URDANETA CITY UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Q300
TROPICAL DESIGN
HOME READING ASSIGNMENT FN-01

GENERAL CONCEPTS LOW RISE

STUDENT: MAAGE, RHEMOUS C.

SUBMITTED TO: AR. ALBERT T. PASCUA, UAP, MMEnP INSTRUCTOR

Characteristics:

Climate Responsiveness: Low-rise tropical designs aim to adapt to the hot and humid climate by
prioritizing features that reduce heat gain and improve natural ventilation.

Orientation and Layout: Buildings are oriented to minimize direct solar exposure, with facades
positioned to take advantage of prevailing breezes for passive cooling.

Shading Elements: Use of extended eaves, overhangs, verandas, and pergolas to provide shade and
prevent direct sunlight from penetrating indoor spaces.

Natural Ventilation: Strategic placement of openings like large windows, louvered vents, and open
layouts to encourage cross-ventilation and maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.

Material Use: Use of local, sustainable materials such as bamboo, thatch, and wood that are efficient
in both insulation and integration into the natural landscape.

Green Elements: Incorporation of vegetation, green walls, and indoor-outdoor spaces to reduce heat,
add aesthetic value, and enhance the microclimate.

Roof Design: Sloped or pitched roofs to facilitate rainwater runoff and reduce heat buildup; in some
cases, green roofs or reflective materials are employed.

Design Problems:

Thermal Comfort: Ensuring that indoor spaces remain cool without excessive use of air conditioning,
which contributes to high energy consumption.

Humidity Control: Managing high levels of humidity that can affect the comfort and durability of
building materials.

Natural Disasters: Addressing design resilience against tropical storms, typhoons, and heavy rainfall
common in tropical regions.

Ventilation Balance: Designing effective cross-ventilation while protecting against heavy winds or rain
intrusion.

Sustainable Integration: Incorporating eco-friendly solutions without significantly increasing

General Objectives:

Maximize Comfort: Creating spaces that maintain thermal comfort primarily through passive design
strategies.

Energy Efficiency: Reducing reliance on artificial cooling systems to promote sustainability and
decrease energy costs.

Durability: Ensuring building materials and designs can withstand the tropical environment, including
high humidity and heavy rains.

Aesthetic and Cultural Fit: Reflecting local architectural styles and natural surroundings to integrate
seamlessly with the environment.

Sustainability: Prioritizing the use of renewable resources and techniques that reduce the carbon
footprint of construction and operation.

Community and Connectivity: Incorporating open and semi-open spaces that promote social
interaction and connect with the outdoors.
Tropical design in architecture focuses on creating comfortable, sustainable buildings that respond
effectively to the climate. For low-rise buildings in tropical areas, several key principles guide their
design:

1. Passive Cooling Techniques

Natural Ventilation: Designing spaces that promote cross-ventilation through the strategic placement
of windows, doors, and open spaces helps reduce indoor temperatures without mechanical systems.

Elevated Structures: Raising buildings off the ground on stilts can enhance air circulation underneath,
keeping interiors cooler.

Shaded Openings: Deep overhangs, verandas, and shading devices protect interiors from direct
sunlight, reducing heat gain.

2. Thermal Insulation and Materials

Lightweight Construction: Materials that reflect rather than absorb heat, such as light-colored roofing
and walls, minimize heat buildup.

Natural Materials: Using materials like bamboo, thatch, or sustainable woods that have low thermal
mass helps maintain cooler indoor temperatures.

Insulation Layers: Implementing insulated roofing and walls prevents heat transfer and maintains a
comfortable indoor climate.

3. Appropriate Building Orientation

East-West Orientation: Aligning the building’s longest sides along the east-west axis reduces the
amount of direct sunlight on the main facades, minimizing heat gain.

Shading Strategies: Utilizing trees, trellises, or pergolas with vines provides natural shade and
reduces solar heat impact.

4. Roof Design

Pitched Roofs: Steeply sloped roofs help with rainwater drainage and reduce the roof’s exposure to
the sun.

Ventilated Roof Spaces: Incorporating ventilation gaps between the ceiling and the roof allows heat to
escape, preventing buildup within the living spaces.

5. Water Features and Landscaping

Greenery Integration: Incorporating lush landscaping with trees, plants, and green walls provides
shade and helps cool the surrounding air through evapotranspiration.

Water Features: Ponds, fountains, or small water bodies around or integrated into the design can
create a cooling microclimate through evaporation.

6. Solar Control

Louvered Windows and Screens: Adjustable louvers and shading screens let in natural light while
blocking direct sunlight.

Reflective and Low-Emissivity Glass: Windows with special coatings reflect infrared and UV rays,
reducing interior heat gain without compromising natural light.

7. Sustainable Water Management

Rainwater Harvesting: Collecting and reusing rainwater helps maintain landscaping and provides
supplementary water for non-potable uses.

Permeable Surfaces: Using permeable materials for pathways and outdoor spaces allows water to
infiltrate the ground, helping reduce flooding and recharge groundwater.

8. Indoor-Outdoor Living

Open Layouts: Maximizing seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces with large,
operable walls or sliding doors encourages natural airflow and enhances the cooling effect.

Courtyards and Atriums: Integrating internal courtyards or atriums improves cross-ventilation and
introduces daylight into central parts of the structure.

