MICRO CLIMATE &

SITE LOCATION

PART 1

Week 2
Date: 17/11/2021
WEATHER IN CAMBODIA
 Tropical: 22°C-35°C
Climate

HOT ALL YEAR ROUND:

- RAINY SEASON: June - November

- DRY SEASON : December - May
WHAT IS MONSOON?
seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing winds of a region.
Monsoon usually refers to the winds of the Indian Ocean and South
Asia, which often bring heavy rains.
WHAT IS CLIMATE?

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLIMATE

AND WEATHER?

Climate: ធាតុអាកាស
Weather: អាកាសធាតុ
CLIMATE ?

• To design in conformity with climate, the designer needs to

understand the microclimate of the site, since all climatic experience
of both people and buildings is at this level. In some cases, the
microclimate can be quite different from the larger climate.
• Climate- responsive buildings are gentle on the climate because they
use less energy.
CLIMATE ?
MICRO CLIMATE ?

A local set of atmospheric conditions that differ from those in the

surrounding areas
Immediate local climatic conditions such as temperature, humidity,
solar radiation, wind,..
Microclimates exist, for example, near bodies of water which may
cool the local atmosphere, or in heavy urban areas where brick, 
concrete, and asphalt absorb the sun's energy, heat up, and re-
radiate that heat to the ambient air: the resulting urban heat island is
a kind of microclimate
FACTOR INFLUENCE MICRO CLIMATE
If buildings are to relate properly to their environment, they must be
designed for the microclimate in which they exist. The following are
the main factors responsible for making the microclimate deviate from
the macroclimate:

• TOPOGRAPHY
• SOLAR RADIATION
• AIR HUMIDITY
• PRECIPITATION
• WIND
• SKY CONDITION
• VEGETATION
• Man-made structure
FACTOR INFLUENCE MICRO CLIMATE

• TOPOGRAPHY:
slope
Orientation
Exposure
Elevation
Hill or valley

The steeper the slope of the land, the faster the temperature will drop with
an increase in elevation.
FACTOR INFLUENCE MICRO CLIMATE

• TOPOGRAPHY:
slope
Orientation
Exposure
Elevation
Hill or valley

• South-facing slopes are much warmer than north- facing slopes because
they receive much more solar radiation.
• ski slopes are usually found on the north slopes of mountains
FACTOR INFLUENCE MICRO CLIMATE
FACTOR INFLUENCE MICRO CLIMATE

• SOLAR RADIATION
Radian energy from the sun
Radiation varies from moment to moment
(location, latitude, longitude, orientation, season, time of day)
FACTORS INFLUENCE MICRO CLIMATE
• AIR HUMIDITY
Amount of moisture present in the air

The maximum amount of water vapor that can be in the air depends on the air temperature.
Warmer air can hold more water vapor within it. That’s why the muggiest days usually happen at
the height of summer heat. But as the temperature goes down, the air can hold less vapor and
some of it turns into liquid water.
FACTORS INFLUENCE MICRO CLIMATE

• PRECIPITATION
is any form of water - liquid or solid - falling from the sky
Precipitation includes water in all its forms rain, snow, hail or dew
It is usually measured in millimeters
FACTORS INFLUENCE MICRO CLIMATE

WIND
• Wind is the movement of air due to a difference in atmospheric
pressure
• Wind speed can be measured by an anemometer and is usually
expressed in meters per second (m/s).
• It is a major design consideration for architects because it affects indoor
comfort conditions by influencing the convective heat exchanges of a building
envelope, as well as causing air infiltration into the building
FACTORS INFLUENCE MICRO CLIMATE

• SKY CONDITION
Sky condition generally refers to the extent of cloud cover in the sky or the
duration of sunshine.
Under clear sky conditions, the intensity of solar radiation increases; whereas it
reduces in monsoon due to cloud cover.
FACTORS INFLUENCE MICRO CLIMATE

• TEMPERATURE
physical quantity that expresses the subjective perceptions of hot and cold.

Temperature is measured with a thermometer, historically calibrated in various

temperature scales and units of measurement.

The most commonly used scales are the Celsius scale, denoted in °C the
Fahrenheit scale (°F), and the Kelvin scale.
FACTORS INFLUENCE MICRO CLIMATE

• VEGETATION
For climate control, deciduous shade trees might be used to screen the hot
summer sun or in winter permit the solar radiation to penetrate to the ground,
or to the walls and windows of a building

Large shrubs can serve as windbreaks to reduce wind velocities.

Changes in solar radiation or light levels are also possible with shading
FACTORS INFLUENCE MICRO CLIMATE

• Man-made structure:
Buildings, streets, and parking lots, because of their number,
size, mass, and color, have a very significant effect on the
microclimate.
UNDERSTANDING SUNRAY/SUNPATH
DIAGRAM
UNDERSTANDING SUNRAY/SUNPATH
DIAGRAM

Figure 6.8a shows the highest sun path of the year (summer solstice), the lowest sun path (winter solstice),
and the middle sun paths (equinoxes)
UNDERSTANDING SUNRAY/SUNPATH
DIAGRAM
Umea, Sweden

Nairobi, Kenya

Santiago, Chile
In Cambodia, this astronomical event happens during Spring (around 20th of March),
and during Autumn (around 23rd of September).

