2. Homes: Little Things that
Make A Big Difference
We offer here a thumbsketch of many features we have dem- architects will advice you on the elevations and profiles. Re-
onstrated at TownsEnd. Our effort is to showcase as many al- member that the larger the openings for windows and doors,
ternate, exciting and enduring technologies as we can. The the higher is your cost.
entire effort is aimed at only one thing – how do we persuade These pages offer many variations we have worked upon.
you to adopt these cost effective and aesthetically attractive 3. The roofs. – You can employ many types of roofs as you
systems of architecture in your own homes. will see in the houses people have built at Trans Indus and now
The pictures here demonstrate well the use of these traditional at TownsEnd or in our other campus, WildGrass, at Mysore.
materials. What you don’t see in the pictures is the bit of engi- Typically, they are – hollow clay block roofs with pre-stressed
neering we have had to bring into the restoration as well as clay channels or concrete rafters; Kadapa slab roofs with a
into the construction of these structures. thin sheet of concrete that uses minimum steel and cement;
You will see in this presentation how you could cleverly adopt ferro-cement roofs for flat and sloped roofs. For the first floor
many of these materials, and engineering skills into your own roofs where you are sure you are not going to build on top,
homes with dramatic effect. you could use double tiled roofs or singled tiled roofs with a
Building alternate requires attention. It also requires more time grid in wood or steel. There are a few other variations that can
than conventional structures. This is because you give your- be effectively used for roofs in your house. We can discuss
self the opportunity to add a few things beyond what you plan. that in detail if you wish.
As a building comes up, many things strike you. Many ideas 4. The floors – We have usually opted for material that re-
need reworking. This will require a patient architect and pa- quires very little energy in the making of it. For eg, natural
tience from you. You also need a contractor who is willing to stone which requires no energy in the making is preferred to
live with a little madness. ceramic tiles which is highly energy intensive. The following
In the planning of TimeOut we used more common sense and are floor options which can lend elegance to your house – Pol-
BCIL’s cumulative knowledge of resources and much less ar- ished Kadapa or Kota slabs; terracotta tiles, Bethamcherla
chitectural skills. You will see that in building your homes, your natural stone in different colour tones, Shahbad, Athanagudi
demands will be much the same. (green and brown), machine sliced grey granite (polished or
Let us spend a few minutes on how you go about building your rough-hewn), polished granite in a few shades (a more expen-
home. It’s important that you find the right architect. In turn, sive option), marble (also an expensive option). There are
he should help you find the right contractor. The architect has choices like sandstone which are unique, add elegance but are
to be excited by these values and should have had the experi- expensive.
ence of doing such homes. 5. Wood work for windows and doors – You could avoid
BCIL has enjoyed working with In Antis, a firm of architects wood and save cost while being environment friendly. Go with
headed by the talented Mr. Anup Naik whose age belies the metal frames that are available with lovely finishes these days,
experience and insight he brings into planning a home and and at costs that are attractive. If you insist on wood, go with
incorporating exciting elements that can bring warmth and treated jack wood and neem wood. Another option is to buy
natural appeal to your house. antique doors and windows, and save on fresh wood purchase.
BCIL also has had the pleasure of working with a few other If you can afford it, you can use wood for staircase treads, and
such architects who are part of a panel of Architects. for flooring of small areas like the study, and so on.
You are at liberty to work with Mr. Anup Naik or with any of the The few other things that you need to take care of are – floors
empanelled architects of BCIL. If you know any one else on and walls of washrooms, counters and wash basins, the type
your own who can create your home for you, that will be even of faucet fittings and sanitaryware; the external facades, paint-
more wonderful since TownsEnd will gain from any new talent. ing of internal walls, and so on.
Remember, we are always willing to share our knowhow and The costs
experience with you or your architect. When you work with an architect, please get a cost and quan-
The important thing is that you simplify the way you look at tities sheet with these five segments clearly marked out. The
your house. There are only five main aspects to a house. other things will not cause you much concern on costs. The
1. Plinth and Foundation. – Before you get on with this you only other element that you need to check with the architect,
must ensure that you have made your final call on the size of and check carefully, is the cost of structural elements. Most
your house and of every space you seek. To make any change often architects themselves cannot be certain of this cost. But
after the foundation is done can prove to be difficult, or expen- you need to persist and secure an educated estimate before
sive. you begin work on your home.
