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TROPICAL DESIGN

OF AN ARCHITECT
CASE STUDY

ARC 111
TROPICAL DESIGN

Many confuse the term tropical architecture with a particular


design style. In reality, tropical architecture is all about
achieving thermal comfort through the use of passive design
elements like sunshades, cavity walls, light shelves,
overhangs, roof and wall insulation and even shading from
large trees to block the sun. It can look very traditional,
ultramodern or even high-tech.
Tropical architecture is all about tackling urban heat island
effect. So what exactly is the heat island effect? This
phenomenon is what results from cities that have very little
greenery and very many concrete surfaces. The city will have
2 to 3 degrees Celsius higher temperature than that of the
surrounding suburbs and countryside. Figuratively, it forms an
island of hotter land, while being surrounded by cooler land
in the city outskirts. Dark-colored roofs add to the heat island
effect. Some of the heat absorbed by dark-colored roofs is
transmitted to the room or space below.

THE BELAROCCA ISLAND RESORT


IN THE PHILIPPINES AND
THE HOUSE IN MAUI, HAWAII

CASE STUDY AND DESIGN


PRINCIPLES
FOR TROPICAL DESIGN ACHIEVEMENT

Basic design principles


For the Philippines, having a warm humid climate, there are a few
basic design principles regarding natural ventilation to cool a home
or a building. Belarocca Island Resort shows the following design
principles creating an overall view of a tropical island sanctuary.
1. The external features of the building envelope and its relation to
the site should be designed to fully utilize air movement. Interior
partitions should not block air movements.
2. Air velocity can be reduced when the interior walls are placed
close to the inlet opening or each time it is diverted around
obstructions.

3. If interior walls are unavoidable, air flow can still be ensured if


the partitions have openings at the lower and upper portions. This
is a common strategy in the old Filipino bahay na bato, with its
transom panels covered with intricate wood carvings or wood
louvers.
4. Maximize window openings for cross ventilation of internal
spaces. Vents in the roof cavity can also be very effective in
drawing out heat from the room interiors.
5. Since hot air goes upward, and cool air goes downward,
openings at the top of staircases and in clerestory windows
facilitate air change.
6. It is generally cooler at night, so ventilation of internal spaces
can be continuous for nighttime cooling. This means designing the
building with operable windows to let hot air escape at night and
to capture prevailing night winds.

7. To supplement natural ventilation, fans can be placed at various


heights and areas to increase comfort conditions. Fans are
effective in generating internal air movement, improve air
distribution and increase air velocities.
8. Window openings are advisable at the body level for
evaporative human body cooling. And room width should not
exceed five times ceiling height for good air movement.
9. Sunshades and sun protection devices on openings reduce heat
gain and glare, and also help in internal day lighting. Louvers that
are adjustable can alter the direction of air flow and lighting.
Asian houses have big roof overhangs to protect interior spaces
from heat gain and glare. Shading materials should reflect heat,
and not be another source of heat.
Roof insulation is a must in our warm climate. This reduces the
temperature significantly inside the house.

THE BELAROCCA ISLAND RESORT


IN THE HEART OF THE PHILIPPINES
CASE STUDY.
A TROPICAL DESIGN
OF AN ARCHITECT
SHOWING THE PRINCIPLES OF
GIVING INDOOR AIR QUALITY
FOR TROPICAL AREAS.

Bellarocca, an island resort off the coast of Elephant Island, has


established itself as one of the countrys most famous and
recognizable resorts, thanks to its distinctive architecture,
luxurious amenities, and air of exclusivity.
The resorts name means beautiful rock, an allusion to its island
location; indeed, the mountainous isle rises dramatically from the
sea, and its forest-covered hills and limestone crags providing a
stark contrast against the blue sky and sea, all serving as the
backdrop to the resorts pristine white Santorini-inspired
structures.
The resort in the island surrounded by grassy areas was taken
advantage and made as a golf course. Several vegetation's such
as planting of coconut trees and other species of trees creates a
warm feeling at the same time it produces fresh air.

Exclusivityis key to the resorts appeal. The island is accessible


only to guests, who are ferried in via speedboats or Zodiac
inflatable boats. Accommodations are also designed for privacy.
Villas are perched on hillsides, open to the sea but screened on all
other sides by fences and foliage. The Terrazas accommodations,
located on a cliff above the rest of the island, offer unparalleled
privacy. Even the hotel balconies are separated from neighboring
rooms by the thick stucco walls and geometric openings
characteristic of Mediterranean architecture.
Bellaroccasarchitecture and designis another factor that sets
the resort apart. Based on the resorts principle of organic luxury,
the rooms and common areas are well-appointed, and an effort is
made to integrate nature throughout. The villas and structures are
providing huge windows that will let the northeast and southwest
monsoon enter the inside areas.

