Solah Kamba Masjid | Passive ventilation

Passive lighting and ventilation at Solah Kamba Masjid

The Solah Kamba Masjid was built in 1423- 24 AD by Qubil Sultani. The name of the mosque is derived from 16 pillars erected in front of the complex. There are beautiful arches, domes and columns.
The architecture allows for plenty of fresh air and light. The columned halls have domes with skylights for some bays apart from the eastern open side, which light up it's interiors. It has long galleries with thick masonry columns. The main dome is aligned with the gates to palaces on the East, across the Lal Bagh.

1. Dome Roof- The Dome roof helps reduce the total heat gain from the roof and provides a passive cooling effect for the building. Some of the smaller dome roofs have air vents at the apex that improve ventilation.

2. Clerestory windows- The Solah Kamba Masjid has Clerestory windows to enhance both natural light and ventilation.

3. Jali windows- There were Jali windows, they serve as natural air conditioning and also help cut the glare of sunlight.

4. Vaulted ceilings - There were vaulted ceilings. Vaulted ceilings can enhance natural ventilation, as they can provide more space for hot air to rise and circulate.

5. Skylights-

The Solah Kamba Masjid has skylights. These skylights serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. Functionally, they allow natural light to enter, creating a well-lit and serene atmosphere for worship.

The skylight at Solah Kamba Masjid also served as an air vent as it was positioned at the apex of a dome. When air flows over a cylindrical or spherical object, the wind speed tends to increase as it approaches the top of the dome. This increase in wind speed is due to the phenomenon known as "Bernoulli effect." As the wind flows over the curved surface of the dome, it experiences reduced pressure, which can cause the wind to speed up. If there is a hole at the apex of a domed or cylindrical roof, the difference in pressure allows the hot air under the roof to flow out through the vent creating a passive airflow that helps regulate the temperature inside the building.