WARM HUMID CLIMATE

1. ORIENTATION  Larger dimensions of a building should preferably face north and south, as these elevations
receive the lowest heat loads from solar radiation.
 Where a predominant wind direction can clearly be identified, long-shaped buildings should
be arranged across this direction.
 For low rise buildings, orientation according to the wind direction is more advisable. With
high-rise buildings the opposite holds true and protection from sun radiation should be the
decisive factor.
2. FORM AND PLANNING  As movement of air is the only available relief from climatic stress, therefore vital to indoor
comfort, the building will have to be opened up to breezes and orientated to catch whatever
air movement there is. Failure to do this would produce indoor conditions always warmer
than a shaded external space which is open to air movement.
 Elongated building plan with a single row of rooms, allow cross ventilation.
 Such rooms may be accessible from open verandahs or galleries, which also provide shading.
 Higher buildings receive too much radiant heat.
3. BUILT FORM  Groups of buildings with large open spaces in between for unrestricted air movement.
 Extended plans, in a line across the prevailing wind direction, afford low resistance to air
movement.
 To provide sufficient air circulation, buildings should be scattered and have a low population
density.
 Buildings should be separated with large, free spaces between them. This allows airflow
which provides ventilation for cooling and a hygienic environment.
 On the other hand, the walking distance to public spaces should be minimal and the
footpaths shaded.
 Groups of buildings should not be built in too compact a manner.
 In cases where settlements consist of several rows of buildings, the houses should be
staggered to avoid wind shaded buildings in the downwind rows.

4. STREET TYPE  The settlement pattern should allow for a loose open street network.
 Street width and orientation the width of the street should be such that the intense solar
radiation during late morning and early noon is avoided during the summer.
 Major street should be oriented parallel to or within 30 degree of the prevalling wind
direction during summer months to encourage ventilation in warm and humid regions.
 External public spaces, streets, squares and footpaths should be protected from sun and rain.
 Squares and passages should be covered, but cross-ventilation should not be impeded.
Generous and well distributed areas of vegetation help to improve the microclimate.
 Street spaces should be long and straight to facilitate air movement and lined by high, shade-
 providing trees.
5. EXTERNAL SPACE  Shading and free passage for air movement are the two basic requirements. Trees and
planting can be relied on for shading, as plants carry full foliage all year round.
 Rarely will a structure be built just to provide shade to an open space, but pergolas and light
framing to be covered by climbing plants can be provided quite cheaply and they can be very
effective.
 It is difficult to provide privacy as well as allowing for the passage of air, but various systems
of paling fences and screen walls have been devised which do not permit direct view but
allow the breeze to penetrate.
 Most of these consist of louvered timber boards or some overlapping arrangements of
boards or planks. Unfortunately, most of these reduce the air velocity quite substantially.
 The principles of maximum shading and maximum ventilation also apply to the design of the
outdoor space. Tall shading trees and reduced ground vegetation are important elements.

 Door and window openings are, or should be, as large as possible, allowing a free passage of
6. VENTILATION air.
 Require maximum ventilation, which leads to very open buildings. This is valid not only for
the design of the elevations, but also for the floor plan.
 Ventilation will also be necessary to the space between the roof and ceiling, and adequate
openings must be provided for this purpose.
7. ROOM ARRANGEMENT  Bedrooms can be adequately located on the east side, where it is coolest in the evening.
kitchen can be located on the west side as well.
 living rooms, should not be located on the east or west side.
 Semi open spaces such as balconies, verandahs, porches can be used advantageously for day
time activities, as well as give protection from rainfall.
 Central courtyard can be provided with vents at higher levels to draw away the rising hot air.

8. FOUNDATIONS, BASEMENTS AND FLOORS  The ground itself tends to be of the same temperature as the air, thus conduction of heat
away from the building into the ground would not be significant anyway.

 Therefore, Direct contact with the ground does not necessarily provide cooling It is better to
raise the floor and ventilate the space underneath. The floor should be of low thermal
capacity (e.g. timber floor with void).

 The advantages are better ventilation due to the elevated space and maximum benefit of the
slightly lower night temperature.
9. WALLS  Wall must be designed to promote air flow to counter the prevalent humidity.
 Walls, both external and internal, should be as light as possible with a minimal heat storage
 capacity.
 Walls should be shaded as much as possible.
 The outer surface should be reflective, light colored.
10. WINDOWS  They should be large and fully openable, with inlets of a similar size on both sides of the room
allowing a proper cross-ventilation.
 There is no point in having windows with fixed glass panes.
 Windows are preferably equipped with flexible louvres.
 Door shutters may also incorporate louvres or grills.
 Openings should be placed according to the prevailing breezes,
 Limit the number of openings on east and west side.
11. SHADING TECHNIQUES  openings should be shaded by an overhanging roof, screens, lattices, grills etc.
 The, proper arrangement of vegetation, mainly of shade-providing trees, within the
surrounding space.
 Grow a green cover over roofs and walls. This cover functions as a second skin which provides
 Tile roofs and similar "soft" roofing materials may be destructed by certain plant species.
 Shading of all vertical surfaces, of both openings and solid walls will be beneficial.
 This task will be much easier, if the building height is kept down. Very often the roof will
extend far beyond the line of walls, with broad overhanging eaves, providing the necessary
shading to both openings and wall surfaces.
12. ROOFS  In warm-humid areas the roof is preferably pitched to allow heavy rains to run off.
 Large overhangs protect the walls and openings from radiation and precipitation.
 Painting the surface in light colours.
 Ventilated double roof more efficient solution.
 A double roof construction, with roof space ventilated, a ceiling with its upper surface highly
reflective, and having a good resistive insulation. Both the roof and the ceiling should be of
low thermal capacity.
 Proper water proofing and quick drainage of water is essential due to heavy rainfall.

13. COULOUR AND TEXTURE  Walls should be painted with light pastel shades or white wash
 The surface roof can be of glazed tile to reflect sunlight.
 The surface finish should be protected from the effects of moisture.

14. CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES  The possibilities for evaporative cooling in humid regions are limited. Only indirect cooling
using a heat exchanger is possible.
 Waterbodies are not essential as they would tend to further increase the humidity.
 An unshaded pavement exposed to the sun heats up and can reach very high temperatures. A
 vegetal cover of the ground, however, keeps it comparatively cool and contributes much to a
cooler outdoor microclimate.
15. CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS  Light and thin materials such as timber or, even better, bamboo matting are recommended.
 Materials with heat storage capacity such as bricks and concrete are of little benefit
16. LANDSCAPE  High trees with wide, shading crowns provide protection from solar radiation.
 voided near buildings because the space between the ground vegetation and the high crowns
of the trees should remain open, providing free access for the wind at the level of the living
spaces.
 Vegetation gives shade from low angle western sun but does not block the breeze