Salient Feature of the Project

Name & Location : CCCP- OFFICE BUILD)N6, ITM , PUHAR) , PONE.
cost of Project : (INR) 11.15CQCT2ES
Built-up area: 3330
(In case of Public Building minimum built-up area should be 1000 sq. meter)

Description Of Project

The Centre for Climate Change Research (CCCP) is a new office, research and training building designed to house the latest facilities at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pashan, Pune. It neighbours with the recently built High Performance Computer Centre (HPCC) building designed by the same architectural office and complements it by forming a pedestrian plaza in between the two and extending the architectural vocabulary of the former. This three storied structure is conceived as a model Of a minimum energy use climatically comfortable building with inbuilt mechanisms integrated with architectural and functional concerns. The addition of this building to the IITM campus completes a research cluster functionally and architecturally by forming a precinct within the large campus thereby providing isolation within the campus, intimacy within the complex, and identity to its users at the same time.

Materials of Construction Details

The new building expresses itself in tandem with its older neighbour. It follows a similar grid and extends the earlier vocabulary in local grey Deccan trap creating compositions in various hues of grey and black. Form- finished concrete is the most strikingly used material combined with grey Basalt aggregate plaster and contrasted with clear float glass with aluminium louvers. 230 mm fly-ash blocks are used for double layered masonry cavity walls. The interior is bathed in white to give a soft glow of natural reflected light from the sky- windows. Deep browns and beige add to the warmth of the workspaces. The building details evolved for climatic comfort get additionally refined in this building with the sky-window combining natural lighting and ventilation techniques. Orientation of the block, the multi-layered envelope of the longer facades, the deep offset windows, and the triple-height volumes work complementary to the active radiant cooling and ventilation system integrated into the building’s structure.

Special Features

The layered envelope of the building minimising its heat gain, the spatial planning combining various volumes of interior spaces, the deep shading devices defining the long facades of the building, the natural draft created by the large openable windows, louvered cabin partitions and the roof ventilators make this an air- condition free, yet bio-climatically comfortable building. The building integrates a low energy consuming cooling and ventilation system within its structure. The building design follows the principles of solar passive architecture that ensure diffused natural light, adequate natural ventilation and comfortable temperatures inside the working spaces. But while doing this, the design does not ever compromise on its aesthetic integrity and sense. Without resorting to visual gimmickry, technological flamboyance or formal acrobatics, the building makes a simple and clean statement of restraint, clarity and a functional aesthetics. It won’t be far-fetched to say that this building articulates an appropriate contemporary expression to Pune’s and the country’s institutional architectural context.

TEN POINTS HIGHLIGHTING GREEN STATUS OF CCCR BUILDING

The building is designed on the principles of solar passive architecture. The principles of orientation, facade and window design, internal volumetric dispensation, buffer areas, and elements like overhangs, louvers, ventilators and skylights are engaged and synchronised to get a building with comfortable temperatues, diffused working natural light and cross ventilation in the occupied spaces. Landscaping of plaza & surrounds would minimise heat island effect and provided shading.

The building has a natural cooling system comprising of a combination of radiant cooling system and an earth tunnel cool air ventilation system.

Both systems do not use coolants or any other chemicals or gases for cooling. They thus release no ozone or other harmful gases in the atmosphere. Both are clean, non- polluting systems.

Both systems are not energy intensive. Their total power consumption is one third of that of a conventional air-conditioning system. Both depend only on fans and pumps for their operation. It is envisaged that these can be power by on site hybrid system of solar PU &
wind turbines. Thus making it zero demand on grid supply.

Both systems are not energy intensive. Their total power consumption is one third of that of a conventional air-conditioning system. Both depend only on fans and pumps for their operation. It is envisaged that these can be power by on site hybrid system of solar PU &
wind turbines. Thus making it zero demand on grid supply.

Both use building elements as an integral part of the system. Air is drawn through a wind tower into the RCC pipes. This tower serves as an important element of architectural composition of the plaza space between the two buildings. Inside the building, this cool air is circulated from the corridor spaces thereby creating a low height circulation space between the triple height atrium and the full height offices. The RCC floor slabs carry the PEX pipes with water cooled by the cooling tower. This discourages any installation of false ceilings in the offices.

Natural ventilation through openable windows is encouraged and actually helps the installed system. A ventilator integrated with the sky- window over the atrium creates a good draft throughout the interior volume of the office.

The long facades are three layered. The floor height louvers on the longer facades add an element of dynamism to the building with their carefully worked out rhythmic pattern. Their operation as per the users’ requirements to admit or cut-off light and wind actually gives unique facade composition all the time (Note: Louvers are still to be installed. They are currently installed only on the neighbouring building).

The size of the building block is based on the natural light and ventilation requirements. The narrow long block with an atrium along its length ensures natural light to all work spaces as well as creates a natural breeze draft throughout the building interiors. The working spaces are grouped and protected from the exterior surface thereby reducing their heat gain. This also ensures that when the building is cooled by the cooling system, it remains so over a much extended period after the system shut- down.

The building synchronises its spatial geometry, structural grid, functional space requirements, passive solar design elements and the inbuilt cooling and ventilation system into an inseparable whole without compromising on its aesthetic agenda, thereby creating satisfying experience to its user and patron. It is green in conception and not by applique.