UNIVERSITÉ DES SCIENCES ET DE LA

TECHNOLOGIE D'ORAN MOHAMED-

BOUDIAF
FACULTÉ D'ARCHITECTURE ET DE GÉNIE CIVIL
 EL MNAOUAR, BP 1505, BIR EL DJIR 31000, ORAN,
ALGÉRIE.

Bioclimatic architecture
BENAIL Mohammed El Amine
benailmohammedelamine07@gmail.com

Introduction
The use of renewable energy is at the heart of global development debates today. Faced with the
scarcity of fossil fuels such as petroleum, the indisputable dangers posed by nuclear resources, the
environmental and health nuisances of carbon energies, etc. ; global initiatives tend to support the use
of renewable energy sources. Considered to be inexhaustible, renewable energies are also assimilated
to clean, low or non-polluting energies, economically viable and promote energy autonomy, even on a
small scale. It is in order to enhance this invaluable potential of renewable energies that the concept of
bioclimatic architecture was born.

The aim of bioclimatic architecture is to ensure optimal living conditions, using natural means,
wherever possible. To this end, bioclimatic architecture uses strategies to enhance the natural
resources available locally for architecture. Bioclimatic solutions are therefore based on an approach
that respects the environment and guarantees less expensive means, unlike energies such as oil and
electricity, which are often polluting, expensive and not very accessible.

Basic principles
Bioclimatic architecture in a few words :

Bioclimatic architecture uses local potential (climates, materials, labor, etc.) to recreate an indoor
climate respecting everyone's comfort by adapting to variations climatological conditions of the place.
It restores architecture in its relationship to man and climate. That’s why we cannot define a unique
typology of bioclimatic architecture: it there are as many as there are climates. This is all the more true
as the everyone's comfort moves with the climatological conditions. Bioclimatic architecture therefore
inevitably involves a excellent knowledge of his environment.

Hot climates :

Hot climates are characterized by high temperatures annual averages between 20 and 35 ° C and fall
into two main categories based on humidity, which has a significant effect on the proportion of direct
or diffuse solar radiation (figures 1 and 2):
- dry, for a relative humidity lower than 55% (climates tropical dry, desert, hot altitude)

- humid, for a relative humidity greater than 55% (equatorial, tropical monsoon, humid tropical,

Mediterranean)

Figure 01 : Hot climatic zones.

The principles :

From there, it is quite possible to define a strategy architectural design on a case-by-case basis and
propose at home to protect against hot weather and strong solar radiation, thanks to natural ventilation
and offering a comfortable shelter in all seasons. So it is possible to roughly estimate the energy needs
because even if access to electricity (mainly lighting) and hot water is essential, heat production and /
or the cold can be avoided or largely limited.

The integration of the building into its environment is the first principle of bioclimatic architecture: it
is essential to have a perfect knowledge of the winds dominant incident solar radiation and masks
neighboring solar panels, risk of flooding, vegetation environmental and comfort objectives… Should
we protect ourselves? prevailing wind? Can we take advantage of it? Should we solar gains? If so,
how do you strike a balance between these and limiting the risk of overheating?

A construction on stilts is necessary against the risks flood? The answer to these questions will
optimize the geometric shape of the building, its location, its positionand the type of openings or the
interior layout. The location of the building must also take into account its future impact on the
immediate environment. Bioclimatic architecture also imposes the basics of design:

- Use local building materials: the cost will be weaker, the workforce more suited to both construction
than maintenance.

- Facade coverings influence the radiation thermal.

- Should we value thermal inertia?

- Should the building be insulated?

- How to manage solar radiation?

- How to use natural ventilation?

- The valuation of solar and / or wind energy and / or biomass for energy production (electric or
thermal) is also part of the concept of bioclimatism.

It takes advantage of nature and limits access problems energy as well as the overall impact on the
environment. All these design principles are to be adapted according to the climatic, socio-economic
and architectural constraints. Even so, excellent building design can become derisory if the use made
of it is in contradiction with the overall reflection of the project. This is where the role of the occupant
intervenes. If everything is done to limit the risk of overheating, the occupant must limit dissipation
internal heat. Therefore, cooking appliances or other heat-producing equipment (compressor
refrigerators or air conditioning units) must be imperatively placed outside living areas. A responsible
behavior will influence the choice of lighting (influence of natural lighting, low consumption if
possible) and any electrical device: a strategy of sustainable development is to be adopted at all levels.
The proper functioning of the building requires awareness: use of sun protection and natural
ventilation if these are not automated, building and equipment maintenance ...

Two strategies are to be adopted according to the needs:

- The heating strategy consists of harnessing solar energy and store it in the mass for a phase shift and
a peak temperature clipping. The redistribution of this heat occurs when outside temperatures are
lower than desired interior temperatures.

- The refrigeration strategy consists of protecting yourself from intake solar panels, adopt passive
cooling solutions by humidification or natural ventilation and limit internal loads.

Problems observed and technical solutions

This part will give some answers in order to solve technical problems related to the design bioclimatic.
But it is quite obvious that these answers are do on a case-by-case basis.

What is the best way to implant a building?

