TROPICAL

ARCHITECTURE
ELEMENTS
FACTORS
CONCEPTS &
OF CLIMATIC DESIGN
CLIMATE BASICS
CLIMATE A measure of the average pattern of
variation in temperature, humidity,
atmospheric pressure, wind,
precipitation, atmospheric particle
count and other meteorological
variables in a given region over long
periods of time.
 CLIMATE VS WEATHER

Climate is different from weather, in that

weather only describes the short-term
conditions of these variables in a given region.
Solar Radiation or Atmospheric
Sunlight Humidity

CLIMATE
CLIMATE
ELEMENTS

Air
Percipitation
Temperature

Wind
 THE The system is based on the concept
that native vegetation is the best
KÖPPEN expression of climate.

SYSTEM Thus, climate zone boundaries have

been selected with vegetation
distribution in mind.
 The Köppen climate Type A Type B
THE classification
scheme divides Tropical climates Dry (arid and
climates into five semiarid)
KÖPPEN main groups, each
having several types
climates
and subtypes:
SYSTEM Type C Type D Type E
Temperate Continental Polar and alpine
climates climates climates
The Koppen climate classification is the most
widely used system to catalogue climate types
in the world.
TYPE

Found in a nearly unbroken belt

around the Earth at low latitudes,
mostly within 15° N and S.

TROPICAL CLIMATE
TROPICAL Their location within a region in which
available solar radiation is large and
CLIMATE relatively constant from month to
month ensures both high
(A) temperatures (generally in excess of
18 °C) and a virtual absence of
thermal seasons.
TROPICAL In A climates, the terms “winter” and
“summer” have little meaning, but in
CLIMATE many locations, annual rhythm is
provided by the occurrence of wet and
(A) dry seasons.
TROPICAL Type A climates are controlled mainly
by the seasonal fluctuations of the
CLIMATE trade winds and monsoons.

(A)
 Köppen Af Am Aw
Tropical Tropical Tropical
specifies rainforest monsoon wet-dry
three A climate climate climate

climates:
Hot-Humid
Regions
Building form
elongated along the
east-west axis
minimizes east and
west exposures.
 HOT HUMID REGIONS

Utilize wind to Provide solar

promote shading for
Reduce solar heat gain
cooling by windows and
evaporatiob outdoor spaces
TROPICAL | Cebu, Philippines
TYPE

Arid and semiarid climates cover about

a quarter of Earth’s land surface,
mostly between 50° N and 50° S, but
they are mainly found in the 15– 30°
latitude belt in both hemispheres.

DRY CLIMATES
 ARID
A land or a climate having little or no rain and
is typically too dry or barren to support lush
vegetation.
 DRY They exhibit low precipitation, great
variability in precipitation from year to
CLIMATES year, low relative humidity, high
evaporation rates (when water is
(B) available), clear skies, and intense
solar radiation.
 DRY BWh BSh BSk
Tropical Mid- Tropical
CLIMATES and latitude and
subtropical steppe and subtropical
(B) desert desert steppe
climate climate
Hot-Arid
Regions
Building form should
enclose courtyard
spaces
 HOT ARID REGIONS

Promote cooling Provide solar

by evaporation
Reduce solar and shading for
using water
conductive heat gain. features and windows and
plantings outdoor spaces
DRY | Phoenix, Arizona
TYPE

These climates have an average

monthly temperature above 10 °C (50
°F) in their warmest months, and an
average monthly temperature above
−3 ° C (27 F) in their coldest months
TEMPERATE
CLIMATES
TEMPERATE In Europe this In Asia, this
includes areas includes areas
CLIMATES from coastal from South
(C) Norway south to Korea, to east-
southern France. China from
Beijing
southward, to
northern Japan.
TEMPERATE In Europe this In Asia, this
includes areas includes areas
CLIMATES from coastal from South
(C) Norway south to Korea, to east-
southern France. China from
Beijing
southward, to
northern Japan.
Temperature
Regions
Elongating the form of
a building along the
east-west axis
maximizes south-
facing walls.
TEMPERATURE | Haus, Norway
TYPE

These climates have an average

temperature above 10 °C (50 °F) in
their warmest months, and a coldest
month average below −3 °C
CONTINENTAL
CLIMATES
 These usually occur in the interiors of
continents and on their upper east coasts,
normally north of 40°N.
Cool
Regions
Minimizing the
surface area of a
building reduces
exposures to low
temperatures.
CONTINENTAL | Alberta, Canada
TYPE

