Solution-3672 Climatic Responsive Deisgn Assign-01

Department of Home & Health Sciences
Block No. 06, Sector H-8,

Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad.
Climatic Responsive Design (3672)

Assignment No. 01
Submitted to:
Arch. Omer Shujat Bhatti
Block No: 6
Dept. of Home & Health Sciences,
Allama Iqbal Open University, Sector H-8,
ISLAMABAD, (0333-3191929)
Submitted by:
Muhammad Hammad Manzoor
1st Semester, Roll No. BN-523998
M. Sc Sustainable Environmental Design
OGIL, # 514, 5th Floor, Continental Trade Centre (CTC)
Block – 08, Clifton, KARACHI
(0332-527 2364)
Q. No. 1: Define Climate Responsive Design. Why building context is the major
factor in the climate response. (15 Marks)
Answer)
Climate Responsive Design
“Climate Responsive design is based on the way a building form and structure moderates
the climate for human good and well being”.
Or
Climatic Responsive Design in building takes into account the following climatic parameters
which have direct influence on indoor thermal comfort and energy consumption in building;
 The Air Temperature

 The Humidity
 The Prevailing wind direction and speed
 The amount of solar radiation and the solar path
 Long wave radiation between other buildings and the surrounding environment and
sky also play a major role in building performance.
Climate responsive design requires the architect / designer to develop analytical and
synthesis skills to optimize the relationship between site, climate and briefing requirements.
These design solution result in climate responsive architecture.
Building Context – A major factor in the climate Response
Building context refers to major natural and artificial / manmade structures in the vicinity of
the buildings which can take an integral part in the design of the building or its allied
aspects towards enabling/forcing a climatic responsive design.
By using the climatic modification strategies, the question arises of how to integrate them
within the building and building context. It is useful to focus on how this can be addressed
by comparing the building response with that of buildings in cooler climates where a heat
deficit is. Invariably in these cooler climates the designer looks for a solution inside the
building. For example; Frank Lloyd Wright designed many of his houses with fireplace in
the conceptual center of the building.
2
By: M. Hammad Manzoor, M.Sc Sus. Env. Design, 514, 5th Floor, Continental Trade Centre (CTC), Clifton – 08, Karachi. (Roll No. BN-523998)
In practice this serves to heat the house efficiently, other strategies can be used such as
the use of insulation and mass for the walls and roofs, a reduction in the window size also
be used. The overall effect of these strategies is to reduce heat loss. In warm climates this
pattern is not followed; the methods of reducing heat gain come from without, in particular
from the use of the site and its immediate microclimate. The main passive method of
cooling is ventilation; therefore, the building requires careful design as well as site planning
for an optimum orientation. Thus the building context becomes a major factor in climate
response.
Building Context Strategies for Adapting to Climate Change

There are many ways in which we can plan building w.r.t context for a changing climate.
The Building Context strategies described below provide a sampling of ideas; this is not a
comprehensive list. Many of these strategies make sense for other reasons, such as
reduced operating costs, reduced emissions, and greater durability, but providing resilience
to the effects of a changing climate may prove to be the easiest way to justify—or
mandate—such changes.
 Warmer temperatures
Increasing temperature is at the heart of climate change, and responding to this change is a
critical component of any climate-change adaptation strategy. Longer, hotter, and more
frequent heat waves raise demands for air-conditioning and increase heat-related deaths
and injuries. Heat-adaptive strategies differ markedly by climate
 Design cooling-load-avoidance measures into buildings.
Use building geometries to limit solar gain on east and west façades, limit the area of east-
and west-facing glazing, incorporate exterior shading devices above glazing, specify
glazing tuned to the orientation (glass with a low solar heat gain coefficient on east and
west façades), incorporate high insulation levels to reduce conductive heat gain, provide
3
high-albedo (reflective) roofing, and provide optimized day lighting to minimize the use of
electric lighting.
A wide range of
passive survivability,
flood protection, and
cooling-load-avoidance
measures are included
in the Global Green
homes being built in
New Orleans.
 Design natural ventilation into buildings.

In some climates, particularly those with low relative humidity, buildings can be designed to
rely entirely on natural ventilation; in higher-humidity climates natural ventilation may be
more practical as a backup cooling strategy that can be used during power outages as a
passive survivability measure or during periods when bringing in outside air will not
introduce excessive moisture.
 Limit internal gains by specifying high-efficiency lighting and equipment.
The higher the efficiency of lighting, office equipment, appliances, and mechanical
equipment, the less waste heat is generated. In general, equipment choices are less
important than design decisions since equipment is replaced more frequently.
 Model energy performance with higher cooling design temperatures.
With a climate that is projected to become warmer, cooling design temperatures used in
energy modeling should be raised. This will help to justify higher investments in cooling-
load-avoidance measures. (We’re still likely to see cold winters, so don’t raise the heating
design temperatures.)
 Provide landscaping to minimize cooling requirements.
Trees, vines, annuals, and green roofs can all help control heat gain and minimize cooling
demands on a building. Carefully designed landscaping can also help to channel cooling
breezes into buildings to enhance natural ventilation. Involve landscape architects or
designers at the earliest stage of planning with a new building so that existing vegetation
can be preserved to aid in these uses.
 Address urban heat islands in building design and landscaping.
It is not unusual for urban heat islands to maintain temperatures 6°F–8°F (3°C–4°C) above
that of surrounding rural land, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Urban
heat islands increase cooling requirements and produce localized smog.
 Plan for termite ranges extending north.
Termite ranges are extending north, so measures to exclude or control these insects should
be implemented.
 Avoid building in flood zones.
Flood zones are expanding—often faster than revisions to zoning regulations, meaning that
simply following the law relative to the siting of buildings may not be enough. Instead of
designing to 100-year floods, consider designing to 500-year floods, seeking civil
engineering or surveyor assistance as needed.
4
 Expand storm water management capacity and rely on natural systems.

More intense storms will strain the capacity of standard storm water management
infrastructure in some areas. Provide larger storm water conveyance and detention basins,
and try to rely on natural features, constructed wetlands, and other ecologically based
systems to manage storm water. “Restore the ecological services of the landscape,” says
Watson.
At the Great River

Energy headquarters in
Maple Grove,
Minnesota, a white roof
reflects solar radiation,
reducing the urban
heat island effect.
 Design buildings to maintain passive survivability.

