Rutika Gandhi

AR2024

Residential school in Leh

Being residential school in Leh, it needed design that helps keep the building warm in morning and store heat for the night. The key idea used in the building is sunspaces and earth covered facades on northern side. Using thick rammed earth walls and insulated roof to maintain the temperature inside the building. Air locking the building and separating public and private spaces by common spaces yet keeping them connected. Staggering them not on top of each other but in step manner to take maximum advantage of the contours on site. 


Report Content

Retrofitting design according to climate that helps improving performance of the building.

Hockerton housing project is first zero energy residential system and its climate and strategies are similar of Leh.

Design process including strategies, exploration of concepts and sections best suitable for the climate of Leh.

Floor plan at level 1 where the spaces used in the morning are placed facing south east.

Floor plan at level 2 where hostels that is spaces used during night are placed facing south west which would help gain most heat in the evening and store it for rest of the night.

Dorms placed behind the other block on top using the roof of the other block as huge sun space area.

Roof plan showing the building and the site context.

Sections showing the building earth covered from the northern side protecting from cold winds and earth itself acting as thermal mass and gaining heat from the southern side with help of skylights and sunspaces.

Wall sections with details of roof with skylight and using mud as insulation layer, wooden flooring and window.

Rendered exterior and interior bird eye and human eye level views showing material and light in the spaces.