Terracotta Installation Puts Energy-Consuming Cooling Devices to Shame
This earthen unit by Ant Studio brings down the temperature and is an eco-friendly alternative to modern cooling systems
Aren’t we always struggling to find eco-friendly alternatives to our energy-consuming, high-carbon-footprint devices? Monish Siripurapu of Ant Studio came across an opportunity to design something that would cater to this need. By bridging the gap between technology and design, he created a ‘beehive’ structure made of terracotta pots that emit cool air and bring down the surrounding temperature.
Here’s what the device is all about:
Here’s what the device is all about:
DEKI Cooling Installation
Need of the hour
The need of the hour was to curb the blast of hot air and also cool down the surrounding area. “We thought of creating an installation using cooling pads or hay stacks. The problem was that these materials don’t last very long. We needed something that was robust, could last long and also look aesthetic. The obvious solution was earth – it is traditionally used as a cooling element for construction and can withstand extreme temperatures,” Siripurapu says.
The need of the hour was to curb the blast of hot air and also cool down the surrounding area. “We thought of creating an installation using cooling pads or hay stacks. The problem was that these materials don’t last very long. We needed something that was robust, could last long and also look aesthetic. The obvious solution was earth – it is traditionally used as a cooling element for construction and can withstand extreme temperatures,” Siripurapu says.
DEKI Cooling Installation
A natural outcome
Siripurapu commissioned 700 terracotta pipes from artisans in Maidan Garhi in New Delhi for this cooling device. “All the pipes have a specific geometry and were customised through computational analysis and modern calibration techniques. In this particular experiment, we wanted to retain the water inside the pipes, thus a conical shape was chosen. Also, terracotta is porous and so naturally retains water. We put all the pipes together in the shape of a beehive,” Siripurapu says.
A small well with a pump was installed below the beehive. The horizontal pipes taper at both ends, creating small hollows that hold a little water. The idea was to drive the hot air through the installation with water continuously circulating through it. The water-filled and water-soaked pipe-pots cool down the hot air and through evaporative cooling, produce cool air. It is the same principle that is used in the traditional earthen water pots (gharas and surahis) to cool water in hot weather.
“This device is particularly useful during power cuts – since it doesn’t require much energy, it is an eco-friendly cooling solution,” says Siripurapu.
Siripurapu commissioned 700 terracotta pipes from artisans in Maidan Garhi in New Delhi for this cooling device. “All the pipes have a specific geometry and were customised through computational analysis and modern calibration techniques. In this particular experiment, we wanted to retain the water inside the pipes, thus a conical shape was chosen. Also, terracotta is porous and so naturally retains water. We put all the pipes together in the shape of a beehive,” Siripurapu says.
A small well with a pump was installed below the beehive. The horizontal pipes taper at both ends, creating small hollows that hold a little water. The idea was to drive the hot air through the installation with water continuously circulating through it. The water-filled and water-soaked pipe-pots cool down the hot air and through evaporative cooling, produce cool air. It is the same principle that is used in the traditional earthen water pots (gharas and surahis) to cool water in hot weather.
“This device is particularly useful during power cuts – since it doesn’t require much energy, it is an eco-friendly cooling solution,” says Siripurapu.
DEKI Cooling Installation
Fun and functional
The installation has helped drop the temperature around it by 6-8 degrees Celsius. “This structure is not only an alternative to [conventional] cooling but is also like an art installation at the factory,” Siripurapu says.
Ant Studio showcased the installation recently
in Lucknow at the India International Science Festival. Since the venue did not have the issue of a genset blowing hot air, they installed a large fan to showcase its functioning.
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Tell us:
What did you like the most about this project? Tell us in Comments below.
The installation has helped drop the temperature around it by 6-8 degrees Celsius. “This structure is not only an alternative to [conventional] cooling but is also like an art installation at the factory,” Siripurapu says.
Ant Studio showcased the installation recently
in Lucknow at the India International Science Festival. Since the venue did not have the issue of a genset blowing hot air, they installed a large fan to showcase its functioning.
Read more:
These Homes Know How to Control The Sun
Leading Design: A Typeface Emerges From Where There Were Tattoos
Tell us:
What did you like the most about this project? Tell us in Comments below.
While designing different spaces inside the Deki Electronics factory in Uttar Pradesh, Siripurapu came across a large generator that was emanating hot air at the velocity of 10 metres per second, thereby making the temperature around it extremely hot. “In the summer months, this generator was increasing the temperature to beyond 50 degrees and making it difficult for people to even stand there, let alone work. Also, in Noida, there is a power outage of about four hours every day, making matters worse,” says Siripurapu.