Tropical Architecture - Group Term Paper

(Group 9)
A Case Analysis of San Andres Cainta Rizal Barangay Hall
Author/s: Robyn Dhanemarc Bulacan
Mapua Institute of Technology, Manila, Philippines
rdgbulacan@mymail.mapua.edu.ph

Cymon Cristopher Dela Cruz

Mapua Institute of Technology, Manila, Philippines
ccbdelacruz@mymail.mapua.edu.ph

Alyssa Joy Lagman

Mapua Institute of Technology, Manila, Philippines
ajclagman@mymail.mapua.edu.ph

Ma. Angela Rabano

Mapua Institute of Technology, Manila, Philippines
mprabano@mymail.mapua edu.ph

Abstract: In this paper, tropical architecture will be discussed in relation to the design of a barangay hall located in
brgy. San Andres Cainta, Rizal. This discussion will focus on the main concepts of tropical architecture that may or may
not be seen in the structure being studied. These concepts are, proper orientation, comfortability level, building character
and form, and the integration of the design with ecological concerns. The proper orientation of the barangay hall will be
discussed in relation to its wind rose and sun path diagram. On the other hand, the comfortability level of the design will
be discussed in terms of the ventilation and lighting in the area which will further affect its humidity. Next, is the building
character of the structure which will be discussed in relevance to tropical architecture. Lastly, the design of the building
will be discussed in terms of its integration of the environment and how it functions as a whole in terms of the use of
energy.
Keywords: tropical architecture, proper orientation, comfortability, building character, eco-integration

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, tropical architecture is rarely seen in government buildings, especially since most institutional buildings
in the cities were created during the period where international style is flourishing in the country. However, due to
the change in times brought about by modern technology, the focus of architecture gradually turned into
sustainability reflecting the environmental problems the society is facing due to climate change. As a result of that,
buildings should be able to adapt to these changes and include the environment in its design which is one of the
main factors of tropical architecture. In this paper, a given structure will be studied in order to determine if it
matches the requirements set for tropical sustainable architecture and if its design considers and incorporates the
benefits of the natural environment.

CONTENT

1.1 Proper Orientation

Analyzing the site is the first stage in creating or significantly remodeling a structure with a shared environmental
effect, uses few resources, and is a pleasant and healthy place. You'll have to know about site-specific factors like
topography and landscape features and broader local or regional influences like regional climate. Assess for any
covenants or liabilities on the property title, in addition to physical elements such as sun, wind, and ground stability.
Orientation, placement, and form all be taken into account from the project outset, preferably when the site is
identified. It is difficult and costly to reorient a structure once it has been constructed. A building's thermal demands
can be lowered in half or so with good orientation, thermal capacity, and the proper glass and protection, reducing
energy expenses and emissions from greenhouse gas. Efficient solar exposure necessitates a thorough grasp of the
sun trajectories at the location throughout the year.

1.1.2 Wind Direction & Solar Path

The quantity of sunlight a structure receives, and hence its year-round temps and convenience, is influenced by its
orientation, layout, and placement on the site. Access to sights and refreshing airflow are other vital features.
Topography, wind direction, and speed, the site's interaction with the roadway, the position of shade features such as
trees or plants and abutting structures, as well as other accesses, will all impact orientation and design. A structure's
location, direction, and shape will maximize window space facing north or within around twenty degrees of the
north for optimum solar gain — for example, a steep east-west layout. This, nonetheless, will be affected by the
shape, orientation, and terrain of the location of the site.
A flat-level site, such as the barangay hall in San Andres Cainta Rizal, will receive good daylight from all directions,
but a south-facing slope, a location close to a tall structure, or a site with significant planting on the southern side,
will not. A site with a northeast orientation is more likely to get daytime light with little to no overshadowing,
although it may have restricted early and afternoon sunlight. A location that is aligned east-south is more likely to be
obscured from the south. To properly employ appropriate design concepts, the analysis must be conducted to
validate a year's thermal effectiveness and satisfaction standards. Incorporating design features without analyzing
them will not ensure excellent results. Take a note out for constraints that restrict excellent orientation, shade from
trees or buildings to the west, or east-facing slopes or viewpoints.

1.2 Comfortability of the Design

Inside a government facility, like a barangay hall, comfortability of its users is one of the top most priority of its
design, especially since the people coming inside either came from a long walk or commuted to reach the barangay
hall for their concerns. Aside from that, if enough comfort was given by the design to the citizens, it may elevate
their mood so that they can raise their concerns to the authorized officials in a reasonable and calm manner. In
assessing the comfortability of the design, it is essential to consider the environment the structure is in, specifically,
its relevance to tropical architecture and the concepts related to it, such as, ventilation and lighting which affects the
humidity and thermal comfort inside the structure.

