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Load Bearing Vs Framed Structure

The foundation is load bearing, built with local available
granite stone. A plinth beam acts as a tie above this
and as a precautionary measure for seismic stability.

For the spans of the spaces, the load bearing structure
was more than sufficient. A framed structure might have
been overdesigning as the outer walls would still have
to be 200mm which would be adequate to take the

load. A load bearing building also reduces the use
of cement and steel, which were high in their energy
consumption.

Designing With Climate

Climate is one of the endemic aspects of place over

others and is adopted as a starting point for design.
The most obvious justification must be the lowering of
costs as a result of lowering the energy consumption
in the operation of the building. This can be a big

percentage of the overall life cycle energy costs of the
building, since the bulk of its cost lies in operational
phase. Significant savings in operational costs would
justify incorporation of climatically –responsive design

features despite higher initial capital construction
costs. Architecture in the tropics has to act like an
umbrella: keep out the rain, keep out the sun, and let
the wind through to keep the house cool.

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

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