TROPICAL DESIGN

Arch. Juanito M. Malaga, uap

TD – Instructor
UST College of Architecture
AY 2009-2010
Passive Cooling
A cooling system using a building’s design and
construction to maintain a comfortable
temperature within the building.

Passive design is essentially low-energy design

achieved by the building’s particular
morphological organization rather than
electro-mechanical means.
Passive Cooling Techniques
1. BUILDING CONFIGURATION, SITE LAYOUT
and SITE PLANNING
Ex. A building can be protected from direct
sunlight by placing it on a location within the
site that utilizes existing features such as trees,
terrain, etc.
2. BUILDING ORIENTATION
Ex. In tropical countries such as the Philippines,
it is best to place service areas in the west and
east-facing side of the building because these
sides are exposed to direct sunlight.
Passive Cooling Techniques
3. FAÇADE DESIGN
Use of double-layered façade, use of low-emissivity
glass, use of insulation
4. CROSS-VENTILATION
The circulation of fresh air through open windows,
doors or other openings on both sides of a room.
STACK EFFECT/CHIMNEY EFFECT
The tendency of air or gas in a shaft or vertical
space to rise when heated, creating a draft that
draws in cooler air or gas from below.
Passive Cooling Techniques
5. SUNSHADING DEVICES
VERTICAL TYPES
Vertical Sun Shades are generally used on east and
west-facing sides of a building
EGGCRATE TYPES
Combination of horizontal and vertical shades
6. WIND ANALYSIS
Wind direction: Desirable and undesirable winds in
each of the climatic zones depend largely on local
conditions. Any breeze in the lower latitude
(tropical and arid climates) is beneficial for most of
the year.
Passive Cooling Techniques
Cross-ventilation: Cross-ventilation is far more
important in the tropics than in temperate
zones. The theoretical strategy for blocking or
inducing wind flow into a building is based on
local prevailing wind conditions. Generally, for
the tropical zones as much as ventilation is
desired.
Influences on Built Form
1. ZONING FOR TRANSITIONAL SPACES
The traditional spaces used for lobbies, stairs,
utility spaces, circulation, balconies and any
other areas where movement take place. These
areas do not require total climatic control and
natural ventilation is sufficient. For the tropical
and arid zones, the transitional spaces are
located on the north and south sides of the
building where the sun’s penetration is not as
great. An atrium can also be used as transitional
space.
Influences on Built Form

2. USE OF ATRIUM
In the tropical zone, the atrium should be located
so as to provide ventilation within the built form. In
the arid zone, the atrium should be located at the
center of the building for cooling and shading
purposes.
3. FORM
Optimum building form for each climatic zone.
Research has shown that the preferred length of
the sides of the building, where the sides are of
length x:y, are: tropical zone – 1:3
Atrium of The Rookery, Chicago
Light floods the atrium of The Rookery building in downtown Chicago, Illinois. The
building was designed by the architectural firm of Burnham and Root and completed in
1886. In 1905 architect Frank Lloyd Wright helped renovate the atrium and the lobby.
Influences on Built Form

4. ORIENTATION
Orientation as well as directional emphasis changes
with latitude in response to solar angle.
5. VERTICAL CORES and STRUCTURES
The arrangement of primary mass can be used as a
factor in climatic design as its position can help to
shade or retain within the building form. For the
tropical zone, the cores are located on the east and
west sides of the building form, so as to help shade
the building from the low angles of the sun during
the major part of the day.
The End