Thermal Performance Design Criteria for Bio-Climatic Architecture in Himachal Pradesh

Native architecture of any settlement is characterized by design and construction methods developed by the wisdom of local people to achieve indoor thermal comfort amidst outdoor uncomfortable climatic conditions. Modern construction practices adopt standardized building materials and construction methods that dominate the Indian market at present. The present article attempts to suggest appropriate architectural design criteria for present day buildings located in lower Himachal Pradesh through quantitative and qualitative comparison of thermal performances of traditional and modern residential buildings through field-survey. Results highlight the need for symbiosis of traditional wisdom with modern construction methods for sustainable built environment.