These principles help create energy-efficient, resilient buildings suited to tropical climates, ensuring
comfort and harmony with the environment.

1. Vegetation / Ground Cover

 Types of Ground Cover: Includes grass, low shrubs, and cover crops. Vertical gardens and
green facades also count as vegetation solutions.

 Ecological Benefits: Reduces urban heat islands by cooling the air around buildings. It also
helps improve air quality by absorbing pollutants.

 Thermal Performance: Vegetation shades building surfaces, reducing direct solar exposure
and heat absorption. Ground cover acts as a natural insulator, keeping surrounding
temperatures lower.

2. Heat Capacity

 Detailed Explanation: Materials with high heat capacity (e.g., concrete, brick) can absorb
large amounts of heat during the day and release it slowly at night. This can be beneficial in
climates where temperature drops significantly at night, helping regulate indoor temperatures.

 Practical Application: Choosing building materials with the right heat capacity can help
balance temperature fluctuations, improving energy efficiency.

3. Sunbreakers / Sun Shading Devices

 Types:

o Fixed Sunbreakers: Permanent installations like louvers or screens that block sunlight.

o Adjustable Sunbreakers: Can be moved or rotated to adapt to sun angles throughout

 Design Considerations: Placement and angle are calculated based on the sun's path to
ensure maximum effectiveness, especially for east and west-facing facades.

 Benefits: Reduces reliance on air conditioning by minimizing indoor heat gain while still
allowing natural light.
4. Venturi Effect

 Technical Details: Occurs when airflow is forced through a narrow space, increasing wind
speed and lowering pressure. This effect can be harnessed in building design by strategically
placing openings, such as narrow corridors or funnel-shaped structures.

 Applications: Commonly used in tall buildings or structures where wind turbines are
integrated to generate energy, and in cross-ventilation strategies for natural cooling.

5. Stack Effect

 How It Works: Warm air, being less dense, rises and exits through openings at higher levels,
while cooler, denser air is drawn in through lower-level openings. This process is more
effective in multi-story buildings with atriums or vertical openings.

 Seasonal Variations: More effective in winter for heating (warm air naturally rising) but can
also be adapted for cooling in summer by ensuring proper ventilation at the top of the structure

6. Emissivity

 Details: Emissivity values range from 0 (perfect reflector) to 1 (perfect emitter). Metal roofs, for
example, typically have low emissivity, making them suitable for hot climates as they reflect
heat.

 Material Choice: Low-emissivity coatings or films on glass windows can greatly reduce heat
loss or gain, contributing to energy-efficient buildings.

7. Passive Cooling

 Examples of Techniques:

o Cross-Ventilation: Positioning openings (windows, doors) on opposite sides of a space

o Thermal Mass: Using materials that absorb heat during the day and release it at night,
maintaining a stable temperature.

o Courtyard Designs: Open areas within buildings that allow heat to rise and vent out,
promoting natural airflow.

 Benefits: Reduces energy consumption, provides comfort, and lowers carbon footprint.

8. Solar Reflectivity (Albedo)

 Importance of High Albedo Surfaces: Reflective roofing materials like cool roofs (often white
or light-colored) can reflect more than 70% of solar radiation, greatly reducing cooling costs.

 Urban Heat Island Mitigation: Using high-albedo materials can significantly lower the
temperature in urban areas, improving overall comfort and reducing energy demands.

9. Insulation Value (R-Value)

 Understanding R-Value: Indicates how effective a material is at preventing heat transfer. The
higher the R-value, the better the insulation.
  Applications: Wall, roof, and floor insulation are key areas where high R-value materials can
reduce heating and cooling demands.

 Comparison: Fiberglass, foam boards, and mineral wool have different R-values, with spray
foam often providing a higher R-value per inch.

10. Roof Garden

 Functionality: Acts as an insulating layer, reducing heat absorption through the roof. Roof
gardens help mitigate urban heat effects, manage stormwater runoff, and create usable green
spaces.

 Design Challenges: Must consider load-bearing capacity, waterproofing, drainage systems,

11. Patio Type House

 Detailed Concept: A design that integrates an open-air patio within the central layout of a
home. This encourages natural light penetration and ventilation, creating a comfortable
microclimate.

 Thermal Benefits: The patio acts as a thermal buffer, cooling air before it enters the home
and providing shaded outdoor living space.

12. Subterranean House

 Thermal Stability: The earth around a subterranean house acts as a natural insulator,
maintaining a stable temperature year-round. This reduces the need for mechanical heating
and cooling.

 Design Challenges: Adequate waterproofing and ventilation must be addressed to prevent

 Aesthetic and Environmental Benefits: Integrates well into natural landscapes, offering a
low visual impact and increased energy efficiency.

References for Further Reading:

Tropical Sustainable Architecture: Social and Environmental Dimensions by Joo Hwa Bay and Boon
Lay Ong.

Climate Responsive Design by Richard Hyde.

Passive and Low Energy Architecture in the Tropics by Arthur Bowen.

Journals like Energy and Buildings and Building and Environment for peer-reviewed articles on
passive cooling and tropical design practices.

Government or regional architectural guidelines related to tropical construction standards (e.g.,

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

ArchDaily.