VARSHA KAKUTURU

Urban Housing in Chennai: Climate Responsive Housing Design for Warm- Humid Climates.

Chennai is experiencing rapid urbanisation in the construction sector which leads to the development of new high rise residential buildings, which are dependant on air-conditioning to provide comfort to the occupants. This dissertation aims to understand the characteristics of Chennai’s warm and humid climate and to device potential passive design strategies to enhance comfort and reduce energy consumption. This is achieved by exploring key factors such as shading, ventilation, building, unit level design and materials to be used in this climate. Inspiration of verandahs from vernacular architecture is taken as a key design element to re-introduce them as balcony spaces in high rise residential developments to enhance their functionality. It was found that the usage of passive design strategies such as night ventilation, fixed horizontal and vertical shading devices and adaptable louvres could effectively reduce the cooling demands. Redefining the unit design to enhance cross ventilation and improve daylighting also aided in increasing indoor comfort. Materials with low carbon emissions were chosen. The combination of these strategies were tested and the results showed that it was possible to attain free running conditions throughout the year.