2. The Walls – There are many types of walls you can build. From here on, it is a professional contractor, and careful su-
We recommend a functional blend of soil cement blocks, hol- pervision. Between the architect and you, this needs to be
low and solid clay blocks, and moulded concrete blocks. The achieved just so to get the house the way you want it.
3. AT INFRASTRUCTURE LEVEL
..…TimeOut…..
The leisure amenities Energy
TownsEnd Sustainability
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION (INDIA) LTD.
ACADEMY FOR MOUNTAIN ENVIRONICS
Water
AT BUILT LEVELS
CREATIVE LAND USE
Aesthetic
¨ Healing of degraded lands to health
¨ Technology — energy / water
Conservation
¨ Built environment
Building Materials
SENSITIVITIES
STEWARDSHIP OF LAND
– ON HOMES
Restoring the
¨ Building systems
earth’s skin
that reduce use of
- Adding value
cement and structural
to the habi-
steel.
tat.
- Creating ¨ Identifying and use
awareness of of local skills and
the immediate human resources
environment ¨ Use of low energy
- Mapping of building materials and
Flora & Fauna effective natural
- Restoring lighting and ventila-
land’s water tion.
resources Use of non-forest
timber— avoid teak
4. SENSITIVITIES HELPING TRADITION MEET
– ON INFRASTRUCTURE THE CONTEMPORARY . . .
¨ Roads
- Enzyme based
roads.
- Sand-based
clay block
paving.
- Sand-based
stone paving.
Walkways made to
ensure
the land breathes.
Recycling of build-
ing
industry waste. THE ENTRY
THE ARCHITECTURE
DESIGN IDEOLOGY
- AN INSIGHT INTO TOWNSEND
¨ Design Ideology.
1.Transition as a theme.
2.Frames as insights ~ visual connectors.
3.Water ~ as a medium of reflection
¨ Alternate Technology as a Frontier.
1.Stabilised Compressed Earth Blocks.
2.Composite Ferro cement System.
3.Reclaimed Timber.
4.Non Forest Timber.
5.Reducing usage of ceramic and extreme
process …..based finishing materials. The beginning…..
6.Usage of MS sections for window.
TRANSITION AS A THEME FRAMES AS INSIGHTS ~ VISUAL
CONNECTORS
¨ Transition is
emphasized with light ¨ Frames are
as an element ~ an used intention-
intentional design ally, to accen-
parameter. tuate the green
¨ Transition in the outdoors.
sense of material
usage has also been ¨ Frame as in a picture
taken particular care
frame, has been used as a
of ~ a softer feel on
precursor to a lot of the
the walls to a harder
spaces which unfolds beyond
and raw and rugged
it. This sets off a constant
feel on the floors.
dialogue for the visitor with
the surroundings.
5. BUILT ENVIRONMENT BUILDING YOUR HOME
1] Blend traditional knowledge systems and QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK
contemporary engineering
2] make every home an example of successful * How to reduce energy use with better
mainstreaming of alternate think directions
specs and optimal design without
in building, land and water management,
and energy use compromising performance
* How to increase local content to avoid
transport energy
* How to integrate passive energy
components into buildings – skylights,
materials.
* How to understand life cycle energy cost
of materials ( manufacture, transport,
construction, use, demolition & disposal)
BUILDING YOUR HOME BUILD MATERIALS
1] How do we offer blend of traditional Walls
knowledge systems and contemporary
engineering
2] How do we make the homes an example of
successful mainstreaming of an array of
alternate think directions in building, land and
water management and energy use
Country bricks
Vertical shaft kiln bricks * interlock earth
blocks * stone masonry * composite works
* clay blocks — solid & hollow
* Soil stabilized blocks * concrete blocks – solid
& hollow
STABILIZED COMPRESSED EARTH
BLOCKS
¨ SCEB are made of mud, stabilized
with 5% cement and compacted in a
block making machine, and naturally
baked by the sun. ¨ SCEB have compres-
¨ It is as good a walling material as sive strength of 30Kg/
burnt bricks and is economical, stronger, sq.cm.
energy saving and simple to make. ¨ At this strength the
¨ The sheen on the walls is a protec- erosion on the blocks is Twisted piers that add structural
tive uv-resistant poly coat that keeps greatly reduced Strength and lend to aesthetics.
the walls from eroding.
