National University- Manila

College of Architecture

MIDTERM EXAMINATION RESEARCH

Comparative Analysis/ Method of General Types of Climate
What is Climate?
Climate is the average weather conditions in a place over a long period of time—
30 years or more. And as you probably already know, there are lots of different
types of climates on Earth.

As an illustration, hot places are typically found closer to the equator. Because
the Sun shines most directly overhead at the equator, the climate is hotter there.
Additionally, the North and South Poles are freezing because they receive the
least direct sunlight and heat.

Today, climate scientists split the Earth into approximately four main types of
climates. They are:

A: Tropical. In this hot and humid zone, the average temperatures are greater
than 64°F (18°C) year-round and there is more than 59 inches of precipitation
each year.

B: Hot Amid. These climate zones are so dry because moisture is rapidly
evaporated from the air and there is very little precipitation.

C: Temperate. In this zone, there are typically warm and humid summers with
thunderstorms and mild winters.

D. Cold. These regions have warm to cool summers and very cold winters. In the
winter, this zone can experience snowstorms, strong winds, and very cold
temperatures—sometimes falling below -22°F (-30°C)!

There are different climate factors that must be considered in civil operations,
building constructions and building designs. The most significant climate factors
are as follows: weather temperature, soil temperature, angle and intensity of
sunlight, relative humidity, direction and wind speed, rainfall and sunlight.

The comparison of climatic data and the requirements for thermal comfort
provides the basis for the selection of building form and building elements
appropriate for the climate so as to create necessary internal comfort.

“The Climate Is Changing,

So Must Architecture.”
- Architect Magazine

The analysis or research regarding architectural designs, materials, orientation,

etc. in relation to various climates is provided below;
TROPICAL CLIMATE (RESIDENTIAL HOUSE)

The tropical architecture is a

concept of architecture
that provides
answers/adaptation of building
forms to the influence of
tropical climate, where tropical
climate has certain
characteristics caused by solar
heat, humidity, rainfall, wind
movement, and others.

They are essential guidelines that should be taken into account while designing
and constructing a house in a tropical climate. These include passive ventilation,
sun shading, and orientation, all of which are techniques used in tropical
architecture.

1. Site Orientation - For

rectangular homes,
where possible, consider
orienting the length of
your building east to
west. This minimises the
exposure to the morning
(east) and evening (west)
sun. Orienting a home on
a site to minimise sun
exposure needs to be
weighed with capturing
the wind.

2. Shading – Horizontal
shading is ideal for both
the north and south-
facing walls and
openings. Walls facing
east and west require
vertical shading, such as
screens or vegetation.
Shading from the sun
prevents walls from
heating up and
transferring that heat to
interior spaces.
3. Ventilation, Door and Windows Orientation – Having large windows and
doors is good, but consider the type of window or door. Casement and louvre
windows allow air to pass through almost 100% of their opening. Hot air rises, so
it is a good idea to provide vents at or near the roof level. These elements include
roof vents and clerestories. Jalousies or louvre windows are also advantageous
in these situations.

ORIENTATION OF DOORS AND WINDOWS FOR TROPICAL HOUSES

In order to maximize natural light and ventilation while avoiding heat gain, it is
crucial to take into account the orientation of doors and windows in a tropical
home.

Doors: To benefit from chilly morning and afternoon winds, front doors should
be positioned on the east or north side of the home. The amount of air entering
the house can be increased by using sliding doors.

Windows: To benefit from natural light and cross-ventilation, windows should

be positioned on the east and west sides of the home. To prevent heat gain,
windows on the north side of the house should be kept to a minimum. On the
south side of the house, there should be overhangs, shutters, or shading covering
any large windows or glass doors.

Skylights: In regions of the home with few windows, skylights can be used to
increase natural light. To avoid overheating, they should be shaded.

Green roofs and walls: Are another option for lowering heat gain inside the
home. They support cooling and insulating the air surrounding the house.

Use windows and doors made of materials like aluminum or PVC that are
intended to endure high temperatures and humidity in tropical areas. To further
deter insects and other pests, screens or mesh can be applied to windows and
doors.

