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Abstract: Kerala is a strip of land on the southwest coast of India lying between Arabian Sea on the west and Western Ghats on the east. The traditional architecture of Kerala is known for its use of natural and passive methods for a comfortable indoor environment. However, it has not been proved by a detailed and quantitative evaluation method so far. A field study was thus conducted in the winter and summer periods to investigate the indoor environmental condition of a typical Kerala traditional residential building. The objective of the investigation was to understand the passive environment control system of Kerala traditional architecture by quantitative analysis of various thermal comfort parameters. It was done by continuously monitoring the indoor and outdoor conditions using a custom made instrument called “Architectural Evaluation System”. The results show that the natural and passive control system of Kerala traditional architecture provides comfortable indoor environment irrespective of the outdoor climatic conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Kerala, the southern most state of India, which extends from 8°18' to 12°48'' N latitude, 74°52' to 72°22' E longitude, lying between the Arabian Sea on the West and the world famous Western Ghats with its ever green rain forests on the East has a characteristic Warm-Humid climate. The presence of high amount of moisture in the atmosphere for major part of the year causes thermal discomfort as there is less evaporation, resulting in sweating. This is more acute in summer when the air temperature is close to or higher than the body temperature. Climate responsive design is the one that would provide a comfortable indoor environment in response to the seasonal variations of the climate. The vernacular architecture of Kerala has evolved through ages where the climate has played a very important role. In the present context where energy efficient and sustainable buildings have become the order of the day, there is a need to revisit the vernacular architecture simply because they are time tested. Efforts have been made by many researchers worldwide to study vernacular architecture. This paper illustrates the dire need for a comprehensive investigation of Kerala vernacular architecture to understand the climate responsive design techniques used for comfortable indoor environment and some important findings reported so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Thermal comfort studies on traditional residential buildings of Kerala that is known for its use of natural and passive methods for a comfortable indoor environment, are under progress. Scientific analyses of the environmental parameters determining thermal comfort have already been reported. Similar studies on modern residential buildings are underway. In order to compare the results of the scientific analysis with the user responses from the residents of traditional as well as modern residential buildings, a questionnaire survey was conducted during various seasons such as winter, summer and monsoon. A questionnaire was prepared in detail to understand the effect of factors which affect thermal comfort such as temperature, humidity and air flow in the evaluation of thermal comfort. This paper is based on the compilation of responses from the conducted survey. A comparison of the study results with that of scientific analysis already reported is also incorporated at the end of this paper. This study further confirms that Kerala traditional residential buildings are very effective in providing comfortable indoor environment irrespective of various seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The modern day practice does not give due respect to passive and natural environment control measures in buildings. With modern materials and technology, the buildings of present architectural style results in high energy consumption, in an attempt to provide thermal comfort indoors. The vernacular architecture at any place on the other hand has evolved through ages by consistent and continuous effort for more efficient and perfect solutions. The authors have conducted a qualitative analysis of the passive environment control system of vernacular residential architecture of Kerala that is known for ages for its use of natural and passive methods for a comfortable indoor environment. The orientation of building, internal arrangement of spaces, the presence of internal courtyard, use of locally available materials and special methods of construction, etc. have together created the indoor environment. A quantitative analysis was also carried out based on field experiments by recording thermal comfort parameters in a selected building. The study has provided positive results confirming that the passive environment control system employed in Kerala vernacular architecture is highly effective in providing thermal comfort indoors in all seasons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]