Lighting features in indian-style traditional architecture

Description

Due to the effect of impinging solar radiation, high thermal loads can be predicted in buildings ¡n many climates of South-East Asia. The logical need to protect and ventílate the fagades has been known for centuries. Features such as the jalis or lattice work combined with deep overhangs and elements conceived to reflect excessive sunlight such as water tanks or ritual ponds have adorned Indian-style palaces and temples since ancient times. Those features have subsequently inspired modern architects like Le Corbusier, Antonin Raymond, Benjamín Polk and Geoffrey Bawa to cite just a few. Climatic control elements were well suited to the craftsmanship of traditional architecture but their use as industrial producís that could be prefabrlcated ¡s more controversial. Not only has the climate changed since the origin of Indian-style architecture, but also the use of glazing has increased in an alarming way and thus the need to protect the fagades is now even more demanding. If this is not properly done the performance of air-conditioning Systems would be compromised and the lifespan of the Windows would result severely affected. Nonetheless, depending on the type and reflective nature of the shading system selected, undesirable effects for ventilaron, comfort and especially for day-lighting tend to occur in the space that, paradoxically, we are trying to protect. In this paper, within the context of Indian civilization we will present the simulation of the radiative field generated by different types of solar protection and reflective surfaces, especially ponds and Systems of louvres or brise-soleil. In the process we intend to extrapólate the procedures for ancient fabrics to some modern counterparts found in internationally acclaimed buildings and to obtain useful design insights for future projects.

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