Design Guidelines for

Climatic Zones in
India
Ar. Amitava Sarkar
Department of Architecture
National Institute of Technology
Hamirpur 177005.

CONTENTS:
1.Geographic Diversity
2.Traditional vs. Modern Architecture
3.Climatic Zones of the World
4.Climatic Zones in India
5.Design Guidelines for different Climatic
Regions

Geographic Diversity:
o Different parts of the world have vastly varying
climates, broadly defined by their latitudes.
o It is important to remember that within the
same climatic region there can be significant
climatic variations caused by local conditions.
o A survey of early civilizations indicates a strong
relationship between hospitable climates and
centres of settled population.
o At the same time people also settled in
extremely
adverse
or
extreme
climatic
conditions, and they could adapt to the
conditions with reasonable comfort.
o The idealized notion of "comfort" was non
existent at that time and it was evident that
"adaptability" was possible by mechanism of

Traditional vs. Modern

Architecture:
o We should recognize that vernacular
architecture all over the world, especially
in the warmer climates, had evolved ways
of building to achieve acceptable levels of
comfort.
o These ways of building meant that the
building configuration and its fabric would
largely
attenuate
adverse
climatic
conditions in favour of thermal comfort.
o If additional devices were required to
enhance comfort there would be of a
supplementary nature.

Traditional vs. Modern Architecture:

o When we compare any contemporary
building with a traditional or a vernacular
building, we cannot ignore the difference in
time and cultural context.
o Firstly, the standards of comfort people
seek today are much higher. In fact, an
empirical analysis of the modern day
needs of comfort standards would reveal
that there is an increasing dependence on
high energy systems to maintain ideal
indoor conditions irrespective of the
varying natural conditions outside.
o In the wealthy parts of the world it is now

o In the poorer parts of the world too with

increasing urbanization and gradually rising
standards of living there is a sharp rise in
the demand for air conditioning and
heating.
o Also, unlike most traditional buildings, the
functions that contemporary buildings serve
are specialized and demand multiple levels
of sophistication in terms of building
services and control over the indoor
environment.
o For facilities such as hospitals, laboratories
and pharmaceutical production plants there
are likely to be very precise requirements
for control of air borne dust, temperature

o These two factors led to the heating and

air-conditioning
industry
adopting
standards for defining comfort.
o These standards which were worked out
by the American and European industry
institutions for their home markets were
adopted practically across the globe along
with the spread of heating and airconditioning technologies.
o These systems are generally based on the
use of electricity and fossil fuels as
sources of energy.
o It is estimated that today about 30
percent of all energy consumption is

Climatic Zones of the World:

In order to classify Climatic Zones, climate can be
considered at a variety of spatial and time scales.
Approx. Characteristic Dimensions
Horizontal
Scale (km)

Vertical Scale
(km)

Time Scale

Global

2 * 103

3 - 10

1 - 6 months

Regional

5 * 102 to 103

1 - 10

1 - 6 months

Local

1 to 10

10-1

1 - 24 hours

10-1

24 hours

Microclimate 10-1

At the geographic world map level, the Zonal

classification is based on maximum and minimum
temperatures and the temperature range as well
as the total and seasonal distribution of
precipitation. A simple summary of climatic zones
Summary of climate zones
is as follows:
Climate zone

Characteristics

Polar

very cold and dry all year

Temperate

cold winters and mild

summers

Arid

dry, hot all year

Tropical

hot and wet all year

Mediterranean

mild winters, dry hot summers

Mountains (Tundra)

very cold all year

Koppen Climate Classification Map

Within the same climatic zone, some locations

may have contrasting or variable climatic
conditions. These may be caused by the
following factors:
Latitude :
Temperature range increases with distance from the
equator. Also, temperatures decrease as you move
away from the equator. This is because the suns
rays are dispersed over a larger area of land as you
move away from the equator. This is due to the
curved surface of the earth. In addition Polar
Regions are colder because the suns rays have
further to travel compared to place on the equator.
Altitude Temperatures decrease with height. The air
is less dense and cannot hold heat as easily.

Distance from the sea:

Land heats and cools faster than the sea.
Therefore coastal areas have a lower temperature
range than those areas inland. On the coast
winters are mild and summers are cool. In inland
areas temperatures are high in the summer and
cold in the winter.
Aspect:
Slopes facing the sun are warmer than those that
are not. Thus south facing slopes in the northern
hemisphere are usually warm whereas slopes
facing north in the southern hemisphere are
warmest.

Climatic Zones in India:

o India possesses a large variety of climates ranging
from extremely hot desert regions to high altitude
locations with severely cold conditions similar to
northern Europe.
o Within India it is possible to define six regions with
distinct climates.
o The six climates are normally designated as Hot and
Dry, Warm and Humid, Moderate, Cold and Sunny,
Cold and Cloudy and Composite.
o The criteria of allocating any location in India to one
of the first five climate zones are that the defined
conditions prevail for more than six months.
o In cases where none of these categories can be
identified for six months or longer, the climatic zone
is called Composite.

