True architecture is always sustainable. It is guided by the principles of reductionism, energy efficiency, material selection, and longevity. It constitutes a forward-thinking approach that emphasises a design that minimises the ecological footprint of buildings. In this regard, sustainable architecture not only reduces the consumption of resources but also promotes the well-being of its occupants.
As such, sustainability, optimisation, uniqueness, and liveability are rooted in the soul of Morphogenesis. Instead of being treated as a layer of applied technology, sustainability forms the very basis of our design. In this post, we delve into the principles of sustainable architecture, and how it has remained at the forefront of our building projects.
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Principles of Sustainable Architecture
Different design elements come together to form a sustainable campus at Zydus Headquarters, Ahmedabad; Image credits: Andre Fanthome
With the environmental impact of human activities becoming increasingly evident, sustainability can no longer be treated as a trend. It is the need of the hour, a necessary evolution in the way we design and interact with our built environment. The following fundamental principles underpin this transformation:
Passive design
An architectural strategy that promotes the optimum usage of the natural environment to minimise the need for artificial heating, cooling, and lighting solutions. Buildings are optimised using orientation, shading, insulation and ventilation techniques to reduce energy and operational costs while maintaining the comfort and well-being of occupants.
Energy efficiency
Depending on the topography, heating and cooling solutions are the primary consumers of energy in a building. The best architects are able to reduce the requirement for artificial heating and cooling to achieve net zero emission results for their designs.
Reductionism
A sustainability approach that focuses on reducing the carbon footprint per square metre through design, selection of materials, and elimination of redundancies. This approach helps in creating buildings that have a low or carbon neutral footprint throughout their life cycle.
Localisation
Localisation is among the guiding principles of sustainable architecture. By sourcing native materials and harnessing designs that are symbiotic with the surrounding environment, architects can significantly reduce the financial and environmental impact of building, transport, and operationalisation. It also helps in minimising wastage of resources, improving recyclability, and lowering long-term maintenance costs.
Liveability
Every building is defined by liveability aspect for its inhabitants. Quality of construction is but one factor, the overall design, its affordability and ability to provide a healthy indoor environment to the occupants, all combine to define a building’s liveability.
Innovative building designs by Morphogenesis
At Morphogenesis, we utilise the art of deploying passive strategies that respond to local climate and ecology while maintaining the comfort, safety, and liveability of spaces. Here are some of the top examples of sustainable architecture design by Morphogenesis.
Pearl Academy, Jaipur
A glowing example of an environmentally responsive passive habitat, the Pearl Academy of Fashion has interactive spaces and multifunction zones with seamlessly transforming indoor and outdoor areas.
The dry, hot, and dusty climate of Rajasthan can put the best architects in the world to test! Controlling the micro-climate within the project to reduce the dependence on resource hungry mechanical environmental control measures was a priority. We focused on creating a functional facade using traditional forms and elements such as “jaalis” which have been a mainstay of mediaeval architecture and can be found in almost all heritage buildings of Rajputana.
This contemporary interpretation of a functional external facade combined with other passive cooling strategies like open courtyards, water bodies and step wells, helped in creating a building that is 100% self-sufficient in terms of captive power and water supply.
Infosys Campus, Nagpur
A masterplan that amalgamates tradition with technology, the Infosys Campus in Nagpur enshrines a link between people, place, and space. The project is net-zero enabled and incorporates features such as water recycling and reuse within the campus, energy saving technologies and preservation of local vegetation cover in its design fabric.
Combining self-sufficient infrastructure and sustainable workplace environments, the campus has become a prototype for adaptability, flexibility, and resilience.
With use of shaded windows and walls and uniformly day lit floors, the project is optimised to consume 52% less energy than the GRIHA energy performance benchmark index for air-conditioned buildings.
The Lodsi Community Project for Forest Essentials
Nestled in the Himalayan foothills, this unique project is a modern-day manufacturing facility for a skincare brand that is focusing on reviving the ancient science of Ayurveda.
Drawing inspiration from the traditional Garhwali ‘kholi’, the result is a building that is highly specific to the site’s topography and climate. A central entry divides the building into two parts on a rectilinear volume-oriented east-west axis. The cooler ground floor provides space for functions that require a cooler environment such as herb grinding, packaging, and storage. On the other hand, the warmer upper floors are made ideal for predatory functions requiring higher internal heat gain.
The Lodsi Community Project for Forest Essentials was awarded under the Design for Social Impact at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Design Excellence Awards 2023.
Woodside Luxury Villas, Kasauli
Preserving the natural sanctity of the hills; Image credits: Suryan and Dang
The project brief comprised designing and planning a set of 37 luxury villas that epitomise spatial planning and environmental conformity. Every individual building aligns perfectly with the natural depressions and ridges that line the 12-acre landscape.
The internal road network and amenity hubs are strategically placed to minimise cutting and filling of the natural terrain while ensuring seamless commute.
An extensive rainwater harvesting system helps in efficient irrigation of downhill areas and collects excess water for reuse.
Zydus Headquarters, Ahmedabad