Homes, apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, and certain other public buildings should
be designed to maintain livable conditions in the event of loss of power or heating fuel, or
shortages of water—a design criterion known as passive survivability. Specific strategies
include an extremely high-performance building envelope (high insulation levels, triple-
glazed windows in cooler climates, etc.), cooling-load-avoidance features, natural
ventilation, and passive solar heating.
 Provide solar hot water. Install solar water-heating systems.
Especially appropriate are systems that can operate passively or that rely on integral
photovoltaic modules to operate pumps so that functionality is maintained during power
outages.
 In urban and suburban areas, maintain access to the sun.
Site-generated electricity and solar-thermal energy will become increasingly important with
climate change, and being able to retrofit buildings for solar electricity, water heating, space
heating, and absorption or evaporative cooling will depend on solar access. Solar access
should be mandated by zoning and other provisions.
SOLARA, a 56-unit affordable

housing project in Poway,
California, was designed as a
net-zero-energy development.
Solar panels provide 142 kW of
electricity, about 90% of the
needs of the complex.
5
Q. No. 2: What climate modification strategies can be taken in warm and hot
humid climates to extend the comfort zones in the building? (15 Marks)
Answer)
Climate Modification Strategies:
Climate Modification is defined as “Changes of the climate that can occur as a result of
either natural processes (such as volcanic eruptions, El Niño–Southern Oscillation events,
or sunspot activity) or human activities (such as the effects of pollution and deforestation)”.
Alteration of the Earth's climate by human activities; humans have the capacity to
modify the Earth's climate in several important ways. Humans are inadvertently altering
the atmospheric chemical composition on a global scale, and this is likely to lead to an
unprecedented warming of the global atmosphere. It comes about by anthropogenic
injection into the atmosphere of relatively inert trace gases that perturb the radiation
balance of the globe as a whole. Most of this gaseous waste comes from burning fuels that
contain carbon and nitrogen. Other sources include inert gases used in aerosol spray cans
and cooling devices.
It is the designer’s task to analyze climatic information and present it in a form that allows
him to identify features that are beneficial and harmful. The work of Olgay suggests a way
of assessing harmful and beneficial features of climate through an analytical investigation of
climate that can proceed through a series of steps.
There are different stages in Climate Investigations, after Lippsmeier;
Stage 1: Stage 2: Stage 3:

Climatic Meteorological Bioclimatic comparative Selection of climate
data collection analysis modification strategies
Solar Radiation Assessment of the climate Cooling Strategies through
Sunshine data in relation to thermal dehumidification,
Temperature comfort evaporation, airflow and
Humidity mass.
Rainfall Heating through mass and
Wind Velocity and solar gain
direction
Human Comfort Zone:

There is no one temperature and humidity condition at which everyone is comfortable.
People are comfortable at a range of temperature and humidity. Research conducted over
many years on large numbers of people by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration,
and Air Conditioning Engineers concluded there is a range of combined temperature and
humidity that provides comfort to most people. This Comfort Zone Chart shows "Indoor Air
Temperature" on the vertical axis, "Relative Humidity" on the horizontal axis, and a shaded
area known as the "Comfort Zone".
Notice that most people are comfortable at higher temperatures if there is a lower humidity.
As the temperature drops, higher humidity levels are still within the comfort zone. This
makes sense if you think about your own experience. Remember being in a hot, dry,
desert-like environment and being surprised at how you didn't feel hot? Or being in a humid
6
place where the temperature wasn't that high, but you felt like you were melting? That's the
effect of humidity and temperature on human comfort.
One of the major applications of the Psychometric Chart is in air conditioning, and we find
that most humans feel comfortable when the temperature is between 22°C and 27°C, and
the relative humidity φ between 40% and 60%. This defines the "comfort zone" which is
portrayed on the Psychometric Chart as shown below. Thus with the aid of the chart we
either heat or cool, add moisture or dehumidify as required in order to bring the air into the
comfort zone.
Climate Modification Strategies:
For warm climates, the range of temperature above comfort zone lead to 20-30 degrees
making it a major concern to bead dressed.
7
Another major concern complicating the existing system is the higher humidity values. It
adds other concerns through lowering the comfort zone for the spatial use by human
beings.
Overheating / Under heating:

Overheating may be caused by a single predominant factor or as a cumulative effect of different
factors. These include:
 Solar radiation passes through glass and heats internal surfaces, which re-radiate long wave
infra-red radiation that cannot pass through glass. This is known as the greenhouse effect.
 Double-glazed windows reduce heat losses through conduction.
 Increasingly high levels of insulation reduce heat transmission across the building fabric.
 The activities of occupants such as cooking, bathing, showering all generate heat.
Electrical appliances generate heat when in use.
 Occupants themselves generate heat, the amount of which is dependent on their activity
level.
 If a site is in close proximity to airborne noise, pollution or odour from busy roads, railways or
industrial sites, occupants will be reluctant to open windows and so heat will accumulate
inside.
 Urban heat island effect is primarily caused by the replacement of natural surfaces with hard
impervious surfaces that are generally dark and absorb large amounts of solar radiation.
Urban hard surfaces are significant in the built environment in the form of roads, paved
areas, roof tops and so on.
 Buildings oriented with south facing glazing may accumulate high levels of solar gain.
 Overheating problems may be contributed to by heat gain from boilers, hot water storage
and distribution and other building services systems. This can be a particular problem
in apartment buildings that have community heating pipe work.
 Increasing levels of air tightness can reduce the amount of 'fresh' air entering a building.
Use of Air flow:

The air flows improve the efficiency of cooling the body and also remove the heat from the
building.
For air flow to occur there must be both:

 A pressure difference between two points, and
 A continuous flow path or opening connecting the points.
Although the prerequisites are obvious and simple to state, in practical design applications
it is not always clear what the pressure differences are or how to assess the existence and
nature of flow paths.
In general, the approach taken to control air flow is to attempt to seal all openings at one
plane in the building enclosure. This primary plane of air tightness is called the air barrier
system. The word system is used since airflow control is not provided by a material, but by
an assemblage of materials which includes every joint, seam, and penetration.
There are three primary mechanisms which generate the pressure differences required for
air flow within and through buildings:
 Wind,
 Stack effect or bouyancy, and
 Mechanical air handling equipment and appliances.
8
Since, it is widely acknowledged that a perfectly airtight air barrier system is unlikely to be
achieved in practice, it is also desirable to control the air pressure differences driving the
flow. This typically means reducing the pressure imbalance created by HVAC systems,
reducing stack effect pressures by compartmentalizing buildings vertically, and reducing
wind pressures by compartmentalizing building plans.
Forces Driving Air Flow through Building Enclosures
9
Use of Building Mass:

The use of building mass as a thermal flywheel, this can be used to store coolth periods of
low temperatures and used to cool air during the hotter periods.
This improves the efficiency of cooling by increasing the time lag for heat to reach inside
building. Passive solar design principles have been incorporated into building design for
hundreds of years on every continent. It makes sense to take advantage of the sun's
warmth to heat a home in the winter, and to minimize the sun's heat in the summer while
taking advantage of natural evening ventilation for cooling.
10
Use of Evaporate Cooling:

The use of latent change of water absorbs heat and thus can cool the air entering in the
building / spaces and reducing temperatures.
Use of Dehumidifier:
The use of building elements, materials and techniques to avoid vapor content in the air
inside buildings.
11
Use of Solar Gain:

