Oval Nest
Real Estate

Oval Nest

Located in Pune, this is Maharashtra’s first residential project to receive the Platinum certification by the Indian Green Building Council.

"Here’s the perfect example of how you can make the best – literally – out of a difficult situation! Given a plot of land suffering from about 12 different constraints, the challenge was to do whatever possible to make things work. And, while the design brief kept developing at every stage of construction, this residential building eventually ended up achieving IGBC’s Platinum certification! Hrishikesh Kurkarni, Director, VKe: Environmental, describes this as “the side-effect of the total process.” Indeed, Oval Nest at Warje in Pune, developed by SRK Developers with VK:e Environmental as the green consultant, has become the state’s first residential project to receive this certification. Kulkarni elaborates on Oval Nest’s resource-efficient green building design in conversation with Shriyal Sethumadhavan....

A new route: Apart from energy and other environmental issues, one can also be sustainable economically and socially. Referring to Oval Nest, we created a public garden, half of which was in the building premises. Despite the other half not belonging to us, the developer built the public garden at his cost and maintained it for several years until he recently handed it over to the Pune Municipal Corporation. Also, another area within this project was a hilly slope, where the developer has planted vegetation and spent money to build water tanks from which irrigation has been dripped to more than 1,000 trees under the zone. Such social aspects of a project, the kind of employment it generates and ultimately, its contribution to the local economy are all equally important while building green.

Depicting the nest: Surrounded by residential areas, Oval Nest comprises 258 flats, with a clubhouse, multipurpose hall and essential shops. It offers various facilities and specifications for individual flats, such as a fully furnished kitchen, piped gas, solar water heating system, internal lighting fixtures, energy-efficient fans, BEE star-rated air-conditioners, low-flow water fixtures, etc; and treated water for flushing and irrigation, electric charging points, visitors parking along with amenities that help reduce water and energy consumption.

Further, in terms of landscaping, the challenge was to plant as much vegetation as possible in the campus, public garden and hill slope area. Also, there were various constraints like amenity space, road widening and regulatory issues, etc. While we had
control over 60 per cent of the land we actually owned, the remaining 40 per cent catered to other requirements. So, as consultants as well as architects for this project, the focus was not just on the building but also to create an environment for better living. Hence, we first started with designing the public garden and then went on to constructing the building.

Greening land: Hilly sloping areas behind the buildings towards the South of the site have been developed by planting native and drought-tolerant species to encourage existing flora and fauna. To irrigate this vegetation, a tank has also been constructed to which water is supplied from the sewage treatment plant (STP). Also, landscaping consists of native and drought-tolerant species that demand less water and are irrigated by efficient irrigation systems to optimise water consumption. Further, while the building’s recreational area has been enclosed by residential buildings, a cricket ground in the centre is surrounded by a lush, green, colourful landscaped area.

Shading analysis: We conducted shading analyses to check the solar exposure on the building. Through 3D modelling and environmental analysis software, the amount of shading required on different surfaces and within the building was analysed. Also, mutual overshadowing, which is the amount of shading created by one building onto the other, was assessed along with the areas that are open to the sky and for public use.

Hence, the building is oriented in a way that the recreational area in the centre remains in shade even during summers. Also, the building envelope and fenestration design contributes to reducing solar heat gain. For instance, the top roof of each building has been finished with heat-reflective paint that curtails around 60-70 per cent of solar heat from being transferred inside.

Although there is a cost hike of about 10 per cent for low VOC paints, the developer has provided them for internal walls, and low VOC adhesives to ensure healthier interiors and reduce health hazards.

Breathe fresh: As architects, we generally design every room for two windows. We designed Oval Nest for natural ventilation and optimum daylight in each flat. The building was analysed for daylight penetration and, accordingly, we created weather sheds that would bounce the light onto the ceiling, which would then reflect the light further inside. Ensuring cross-ventilation in the best possible way, another aspect we studied was wind availability. Considering that the building is located on the windward side of a hill, if you look at its layout, we have tried to open out two lines of the building in the opposite direction of the wind. This contributes to creating better indoor air quality in the apartments.


