NATURAL COOLING

SYSTEMS OF JAISALMER

AYUSHI JANGALWA111110208IV Sem, B. Arch,2011-2016

JAISALMEREra of influence of

-water and electricity supply,

-mechanised transport -modern building technology,

Builders of the medieval Indian town of Jaisalmer

-creating an urban environment that is in tune with nature

- provides for more than just the basic needs of the

inhabitants.

The town of Jaisalmer is located Thar desert of Rajasthan.

Its climates is hot and arid.

The town and buildings in it overcome the problemof the severe desert summer by special passive designfeatures.

ARCHITECTURE OF JAISALMER

The Golden FortHavelis

Mud Houses

TOWN LAYOUT

The fort was built on the hilltop, called “Trikut” because of its triangular plan.

Residences on the leeward side of the hill.

Heat wave in the lower town is protected by the fort on hill.

ORIENTATION

Major streets oriented East-West.

Help against the dustorms which blow from the south-west.

STREETS

The streets are narrow while the building s are 2-3 floors high.

Helps provide mutual shading

Eliminates high velocity

hot winds.

The houses are on a high plinth and it is used as outer sitting space.

Floor are cantilevered to further provide shade to the streets.

They have uneven built form to deflect the wind as much as possible.

THERMAL LAG

Thick plastered walls of sandstone are used.

Roofs are as thick as 45 cm. and consist of earth fill over timber beams.

The purpose is to increase the the time for the heat to reach the interiors of the building.

The main living area are surrounded by buffer spaces like verandah.

Courtyard inside the house is a major element.

Helps achieve temperature difference between the interior and exterior of the building.

Openings like Jharokhas are provided.

Cross ventilation around the house is thus achieved.

VENTILATION

Narrow vertical ducts or staircase shafts are used.

They deflect the wind blowing down into the house.

SHADING Chajjas or projecting

eave provide shade to the carved jharokhas.

Supported on large carved brackets.

Carved textured surfaces provide shade to the walls and windows. Minimize the heat gain.

SURFACE AREA Textured surfaces

increase the surface area of the building.

Increased convective transfer of heat.

Carved surfaces cooler than plain ones.

CONCLUSION

The natural cooling systems used at Jaisalmer include:

1. Dense clustering of buildings.

2. Sun control through orientation and structural projections.

3. Cooling of sunlit surfaces by use of fins.

4. Massive construction for roofs and walls.

5. Courtyards and other air ducts for ventilation.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Architecture of the Indian desert by Kulbhushan & Minakshi Jain.

Natural cooling Systems of Jaisalmer by Vinod Gupta

(http://www.space-design.com/upload/rs0007.pdf)

Ecohouse- A Design Guide by Sue Roaf

Climatic considerations in planning- inferences from past by Sheeba Valsson and Alka Bharat

(http://www.coa.gov.in/mag/feb08/Climatic%20Consideration-%2842-48%29.pdf)

Natural cooling of buildings(www.space-design.com/upload/rs0004.pdf)