VAASTUSHASTRA CASE STUDIES ON COMFORT RESIDENCES IN DUBAI

Abstract

This paper examines the comfort levels achieved in homes that are designed on the principles of Vaastushastra, specifically in terms of temperatures recorded inside homes in Dubai. Vaastushastra is a vernacular architectural practice that comes from the Indian subcontinent. It is a theory that existed thousands of years ago and was used by artists, artisans and architects in order to understand the basics principles of design and its execution. The core philosophy of Vaastushastra deals with proportions, scale, orientation, placement of various internal functions, use of materials and the construction techniques that were used for architecture, sculpture and furniture design. The primary concern was that everything made by man should be in harmony with nature. The buildings that were constructed, used prescribed proportions, scale, indigenous materials and adequate construction techniques to blend into the environment. The core aspects of Vaastushastra are, Panch Maha Bhutas 5 elements and Vaastu Purush Mandala Cosmic Grid . The Panch Maha Bhutas are earth, fire, water, wind and space, which represent the elements of nature. These elements are placed together on a grid known as Vaastu Purush Mandala. The functional use of the spaces is laid out on the plan based on the locations of the elements. The activities that are supported by the element are placed in the appropriate zone. Each element is a force of nature and therefore thought of as a source of energy.Vaastushastra is commonly associated with good luck, prosperity and good heath when followed successfully but when the rules are not followed occupants of the house can experience the bad luck, misfortune and death. Thousands of years ago, many people would follow the rules of the Vedas possibly because the rules were accepted by the masses and the fear of ill fate was too engrained for anyone to take a risk of going against them.In this paper key principles of Vaastushastra will be identified and five case study homes that are designed on these principles will be used to map the comfort levels of the houses. Principles of Vaastushastra are based on the five senses and the way to understand if this connection is to test the impact these spaces have on the senses. Sound is usually very controlled or stable within an average residential space and similarly smell is usually very pleasant unless there is a problematic area close by. Light differs within a space based on season and time of day but varies within a predetermined range of values. Temperature and humidity can vary drastically within indoor spaces based on the design principles applied to the house. In this paper the main focus will be to understand comfort through temperature and humidity. The original texts of Vaastushastra state the principles of how homes should be designed but doesn’t provide any explanations on why these principles should be followed. These rules were written before science, as it is commonly known today was understood, and therefore the rules of Vaastushastra aren’t explained in this context. One possible explanation for following the rules of Vaastushastra is that the internal spaces stay close to comfortable temperature regardless of external temperatures

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