ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE
what is climate responsive design ?
ŸThe core philosophy to harmonise the building form and fabric with the site and climate
thereby reducing ecological impacts and achieving energy efficiency whilst providing,
Ÿ Human health and Comfort
Ÿ Creating opportunities for social interaction
Ÿ A productive learning environment.
Ÿ FACTORS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED
Site planing
The site planning principles that form the basis of the designs are:
1. To orientate the buildings to minimise solar gain
2. Reduce density and modify the building massing to increase airflow though the site.
3. Relatively high wind speeds are needed to achieve cross ventilation with rates of 1 m
per second to achieve indoor comfort conditions.
4. High humidity is a key climatic constraint of this site which needs to be controlled
5. Topography
Perform a site analysis.
Determine the weather patterns, climate, soil types, wind speed and direction, heating
degree days and path of the sun. Look at the water flows, habitat and geology of the
site. Document each with a qualified team of professionals to understand the
ramifications of building in that specific place.
climate and environmental concerns
Ÿ Appropriate window areas and glazing types based on orientation.
Ÿ
South facing facades should utilize a window area appropriate to its orientation
and glazing should utilize a double or triple paned glass with a low-e coating to
minimize the amount of heat transmitted into the space in the hottest months,
while keeping heat inside during the cooler winter months. For example, a south
facing glass window wall will cook the occupants inside during the hot summer
months if care is not taken on this façade.
Ÿ Design for natural ventilation.
Ÿ
since warm air rises, a building can be cooled by designing for stack ventilation
by drawing cooler air from openings low in the building, while carrying heat
away through openings in the top of the space. The rate at which the air moves
is a function of the vertical distance between the inlets and outlets, their size
and the difference in temperature over the height of the room.
Ÿ creating microclimate
Ÿ The term ‘site climate’ has been chosen deliberately rather than the
synonymously used term ’micro climate’.
Ÿ The latter can imply any local deviation from the climate of a largerarea
whatever the scale may be.
Ÿ The botanist may consider the microclimate of a single plant leaf,with its
temperature and moisture conditions, its population oinsects and
microorganisms on the scale of a few centimeters.
Ÿ For the urban geographer the term ‘ microclimate’ may mean the
Ÿ climate of a whole town. ’site climate’ establishes the scale;
Ÿ whatever the size of the project, it implies the climate of the area
Ÿ available and is to be used for the given purpose, both in horizontal
Ÿ extent and in height.
How to create a mcroclimate ?
Ÿ Topography: i.e slope, orientation,exposure, elevation, hills or valleys at or
near the site.
Ÿ Ground surface: natural or man made it reflectance,permeability and the
soil temperature, as these affects vegetation and this in turn affects the
climate.
Ÿ objects, such as trees, or tree belts fences, and buildings and buildings as
these may influence air movement, may cast shadow and may sub divide the
area into smaller units with distinguishable climatic features distinguishable
climatic features.