides the room experientially into two areas. Towards the north side is
the lounge and the bedroom is towards the south. Since there are no physical
partitions inside the room, the entire space is visually connected giving an impres-
sion of a great expanse. The interiors of the rooms are minimalistic keeping in
view the traditional houses of the region. Local arts & crafts have been proposed
for decoration promoting indigenous handicrafts and giving employment to the
local community.
My Role in the Project:
I was the project head leading a team of 3 architects and 6 technical staff
members. I led the core design team and prepared construction documents for
govt. approval and site execution.

7. Since the site is located in earthquake zone
4, the entire outer shell on the ground floor is
a RCC structure. The foundations tend to var y
as per the slope on site but the plinth level is
kept the same.
The entire first floor structure is a light metal
structure with metal columns and metal truss-
es for roof.
The outer skin of the building is supported on a
light wooden framework. It not only hides the
services pipes but also gives a feeling of light-
ness to the entire structure.
Due to reasons of stability the base of the
building on the ground floor is made heavy
with RCC beams and columns whereas the
corridor is cantilevered.
Each room is accessed by its own individual
staircase allowing rooms to have balconies on
both sides.
The shingles are nailed on the wooden frame-
work and openings in shingles and the frame-
work are given wherever needed as per func-
tion.
RCC has been cladded with infill of local
sandstone to give high thermal mass to the
building helping in retaining the maximum
heat inside during winters.
The roof trusses are sealed with bamboo mat
false ceiling and the walls are dr y cladded
with the local slate from the river front.
Fourteen such modules (two room) combine
to form the entire building. The ground floor
has all the public areas whereas the first floor
consists of all the guest rooms.
Construction pictures of a typical room module mock-up

8. 20 Sumner House, Office Renovation
Academic (Team of 5)
High Performance Buildings & Systems Integration
Location: Cambridge, MA, USA
Area: 450 sqm.
The objective of the exercise was to develop a double skin facade for an exist-
ing office without affecting the existing structure. We chose to develop a trombe
wall.
The design intervention was pursued by first understanding the way a trombe
wall functions. The design responds to four climatic variations of summer day,
summer night, winter day and winter night of Cambridge, MA.
• Summer Day: Louvers shade the facade and allow indirect sunlight inside
the building structure. The top and bottom vents are opened to maintain the
temperature inside the double skin cavity similar to the outdoor temperature.
• Summer Night: All the louvers are opened and the interior air is flushed out.
Relatively colder air is allowed to enter the building to regulate temperatures.
• Winter Day: Louvers allow winter daylight to penetrate inside the building while
all the vents are closed so that heat can build up inside the double skin cavity
and act as a thermal barrier. This strategy prevents the building from loosing any
heat to outdoors.
• Winter Night: All the louvers are closed so no heat is lost due to cold night time
temperature. Internal vents are opened and hot air from the cavity is allowed to
flow inside the building.
My Role in the Project:
I was involved in the project from the beginning and was responsible for thermal,
daylighting simulations in the later stages of the project. I was also responsible for
the facade design and financial evaluation of the proposed strategy.