Solar gain can be used to increase the efficiency of heating the body by direct solar heat
thus, although the air temperature may be low, heat from the sun provides additional heat
to provide comfort.
*****************************************************************************************
Q. No. 3: “Careful analysis of the site is required to determine the modification to
the micro climatic conditions”, explain with reference to rural, urban and sub urban
context? (10 Marks)
Answer)
Micro Climatic Conditions:
Microclimate, any climatic condition in a relatively small area, within a few meters or less
above and below the Earth's surface and within canopies of vegetation. The term usually
applies to the surfaces of terrestrial and glaciated environments, but it could also pertain to
the surfaces of oceans and other bodies of water. Microclimatic conditions depend on
such factors as temperature, humidity, wind and turbulence, dew, frost, heat balance, and
evaporation.
The need for careful analysis of the site is required to determine the modification to the
macroclimatic conditions. The factors affected mostly by the site are as follows:
Temperature:
Air temperature can be modified by local conditions on the site through affects of
topography and vegetation. In still conditions cold air sinks to the hollows, creating cool
pools and lower temperatures than on the crest of the hillside.
Solar Radiation:
Solar access is a constant factor provided by the macro climate. Shading from vegetation
and other buildings affect the light and solar access to the building. This a main problem
and reflectance from adjacent buildings and ground conditions is a secondary problem.
12
Airflow:
This is modified significantly by ground conditions and velocity increases with height. The
site should be assessed as to the level of exposure provided, indeed sites are selected to
maximize exposure to breeze and summer cooling.
Evaporative cooling:
The topography and vegetation conditions on the site can often provocative humidity is low
reduces air temperatures. This is particularly useful where the air can be contained in a
courtyard or natural feature such as gully.
The effect of these general site modification effects should be examined in relation to the
following:
The Rural Context

Here the dominance of natural features as compared to manmade is the key aspect of the
building context.
 Natural features dominate as compared to manmade features.
 Respect for site becomes critical.
 Topography plays significant role.
 Local context plays role of guidance.
Two cases illustrate the way the site context can be utilized to maximize climate
modification in the building.
Case.1
It is a house at Buderim by Lynsey Clare. This is a detached hillside house which takes
advantage of the topography and the proximity to the ocean to moderate climate. The site
has a large hill to the southeast and the site slopes to the northeast, with a gully running
north-south. In winter the hill proves a wind shadow to the site, preventing the main force of
cool westerly and southwesterly winds. In summer the northwesterly aspect provides
access for cooling ocean breezes, which are funneled up the gully and provide an
opportunity for increase wind speed. The position of the house on the site takes advantage
of the breeze to maximize cross-ventilation in summer. The building has a thin plan and is
oriented with its long axis east and west, thus presenting the maximum area to the breeze.
In addition, it straddles the gully in order to utilize the increase wind effects from the
topography.
13
Award-winning architect of Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art, Kerry Clare, has suggested
flood-resistant “sacrificial spaces” could be created in the home with the use of stronger
material that can be hosed down after a flood.
“I would recommend this rather than making blanket changes to planning laws,” she said.
She agreed houses could be better positioned to avoid flooding, just as she designed a
residence in Buderim in 1991. It’s an older home, but the principles of design apply,” she
said.
Case.2
The Mapleton house is located in a rural rainforest area. The dominant features of this
location are the sheltering and humidity affects of the rainforest. The tall trees shelter the
building from exposure to high wind loads but also to breezes. High humidity is a problem,
and this has been dealt with by increasing the area of the clearing to allow sun penetration.
This reduces the local humidity and provides solar heating in winter.
The Sub-Urban Context
Here the main issue is the provision of airflow for ventilation. The higher density of the
building, the smaller block sizes and increased building height reduces wind speeds at
ground level and access of buildings to wind flow. In addition, the orientation of plots
provides problems where buildings face the street but not necessarily at the optimum
orientation. Adjacent buildings and trees can also block solar access.
 Cross ventilation becomes a significant factor.

 Orientation of the plots.
 Solar exposure with reference to neighboring built blocks and trees location.
 Reflections from other buildings are another factor.
 Privacy and local cultural context also dominates.
14
Case Study
The house located in Brisbane, Australia, was designed as an Austerity model timber
framed building in 1945. The original building was a single storey house elevated on
columns to accommodate the sloping terrain. The building was located at the front of a
600m2 blocks with its long axis east and west. This gives optimum orientation to the north
for solar gain and breeze in summer. Unfortunately, the building did not respect the
orientation and faced the street, due east and did not take advantage of its elevated
position and northeast orientation, also, the interior layout consisted of a number of small
rooms with little cross-ventilation.
The house was cold in winter due to the circulation of air under the building and hot in
summer because of the lack of ventilation and roof insulation. The first improvement was to
improve the airflow for summer cooling through the passage of air from the prevailing
northeast breeze. The internal walls were removed and large opening was placed in
leeward walls. Thus, the prevailing summer breeze was easily admitted to the northeast
and exited to the west. In addition the open planning of the interior enabled the connection
of a sun space to the east with the rest of the house thus providing better passive heating in
winter.
More massive construction was used to provide some mass effect which could be cooled
by some night ventilation. Finally decks were added to take advantage of air movement
between the buildings and to provide favorite conditions for the use of external space at
different times of the year.
House Retrofit, Brisbane, Australia. Reduction of interior walls and modification of

topography assists with improved ventilation through linking positive pressue at the front of
the house with negative pressure at the rear.
15
House Retrofit, Brisbane, Australia. The front court yard collects the breeze and assists with
directing the air flow through the interior
House Retrofit, Brisbane, Australia. The external rooms at the rear of the house provide a
buffer space to the westerly sun.
16
The Urban Context
Here the density of the building increases substantially. The vertical scale of the man-made
environment and the extent of the horizontal area of the city often creates its own
microclimate significantly deviating from the macroclimate. Thus, it is justifiably common
practice to call the urban context the ‘urban climate’.
1. Need to observe the buildings in Macro and Micro scale.

2. At the macro scale, the fabric and spatial extent of urban context affects
temperatures, humidity, wind and solar radiation.
3. At the micro scale the design features of the urban context such as density, land
coverage, height of buildings, orientation and width of streets, subdivision of blocks,
the locations of parks and open spaces in particular water features.
4. At Macro scale, temperature, humidity, wind and solar radiation becomes the
important factors.
5. At Micro scale, density, land coverage, height of buildings, orientation, widths of
streets, sub-division of blocks , locations of parks / green areas and water features
are accounted for.
In the urban context, large buildings modify the climate creating the heat island effect with
high temperatures than the rural context. Micro scale conditions can be created by natural
element of the urban landscape which improves the micro climates condition during
overheating.
In the above figures:

Left Figure: water acts as lungs to the city providing cooling breezes.
Right Figure: Use of shade and shade trees are critical elements to offset the heat gain
from the many hard surfaces
Conclusion:
 Climatic study along with contextual study baselines the design strategies.
 Design should evolve from the predominant conditions of site and context.
 Respect for the context is a must.
 Human comfort and safety is highly important in design development and should be
the focus of design.
 Local technologies and systems need to be explored with conjunction to modern
applicable trends and choices in design.
17
****************************************************************************************
Q. No. 4: What climate modifications strategies are possible in building design for
warm climates? Explain with examples from your own region. (10 Marks)
Answer)
Climate Modification Strategies in Building Design for Warm Climates:
For warm climates, the range of temperature above comfort zone lead to 20-30 degrees
making it a major concern to bead dressed.
Another major concern complicating the existing system is the higher humidity values. It
adds other concerns through lowering the comfort zone for the spatial use by human
beings.
Overheating / Under heating:

Overheating may be caused by a single predominant factor or as a cumulative effect of different
factors.
Use of Air flow:

The air flows improve the efficiency of cooling the body and also remove the heat from the
building.
For air flow to occur there must be both:

 A pressure difference between two points, and
 A continuous flow path or opening connecting the points.
Although the prerequisites are obvious and simple to state, in practical design applications
it is not always clear what the pressure differences are or how to assess the existence and
nature of flow paths.
Use of Building Mass:

The use of building mass as a thermal flywheel, this can be used to store coolth periods of
low temperatures and used to cool air during the hotter periods.
18
Use of Evaporate Cooling:

The use of latent change of water absorbs heat and thus can cool the air entering in the
building / spaces and reducing temperatures.
Use of Dehumidifier:
The use of building elements, materials and techniques to avoid vapor content in the air
inside buildings.
Use of Solar Gain:

Solar gain can be used to increase the efficiency of heating the body by direct solar heat
thus, although the air temperature may be low, heat from the sun provides additional heat
to provide comfort.
19
A CASE STUDY BY ASMA KHALID HAS BEEN INCORPORATED AS AN EXAMPLE:

(Karachi Region)
The performance and design of climate responsive buildings requires a detailed study of
different attributes of climate. Climate Consultant proposes different design strategies
suitable for a particular climate using a characteristic analysis. The variety of analyzing
climatic parameters for a particular location is facilitated with the help of available human
thermal comfort models (HTCMs). This paper gives a comparative analysis for the
application of various HTCMs using a weather profile of Karachi city in Pakistan.
Initially before 90’s, the indoor design temperatures in Pakistan were based on ASHRAE
standards; 26 °C in cool season and 21 °C in the hot season irrespective of the building
location in Pakistan. These temperature standards were defined through laboratory studies.
(Nicol and Raja 1997). The new thermal comfort standards were proposed in 1996 based
on transverse and longitudinal surveys conducted in five major climatic regions of Pakistan.
The Enercon in 1994 worked with a team of Oxford Brooks University, UK for setting
appropriate indoor temperature standards for Pakistan. Their surveys showed that there is
a definite relationship between indoor comfort and outdoor conditions in line with an
adaptive approach to thermal comfort. (Nicol, Raja et al. 1999)
Sites of thermal comfort field surveys based on humidity condition (Nicol and Humphreys
2002)
However based on the current study model of climate classification, four zones of Pakistan
are identified as hot dry. Karachi is the only city from identified classification as
representative of hot humid condition. The humidity is dominant in this city due to low
elevation and is an additional challenge which must be considered for future guide line of
building envelope.
Cooling and heating

degree days for 12
cities in Pakistan
(Khalid and Raza
2013)
20
The above figure shows heating and cooling degree days for 12 cities of Pakistan. Amongst
all the cities, Karachi has the highest cooling degree days due to its mild sunny weather
resulting in reduced demand of heating in winter. However, most of the cities are dominated
by cooling energy needs because of increased cooling degree days. Karachi is the largest
and densely populated coastal city of Pakistan. Its geographical location is 24.9oN and
67.13oE with an elevation of 22MASL. The adverse impact of climate change is visible in
Karachi due to the proximity of sea. The urban morphology of a typical house is based on
private (bed rooms, study area, store, and kitchen) and semi-private zones (lounge,
drawing and dining rooms). A typical area for an urban house ranges between 75-500 m2,
with significant number of middle income houses having approximate area of 200m2
(Khalid and Raza 2013) The energy conservational techniques and passive design
methods are not so common throughout the country. The life style of inhabitants and
construction pattern in building sector of Karachi has led to inefficient energy consumption.
In order to address the summer cooling demands, split air conditioners are widely used.
Psychometric Chart
The psychometric chart is a combination of various dots, representing temperature and
humidity of each 8760 hours per year. It illustrates indoor or outdoor conditions and their
relation to human thermal comfort. (Yasmin Bhattacharya May, 2009) The psychometric
charts are based on the selection criteria defined earlier for each comfort model as option 1,
2, 3 and 4. The Climate Consultant analyses the distribution of this psychrometric data in
each design strategy zone to create a unique list of design guide lines. (Milne, Liggett et al.
2009) In this study, these charts are based on comfort indoor plot option of Climate
Consultant and provide design strategies for all the months of a year. Similar passive
heating and cooling design strategies propose different percentage for each of the option 1,
2, 3 and 4.
Table: 1 Design strategies (DS) for Karachi, using Climate Consultant
21
Discussion:
According to option 1, 2 and 3, the most effective cooling and heating design strategies for
the climate in Karachi are natural ventilation during summer and to increase internal heat
gain in winter. The obstruction of summer sun will help to avoid overheating of the
envelope. It will be quite challenging to design the window and its shades so that they allow
winter sun and block the radiations in summer. Additionally, the adaptive comfort ventilation
in option 4 is the only effective strategy with a percentage impact of 39.1% on
psychrometric chart. The adaptive ventilation is facilitated with the air motion in warm humid
climates to produce a cooling effect.
The table 1 gives a comparative analysis of the design strategies defined in the selection
criteria. It is obvious that the option 3 has highest comfort hours. The options 1 and 3 have
the largest similarity in DS. The cooling design strategies of, sun shade for Windows (28.3-
30.6%), two stage evaporative cooling (7.7-15.3%), and fan forced ventilation (11.3-13.2%)
give almost similar comfortable hours. The fan forced ventilation is a special feature of
Climate Consultant and has been recently added to support the low windy areas, where
wind movements are affected by the natural or manmade obstructions. (Milne and Kohut
2010) Similarly, the most popular heating design strategies that are common in the options
1, 2 and 3 are internal heat gain and passive solar direct gain high mass. The cooling add,
dehumidification is also an considered design strategy found common in first three options
but it is relatively few percentage of comfortable hours (21%) in the option 3.
22
Table: 2 Design strategies (DS) for Karachi, using Climate Consultant
Discussion:
The following observations have been interpreted from the table 2;