6. Hollow clay block walls
Saving on downstream costs and labour
Walls raised without mortar and with Thermal insulation
concrete bands at sill, lintel and roof Final overcoat of a polycoat wash
Levels. that is U.V. Resistant and enhances life
Exposed brick work Mud plastering for external walls
With dry masonry that last minimum 4-5 years.
Traditional mud scaffolding The only improvisation is use of the
and screed concrete U.V. Resistant polycoat wash to enhance life
Traditional aesthetics with contemporary
materials — the walls are stone butch.
Blends of terra cotta, ferro concrete rafters,
The columns are RCC — tie beam is ferro cement
and stone — good examples of the old blending
— column brackets are in steel
with the new.
— The roof is kadapa slabs
7. Stairways in dressed or rough-hewn stone Neem and jackwood railings,
with no risers — in place of steel
They cost less, and take elegant forms.
FLOORS
Traditional, natural materials make least environ-
ment impact — no energy in manufacture
Bethamcherla — tandoor — kotah — shahabad —
oxide floors executed the traditional way with
egg white and iron oxide and cement —
athanagudi — also indian pine wood with cashew
oil or linseed oil treatment ROOFS
— Replace energy-inefficient industrial ceramic 6 variations of these roofs can be tried
tiles with natural slate or terra cotta — ensure — They save 30% on roof costs
that the slate is water-resistant with surface — Structural steel used is minimal
treatment that enhances performance — It can deal with spans up to 15 feet
— The screed concrete needed is only 2-3 inches
- Not to speak of conventional options
You can stack two more floors .
These roofs are with Kadapa slabs and ferro
Hollow clay blocks for roofs.
cement rafters in place of wood
These can be executed at as little as Rs 70 per sft.
8. VAULTS
We have con-
stantly explored
new forms. This
country tile is
typical of the Tamil
Nadu countryside
– not seen as
much in Karnataka.
The blend of earth
walls, terra cotta
and the unimpos-
ing metal truss
Single tiled roofs and double tiled roofs heralds a ‘soft’
— Where you are not building above, entry to the
use double tiles with steel truss or wood TownsEnd campus.
truss
Composite ferrocement systems
¨ CFS is simple to construct and made
of ferrocement i.e. rich mortar rein- ¨ Ferro cement
forced with chicken and welded wire channels and shells
mesh. These reduce the thickness of provide an eco- All these options are sensitive to land they belong to.
roof slabs while allowing larger spans. nomic solution to the They meet criteria of durability and cost .
CFS are trough shaped and are inte- RCC slab by provid-
grated to any vertical structural sys- Make sunshades in granite — avoid RCC
ing 30 – 40% cost
tem. They act as a permanent skin. reduction. Mud plaster will hold due to surface treatment
Stone and steel pergolas
9. Non Forest Timber Non Forest Timber
¨ Areca Poles are used as
compound walls, which not ¨ Here Bamboo is used as
a pergola, offering great ¨ The Entire spa has been ¨ Cane has been used as a semi
only enhances the aesthetic constructed using Pine wood, roof covering, which again lends
value, but provides a new in- light and shade quality,
which again is non-forest itself to great flexibility in de-
sight into alternate use of which very easily replaces timber. sign.
material. any concrete or steel form. ¨ Pine wood has great struc- ¨ When cane is given a slight
¨ Since these poles are ¨ These are forms that are tural strength and is least curvature it attains greater
treated it increases life span demonstrated here prima- affected by termites. structural strength.
of the material. rily to excite TownsEnd-ers ¨ Pine wood weathers very ¨ These are elements, again,
¨ It also adds to renewable to try these tested options well, and has the least con- that you could use in homes with
factors. for their own homes. traction and expansion co- dramatic impact.
efficients.
Reclaimed timber This column is an
example of use of
This stately main door gives the house a
reclaimed wood
distinct traditional look.
— They don’t
warp, they take
polish,
Carpenters are
happy working
with them
— Be careful in
the reclaimed
wood you buy
— Avoid encour-
aging demolition
of sites
of heritage value
Reclaimed timber Non process-based or zero energy
finish materials.
