Lecture 1: Global Climate and Solar Architecture
Tropical Design for Architecture – Philippines
Tropical Design is the STRATEGIC arrangement of elements in buildings and structures to respond to specific conditions of weather, sun and climate prevalent in the Tropic Region.
Tropical Region – is a region above or below the Equator. The Tropic of Cancer is in the northern hemisphere and Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere.
Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn – are Geographical Locations in the Globe considered in the “Tropical Area”.
Climate measure of the average pattern of variation in temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, precipitation in a given region over long periods of time.
Weather is the momentary state of atmospheric environment at a certain location.
TYPES OF CLIMATE:
1. Tropical (Hot-Wet)
2. Dry (Hot-Dry / Dessert)
3. Moderate Climate – mild temperatures that can get hot during the summer. Average temperature above 10 °C (50 °F) in summer and between −3 and 18 °C (27 and 64 °F) during winter.
4. Continental Climate – characterized by important annual variation in temperature due to the lack of significant bodies of water nearby.
5. Polar Climate – characterized by a lack of warm summers. Average temperature below 10 °C (50 °F).
-The sun shines 24 hours in the summer, and none in the winter.
-Polar climate results in treeless tundra, glaciers, or a permanent or semi-permanent layer of ice.
DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR DIFFERENT CLIMATES
HOT-HUMID CLIMATE:
Maximize wind exposure
Maximize internal airflow
Minimize radiant heat gain
HOT-DRY CLIMATE:
Minimize radiant heat gain
Moderate wind resistance
Moderate internal airflow
COOL CLIMATE:
Maximize thermal retention
Maximize radiant heat gain
Mminiize wind resistance
TEMPERATE CLIMATE:
Moderate thermal retention
Moderate radiant heat gain
Slight wind exposure (for humidity control)
Moderate internal airflow