Reducing energy demand: With green measures incorporated beyond the rating system’s requirement, the system’s need of reducing, reusing and recycling resources has also been adopted. Its annual energy demand has been reduced by 22 per cent compared to the baseline provided by IGBC, and it has an Energy Performance Index 50 per cent lower than defined in the Energy Conservation Building Code. Anticipated annual energy savings could be achieved through a wind solar hybrid system; solar water heating system; energy-efficient internal and common area lighting design and fixtures; and energy-efficient pumps, motors, lifts, etc. Also, in each flat, fluorescent tube lights, T5s and CFLs have been provided in common areas. Lighting in common passages and staircase areas run on the energy generated by the wind solar hybrid system of 1.8 kW capacity, each. While the building is equipped with the solar hot water system that caters to 100 per cent hot water demand, it is identified with wind turbines on the rooftop. These turbines not only support end-users during power cuts but also generate 7.2-8.0 kWh/day to supply power to common lighting and electrical load. It is just part of the load and does not support the whole load as such.

Treating water: At a time when availability of water has become unpredictable, the residents of Oval Nest will never face this problem. The installed STP treats 100 per cent wastewater, which is then reused for flushing and irrigation, further reducing potable water demand by about 50 per cent. Moreover, low-flow fixtures installed for faucets and the dual flushing cistern installed in all flats and common areas reduce water demand further to 20 per cent. And, for surrounding site areas, percolation pits are provided to harvest rooftop rainwater into an aquifer and improve the groundwater table. The developer has also provided energy and water meters to monitor consumption at various locations that will guide and analyse the building’s performance.

Managing waste: A minimum 50 per cent of total construction materials used in the project has been procured locally, further reducing transport cost and air pollution. Additionally, the project has used materials with recycled content and that require less energy during manufacturing compared to virgin materials. Site construction has been managed to reduce soil erosion during construction by providing perimeter trenches and sprinkling water, etc. Also, during construction, the project has managed about 78 per cent of the construction waste within the site that was further diverted from the landfill by dealing with a scrap dealer.

To ensure that solid waste gets segregated at the individual flat into dry and wet waste, garbage chutes have been provided. Dry waste is further segregated and sold for recycling. The entire organic waste generated in the project has been managed on site with the help of vermicomposting pits that treat organic waste into manure, which can be further used for landscaping.
The ultimate USP: Oval Nest will always be a collaborative achievement of the project team and the occupants. As it is the users’ responsibility to maintain the building’s green features, the developer has conducted some seminars, and we have had some consultation with the residents. But, what is also important is the outlook of the next generation: will they have better inclination and attach more importance to green issues? Will they contribute to maintaining all the systems? Will they measure the real impact and how much energy they are consuming? As an architect and one with a focus on sustainability, I hope that people in the long run develop a sense of belonging and pride towards their habitat. It is not about the project being famous or the capital value it generates, but it is about residents engaging themselves in the developer’s initiatives. And, if things go in this direction, that would be the biggest USP of this project.

Project details:

Size of the project: Plot area - 32,750 sq m
Cost: About Rs 92 crore
Completion date: November 2011
Building materials sourced: 50 per cent locally (within 500 km)
Developer: SRK Developers. Tel: 020-2544 0165. Fax: 020-2546 6875. E-mail: info@skrdevelopers.in Website: www.srkdevelopers.in
Architects/Planners: VK:a Architecture. Tel: 020-2433 5668. Fax: 020-2432 1203. E-mail: mail@vkarch.com Website: www.vkarch.com
Landscape architects: VK:a Architecture. Tel: 020-2433 5668. Fax: 020-2432 1203. E-mail: mail@vkarch.com Website: www.vkarch.com
Structural consultant: JW Consultants. Tel: 020-6644 9100. Fax: 020-6644 9299. E-mail: info@jwconsultants.in Website: www.jwconsultants.in
Electrical consultant: Vidyut Sallagar. Telefax: 020-2422 4534. E-mail: vidyutsallagar@gmail.com Website: www.vidyutsallagar.com
Plumbing consultant: Amit Infrastructure Pvt Ltd
Green Building consultant: VK:e environmental. Tel: 020-4019 8888. Fax: 020-4019 8801. E-mail: mail@vkeenvironmental.com Website: www.vke-environmental.com

Hrishikesh Kulkarni’s perspective:

“Indians have a sustainable lifestyle. We focus on savings to secure our future and do not succumb to a huge amount of consumerism. So, from that point of view, we are more sustainable. Also, it does not mean that non-green buildings are brown. For each building, while we ensure that it fits the required performance criteria, it should also have minimum impact on the environment. Hence, a building should be looked at in shades of green. Probably, lighter green would mean they are less energy-efficient and darker green would be the other way round.”