9. 496 KWh/m2460 KWh/m2425 KWh/m2 300 KWh/m2 460 KWh/m2 550 KWh/m2
Design Approach
The preliminary analysis of the building indicated the possibility for the integration
of a passive heating system on the south face to improve building performance
and reduce fuel consumption. In order to analyze the south-facing rooms
separately from the rest of the building, a DesignBuilder energy model was
created. The model was then calibrated based on actual fuel consumption
records of the building and from HOBO data that we collected.
Conceptual analysis of passive heating systems indicated that, for this specific
heating dominated climate, a Trombe wall is more appropriate compared to a
double façade system since it provides better insulation values while reducing
interior temperature fluctuations.
In order to optimize the Trombe wall to better suit thermal comfort design intent
and daylighting needs of the interior spaces, various types of thermally massive
material and glazing systems were simulated in DesignBuilder and DIVA.
The optimized design has:
1) a 200 mm (8-inch) concrete wall as thermal mass,
2) a 150 mm (6-inch) air cavity,
3) double-glazing external curtain wall system,
4) external vents to prevent overheating during the summer,
5) internal vents to provide convection heat transfer during winter and ventilation
during summer,
6) optimized windows to provide more uniform daylighting throughout the space
and reduce glare,
7) and a mechanically operated exterior shading device (optional) that
responds to climate conditions to reduce heat loss during winter months
and minimize unwanted heat gain during summer months while allowing a
controlled amount of daylight to enter the interior spaces at all times.
The final Trombe wall assembly has an 8% efficiency for the amount of heat
transferred into the interior spaces though the Trombe wall divided by total
incident solar radiation on the exterior surface of the wall.
The cost benefit analysis of the system shows a 15-year payback time for the
Trombe wall system without the shading device (at $41,328.54) and a 22-year
payback time for the system with the shading device (at an assumed additional
cost of $20,000). The new design proposal results in an 83% reduction in fuel
consumption (oil and gas). While the system provides a radical reduction in
fuel consumption, because of the small scale of the building and the relatively
low annual fuel costs before the redesign ($3,302.23), the annual savings
of $2,756.71 compared to the cost of the system results in a relatively long
payback period (15 year without the shading device and 22 year with the
shading device). Overall, we conclude that the client should move forward
with the redesign as a long-term saving strategy that improves occupant
comfort while reducing the negative operational impacts of the building on the
environment.
Summer Day
Double Facade Strategies
Apr - Sep: 99.9% of area receives between 425-495 kWh/m2
Oct - Mar: 99.0% of area receives between 330-550 kWh/m2
Winter DaySummer Night Winter Night
DIVA Radiation Simulation
Total heat gain from Trombe wall during Oct-Apr: 640.95 kWh
Total solar radiation incident on Trombe wall Oct-Apr: 15453.32 kWh
Trombe wall efficiency : 640.95/15453.32 = 4.1%
S
15
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
20
01
Oct
15
Oct
29
Oct
12
Nov
26
Nov
10
Dec
24
Dec
07
Jan
21
Jan
04
Feb
18
Feb
04
Mar
18
Mar
25
Mar
08
Apr
22
Apr
Outside Dry-bulb Temp (degC)
Operative Temp (degC)
Heat Gain Through Trombe Wall
Zone Sensible Heating
0% 50% 100%
Occupied Hours
Overlit area
Daylight Availability (300lux): 13.38% of time occupied 300 lux level is achieved
Overlit area has been reduced from 95.34% to 34.32%

10. Visitor Center
Academic (Team of 3)
Energy Simulation in Design
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Area: 915 sqm.
The objective of the exercise was to design a visitor center on the site of our choos-
ing. We chose to redesign a proposed visitor center in Amsterdam. We wanted to
capitalize on Netherlands’ image as a sustainable and resource efficient country
as well as take advantage of the pleasant summer season.
Our site was located next to the sea which highly influenced the local climatic
conditions around the site. However, the influence of the water also helped us to
extend the number of days within our comfort zone. Our design strategy thus was
to design a passively responsive building and functions that can be allocated to
outside when the temperature is within a comfortable range.
The climate is primarily heating dominant requiring building to be heated for at
least eight months. Thus, scheduling of the functions within the center became
extremely critical to reduce overall heating load.
We identified four summer months (Jun-Sep) most suitable for natural ventilation
and the strategy was to attract maximum tourists during that period. Due to the
lack of immediate urban context, none of the building surfaces was influenced
by mutual shading hence necessitating the need to design appropriate hori-
zontal and vertical shading devices as per the direction.
After iterating with multiple shoe box models we chose the one that had the
lowest EUI of 123kWh/m2 taking it as our base case. Our goal was to design a
highly energy efficient building without compromising the modernistic aesthet-
ics of the center. An interesting observation during the course of this exercise
was that the effect of orienting the axis towards North-South as compared to
orienting it towards East-West was minimal. We attributed this finding to the low
sun angles all year round in Amsterdam. This finding helped us to play with the
geometry, design atriums and double height spaces.
My Role in the Project:
I managed the work schedules and was the primary coordinator between the
faculty and my team. I was also responsible for designing the building, perform-
ing daylight simulations and shadow analysis.