A perfect knowledge of the place is essential. So, know at any time the solar energy actually received
on the envelope will correctly design this last but also to anticipate the optimal orientation as well than
the type of sun protection that can be envisaged. Softwares computer systems for sunshine simulation
constitute design assistance tools. Likewise, in order to avoid any risk of turbulence and promote a
possible exploitation of the wind farm, a study must be carried out upstream of the project to optimize
the location of the building. Town planning, topography(figure2) and vegetation (figure 3) are all
factors to take into account.
Figure 02 : Effect of topography. Figure 03 : Effect of an obstacle on the ventilation potential.

When it is a collective building project that is in progress, the impact of each of them on the others is
to be considered: it will make it possible to assess a distance to be observed between them and
optimize the geometric shape of each.

How to value the natural elements?

The orientation of a building depends mainly on the axis in which the wind blows and above all from
the need or no to take advantage of solar gain (i.e. if there is a cold season). Thus, in hot climates we
will favor an axis longitudinal East / West in order to reduce exposure to the sun bottom of the facades
from which it is difficult to protect oneself. Nevertheless, we will tend to deviate from this axis in a
desert climate or Mediterranean where solar gains can be enhanced during the cold season, directly
through the windows, or at night, in phase shift by inertia.

The orientation is also chosen to allow the winds dominant to enter the building. Indeed, ventilation
natural is always due to a pressure difference, caused by the wind or by a temperature difference: in
this type of climate, ventilation is essential to evacuate the rooms internal heat or solar gains (figure
4).

Figure 04 : Natural ventilation.

What shape of the building is to suggest?

Compactness is generally a rule in architecture bioclimatic because it limits wasteful surfaces or

subjected to significant solar illumination. We will pass in addition to this rule in a desert climate
where an interior courtyard(fully open) is desirable, the objective being to create as much shade as
possible. This provision is all the more effective in the case of grouped housing (it can then be
completed by the establishment of many alleys). The geometric shape itself can be thought of
urbanistically to allow natural ventilation of a set of buildings subject to wind.

What building materials to choose?

The choice of materials is made according to those which are available nearby. They are particularly
suitable for climate and the cost of construction will be limited.

- The local stone constructions are thus adapted to the climate with strong daily temperature variation.

- Timber constructions will allow rapid building temperature rise particularly suitable for climates
with very severe winters (climate of Mountain).

- Buildings in raw earth or sand allow to accumulate strong solar radiation and rise in temperature and
thus limit the risk of overheating. Regarding the choice of insulation, we will opt for plant insulation
(hemp wool, wood wool, etc.), even animals (sheep's wool). We can imagine that if no plant does not
grow in the implantation medium, it is because it is not essential to insulate the building (hot climate
and sec) ... Finally, let us remember that industrialized products do not value the socio-economic
situation of the place of construction, involving massive imports, reduction of local added value and
deskilling traditional trades.

How to limit variations of daily temperature?

The main quality of the thermal inertia of a building is to absorb strong daily thermal variations by
creating a phase shift. On hot days, the envelope heavy (stone construction, thick mud wall)
accumulates heat, thus limiting the risk of overheating.

During the night, when the outside temperature decreases, all the heat accumulated during the day is
transmitted to the interior of the building thus avoiding the need for a possible additional heating.
Figure 4 illustrates the heat transfer from the outside inside with a certain phase shift and damping,
depending on the thickness and thermal conductivity ofmaterials. Accumulation and phase shift
constitute inertia thermal. These data are physically represented by diffusivity and thermal effusivity
which express the capacity of a material respectively to transmit a variation of temperature and absorb
(or restore) a heat flow instantaneous. For climates with strong variation of daily temperature, we will
favor materials exhibiting low diffusivity and high effusivity. The figure 5 indicates the quality of the
inertia of some materials for usual thicknesses of use.
 Figure 05 : Phase shift times of different construction materials.

Thermal inertia is supplemented by external insulation of the roof, responsible for 2/3 of heat transfer
to inside.

How to ventilate the space well inside?

In hot climates, particularly, natural ventilation is the heart of bioclimatic design. She allows no only
to limit the use of a ventilation system mechanical to provide the right amount of fresh air but also
usually avoid the use of air conditioning.

First of all, it will be necessary to assess the ventilation potential, move the frame away from obstacles
to the flow, protect first and the building envelope of solar radiation and anticipate the interior layout
in order to limit losses of air flow charges.

Optimal design of form and location the building, on the one hand, and the positioning and size
openings, on the other hand, will make the difference pressure between the facades of the building
necessary for the creation of the air current. This pressure difference is created either by the admission
and extraction of wind on two judiciously oriented facades, either by a difference in temperature
between two facades (with openings) either by a difference in height (chimney effect).

There are different types of opening that will allow reinforce ventilation by air intake and extraction.
The scoops, breakthroughs, sheds or just windows when they are correctly oriented and sized (surface
ventilation) allow all of the indoor air to be circulated

.
 Figure 06 : Influence of the location of the roof scoop.

Night-time ventilation coupled with high inertia of the building can be very efficient when the
temperatures exterior are important (even at night). This over-ventilation can be done transversely or
by chimney effect (figure 7).

