CLIMATOLOGY AND

BUILDING PHYSICS
A CLIMATIC STUDY ON THE CITY OF
AHMEDABAD

SUBMITTED TO

SUBMITTED BY

AR. SUNIL
SHARMA

ANAS AHMAD
M.ARCH 1ST SEM

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State :Gujarat
District :Ahmedabad
Founded by :Sultan Ahmad Shah
Coordinates: 23.03N 72.58E
Area: 220km2
Density :12,000/km2
Altitude: 48.77 m above sea level

THE AREA AROUND AHMEDABAD HAS BEEN INHABITED SINCE THE

11TH CENTURY, WHEN IT WAS KNOWN AS ASHAVAL.
SITUATED ON THE BANKS OF THE SABARMATI RIVER, IN NORTHCENTRAL GUJARAT.
THE SABARMATI FREQUENTLY DRIES UP IN THE SUMMER, LEAVING
ONLY A SMALL STREAM OF WATER, AND THE CITY IS IN A SANDY AND
DRY AREA.

Source: Census of India.

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AHMEDABAD

IS DIVIDED BY THE SABARMATI INTO TWO PHYSICALLY

DISTINCT EASTERN AND WESTERN REGIONS.

THE

EASTERN BANK OF THE RIVER HOUSES THE OLD CITY, IT HOUSES

THE MAIN RAILWAY STATION, THE MAIN POST OFFICE, AND SOME
BUILDINGS OF THE MUZAFFARID AND BRITISH ERAS.

THE

COLONIAL PERIOD SAW THE EXPANSION OF THE CITY TO THE

WESTERN SIDE OF SABARMATI, FACILITATED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF
ELLIS BRIDGE IN 1875 AND LATER THE RELATIVELY MODERN NEHRU
BRIDGE.

THE WESTERN PART OF THE CITY HOUSES EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS,

MODERN
BUILDINGS,
RESIDENTIAL
AREAS,
SHOPPING
MALLS,
MULTIPLEXES AND NEW BUSINESS DISTRICTS CENTRED AROUND ROADS
SUCH AS ASHRAM ROAD, C. G. ROAD AND SARKHEJ-GANDHINAGAR
HIGHWAY.

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LAKES
KANKARIA LAKE
CHANDOLA LAKE
VATRAPUR LAKE

RIVER
SABARMATI RIVER
SOURCE-DHEBAR LAKE,RAJASTHAN
LENGTH 371 KM.

RANGE

Kankaria Lake

SATPURA RANGE
ELEVATION 1350M
THE RANGE RISES IN EASTERNGUJARAT
STATE NEAR THEARABIAN SEACOAST,
RUNNING EAST THROUGH THE BORDER
OFMAHARASHTRAANDMADHYA
PRADESHTO THE EAST TILLCHHATTISGARH.

Vastrapur Lake

Satpura range

Sabarmati river

Chandola Lake

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THE CITY IS IN A SANDY AND DRY AREA. THE MAJAR TYPES OF SOIL
FOUND IN THIS AREA ARE AS FOLLOWS

1) FILLED UP SOIL LAYER AT A FEW LOCATIONS

2) CLAYEY SILT AS UPPER LAYER FROM EXISTING GROUND LEVEL TO
ABOUT 2.0 M. TO 3.0 M. DEPTH
3) SILTY SAND, MAINLY OCCURRING AS NEXT LAYER (2ND) LAYER FROM
ABOUT 3.0 M. TO 6.0 M. TO 10 M., OR EVEN MORE
4) SANDY SILT AT A FEW LOCATIONS
5) CLAYEY SAND
6) GRAVELLY SAND NEAR THE RIVER BANKS AND IN THE
RIVER BED AS UPPER LAYER.
SOURCE : DEPT OF MINES & GEOLOGY
GIDC,Ahmedabad.

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AHMEDABAD HAS A HOT, SEMI-ARID CLIMATE .

THE STEADY EXPANSION OF THE RANN OF KUTCH THREATENS TO
INCREASE DESERTIFICATION AROUND THE CITY AREA AND MUCH OF THE
STATE.
THE WEATHER IS HOT THROUGH THE MONTHS OF MARCH TO JUNE; THE
AVERAGE
SUMMER MAXIMUM IS 43 C , AND THE AVERAGE MINIMUM IS 23 C
NOVEMBER TO FEBRUARY, THE AVERAGE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE IS 36
C THE AVERAGE MINIMUM IS 12 C , AND THE CLIMATE IS EXTREMELY
DRY.
THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE RECORDED IS 48.5 C AND LOWEST IS 5C.

SOURCE : www.imdahm.gov.in

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COLD NORTHERLY WINDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A MILD CHILL IN

JANUARY.
THE SOUTHWEST MONSOON BRINGS A
HUMID CLIMATE FROM MID-JUNE TO MID-SEPTEMBER.

SOURCE : www.imdahm.gov.in

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SOURCE : www.weatherspark.com/averages/33909/Ahmedabad-Gujrat-India.

