TROPICAL DESIGN
Climate
Passive Cooling
Wind and Natural Ventilation
Sun Shading
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
I. Climate
Climate refers to weather conditions, humidity, and other atmospheric
conditions on a macro level. It covers environmental conditions of a certain
geographical location. Different elements of climate are as follows:
Temperature: The degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or
object, especially as expressed according to a comparative scale and
shown by a thermometer or perceived by touch.
Humidity: A quantity representing the amount of water vapor in the
atmosphere or in a gas.
Precipitation: Rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground.
Solar Conditions: Sunrise and sunset times, solar angles and sun elevation
Wind: The perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the
form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction.
Special Elements: Other climatic conditions that may be unique to a
location
A. General Types of Climate
Climate is directed by geographical location and environment. The
closer the location is to the equator, the hotter the temperature.
Naturally, that means a cooler climate is found closer to the magnetic
poles.
On the other hand, humidity, which represents water vapor in the
atmosphere, depends on the presence of bodies of water. Coastal
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
areas are more humid while areas distant from large bodies of water are
prone to rapidly evaporating moisture, as seen in deserts.
1. Hot Humid (Tropical)
Hot humid climate, also known as tropical climate, is most popular in
islands and archipelagos close to the equator. Small land masses are
surrounded by water, meaning humidity is high. Additionally, as they
are closer to the atmosphere, temperature can get high.
2. Hot Arid
As opposed to humid temperature, hot arid climate is identified by
the severe lack of humidity. Hot arid climates have high temperatures
and lack of water. Equatorial Africa has the highest of concentration
of hot arid climates in the world, as seen in their savannahs and
deserts.
3. Temperate
Found somewhere between the equator and the magnetic poles,
these places are typically warm and humid with mild winters. This
climate is basically a middle ground, neither extremely hot nor
freezing with a fair balance of different seasons.
4. Cold
Found closer to the magnetic poles, these climates feature snow and
ice glazed environments. Cold climates are identified by cold and
lengthy winters.
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
B. Tropical Design
Tropical regions are areas where heat is the dominant problem where
the annual mean temperature is not less than 20ºC. Tropical design is
concerned with addressing these heat and humidity problems.
Characteristics of Tropical Climates:
Temperature: Average mean temperature 20-30ºC with a small
diurnal temperature change/range 2-5ºC
Humidity: 50%-100% relative humidity
Wind Conditions: Average of 2m/s mind flow. In the Philippines,
prevailing winds are the northeast amihan winds which blow from
November to April and the southwest habagat winds which blow
from May to October
Sky Conditions: Overcast sky with a lot of reflected heat gain
Precipitation: Average of 1000mm/year
Others: Climate conditions breed insects (flies, mosquitoes and
termites) and damp ground conditions
As seen from the information above, tropical climates are often
concerned with high temperature levels, high humidity levels, slow wind
velocities, high precipitation during rainy days, abundance in pests, and
damp ground conditions. These problems are the conditions architects
must seek to alleviate when designing buildings in tropical climates. One
must set objectives to address such measures.
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
The design objectives in tropical climates are the following:
Minimize heat gain
Maximize ventilation
Typhoon wind protection
Prevent unnecessary increase in humidity levels
Good drainage systems to accommodate high precipitation
Pest protection
II. Passive Cooling
The goal of passive cooling is to normalize internal temperatures with
minimum to no mechanical aid (i.e. air conditioning). It uses the prevailing
natural conditions of a site to ensure that indoor temperatures remain
comfortable, thus saving on power consumption and environmental
decay.
Passive cooling deals with limiting heat entry, eliminating heat buildup,
controlling indoor wind flow, and manipulating that same wind flow to
ensure optimal circulation.
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
A. Building configuration, site layout and site planning
This refers to studying the site’s
conditions so that the building can be
configured and positioned on the site
to make use of the site’s natural
characteristics to its advantages.
Laying out external elements along
with the building’s configurations also
assist in improving interior conditions.
Figure 2.2.1 Trees shading indoor space
B. Building Orientation
The building must
be oriented with
awareness to
both the sun’s
path throughout
the year and the
direction of
prevailing winds.
Figure 2.2.2 Building orientation
The building must
be oriented to block off any unwanted heat while letting as much cool air flow
through without stunting its velocity.
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
C. Façade Design
The building’s façade must be properly designed so
that only the welcomed elements will enter and all the
unwanted elements will be repelled or left out. This
includes design elements, exterior finishes, roof design,
and strategic placement of fenestrations.