1. In each four options, there are sequential of 20 DGs proposed by the Climate Consultant
software. These guidelines are specific to the climate of Karachi so each guideline must be
considered in a defined order, starting with the first as most important and so on.
Combining all the four options provided in the climate consultant, there are total of 38
design guidelines (DGs) which can be considered for climate responsive building envelope
design in Karachi.
2. Amongst 38 DGs, only 7 DGs are common in all the four options. (Table 2)
3. There are 5 DGs which are similar in any 3 options. The CEC, ASHRAE 55 and the
ASHRAE 2005 have 4 options in similar. (Table 2)
23
4. There are 12 DGs that are similar in any two combinations of Climate Consultant. So,
California energy codes (CEC) and ASHRAE Standards 55 have largest similarities
compared to other options of Climate Consultant. (Table 2)
5. It has also been found that ASHRAE adaptive comfort options have largest
dissimilarities. Amongst the 14 dissimilar DGs in various four options, there are 7 DGs that
have dissimilarity with the other three available options. The ASHRAE 55 and ASHRAE
2005 have 3 dissimilar DGs in each option. And CEC has just 1 DS dissimilar in all four
options.
Results:
Summarizing the above suggestion of the DGs which are found either similar or close to
similar, the following guidelines are found effective for the hot humid weather of Karachi.
Natural ventilation
Natural ventilation is one of the most important influencing design guideline. It has wide
impact on the orientation and window design for increasing the indoor comfort. The
architectural planning should encourage the cross ventilation through orienting the plan to
encourage the prevailing breezes. The architectural elements particularly all types of
opening (windows, doors, ventilators, patios, and courtyard) can play an effective role to
strengthen the planning. Additionally, protection of the openings must be provided through
shading devices (both vertical and horizontal) and recessed opening. Natural ventilation is
one of the passive comfort cooling strategies that works well together with air cross
movement. Its affect can be further increased with the use of fan.
Architectural orientation
The ideal orientation of an architectural plan in such climate is north to south. This
orientation encourages the presence of large operable glass windows to work with the
natural cross ventilation strategy effectively. But the west facing orientation can also be
protected through increased vegetation and to minimize glazing. The high ceiling in
occupied public zones specifically lounge (where residents spent most of their time) can
also encourages natural ventilation.
Envelope design
The architectural elements like wall, roof and window must have a required minimum level
of thermal resistance. It can be made possible with the use of locally available insulating
materials, increased thickness, and double glazed pan windows. The right choice of
material and their correct selection for each envelope component must be a high priority.
Keeping the building size small with appropriate floor area, will have less cooling needs.
This concept also supports the Karachi’s social structure of housing where apartment
buildings are equally popular as compared to rest of the country.
Conclusion
The California code gives some similarity to ASHRAE standards when applying to Karachi
contextual climatic conditions and vice versa. The traditional passive house strategies are
still most popular in designing the climatic responsive buildings for Karachi. It takes help
from the existing climatic features to modify the indoor comfort conditions. Natural cross
ventilation, orientation design, envelope materials and other architectural strategies that put
these requirements together can be effective in designing climate responsive residences in
Karachi.
24
****************************************************************************************
Q. No. 5: Climate responsive design is a sub set of environmental design which
directs towards sustainable design approach. Justify the statement with examples.
(15 Marks)
Answer)
Climatic Responsive Design is a subset of Environmental Design:
Climatic Responsive design strategies are subset of Environmental Design. The Question
raised is how this should best be carried out. The approach argued is one of a strategic
design approach where the design process is seen as making a number of decisions to
optimize the relationship of people and climate through the medium of site, building fabri,
plant and environment.
Strategies are design directions to solve particular problems posed by the design brief and
have both tangible and intangible benefits. The tangible are measurable in physical terms
the intangible, from the prosaic and poetic stand point. The complexity of the design
process places emphasis on the need to select, integrating and evaluating alternative
strategies that are often competing and contradicting. There are a number of ways this can
be achieved by ordering and prioritizing strategies, grouping strategies into particular
models and selecting strategies that are appropriate for particular models and climate
types.
Ordering and Prioritizing Design Strategies
Ordering of climate design strategies suggests that some have a greater impact on climate
response than others and this has a bearing on the focus of the design decision-making
process. This idea came from research that examined the building as a climate filter where
the filtering mechanism be related to three sets of factors.
 Microclimate, macroclimate and topography

 Building form and fabric
25
 Plant and equipment
Active and Passive Models of Climate Modification
It may useful, as a further way of articulating this ordering approach, to group the building
aspects of climate modification in terms of active and passive models. A passive model
makes use of the ‘ natural energy’ in the environment which is available to the building
through the use of first and second order decisions, that is , the microclimate as well as
building form and fabric are used to modify climate. In the active model primarily third order
decisions and man-made energy is used to achieve climate modification. The framing of
strategies in this way enables an intellectual approach to the design problem. Finally, a third
model can be proposed which uses a combination of these two models.
The passive building model: This uses no plant or equipment to modify climate. This
building is called free running as its internal temperature follows that of the climate. The
best that can be achieved with this building is that the thermal performance will be kept at
the external shade temperature. Problems with this type of building occur when there are
high casual gains that add to the environmental loads. The characteristics of performance
are variable and the designer needs to assess the number of days in the year when internal
conditions exceed comfort criteria and whether this is acceptable to the client and building
users. Thus in school buildings it may be acceptable to use all passive systems because
throughout the majority of the year the conditions may be within the comfort zone, and only
a few days are problematic in terms of exceeding it. In the days when the comfort level is
exceeded, behavior modification can be used to minimize thermal discomfort.
The active building model: This uses mainly plant and equipment to modify climate.
These buildings are called ‘conditioned buildings’ and guarantee a level of thermal comfort
through the active systems. The performance issue in these buildings is not global thermal
comfort. This is provided in theory by the plant and equipment-but local comfort conditions
26
and energy efficiency. In many cases designers ignore first-and second- order decisions,
relying mostly on the plant and equipment. The consequences here is poor efficiency. Also
the use of plant and equipment in this system can lead to often over-sizing and redundancy
In the deployment of this equipment to accommodate the environmental loads. Localized
problems of thermal comfort occur with poorly balanced plant and localized heat gain from
environmental loads.
The hybrid building model: The model has both active and passive building strategies to
modify climate. This invariably requires the use of plant and equipment to modify climate in
extreme conditions, generated either through excessive casual gains from occupants or
from environmental loads. In additions, the use of microclimate and fabric to provide
passive control reduces energy. The term ‘passive low energy architecture’ mainly applies
to this approach. In theory this system sounds ideal, but the complexities of diurnal and
seasonal climate change make it a complex problem of building management. The use of
building monitoring systems can assist with this problem. These are computer systems,
which monitor the building performance in use and can automatically regulate the building
control features in an effort to optimize this process and achieve a level of building
efficiency.
27
Climate Responsive Design Strategies and Tactics
It is possible to relate the types of strategy to the climate type as shown in the given table.
The basic adverse aspects of climate are identified. This is then related to the strategies for
modifying climate and the appropriate tactical design decisions concerning form and fabric
of the building. In this way the designer can begin to think of the linkages in the argument
for the selection of appropriate strategies in the building design.
Thus, in a hot humid climate the adverse elements are high humidity, insulation and high
temperature with a small diurnal range in temperature. The consequences of this is to result
in a number of tactical aspects such as thin plan forms to maximize ventilation and shading
to reduce insulation. This kind of structuring of design information is important for
integration in the design approach.
28
*********************************************************************************
Q. No. 6: Explain the factors affecting thermal comfort and ventilation as
performance measures during design stage. (10 Marks)
Answer)
Thermal Comfort and affecting factors:
“Comfort can be defined as complete physical and mental well being.” Thermal Comfort is
a subset of the comfort definition and is a very complex area of study. Being related with
design and the designer, it manipulates the environmental factors with the built environment
towards human comfort.
Major Factors includes;

