THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2:

A PRIMER ON
TROPICAL
ARCHITECTURE WEEK 10
Presented by Rebecca Vanessa Rellosa
 TODAY'S PRESENTATION
OUTLINE OF TOPICS

What is Environmental Design?

What is Tropical Architecture?
Tropical Regions of the World
Climate of the Philippines
Problems in Areas with Tropical Climates
Design Objectives in Tropical Climates
Ken Yeang and Passive Systems in Building Design
 WHAT IS TROPICAL ARCHITECTURE?
design that focuses and responds to the climatic
conditions of the tropics
studies the significant influences that impact
architecture in tropical regions and develops passive
strategies to lessen heat gain
encourages air movement through a home or building
Tropical architecture is far more than a style, trend or
aesthetic. Its functionality for the climatic conditions of
the tropics makes it a critical part of good design for the
region.

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN?

the process of addressing surrounding environmental
parameters when devising plans, programs, policies,
buildings, or products.
seeks to create spaces that will enhance the natural,
social, cultural and physical environment of particular
areas
combines multidisciplinary areas, the term has recently
been expanded to include ecological issues and
sustainability
 36%
OF THE WORLD'S LANDMASS ARE
TROPICAL REGIONS, AND IS HOME TO 1/3
OF THE WORLD'S PEOPLE

The tropics are regions of Earth that lie roughly in the middle of
the globe, between the latitude lines of the Tropic of Cancer and
the Tropic of Capricorn.

The tropics include the Equator and parts of North America, South
America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
KÖPPEN CLIMATE
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
categorizes climate zones throughout
the world based on local vegetation.
Developed by Wladimir Köppen, a
German botanist and climatologist
The vegetation that grows in a region is
dependent on the temperature and
precipitation there, which are two key
factors of climate
Areas with more rainfall and higher
temperatures contain more forests
while regions with less rainfall tend to
be deserts
TWO SEASONS: RAINY AND DRY
Using temperature and rainfall as bases, the climate of PHILIPPINE
CLIMATE
the country can be divided into two major seasons: (1)
the rainy season, from June to November; and (2) the
dry season, from December to May. The dry season THE CLIMATE OF
may be subdivided further into (a) the cool dry season,
THE PHILIPPINES
from December to February; and (b) the hot dry season,
IS TROPICAL AND
from March to May.
MARITIME.
IT IS
TROPICAL CYCLONES CHARACTERIZED
BY RELATIVELY
Tropical cyclones, which hit the country on average of
twenty times a year and are expected to increase in HIGH
severity because of climate change, exacerbating the TEMPERATURES,
risks. Some of the worst damage from these storms HIGH HUMIDITY
comes from surging sea levels. As levels rise -- about AND ABUNDANT
eight inches by 2050, some studies project, and an RAINFALL.
additional three feet by 2100 -- storms will be much
more dangerous.
 TROPICAL CYCLONES, ALSO KNOWN AS TYPHOONS OR HURRICANES, ARE AMONG THE MOST
DESTRUCTIVE WEATHER PHENOMENA. THEY ARE INTENSE CIRCULAR STORMS THAT ORIGINATE OVER
WARM TROPICAL OCEANS, AND HAVE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND SPEEDS EXCEEDING 119 KILOMETRES
PER HOUR AND HEAVY RAINS.
 PHILIPPINE CLIMATE
The map divides the country's offshore areas
into 11 zones and identifies specific risks for
each of them from the effects of climate change.

These are the five different risk factors it

identifies:
a rise in sea levels
extreme rainfall events
extreme heating events
increased ocean temperatures and
a disturbed water budget.

Given the Philippines' vast shorelines and built-

in geographic susceptibility, any one of these
could be disastrous.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING EL NIÑO WHAT HAPPENS DURING EL NIÑA IN
IN THE PHILIPPINES? THE PHILIPPINES?
An El Niño event is manifested in the Philippine
local climate by drier than normal weather La Niña, or the periodic cooling of the ocean
conditions that can last for one or more seasons, surface temperatures, increases the likelihood of
causing dry spells or even drought in many parts above normal rainfall conditions and can lead to
of the country. adverse impacts such as heavy rainfall, floods and
landslides.
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
The Philippines' hottest months are April and May, with
the coldest months experienced during December,
January and February.

The mean annual temperature is 27.1°C, with a relatively

low seasonal temperature variation of approximately 3°C.

