SOS children's village – Dehradun
Location : the small town of Rajpur in Mussoorie foothills, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Capacity: 225
Site area :14,300 sqm
Project Year: 1997-1999
Climate :Composite
Client/Owner: Tibetan House Foundation
Principle use :home for homeless children and also one of the best example of energy saving
building in India.
Introduction: SOSchildren villages has been present in India since 1963 and their work developed
rapidly all overthe [Link] the northern India, Dehradun, they support Tibetan refugees who left
their home country and settled their.
Site consideration: the site of this residential campus measures 14300 msq. It is located on
Mussoorie foothills with 15family cottages, residences for director and co-workers, community
facilities and a place of workship.
Map of SOS village
The planning of the village is based on independent clusters are open from all sides
Wind direction: The primary strategy is to provide protection from harsh winds from the north-east
and to provide solar access.
It adopts a careful landscape planning. Landscape planning has been carefully done to provide
shelter from cold winter winds and access to winter sun. The planning and plantation schemes are
combined. The landscaped in connected area.
Slopes generally towards the south
Use of natural forests air and carefully designed out building envelop.
The site has the entrances from the north- west direction from Mussoorie - Dehradun 30' wide steep
road
Whole site is bounded by natural bounty which give the site a pleasant look. Specially water bodies
flowing within the site.
The winter sun away from the northern wind and face the beautiful valley.
Parking is placed beside the site entrance. No vehicular paths are there in the site. Only pedestrian
pathways in the form of steps are present because of steep contour.
Concept:
The concept of design is based on simple low cost, low maintenance construction. Environment
friendly techniques, design taking the advantage of climatic condition. Recycling of water (use of rain
water) use of natural forests, air and carefully designed out building envelop .
Entrances with rain water channels on both the sides.
The primary strategy is to provide protection from harsh winds from the north-east and to provide
solar access
Where building are two room deep, the section is stepped and the plan joggled to allow the access
of some winter sun from the northern side
SOS village provides day care primary and secondary education, vocational training as well as family
based care to at risk children from the region.
Amphitheatre for student: cascading steps
Rainwater drain detail.
Amphitheatre floor finished with low cost building material - pebbles,which are non slippery in rains
too
Cascading Steps are facing south so that in winter allows maximum solar access and trees buffer in
summer
A little nursery school at the bottom of the cascading steps and amphitheatre for school functions.
B- Quarter Homes and their clusters around outdoor living courts are specially designed for the
children and their mother's needs
C –Orchard A hilly site, a part of which was a mango orchard, slope generally towards south_ The
planning and plantation schemes are combined.
D- Famil y home ·All the homes have an outdoor terrace on the south, designed as a natural
extension to the front verandas, and function as a outdoor living space.
The toilet block in north-east comer family homes acts as a buffer against cold winter winds
E-Residence co-worker The outdoor, used commonly by all the residents, is also designed as a
habitable space
•Smaller pockets between buildings, benches under the shelter of trees and low walls to sit or slide
on are also planned as places for informal recreation.
F -Playground The large playground is in a wind-sheltered zone with clear winter sun access, while
the existing fruit orchard in the campus doublesas a shaded playground
G – Playground Gazebo with sitting and tree for shade
There are total 15 cottages for total children, with room,kitchen,toilet.
Details and material used
Stones are used in below part of parapet wall and upper part of wall is of brick and rcc
RCC slab finished with hollow terracotta tiles
Levels are adjusted to winters from south side.
External roof insulation with hollow terracotta tiles to improve thermal dampening characteristics of
the roof
Inner side of glazed window has timber shutters. These provide effective insulation and reduce
infiltration for winter night and summer afternoon. No curtains
Window detail for bedroom
Bedrooms with solid timber board shutters on inner side for insulation
Light grey colour stone aggregate plaster is used on external faces of walls
CONCLUSION:
•In the end, while design, type, cost, uses and style of building differs but the energy efficient
buildings have some common ways which can be used in any type of building
•Increasing windows or openings area as per the climate and the solar path (Preferably openings
towards the south) of the region
•Properly designed ovehangs over the openings will help to prevent overheating in summer
•Energy efficient buildings provide comfort, lowers operating costi last bul not the least most
important save our valuable environment