Designing Residential Microclimates: Malhar Eco-Village in Bangalore, India

Developing country cities are mostly in hot climtes and are growing very rapidly. Their future energy and environmental impacts are a major concern. Global examples show that developments can be planned and built in a more sustainable way—without significantly higher costs. In addition to choices of building typology, density, height and layout, the green infrastructures of open spaces, vegetation, parks and water features provide fresh air and recreation, but also filter pollutants and are a key to urban ventilation. If well planned they help to make a city less polluted, healthier and also cooler, considerably reducing the city’s energy needs and costs. Some of the most effective environmental planning is simple and inexpensive. One hears often that sustainable solutions are either expensive, or difficult for city authorities to enforce. But there are pragmatic approaches and policies which do not needlessly hinder developers or require heavily restrictive planning. This chapter focuses on the impact of layout and green infrastructure at the meso scale of eco-village and cluster type housing development in hot climatic zones. Availability of green space is decreasing significantly in many urban environments. The focus will be on a Indian eco-village project, as an example of fairly small-scale urban development that can provide both attractive living environments and improved, low-energy microclimates. To achieve this, equal attention is paid to the building layout and environment, and to the green infrastructures.