11. As there was no mutual shading from the surroundings, we were able to fully
capture the maximum amount of radiation falling on the roof facing South. As
shown above, the DIVA daylight simulations helped us to orient the solar panels.
We used PV Syst to calculate the approximate angle of the solar panel and the
energy produced. Solar Panels helped us to offset the remaining energy demand,
hence reducing the need to rely on the centralized electricity grid during the day.
The shadow analysis was performed on Ecotect and shows that the east wall
remains relatively shaded during the summer due to mutual shading. During
the winter, the low sun is able to penetrate through the building without being
shaded by the cantilevers. The building thus designed requires less cooling during
summers and less heating during winters as compared to a conventional building
of the same size in the region.
The table below summarizes the iterative design process starting from the base
case scenario to step 5 which is the best case modified scenario.
We used ‘best practice heavy weight’ material with 4” XPS insulation sandwiched
between brick and concrete walls. The Window to wall ratio echoed
fundamental rules of thumb, providing 70% glazing on South, 50% on North and
30% on East and West side.
Final EUI = 52.52 kWh/m2
62.43% energy reduction from the baseline model
Summer Solstice Spring/Fall Equinox
Baseline
Scenario
kWh/m2
Step1:
Activity
Scheduling
Step2:
Operation &
Glazing
Step3:
Construction
Materials
Step4:
Window to
wall ratio
Step4:
Mechanical
Cooling
& Natural
Ventilation
Winter Solstice
Solar Radiation analysis for Solar Panels
Room Electricity
Lighting
Heating
DHW
Cooling
Total EUI

12. 80 Walnut, Affordable Housing
Affordable Housing Development Competition 2014
Collaborative CDC: Urban Edge, Boston
Most Innovative Project (Team of 8)
Location: 80 Walnut Park, Boston, MA
Area: 10,871 sqm.
My Role in the Project:
Our team has experts from various fields such as real estate, community
engagement, law etc. I was the sustainability consultant on the team and
worked closely with the two designers. I conducted all the climate studies and
thermal, daylight and shadow simulations for the project.
As part of the Affordable Housing Competition, we were granted the opportunity
to work with Urban Edge,’a community development corporation (CDC)’. Their
most recent project, 80 Walnut, is a 10,871 sq. ft. vacant parcel of land situated
in Roxbury and is next to Walnut Park. It is located in an area of predominantly
4-storey multi-family projects. The entire site area is just under 11,000 ft2, but after
accounting for required setbacks the buildable area on our site is only 6,302 ft2.
Thus, in order to fit 23 units, maximum FAR, on such a small site our team felt it
was necessary to provide modular units which are smaller than traditional apart-
ment spaces. In order to compensate for this, our design will engender a strong
sense of community, providing ample space for interaction. The units will still be
very attractive; they will receive ample natural ventilation and daylight as well as
park views.
Design Strategy
A typical development of this density on such a small site would max out the site
constraints in an attempt to increase the unit count. This approach, however,
would not allow for on-site parking. Additionally, there would be little opportunity
for natural ventilation, limited access to daylight, and all community interaction
would be relegated to a small common ground floor.
Our team set out to develop a structure that would be both aesthetically pleasing
and environmentally responsible. Our goal was to create an economically viable
development which would enhance the quality of life for future residents. Through
a series of climate and site specific strategies, our design aimed at maximiz-
ing occupant comfort while minimizing the energy input needed to operate the
building.

13. In order to move beyond LEED Platinum and Passive House strategies, specific
attention was given to providing most of the residential units with optimized
daylighting, views, and natural ventilation making the building passively energy
efficient upfront. This approach resulted in an overall design that minimizes
the need for active systems while responding to functional and programmatic
requirements—all reducing monthly operating expenses. While this added over
$770 thousand in upfront costs, it provided an 18% Return on Investment in
addition still allowing the building to come under the initial budget of Urban Edge
on a per unit, per sq. ft., and total cost basis.
The energy analysis of the building was conducted in Design Builder. The entire
building was simulated, and the output was then normalized and applied to the
entire building design. The primary objective of this exercise was to optimize the
building design and reduce energy load by decoupling the active and passive
design strategies. An iterative process was adopted to achieve ‘Passive House’
standards of building construction and energy use by reducing thermal bridging
and air infiltration.
We also conducted a solar radiation mapping in ‘Diva’ to assess the possibility
of using solar panels. Our analysis revealed that solar energy offered massive
potential offsets to energy requirements. The total cost of the system would be
around $190,000, and the system will produce around 165MWhr/yr.
To save costs and ensure construction efficiency, the
majority of the project was proposed to be modular
construction. The off-site construction of the building
modules will ensure that the building construction will have
a minimal impact on the surrounding neighborhood.
Solar Panels
Solar Panels are used on 50% of roof to
offset the energy demand of the building
through renewable energy.
Roof Garden
Vegetation on the roof helps utilize the roof
run off and also mitigate the heat island,
albedo effect on site.
Window Shading
The southern facade windows
are provided with appropriately
designed louvers to allow winter
sun and block the summer sun.
Glazing
High R-value, low SHGC, Low e,
Argon filled double glazing top
hung operable windows help
insulate the building envelope and
prevent heat loss during winter.
Material
Locally sourced, low embodied
materials are used to reduce the
carbon footprint of the building.
Insulation
Rigid Foam insulation R-60 is
provided as per passive house
standard.
Thermal Mass
High thermal mass materials
are used in the building so as to
regulate the day and night time
temperature fluctuations and
conserve daytime solar heat.
Landscaping
Bioswales and Percolation Pits help
recharge maximum water to the
ground.
Radiant Heating
Building units are heated through
radiant floors coupled with heat
recovery systems. The pipes are
insulated to minimize losses.
Lighting & Appliances
The building uses energy efficient
LED light with occupancy sensors. All
appliances are ENERGY STAR rated.
Low flow faucets and shower heads
conserve water.
Air Quality
Carbon-di-oxide and Carbon
monoxide sensors are provided on
each floor to monitor air quality. Low
VOC paints and FSC certified wood
is used in the interiors.
Roof Run-off
100% of the roof run-off is utilized
either in irrigation of the roof or to
replenish the ground water table.
The design engenders a strong sense of community,
providing space for interaction. The units receive ample
natural ventilation and daylight as well as park views.
The distance between 80 Walnut and the neighboring
project was increased to lift the building half a story,
thereby accommodating tuck-under parking on the north
end and increasing daylight between the two properties.
To provide natural ventilation and sunlight to the units,
we create community “streets” within the project that
cut cross-laterally in the building. This allows a continuous
airflow in the space and solar penetration from every
direction within the project.