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SOURCE :

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SOURCE : www.imdahm.gov.in

WIND VELOCITY

SOURCE- CLIAMTE CONSULTANT

SOFTWARE

PSYCHROMETRIC CHART

SOURCE- CLIAMTE CONSULTANT

SOFTWARE

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DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS (from climate consultant)

Eliminate west facing glazing and heat

gain

Earth sheltering, occupied basements, or

earth tubes reduce heat loads
SOURCE- CLIAMTE CONSULTANT SOFTWARE

Indoor air motion can make it seem cooler by 5

degrees F

Enclosed well shaded courtyard with

fountain

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Use light colored building materials In this climate air conditioning will always be

needed, but can be greatly reduced if building

design minimizes overheating

Screened porches and patios can provide

passive comfort cooling by ventilation
SOURCE- CLIAMTE CONSULTANT SOFTWARE

To facilitate cross ventilation, locate door and

window openings on opposite sides of building
with larger openings facing up-wind

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Windows overhangs or operable

sunshades can reduce air conditioning.

Traditional passive homes in hot dry climates

used high mass construction with small
recessed shaded openings, operable for night
SOURCE- CLIAMTE
SOFTWARE
ventilation
toCONSULTANT
cool the
mass

A radiant barrier (shiny foil) will help

reduce radiated heat gain through the roof

High performance glazing on all

orientations

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Use open plan interiors to promote natural Orient most of the glass to the north,
cross ventilation
shaded by vertical fins

Good natural ventilation can reduce or

eliminate air conditioning
SOURCE- CLIAMTE CONSULTANT SOFTWARE

Use plant materials (bushes, trees, ivycovered walls) especially on the west to

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SANGATH AN ARCHITECTS STUDIO,

AHMEDABAD

SANGATH SPATIAL, CONSTRUCTIONAL AND LANDSCAPE RESPONSE TO

COMBAT HOT AND DRY CLIMATE OF AHMEDABAD. VARIOUS PASSIVE SOLAR
ARCHITECTURAL TECHNIQUES HAVE BEEN ADOPTED TO NEGATE THE
IMPACT OF HARSH SUN
PROJECT DETAILS
BUILDING/PROJECT NAME
- SANGATH AN
ARCHITECTS STUDIO LOCATION
AHMEDABAD
BUILDING
- INSTITUTIONAL
ARCHITECT
- BALKRISHNA DOSHI
CLIMATE
- HOT AND DRY
YEAR OF START/COMPLETION - 19791981
CLIENT/OWNER
- BALAKRISHNA TRUST
SITE AREA
-2346 M
COVERED AREA
-585 M
COST OF THE PROJECT
- RS 600 000 (1981)

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DESIGN FEAUTURES

Underground construction
Thermal storage walls
Vaulted roof form to create efficient
surface/volume ratio. The vault induces
convective air movement thereby cooling
internal spaces
Vaulted roof of sandwiched construction
with an insulating layer of locally made clay
fuses sandwiched between two concrete
slabs
Use of broken China mosaic glazed tiles
from local factory as top finish for the vault
to reflect heat
Daylighting by north-glazing, skylights, and
roof cutouts
Microclimate modified by vegetation and
water bodies
Rainwater and roof tank overflow water
harnessed for recycling and reuse

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LANDSCAPING:THE SANGATH BUILDING, AN ARCHITECTS STUDIO IN

AHMEDABAD ADOPTS A CAREFUL LANDSCAPE PLANNING. THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT COMPRISING RECEPTION AREAS, DESIGN STUDIO, OFFICE SPACE,
WORKSHOP, LIBRARY, CONFERENCE ROOM, AND OTHER ANCILLARY SPACES ARE
BEAUTIFULLY PLANNED AROUND THE LANDSCAPE. THE LANDSCAPE RESPONDS
THE VAGARIES OF NATURE IN THE HOT & DRY CLIMATE OF AHMEDABAD. LAWN
AND VEGETATION COVER ALL AROUND CREATE FAVOURABLE MICROCLIMATE BY
ABSORBING SOLAR RADIATION AND PROVIDING COOLER PASSAGE OF AIR
THROUGH HUMIDITY. (SOURCE: ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDINGS IN INDIA, MILI
MAJUMDAR, TERI & MNRE, 2001)

The built spaces of the Sangath, Ahmedabad are planned around lush
green landscape

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WATER BODY:WATER IN THE SANGATH BUILDING, AN

ARCHITECTS STUDIO IN AHMEDABAD IS USED AS A MAJOR
MODIFIER OF THE MICROCLIMATE. RAINWAER AND OVERFLOW
OF PUMPED WATER FROM THE ROOF TANK ARE HARNESSED
THROUGH ROOF CHANNELS THAT RUN THROUGH A SERIES OF
CASCADING TANKS AND WATER CHANNELS TO FINALLY
CULMINATE IN A POND FROM WHERE IT IS RECYCLED BACK OR
USED FOR IRRIGATING VEGETATION. WATER CASCADES ALSO
PROVIDE INTERESTING VISUAL EXPERIENCES. (SOURCE:
ENERGY-EFFICIENT BUILDINGS IN INDIA, MILI MAJUMDAR, TERI &
MNRE, 2001)

Fig: water as a major modifier of the micro-climate in Sangath,

Ahmedabad