Factors determining Efficient Buildings
Multi Functionality
How many times do we see something and appreciate the way the design, no matter how simple it may be, appeals to our senses and creates awe within us. You may end up appreciating the way it functions well or how the little details fit in and add character, functionality, and charm. You will find that these simple things, places, and items have stood the test of time, having great adaptability and resilience.
Adaptability
Tested by time and proven to be utilitarian, traditional architecture continues to be the best example of multifunctional and adaptable design. It is also the best, most suitable, and sustainable model for the best climate responsive design.
The best traditional designs:
- Use locally available building materials.
- Respond to the climate.
- Work sensitively within the landscape setting, taking advantage of solar orientation, shade, local trees, prevailing breezes, and topography.
- Reflect on the region’s culture.
Cultural appropriation
Culture is about assimilation, not elimination. When we start looking at our culture, we like to assimilate a lot of things, you know, we have memories and contextual references latched on to everything.
Sustainability
Our design thinking always revolves around the five elements of nature. We have always found ourselves striving towards a more sustainable Architecture. Climate and context are the two main factors around which the designs are centered. Instead of aping the west and designing glass blocks unsuitable for India’s climate, one needs to act with common sense while designing and constructing spaces responsive to the local climate.
Design Process
We and our team at Novarch believe in making the design process highly intuitive as well as process-oriented. We start by asking many questions and simultaneously keep exploring possibilities. Then there comes a point when these two intersect and a new idea is born. This helps eliminate randomness and addresses many issues which are extremely important at various levels. This approach is rigorous and relevant and brings a kind of criticality to the design process while guiding it with the help of common sense.
Key Tenets of Efficient Buildings
Promote Health and Well-Being: Indoor environments strongly affect human health. An effective environment should be designed to support and enhance the health and well-being of its occupants. Sustainable design principles also help achieve this objective.
Provide Comfortable Environments: An environment designed and operated to provide the highest achievable levels of visual, acoustic, ergonomic, and thermal comfort.
Design for adaptability: Providing spaces with flexibility, social support, and technology to promote new ways of working, learning, and engaging in several activities is a cornerstone of change and innovation.
Use of the right technology: Effectively integrating technological tools and distribution networks required in today’s environments to enable occupants to perform activities or their duties and starts with properly designed pathways and spaces.
Microclimates: This approach is about Getting down to the lowest scale, looking at the local climatic factors to curate and create spaces, making the spaces adaptable to different seasons and different times of the day.
Human factor- comfort delight: Human comfort and delight are one of the greatest concerns for building occupants. It directly affects their safety, health, and comfort. Occupants must be able to rely on sufficient functional space, building systems, equipment, and tools that function consistently and are maintained properly. Provided below is a 10 pillar structure to help decode Efficient Buildings.
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