There is minimal spatial variation in temperatures across

the country.
PROBLEMS IN AREAS WITH TROPICAL CLIMATES
1. HIGH TEMPERATURE LEVEL (HEAT)
2. HIGH HUMIDITY LEVELS
3. SLOW WIND VELOCITIES
4. HIGH PRECIPITATION DURING RAINY DAYS
5. HIGH INCIDENCE OF TROPICAL CYCLONES
6. ABUNDANCE OF INSECTS AND RODENTS DUE TO DAMP
GROUND CONDITIONS
 DESIGN OBJECTIVES IN
TROPICAL CLIMATES

1. Minimize heat gain

2. Maximize ventilation
3. Prevent unnecessary increase in
humidity levels
4. Have good drainage systems to
accommodate high precipitation
5. Protect spaces from insects and rodents
“ECOLOGIST FIRST, ARCHITECT SECOND.”
– KEN YEANG
KEN YEANG
is an architect and ecologist, pioneering an authentic ecology-based
architecture since 1972.

His research and built experiments advance the field of designing to save
the planet, presented in his instructive books (over 12). His architecture is
characterised by verdant greenery as biotic constituents to create
habitats as 'constructed ecosystems' (in Boustead Tower (1985), DiGi
Data Centre(2002), others).

He trained at the Architectural Association (London). He doctorate at

Cambridge University on ecological design was published by McGraw-Hill
(1985) as 'Designing With Nature'. He remains a Fellow (honorary) at
Wolfson College.

H and PA | The Green Tree Towers

KEN YEANG'S 8 PASSIVE SYSTEMS
1. Passive Design by Building Configuration
2. Passive Design by Built Form Orientation
3. Passive Design by Facade Design
4. Passive Design through Solar Control Devices
5. Passive Daylight Concepts
6. Passive Design by Color of Building Envelope
7. Passive Design by Vertical Landscaping
8. Passive Design by Use of Wind and Natural
Ventilation
PASSIVE COOLING
1. PASSIVE DESIGN BY
BUILDING CONFIGURATION
Building configuration affect airflow and exposure
to sunlight
PASSIVE COOLING
2. PASSIVE DESIGN BY BUILT
FORM ORIENTATION
In tropical climates, the East and West facing sides
of the building are regarded as the "hot sides"
because it receives the most amount of heat during
the day.
To maximize a building's cooling capacity passively,
its service spaces can be oriented to face the "hot
sides" thus shielding the habitable spaces from
unnecessary heat gain brought about by the sun.
PASSIVE COOLING
3. PASSIVE DESIGN BY FACADE
DESIGN
The exterior facade of our buildings can be
regarded as our "third skin". Our actual physical
skin is our 1st, our clothing as 2nd, and the external
envelope of our buildings as 3rd.

As with our biological skin, building facades must

have the ability to adjust to varying climactic
conditions in order to maintain a comfortable body
temperature.
PASSIVE COOLING
4. PASSIVE DESIGN THROUGH
SOLAR CONTROL DEVICES
In tropical climates, penetration of solar radiation
into the interior spaces of a building cause very
significant increase in the spatial temperature,
which in turn increases the demand for mechanical
cooling. Sun control is thus an important factor in
the level of energy efficiency that a building wants
to achieve.
PASSIVE COOLING
a. The EAST and WEST facing side of the building receive the most
4. PASSIVE DESIGN THROUGH amount of heat
SOLAR CONTROL DEVICES: b. The afternoon sun, which is particularly hot, will hit the WEST SIDE of a
building
BASICS IN SOLAR CONTROL IN c. In the Philippines, the sun will rise in the EAST, flank slightly to the
TROPICAL CLIMATES SOUTH, then set in the WEST
d. Full height glazing is best applied to the NORTH SIDE because this
receives the least amount of direct solar radiation
e. Horizontal sunshades are best applied to the NORTH and SOUTH SIDES
of a builidng because the sun will hit these sides from a high altitude.
f. VERTICAL FINS are best applied to EAST and WEST facing sides of a
building because the sun will hit these sides a low altitude and mostly
from an oblique azimuth
g. When the facade of a building does not run along the NORTH-SOUTH or
EAST-WEST AXIS, the facade openings need to be protected by both
Horizontal and Vertical Shades
 PASSIVE COOLING k. Interior blinds such as Venetian blinds will not reduce solar heat gain
because they stop the heat only when it is already inside the space. This
heat will eventually move past the blinds by convection or radiation
4. PASSIVE DESIGN THROUGH l. If you wish to protect an opening using louvers, it is better to use
exterior louvers
SOLAR CONTROL DEVICES:
m. In designing sun shading devices, you must know where the sun will
BASICS IN SOLAR CONTROL IN strike at different times of the day. Study different sun angles using a
solar path diagram so that you can design shades that will provide the
TROPICAL CLIMATES
best shading possible.
h. A combined horizontal and vertical shade is called an n. Design of shades differ as you move through different geographic
EGG CRATE SUNSHADE latitudes. Make sure that you are using a solar path diagram that covers
i. If the interior spaces cannot be protected 100% from the latitude of your site.
direct solar radiation, consider using special facade o. Consider various site elements such as vegetation and topographical
techniques such as double layered facades features in sun-shading design. Ex.: a west facing side of a building that
j. Do not rely completely on facade techniques to protect is covered by the afternoon shadow of a group of large trees or a hill
the building from solar heat gain. It is still best to first need not have shades.
protect your spaces by shading or properly orienting
them NOTE: refer to ARCHITECTURAL GRAPHIC STANDARDS - SUN SHADING
DEVICES
PASSIVE COOLING
5. PASSIVE DAYLIGHT CONCEPTS

