ESSAY IN TROPICAL DESIGN

Question:
What is your own understanding on Tropical Architecture as shown in
Philippines' built environment?

Answer:
Tropical Architecture is a branch of architecture that deals with aligning building
forms, functions, and even groupings with the tropical climate. “Tropical climate is a non-
arid (abundant in water) in which all twelve months have mean temperatures of warmer
than 18 °C (64 °F)(Wikipedia.org)”. It has only two seasons, which are the dry (summer)
and wet (rainy) seasons. The tropical climate is prevalent on the countries near the
equator, and of course, the Philippines is one of them.
In my own understanding, Tropical Architecture means using the right materials
and techniques to make your home “cooler” despite the hot weather conditions. Though
I don’t know the specifics yet, but regarding materials, it means using light colored paint,
tinted glass of windows, large size windows and double layered walls, where as
techniques means understanding the directions where the wind comes from as well as
the suns orientation to produce solutions such as the proper placement of trees and
windows to block the heat and guide the wind inside the house.
The very appropriate example of the PH’s tropical architecture for me is the bahay
kubo. This building’s body uses light materials such as bamboo threaded in such a way
that cool air can pass through the gaps in between planks, making the flooring cooler.
The roof is tall and steeply pitched, ending in long leaves, making a comfortable inclined
edge for rainwater to slide, and at the same time making room for the hot air in the house
to rise and exit through the open trusses. Truly an awesome solution from an age where
technology is not yet advanced.

Sources:
http://tropical-architecture.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-is-tropical-architecture.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_climate

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nipa_hut#Roof