Clustering of Buildings

Ar. Fathima Rishin Razak

Cluster???

a group of similar things or people positioned or occurring closely

together

cluster in
nature.

& manmade???

in built surroundings.

how does this look???

in built surroundings.

how does this look???

vertical clustering

Design Considerations
Ideal Climate Design:

Context (ecological & physical)

Function

Settlement pattern & site planning

Area Requirements

Passive heating and cooling

strategies

CLIMATE

Context

Openings, day lighting, & natural

ventilation

Building rules

Building envelope - material

Nagpur
Hot & Dry
Summer

Composite
Climate !

Cold
Winter
Monsoon

Advantage of having a cluster

crowd

CLUSTER

Cold
Winter

Hot & Dry Summer

Shad
e

USTER
Building cluster affects solar & wind access within the cluster
itself and among group of buildings.

Climatic considerations:

Sun
Wind
Light
Shade

Topics :
Cluster types & forms
Advantages of cluster planning
Shade
Street study
Volume-Surface area ratio
Wind & Orientation of Building
Examples

How to
cluster
the buildings ?
Martin
& March
classified
building clusters into 3 basic
types:

Pavilions : Isolated buildings

(single / cluster) surrounded
by large open spaces

Streets : Long building blocks

arranged in parallel rows,
separated by actual streets as
open spaces.

Courts : Open spaces

surrounded by buildings on all
sides.

How to cluster the buildings ?

Scattered pattern of buildings:
Centralised forms
Linear forms
Radial forms
Clustered forms
Grid forms
Runcorn New Town Housing,
England

How to cluster the buildings ?

Scattered pattern of buildings:
Centralised forms

Linear forms
Radial forms
Clustered forms
Grid forms

horizonta
l

along a
curve

vertical

along a straight
line

enclosing a
space

How to cluster the buildings ?

Scattered pattern of buildings:
Centralised forms
Linear forms
consist of linear forms that extend
outward from centrally located core
element in a radiating manner.

Radial forms

Clustered forms
Grid forms

building radiated from

core
network

How to cluster the buildings ?

Scattered pattern of
buildings:
Centralised forms
Linear forms
Radial forms

Clustered forms

Grid forms

How to cluster the buildings ?

Scattered pattern of
buildings:
Centralised forms
Linear forms
Radial forms
Clustered forms

Grid forms

Centraal Beheer Office

Building, Netherlands

Climatic Considerations:

Shade:

Settlement patterns and street-networks:

Compact organisation can help in mutual shading to each
other

Grid diagonal to east-west axis

the sun exposure and shade
is better distributed on the
streets;

Narrow, zigzagging alleys

Blocked streets and alleys
receive minimum radiation,
maximize shade, minimize
reduce the effect of stormy
radiation, yet still retain
winds, establish shaded
ventilation and reduce the
spaces throughout the day
effects of stormy winds.
which provide a cool and
comfortable microclimate and
also stay relatively warm
during cold nights and in
winter.

Shade:

Shading of buildings and building elements by cantilevered

construction, arcades, loggias and high building parts

form of building and neighbourhood open

spaces affect radiation falling on buildings
surface and airflow in and around it.
The air in open spaces shaded by
surrounding buildings would be cooler & can
be used to facilitate proper ventilation and
promote heat loss through building envelope.
Built forms can be so oriented that buildings
cause mutual shading and these reduce heat
gain.

Shade:
Height : Width ratio of
streets:
Street
Minor streets:
1:1

MAX.
1:1.5

Typical street:
1:1.5

1:3

Squares:
1:4

1:6

MIN.

1:1

1:3

1:6

narrow streets
building setbacks

Volume -Surface area ratio:

The heat exchange between the building and the environment depends
greatly on the exposed surfaces. A compact building gains less heat during
the daytime and loses less heat at night.

block of size
7X7X3m
1:1
little heat exchange between interior and
exterior

1:1.
6
1:2.5
more heat exchange and high
ventilation rate
S/V ratio should be low for hot-arid
climate for less heat gain

Wind:

Settlements for warm humid areas are laid out to

make maximum use of the prevailing breeze.
Buildings are scattered, vegetation is arranged to
provide maximum shade without hindering
natural ventilation.

Settlements for hot, dry climates are

characterized by optimal protection
against solar radiation by mutual shading,
which leads to compact settlements,
narrow streets and small squares which are
shaded by tall vegetation.

Typical settlement for warm-humid regions

Typical settlement for hot-dry regions

Wind:
Influence of building shape on wind

Every building creates wind-protected

areas and may deflect the wind direction.
This may be important for neighbouring
buildings. Some general examples
illustrate this aerodynamic phenomenon:

The wider a building, the larger is the windshade behind it.

Influence of building depth

The higher a building, the deeper is the windshade area behind it.

Influence of building height

Wind:
Influence of building arrangement:

When grouping buildings in a row parallel

to the main wind direction, a large distance
between buildings is needed to guarantee
proper ventilation.

When grouping buildings in a

staggered pattern, the distance
between buildings can be reduced.

Wind:
Orientation of the building:
_
_
_
_

_
_

_
_

_
_

_
_

+
+
+
+

+ +
+

Wind:
Interaction between tall building and wind:

Downwash
Corner Effect
Increased wind speed at base Wind moves to side and rear

Wake Effect
discomfort persist a long way
behind the building

Wind:
Interaction between building clusters and wind:

Cumulative Effect

Gap Effect

Channel Effect

Tower Podium

Funnelling Effect

Air circulation can be improved through wind channelling in shaded narrow streets in the direction of the main w

Wind:
Interaction between building clusters and wind:

Low and High Building

Stepping Effect

Courtyard Effect

Wind:
Some alternatives to have better ventilation

Passageways and slots through buildings

Arcades & Colonnades

Examples:

Asian GamesVillage, New Delhi

Ar. Raj Rewal

Examples:

IIM, Bangalore
Ar. B.V.Doshi

Examples:
MICA, Ahmedabad

Summary:
wind flow should be unobstructed, so

buildings can either be raised from the

ground level, or shifted horizontally or
given punctures
mutual shading can help in producing
maximum usable ground area for outdoor
activities
cross ventilation in each unit is important
and so is with each cluster

References:

Arvind Krishan, Climate responsive

architecture (2001)

Design Guide for Wind, Willington city

district plan, 2000

Thank you