¨ Use of renew-
able timber goes
a long way in
protecting felling
of forest lands.
¨ It adds a new
dimension to ar-
chitecture and ¨ Rough hewn stone is used
aesthetics of as column supports, which
any building. add greatly to visual quality. ¨ Clay tiles with a coat of
¨ The entrance bay is high- PU is used for the wet ar-
lighted with perforated paver eas.
blocks, granite trims and tra- ¨ The high-energy-using
ditional stone butch work and ceramic tiles are used only
mud plastered walls. as highlights.
10. Non process-based or zero energy Materials Lend to Aesthetics
finish materials.
¨ Kadapa Floor with com- ¨ Silver oak billets have been
posite granite grit trims has used as corbels on the exte-
been used. rior walkways alongside the
¨ Kadapa has a versatile pool, after treating them with
outdoor and indoor use bitumen for termite resis-
property which can be left tance. The patchquilt of wood,
as cut hewn or polished. turf-grass and pebble lends a
new aesthetic dimension.
ROADS & WALKWAYS
¨ - Enzyme based
roads.
- Sand based
clay block paving.
- Sand based
stone or corbelled
paving.
Walkways made
to ensure
the land
breathes.
Recycling of
Signages employ waste wood building industry
that is treated to last waste.
Waste granite pieces are used
The entire deck, vertical columns and roof instead of flagging concrete
truss has been built with babul, for homes and pathways
a non-forest timber — all around the campus are examples of
— Critical to long-term performance is such use of material that is waste
again surface treatment. for some industry
11. The consciously created split levels lead
up to the spa on the far side. The check-
Campus lighting avoids
erboard of colours that the materials lend
conventional material
to the area shows the richness of tradi-
tional styles.
Quarry waste has been used with
dry mortar for lending aesthetic to land Use waste casuarina and eucalyptus wood
— Land management and aesthetic for fencing in as many parts
have to hold hands of the campus
Street lights blend steel
and terra cotta Roofs for most semi-open spaces
can be traditional thatch
— They cost little, and need nominal maintenance
12. A traditional door executed in a sub-species
of Jackwood — the surface treatment is the key to Another option on walls
its durability.
TECHNOLOGY
All plans relate to —
- Energy
- Water
- Ecological landscaping
Stone is a good option for walls — using
stone cubes
costs as little as normal brick masonry, and
offer cost and aesthetic advantages.
STRUCTURAL SLAB COOLING HISTORY
FROM DESIGN PEOPLE ENGINEERS
The use of radiant heating
Gentle temperature conditioning system, and cooling is not new. The
Romans, 2000 years ago,
exchanges thermal energy to the space
used under-floor radiant
through convection & radiation. heating and thermal mass
heat storage. In Turkey,
stream water was run
through channels in walls
and floors to cool palaces
in the warm summers. Even
Akbar used it at Fatehpur
Sikri.
In the 1930s, architect
Frank Lloyd Wright piped hot
water through the floors of
many of his buildings.
13. THE SYSTEM
COOLING SYSTEM: TOWNSEND
Surface cooling systems
where the water tubes
are placed in the roof slab Air base geothermal
absorbs the heat from cooling for HourGlass, the
heat sources in a room. Bar Lounge at TownsEnd.
The slab absorbs the heat
and exchanges it with the
circulating water.
The warm water is then Water based slab cooling
pumped here to the pool for conference areas
fresh, cool water from the
below ground is circulated.
WATER ~ COOLING THE INSIDES ELECTRICAL ENERGY
¨ Understanding peak load
needs and the energy forms
needed.
¨ Lighting
- Gensets with biodiesel for
electricity
- Water heating with solar
electric systems
¨ Use of EB power in non-
peak hours
¨ Vegetable oils as
Biodiesel – buy seed, crush-
ing, oil for fuel, oilcake for
manure
¨ Needs no changes to stan-
dard diesel engines, and lu-
bricants them better. It’s
biodegradable, non-toxic.
The water is aerated with a small efficient Reduces hydrocarbon emis-
pump – so no mosquitoes! The underwater sions by 70% and Carbon
monoxide emission by 50%
lights make it a visual delight.
ELECTRICAL ENERGY
Check Power Factor of each of your electricity
bills.