 Air Temperature
 Radiation
 Air Velocity / Movement
 Humidity
Thermal comfort is relative and may vary from person to person, space to space, location to
location, context to context and so on. Despite these difficulties research has provided
some general methods to help designers devise systems to measure the thermal comfort.
From the neutrality temperature, a comfort zone can be defined as 2 O C above or below
the neutrality temperature.
The condition in which the thermal environmental of a homoeothermic animal is such that its heat
production (metabolism) is not increased either by cold stress or heat stress. The temperature range
in which this minimum occurs is called the zone of Thermal Neutrality. For Humans, this zone is 25
to 31 degree centigrade. In case the local climatic conditions were worsen and the temperature
ranges above or below the stated range, strategic planning and design interventions are required to
addressees the issues through passive design opportunities.
Multiple level decisions could help in these scenarios. First level strategies include local climatic
data based discussions like orientation of building, air movement flow directional study etc. Second
level focuses on the building façade and fabric treatment to avoid heat gain and heat grab effects.
Third level focuses on the heat gain in specific areas of the building like atriums, kitchens, living
spaces etc and then opting for design solutions to address the issues.
Environmental Affecting Factors
Air temperature
This is the temperature of the air surrounding the body. It is usually given in degrees
Celsius (°C).
Radiant temperature
Thermal radiation is the heat that radiates from a warm object. Radiant heat may be
present if there are heat sources in an environment. Radiant temperature has a greater
influence than air temperature on how we lose or gain heat to the environment.
Examples of radiant heat sources include: the sun; fire; electric fires; ovens; kiln walls;
cookers; dryers; hot surfaces and machinery, molten metals etc.
29
Air velocity
This describes the speed of air moving across the employee and may help cool them if the
air is cooler than the environment.
Air velocity is an important factor in thermal comfort for example:

 Still or stagnant air in indoor environments that are artificially heated may cause
people to feel stuffy. It may also lead to a build-up in odour
 Moving air in warm or humid conditions can increase heat loss through convection
without any change in air temperature
 Physical activity also increases air movement, so air velocity may be corrected to
account for a person's level of physical activity
 Small air movements in cool or cold environments may be perceived as a draught as
people are particularly sensitive to these movements
Humidity
If water is heated and it evaporates to the surrounding environment, the resulting amount of
water in the air will provide humidity.
Relative humidity is the ratio between the actual amount of water vapour in the air and the
maximum amount of water vapor that the air can hold at that air temperature.
Relative humidity between 40% and 70% does not have a major impact on thermal comfort.
In workplaces which are not air conditioned, or where the weather conditions outdoors may
influence the indoor thermal environment, relative humidity may be higher than 70%.
Humidity in indoor environments can vary greatly, and may be dependent on whether there
are drying processes (paper mills, laundry etc) where steam is given off.
High humidity environments have a lot of vapour in the air, which prevents the evaporation
of sweat from the skin. In hot environments, humidity is important because less sweat
evaporates when humidity is high (80%+). The evaporation of sweat is the main method of
heat reduction.
When non-breathable vapour-impermeable personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn,

the humidity inside the garment increases as the wearer sweats because the sweat cannot
evaporate. If an employee is wearing this type of PPE (eg asbestos or chemical protection
suits etc) the humidity within the PPE will be high.
Ventilation and affecting factors:

Ventilation (physiology), the movement of air between the environment and the lungs via inhalation
and exhalation. Ventilation (mining), flow of air to the underground workings of a mine of sufficient
volume to dilute and remove noxious gases.
Methods of Ventilation:
Basically, methods to achieve the ventilation requirements may come under two categories:
(a) Natural ventilation, and (b) Mechanical ventilation (i) induced dilution ventilation, i.e.
stale air is extracted from the premises by exhaust fans whereas outside air infiltrates into
the premises through available openings (ii) forced dilution ventilation, i.e. where air is
forced into the premises by air blowers commonly via ducting systems.
30
 Natural Ventilation:
Natural Ventilation is the process of indoor space without using mechanical systems. It refers to the
flow of external air to an indoor space as a result of pressure differences arising from natural forces.
There are two types of natural ventilation occurring in the buildings;
1. Wind Driven Ventilation

2. Buoyancy Driven Ventilation
Natural Ventilation
 Mechanical Ventilation
Induced dilution ventilation: In this type of ventilation, contaminated air is extracted from the
premises by propeller fans. The air pressure inside the premises is lower than outside. Air
therefore infiltrates into the premises through openings. Proper arrangements of air inlets
and outlets are of vital importance to such systems.
Mechanical Ventilation
 Forced dilution ventilation
In this type of ventilation, air (preferably filtered and conditioned) is blown into the premises
for ventilation. It is important to site the air inlets away from sources of contaminants.
31
Factors affecting Ventilation:

The design factors affecting ventilation are as follows;
1. Reduction of plan depth and increase openness of section to facilitate cross-flow and
vertical flow of air.
2. Optimum orientation of rooms to the prevailing breeze and the linkage between
leeward and windward side to utilize pressure difference.
3. Maximize the skin opacity through the number and size of opening, single, double or
three sided openings to rooms, horizontal versus vertical stacking of openings
4. Reduction of internal obstructions
5. Site selection and building situation to increase exposure to airflow effects.
In principle it is best to conceive of rooms and spaces as large ducts that can moderator
and direct airflow. Any obstruction will direct or block the airflow and provide friction
reducing its energy. Ideally, wind flows from the windward side to the leeward side by
pressure difference through the linking of internal spaces. The deeper the building and the
more cellular its internal form, the more friction and therefore less airflow.
In situations where functional reasons, such as where there are high casual gains from
occupants and the need for cellular spaces, natural ventilation may not be feasibly
provided. In addition when the forces of nature fall then mechanical assistance for natural
ventilation is required.
32
****************************************************************************************
Q. No. 7: How cantilevered columns improve the performance for ventilation and
functional flexibility? (10 Marks)
Answer)
Cantilevered Columns:
The use of cantilevered columns is a way to provide a bracing system in single/two floor
buildings, yet still providing spatial transparency. It increases the structural capacity of the
foundation and columns. The effective length of the column is twice that of a column with
end restraint and thus the thickness of the column is increased. This approach increases
the functional flexibility of the buildings.
The beams could be cantilevered from the columns to further increase the roof overhang.
Openness of the system allows for better cross ventilation, visual aesthetics and divided
load dissipation which enhances the strength of the structural system.
The use of cantilevered columns approach is ground in the buildings that require functional
flexibility and an open space section for ventilation.
Case Study 1:
A school system in Queensland uses this approach to provide a variety of building types.
The typical class rooms space require a clear span of 6 m to accommodate a class of 30
students. Perimeter Cantilevered concrete columns are used which support universal steel
beams for the primary roof structure. The column system allows a large part of the wall to
be used for louvers to provide efficient ventilation. Using high ceilings and open planning,
spans of up to to 12m can be achieved with his economical structural system. None of the
33
internal walls are load bearing and therefore can be of light weight construction for demount
ability and flexibility.
Cantilevered Column used in Queensland School System

Left: Open Planning Provides Cross-Ventilation to internal spaces without interruption of
bracing wall
Right: Light Weight Wall panels can be used as infill to increase the response of the
building to climate change and rapidly shed heat
Case Study 2:
Similar approach has been used for a laboratory building. In this case a two way gird of
filched laminated Veneer Lumber is used to form a trafficable roof. The beams could be
cantilevered from the columns to further increase the roof overhang. The timber system
allows flexibility to cut sky lights for additional light and ventilation when buildings become
deep plan and the plywood deck provided a timber diaphragm to reset racking in the
horizontal plan. The integral structural action of the system provides an environmental,
structural and aesthetic solution to a difficult design problem.
Collaborative Design Laboratory, the University of Queensland, Donovan Hill Architects,

