Designing for Climatic Zones

PASSIVE RESILIENCE

Recorded by Elizabeth Donovan, images by Essi Nisonen and Veera Saastamoinen

KEY READINGS 

• Climate and Architecture. Torben Dahl. Routledge

• Designing for the climate emergency, a Guide for Architecture Students. Pelsmakers, S., Donovan, E., Hoggard, A., Kozminska, U. RIBA

• Lo-TEK: Design by Radical Indigenism. Julia Watson. TASCHEN

INSPIRATIONAL BUILT EXAMPLES

• Centre for Health and Social Welfare. Kéré Architecture. Burkina Faso

• Rokko Shidare Observatory. Sambuichi Architects. Japan

• Labri House.  Nguyen Khai Architects & Associates. Vietnam

DESIGNING FOR CLIMATIC ZONES

Designing for climates is the process of designing spaces that are well adapted to the local climate and weather conditions, with the goal of minimizing the building's energy consumption, maximizing indoor comfort, and reducing the negative impacts on the environment. Climate plays an important role in shaping human settlement, as it affects a ways people interact with the environment and the types of buildings and infrastructure that are required to support their needs. Contextual design and place-based design includes the spirit of place, also referred to as a genius loci, which focuses on the unique identity of place and its local natural systems, landscaping and environment. An example of this is the Danish vernacular wing houses and half timber houses, which were designed to withstand the harsh weather conditions in Denmark and were orientated with S facades or SW facades to maximize solar gain and minimize exposure to prevailing winds. Climate is affected by latitude, distribution of land and sea wind systems as well as the altitude of the location, and microclimates refer to the specific conditions and the immediate vicinity of a site such as wind patterns, temperature fluctuations and exposure to sunlight.