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CLIMATE RESPONSIVE

OF HOT AND DRY


CLIMATE
INTRODUCTION

 Climate has a major effect on the performance of the building and its energy
consumption. Reducing energy consumption, using natural resources and providing
comfortable, healthier and sustainable living spaces are the aims of a climatically
responsive sustainable building design.
ARCHITECTURE OF HOT AND ARID
CLIMATE
• this type of climate prevails around 15 degree from equator in the northern
hemisphere and 30 degrees from equator in southern hemisphere.
• in India this type of climate can be experienced in Rajasthan, Gujarat , Maharashtra
and some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka also .
CLIMATE RESPONSIVE DESIGN STRATERGIES
IN HOT AND DRY CLIMATE

 the most important design parameters affecting indoor thermal comfort and energy
conservation in building scale are
 distances between buildings
 building form
 building envelope design is most important as it separates outdoor and indoor
environment
 self efficiency in building material
 optical and thermal-physical properties of the building envelope
CHARACTERISTICS OF HOT AND ARID CLIMATE

 temperature
• in this type of climate temperature is usually very hot.
• it can very easily go up to 50* and even more in summers.
• the difference between day and night temperature is very high (15 to 20 degree Celsius)
 solar radiations
• solar radiations are direct and strong during day times. and these often escapes into
open clear skies during nights.
 precipitation
• as the air is totally hot & dry in this type of climate . precipitation is very low . it may
vary between 50 to 150 mm per year.
 sky conditions
• sky is normally clear and blue in this type of climate . some times dust storms fill
complete sky . and these dusty skies create unbearable glare.
 wind
• high speed dusty winds are very common for this type of climate .wind speed may vary
between 20 to 30 kilometer per hour .wind often change directions locally.
 soil and vegetation
• soil is very loose and sandy low humidity and less rain fall results in poor vegetation .
only thick leaves and thorny plants can easily survive here.
main aim / design thrust
• architects main aim is to avoid hot sun as far as possible.
• to capture as much cool air as possible.
• to provide protection from dust storms.

 rural architecture
• external look is almost dead to avoid sun,
• exterior is light in color again to avoid absorption of heat.
• surface area exposed to sun is minimum.
• thicker mud walls act as good insulating materials.
• smaller size of windows limits glare of solar radiations.
• streets are narrow.
• units are very closely placed.
DESIGN CRITERIA / PLANNING CONCEPTS

 site
A. site should be near the source of water.
B. and it is always better to build towards leeward side of an irrigated area because the
moisture of irrigated area may lower the air temperature.
C. narrow valleys should be avoided because this may become solar traps with the
mountain sides heating and radiating heat back and forth.
ORIENTATION

A. north –south orientation best suits for this type of climate as it protects from morning
and evening solar radiations.
B. apart from this local site conditions and its surroundings also plays major role in
deciding orientation
C. bedrooms should be oriented to receive cool night air.
house plans

A. compact plans are preferred as these will expose minimum surface to harsh solar
radiations.
B. deeper rooms are better against hot outside solar radiations.
C. inward looking plans best suits for this type of climate as these straight away protect
us from external solar heat and radiations
D. courtyard planning along with some trees and small water body creates very good
cool microclimate as evaporative cooling effects occurs in this type of courtyard.
 roofs
• roofs should be made higher so that radiations from ceiling is less harsh and there is
enough space for hot dissipated air.
 walls
• the walls of day time living areas should be made of heat storing materials so that these
can store heat in day time and keep the inside cool and radiate hot solar radiation back
in to atmosphere during night.
• eastern and western walls should be shaded with trees or some other screens.

A. Carvings
 openings
A. external openings should be small.
B. eastern and western side windows should be protected by trees.
C. large glass areas should be avoided.
D. deep sun shades are required to shade windows effectively.
E. it would be more effective, if we some how, separate our sun shades from main
structure .
 interiors
A. light cool colors should be used for interiors .
B. surfaces that may reflect radiations should be painted dark to reduce glaring effect.
SOME CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
• wind tower at higher level to catch dust free wind and transfer it into building.
• cavity walls also help in limiting penetration of solar heat and radiations inside
buildings
• showing double glazed windows which lets the light come in and keep the heat out.
• hollow block construction technique also help in thermal insulation of buildings.
• double roof technique protect main structure from solar heat
• hot solar radiations can be converted in useful electricity by using photovoltaic cells.
• sun protection devices(pergolas) are used to protect front facades of hot arid region.
• glass façade of building is protected by deeper eaves/ overhang at roof level.
• use of deeper entrance door and broad eaves

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