Sketch a G+1 residential plan according to Vaastu Shastra and Calculation of Loads as per IS code

Aim: Sketch a G+1 floor residential plan, according to Vaastu Shastra, and list down the names of the structural drawings required to be provided to the site for construction.

Introduction: Vaastu Shastra is the ancient Indian science of architecture and acts as a guideline to design your home in the way that enhances the positive energy.

• Our nature is abundant with powerhouses of energy sources like the sun, wind, moon, water, earth, and fire.
• Effect of sunrays, flow of the winds, pill of earth’s magnetic field and other such cosmic energies.
• A good home needs to radiate the right kind of energy.
• A person dwelling in a house comes under the influence of a specific energy field which comes under the influence of a specific energy field.

Significance of directions:

• North=wealth
• South=Dharma
• West & east = overall prosperity

Basic principles of Vaastu shastra:

• Shape: Rooms should preferably be square or rectangle.
• Room basics: Rooms should be airy, well lit, bright & clean.
• Home center: Centre of the house should be an empty space.
• Stairs & furniture: Heavy furniture should be kept in the southwest direction/
• Water: Avoid keeping plants & water features in the bedroom.
• Dining table: Dining space should be near the kitchen & not near the main door.
• Mirror placement: Mirror facing the bed is strictly not allowed. Mirrors in the bedroom need to be placed in such a way that the bed cannot be seen

Room wise Vaastu requirements:

1. Entrance:

• The best positions for entrance are Northeast, north, east, south of southeast and west of northwest.

1. Living room:

• It should be clutter free.
• It should be faced to East, north or northeast. Northwest is also favorable.
• Heavy furniture should be kept in the west or southwest of the living room.
• Electronic appliances should be installed in the southeast section of the Livingroom.
• If planning for a mirror in this room, ensure you place it on the north wall.

• Bedroom:
• The bedroom should be southwest.
• Avoid northeast or southeast.
• The bed should be placed in the southwest corner of the bedroom with the head facing west.
• Avoid placing a mirror or a television Infront of the bed.
• Avoid having paintings depicting water or a fountain.
• Use of aromatic oils creates a calm and serene environment.
• Never sleep with your head in the north.
• Avoid overhanging beams in the room to enjoy good health.
• Paint the bedroom walls in neutral or earthly shades that radiate positive energy.

1. Pooja room:

• East or northeast part of the home is perfect.
• Facing east while meditating is good for health.
• White, beige, light yellow or green are some of the suitable shades for a pooja room.

1. Kitchen:

• Keep water sink away from gas stove.
• The fridge should be at the southwest corner.
• Never let the kitchen face a washroom wall nor share a common wall with the washroom.

1. Study room:

• Select a square or rectangle study table.
• Don’t place the table facing a blank wall or a window.
• Place table at northeast, east or west direction.

• Courtyard:
• Brahmasthan is a unique feature of ancient architecture.
• It is the center of your residence & the holiest and most powerful zone.
• A traditional home in Kerala, the courtyard is always at the centre of the house.
• This part should be perfect & clutter free.
• The placement of kitchen, bathroom or pillar/beam attracts negative energy.

Procedure:

Sketch of Ground Floor:

Dimensions of Ground Floor plan:

• Living room: 5m x 10m
• Bedroom: 5m x 4.3m
• C: 2.8m x 2.7m
• Pooja room: 2.7m x 3.6m
• Master bedroom: 6.4m x 5m
• Dining Room: 3.6m x 3.5m
• Kitchen: 3.6m x 3.8m

Sketch of first floor plan:

Dimensions of first floor:

Bedroom: 4.8m x 5.4m

Study: 4.8m x 2.8m

Kid’s Room: 4.5m x 4m

Other dimensions:

Slab thickness: 0.25m

Dimensions of column: 0.23m x 0.3m

Dimensions of beam: 0.35m x 0.45m

Wall height of ground floor: 3.65m

Wall height of first floor: 3.04m

Load calculation:

Dead load calculation:

• Column load:
• Dimension of column= 0.23m x 0.3m
• Height of column = (Slab thickness x 2) + ground floor wall height + first floor wall height

= (0.25 x 2) + 3.65 + 3.04 = 7.19m

• Volume of column= 0.23 x 0.3 x 7.19= 0.5m³
• Unit weight of RCC (Conforming to I.S. 875: PART-1) = 25Kn/m³
• Dead load of column = 0.5m³ x 25 = 12.5 Kn

• Beam:
• Dimension of beam: 0.35m x 0.45m
• Volume of beam per meter length = 0.35 x0.45 x 1= 0.2m³
• Unit weight of RCC (Conforming to I.S. 875: PART-1) = 25Kn/m³
• Dead load of beam per unit length= 0.2 x 25 = 5Kn

• Slab:
• As slab is always designed for 1m³, assume the size of slab to be 1m x 1m.
• Volume of slab= 1 x 1 x 0.25= 0.25m³
• Unit weight of RCC (Conforming to I.S. 875: PART-1) = 25Kn/m³
• Dead load of slab= 0.25 x 25 = 6.25Kn

• Wall:
• Thickness of external wall= 0.23m
• Thickness of internal wall= 0.12m
• Height of ground floor wall= 3.65m
• Unit weight of brick masonry (confirming to I.S. 875:part1) = 20Kn/m³
• Dead load of external ground floor wall per unit meter length= (0.23 x 1 x 3.65) x 20= 16.79 Kn.
• Dead load of internal ground floor wall per unit meter length= (0.12 x 1 x 3.65) x 20= 8.76 Kn.

• Height of first floor wall= 3.04m

• Dead load of external first floor wall per unit meter length= (0.23 x 1 x 3.04) x 20= 14Kn

• Dead load of internal first floor wall per unit meter length= (0.12 x1 x 3.04) x 20= 7.3Kn

Live load calculations:

As per I.S. 875 PART-2 for residential building, live loads are taken as:-

• Living room= 2kn/m³
• Dining room= 2kn/m³
• Kitchen= 2kn/m³
• Bedroom= 2kn/m³
• Washroom= 2kn/m³
• Storeroom= 2kn/m³
• Terrace= 3 Kn/m³
• Staircase= 3kn/m³

Wind load calculations:

• As the height of the building is not more than 10m, wind load need not be considered.

The structural drawings required to be provided to the site for construction are:

• Centre line drawing.
• Footing & column layout with reinforcement details.
• Column schedule with reinforcement details.
• Plinth beam layout with reinforcement details.
• First floor beam layout with reinforcement details.
• First floor slab layout with reinforcement details.
• Lift pit & headroom with reinforcement details.

Result: -

• The plan of G+1 floor residential building has been drawn with consideration of concept of Vaastu shastra.
• The load calculations are done as per the I.S. CODE considerations.