The PF ratio should be more than 0.80.
An average home can save anywhere from 3,000
to 5,000 a year by maintaining it over 0.80.
Use power-saving devices that bust spikes /
fluctuations,
motion and thermal sensor devices that reduce
energy
in times of non-occupancy of rooms and other An energy free exhaust system that helps
circulation in large and high ceilinged rooms
built areas
Manage campus lighting better to save on bills
14. BENEFITS OF RADIENT COOLING BIO-WASTE MANAGEMENT
• Maximum comfort
• Draft free, no noise cooling • Leafy biomass mulched
• Lower sensed temperature for vermi compost that
• Lower investment costs serves as fertilisers,and
• Lower energy costs
pesticides.
• Architectural freedom
• Minimal maintenance • Use of food and other
• Problem and mall function free operation organic waste
• Space conditioning equipments is not - Generation of light-
needed at the outside walls simplifying the
ing energy with digesters.
wall, space and structural systems.
• No space is required within the air condi- - Creation of circle
tioned area for mechanical equipment. gardens with aerobic di-
• Structural slab radiant system can be used gestion of food waste for
for heating and cooling the buildings with
plants.
same pipes.
ENVIRONMENTAL WATER STORM DRAINS WITH A
TECHNOLOGIES APPLIED DIFFERENCE
AT TOWNSEND COMMON AREAS
Prakriti Environment Development Consultancy
• The Sustainable Urban Drainage System is an
The Sustainable Urban Drainage System alternative approach to conventional drainage.
Zero-input Organic Waste-water Treatment System We replicate natural drainage, and deal with run-
Harvesting and Utilization of Run-Off and Re-cycled
Waste-water off where it occurs.
• Instead of conventional drains, whose primary
function is to carry water away from the site as
quickly and efficiently as possible, SUDS carries
run-off in swales – which are well vegetated,
shallow, basin-shaped depressions.
WHAT SWALES DO
VIEW OF A TYPICAL SWALE
· Vegetation in swales slows
the speed of overland flow of Unlike drains, swales are contoured in contiguity with the
water, and increases infil- surrounding landscape; in dry weather, they are integrated
tration into the surrounding land-use. They are thus aesthetically
· By virtue of its parabolic pro-
file, the carrying capacity of and functionally more advantageous.
a swale increases exponen- Swales are punctuated with periodic detention basins at
tially with the depth of water every road-crossing and intersection. These basins pro-
flowing in it, giving it the abil- vide dynamic temporary storage, in order to:
ity to handle peak storm loads
more efficiently · increase the time of concentration of run-off at the exit
· Vegetation in swales traps suspended solids in run-offs, point
which get embedded in the soil-bed of the swales · hold back and slow down the water, promoting local infil-
tration, and enabling irrigation of local area planting.
· Swales are effective in removing organic and nutrient · regulate the rate of flow in the swale, reducing peak flows
wastes from the water flowing through them; they are
taken up by appropriate vegetation and planting in the to levels that can be handled by the vegetation in the swale
bed of the swale bottom without scouring
15. ‘POLISHING’ AT THE POND
SWALES CARRY WATER BETTER
DURING A RAINSTORM The network of swales lead to a Collection pond, or
Balancing pond [next to the Tennis Court] which has
manifold functions. This is at once a:
· reservoir from which collected run-off can be
pumped for re- use
· balancing volume to retain flows from intense rain-
This integrated circuit of swales, detention ba-
fall and associated flooding, reducing peak flows fur-
sins, and collection pond, together with some ther downstream in the regional drainage system
other features like porous paving materials for · “polishing tank” for the removal of solids and sedi-
the roads, and roof run-off harvesting systems, ment, as well as nutrients, trace metals, coliforms
and organic matter, to a lesser degree
together constitute the Sustainable Urban Drain-
The water storage capacity of the Collection Pond is
age System. up to 400,000 litres. This water can be used for irri-
gation of all common areas, as well as irrigation of
the home landscapes
ZERO-INPUT ORGANIC WASTE- HOW SWALES WORK
WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM The plants them-
The Zero-input Organic Waste-water Treatment Sys- selves, as well as the
tem uses a combination of passive anaerobic-treat- bacteria living on their
ment tanks (septic tanks), root-zone treatment, and root-nodules, take up
the wetland effect to completely remove organic con- large quantities of
taminants from the waste water, and make it suit- ornganic contami-
able for re-use. nants, and even
In this system, the sewage is treated anaerobically, heavy metal wastes
in septic tanks. The treated outflow from these is (to a smaller extent)
mixed with sullage, and passed through a horizon- from the water flow-
tal-flow root-zone treatment system. ing through them.