Show the use of cantilevered columns and beams. The beam grid is connect to a plywood
diaphragm, which provides an elegant bracing system to resist the horizontal component of
racking load.
Case Study 3:
There are a number of knee-braced systems which can able are used to assist with
stiffening of the column. In the case of Mapleton house by Richage Le Plastrier, a large
under structure is used below the building to resist racking forces. These diagonal braces
are bolted to 200 mm thick hard wood posts. Connections at the floor and roof are pin
jointed. In this case the stiff pat of the structure is below the building as with the other
34
cases, but the elevation of the floor provides an additional functional area. As with the other
systems the ends of the cantilevered column require restraints, and therefore are
embedded in the ground.
Mapleton House, Richard Leplastrier, shows the use of under floor bracing system to
support the cantilevered columns.
Conclusion:
In the above cases discussed the use of ground plane as a method of restrain to a stiff
column which can resist the horizontal component of the wind load facilitates an openness
of the section for functional flexibility and ventilation. The interesting aspect of this building
is that this system takes advantage of the shelter location. The house is set in a rainforest
location which shields the house from extreme wind conditions. The reinforces the notion of
engineering and architecture as design activities, which must accommodate the dictates of
the location to make a climate responsive architecture.
35
*********************************************************************************
Q. No. 8: Why roofs and attics are considered important in building structure?
What design strategies would you recommend for building roofs in your region?
(15 Marks)
Answer)
Why Roofs are Important:
A roof is part of a building envelope. It is the covering on the uppermost part of
a building or shelter which provides protection from animals and weather,
notably rain or snow, but also heat, wind and sunlight. The word also denotes the framing
or structure which supports that covering.
The basis of the discussion of roof strategies s therefore on types of roof geometry. The
tactical decisions about the deployment of the materials for these geometry’s raise another
issues. The following sectional roof strategies are examined here;
 Skillions (Mono Pitch), duo-pitch and vaults

 Attics
 Parasol and free form
 Trafficable
 Shading, rain screening and ceiling reflectors
 Roofing accessories
Roofing Types:
Top: Single Layer Skillions and vaults with sectional geometry for ventilation
Middle: Attics reduction section height and provide heat sinks if not ventilated
Middle: Trafficable Roofs pose materiality problems
Bottom: Shading roofs provide layer of defense
It should be noted that the roof sectional geometry is specific to the climate. In areas where
there is a low rainfall, flat roofs are common, the converse is true in areas of high rainfall
where a steep pitch is used. In recent years, with the greater awareness of environmental
issues and resource conservation, the roof is seen as major element for harvesting natural
resources form the climate.
The Defensive Element – Roof

The roof in warm climates often poorly designed and has led to the common perception that
it is the main heating element in the house. Furthermore, the role of the roof structure in
these climates is often underestimated and misunderstood.
36
The roof as the defensive element is

shown in these colonial bungalows in
Singapore. The Predominance of roof to
shade and protect the walls, allowing skin
cooling through the use of light weight
material. With Large overhangs windows
can be left open when It is raining to
allowing ventilation at all times except in
storms.
The roof is generally consisted of three elements;

First, the roof surface facing the sky that provides a defense against sun and precipitation.
Second, a structural system that supports or is integrated with the roof, and finally a ceiling
system which is supported by or integrated with the structural system. It is combination and
position of these elements that creates the climatic response to the building.
The Element of roof acting in climate defense. Roof- Dominant Versus Wall Dominant, the
1. Material & Surface Designer’s Choice
2. Structure
3. Ceiling
37
The roof primary functions are to act to resist wind loads and precipitation as well as defend
against solar gain. The magnitude of this latter problem can be seen from the weather data
for warm climates. Solar Radiation can provide a heat load up to 1000 W/m2 on the room
surface. Unless the heat is dissipated quickly, performance problem ensue. This is primarily
a materiality issue, the selection of strategies to prevent heat gain.
Another point of confusion is the role of the ceiling under the roof surface. For example in a
truss roof the space between the roof and ceiling can form a heat sink trapping heat. The
sore heat can radiate through the ceiling to the space below and only compounds cooling
problem. Thus adequate ceiling height and ventilation become crucial to removing this heat.
The absence of the attic space providers a single layer roof which can be used in various
forms. Each gives different sectional advantage for ventilation. Hot air will rise up and
exhaust at high points therefore the strategy is to select geometry that fits airflows and
functional requirements of the building design.
The high volume of rain sustained over the short periods also compounds the problems of
climate defense, the use of internal gutters with this volume of water can cause local
flooding if these are undersized or become blocked. In addition, high wind loads (due to
cyclone conditions) found in some of the warm climate zones affect the aspect ratio of the
roof, reducing inclination and this volume within the roof space.
Comparison of the thermal

performance of colored metal
roof, the use of insulation
under the surface is required
with dark colors
Finally, roof geometry is used to protect other elements of the building; the common use of
overhanging eaves that protect walls and allows skin cooling is crucial to the overall
performance of the building.
A distinction should be made between roof-dominant strategies and wall dominant

strategies. Designers have a choice as to the extent to wich the roof becomes a feature of
the building form. The geometry and form of the roof are arranged dependent on this role.
38
Therefore, for single-storey buildings in hot humid climates the common strategy is to use
steeply pitched roof, with overhanging eaves to reduce wind-blown rain penetration and
solar access. As the building increases in height the effect of the roof has to be extended.
This can be achieved by setting walls back or by adding jack roofs or verandas. This form
of building response can be called roof-dominant as the major feature is the roof element.
With tall buildings the proportion of roof to wall decreases and thus the roof is a minor
player. This can be called a wall-dominant building. The technology of the wall fabric
becomes critical to prevent heat gain to the interior spaces and also has to accommodate
more exposure presenting a durability problem. In this case additional responses are used
to shade the interiors spaces, through balconies and shading. The challenge for the
designer is therefore to optimize the roof design to meet defensive climate requirements.
Attics
The strategy of providing a ceiling below the roof presents another kind of problem in warm
climates. Back-radiation from the roof may cause heat gain in the interstitial space between
the roof and the ceiling, heating the ceiling and radiating heat into the occupied space
below.
The use of bulk ceiling insulation is beneficial for attic spaces in moderate climate.
Right: In Summer, heat gain due to heat build-up is reduced
Left: In Winter, heat losses from the internal spaces are reduced.
In a house with an external temperature of 30 degrees C, the temperature in the roof space
can be 55 degrees C. heat in the interstitial roof space is then transferred to the ceiling and
re-radiation into the occupied space. The effect is to create temperatures of 40 degrees C
below the roof and an average temperature of 31-32 degrees C. The reduction of the
transfer of solar heat gain can be achieved by three main mechanisms:
1. Use of reflective surfaces

