AR 2171: Tropical Design

Module No. 2: Unit 1

A5_M2_U1_T5_Case Study Passive Cooling

Date Issued: 10/10/22

Date Due: 10/17/22
Date Submitted: 10/17/22

MARK JAMMIL S. MORENO

7:30-8:30 PM MT

ALDRICH JED MANZANO

Instructor
Task Description:

1. Research and study on the design of a Traditional Filipino Bahay Kubo. Sketch the Section of the
Bahay Kubo and describe the effect of the design elements in the Bahay-Kubo and how they affect
the passive cooling of the whole structure.
2. Research and look for a modern house that is Bio climatically designed and incorporated with
Passive Cooling elements. Manually sketch the section of the house where you can show the
elements which show passive cooling. Describe and explain using paragraphs or annotations to the
drawing.
3. Compare the design elements used between the traditional bahay kubo and the modern bioclimatic
house and assess their similarities, as well as their differences. Give your conclusion.

TRADITIONAL FILIPINO BAHAY KUBO

The bahay kubos design is not confined to the traditional cubic house but has also found its way in fusion
with modern architecture when architects and interior design professionals saw its practicality in our
tropical climate. It often serves as an icon of Philippine culture or more specifically rural cultures3 Its
architectural principles gave way to many of Filipino traditional houses and buildings that rose after the
pre-colonial era. The Bahay Kubo Architecture.
Bahay Kubo architecture A typical bahay kubo from the countryside made of nipa and bamboo The Bahay
Kubo is the native house of the Philippines and is also considered as its national shelter. Bahay kubo was
originally made and constructed in a flat surface where in our population is not yet that many and not
influenced by foreigners or outsiders. It is built from natural renewable materials such as bamboo and nipa
its sloping roofs are good insulators of heat and its openings are convenient for air circulation.
‘

PARTS OF THE BAHAY KUBO

Silong
Raised up on hardwood stilts which serve as the main posts of the house, Bahay Kubo have a silong (the
Tagalog word also means "shadow") area under the living space for a number of reasons, the most
important of which are to create a buffer area for rising waters during floods and to prevent pests such as
rats from getting up to the living area.

Bubong (Roof)
The traditional roof shape of the Bahay Kubo is tall and steeply pitched, ending in long eaves.
Silid (Living Space)
The main living area is designed to let in as much fresh air and natural light as possible.

Dingding (Walls)
The walls are always of light material such as wood, bamboo rods, or bamboo mats called "amakan" (or
"sawali").

Dungawan (Windows)

Bahay kubo are typically built with large windows, to let in more air and natural light. The most traditional
are large awning windows, held open by a wooden rod

Construction materials
The walls of the living area are made of light materials. Posts, walls, and floors are typically made of wood
or bamboo and other light materials. The thatched roof is often made of nipa, anahaw or some other locally
plentiful plant. Thus, making it easier for the nipa huts to be moved if needed.
UNIQUE CHARCTERISTICS OF TRADITIONAL BAHAY KUBO

LARGE WINDOWS
Large windows are one of the primary features of a bahay kubo. They provide natural lighting and
ventilation. If the windows are placed strategically, cross ventilation occurs, and with that, the circulation of
air in the building is continuous. Thus, providing much comfort for the occupants.

ELEVATED FINISH FLOOR LINE

The elevated finish floor line of a bahay kubo comes with different uses. In the past, these spaces are used
as storage or an enclosure for small livestock. Other functions of this elevation include protection from
natural disasters like flooding.

OPEN PLAN
The traditional bahay kubo is a singular room that everyone shares. The open space serves as a multi-
purpose area depending on what the family is doing. It can be a dining area, living area or a sleeping area.

HIGH CEILING
Since a bahay kubo usually consists of a single room, the solution in mitigating the temperature inside the
house is to have a high ceiling. The purpose of the high ceiling is to provide space for the hot air to rise as it
circulates within the room. The common roof designs used in many bahay kubos are gable and hip types.

BIO CLIMATIC ARCHITECTURE

Bioclimatic Design is a design process that takes into account climate and environment conditions when
designing for optimum comfort for users with minimum outside energy use reducing building’s
environmental footprint. It deals with site and building design using architectural elements and techniques
that will minimize dependence on mechanical systems. Bioclimatic design was used successfully throughout
ages in vernacular architecture. Examples:
1. Thick walls with substantial thermal mass keep the building cooler in the summer, warmer in the
winter
2. Buildings are oriented so winter sun can heat them; summer sun shielded off by substantial
overhangs
3. The use of high open atrium/chimney type structure in the middle of the building in hot climates
causing natural air movement pulling air from the outside through shaded, cool rooms
4. Deep porches of the South surrounding the building, shading multiple windows located on all
sides for easy cross ventilation
The bioclimatic building doesn’t require installation of additional complicated and expensive systems, but
uses specific architectural elements to increase the energy performance and provide natural comfort to
occupants.

The main considerations of Bioclimatic Design are:

1. The study of natural elements of the site: topography, geology, air, sun and wind and vegetation
including the specific microclimate of the site to determine optimal position of the building.
2. Consideration of complexity of form vs. building compactness and its impact on energy use; i.e.
compact shape in cold climate and maximizing exterior wall area to encourage natural cooling
breezes in hot and humid climate.
3. Use of correct landscaping features and planting to minimize water use, provide shading,
windbreak
4. Designing building form to optimize natural ventilation.
5. The use of breathable exterior wall system using breathable exterior wall finish, breathable house
wrap, natural insulation and mineral-based interior paints to create synergistic effect that passively
regulates interior climate.
6. Selection of colors of exterior finishes to either reflect or accumulate heat, depending on climate;
interior colors will influence the amount of artificial light required to light up a room.
7. Solar access analysis to determine building solar orientation resulting in:
- concentration of utility/support uses (pantry, garage, storage) on climatically most challenging side
(west in hot climate, north in cold climate)
 - selection of correct fenestration type and solar shading to maximize daylighting and at the
same time minimize electric loads, provide solar heat in the winter without excessive solar heat gain
in the summer
- use of thermal mass of solid walls and or/ floors to minimize thermal fluctuations

CONCLUSION

Bioclimatic architecture increases the comfort of a building in any season while reducing the need for
heating, cooling, lighting and ventilation, which in turn leads to an accentuated decrease in energy
costs. The implementation of these assumptions in a building does not involve increased investment in
construction nor the installation of specific domotic systems.

Bahay Kubo prioritizes natural lighting and ventilation to passively cooled the living space. Bahay Kubo has
oversized windows and in a location ideal for natural ventilation. Usually, Bahay Kubos in the rural is at a
location that favorable to both wind direction, Amihan and Habagat. Some Bahay Kubo has ventanillas or
louvers to maximize the airflow in the dwelling space and an exhaust route to the ceilings. It has wide eaves
and overhangs to shade the house's surroundings. If we apply these to our houses' design, we can have
good passive cooling and reduces our energy consumption due to electrical ventilation and air conditioning.