C.E.E - a perspective

Set in a serene surrounding, the building blocks of C.E.E merge well with the trees. The materials chosen for the building blocks are apt. The warmth of the bricks connects well with earth. Making a building sustainable is not only a matter of reducing energy levels but also a matter of utilization. Cladding of stone is done as per need, mainly at plinth level to make it water resistant. Set on a steep contour the levels of the building blocks follow the levels at site. No trees were cut to build these blocks, and thus some trees have adapted to their new surroundings. The unpredictable growth of some trees has destroyed the structure in a few places. A basic module has been used and replicated with modifications. This might have facilitated easy construction. Details have been developed as per needs. Breakage of bricks has been avoided. The main structural members being the load bearing walls, lintels, windows, corner windows, and door openings have been planned accordingly. Due to the spread out of foliage of trees the building blocks hardly receives direct sunlight. This has created a micro climate in the region. The interior spaces are about two to three degrees less hot. The vegetation is so dense that a variety of birds are found chirping in the region. Peacocks that are native to this state are found in few numbers in this building. Traffic noise is cut off by seventy percent in the central courtyard, and by almost hundred percent towards the inner spaces. Since the planning was done keeping in mind the trees that existed at site, a lot of offsets were derived between building blocks. North lights have been used to get in indirect light. Wind catchers have been used which prove redundant due to the surrounding trees. The trees surrounding the area cut down the wind velocity, which make the wind catchers useless. Rain water from multiple terraces are collected and channelized to a percolation pit via chambers.