DEVELOPMENT

ALTERNATIVES
WORLD HEADQUARTERS,
DELHI An effort by
Parnika Goyal 17110020
Rupali Yadav 17110025
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Established In: 1983
Established by:Dr. Ashok Khosla, a physicist and expert in environmental affairs
and development
Type: A non-profit organization engaged in research and action for sustainable
development.

Aim: To construct an equitable and sustainable model for social and economic
development in India.

Corporate objectives:
To innovate and disseminate the means for creating sustainable livelihoods on a
large scale and to mobilise widespread action to eradicate poverty and
regenerate the environment
BASIC DETAILS
Site Location: New Delhi, Qutab Institutional

Site size: 3,316m2

Setting: Urban, bordering on forest

Architect: Ashok B. Lall

Building Construction period: November 2005 to November 2008(est.)

Maximum number of occupants: workplaces:245; visitors:210

Number of finished floors: 5 above grade, plus basement

Materials: 3 types of bricks: Compressed mud bricks, Red bricks, Fly ash brick
Use of steel, concrete and glass is minimised
ABOUT THE BUILDING

The architects combined modern technology with forms, materials, and elements of
traditional Indian architecture to give rise to a building design which is climate
responsive and that aims at zero emissions (grave to cradle approach).

OLD BUILDING NEW BUILDING

Climate

Type: Composite

In summer
Day time temperature is 32 to 45 degree celsius
In night time 27 to 32
In winters
Day time 10 to 25
Night time 4 to 10
Monsoon
Strong winds from north east and south east

Design Objective
Resist heat gain in summers and heat loss in winters
 Design Strategies Achieved By

1. Decrease exposed surface 1. Orientation

area 2. Fenestrations
2. Increase thermal capacity 3. Glazing
3. Increase buffer space 4. Insulation
4. Increase shading
5. Courtyard planning
5. Increase surface
reflectivity
ORIENTATION
PLANS
GROUND FLOOR OTHER FLOORS

1,4 Meeting Room

2,3,5 Offices
6 Conference rooms
7 Tea coffee

9
WEST FACADE
EAST FACADE
NORTH FACADE
South facade
 Fenestrations

1. The design of each facade is different, especially the fenestration, in response to

solar orientation and view.
2. Those facing east and west, which take the brunt of the morning and afternoon
sun, are kept small and shaded by sunscreens or by the building volume itself.
3. The windows in the west facade are blinkered with prism-shaped protrusions
that blocks the afternoon summer sun while permitting views of the forest.
4. Windows are shaded during warm seasons.
5. Vines climb the pergolas and east and west walls to reduce heat gain.
 Glazing and windows
1. Windows are only 20% of the total exposed
surface.
2. The size of the windows is just adequate to keep
the building well illuminated and to reduce heat
gain.

Three types of glazing are used in the

building:

1. fixed insulating glass panels with a 16mm air space,

2. operable windows with insulating glass with a
16mm air space,
3. windows consisting of a fixed single-pane outer
panel and an operable inner sash, with an
adjustable venetian blind in between.
Insulation
Insulation

Vines trained on many facades shade

the building to reduce heat
Roof surfaces are finished in white
gain.Balconies and verandas not only
tile to reflect instead of absorb
shade windows below, but mediate
thermal energy.
between indoors and outdoors.
 Insulation

The shading grills with planters

and daylight reflectors on the
north and south sides moderate
the summer sun and intense light.
EXTERNAL WALL SECTION
Illumination
● All workspaces are illuminated by daylight, which is modulated for glare-free
distribution.
● The conference room has roof lights that can be closed with shutters when the
room must be darkened.
● General illumination at night is 150 to 200 lux.
● Desk lamps provide task lighting
 Courtyard Planning

1. Central courtyard takes the hot air from the surrounding areas and gives it vertical column
to rise.(Shaft effect)

2. Allows daylight to enter in the building.

3. The three-story trickle fountain in the courtyard moderates the air temperature and does not
allow excess heat gain.
COURTYARD
Symbolic Baoli
DA building has a cool, shaded sitting
place, a modern reinterpretation of
stepwells.
It is circular with loosely concentric
steps descending toward a symbolic
pool of water at the center.
The cylindrical room is lighted solely
from above by a symmetrical
arrangement of ten clerestory
windows and an oculus, which is the
entire domed roof itself, woven from
bamboo stalks.
It is entered from the basement.
Symbolic Baoli
References

1. Development Alternatives Group website

http://www.devalt.org

2. Office Buildings in India: Development Alternatives pdf by Holcim Foundation

3. NDTV Prime coverage of DA Headquarters in their segment on Green Properties

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipO7DjYj8RA&t=1s