14. Urban AgriCULTURE , Urban Planning
Urban India Challenge 2013
Indian Institute of Human Settlements
All India Top 12 Finalists (Team of 4)
Location: New Delhi, India
‘Urban agriCulture’ attempts to bridge the gap between producers and consum-
ers by means of introducing hydroponics in urban setting. We propose to engage
the stakeholders during the entire project cycle. This includes activities like identify-
ing land for the setup, initial investment, working on the farm and other activities.
In an emerging economy like India, where a substantial proportion of the popu-
lation faces food insecurity and markets for food grains are poorly integrated
there is an immediate need for a better public food delivery system, which is well
integrated in the urban fabric and has a symbiotic relationship with urban growth.
Our proposal intends to merge agriculture and city together into a composite
model where farming is done through hydroponics on parcels of land provided
by the government and developed and maintained by a collaboration of farm-
ers, local community and trained experts.
My Role in the Project:
I was involved with the initial conceptualization of the idea and researched exten-
sively on urban agriculture and the process of hydroponics and aquaponics. I
also prepared the final powerpoint presentation for the competition.
Isometric of a community hydroponic greenhouse

15. Design
The construction of greenhouse utilizes eco-friendly and readily available materials.
This helps keeping low construction costs and a low carbon footprint. Bamboo is
used as the basic structural material providing framework to the 15’ wide and
48’ long structure with a concrete base platform. The structure is covered with a
canvas membrane cloth to provide a controlled microclimate inside the green
house and to protect the plants from pests.
Under the controlled microclimate a large variety of fruits and vegetables can
be produced throughout the year. The produce can be then easily distributed
within the region at a reasonable price. These greenhouses can be then scaled
according to the regional demands of food. These neighborhood food-labs
can also serve as unique community building sites where local residents can
contribute their sweat equity for reduced prices of produce.
Increased and fresh produce
Food produced through this process would require less pesticides and insecticides
and would be of better quality. The quantity of produce by hydroponics per acre is
eight folds compared to traditional soil based farming methods, while the harvest
time is reduced to half. Being close to consumers the produce can be easily
distributed whilst the produce is still fresh.
Community Development
Small-scale greenhouses in residential neighborhoods can transform themselves
as centers of community development and social interaction sites. Local
community and institutions can take active role in maintaining the greenhouses
and in turn benefit from the produce. This would also raise awareness and
strengthen the link between public and agriculture.
Scalability and Replicability
Scalability is one of the most important aspect of this proposal. Greenhouses can
be replicated all around the city at various scales as per the site requirements. In
larger parcels of land, government can help farmers to set up a smaller unitized
version of hydroponics farm initially that can be scaled up by farmers as per their
capacity and capital in the future.
D
iminishing Pro
fits
Foodw
astage and reduc
edquality
Farmer Trader Wholesaler Retailer Consumer
Quality
SeedingplantingSeedingsprouting
Growing lettuce plan indoors using hydroponics technique
The current food supply chain in Delhi