1.2.1 Ventilation

One of the concepts that is essential to tropical architecture is ventilation, specifically, the use of natural ventilation
instead of mechanical appliances like aircons, since through natural ventilation, the environment can be considered
and incorporated into the design.1 However, in this barangay hall this practice is not observed since, it can be clearly
seen that the structure uses air conditioning systems in both floors which completely disregards the environment.
Although it uses electric fans which are low-cost energy saving appliances as part of its ventilation system, it is not
enough to provide comfortability in some parts of the structure just like what natural ventilation can do when it is
maximized to its capacity. Aside from that, in order to maximize the use of natural ventilation into the design, there
is a specific technology which uses large windows and openings in a home, cross-ventilation, in order for air to pass
through inside. Just like the last one, this was also not followed on the design of the barangay hall instead of placing
large windows and openings to create cross ventilation, they chose to place smaller openings in the façade and other
side of the building and the only large opening placed staircase is equipped with fixed windows which will never be
able to allow air into the design. Aside from that, the windows do not have a counterpart on the other side which can

1 Lin, H.-T. (2007) “Policy and evaluation system for green building in subtropical Taiwan,” in Tropical
Sustainable Architecture. Routledge, pp. 119–142.
accommodate the free flowing of air in the barangay hall since the other part of the building has fixed windows.
Based on these factors, this barangay hall can provide a somewhat comfortable environment, especially in areas with
air-conditioning systems, however, this structure cannot be considered as tropically designed.

Figure 1 and 2. Ventilation system and Openings (Source: Rabano)

1.2.2 Lighting
Aside from ventilation, when tropical architecture is discussed, another important factor connected to it is lighting,
especially when it comes to the energy-saving capabilities of the design. When natural ventilation is incorporated in
the design it comes along with natural lighting since in order to achieve a well-lit space, specifically during the day,
large windows and openings are also required. Although artificial lighting can also be used, it should not be used all
day and the lighting of the whole structure should not be dependent on it. In terms of comfortability, natural lighting
within the area can boost the mood and increase the productivity levels of the citizens and officials in the barangay
hall. Inside this government structure, natural lighting can be observed especially through the large fixed windows
located in front of the staircase. Aside from that, it can also be seen that through the natural light passing through the
windows and doors it is enough to light the entrance or lobby of the barangay hall, however when it comes to the
other parts of the structure especially in those areas with air-conditioning systems, it can be said that natural lighting
may be limited since it also uses small windows unlike that of the ground floor area. This results to the usage of
artificial lighting for the most part of the day which does not contribute to tropical architecture and adds up to their

energy consumption levels.

Figure 3. Fixed windows (Source: Rabano)

1.2.3 Humidity

Tropical countries have a tendency to have high humidity levels due to the climate that is present in the area.
However, the humidity levels inside a structure can be lessened along with the temperature through the use of
natural ventilation and lighting which considers the environment into the design process. In the barangay hall
humidity levels are not that harsh especially since at the entrance there are trees and flowers which eases the
humidity within the structure and proper setback is followed which allows air to pass through the opening of the
openings of the structure. However, when it comes to the second floor of the area, humidity can still be felt, except
on those areas with air-conditioning units, since there are only a few small windows in the area based on the view of
the structure outdoors.
 Figure 4. Outdoor Environment (Source: Rabano)

1.3 Building Character

Each structure that is designed and constructed has a particular reason and has a unique shape that reflects its
primary purpose. The ability of a structure to convey a specific function and status determines its character. The
character of a structure is composed of all design elements, including unity, composition, contrast, and scale, which
work together to elicit a specific visual as well as psychological reaction in the users. It is created as interpretations
of a structure, which embodies interior functionality within architecture. Its purpose and context determine the
exterior appearance of a structure. In practice, tropical architecture is all about integrating passive design to provide
thermal comfort, which is the method for reaching a degree of comfort without mechanical systems. The objective
of tropical architecture is to reduce urban heat.

