Pearl Academy of Fashion

Summary

The script discusses the innovative design of a building in Jaipur, India, emphasizing its environmental sustainability within a harsh climate. The architects faced budget constraints but saw an opportunity for creativity, drawing inspiration from historic, naturally sustainable structures. They utilized a simple rectangular shape, internal courtyards for sun control, thermal insulation with 'butter casa', and a traditional step well to harness geothermal cooling. The building also features a 'jolly', a shading screen allowing natural light while blocking direct sun. The result is a green, sustainable building that relies minimally on artificial lighting or air conditioning, challenging the myth that green design must be costly.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The building in Jaipur is a radical piece of design due to its location and the city's rich cultural and historical background in architecture.
• 🌡️ Jaipur's climate is extremely harsh, with temperatures ranging from 2 degrees in winter to 50 degrees in summer, presenting a significant design challenge.
• 💰 The project had a tight budget, which was seen as an opportunity for innovation rather than a limitation.
• 🌳 The focus was on environmentally sustainable design, inspired by historic buildings that were naturally sustainable due to lack of choice.
• 🔆 The building's simple rectangular shape and internal courtyard were designed to maximize natural light and minimize heat gain.
• ☀️ The orientation of the courtyards was strategic to block the sun for most of the year, allowing sunlight only during the winter months.
• 🏺 An old strategy of using inverted clay pots for thermal insulation was employed to protect the roof surface.
• 🌡️ The concept of a 'step well' was utilized to harness the earth's stable temperature for cooling the building naturally.
• 🌞 The 'Jaali' screen was used as a second skin to the building, providing shade while allowing filtered light for natural illumination.
• 🌿 The building's design achieved a high level of sustainability, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and air conditioning for 80-90% of the time.
• 💡 The speaker emphasizes that true green design is not just environmentally adaptive but also financially adaptive, challenging the myth that green design is more expensive.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Cadmium Fashion building in terms of architectural design?

The Cadmium Fashion building is significant as a radical piece of design not only for its iconic standalone structure but also for its roots in Jaipur, a city with a rich cultural and historical background that has greatly influenced the evolution of architecture in India.

How does the climate in Jaipur impact the architectural design of the Cadmium Fashion building?

The harsh climate of Jaipur, with temperatures ranging from two degrees in winter to fifty degrees in summer, posed a significant challenge for the design team, leading to innovative solutions for air conditioning and power supply to ensure the building's sustainability.

What was the primary reason for taking on the Cadmium Fashion project despite the budget constraints?

The primary reason for taking on the project was the opportunity for innovation. The team saw it as a chance to explore environmentally sustainable solutions, drawing inspiration from historic buildings and developments from periods when sustainability was a necessity rather than a choice.

What was the initial shape chosen for the Cadmium Fashion building and why?

The initial shape chosen was a simple rectangle, inspired by the idea of a fort, to create a screen from the industrial surroundings and to utilize the concept of internal courtyards for environmental benefits.

How does the orientation of the Sun influence the design of the courtyards in the Cadmium Fashion building?

The courtyards were shaped to take advantage of the Sun's orientation, allowing the building to cut off the Sun for about ten months of the year and only allow sunlight through during the winter months, thus naturally regulating the temperature.

What traditional strategy was used for thermal insulation in the Cadmium Fashion building?

An old strategy of using 'butter casa' or inverted clay pots was used for thermal insulation. These pots were placed over the turrets to create an air cavity, which acts as an excellent insulator to protect the roof surface.

How does the step well in the Cadmium Fashion building contribute to its sustainability?

The step well, derived from traditional principles, was used to waste rainwater and recycle it from the average underground temperature, which is equivalent to the average room temperature in Jaipur. This system helps to cool the building naturally during the summer and warm it during the winter.

What is the role of the 'Jolly' in the external design of the Cadmium Fashion building?

The 'Jolly' acts as a second skin to the building, providing shading while allowing filtered light to pass through. It contributes to natural daylighting from both the outside and inside, while keeping the harsh sunlight abstracted from the building.

How does the Cadmium Fashion building achieve natural cooling and heating without relying on artificial systems?

The building achieves natural cooling and heating through a combination of strategies including the use of courtyards, thermal insulation with clay pots, and the step well system, which together provide a naturally cool environment in summer and a warm one in winter.

What misconception about green design does the Cadmium Fashion building help to dispel?

The building helps to dispel the misconception that green design is an added-on, expensive layer. It demonstrates that being environmentally sustainable can also be financially adaptive and integral to the design process.

What is the significance of the Cadmium Fashion building's approach to sustainability in the context of modern architecture?

The Cadmium Fashion building's approach signifies a shift towards integrating sustainability as a fundamental aspect of design, rather than a separate, optional feature, thus challenging the traditional myths about green design.