Roof panels that keep indoor temperature five to seven degrees lower than outside, retrofits that can be easily assembled and disassembled, and designs that allow more natural light inside the structures: These were some of the solutions that a groups of students at CEPT University have come up with for scores of houses that comprise Vanzaravaas near Narol lake in Southern Ahmedabad.
The area is a densely populated, poorly ventilated settlement dotted with low-slung mud mortared brick houses with tin sheets. A majority of the population here comprises factory workers from different parts of Gujarat besides states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra along with Nepal. Being on the edge of the lake, the houses are prone to flooding and humidity, prompting the CEPT university students to come up with solutions.
“The solutions, especially the ones worked on the existing Anganwadi centre, received positive response from the residents who are vulnerable to increasing incidences of extreme heat, flooding and diseases,” said Prof Catherine Desai, Faculty of Architecture, CEPT University.
Besides flooding and humidity, higher indoor temperatures was a key issue that was looked into with regard to the Anganwadi centre with nearly 30 children. “The students documented the Anganwadi centre. They used sensors to measure heat and humidity to understand existing environmental conditions. At the end of the semester, they presented the proposal to the Vanzaravaas community as part of a movement towards cheap, scalable and collaborative resilience. There is an interest in developing and prototyping select projects. In the next stage of this project, we will be looking at ways to make these cost-effective,” Desai told The Indian Express.
Concepts like the ‘Urban Lantern’ — a retrofit intervention for the Anganwadi centre by Leonie Singer, an exchange programme student from Germany; RetroFication by Visargkumar Rathwa; design based on the principles of the Kinetic Roof by Vaibhavkumar Jadav; and a design by Jiya Bhavsar that focuses on sustainability and flexibility while addressing challenges related to temporary land tenure were some of the highlights of the project.
“The design focussed on creating a lighter, ventilated and more comfortable environment for children, students, and the local community through cross-ventilation,” Jadav, a fifth-year student of B Arch, said.
Visargkumar Rathwa, fourth-year student of B Arch, said a series of smoke tests for ventilation and heat tests for temperatures were conducted on the designs and materials proposed to see the impact of climate change on these structures.
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Other tests included brick heat test, material selection and testing, and stone panel heat test. In October, the students participated in an international competition — Roof Over Our Heads (ROOH) Challenge — organised by Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centers (SPARC), an alliance working on issues of urban housing and infrastructure in partnership with two community-based organisations: the National Slum Dwellers Federation and Mahila Milan. They won both first and third prizes of US dollar 5,000 and 2,000, respectively. They then developed systems of assembly for competition proposals by analysing case studies.
Roof assemblies were tested for ventilation and temperature they can maintain within the structure. Besides, simulations were carried out under various conditions. In addition, panels of various materials were tested to achieve the optimum lag in transfer of heat. “For instance, there was a variation of 5-7 degrees in the roof surface temperature when some of the designs were tested,” said Desai.
“Multiple community engagement sessions, facilitated through collaboration with Saath organisation, were conducted at CEPT University and at the community’s anganwadi centre and the resource centre…” Prof Niyati Naik, the co-tutor of the project, said.
Ritu Sharma is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express' Gujarat bureau, an editorial position that reflects her experience and Authority in regional journalism. With over a decade of concentrated reporting experience, she is a highly Trustworthy and specialized journalist, especially noted for her Expertise in the education sector across Gujarat and previously Chandigarh.
Expertise
Primary Authority (Education): With over ten years of dedicated reporting on education in both Gujarat and Chandigarh, Ritu Sharma is a foremost authority on educational policy, institutional governance, and ground realities from "KG to PG." Her coverage includes:
Higher Education: In-depth scrutiny of top institutions like IIM-Ahmedabad (controversies over demolition/restoration of heritage architecture), IIT-Bombay (caste discrimination issues), and new initiatives like international branch campuses in GIFT City.
Schooling & Policy: Detailed coverage of government schemes (Gyan Sadhana School Voucher Scheme), the implementation and impact of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, teacher recruitment issues, and the impact of national policies like the NEP.
Student Welfare: Reporting on critical issues such as suicide allegations due to caste discrimination, and the challenges faced by students (e.g., non-delivery of NAMO tablets). ... Read More
