Pune Residence, PYHT Architects; Sustainability and design assistance

Project Summary

The project presents a detailed analysis of a residential building in Pune, focusing on enhancing occupant comfort through comprehensive evaluation of thermal performance, daylighting, and wind-driven ventilation. The analysis identifies key challenges such as prolonged periods of high humidity and heat, suboptimal building materials, and insufficient natural ventilation openings. Through simulations of various scenarios—including window sizing, shading, wall and roof modifications—the project demonstrates significant improvements in thermal comfort, daylight penetration, and indoor air quality. Recommendations emphasize the use of tinted glass for glare control, optimization of light distribution with reflective materials and light shelves, and strategies to enhance natural and mechanical ventilation for improved comfort throughout the year.

Project Details

Location	Pune, India
Building Type	Residential
Analysis Scope	Thermal Comfort: Evaluation of comfortable hours based on indoor operative temperature and humidity, using Energy Plus modeling. Daylight Analysis: Assessment of Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA), Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE), and Uniform Daylight Autonomy (UDI) for various zones. Wind Analysis: Study of outdoor and indoor wind velocity, focusing on prevailing wind directions and airflow through the site.
Key Findings	Thermal Comfort: As-is case provides limited comfortable hours (1,676 out of 8,760 hours per year), with humidity above 70% for over 50% of the year. Daylighting: Most zones have good daylight potential, with some areas requiring glare control. Window resizing and shading improved sDA and reduced glare. Ventilation: Wind analysis highlighted the need for larger openings and better airflow management.
Proposed Solutions	Window and Shading: Increased window sizes with horizontal and vertical shading elements. Material Changes: Consideration of alternative building materials for improved thermal performance. Glare Control: Use of tinted glass and light shelves. Ventilation Enhancement: Addition of ceiling and mechanical fans, and use of dehumidifiers for humidity control.