These climates are characterized by

average temperatures below 10 °C in
all 12 months of the year.
POLAR CLIMATES
 POLAR ET EF H
Tundra Snow and Highland
CLIMATES climate ice climate climate
(E)
POLAR | Northern part of Alaska
CLIMATE OF THE
PHILIPPINES
 CLIMATE The climate It is It is similar
of the characterized in many
OF THE Philippines
by relatively
respects to
high
PHILIPPINES is tropical temperature, the climate
and high humidity of the
maritime. and abundant countries of
rainfall. Central
America.
EL NIDO | Palawan, Philippines
SAMAL ISLAND | Davao, Philippines
SIARGAO ISLAND | Siargao Del Norte, Philippines
PANGLAO | Bohol, Philippines
CARAMOAN | Camarines Sur, Philippines
BANTAYAN ISLAND | Cebu, Philippines
BORACAY ISLAND | Aklan, Philippines
PALAUI ISLAND | Cagayan Valley, Philippines
PAGUDPUD | Ilocos Norte, Philippines
GREAT STA. CRUZ ISLAND | Zamboanga City, Philippines
CLIMATE OF THE
PHILIPPINES
TEMPERATURE
Elements that affects the weather and
climate
TEMPERATURE
Excluding Baguio, the mean annual
temperature in the Philippines is
26.6 °C.

The coolest months fall in January with

a mean temperature of 25.5 °C while
the warmest month occurs in May with
a mean temperature of
28.3 °C.
TEMPERATURE
Latitude is an insignificant factor in the
variation of temperature while altitude
shows greater contrast in temperature.

Thus, the mean annual temperature of

Baguio with an elevation of 1,500 meters is
18.3°C. This makes the temperature of
Baguio comparable with those in the
temperate climate.
TEMPERATURE

The difference between the mean

annual temperature of the
southernmost station in Zamboanga
and that of the northernmost station in
Laoag is insignificant.
TEMPERATURE

In other words, there is essentially no

difference in the mean annual temperature
of places in Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao
measured at or near sea level.
THE SUMMER CAPITAL OF THE PHILIPPINES
HUMIDITY
Elements that affects the weather and
climate
HUMIDITY

Humidity refers to the moisture content

of the atmosphere.

Due to high temperature and the

surrounding bodies of water, the
Philippines has a high relative humidity.
TEMPERATURE

The combination of warm temperature and

high relative humidity gives rise to high
perceived temperature throughout the
archipelago.

It is especially uncomfortable during March

to May, when temperature and humidity
attain their maximum levels.
The average humidity
The average monthly relative humidity varies between

71%
MAY

85%
SEPTEMBER
RAINFALL
Elements that affects the weather and
climate
RAINFALL Rainfall is the most important climatic
element in the Philippines.

Rainfall distribution throughout the

country varies from one region to
another, depending upon the direction
of the moisture-bearing winds and the
location of the mountain systems.
965-4,064mm
The mean annual rainfall of the Philippines
varies from 965 to 4,064 millimetres annually.
RAINFALL Baguio City, Eastern Samar, and
Eastern Surigao receive the greatest
amount of rainfall while the southern
portion of Cotabato receives the least
amount of rain. At General Santos City
in Cotabato, the average annual
rainfall is only 978 millimeters.
The most important elements of the country’s weather and climate are the following:

TEMPERATURE HUMIDITY RAINFALL

SEASONS
SEASONS Using temperature and rainfall as
bases, the climate of the country can
be divided into two major seasons:
rainy and dry.
 The rainy The dry cool dry
SEASONS season, season, from season,
from June to December to from December
November May, which to February
may be
subdivided
further into: hot dry
season,
from March to
May
CLIMATE TYPES
CLIMATE TYPES
TYPE I TYPE II
Two pronounced seasons: No dry season with a
dry from November to April pronounced rainfall from
and wet during the rest of November to January.
the year.

Relatively dry from Rainfall is more or less

November to April, and wet
evenly distributed
during the rest of the year.
throughout the year.
TYPE III TYPE IV
CLIMATE TYPES
Four recognized
climate types in the
Philippines, based on
the distribution of
rainfall.

Source: PAGASA
PREVAILING WINDS
AMIHAN HABAGAT
Northeast Southwest
November - April May - October
MONSOON A monsoon is a seasonal shift in the
prevailing wind direction, that usually
brings with it a different kind of
weather
TYPHOONS Typhoons have a great influence on
the climate and weather conditions of
the Philippines.

