This document summarizes the Sangath architectural office located in Ahmedabad, India. The office is designed to be climate responsive by minimizing solar radiation and maximizing wind flow through site planning and building orientation. Key features include a vaulted roof form for efficient space and airflow, skylights and natural lighting, insulation through underground construction and thick walls, and a landscape integrated water system. The results are a structure requiring little mechanical cooling or heating that provides thermal comfort through passive design principles.

1. SANGATH

2. LOCATION
 Location Thalte road, Ahmedabad.
 Site area – 2346 sq.m
 Built up – 585 sq.m

3. FUNCTION
 Architect’s office.
 Research
 Designing
 Drafting
 Model making
 Discussions

4. PLAN AND SECTION
ENTRY
SECTION
PLAN

5. CLIMATE RESPONSICE
SITE PLANNING
MINIMIZING SOLAR RADIATION ON SOUTH
AND WEST :
The structure is closely integrated with the
outdoor spaces.
Vegetation on site is almost left to grow into
wilderness
The west and south façade is shaded by
dense trees.
MAXIMIZING WIND FLOW:
Wind from west and south- west is taken in
by juxtapositioning the structure so as to create
a central open space for the wind to flow
unobstructed.

6. Features
• Very less dependence on mechanical energy.
• Continuity of spaces.
• Wise use of rain water.
• Diffused light.
• Lot of vegetation.

7. FORM
VAULTED ROOF
FORM
The roof form creates an
efficient surface volume ratio
optimizing material quantities.
HIGHER SPACE
VOLUME
Provides for air pockets due
to connective currents that keep
lower volumes relatively cool.

8. LIGHTING
• Upper level large opening –facing north.
• Skylights as projected massed from the
roof.
• Small cut-outs on roof slab filled with
hollow glass blocks.
SKYLIGHTS
INTERIOR

9. FINISHES
• The concrete of slabs and wall surfaces
are kept un plastered.
• China mosaic glazed tiles
• Enhances insulation.
• Retard heat transmission as they are
made up of clay.
USE OF WASTE
MATERIAL
Paving material is a stone chip waste while
roof surface is glazed tiles waste.
They have been carefully handcrafted and
integrated into the design by fully using the
waste products , which also promotes
craftsmen and traditional heritage

10. WATER
CHANNELS
• Rainwater and overflow of
pumped water run through
a series of cascading tanks
and water channels to
finally culminate in a pond.
INSULATION
• Building is largely buried
under ground to use earth
masses for natural insulation.
• External walls of building are
nearly a meter deep but have
been hollowed out as alcoves
to provide storage that
becomes an insulative walls
with efficiency of space.

11. Landscape
• Maintained micro-climate
• Vegetation
• Waterbodies
• Amphitheater

12. Achievements
• Less mechanical cooling and heating is
required.
• Reduced green house gas emission (less
use of mechanical energy)
• Advantage of natural energy is taken.
• Comfortable thermal conditions are
maintained.

13. Performance
• A temperature difference of about 8 degree celcious .
• Time lag for heat transfer is nearly 6 hours.
• 30% - 50% reduction in cooling energy.

14. Thank you!