Iyer Vijayalaxmi Kasinath
@spa.ac.in
Professor, Department of Architecture and Dean (Research)
School of Planning and Architecture
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Sustainable Built Environment, Energy-efficient Architecture and Climate responsive buildings
Scopus Publications
Scholar Citations
Scholar h-index
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Vidhya Maney Surendran, Chandramathy Irulappan, Vijayalaxmi Jeyasingh, and Velraj Ramalingam
MDPI AG
This study aims to propose building envelope retrofit packages for existing naturally ventilated school buildings in the hot–humid climatic region of Chennai, India. Indoor thermal parameters were collected through field studies from nine sample classrooms of a selected school building in May 2019, between 9.00 am and 4.00 pm. The thermal performance assessment of the existing building was performed by examining the discomfort hours using the CBE thermal comfort tool. Envelope retrofit strategies gathered from the literature and building standards were applied and studied through simulation. The findings reveal the enormous potential to increase the thermal comfort of existing school buildings through envelope retrofit measures. The results demonstrate that the whole-building temperature can be reduced up to 3.2 °C in summer and up to 3.4 °C in winter. Implementing retrofit measures to the building envelopes of existing buildings will help school owners to increase the comfortable hours of whole buildings by up to 17%. In comparison, annual energy savings of up to 13% for the whole building can be made by enhancing the thermal performance of the building envelope. The findings will also help architects to optimise thermal performance and energy usage with minimal interventions.
J. Vijayalaxmi, Mothi Krishna, and Harshitha Sahu
Springer Nature Singapore
J. Vijayalaxmi and Sayak Banerjee
Springer Nature Singapore
J. Vijayalaxmi
Springer Nature Singapore
Iyer Vijayalaxmi Kasinath and Subham Das
Springer International Publishing
J. Vijayalaxmi
Springer Nature Singapore
J. Vijayalaxmi and Sanjay Antony
Springer Nature Singapore
J. Vijayalaxmi
Springer Nature Singapore
J. Vijayalaxmi
Springer Nature Singapore
J. Vijayalaxmi and Dhananjay Hete
Springer Nature Singapore
J. Vijayalaxmi
Springer Nature Singapore
J. Vijayalaxmi
Springer Nature Singapore
R. Sowmiya and J. Vijayalaxmi
Springer Nature Singapore
J. Vijayalaxmi
Springer Nature Singapore
J. Vijayalaxmi
Springer Nature Singapore
Harshita Sahu and J. Vijayalaxmi
Springer Nature Singapore
J. Vijayalaxmi
Springer Nature Singapore
J. Vijayalaxmi and Kiranjee Gandham
Springer Nature Singapore
J. Vijayalaxmi and K. C. Kalam Arathy
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractProtecting vernacular architecture is important because it reflects a treasure-trove of local information, including climate responses, functions and the socio-cultural context. This study aimed to assess and evaluate the spatial and climate response features of the vernacular weavers’ settlement in Pillayarpalayam, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. This precinct, delineated as a heritage zone under the National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme by the Government of India, consists of a large number of traditional weavers’ residences that have cultural and social significance. The methodology comprised primary documentation and unstructured interviews to assess the architectural and anthropological development of the settlement. The study and analysis were conducted at three levels—dwelling, cluster and street. Spatial analysis was carried out to understand the relationship between different weaving activities and their physical setting. Analysis of building materials and construction techniques was carried out to understand the climate response features. The traditional dwellings accommodated the spaces for the weavers to live, as well as functioning as a workspace. It was observed that many houses had undergone alterations to adapt to family needs while some houses had been demolished and replaced by concrete structures. The traditional craft of weaving was losing its importance and only few weavers in this cluster had retained the traditional living and working space. These vernacular dwellings need to be preserved because they represent a unique typology and are evidence of traditional knowledge and culture. Guidelines and recommendations have been proposed to conserve the intangible values such as culture, lifestyles, social factors, and production methods, in addition to conserving the vernacular built heritage and workspaces of this traditional and unique craft industry.