Passive daylighting is a system of both collecting

sunlight using static, non-moving, and non-tracking
systems (such as windows, sliding glass doors, most
skylights, light tubes) and reflecting the collected
daylight deeper inside with elements such as light
shelves.
PASSIVE COOLING
4. PASSIVE DAYLIGHT CONCEPTS

Toplighting Systems (Skylight, Vertical Lightpipe,

Solar Lightpipe, Heliostats

Sidelighting Systems (Windows, glazing)

Sun Scoops (captures daylight using mirrors

outside the building envelope)

Dynamic Shutters (similar to control of lens

diaphragm in the camera lenses)

Horizontal Systems (Horizontal Lightpipe)

PASSIVE COOLING
6. PASSIVE DESIGN BY COLOR OF
BUILDING ENVELOPE
Dark-colored homes absorb 70 to 90 percent of the
radiant energy from the sun, which is then
absorbed into the home. White — or other light,
neutral colors — will reflect most of the heat away
from your building
PASSIVE COOLING
7. PASSIVE DESIGN BY VERTICAL
LANDSCAPING
Vertical landscaping is the application of vegetation
within and around the facade of buildings
particularly those witin dense unrban areas.

Recent applications of vertical landscaping is

through the use of "sky courts", balconies
integrated within a building's facade, whose
primary purpose is to accommodate plants, trees
and other greeneries, which in turn will help in
improving air and thermal qualities.
PASSIVE COOLING
8. PASSIVE DESIGN BY USE OF WIND
AND NATURAL VENTILATION
Wind and natural ventilation have a great impact on
cooling a building. In terms of energy savings, the
ideal solution will be to make buildings completely
naturally ventilated. However, standards of
comfort, acoustical requirements, dust protection,
and other such requirements may not permit
buildings to be fully ventilated naturally.
PASSIVE COOLING
8. PASSIVE DESIGN BY USE OF WIND
AND NATURAL VENTILATION: BASIC
VENTILATION CONCEPTS

a. Stack Effect or Chimney Effect

b. Cross Ventilation
TROPICAL DESIGN ELEMENTS IN FILIPINO
ARCHITECTURE: A PHOTO ESSAY
RESEARCH WORK
TROPICAL DESIGN ELEMENTS IN FILIPINO ARCHITECTURE

GROUPING: LEARNING RESTRICTIONS:

OUTCOMES:
·Form groups of 2 to 4 ·Original photos are required for the photo essay part.
members ·To identify the actual application of Tropical Students who download images from the internet,
Design Elements in Filipino Architecture and claim it as their own will automatically incur a
·To apply knowledge in photography and grade of zero.
photo documentation in architecture ·Instructions are to be followed strictly. Students who
SUBMISSION ·To learn how to create a storyboard as part of do not comply or submit their output on the specified
architecture documentation deadline will automatically incur a grade of zero.
REQUIREMENTS: ·Late submittals will not be accepted.
·Storyboard using Canva
·Photo essay containing not
less than 20 photos with DEADLINE:
creative captions using Canva
JUNE 13, 2023