Abstract:
From the dawn of civilization, the pattern of human settlements has been an expression of man's relation with nature. Traversing from a hunter-gatherer way of life to the early agricultural, advanced agricultural, industrial and modem age, impacts of settlements have increasingly become matter of environmental concern. Upto the medieval times settlements were planned taking into consideration the constraints and potentials of resources such as climate, water, land and vegetation.
The fall out due to the life styles and development strategies of the last 100 years in terms of inequity, growing population and depletion of natural resources, has made us all aware within the global community that the basic needs of the growing population will not be met through the conventional development methods, materials and technologies. The mounting costs and impacts of air, water and solid waste pollution are adversely affecting local economies, natural environments and public health.
This dissertation adopts a practical focus to develop sustainable building approaches for hot-dry climatic regions in India. The environment of hot dry lands presents many difficulties to those who live and work in them. Temperatures are usually high by day, and often at night, with low humidity and dry and dust laden winds. Vegetation is sparse and local resources of many areas are limited. Buildings can do much to provide a means of creating the best possible environment for physical, mental, and spiritual comfort. Apart from building, the main area of responsibility of an architect, builder, or planner lies in satisfying the needs of the people, for whom the development is to be carried out. In hot dry lands the needs assume special significance. The fledging solar industry is no longer a backyard operation and has many enthusiasts will shape the future way of living for the better: better use of our Earth resources, for cleaner air, healthier life. The project investigates availability of natural energies as a design resource and employs the findings to find out the appropriate means for designing a building in hot dry climate.