A great portion of the rainfall,

humidity and cloudiness are due to
the influence of typhoons.
TYPHOONS They generally originate in the region
of the Marianas and Caroline Islands
of the Pacific Ocean which have the
same latitudinal location as
Mindanao.
TYPHOONS Their movements follow a
northwesterly direction, sparing
Mindanao from being directly hit by
majority of the typhoons that cross
the country.

This makes the southern Philippines

very desirable for agriculture and
industrial development
TYPHOON VONGFONG | Typhoon Ambo
THEORIES
&
PRINCIPLES
TROPICAL
OF

DESIGN
BASICS OF
PASSIVE DESIGN
GOALS FOR
Maximum

VARIOUS COOL
thermal retention

Maximum heat gain

CLIMATES

CLIMATES Maximum wind

resistance

CLIMATES

Moderate thermal
retention

TEMPERATURE
Moderate heat gain
CLIMATES

Slight wind exposure

(humidity control)
GOALS FOR
Maximum wind

VARIOUS HOT
HUMID
exposure

Maximum internal
airflow

CLIMATES CLIMATES

Minimum heat gain

CLIMATES

Minimum heat gain

HOT
Moderate win
DRY
resistence
CLIMATES
Moderate internal
airflow
Design that works with the
environment to exclude unwanted heat
or cold and take advantage of sun and
breezes (inducing comfort conditions
in the building interiors), therefore
avoiding or minimizing the need for
mechanical heating or cooling.

PASSIVE DESIGN
PASSIVE The use of passive cooling principles
COOLING 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.
PROS/CONS Typically, initial However, this is
costs for passive often offset by
OF PASSIVE cooling systems the minimal
COOLING will be higher operating costs
because these required, as well
systems are as the minimized
typically integral impact on the
to the building environment.
envelope
 ACTIVE A building design approach that
COOLING addresses the problem of inducing
comfort by means of equipment that
consume energy.
PROS/CONS In active systems, But this will soon
the initial cost of be recouped by
OF ACTIVE the building the costs for
COOLING envelope will be equipment,
low maintenance, and
energy
consumption.
PRINCIPLES
PASSIVE DESIGN
 PRINCIPLES OF

OF PASSIVE
PRINCIPLES
Avoid Heat PASSIVE DESIGN
Gain

Make Use of
Natural Light

Encourage Natural
Ventilation
Create
Cool
Outdoor
Areas
AVOID HEAT 1. Orient the building to reduce exposure to
midday sun, particularly summer sun.
GAIN 2. Use materials with low thermal mass as a
general rule.
3. Shade walls and windows, particularly
any walls with high thermal mass.
4. Use glazing on windows that cannot be
effectively shaded.
5. Use insulation, light colors, and heat-
reflective surfaces.
ENCOURAGE 1. Orient the building and windows
NATURAL towards prevailing winds.

VENTILATION 2. Include operable windows and

ceiling vents that enable the
building to naturally ventilate.
MAKE USE OF 1. Install shaded windows.
NATURAL
2. Install shaded skylights, light
LIGHT tubes, and other natural lighting
devices.
CREATE COOL 1. Use verandas and deep balconies
OUTDOOR to shade and cool incoming air.

AREAS 2. Use landscaping to provide shade

without blocking cooling breezes
and use planting to reduce ground
temperature and minimize
reflected heat
PASSIVE DESIGN
CONSIDERATIONS
MAIN CONSIDERATIONS

ORIENTATION VENTILATION LANDSCAPING THERMAL INSULATION

MASS

WINDOWS NATURAL
LIGHTING
MAIN CONSIDERATIONS

ORIENTATION VENTILATION LANDSCAPING THERMAL INSULATION

MASS

WINDOWS NATURAL
LIGHTING
MAIN CONSIDERATIONS

ORIENTATION VENTILATION LANDSCAPING THERMAL INSULATION

MASS

WINDOWS NATURAL
LIGHTING
MAIN CONSIDERATIONS

ORIENTATION VENTILATION LANDSCAPING THERMAL INSULATION

MASS

WINDOWS NATURAL
LIGHTING
MAIN CONSIDERATIONS

ORIENTATION VENTILATION LANDSCAPING THERMAL INSULATION

MASS

WINDOWS NATURAL
LIGHTING
MAIN CONSIDERATIONS

ORIENTATION VENTILATION LANDSCAPING THERMAL INSULATION

MASS

WINDOWS NATURAL
LIGHTING