Performance of Naturally Ventilated Bildingsa in a Warm Humid Climate

A case study of Golconde, Pondicherry, South Indiarick and Lime Domes and Vaults in Warm-humid Climate in South India
Authored by Mona Doctor-Pingel, Hugo Lavocat

Built between 1935 and 1942, Golconde is the first modern reinforced concrete building in India. After 75 years it still remains as one of the most outstanding examples of climate responsive buildings in the country. Though some books have been published on Golconde, it has never been analysed with detailed data logging and scientific analysis. This paper will present some of the various passive design strategies employed to ensure thermal comfort without the use of a mechanical cooling system. Among others, the building’s surrounding vegetation, its orientation minimizing solar exposure, the ventilated double roof and the louvers working as solar shading devices are appropriate and efficient strategies for the Indian tropical climate context. The hourly data collected for air temperature, relative humidity and surface temperature over one and half years was used to analyse the impact of those passive strategies on the indoor conditions. This exemplary case study represents a strong case for constructing climate responsive buildings which could address the energy crisis in many countries.