4. Wall Materials and Construction – Lightweight materials are generally better

for house designs in tropical climates for their thermal qualities. Materials such
as wood, metal and cement boards on a framed construction system cool down
rapidly. Concrete walls offer many other benefits for tropical regions because of
their natural resistance to hurricane-force winds and flooding.
In tropical climates, the walls of a house need to be able to withstand high
temperatures and humidity, as well as provide insulation and ventilation. Some
common wall materials and construction methods used in tropical houses
include:

Adobe or Mud Bricks: These are made

from a mixture of mud, clay, and straw,
and are inexpensive and easy to obtain.
They provide good insulation, but need to
be protected from moisture.

Bamboo: Bamboo is a lightweight, strong,

and sustainable material that is often used
for both the walls and the roof of a tropical
house. It provides good insulation and
ventilation, and can be grown and
harvested quickly.

Concrete Block: Concrete blocks are

durable, fire-resistant, and easy to obtain.
They provide good insulation and
ventilation, but can be expensive.

Earth-Sheltered Construction: This

method involves building the house
partially or completely underground,
which helps to keep it cool and protect it
from the elements.

Rammed Earth: This technique involves

compacting layers of soil and clay to form
solid walls. They are energy efficient and
can be made from local materials.

Straw Bale Construction: This method

involves using bales of straw as the
primary building material. They are
inexpensive, sustainable, and provide
excellent insulation.
5. Roof Design - The roof is the most exposed area to the sun's rays of any
building. Reflective, double-roofed homes reduce the amount of heat that passes
through them. High roofs and steep pitches allow the heat gained at that level to
be a safe distance from people below.

Some common roof designs for tropical houses include gable and hipped roofs.
These types of roofs allow for good ventilation and help to keep the interior cool.
Many tropical houses also use thatched roofs, which are made of natural
materials such as palm leaves or bamboo.

6. Exterior Spaces - Incorporating exterior spaces such as patios, verandas, and

courtyards is beneficial to have as part of your home. Our temperature range is
such that these spaces are habitable throughout the year. They can also provide
shade to the interior areas of the house. In addition, outdoor spaces are a great
way to connect people with the natural environment.

7. Water And Energy Efficiency - Issues such as depleting fossil fuels and the
carbon emissions from burning them are a concern. Over 20% of the world's
energy usage goes towards construction and maintaining houses, apartments
and other residential buildings. Consider using renewable energy sources like
solar thermal panels for heating water. Also, solar/photovoltaic (PV panels could
generate electricity to run our lights and appliances.
Tropical house floor plans typically feature open and airy living spaces, with
plenty of windows and sliding glass doors to let in natural light and promote
indoor-outdoor living. They also often include outdoor living areas such as lanais,
verandahs, or courtyards. Indoor-outdoor flow is important to make the most of
the tropical climate. The roof designs are usually steeply pitched, which helps to
promote good airflow and keep the house cool. Other features that may be
included in tropical house floor plans include high ceilings, split-level designs,
and use of natural materials such as bamboo, teak, and stone.

The following are some typical elements of a tropical floor plan:

High ceilings: To promote natural airflow and maintain a cool interior, high
ceilings are a popular feature in tropical floor layouts.

Large windows: Large windows are a common characteristic of tropical floor

designs that may be opened to let in natural light and circulation as well as to
offer views of the surrounding nature.

Indoor-outdoor living areas: To enable seamless indoor-outdoor living and to

make the most of the mild environment, tropical floor plans frequently include
indoor-outdoor living areas like lanais, verandas, and courtyards.

Pool or courtyard: To give a location for outside enjoyment and leisure, tropical
floor plans frequently include a pool or courtyard.

Natural materials: To foster a sense of connection with the natural surroundings,

tropical floor designs frequently include natural materials like wood, stone, and
bamboo in their construction and decor.

Open floor plans: To allow for the circulation of air and natural light throughout
the building, open floor plans are typical of tropical architecture.

Light-colored exteriors: Employed in tropical floor plans to reflect the heat of

the sun and keep the building's inside cool.

