MECHANISMS FOR NATURAL VENTILATION IN THE ALLAH BUKSH SETHI HAVELI, MOHALLAH SETHIAN, PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Abstract

In the 21st century, there has been a rapid degradation of the environment due to emissions of large quantities of CO2 and green house gases, produced by the burning of fossil fuels in order to provide thermal comfort to buildings. This has led to the concept of 'Sustainable Architecture', which works in harmony with nature and natural forces (sun-light, wind etc.) to create buildings that aim at minimizing consumption and preventing the depletion of natural resources. Sustainability requires that human activity exploits nature's resources only at a rate at which they can be replenished naturally. In the context of Pakistan, our current practices in architecture are based on western solutions to requirements of comfort provision, leading to a growing dependence on fossil fuels, and resulting in rapid environmental degradation. Rapoport (1969) states that modern solutions to climatic problems often do not work, and homes are made bearable by mechanical means whose cost sometimes exceeds that of the building shell! Before western ideals were imported to create architecture within the local context, indigenous architecture made a conscious effort to balance the natural environment with human habitation and lifestyles. Indigenous buildings collaborated with nature to give comfort (Rapoport, 1969). In this paper the climate responsiveness and appropriateness of the Sethi Haveli, Peshawar, are analyzed in order to understand indigenous responses to the issues of sustainable thermal comfort. The paper focuses on the natural ventilation methods employed in the Allah Buksh Sethi Haveli and in particular the basements of the haveli, in order to understand how natural, renewable sources of energy produce comfortable yet sustainable environments. The design of these basements and their inlet and outlet ducts in particular, together with other mechanisms, promotes natural ventilation, and provides thermal comfort during the hot summer season. Key words: sustainable architecture, Sethi Haveli, indigenous architecture, natural ventilation, thermal comfort