In the initial stages of home occupancy, when efflu- The root masses of
ent load is very low, the swales themselves can func- the vegetation growing in the swales, also create
tion as horizontal-flow systems, when planted with turbulence in the flow, which oxygenates the water,
appropriate vegetation such as Typha (Reed-mace, further enhancing its quality. This process can be ac-
often wrongly called Bulrush), Crinum (Swamp-lily), celerated by the judicious placement of objects such
Zantedeschia (Arum lily), Cyperus (Umbrella plant) as pebbles and boulders to create rills and eddies.
and Alocasias.
HOW SWALES WORK ‘POLISHING’ POND
As home occupancy in the Campus grows and ef- The water flowing down
fluent load increases, the mixture of sullage and the swales is given its
final stage of treatment,
treated sewage outflow can no longer be treated
or “polishing”, in the ter-
just by passing down the swales. At this stage, minal collection pond.
horizontal-flow reed-beds have to be introduced Here aquatics such as
to give initial treatment to the mixture before pass- Hydrilla, Saggittaria (Ar-
ing it into the swales, which will then function as a rowhead plant) and
secondary treatment system. Such intensive-treat- Nymphaea (Water-lily)
ment sytems use emergent aquatics like Phragmites oxygenate the water
(Common Reed) Scirpus (Bulrush) Typha, or some- thoroughly, improving its composition, as well
times even Cyperus, depending on location and as clarity and appearance, rendering it suitable for
re-use as such. The floating aquatic, Water Hyacinth
several other suitability factors.
is also suitable for this purpose; it is, however, highly
invasive, and can take over the pond completely to
the detriment of all other vegetation.
16. HARVESTING AND UTILIZATION WATER
OF RUN-OFF AND RE-CYCLED
WASTE-WATER • Conservation in the con-
text of watering large num-
ber of plants.Vegetating a
land area means usually
400 plants to an acre. You
can save substantially on
• The architecture of the TownsEnd cam-
fresh water costs.
pus provides for the harvesting and re- •The drive is to provide
moisture for root zone and
use of roof run-offs. Besides this, how-
not for watering plants.
ever, we also try to use recycled water • How to harvest rain wa-
ter from roof tops and land
for all gardening purposes.
contours.
• See models displayed on
energy free drip irrigation
ADDRESSING WATER NEEDS
RAINWATER HARVESTING
• Water Run-off man-
agement with
bunding, pitching
and revetments. • Design buildings that take care of rainwater
Percolation pits for
storm drains — Tanks harnessing and reticulation with network of
for other parts of the
distribution from static or online facility
land
• Traditional pro- • Creating catchments and aquatic lagoons.
cesses for
• maintaining pH • Nitrogen and phosphate fixing for soil with
value of water — us-
natural processes.
ing crushed drum-
stick seeds, for ex- • Soil moisture retention.
ample for floccula-
tion
OZONE IN SWIMMING POOL WATER
TREATMENT
TREADLE FORCE LIFT
• Swimming pool water has to be of good quality
PUMPS PUMPS
– users sometimes drink it by mistake
We plan to install in You can use this in • Water quality should be near drinking std
the sum and use the your home to draw
energy for water water from the sump • Contaminated water causes ear, nose, throat
drawing or circula- tank below to the and skin infections
tion OH tank.
• May also cause other infectious diseases
17. GENERAL DISADVANTAGES OF GENERAL DISADVANTAGES OF
CHLORINE CHLORINE
• Chlorine will form organic chloramines (THMs)
• Chlorine in any form is explosive and is a safety
and other toxic compounds known and proven
risk.
to cause cancer (long term use) – it’s necessary
• Chlorine addition - eventually increases salinity
to super-chlorinate regularly to reduce the THMs
and TDS beyond environmental guidelines
• Chlorine is very unstable even in solution and
• Chlorine use will increase pH which will have
to be neutralized with acid to maintain the pH. decomposes very rapidly on exposure to sun-
light - up to 60% applied in a day.
