A tale of tropical love
Tropical architecture has, for long, celebrated the various moods of nature by responding to the sun, the wind and the rain in its design. Large shaded openings that allow wind to flow through them, keeping sun at bay, courtyards into which the rain trickles into from the sloping roof and gardens that surround have all been in the innate instinct of the architect to allow spaces to engage with the environment.
Despite intensive documentation that exist in countless pieces of art, one still can’t stress enough on how much the people of India romanticize the idea of a lazy rainy day. The chill in the air often comes with the visual extravagance of lush greenery, dotted with tiny droplets of water that soothes our senses. The streets are washed clean, and so is everything else increasing the visibility levels on otherwise dusty streets. This adds to the drama of the hues painted by the sun penetrating through thick clouds on an endless canvas. The petrichor do not care to be subtle in their declaration for their love of the aroma of rain. All of this combined with the monsoon exclusive culinary delight of hot piping foods is an exact picture of what a piece of heaven on earth looks like.
But if, instead of relishing the joy of monsoons, what if one had to be constantly worried about patchy walls soaked in water which make it an eyesore, and poses as a health hazard due to the mildew that thrives in this weather? Water damage from walls and ceilings also challenge the structural integrity of the building.
While the cost of constructing a building is crucial in design, one must also give heed to the operative costs, that in the long run, far exceed the cost of construction. In order to ensure an efficient and hassle-free maintenance, planning for lower running costs of the building must happen at the planning stages of development. Here are some tips to keep the monsoons a season of joy, and not agony.
A good shoe and a good hat are very important for a tropical building. Ensure that, by means of large overhangs or verandas, the walls of buildings are protected from rain. A proper slope for the site to drain off the water into the storm water drain and an appropriate elevation from the road level can help in reducing the risk of flooding. A properly sloped sunshade that extends on either side of an opening helps water to roll off the top and avoid water stagnation. These also help in cutting off glare during summers. Coping on parapet walls too help in reducing potential water damage.
While all of the above need to be planned for in the construction stages of a building, this tip can be used for both existing buildings and buildings under construction. Walls form a major part of the building envelop. In order to protect walls from rain and humidity, it is important to treat these surfaces with a proper eye for detail. The Weather protection paints from a wide range of Nippon Paint’s exterior emulsions offer high resistance to water damage. Weatherbond Pro from Nippon Paint offers a holistic solution to all maintenance needs of a building since it is resistant to dust, water and to algal and fungal growth by offering great durability at the same time. Durafresh Xpert packs in a punch with its heat resistant as an added feature making it an ideal choice for hot and humid conditions. Sumo Xtra offers water resistance with long lasting colour keeping the building bright and pleasant for long. Shogun, more suited for a dry condition with lesser humidity also offers water resistance and resistance to fungal growth making it ideal for dry regions that experience harsh monsoons.
In addition to wall finishes, Nippon Paints also offer emulsions for the roof which are water resistant and like all products from Nippon, very low in VOC emissions too. With a great variety of affordable and durable options from Nippon Paint, it’s easy to make any building monsoon ready.