The Barangay Hall of San Andres is a part of the municipality of Cainta in the Province of Rizal, Philippines. It is an
institutional building usually run by a government or non-government with services that provide public works. It is a
two-story building constructed and inspired by design concepts of minimalism, efficiency, incisiveness, and inherent
proximity. When it comes to the architecture of the building, the Barangay Hall's design can be incorporated into
something like modern architecture with a touch of tropical architecture. One significant design attribute of the
Barangay Hall of San Andres is the presence of a balcony on the structure's facade, which provides both sunlight
and protection or shade. The extended awning roof at the rear part of the structure helps address the concern in direct
sunlight and rainwater. Another is incorporating foliage and landscape around the system helps to drop the cooling
load or lessen the humidity of the structure and use mechanical cooling and heating equipment. Although the design
aims to be in line with the characteristics of tropical architecture, there are some points missed when it comes to
details:

➢ The structure incorporates bigger than average windows in the design. Still, it uses a full glass panel that
prevents air penetration across the structure and thus hinders air circulation.
➢ Glass panels contribute to the heat as it absorbs more thermal energy than other materials.
➢ The design omits the use of canopy and louvers, which enables direct sunlight in interior spaces.
➢ Judging from the way the photo is captured, it seems like the standard setbacks present and thus resulting in
poor cross ventilation of the structure.

Although the main objective of the design was to practice tropical architecture as it already contains the elements
needed, attention to detail is still the main turning point that led to its failure. Incorporating mechanical equipment as
a primary cooling system is another aspect that is needed to consider. The functionality of the character is directly
seen in the structure. The application of passive design, that is, performs predominantly within the tropical climate
to keep the building at a moderate temperature and features such as thermal mass, ventilation, even orientation. That
perform together in making use of natural heating, and cooling elements such as sun and wind was not carried out
properly in this structure.

1.4 Eco-integration
As the barangay promotes and enhances people's right to economic development and a sustainable environment
while also ensuring the comfort of its people, its aims should represent its structure. One of the most important
things that a building's structure reflects is the usage and function in its designs. The barangay hall should be a
facility that demonstrates to the community, including its users, that all tasks and objectives can be carried out
without negatively impacting the environment. It should also preserve and utilize the resources available in its
surroundings. This was observed in Cainta, Rizal, in the Barangay Hall of Barangay San Andres. It was observed to
be surrounded by many trees and plants in the vicinity. However, the facility's design did not take advantage of its
surroundings and ignored its benefits. It was noticed that it only has a few windows and openings, making it unable
to use the natural ventilation provided by the surroundings. There are also specific windows that cannot be opened,
making it even more difficult to use natural ventilation in the space. Since it employs an air conditioning system, the
location could not incorporate tropical architecture principles and address current environmental concerns.

1.4.1 Energy Efficiency

It is essential in tropical architecture to establish a design that lowers energy usage while also maintaining the
comfort zone of its occupants. Some examples of achieving these requirements include the use of natural light and
natural ventilation without the use of any machinery such as an air conditioner. However, as seen in the barangay
hall, there are only a few small windows or apertures throughout the entire structure. The facility's indoor ventilation
was provided by electric fans. However, it was noted that it contains various air conditioning systems throughout the
building, which do not reduce energy efficiency. Another aspect of energy efficiency observed in the building was
the usage of natural light. It should be noted that artificial lights should only be utilized during times of the day
when there is no natural light entering the structure of the building. However, because the building only has a few
windows, it is thought that there are not enough openings for natural daylight to penetrate the barangay hall. The two
examples found in the facility were most likely the cause of the facility's high energy use. It does not help to reduce
energy usage and has an impact on the environment.

2 CONCLUSION

In determining if the barangay hall in Brgy. San Andres, Cainta, Rizal are designed in accordance with tropical
architecture there are many factors to consider. One of these can be seen on the type of ventilation system they use
for the most part of the structure which are air-conditioning systems and this does not resemble the concept of
natural ventilation in tropical architecture. Aside from that, the design also features small window openings and
fixed windows which restricts the air and light allowed into the structure because of that the structure tends to use
more energy than usual since its design does not maximize the benefits of the natural environment. Despite of that,
one feature of the design that is inclined with tropical architecture is the outdoor environment that is allotted for
trees and plants which lessens the humidity in the area and lets air pass through the openings of the structure. These
discussions led to the conclusion that this barangay hall, located in Brgy. San Andres, Cainta, Rizal is not designed
according to the tropical climate.

REFERENCES

Lin, Hsien-Te. 2007. “Policy and Evaluation System for Green Building in Subtropical Taiwan.” In
Tropical Sustainable Architecture, 119–42. Routledge.

Level (2019)” The Authority of Sustainable Building; Location, Orientation, and Layout”;
 https://www.level.org.nz/passive-design/location-
orientation-and-layout/