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Sustainability The Site : Terrain And Surroundings

• The design followed the natural play of the land, and • Area :10117 sqm (2.5 acres)
percolation pits, along the drainage path, would reduce • Surrounding : This project truly is a part of the heart
the run- off of rainwater, and increase percolation. of Kochi because it can boast of government agencies,

• Increasing the softscape and green cover to the maximum academia, the IT hub and the local nerves of connectivity
extent possible also create a preferred microclimate. as its neighbours and cohabitants.
• Terrain and orientation : The land is a sloping terrain
• The scale of the parks and the proximity of the buildings, and forms a valley and the natural water flow creates
would shade most of the walls reducing the heat seasonal channels. which drain into the canal.
absorption by the walls. Air corridors created in the • The gradient is approximately 1:12 along both the arms of
transitions between homes would draw breeze in to the the site, and the potential for a stepped development seemed
layout, keeping it well ventilated. appropriate. The gradient created vistas of inner open space.
• Around 1.5 acres of green landscape as private yards • Vegetation: The site had only one big tree, Alstonia
and common spaces. Scholaris.

• Solar Power for common facilities and street lighting. The Site: Assessment For Infrastructure
• Solar Water heater for homes.
• A hydro – geological survey of the land indicated the
• Rain water recharging for common areas.
underground aquifers and the zone suitable for recharging
• Selective Rain water harvesting. ground water as well as digging bore wells.
• Organic waste management System. • Transformers needed to be erected to draw power from

• Decentralized waste water systems at a home level to the nearest Kerala Electricity Board lines.
have energy efficiency in the contoured land. • Sewage had to be taken care of within the site itself.
• The soil was tested for its soil bearing capacity, and was
found suitable for load bearing construction.

AANGAN - GOODEARTH, KOCHI - KERALA BY JAYAKUMAR & ASSOCIATES, BENGALURU

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