Heavy walls that have accumulated their heat during the day will see their temperature decrease more
quickly. Every kind of devices are possible and it would be difficult to carry them out an inventory.
Bibliographical references allow us to go later in this process. The air porosity of the walls is an
alternative when the surface area available to have openings is limited. Thus in Egypt, the use of
Moucharabiehs is frequent(figure 8). This device has the advantage of creating protection against solar
radiation, intrusions and insects all by allowing air circulation.

Figure 07 et 08 : Ventilation and Maoucharabiehs from a house in Cairo (Egypt).

Natural ventilation in dry climates can be combined with a humidification of the air which will create
a feeling of freshness. The latter can be done by the implementation of fountains, wet jars or
vegetation on the course air. Wind towers or Malqaf (figure 09) used in desert climate, allow when
well designed(funnel-shaped, facing the prevailing winds) a natural air conditioning by
humidification.

Figure 09 : Wind towers in southern Tunisia (working principle).

How to limit solar gain?

A multitude of solar protections exist: external blinds vertical (effective regardless of the orientation of
the radiation), horizontal sun visors (cap - effective for facades oriented to the south), reflectors
(compromise between protections solar and natural lighting), removable sun protection, double-
skinned (creates convection ventilation along wall - figure 10 - for example, Niamey Court of Appeal
in Niger, Architects C. and L. Mester de Parajd), vegetation, light wall color and low absorption
coefficient of materials. Their choice will depend on the orientation of the facade to be protected but
also integration with the external environment, local customs and uses of the interior space.

Figure 10 : Types of vertical sunshades.

These protections play a multiple role: they allow better natural ventilation and protection against
sight, noise, burglary, rodents, mosquitoes and much heard the sun.

How to organize interiors spaces ?

The hierarchy of spaces ensures the transition between outside and inside. This is all the more true
than in hot climate, a number of activities are carried out in exterior (cooking, for example). The
rooms producing air humid and hot are placed at the level of the facade under the wind so that their air
volume is directly rejected towards outside without interacting with clean parts (located on the side of
the windward facade). The positioning of the furniture, the partitioning of the space and the layout of
the rooms should facilitate the flow of air in the desired direction.

The veranda (covered terrace) is an inevitable space in bioclimatic architecture for a hot climate,
constituting spaces highly ventilated, protected from rain and radiationsolar. In addition, in dry
climates, some spaces offer multidisciplinarity: we then speak of nomadism inside buildings.

How to protect from the rain?

The long roof overhangs as well as the constructions on pilings are widely used in humid climates,
subject to severe heavy rains or even flooding. Construction on stilts also makes it possible to increase
the depressive state of the facade downwind and therefore the potential for natural ventilation.
 Expected results and implementation strategies
The objective of a bioclimatic design is threefold:

- Improve the living conditions ;

- Limit the environmental impact of construction, its implementation at the end of its life by reducing
as much as possible the use of energy;

- Promote local materials and know-how and relaunch thus the local economy.

The expected results are difficult to quantify economically or energetically because it is only on a
case-by-case basis that we can assess them. A bioclimatic architecture makes it possible to do without
or limit any additional energy consumption, in particular the use of air conditioning, mechanical
ventilation, artificial lighting, this with a very low additional cost construction. Harnessing solar
energy allows also to heat water (thermal systems) or produce electricity (photovoltaic systems) for
example for pumping water, lighting or producing cold for the food storage. In addition to objective
phenomena, it is a whole series of subjective phenomena that bioclimatism brings. If it's energy
consumption that we save is a interior atmosphere, architectural quality, comfort visual, thermal or
acoustic that we value. This design goes through a very specific approach which tends to prioritize the
recommendations. Carl Mahoney (professor of architecture and the basis of an action plan of
bioclimatic architecture in developing countries ) has developed a set tables for summarizing and
analyzing data climate, to formulate and prioritize recommendations specifics linked to a climate.

Conclusion
Bioclimatic architecture makes it possible to find the principles construction of yesteryear and adapt
them to the progress made in the matter. The effectiveness of all these concepts is recognized and
proven and makes it possible to offer exemplary buildings in terms of architecture, comfort, energy
efficiency and environmental. It also promotes cultures and local traditions by releasing a specific
architecture to every region of the world. More than architecture, it is a whole landscape that is
worked because the optimal integration of buildings by the choice of materials or the location of a
neighborhood respects the place. Finally, she fits into a global framework for sustainable development.

References
The images are taken from the Treaty of Architecture and Town Planning bioclimatic: design, build
and fit out.

Treaty of architecture and bioclimatic town planning: design, build and furnish. André de Herde and
Alain Liebard. Le Moniteur editions. 2005.

http://www.editionsdumoniteur.com/pages/recsimp/fichliv

Energy management in healthcare establishments developing countries: technical guide. Realized by

the PACA region, the regional council of Bouches du Rhône, the Institute for Energy and the
Environment Francophonie IEPF, the intergovernmental agency of Francophonie, ADEME and
GERES. 2003.

http://www.iepf.org/docs/prisme/Energ_sante.pdf