In India there are SIX climatic zones

Hot & Dry

Warm & Humid
Cold & Sunny
Composite
Cold & Cloudy
Moderate
 Warm & Humid
Warm- Humid climate are
found in a belt near the
equator extending to about
150* North and South.
Air Temperature reaches
mean maximum during the
day of between 27* and 32*C.
At night the mean minimum
varies between 21* and 27*C
 Warm & Humid
(climate in India)

The warm and humid zone covers the

coastal parts of the country, such as
Kerala, Tamilnadu & Goa. The main
design criteria in the warm and humid
region are to reduce heat gain by
providing shading, and promote heat loss
by maximizing cross ventilation.
Warm & Humid
(zones in India)
1. Kerala
2. Tamil Nadu
3. Karnataka
4. Goa
5. Andhra Pradesh
6. Gujarat
7. Maharashtra
8. Orissa
9. West Bengal
10. Mizoram
11. Manipur
12. Nagaland
13. Assam
14. Meghalaya
15. Tripura
16. Arunachal Pradesh
 CHARACTERSTICS OF
WARM AND HUMID CLIMATE
High humidity, strong sun, glare from
the sky and horizon.
There are long monsoon periods with
heavy rain.
The breezes, especially in coastal areas,
can alleviate discomfort considerably.
 Basic terms used in
Warm & Humid
climate
1. Mean Temperature
Summer Midday = 30-35*C Night = 25-30*C
Winter Midday = 25-30*C Night = 20-25*C
2. Solar Radiation
Usually defused radiation due to cloud cover
or vapors in air. Intense radiation on clear day
3. Landscape and Vegetation
Generally low altitude and latitude.
Relatively flat region with abundant
vegetation.
4. Precipitation
High generally in excess
of 1200mm/yr.

5. Winds
Usually 1 or 2 prevailing
direction with velocity
ranging from extremely
low to very high.
6. Sky Condition 7. Miscellaneous
High humidity and low
Generally overcast
diurnal temperature
causing pleasant variations cause great
glare. discomfort, if air
movement is not there.
 Design Objectives :
1. Resisting heat gain
a) Decreasing surface area of building exposed to
outside.
b) Using that material that take longer time to heat
up.
c) Increasing shading of the building in general.
d) Using material that reflect heat.
2. Promoting heat loss
a) Appliances used are well ventilated.
b) Proper ventilation occurs throughout the day.
C) Humidity levels are reduced as much as possible.
General recommendations for building
design in warm & humid climate:
1. SITE
a) Landform
*For flat sites, for design
consideration for the
landform is immaterial.
*In case of slopes and
depressions, the
building should be
located on windward
side or crest to take
advantage of cool
breeze.
b) Open spaces & build form
*Buildings should be
spread out with large
open spaces in between
for unrestricted air
movement.
*In cities, buildings on
stilts can promote
ventilation and cause
cooling at ground level.
c) Water bodies
*Water bodies are not
essential as they would
tend to further increase
in humidity.
d) Street width & orientation
*A north-south direction is ideal
from the point of view of blocking
solar radiation.
*The width of street should be
such that the intense solar
radiation during late morning and
early afternoon is avoid during the
summers.
2. Orientation & Platform
a) As temperature is not
very high, free plants ca
be evolve as long as
house is under protective
shade.
b) An obstructed air path
through the interiors ate
important to ensure
proper ventilation.
c) The buildings could be
long and narrow to allow
cross-ventilation. A singly
loaded corridor plan.
a) Heat and moisture
producing areas like toilets
and kitchens must be
ventilated and separated
from the rest of structure.
b) Semi open spaces such as
balconies & porches can
be used advantageously
for day time activity..
c) In multistoried building a
central courtyard can be
provided with vents at
higher level to draw away
rising hot air.
3. Building Envelope
a) Roof
* In addition to provide
shelter from rain and heat,
the form of roof should be
planned to promote air flow.
* Vents at the rooftop
effectively induce ventilation
and draw hot air out.
* Insulation doesn’t provide
any additional benefit.
* A double roof with a
ventilated space in between
can also be used to promote
air flow.
b) Walls
* The walls must also be
designed to promote air
flow so as to counter
the prevalent humidity.
* Baffle walls, both inside
and outside the
building can help to
divert the flow of wind
inside.
* They should be
protected from the
heavy rainfall prevalent
in such areas.
b) Fenestration
* Cross ventilation is of
utmost importance in
warm and humid
climatic regions.
* All doors & windows
should preferably be
kept open for maximum
ventilation for most of
years.
* These must be provided
with venetian blinds to
shelter the rooms from
the sun and rain, as well
as for control of
movement.
a) The opening should be
shaded by external
overhangs.
b) Outlets at higher level
serve to vent hot air.

In next slide you will see how the air

movement within a room can be better
disturbed
d) Color & Texture
* The walls should be painted light pastel
shades or whitewashed, white surface of
the roof be of broken tile to reflect
sunlight back to the environment, and
hence reduce heat gain.
* The surface finish should be protected
from effects of moisture.
* The use of appropriate colors & surface
finishes is a cheap & very effective
technique to lower indoor temperature.
REMARKS
* Ceiling fans are effective in reducing
level of discomfort in this climate.
* In case of air conditioned buildings,
dehumidification plays an important role
in design of plant.
* Careful water proofing & drainage of
water are essential consideration of
building design due to heavy rainfall.
* Desiccant cooling techniques can be
employed as they reduce the humidity
level.
 Example of
Warm and Humid
climate
Trivandrum
Padmanabhapuram Palace
 It responds to the climate with steep
sloping high tiled roofs, with deep
eaves.
 The sides are open to the breeze, and
air ventilates up through the porous tile
roofs, ensuring that the indoor
temperature does not build up.
• Using open slatted or perforated
timber screens on sides of
verandahs cuts out glare, ensures
privacy but allows the breeze
flow across the rooms.
• Walls are white to reflect the sun,
and often completely shaded by
the verandahs.
• For a cluster of buildings, an
openness of planning, to allow
the natural breeze to flow through
them is of paramount importance.
Kerala
• Kerala architecture can be broadly
divided into distinctive areas based
on their functionality, each guided by
different set of principles.
• The gabled roof and ceiling roof
works are prime features of Kerala
architecture styles.
Religious Architecture
• Primarily patronized by temples of
Kerala as well as several old
churches, mosques etc.
• The circular roofs of temple are
direct legacy of Buddhist influences
in Ancient Kerala Architectural styles
 Material
The natural building materials available for
construction in Kerala are stones, timber, clay
and palm leaves. Granite is a strong and durable
building stone; however its availability is
restricted mostly to the highlands and only
marginally to other zones.. Lime mortar can be
improved in strength and performance by
admixtures of vegetable juices. Such enriched
mortars were used for plastering or for serving as
the base for mural painting and low relief work.
Timber is the prime structural material
abundantly available in many varieties in Kerala
- from bamboo to teak. Clay was used in many
forms - for walling, in filling the timber floors
and making bricks and tiles after plugging and
tempering with admixtures. Palm leaves were
used effectively for thatching the roofs and for
making partition walls.