The climate of Jodhpur includes a lot factors to be considered while designing for. Our process started with dividing the entire year into groups 4. These groups were made on the basis of similar temperatures, wind and rain considerations. The diurnal changes were also considered and it was noticed that the temperatures reach to its max during afternoon and evening and drop to lowest in the night. To avoid the sun in such high temperatures, the sun altitudes and azimuths were calculated. Wind directions were considered to provide ventilation although cooling of wind before the interiors was important. Bringing in light but avoiding heat in summers was the main goal.
The given structure had different facilities. The level of the facilities was decided based upon the time of use, different functions and relation with the surrounding and each other. On the lowest level was eating space which required diffused light and would require movement of fresh goods and waste the most everyday. The next was the working space above it which required indirect light. Library was placed above it. It was between working space below and learning space above, so that it could be equidistant from both thus easily accessible. The learning space was placed on the top as it was not functioned during the time of extreme heat. The structure was placed along the n-s and e-w axes.
The eastern façade was designed in a way that it would block morning light in summers and allow morning light in winters to create heat. The façade was created by bricks and large fenestrations on it. The fenestrations had centrally pivoted bamboo louvers. The louvers could be rotated according to the angles of sun depending upon whether to block light or allow light. The bamboos were placed at an angular manner to allow some amount of light by reflection to avoid complete blocking of light. This would also help in ventilation.
Most of the heat came from southern side of the structure. Although completely blocking sun from south would not help to create heat in the winter. Thus the façade was designed to allow light from eastern and south eastern part and block the light from direct south and west. The fenestrations were extruded in an angular manner outside the building block. The side facing south eastern part had frosted glass. The side facing south western part had light shelves to allow some amount of light but no heat due to multiple reflection.
The western façade had smaller windows with stone jaalis over it. The jaalis helped in ventilation although reducing the heat present in the wind. Also considerable amount of light was achieved through this. Jodhpur receives monsoon winds from the west. Thus to avoid rain through these jaalis, overhangs were created over it. These overhangs also blocked the sunrays from higher angles in summer season.
The northern façade received no direct sunlight throughout the day, except sunrise and sunset in some months. Thus not much heat is gained except from west and east. The façade is designed in a way that it self shades it self. Blocks extruding from building are alternate fenestrations and covered. The covered are on the outer side which shade fenestrations on the inner side. Northern side has the maximum fenestrations for good quality of light without heat gain.
On the topmost floor, a skylight is provided in the center for more amount of light from top due to more partition walls present which block light from other directions. All the facades have solid walls where no light is required according to the function inside. No fenestrations are present on such parts. Thus the entire structure is designed to suit the comfort level of a person in all months and all times of the day.