THE HOUSE IN MAUI, HAWAII


Sustainable Tropical Building Design Principles
Energy and emissions
1. Incorporate passive design measures to maximise the use of
natural ventilation, cooling and lighting.
2. Maximise energy efficiency and surpass minimum statutory
requirements for energy efficiency.
3. Strive for long-term sustainability and energy security by
installing renewable energy generation systems.
4. Maximise opportunities for public and active transport access
to the building.

Water and wastewater


5. Maximise water efficiency and surpass minimum statutory
requirements for water efficiency.
6. Access alternative water sources to reduce consumption of
potable water.
7. Phase out use of potable water in landscaping.
Indoor environment quality
8. Incorporate materials and fittings that are not harmful to the
health, safety and well being of building users.
9. Use air-handling and temperature control systems that provide
a comfortable and healthy indoor environment.
10. Ensure work areas have access to natural light and external
views.

Waste and construction materials


11. Select materials with the lower embodied energy and
environmental impacts.
12. Maximise reuse and recycling of construction and demolition
waste.
13. Allow adequate space for recycling, waste storage and
composting by building occupants.
Local environment
14. Restore habitat and improve community spaces surrounding
buildings.
15. Minimise the impact during and post development on
biodiversity, water and soil quality, soil erosion
and visual amenity.

Passive design
Passive design is design that works with the environment to
exclude unwanted heat or cold and take advantage of sun and
breezes, therefore avoiding or minimising the need for mechanical
heating or cooling.
Passive design in the tropics means designing a building to make
the most of natural light and cooling breezes, and using shading,
orientation and appropriate building materials to reduce heat gain
and storage.
The use of passive design principles in the tropics results in a
building that is comfortable, energy efficient and results in
substantial savings in running costs of both cooling and lighting.

How we design and construct buildings can affect the natural


environment, both directly by placing buildings and paved
surfaces on previously vegetated areas, and indirectly through
extracting resources to create building materials; emitting
greenhouse gases in the manufacturing and transportation of
materials to the site; and through using energy sources such as
electricity once the building is operating.
Sustainable building design is about reducing these impacts by
designing and constructing buildings that are appropriate for the
climate, have minimal environmental impacts, and are healthy and
comfortable for building users.
Sustainable building design for the tropics differs considerably
from sustainable building design for temperate areas. The majority
of available information on sustainable design has been produced
for temperate climates and is not applicable in the tropics.

These guidelines have been developed specifically for the wet


tropical climate of the Cairns region, and provide information on
the key sustainable building design elements for the tropics. They
can be used in conjunction with Councils Sustainable Design
Checklist to plan the design and construction of sustainable
buildings in tropical climates.

THE HOUSE IN MAUI, HAWAII

INTERIORS
A HOUSE INSPIRED BY TROPICAL
DESIGN AND
GREEN ARCHITECTURE

Living Pati

Living Pat

Living Roo

Living Roo

Dining Patio Ne
The Pool Ar

Sleeping Pat

Pool Are

SEVERAL FACTORS TO CONSIDER FOR TROPICAL DESIGN


Orientation for minimal solar heat gain:
The path of the sun changes gradually
throughout the year between summer and
winter. Generally the best approach in the
tropics is to design so that all walls are shaded
from the sun all year round.
Depending on the building use, it may be
desirable to admit some northern (mid-day)
sun in the period May-July, which can be done
by planning the width of eaves and awnings . It
is also important to remember that in the
Cairns region the sun is in the south during
summer months and so shading is also needed
on the south of buildings.

Orientation to maximise air flow:


In Cairns, prevailing winds are south-easterly in the winter
months and north to north-easterly during the summer months.
Stronger breezes typically occur around April and October.
The lack of breeze during the hottest days can pose challenges
for achieving effective natural ventilation, and designing to
encourage convection flow is very effective at these times.

PASSIVE VENTILATION:
Designing a building in a way that maximises natural
ventilation will greatly reduce the need for energy-intensive
air conditioning.
Air movement over the body, even if the air is not much
cooler, creates a feeling of cool due to the evaporation of
moisture from the skin.
The following methods of passive ventilation are most
effective in the tropics.

Maximising breezes:
Orient the building to make the most of prevailing winds.
Align vents, windows and doors to allow air flow through the
building these should be aligned in a reasonably straight line
for maximum effectiveness.
Minimise internal obstacles or blockages such as internal
walls in major flow through areas to allow for unimpeded
ventilation.
Raise the building off the ground to
catch breezes.

Removing hot air:


Design for convection air flow to remove hot air from the
building. Convection air flow is created by hot air rising and
exiting at the highest point, which naturally draws in cool air
from outside.
This natural cycling of air can be created by placing low window
openings across a space from high window openings. This will be
even more effective at cooling if incoming air is being drawn
from a shaded area where plants are growing.

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