This only happens twice a year, at the so called equinox – time of the year when the sun
crosses the plane of the earth’s equator and day and night are of equal length. 
 UNDERSTANDING SUNPATH DIAGRAM
21 June

21 May/Sep

21 Dec
ASSIGNMENT #1 : Precedence Study
Presentation day : 22nd December, 2021
Mark: 20%

- Choose a group of 4-5

people
- Select a green / passive
building or compound
of buildings
- Make 10mns slide
presentation describe
its passive design
character
SUNEARTHTOOLS.COM

Azimuth = 112°
Altitude = 20°
• Azimuth and elevation are the two coordinates that define the
position of a celestial body (sun, moon) in the sky as viewed from a
particular location at a particular time
shadow

o h =
20
x

Cotan

Cotan

2.7 x 10= 27m

9am Noon 3pm
MICRO CLIMATE &
SITE LOCATION

PART 2

Week 2
Date: 16/11/2020
SITE PLANNING AND LANDSCAPING
3 Level of solar access
• BH

OPEN LANDSCAPE
PROTECTIVE LANDSCAPE
SHADE OR WIND?

SHADE SHADE AND WIND

Landscaping around buildings
MICRO CLIMATE &
SITE LOCATION

PART 2 cont.

Week 3
Date: 23/11/2020
Urban pattern
Maximize sunlight access via roof design
Set back distance for link houses
REFLECTION ON
PHNOM PENH
SHOP HOUSE
UNIT BLOCK SIZE

THIN AND LONG UNIT DESIGN

14-18m
POOR VENTILATION AND SUN
LIGHTING

4m
 Group Discussion:
1. As an architect who think about quality of space while trying to achieve
wind flow and maximize amount of sunlight in to the building,
- How would you change building size (dimension) ?
- How would you change shophouse layout/arrangement ?

14-18m
34 m

90 m
Plot layout 4m
 Form 4 Groups

Group 1: Group 2: Group 3: Group 4:

Chankittikun Chheang Kimhour Hok Monyuddam Chheang Siphatt Seang
Chanthearot Bun Lerngy Te Panhareaksmey Tep Sok Eng An
David Sovan Longdy Heam Poritot Ros Sok San Seak
Faried Tho Longviseth Peok Rothana Chamroeun Sophea Pheak
Sidane Hour Sorak Born
 5.5m
8-10m 4m
14-18m
WIDEN THE WIDTH AND
SHORTEN THE LENGTH
Site selection, Locations on slopes

In rainy season, south-sloping land receives the

most sunshine. For the same reason, north-facing
slopes receives very little solar heating because a
given sunbeam is spread over much more land

South-sloping land also receive least sun light

 Settlement position Shading

Heating Wind Hazard

WIND AND SITE DESIGN
WIND FLOW PATTERN ON BUILDING
Wind crossing
Which is urban block in tropical climate and
which is in high upland climate? Why?
Which is urban pattern in Tropical Climate
and which is in hot dry climate? Why?
URBAN PATTERN
URBAN LAYOUT IN DIFFERENT CLIMATE
Reflection on Phnom Penh grid pattern
1. What are good features of PP grid pattern?
2. Does orientations of the blocks suit in tropical climate and
site location? Why?
3. Any suggestion to upgrade on PP urban structure to
improve shading, and air flow?
 Form 4 Groups

Group 1: Group 2: Group 3: Group 4:

Chankittikun Chheang Kimhour Hok Monyuddam Chheang Siphatt Seang
Chanthearot Bun Lerngy Te Panhareaksmey Tep Sok Eng An
David Sovan Longdy Heam Poritot Ros Sok San Seak
Faried Tho Longviseth Peok Rothana Chamroeun Sophea Pheak
Sidane Hour Sorak Born
PROJECT ASSIGNMENT:

NEW LOOK TO
PHNOM PENH
SHOP HOUSE
Tasks-Methodology:

• Decide the location of the shop house (it could be an existing one or
the vacant land one)
• Draw floor plan of shop house (number of rooms and floors are for
students to decide)
• Analyze the building in relation to thermal comfort, lighting (both
natural and artificial), acoustic, color,…
• Analyze the building in relation to micro-climate and surrounding
areas
• Draw 3D model / section (sketching or computer aid program) for
better understanding of house system
• Make a piece of model of any technical parts which is special feature
of design and which ease the understanding of design concept (eg.
ventilation blind, list of material usage, or lighting concept)
Production:

• Prepare 2-A1 posters

( 1st board focus on Analysis: building in relation to surroundings,
micro-climate,..)
(2nd board focus on design proposal of shop house)
• Make Piece of model explaining technical aspects (free scale)
Marking Criteria:

• Concept to improve Ventilation and thermal comfort

• Concept to improve Natural lighting and acoustic
• Energy saving in building
• How building adapt to surrounding environment and micro-climate
• Creative ideas to improve quality of space
• Model design
• Other sustainability concept
 Submission:
by 5pm, Saturday 13 th February 2021

Presentation:
Monday 8:00am-10:00am 15th February 2021
 Models from
Questions Last year
Tutorial #1
Monday 30th (8am-10am)
Wednesday 3rd (8am – 10am)

• Decide the location of the shop house (it could be an existing one or
the vacant land one)
• Draw/sketch floor plan of shop house (number of rooms and floors
are for students to decide)
• Analyze the building in relation to micro-climate and surrounding
areas
Tutorial #1

• Show your work in PowerPoint

• Each group/member has 20mns discussion
• Other members can join the discussion (but no disruption)