Pearl Academy of Fashion, Jaipur Sustainable techniques from age old elements

Built Expressions gets informed interacts to know more from Morphogenesis on how microclimatic conditions were enriched to make Pearl Academy of Fashion a sustainable educational centre and many accolades for its design and architecture.

It's not only for the education that Pearl Academy of Fashion in Jaipur is renowned for but its remarkable sustainable campus it draws attention. In addition to a series of awards, Pearl Academy of Fashion campus won 'The Best Learning Building' award at the World Architecture Festival Awards, 2009 held in Barcelona, Spain. This learning centre was chosen from amongst 611 projects from all over the world. The institute has become a winning model for cost-effective passive architecture in desert regions, the design and facilities of the campus blends the ideology appropriate to a fashion institute that seeks out an international poise.

The Jaipur campus provides the best possible infrastructural support to its students. It is a brand new 3.28 acre campus in Kukas. It is one of the first educational institutes in India to address both cost and environmental design as its primary goals through state of art modern architecture. Built in a hot-dry desert climate of Rajasthan, the academy is extremely energy efficient that has incorporated traditional sustainable methods. Morphogenesis, an architect firm from Mumbai has designed the campus. "Sustainability is the core our vision and we emphasise on affordable and livable condition that gives image ability. We reposed on largely on Rajasthan architecture," says Manit Rastogi, principal architect, Morphogenesis.

Jaalis to Aid Airflow

Given the nature of an institution and the budgetary constraints on the project necessitated the use of cost effective design solutions to keep within the price points set by the client and yet be able to achieve the desired functionality and effect. The adverse climate makes it a challenge to control the micro climate within the project thus incorporating various passive climate control methods becomes a necessity and also reduces the dependence on mechanical environmental control measures which are resource hungry.

Jaali or lattice screen has been a prominent architectural element ever since Mughal period to make most of the internal spaces. It was used also extensively used in Indian architecture as windows, room dividers and railings around terraces and balconies. It can control the airflow and lower down the temperature of internal spaces. The double skin acts as a thermal buffer between the building and the surroundings. The density of the perforated outer skin has been derived using computational shadow analysis based on orientation of the façades. The outer skin sits 4 feet away from the building and reduces the direct heat gain through fenestrations, yet allowing for diffused daylight. The Jaali thus, serves the function of 3 filters- air, light, and privacy.

Baolis as Functional And Aesthetic Element

This concept has been widely used in Pearl Academy campus as a cooling methods found in the desert environment of Rajasthan. The entire building is raised above the ground and a scooped out under belly forms Baolis (step-wells) natural thermal sink which is cooled by water bodies through evaporative cooling. A step-well is a microclimate generator as it cools the building from within and the air coming inside. These wells have steps built into the sides that can be descended to reach the water at the bottom. The integration of step-wells as a design element also encouraged to achieve sustainability. They are generally larger than common wells and are often of architectural significance and with time, the use of Baolis evolved from merely sources of water to places of recreation, a refuge from the punishing tropical heat.

The scheme relies on self shading sliver courts to control the temperatures of internal spaces and open stepped wells while allowing for sufficient day lighting inside studios and class rooms. Programmatic requirements enabled the conception of a whole level of functions in the underbelly which would operate in a passive environment without the employment of any mechanical means of heating and cooling. The entire building is raised above the ground and a scooped out under belly forms a natural thermal sink which is cooled by water bodies through evaporative cooling.

The water body which is fed by the recycled water from the sewage treatment plant helps in the creation of a microclimate through evaporative cooling. The under belly which is thermally banked on all sides serves as a large student recreation and exhibition zone and forms the anchor for the entire project. During the night when the desert temperature drops this floor slowly dissipates the heat to the surroundings keeping the area thermally comfortable. This time lag suits the staggered functioning of the institute. Passive environmental design helps achieve temperatures of about 27 degree Celsius inside the building even when the outside temperatures are at 47 degree Celsius.

Shading software to assess sun movements

Simulation of design is a key in any project before conceptualize. Certainly, Climate change and diminishing resources are increasingly having a significant impact on the way in which we design and construct our built environment. Morphogenesis used Ecotect, a software tool that gives a holistic approach towards building design in a sustainable approach. It’s a complete environmental design tool which couples an intuitive 3D modeling interface with extensive solar, thermal, lighting, acoustic and cost analysis functions. Ecotect is driven by the concept that environmental design principles are most effectively addressed during the conceptual stages of design. The software responds to this by providing essential visual and analytical feedback from even the simplest sketch model, progressively guiding the design process as more detailed information becomes available.

Recycling of water is addressed at its best at Pearl Academy. The water body which is fed by the recycled water from the sewage treatment plant helps in the creation of a microclimate through evaporative cooling. Green spaces and water bodies are designed in such a way that they complement each other to avoid water evaporation and aid evaporative cooling. During the night, when the desert temperature drops, this floor slowly drives away the heat to the surroundings, keeping the area thermally comfortable.

The materials used for construction are a mix of local stone, steel, glass, and concrete chosen keeping in mind the climatic needs of the region while retaining the progressive design intent. Energy efficiency is a prime concern and the institute is 100% self sufficient in terms of  captive power and water supply and promotes rain water harvesting and waste water re-cycling through the use of a sewage treatment plant. Besides having become a very successful model for cost effective passive architecture in desert regions the design and facilities of the campus complement the ideology of the Pearl Academy of Fashion – a cutting edge design institute with a sustainable approach. The Pearl Academy of Fashion is an exemplar of an inclusive architecture which intends to accommodate all the heritage values while positioning it within the contemporary cultural and architectural paradigm.

Energy Performance of Pearl Academy of Fashion:

Design Load: 676 kW

Annual Energy Consumption: 2,90,0005 kWh

Energy Efficiency Index: XX kWh/m2/year 24.7 kWh/sqm/yr

Annual Water Consumption: 7,500 cubic metres

Onsite Water Sourcing (as % of total water consumption): 58 %

Important aspects of building design:

Efficient structural design - optimum structural grid for almost column free floor plate for increased flexibility and efficiency (15-20 %), resulting in reduction in RCC required

Choice of morphology -  spread out canopy like with self shading courtyards creating shaded underbelly which can be used all year round due to the microclimate created with the help of passive techniques like thermal banking, evaporative cooling

Over buildability - programmatic analysis resulting in decision to not build (25 %) of program and accommodate it in the underbelly, resulting in reduction in RCC required

Awards:

• Indian Institute of Architects Award for Excellence in Architecture, Public Category, 2011
• FutureArc Award, 2011, Singapore
• Winner, 20+10+X World Architecture Community Awards, 2010
• Winner, International Design Awards (Architecture), 2009
• Winner, World Architecture Festival Award (Learning), Barcelona, 2009
• Highly Commended Seal of Distinction, Cityscape Architectural Awards, Dubai, 2009
• ArchiDesign Awards 2009 in the Best Sustainable/Green Architecture category
• Special Mention in Architecture+Design & Spectrum Foundation Architecture Awards (Institutional),    2009
• Citation in the 20+10+X World Architecture Community Awards, 2009
• The Architectural Review Cityscape Special Award for Environmental Design, Dubai
• Finalist, MIPIM Asia Awards, Green Building Category, France, 2008