Overhanging roofs: In tropical floor plans, overhanging roofs are employed to

give shade and shield the building from the sun and rain.
 HOT ARID CLIMATE (RESIDENTIAL HOUSE)

A hot arid house is a particular

kind of structure made to be cozy
and energy-efficient in hot and dry
conditions. High temperatures, low
humidity, and little or no rainfall
are the defining characteristics of
these climates. A hot arid house is
designed with these extreme
conditions in mind in order to
lessen how much heat and dryness
the occupants will experience.

The main idea in a hot arid zone is to reduce uncomfortable conditions created
by the extremes of heat and dryness. Houses must remain cool in the hot
summers and warm in the cold winters. During the summer, sun is the enemy.
It is important to provide maximum shading of direct solar radiation during the
day and flush out any stored heat during the cooler nights.

1. Orientation: The house should be oriented to maximize shade and minimize

exposure to the sun. This can be achieved by orienting the long axis of the house
east-west, with the main living areas facing north or south.

In a hot and humid climate, site orientation is crucial for creating a comfortable
living environment. The ideal orientation is to have the main living areas of the
house facing north and south, with the long axis of the house running east-west.
This will allow for maximum natural light and cross-ventilation, while
minimizing exposure to the sun.

North-facing windows will allow for natural light to enter the house, while south-
facing windows can be shaded to prevent overheating. East and west-facing
windows should be minimized or shaded to prevent the sun from overheating
the house during the hottest hours of the day. Additionally, the use of reflective
surfaces, such as light-colored roofing materials, can help to reduce the heat gain
on the building.

For a comfortable living space, door and window orientation is essential. The
optimal orientation is for the house's long axis to run east-west and for its
windows and doors to face north and south. Natural light can enter a home
through windows and doors that face north, while shading can be used to keep
heat out of windows and doors that face south. To avoid warming the house
during the hottest times of the day, east and west-facing windows and doors
should be minimized or shaded.

Utilizing shading tools to regulate the quantity of sunlight entering the house,
such as shutters, overhangs, or louvers, is another crucial factor to take into
account. This can lessen heat gain and glare while yet allowing for the entry of
natural light.

2. Insulation: Insulation is a must in keeping the house cool and reducing the
need for air conditioning. The roof and walls should be well insulated to
minimize heat transfer. Insulation works much the same no matter where you
are in that it slows down the transfer of heat. The difference is that in a southern
climate the heat is outside trying to work its way in. There are three types of heat
transfer: conductive, radiant, and convective and I written about the difference
between them in an earlier post.

3. Ventilation: Ventilation is one of the important factors to be considered while

designing structures in the hot and humid climate. The flow of air helps in
providing a direct physiological cooling effect. The buildings are to be placed in
such a way which can facilitate cross ventilation. Oblique winds between 30 and
120 degrees to the wall can provide cross-ventilation. Also, vegetation can help
in contributing shade and deflection. Furthermore, the attic spaces can also be
used in ventilation as it helps in decreasing the solar heating through the roof.

4. Landscape: Micro-climate is essential to maintain while designing in the hot

and humid climate as striking and heating of building surface can be
considerably reduced by designing a proper landscape. It can also act as a buffer
for restricting noise, traffic, sun, and heat. The temperature of micro-climate can
be reduced around the structure and in the site through the evapotranspiration
phenomenon as the shade can be created through landscaping
Some examples of comfort-oriented design concepts for hot humid climate:

• Place windows to take advantage of cooling breezes in summer.

• Have very small well shaded windows on the eastern and western walls.
• Include extensive area of wall and windows on the north side.
• Shade windows from summer sun but expose winter sun to interior of
house.
• Use compact floor plan with less external wall area to minimize eastern
and western walls.
• Maximize nighttime cooling with high level windows or vents to let out the
hot air and draw in cooler air.
• Utilize shaded courtyards with water features that draw the cool moist air
into the house.
• Use vegetation to increase shading.
• Paint interior and exterior walls light colors.
• For warming at night, capture and store solar energy in solid material such
as a concrete floor or brick walls to release at night.

5. Materials: Building materials should be chosen to reflect heat, rather than

absorb it. Light-colored roofs and walls can help to reflect heat and keep the
house cool. In a country with a humid climate, using high thermal mass materials
may help prevent some moisture issues in your structure, but cooling those
materials down will require a lot more energy. The best materials to employ for
your structure's framework, walls, and ceilings are those with low thermal mass,
like wood.

