Green thinking leads to green living [Tunza thematic report January 2024]by Tuvimanyu Gautam | 19-01-2024 13:03 |
|---|
 The mindless construction of buildings to house population or to provide commercial spaces has turned landscapes into urban infernos. The heat radiated by concrete and glass surfaces contributes significantly to raise the temperature levels of urban landscape. Besides it, it leads to a less than comfortable life for the residents inhabiting it manifesting at times in illnesses and mental discomfort. The rapid climate change pattern makes it a necessity that we examine the way inhabitations are constructed. It is for this reason that the concept of green buildings is in vogue again. In contrast to the contemporary architecture which looks for uniformity and external aesthetics only, the traditional construction practices were region specific and took into account the climate vagaries of the geographical area. So they were intrinsically energy efficient. For example in South Asia, in the hot and dry regions, the homes had courtyards and corridors to cool down the hot air entering the home, whereas in the regions with heavy rainfall, the tapering roofs and higher plinths encouraged the natural element of light and breeze to enter the home while keeping out water element. The intent was to employ green design and sustainable practices in the construction stage itself to mitigate any future ramifications. The idea of a green building keeps its focus on the benefits a structure needs to provide to its inhabitants and its surroundings, and doesn¡¯t lose sight of the intent to minimise the stress on environmental resources. Through clever use of indigenous material, it also take care of the problems likely to arise during the building life-cycle. Though the contemporary architects conceptualise the green buildings by thinking of incorporating the state-of-the-art technology, it seems apt that the inspiration be drawn from the ancient and traditional architectural elements of the world. They are not only totally green but have also withstood the test of time. Hawa mahal, in India, used the concept of articulated windows to draw in the cool air. The middle eastern homes made use of screens and latticework, mashrabiya and the wind tower, barjeel, to harness hot air and cool breeze to cross-ventilate the home. In ancient times, by placing water under the channel that drew air from outside, a rudimentary but effective air-conditioning was managed. The windcatchers were used as semi-passive cooling systems in Iran and Egypt. The stone wattle and daub architecture of Egypt made use of unfired mud bricks to keep the inside temperature controlled. White lime plaster in Tunisia, rammed earth in Morocco and Spain, bamboo in Indonesia, cob in sub-Saharan region, and ice in Eskimo homes are some of the natural resources put to effective use by human ingenuity. The cave homes of Nabateans in Jordan do not only indicate the nomadic life its residents lived but also their innate sense of effectively protecting themselves from the elements of nature. In modern conversation, the sustainable-minded talk of building not only standalone green buildings but of whole villages based on this concept. The Derinkuyu subterranean city which Anatolian built centuries ago is a testimony to a similar thought process among ancients. It implies that green thinking is the basis of green buildings. Through use of indigenous materials and flora, and by incorporating long-standing architectural ideas , sustainable design solutions to provide liveable spatial experiences can be curated. A stronger connection between architecture and nature is the way forward for a green living. |
