Nilanjan Bhowal

106 VILLA TATVAM is a 3000 ft2 bungalow that stands tall as a master piece, not just for its structure, but also for the technology it beholds within itself. It is a green, sustainable and technology smart house that is in the running of receiving the platinum rating from IGBC. Ar. Nilanjan Bhowal and his team have wonderfully created a sustainable home by remodeling the interiors so that it becomes environmentally responsible and resource-efficient. This house is a perfect blend of modern and contemporary architecture with an elegant approach towards minimalism. The design team has made a conscious attempt to incorporate sustainable and recycled building materials into the design. They have made use of renewable energy sources wherever possible, and have relied heavily oneco-friendlyfurnishings, paints, appliances, and cleaning products. Everything within the house, from water to electricity to the solar panels, is metered so that detailed monitoring of energy usage by the house can be done. The solar panels are hybrid in nature.

These panels are partly grid interactive and the rest goes in as solar power back up. These panels also help in generating solar water which is directly connected to all the bathrooms and the kitchen. The municipal water is collected in a combined colony tank, from where it is made to pass through the water softener system, installed within the house, to devoid it of the hard water particles and then it gets accumulated in the individual house tanks. The designing has been done keeping the sun path and the wind direction in mind. Skylights are provided in order to brighten the interiors as well as reduce the energy consumption by the building. Home automation system is used for the household activity. It includes centralized control of lighting, CFC free HVAC, appliances, and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security. The home automation system integrates electrical devices in the house with each other exempting the use of multiple switches.

The techniques employed in home automation include those in building automation as well as the control of domestic activities, such as home entertainment systems, yard watering and changing the ambiance for different events. Devices are connected through a computer network to allow control by the data server placed at the home theatre, and also allow remote access from the internet. Through the integration ofinformation technologieswith the home environment, systems and appliances are able to communicate in an integrated manner which results in convenience, energy efficiency, and safety benefits. The insides of the house are cladded with the state of the art fixtures that have been handpicked and imported from Italy. These fixtures and fittings not only add to the liveliness of the interiors but also help in conserving the natural.

A separate water tank has been provided for the toilets and the bathrooms, which utilizes treated and recycled water. Most of the sanitary fixtures have a low water flow rate to prevent the wastage of water. The house makes use of green building materials from local sources, reduce loads, optimize systems, and generate on-site renewable energy. The remodeling of this building has brought together a vast array of practices, techniques, and skills that reduce its impact on the environment and human health. Its design emphasizes on taking advantage of renewable resources like the sunlight, rainwater, etc. as well as on using other techniques, like utilizing FSC approved wood, fly ash bricks, etc. as building materials. Energy efficient appliances and specific building materials are put to use as they are more efficient in keeping both cool and heated air inside the structure. The roof and the external walls are doubly insulated with Styrofoam in order to achieve the same, creating a considerable temperature difference between the inside and outside environment.

A range of custom made fixtures and cabinets have been put together to come up with a high technology modular kitchen which can easily cope up with the fast pace lifestyle that the family leads but at the same time are able to provide the user with the flexibility of maintaining their Indian kitchen habits. These modules are installed on both, the floor and the wall space of the kitchen, making optimum use of space. A small breakfast patio has been installed on the ground floor. It is a semi-open deck that is in link with the natural environment that the rear garden has to offer, but at the same time is sufficiently covered to protect the privacy of its users. Its interiors have been done up to create a peaceful, soothing and calm ambience that positively energizes the environment. The doors and windows of the house are made of uPVC (rigid PVC) that have been custom designed for the facades. These are engineered products that are low on maintenance and are weatherproof even in India's extreme climate.

These doors and windows, along with being strong and UV resistant, also tend to offer high noise and heat insulation values. They are the recommended building material by the NAHB as they require no additional finish resources to complete application on site and are also recyclable and help in conserving the natural resources. The building is in harmony with the natural features and resources that surround the site. Water bodies and small plantations are provided within the house to bring the nature within the built environment. Native and drought resistant trees, plants and shrubs are used for landscaping which help in saving water, prevent soil pollution and are low on maintenance. The little water that is used for their maintenance is used from the recycled water tank. These native plantations along with providing greenery also provide shelters for the local birds and insects providing natural pollinators and natural pest controls.

This house is not only green on the inside, but also green on the outside. This house along with conserving energy and water also tries to improve the indoor air quality and makes use of sustainable, recycled and used materials to produce less waste. The mosaic work on the flooring of the foyer is one such example where old broken tiles are used to achieve the above. Also, this house makes use of earth's natural resources to improve the indoor air quality, making it a high-performance, moisture-resistant dwellings. Daylight calculation has been carried out for all rooms as well as fresh air ventilation has been enhanced within the house to reduce the electricity usage. Villa Tatvam is a green building in the true sense. Not only does it try to conserve the natural resources, it also makes an impactful attempt in replenishing them by the process of re-use and recycle. It stands tall as a self sufficient building that is capable of becoming an inspiration for many. Saakshi Terway