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KILBA TOWNSHIP

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JSW
Kilba, Himachal Pradesh
2021 - Completed
54,000 sqft.
Housing

Kilba township is thoughtfully integrated into the hillside near Reckong Peo, preserving the natural terrain and offering panoramic views. The staff housing is designed as a series of stepped units that follow the site's contours, ensuring privacy, ample daylight, and thermal efficiency. Responding to extreme temperatures ranging from -17°C to 17°C, the architecture prioritizes simplicity, durability, and comfort. Materials are chosen to withstand the region’s harsh climate, creating a functional and resilient living environment for year-round use.

Given the limited sunlight during winters and evenings, roof lights facing south were integrated to harness solar gain and improve natural lighting. Unit placements follow the natural slope, using multilevel plans to reduce site cutting. This sensitive approach ensures minimal ecological impact while maintaining structural efficiency. Retaining structures and infilling support stability and terrain alignment, furthering the intent of low-impact development and visual integration with the surrounding landscape.

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Green design features include passive solar techniques such as maximizing solar radiation during the day, storing heat, and releasing it at night. Buildings are oriented east-west, with expanded south-facing walls and minimized east-west exposure to reduce heat loss. Spaces like living areas are placed on the sunlit south side, while less-used areas like toilets and storage rooms are located on the shaded north face for thermal zoning efficiency.

To improve thermal comfort, the township employs trombe walls and PU foam insulation, maintaining indoor temperatures up to 15°C even when outside falls to -11°C. Materials like autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) offer fire resistance, insulation, and structural benefits. Solar air heating supplements passive strategies, utilizing renewable energy to warm interior spaces efficiently in this cold region

The project embraces sustainability through bioclimatic design and energy-saving technologies. Compact, multi-storey structures reduce heat loss, while LED lighting enhances energy efficiency, cutting energy use by 80%. Collectively, these strategies reflect an ecological and economical approach. Kilba Township stands as a model of climate-responsive architecture, blending passive design, local adaptation, and advanced building materials within the Himalayan landscape.

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