Sustainable Materials And Built Technology!

Green Concrete

Concrete used at Gratitude is M25 grade.

Composition 

OPC 53 – 31%  ( ACC brand )

GGBS  -69%  ( JSW Brand )

((Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag) is a cementitious material which comes out as a by-product from Iron and Steel Manufacturing industries

Glass

The Glass used in all the joineries of the site is Selected with high light transmittance value and low SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Co-efficient), in order to avoid major heat gain through the glass. After excessive research and consultation, Saint Gobain – Sparkling ice (ST 167) is used, with heat strengthening to sustain exterior conditions. 

Reclaimed Timber For Joineries: 

All Doors and Windows of Gratitude Villa are made with reclaimed plantationTimber from old houses. Unlike other metal/ UPVC doors and windows, Wooden joineries used in Gratitude have low embodied energy (due to its recycled property) and allows minimal heat transmittance. 

Fly-ash Bricks In Rat Trap Bond

The masonry bond used in Gratitude is Rat-Trap bond. 

This masonry has used 20% lesser mortar and bricks as opposed to 9” thick Flemish/English bond.

This bonding pattern creates a cavity between the bricks that provides substantial insulation, thereby reducing the heat gain through the walls. 

The thermal resistance value of masonry in Gratitude has gone up to R10 from R6 due to the use of Rat-trap bond. 

Guniting

The technology used for external plastering of Gratitude Villa is Guniting/ Shotcreting 

This technology uses pressure for spraying plaster on walls . 

The benefits for the user: 

• increase in overall strength 
• reduces the time taken
•  reduces wastage of material.
•  ensures uniformity
•  reduces porosity of the plaster 
• increasing density and water repellent property. 
• Increases durability of the building 
• Improves the thermal mass of the walls 

The benefits for the planet: 

The cement used for guniting and brickwork at Gratitude is ACC Suraksha (PPC) hence ensuring low embodied energy for mortar and plaster. 

Lean Plaster

Lean plaster on ceilings is an Auroville special  practice of  preparing the underside of a slab prior to concreting with a lean mix of 1 : 10 (Cement: Sand). This is removed at the time of De-shuttering the slab. 

The benefits for the user: 

• Does not require ceiling plaster. 
• Reduced Material usage 
• Putty and paint can be directly applied to the ceiling.

The benefit for the Planet: 

• Reduces usage of cement, hence optimises material and makes it resource efficient.