Pearl Academy of Fashion, Jaipur: Passive Design Meets Tradition
The Pearl Academy of Fashion in Jaipur, India is a unique architectural solution based on the Passive House standard. By design, the college building is a passive habitat in harmony with its environment. The architects succeeded in blending rich historical knowledge of traditional structures with modern contemporary architecture. They rose to the challenge of building an institute rooted in the classical traditions of Rajasthan and Mughal architecture, while integrating passive cooling strategies.
Evaporative Cooling
The entire building is elevated on columns. Excavations four meters below ground created a substructure with water pools at the base. These pools provide cooling through evaporation.
Thermal Sink
This architectural solution, common in hot climates, uses water surfaces at the base of buildings. The water cools overnight, reducing daytime temperatures.
Local Materials
The building is wrapped in a double skin. Perforated screens, placed 1.2 meters away from walls and windows, act as a thermal buffer. They provide ventilation and diffuse sunlight, protecting the interior from heat.
Courtyards and Shaded Spaces
Self‑shading courtyards block direct sunlight and regulate indoor temperatures while allowing natural daylight into studios and classrooms. The lowest level of the building — a sunken courtyard — regulates the environment with water, shade, and vegetation.
This space, dug four meters below street level, traps cool, moist air, heavier than hot, dry air. It also creates a private inner sanctuary where students gather.
Passive Comfort
Passive environmental design helps maintain indoor temperatures around 27°C even when outside temperatures reach 42°C. Minimalist aesthetics place the focus on students and their activities.
At the lowest level, the sunken ground forms a cave‑like space containing all essentials: water, plants, food, and people. A gentle breeze flows continuously in all directions, generated by the temperature difference between inside and outside, bringing life to this multifunctional and creative environment.