2. Use of ventilation to the roof space
3. Insulation to the ceiling
First, surfaces are used that are highly reflective and hav emissivity. Tiles that are light in
color and are glazed tend to reflect more heat than darker mat finished materials.
Second, the use of ventilation removes the heated air in the roof space thus preventing high
heat loads on the ceiling.
39
Third, the use of insulation on the ceiling isolates the air below the ceiling from the charged
air in the roof space
.
The use of these three mechanisms has a significant effect on the internal temperature of
the typical house. Back-radiation of hear from the ceiling is reduced, so the internal
temperatures can be as low as 28 degrees C, depending on external temperatures and
ventilation. The effects of heat gain can be overcome by other design responses; the use of
higher ceilings and greater room ventilation can remove the excess heat and distance
occupants from the effects of back radiation.
The effectiveness of roof ventilation and insulation to attic spaces has been assessed
through a computer simulation study as shown in the given table.
The analysis of this data shows that without insulation and with increased ventilation,
summer performance is improved by approximately 14 per cent but winter performance is
reduced by approximately 20 per cent. Adding insulation reduces heating requirements by
approximately 75 per cent and minimizes the ventilation effects. Furthermore, adding
insulation halves the cooling energy required and the increased ventilation reduces this
load again by approximately 20 per cent.
The optimum performance for attic spaces for moderate climates where there is a season
shift in heating and cooling requirements suggests a number of possible alternatives. This
depends on the inclination of the roof, methods of ventilation and insulation.
40
BUILDING ROOF STRATEGY FOR KARACHI:
While there are many benefits to living in the tropics, dealing with nearly constant heat and
humidity, as well as frequent rain, can be less than idyllic. This is particularly true for
homeowners in tropical areas like Karachi, who often struggle to make their homes fit for
purpose in such a hot and wet environment. At Home Improvement Leads, we understand
that choosing the right roofing type to suit a tropical climate is at the top of the home
improvement list for Karachi homeowners. We’ve come up with a few things to look out for
when choosing a roof for your home, including the best styles, materials, and waterproofing
options to keep you cool, safe, and dry in your tropical home.
Appropriate Roof Style for Karachi:

If we are building your home from scratch, one of the most important factors to consider
during the design stage is the style of your roof. For rainy areas, a roof with little to no slope
or pitch is not recommended because of the high potential risk of water pooling and
leakage. Instead, opt for a gable or hipped roof with sloping sides to allow for rainy seasons
and runoff. Hipped roofs are particularly common in areas like Karachi, with all portions of
the roof sloping down from the middle.
House at Defense Housing Authority, Phase-8, near Sea-View, Karachi
Durable Roof Materials:

Whether or not you can choose the style of your roof, selecting a roof material suitable for
tropical climates is an essential part of keeping your home cool, dry, and protected. While
the choice is ultimately up to you and your personal design preferences, the key things to
look out for are durability, reflective properties, and affordability.
Since durability is our primary goal, a metal roof made from either steel or aluminum is an
excellent option for your roof. Metal roofs are extremely durable and can withstand large
amounts of rain and wind with minimal need for repair. In addition, the material and light
color of most metal roofing materials make them naturally reflective, so they keep your
home cooler than dark, insulating materials.
41
Roof Finishes:
After we have chosen your roof style and materials, there are several ways you can further
protect your roof in order to keep your home as comfortable and dry as possible. Spray or
paint-like overlays and metal radiant barriers can further reflect heat away from the home
and are placed over and under the roof material respectively.
Waterproofing membranes in a variety of styles can be placed on your roof to prevent

leakages and fill gaps. Finally, guttering and thoughtful planning of roof overhangs and
surrounding landscaping will stop your home and garden from flooding during the rainy
season.
42
References and Material Cited:

o Climate Responsive Design, Richard Hyde
o https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eco-cities
o https://www.thebalance.com/designing-climate-responsive-architecture-3157812
o https://www.pinterest.com/lilher777/frank-lloyd-wright-fireplaces/
o https://www.buildinggreen.com/feature/design-adaptation-living-climate-changing-
world
o http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095618403
o https://www.accessscience.com/content/climate-modification/140400
o https://c03.apogee.net/contentplayer/?coursetype=res&utilityid=wppi&id=1703
o https://www.ohio.edu/mechanical/thermo/Applied/Chapt.7_11/Chapter10b.html
o https://buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-014-air-flow-control-in-
buildings#Figure_01
o http://idolza.com/qz/1128c4l/central/74bc82/
o http://www.solarterra.com/passive-solar.htm
o https://www.purennatural.com/products/ebac-ad850e-commercial-dehumidifier/
o https://www.britannica.com/science/microclimate
o https://www.domain.com.au/news/queensland-higher-homes-out-of-reach-20110125-
1a3gf/
o https://www.pinterest.se/pin/574983077400203138/
o http://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/thermal/factors.htm#velocity
o https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventilation
o http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/oh/OHB5a.pdf
o https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roof#Functions
o http://design490.org/tropical-climate-building-design-considerations/
o https://kluje.com/en-sg/blog/best-roofing-types-for-tropical-climates/
o https://ecsdev.org/ojs/index.php/ejsd/article/viewFile/375/372
43

Solution-3672 Climatic Responsive Deisgn Assign-01

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Solution-3672 Climatic Responsive Deisgn Assign-01

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Department of Home & Health Sciences

Block No. 06, Sector H-8,

Climatic Responsive Design (3672)

 The Air Temperature

Building Context – A major factor in the climate Response

Building Context Strategies for Adapting to Climate Change

 Design natural ventilation into buildings.

 Expand storm water management capacity and rely on natural systems.

At the Great River

 Design buildings to maintain passive survivability.

SOLARA, a 56-unit affordable

There are different stages in Climate Investigations, after Lippsmeier;

Stage 1: Stage 2: Stage 3:

Human Comfort Zone:

Climate Modification Strategies:

Overheating / Under heating:

Use of Air flow:

For air flow to occur there must be both:

Forces Driving Air Flow through Building Enclosures

Use of Building Mass:

Use of Evaporate Cooling:

Use of Solar Gain:

The Rural Context

The Sub-Urban Context

 Cross ventilation becomes a significant factor.

House Retrofit, Brisbane, Australia. Reduction of interior walls and modification of

The Urban Context

1. Need to observe the buildings in Macro and Micro scale.

In the above figures:

Overheating / Under heating:

Use of Air flow:

For air flow to occur there must be both:

Use of Building Mass:

Use of Evaporate Cooling:

Use of Solar Gain:

A CASE STUDY BY ASMA KHALID HAS BEEN INCORPORATED AS AN EXAMPLE:

Cooling and heating

Table: 1 Design strategies (DS) for Karachi, using Climate Consultant

Table: 2 Design strategies (DS) for Karachi, using Climate Consultant

The following observations have been interpreted from the table 2;

Ordering and Prioritizing Design Strategies

 Microclimate, macroclimate and topography

 Plant and equipment

Active and Passive Models of Climate Modification

Climate Responsive Design Strategies and Tactics

Major Factors includes;

Environmental Affecting Factors

Air velocity is an important factor in thermal comfort for example:

When non-breathable vapour-impermeable personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn,

Ventilation and affecting factors:

1. Wind Driven Ventilation

Factors affecting Ventilation:

Cantilevered Column used in Queensland School System

Collaborative Design Laboratory, the University of Queensland, Donovan Hill Architects,

 Skillions (Mono Pitch), duo-pitch and vaults

The Defensive Element – Roof

The roof as the defensive element is

The roof is generally consisted of three elements;

Comparison of the thermal

A distinction should be made between roof-dominant strategies and wall dominant

1. Use of reflective surfaces

BUILDING ROOF STRATEGY FOR KARACHI:

Appropriate Roof Style for Karachi:

House at Defense Housing Authority, Phase-8, near Sea-View, Karachi