Would you like to share details of any green initiatives? Write in to us at feedback@ASAPPmedia.com

Located in Pune, this is Maharashtra’s first residential project to receive the Platinum certification by the Indian Green Building Council.Here’s the perfect example of how you can make the best – literally – out of a difficult situation! Given a plot of land suffering from about 12 different constraints, the challenge was to do whatever possible to make things work. And, while the design brief kept developing at every stage of construction, this residential building eventually ended up achieving IGBC’s Platinum certification! Hrishikesh Kurkarni, Director, VKe: Environmental, describes this as “the side-effect of the total process.” Indeed, Oval Nest at Warje in Pune, developed by SRK Developers with VK:e Environmental as the green consultant, has become the state’s first residential project to receive this certification. Kulkarni elaborates on Oval Nest’s resource-efficient green building design in conversation with Shriyal Sethumadhavan....A new route: Apart from energy and other environmental issues, one can also be sustainable economically and socially. Referring to Oval Nest, we created a public garden, half of which was in the building premises. Despite the other half not belonging to us, the developer built the public garden at his cost and maintained it for several years until he recently handed it over to the Pune Municipal Corporation. Also, another area within this project was a hilly slope, where the developer has planted vegetation and spent money to build water tanks from which irrigation has been dripped to more than 1,000 trees under the zone. Such social aspects of a project, the kind of employment it generates and ultimately, its contribution to the local economy are all equally important while building green.Depicting the nest: Surrounded by residential areas, Oval Nest comprises 258 flats, with a clubhouse, multipurpose hall and essential shops. It offers various facilities and specifications for individual flats, such as a fully furnished kitchen, piped gas, solar water heating system, internal lighting fixtures, energy-efficient fans, BEE star-rated air-conditioners, low-flow water fixtures, etc; and treated water for flushing and irrigation, electric charging points, visitors parking along with amenities that help reduce water and energy consumption.Further, in terms of landscaping, the challenge was to plant as much vegetation as possible in the campus, public garden and hill slope area. Also, there were various constraints like amenity space, road widening and regulatory issues, etc. While we had control over 60 per cent of the land we actually owned, the remaining 40 per cent catered to other requirements. So, as consultants as well as architects for this project, the focus was not just on the building but also to create an environment for better living. Hence, we first started with designing the public garden and then went on to constructing the building.Greening land: Hilly sloping areas behind the buildings towards the South of the site have been developed by planting native and drought-tolerant species to encourage existing flora and fauna. To irrigate this vegetation, a tank has also been constructed to which water is supplied from the sewage treatment plant (STP). Also, landscaping consists of native and drought-tolerant species that demand less water and are irrigated by efficient irrigation systems to optimise water consumption. Further, while the building’s recreational area has been enclosed by residential buildings, a cricket ground in the centre is surrounded by a lush, green, colourful landscaped area.Shading analysis: We conducted shading analyses to check the solar exposure on the building. Through 3D modelling and environmental analysis software, the amount of shading required on different surfaces and within the building was analysed. Also, mutual overshadowing, which is the amount of shading created by one building onto the other, was assessed along with the areas that are open to the sky and for public use.Hence, the building is oriented in a way that the recreational area in the centre remains in shade even during summers. Also, the building envelope and fenestration design contributes to reducing solar heat gain. For instance, the top roof of each building has been finished with heat-reflective paint that curtails around 60-70 per cent of solar heat from being transferred inside.Although there is a cost hike of about 10 per cent for low VOC paints, the developer has provided them for internal walls, and low VOC adhesives to ensure healthier interiors and reduce health hazards.Breathe fresh: As architects, we generally design every room for two windows. We designed Oval Nest for natural ventilation and optimum daylight in each flat. The building was analysed for daylight penetration and, accordingly, we created weather sheds that would bounce the light onto the ceiling, which would then reflect the light further inside. Ensuring cross-ventilation in the best possible way, another aspect we studied was wind availability. Considering that the building is located on the windward side of a hill, if you look at its layout, we have tried to open out two lines of the building in the opposite direction of the wind. This contributes to creating better indoor air quality in the apartments.Reducing energy demand: With green measures incorporated beyond the rating system’s requirement, the system’s need of reducing, reusing and recycling