Climate Zone Map of

India

Climate Zone Map of India

DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR DIFFERENT

CLIMATIC REGIONS:
WARM-HUMID Climatic Region:
Mean
No. of clear
Mean Monthly
Mean Monthly
Monthly R.H.
days in a
Temp. (C)
Precipitation
(%)
month

Warm &
humid

>30

>5

Places

Trivandrum,
Coastal Areas/
North East.

Key Features:
o High humidity, strong sun, glare from the sky and
horizon characterize this climate.
o There are long monsoon periods with heavy rain.
But the breezes, especially in coastal areas, can
alleviate discomfort considerably.

Key design responses:

o Use lightweight construction where diurnal
(day/night) temperature range is low and include
thermal mass where diurnal range is significant.
o Maximise external wall areas (plans ideally one
room deep) to encourage movement of breezes
through the building (cross ventilation).
o Site for exposure to breezes.
o Shade whole building where possible in summer.
o Allow passive solar access in winter months only.
o Shade all east & west walls & glass year round.
o Avoid auxiliary heating as it is unnecessary with
good design.

Key design responses:

o Use reflective and bulk insulation (especially if the house is

air-conditioned) and vapour barriers.
o Use Elevated construction with enclosed floor space, where
exposed to breezes.
o Choose light coloured roof and wall materials.
o Provide screened and shaded outdoor living.

Example:
Padamanabhapuram Palace, Trivandrum, Warm
and Humid
o The Padmanabhapuram Palace in Trivandrum,
responds to the climate with steep sloping high
tiled roofs, with deep eaves.
o The sides are open to the breeze, and air
ventilates up through the porous tile roofs,
ensuring that the indoor temperature does not
build up.
o Using open slatted or perforated timber screens
on sides of verandahs cuts out glare, ensures
privacy but allows the breeze flow across the
rooms.
o Walls are white to reflect the sun, and often
completely shaded by the verandahs.
o For a cluster of buildings, an openness of planning,

HOT & DRY Climatic Region:

Mean Monthly
Temp. (C)

Hot & dry

>30

Mean Monthly
R.H. (%)

<55

Mean
Monthly
Preciptation

<5

No. of Clear
Days in a
month

Places

>20

Rajasthan,
Ahemadabad,
Gujarat

Key Features:
o Very high daytime temperatures, with very little
precipitation and a short and mild winter season
characterize this climate.
o Another important characteristic is a high
diurnal temperature variation. One can be
boiling during the day and cold at night.
o This is due to the rapid radiative heat loss from
the ground or the building to the clear night sky.

Key design responses:

o Build more compact shaped buildings with good
cross ventilation for summer.
o Use passive solar principles with well insulated
thermal mass.
o Maximise night time cooling in summer.
o Use heavy thermal mass for walls & roofs with 1012 h time-lag.
o Consider convective (stack) ventilation, which
vents rising hot air while drawing in cooler air.
o Shade all east & west glass in summer.
o Provide shaded outdoor living areas.

Key design responses:

o Consider adjustable shading to control solar access.

o Auxiliary heating may be required in extreme climates.
Use renewable energy sources.
o Use evaporative cooling if required.
o Use reflective insulation for effective summer and winter
application.
o Use bulk insulation for ceilings, walls and exposed floors.
o Use garden ponds and water features in shaded outdoor
courtyards to provide evaporative cooling.
o Draught seal thoroughly. Use airlocks to entries.

The Thermal System of a Small courtyard

house

The Thermal System of a larger

courtyard house

Example: Jaisalmer
o The desert town of Jaisalmer deals with this by
building homes that abut against each other, with
the inner rooms opening towards small courtyards
and the front rooms opening through screened
openings towards narrow shaded streets.
o This pattern minimizes the exposure of building
surfaces to the outside.
o The buildings are of heavy mass and the windows
small, because of which the indoor temperature
changes very little through the day or night,
staying close to a more comfortable daily mean
temperature.
o In summers, even though the day is hot, nights are
cool, and people spend time out on the roof
terrace.
o Because humidity is low, if water was available,

Jaisalmer haveli elevation

Jaisalmer
haveli plans

Jaisalmer haveli section

Time lags between indoor and outdoor temperatures

in a Havelli in Jaisalmer, India (Matthews, 2000).

COMPOSITE Climatic Region:

Example - Delhi.
Climates with changing seasons set a difficult task for
designers. Solutions suitable for one season may be
unsatisfactory for others. Thermal design criteria
recommended for hot-dry climates are applicable not only
to the hot-dry season of composite climates, but also to the
cold seasons, except for minor details. For the monsoon or
rainy season however, building should be designed
according to the criteria of warm-humid climates, which
would require entirely different solutions.
Many constructional features may serve equally well in all
seasons. Difficulties arise with conflicting or incompatible
requirements. In order to develop optimum design
standards which are appropriate for composite climates as a
whole, it is necessary to establish some form of weighting
whereby priorities can be allocated. Such a weighting
system can be based on the length of different season, on
the relative severity of the conditions and their correlation

On the basis of such an analysis design standards can be

formulated for the composite climate.