• Excess chlorine leaves the user with red eyes
GENERAL DISADVANTAGES OF OZONATION OF SWIMMING POOL
CHLORINE
• There is an additional capital equipment cost
• In small pools a stabilizer is recommended but
uneconomical in large pools such as these. – but this is only once.
• Solid bleach is not preferred for large commer- • Ozone is generated in situ
cial water treatment because of sludge problem • No excess chemicals have to be ordered,
— Chlorine dioxide and chlorine gas has been stored or applied incorrectly
preferred. • Low dose of residual chlorine necessary to
• Too expensive in India and bleach is the only
make up for ozone being too unstable.
alternative along with its intrinsic problems.
OZONATION OF SWIMMING ADDING VALUE TO A HABITAT
POOL
• Choice of plant profile —
endemic species. Avoid for-
• No smell of chlorine mal landscaping, use shrub
• No burning of eyes plants
• Protection of existing flora,
• No scaling of the skin
avifauna and reptiles.
• No fungal infections • Vegetate with a clear eye
• water quality - drinking water standards on the long term.
• sparkling clean free of Organic impurities
18. USER AWARENESS OF THE
ENVIRONMENT
• Subtle education on
- the land’s eco-val-
ues, flora, fauna and
natural land forms.
- heritage values of the
land and local skills.
At the campus, we map all species of resident,
• Appeal to tourist visi- migratory and winter visitors
tors of these aspects is — Details on living habits of birds is
very high fascinating for visitors
— Reptile species will also be mapped.
The butterfly population usually grows with the
increase in flowering plants. We need them
here at TownsEnd to work. They serve an
important function of cross-pollinating. We will
soon have a few beehive boxes at the campus
– to help us harvest naturally honey which is
uniquely flavoured by the TownsEnd flowers.
Vegetable farms can sustain campus needs.
What’s important is that the energy waste
downstream in securing from outside is also
minimised.
A variety of groundcover weeds can be planted
Vermicomposting will be a feature at TownsEnd. — all of them local species, and all aimed at
We harvest organic compost every 70 days. helping root soil, and reduce erosion.
19. TREE SPECIES MEDICINAL TREES WITH
BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS
The avenue tree species at the campus are se-
lected to offer a profile of medicinal values while
Flame of the forest
being useful to the soil in fixing nitrogen – eg:
leguminous species like pongamea or Gliricidia;
some with potent medicinal properties like Neem,
Amla, Haritaki, Vibhitaki. Erithrina Indica
Many of them are known for their beautiful flow-
ers like the Cassia, Tabubia, Jacaranda and
Lagerstroemia [known as the Queen of Flowers].
We have a collection of 25-30 species of medici- Indian Laburnum
nal and aromatic plants. We have plans to have a
small medicinal park with red listed species. Ashoka [Saraca
indica]
TREES WITH BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS LEGUMINOUS TREES THAT FIX
NITROGEN
Pink Cassia Spotted gliricidia
The Raintree
Queen’s flower or the
Pride of India, Arjuna,
Hole dasavala
[Lagerstroemia]
Pongam
Tree, Gulmohar [Dolonyx
Honge, regea]
Karanji
[Pongamea
Night shade or Pinnata,
Potato tree Glabra]
[Solanum
grandiflorum]
KEYSTONES OF TOWNSEND FOCUS OF ALL PLANS
It is important that every member develops
these values in terms of building materials,
Cost
harmony in facades, and conservation plans
for water and energy. Aesthetics
You must help us bring harmony to the Function
TownsEnd microregion with every feature Ease of execution
that we add to the campus.
As a community, we must all aim to protect
and preserve the campus as a habitat.
20. TownsEnd
Biodiversity Conservation India Limited
No. 609, 80 Ft. Peripheral Road
Block IV, Koramangala
Bangalore 560 034
Tel: 5539 300/ 344/ 350
COUNTRY HOMES E-mail: bioconserveindia@vsnl.com
FOR CITY LIVING Website: www.bioconserveindia.com
Survey No. 110
Avalahalli, Yelahanka Post
Bangalore
Ph: 2711732/ 733