resources has also been adopted. Its annual energy demand has been reduced by 22 per cent compared to the baseline provided by IGBC, and it has an Energy Performance Index 50 per cent lower than defined in the Energy Conservation Building Code. Anticipated annual energy savings could be achieved through a wind solar hybrid system; solar water heating system; energy-efficient internal and common area lighting design and fixtures; and energy-efficient pumps, motors, lifts, etc. Also, in each flat, fluorescent tube lights, T5s and CFLs have been provided in common areas. Lighting in common passages and staircase areas run on the energy generated by the wind solar hybrid system of 1.8 kW capacity, each. While the building is equipped with the solar hot water system that caters to 100 per cent hot water demand, it is identified with wind turbines on the rooftop. These turbines not only support end-users during power cuts but also generate 7.2-8.0 kWh/day to supply power to common lighting and electrical load. It is just part of the load and does not support the whole load as such.Treating water: At a time when availability of water has become unpredictable, the residents of Oval Nest will never face this problem. The installed STP treats 100 per cent wastewater, which is then reused for flushing and irrigation, further reducing potable water demand by about 50 per cent. Moreover, low-flow fixtures installed for faucets and the dual flushing cistern installed in all flats and common areas reduce water demand further to 20 per cent. And, for surrounding site areas, percolation pits are provided to harvest rooftop rainwater into an aquifer and improve the groundwater table. The developer has also provided energy and water meters to monitor consumption at various locations that will guide and analyse the building’s performance.Managing waste: A minimum 50 per cent of total construction materials used in the project has been procured locally, further reducing transport cost and air pollution. Additionally, the project has used materials with recycled content and that require less energy during manufacturing compared to virgin materials. Site construction has been managed to reduce soil erosion during construction by providing perimeter trenches and sprinkling water, etc. Also, during construction, the project has managed about 78 per cent of the construction waste within the site that was further diverted from the landfill by dealing with a scrap dealer.To ensure that solid waste gets segregated at the individual flat into dry and wet waste, garbage chutes have been provided. Dry waste is further segregated and sold for recycling. The entire organic waste generated in the project has been managed on site with the help of vermicomposting pits that treat organic waste into manure, which can be further used for landscaping. The ultimate USP: Oval Nest will always be a collaborative achievement of the project team and the occupants. As it is the users’ responsibility to maintain the building’s green features, the developer has conducted some seminars, and we have had some consultation with the residents. But, what is also important is the outlook of the next generation: will they have better inclination and attach more importance to green issues? Will they contribute to maintaining all the systems? Will they measure the real impact and how much energy they are consuming? As an architect and one with a focus on sustainability, I hope that people in the long run develop a sense of belonging and pride towards their habitat. It is not about the project being famous or the capital value it generates, but it is about residents engaging themselves in the developer’s initiatives. And, if things go in this direction, that would be the biggest USP of this project.Project details:Size of the project: Plot area - 32,750 sq m Cost: About Rs 92 croreCompletion date: November 2011Building materials sourced: 50 per cent locally (within 500 km)Developer: SRK Developers. Tel: 020-2544 0165. Fax: 020-2546 6875. E-mail: info@skrdevelopers.in Website: www.srkdevelopers.inArchitects/Planners: VK:a Architecture. Tel: 020-2433 5668. Fax: 020-2432 1203. E-mail: mail@vkarch.com Website: www.vkarch.comLandscape architects: VK:a Architecture. Tel: 020-2433 5668. Fax: 020-2432 1203. E-mail: mail@vkarch.com Website: www.vkarch.comStructural consultant: JW Consultants. Tel: 020-6644 9100. Fax: 020-6644 9299. E-mail: info@jwconsultants.in Website: www.jwconsultants.inElectrical consultant: Vidyut Sallagar. Telefax: 020-2422 4534. E-mail: vidyutsallagar@gmail.com Website: www.vidyutsallagar.comPlumbing consultant: Amit Infrastructure Pvt LtdGreen Building consultant: VK:e environmental. Tel: 020-4019 8888. Fax: 020-4019 8801. E-mail: mail@vkeenvironmental.com Website: www.vke-environmental.comHrishikesh Kulkarni’s perspective:“Indians have a sustainable lifestyle. We focus on savings to secure our future and do not succumb to a huge amount of consumerism. So, from that point of view, we are more sustainable. Also, it does not mean that non-green buildings are brown. For each building, while we ensure that it fits the required performance criteria, it should also have minimum impact on the environment. Hence, a building should be looked at in shades of green. Probably, lighter green would mean they are less energy-efficient and darker green would be the other way round.”Would you like to share details of any green initiatives? Write in to us at feedback@ASAPPmedia.com

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