A house in Northern India (Design: PWD, New

Delhi, 1954)

Rang Mahal, Red Fort, Delhi, Composite

Climate:
o New Delhi has a Composite climate. It has a very
hot and dry summer, followed by a humid season
with monsoon rains.
o With the departure of the monsoon it gradually
becomes comfortable in autumn, followed by a
short winter with the cloudy and wet as well as
sunny periods. Before the summer returns there is
a comfortable but short spring season.
o The Rang Mahal at the Red Fort royal palace has
spaces suitable for every season.
o Rooms have thick walls and small openings for
summer days and winter nights.
o Verandahs are for evenings and mornings.
o There is a screened balcony that will cut out the
sun but enjoy the monsoon breeze during the

Plan, Rang Mahal Red-Fort

Exterior Rang-Mahal Red-Fort

Interiors Rang Mahal Red-Fort

TCI HOUSE is a modern

office building with a
high level of environmental
control, integrating
systems to support
information technology,
and a requirement for
flexibility and adaptability
for change in its internal
layout arrangement.
The basic design strategy
is the traditional inwardlooking haveli plan with
an internal fountain
court that acts as an
environment
generator for the office
spaces opening towards it.
The external envelope is
treated as a substantial
protective envelope with
TRANSPORT CORPORATION OF INDIA LTD.,small
Newwindows.
Delhi The
envelope opens at the

MODERATE/TEMPERATE Climatic Region:

Mean Monthly Mean Monthly Mean Monthly
Temp. (C)
R.H. (%)
Precipitation

Moderate

25-30

<75

<5

No. of clear
days in a
month

Places

<20

Bangalore,
Deccan

Example - Bangalore, Deccan.

o This is a climate which is generally comfortable; neither too
hot, nor too cold, and where all of us should be staying!
o All you need to do is be shaded and insulated from direct sun,
let in a little breeze when you feel stuffy or warm; and shut
the window if it is chilly or wear some light woolens.
o In Bangalore, the ideal comfortable house is built of heavy
walls with high ceiling rooms, with windows that you can shut
and open, surrounded by a shade giving verandah.
o High ceilings reduce the effect of heat that would radiate
down from the roof which would get hot under the sun. This
will also allow the warm air to rise and escape through
ventilators, high up in the walls.

Ground Floor Plan

View of the House

COLD Climatic Region:

Mean Monthly
Temp. (C)

Cold & cloudy

<25

Mean Monthly
R.H. (%)

>55

Mean Monthly No. of clear days

Precipitation
in a month

>5

<20

Places

J&K,
Himachal,
NW UP,
Niligiri

Example Sauni Village, U.P., Cold and Cloudy

o Winters are prolonged and summers are short in

this climate.
o There is also a fair amount of precipitation- snow
or rain, often spread across the year.

o The traditional homes and villages of the

sub - Himalayan region are built on hill
slopes that would receive a fair amount of
sunshine.
o The lower floor is occupied by cattle and
used for storage.
o The upper floor which is away from cold
and damp ground has the living rooms.
o The cooking area is a part of it, in order to
benefit from the heat generated by it.
o Low timber ceiling provide insulation and
conserve the warmth.
o Windows face the sun.

House
Elevation

House Section

Mean Monthly Mean Monthly Mean Monthly

Temp. (C)
R.H. (%)
Precipitation

Cold & Sunny

<25

<55

<5

No. of clear
days in a
month

Places

>20

Ladakh

Example Leh, Ladakh.

o
o
o
o
o
o

Leh in Ladakh is a "mountain desert."

There is very little precipitation and the temperatures vary
greatly between the day and night and also from summer to
winter.
The traditional Ladhaki settlement is usually built on steep
slopes facing southward.
This allows good insolation during the day.
Heavy walls (mud) and a well insulated roof (timber & mud)
dampen the variations of indoor temperatures.
The use of glass and nowadays, trombe - wall is very
successful as heat can be stored in the building mass during

View of Traditional Settlement, Leh

Main characteristics:

o Low humidity.
o High diurnal range.
o Four distinct seasons. Summer and winter exceed human
comfort range
o Cold to very cold winters with majority of rainfall.
o Hot dry summers.
o Variable spring and autumn conditions.

Key Design Responses:

Here the heat loss is to be reduced, which can be done by
an airtight envelope and good insulation
High thermal mass is strongly recommended.
Insulate thermal mass including slab edges.
Maximise equator facing walls & glazing, especially in living
areas with passive solar access.
Minimise east & west glazing.
Use adjustable shading.
Use cross ventilation & night time cooling in summer.
Encourage convective ventilation & heat circulation.
Site new homes for solar access, exposure to cooling

TROMBE WALL:
o The purpose of these walls are the night time
heating of buildings
o It absorbs heat during the day and releases it in
night hours
o It is installed on the southern side of the building

Trombe Wall

Construction of Trombe
Wall

Solar Trombe Wall at Tabo Monastery Sarai, Spiti1995 Use of Traditional Materials

Thank You.