16. Gund Hall Facade Redesign
Academic (Team of 4)
Daylighting
Location: Cambridge, MA, USA
The objective of this exercise was to redesign a space with an issue related to
daylighting. The exercise was looking for practical, however, we were free to go
beyond what was economically feasible. Our team chose to redesign Gund Hall
facade as the students in the trays inside have expressed great distress sitting at
their desks during summer times as the sun shines directly inside the space, cast-
ing a lot of glare.
Currently, the issue is tackled by blinds on the inside. This is a highly inefficient way
of addressing this problem as it not only cuts the visual connection to the outside
but also allows the heat to enter the building through glass. Thus, increasing the
cooling load of the entire building. This solution also reduces the daylight avail-
able for work thus necessitating the need to turn on artificial lights even during the
day. Hence, we aimed to tackle both these issues through our design.
As seen on the adjacent page, we started by conducting a solar radiation analysis
of the entire facade. The analysis showed that the glare issue is the most prevalent
on the top most part of the facade, visible in red. This was also evident through
the picture showing a stark beam of sunlight hitting the surface at 2pm on a
summer afternoon.
Design Strategies
Our first iteration was to keep the transparent glazing as is and added light
shelves on the facade uniformly. The light shelves helped to reduce the percep-
tible glare from over 40% to 30% at 9am on June 21.
In the second iteration, we modified the lengths of the light shelves as per the
solar radiation analysis. The conceptual diagrams are shown on the next page.
My Role in the Project:
I was responsible for all the daylighting simulations informing the design deci-
sions. I performed the initial climate studies and shadow analysis for the Gund
Hall and presented the design in front of the final jury.

17. Thus, a double skin was proposed with adjustable louvres that can be controlled
separately or all at once. The exterior facade is proposed to be held up by a
gridded simple truss system. Lateral load resistance is achieved through the
horizontal members that span across the entire length of the system. Perforated
metal panels make up the primary shading system and are distributed across
the entire system. The interior facade is held up by a flat cable net system. In
the event that the GSD retrofits their existing glazing, they should use a 4-part
clamp located every 10-foot vertical and horizontal increments, supported by
vertical and horizontal pre-stressed cables. Each individual clamp should consists
of an interior glass support shelf, which holds up a 10 by 10 ‘Insulated Glass Unit’
panel at its corner, and is fastened by an exterior cap plate. The glass facade
is intended to reduce electricity consumption for artificial lighting by maximizing
daylight throughout the interior.
In the end, the perceptible glare was reduced from 43% to 28% at 9am on June
21, while imperceptible glare was reduced from 38% to 31% on June 21 at 9am.
Moreover, the percentage of area affected becoming over lit because of glare
was also reduced from 77% to 33%. We believe even this glare situation can also
be mitigated if louvres were to be connected to a centralized BIM system.
Light shelf option one
Imperceptible Glare
9am June 21 9am Dec 21 9am June 21 9am Dec 21
Perceptible Glare
View from the inside
Light shelf option two
View from the outside
Light shelf option three
Facade solar radiation analysis

18. Percolation pit with boulders
Administration building
Factor y buildingCentral courtyard
Ventilators allow sunlight pen-
etration in the basement
Manually operated DGU units with
U value<0.5Btu/hr. sqft.
Ventilators and light shelves re-
flect diffused daylight inside the
work spaces
Planters on south side to
reduce heat gain
Indigenous plant species
with low water require-
ments
South side garden to col-
lect roof run off by minimis-
ing hard paved surfacesDrip irrigation for trees
planted on site
Rain water harvesting us-
ing swale
Existing trees were
retained on site
All external walls are cavity
walls with fly ash bricks and
air gap
LEED Platinum Factory
Clients: RMX JOSS
Construction: 2009-2012
Location: New Delhi, India
Area: 6, 835 sqm.
My Role in the Project:
I was the project architect and orchestrated all phases of the architectural design
process from site survey through design development, energy simulation to site
supervision. I was the principal coordinator with clients, consultants and contrac-
tors. I also presented the design for LEED accreditation.
The 1.3 acre site was located in a high density industrial area, surrounded by high
energy consuming factories all around. Separated from the main road by a 25
m green belt, the site is a corner plot opened from three sides. This gives plenty of
opportunity to get maximum inlet of natural light inside the building.
The project brief was to develop well-lit workspaces for around 500 workers. The
project aimed for and successfully achieved a LEED India NC rating becom-
ing North India’s first LEED platinum rated garment factory. Integrated design was
a key factor in designing this building and all sustainability aspects were brain-
stormed, optimized and integrated into the design at the concept stage thus
ensuring a smooth design and construction process. On completion, the proj-
ect achieved 55~65 % operational energy savings annually over a conventional
factory in the same region.
The building is highly solar responsive and special emphasis has been given to en-
sure proper orientation and adequate natural light. Daylight simulation softwares
were used to determine the size of each window and light shelf. The concept of
a ‘green’ building was extended to the façade which has been designed with
planters and creepers. This not only makes the building look aesthetically beauti-
ful from outside but also has a positive psychological impact on the user inside
where he gets an immediate view of the greens right outside his window.
The plot is rectangular facilitating a narrow linear building plan. The longer sides
are North-South oriented. The south side has adequate lightshelves designed in
a way so as to maximize light and minimize glare and heat gain. All vehicu-
lar movement has been restricted outside the site making the site surroundings
completely pedestrian friendly.