The roof is the part of the building exterior that is most
exposed to sunlight throughout the day. The roof’s
design and material must be sufficient to cover the
other parts of the building to control internal heat gain.
Large eaves and overhangs are then preferred design
elements in a tropical façade.
Figure 2.2.3 Heat flow on an
insulated façade
III. Wind and Natural Ventilation
In the Philippines, there are two kinds of prevailing winds. Amihan is a wind
that blows from the northeast and blows from November to April. Habagat
is a wind that comes from the southwest and blows from May to October.
These winds must be carefully observed on the site, especially since external
factors such as existing buildings, mountains, vegetation and other factors
can alter the general direction the site will receive these winds from. Other
than the wind’s direction, one must study how wind works when it enters a
building. These effects can either be utilized or avoided to get the best
indoor conditions comfortable to the human body.
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
A. Stack/Chimney Effect
The tendency of air or gas
in a shaft or other vertical
space is to rise when
heated, creating a draft
that draws in cooler air or
gas from below. It must be
noted that heat always
rises and is replaced by
the cool, which sinks. This
little bit of physics can be
Figure 2.3.1 Stack effect
utilized so that indoor air
will constantly move in a certain direction, avoiding stagnant indoor air, which
builds up both heat and microorganisms.
B. Cross Ventilation
This is the
circulation of
fresh air
through open
fenestrations
that exit on
Figure 2.3.2 Cross ventilation
the opposite side of a room. Wind speeds increase with the height above the
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
ground, and the smoothness of the ground surface. This variation in wind speed is
known as wind gradient.
Figure 2.3.3. Wind gradient
C. Wind Flow
The following are illustrations that depict how wind flow is manipulated:
Figure 2.3.4 Air pressure
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
Figure 2.3.5 Vegetation doesn’t stop airflow, but dampens its velocity
Figure 2.3.6 Interior airflow
Figure 2.3.7 Section view of airflow with
varied cross ventilation layouts
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
Figure 2.3.8 Section view of airflow with
varied cross ventilation layouts
Figure 2.3.9 Wind flow on a grid layout vs
staggered layouts.
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
Figure 2.3.10 Different cross ventilation layouts
Different layouts can be utilized depending on the existing wind conditions
and site orientation. The designer must be aware of the physics of wind flow
and temperature to be able to create a tropical design that can effectively
move air in and out of a building to ensure user comfort.
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
IV. Sun Shading
Solar paths affect different sites depending on their location and
orientation. Throughout the year, the sun’s path changes with respect to
the earth’s rotation and angle facing the sun.
When computing the sun, there are two elements to be aware of:
Altitude is the relative height of the sun relative to the earth’s horizon and is
measured in degrees. The maximum altitude of the sun is 90º at noon at
latitudes near the equator.
Azimuth (α) is the horizontal angle of the sun measured clockwise from the
north
SOLAR PATH
DIAGRAM
ALTITUDE
SUMMER
SOLSTICE
EQUINOX
AZIMUTH
WINTER SOLSTICE
Figure 2.4.1 Sun Path
The altitude and azimuth are computed with different ways to compute the
sizes of sun shading devices strategically placed in different parts of the
building with the sole purpose of controlling the entry of heat from the sun.
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
A. Horizontal Shading
Horizontal shading devices are
generally placed on the north and
south facing sides of the building. This
is because these parts of a building
are more exposed to a high altitude
sun light around the noon time.
Horizontal shading blocks out sunlight
coming from high angles. Horizontal
trelisses, fabric sun shades and
overhangs are examples of horizontal
Figure 2.4.2 Horizontal Shading devices
shade.
B. Vertical Shading
Vertical shades are generally placed
on the east and west facing sides of
a building. Unlike the north and south,
the east and west are exposed to
sunlight coming from a low altitude
because of the sun rising on the east
and then setting on the west. Vertical
trellises and walls are examples of
Figure 2.4.3 Vertical Shading devices vertical shading devices.
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Architectural Comprehensive Course TROPICAL DESIGN
C. Egg Crate Shading
This is a combination of
both vertical and
horizontal shading
devices. This type of
shading is used on faces
that are exposed to both
high and low altitude
sunlight, such as those on
the southeast faces. A
variety of devices and
fixtures can be used to
create this kind of sun
shading.
Figure 2.4.3 Egg crate Shading devices
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