Engineered Hardwood could work

out much better if living in a
particularly humid climate.
Engineered hardwood is made in
high heat environments and uses
pressure-treated plywood or
fiberboard to bond to a thin layer
of wood. This makes the material
more durable and watertight,
which would prevent warping and
mold. That makes this ideal for
flooring in humid climates.
Natural Plaster has the ability to
absorb indoor humidity and
release it slowly over time. Clay
and lime plasters are mold
resistant by nature, making
them ideal for building in humid
climates. What makes clay such
a beneficial material for humid
climates is that it's capable of
allowing moisture to pass
through the building freely, Clay
plaster is also capable of
maintaining the indoor humidity
levels by storing moisture when
levels reach over 50%.

Perma-White Exterior Paint.

This paint is an excellent
building material for its ability
to prevent mold and mildew.
Almost all paint can provide a
barrier that protects your
building from the outside
moisture. Exterior paint goes
beyond what regular paint can. It
has a strong mildewcide that
keeps the mold from moisture
from forming on the paint itself.

Slate Tiles are considered one of

the most durable and quality
roofing materials on the market.
The fact that it is resistant to fire
means that it can withstand
extremely hot temperatures
from the sun.

Porcelain Tile is an excellent

choice for humid climate
flooring. It rocks damp climates
with ease due to its density,
which allows very little water to
be absorbed from the humidity.
Porcelain is a hard material that
is also durable – it’s harder even
than ceramic. Due to its nature,
it provides myriad avenues for
your creative side to take over
and design patterns to make
your dreams come true for your
flooring.
6. Trees and Landscaping: Trees and landscaping can be used to provide shade
and to create a micro-climate around the house. Another important consideration
is the use of trees and other vegetation to provide shade around the house. This
can help to create a micro-climate around the house and reduce the heat gain.

Selected trees and their "cooling factor" (drawing H. Haas)

Building a new home in a humid climate or in a hot and dry climate can be a lot
different than building a home in a cold climate. Selecting the wrong design,
accepting not-up-to-par construction, or opting for the wrong products (or
builder) can result in an uncomfortable home that’s too warm or too moist, that
contributes to mold and mildew, and that leads to high energy bills.

The following are some typical elements of an arid floor plan:

THICK WALLS: Adobe, concrete, or masonry thick walls are employed in dry floor
plans to assist keep the interior of the building cool by acting as heat insulation.

LOW-PITCHED ROOFS: In floor plans for desert climates, low-pitched roofs are
employed to give shade and to assist keep the building's interior cool by allowing
hot air to ascend and escape.

OVERHANGS: Overhangs are utilized in floor plans for arid climates to shade
windows and outdoor living areas and prevent the interior of the building from
being overheated by the sun's rays.

COURTYARDS: Courtyards are frequently incorporated into floor plans for arid
climates in order to give a space for outdoor living and entertainment as well as
to keep the building's interior cool by offering shade.

NATURAL VENTILATION: By letting hot air to ascend and exit through vents or
windows, natural ventilation is frequently used in arid floor layouts to keep the
interior of the structure cool.

WATER FEATURES: To give a source of coolness and to create a welcoming

atmosphere, water features like fountains or pools can be employed in arid floor
plans.

NATURAL MATERIALS: Natural elements like stone, clay, and wood are
incorporated into desert floor layouts to foster a sense of coziness and
connection with the environment.
References:

https://scijinks.gov/climate-zones/

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://bepls.com/d
ec2013/34a.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjJv46Yx9v8AhUJCt4KHU3-
DU0QFnoECAMQBQ&usg=AOvVaw0G7TirF9Ehbyj2PmQM-pPQ

https://www.google.com/amp/s/architropics.com/designing-a-house-for-the-
tropics/amp/

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40095-018-0295-3

https://www.jbsolis.com/2018/07/13-modern-tropical-house-design-with-floor-
plans.html

https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/rtf-fresh-perspectives/a2128-10-things-
to-remember-while-designing-in-hot-humid-climate/

https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-107-understanding-
ventilation-in-hot-humid-climates

https://www.scribd.com/document/550903122/17-Design-Strategies-for-
Temperate-Climate#