19. Locally available materials with low embodied energy like
Brick, Kota, Red Agra, Dholpur stone have been used. Low
VOC compounds like paints, sealants complying with LEED
standards were used to improve indoor air quality.
32 KW generated by solar panels is used for all exter-
nal lighting and low usage appliances. Recycled china
mosaic with high SRI reflectivity is used as roof finish to
minimize heat island effect.
The minimalistic entrance reflects the firm’s philosophy of
simplicity and sophistication. The wavy wall was constructed
by a local artist using indigenous stone, crafted with local
craftsmanship techniques.
The building is north south oriented where 90% of work
spaces are lit by natural diffused light. All HVAC systems
are BMS controlled with adaptive air conditioning and
low set point.
Solar Panels were raised to 8’ height to allow for shaded
walkable space underneath. This strategy allowed for a
usable roof that can be converted to a roof garden in the
future.
Sunken court overlooking planter boxes on the North side
keeps the basement lit by natural light throughout the day
minimising the need for artificial lighting.
A 15m wide south garden is fed rooftop and surface run off which is directed to
the various swales and percolation pits for rainwater harvesting. The use of hard-
scape has been kept to a minimum and is only provided where there is heavy
movement of people, for example, at the entrances.
Adequate measures were taken during construction to prevent loss of soil by
storm water run off/wind erosion. The topsoil was protected by stock piling for
reuse while filling.
The images on the right show the daylight analysis of the interior workspaces with
planters and lightshelves. With the help of simulation softwares planter depths and
projections were calculated to have ample amount of diffused daylight inside.
Most of the workspaces requiring natural daylight are located on the periphery
of the ground and first floor. The worker’s lunchroom is located in the basement
overlooking a sunken court, which provides natural light inside. Basement has ven-
tilators all along the periphery providing daylight inside. Services with low daylight
requirements like storerooms, service control rooms etc are placed in the base-
ment.

20. Green Cubes, Installation
Student Sustainability Award 2013 (Team of 2)
Harvard Office for Sustainability
Location: Harvard Graduate School of Design
The grant aims to reestablish the connection between the outdoor and indoor
built spaces by introducing the concept of ‘Green Cubes’ as vertical bio walls
in indoor spaces. These ‘Green Cubes’ also function as informative installations
educating student community about the process of assembling and maintaining
an indoor bio wall system.
The indoor plants also help to reduce the carbon dioxide and VOCs, thus positively
affecting the occupant behavior making them more active, productive and less
stressed. The compact size of these modules, the easily available materials used
in the construction and the simple method of assembling will demonstrate the
ease with which once can translate the concept of a bio wall to a practical real-
ization. This innovative model, showcases a pilot project that can be scaled and
replicated throughout the campus by a wider Harvard community for improving
air and aesthetic quality in indoor spaces.
My Role in the Project:
I was involved with writing the grant application, conceptual design and financial
cost assessment.
Exploded isometric of the cube

21. Vocational Training Center
Volunteer for Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Construction: 2009
Location: Paigambarpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
Area: 35 sqm
My Role in the Project:
I volunteered to design and execute a vocational training center with the local
masons in a remote village in north India. I, along with an expert in ferrocement
taught villagers to use this technology to construct pre cast shelves for the library
block. The villagers subsequently implemented this technique to develop other
buildings in the surrounding areas.
Process of making ferrocement shelves Finished shelves and interiors
Finished shelves and interiors View from the exterior