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CLIMATE RESPONSIVE PRACTICES IN LOCAL

ARCHITECTURE

1. Introduction:

Climate responsive architecture is based on the way a building

form and structure moderates the climate for human good and well

being. This comes from both the timing of the consideration of climatic

issues in the design process and the procedure by which it is synthesized

with other design issues which require of the architect both analytical

and synthesis skills. These buildings which use climate as a form

determinant result in climate responsive architecture. Through out

architectural history, local builders have used great ingenuity in

providing the most comfortable climate conditions possible with the

constraints of the local climate. There had been many local climate

responsive practices both traditional and contemporary. Traditionally

designed buildings are a useful basis for understanding the integration

of culture, climate and building form as they offer holistic models for

the development of climate responsive architecture. Also it is

appropriate to consider the nature of contemporary climate responsive

local buildings and their way of expressing the relationship between the

building and the climate. And as analytical studies of these buildings

need an awareness of the suitable treatments of local climate conditions,

this paper first discusses different treatments needed for hot-arid climate

and their impact on the building form, fabric and elements, followed by

analysis of a group of traditional and contemporary local climate

responsive buildings.

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2. Hot-Arid Climate Strategies for buildings form, fabric

and elements

A main aspect in designing a climatic responsive building is its comfort

criteria, in hot-arid climate, four main climatic factors that need

interrelated and integrated treatments to attain comfort dealing with solar

radiation through appropriate orientation, building shape, shading of

walls and openings, roof treatments special kinds of glazing and using

landscape for evaporative cooling, the temperature can be treated for

cooling or heating by thermal mass, insulation, partial or total embedding

of the building in earth treatments of walls and shading. Ventilation can

be attained through enhancement of air movement and cross ventilation,

wind catchers, courtyards and daylighting can be abundant through

proper positions and sizes of openings and shading. These factors dictate

certain climatic strategies related to the building design at three levels, the

first level of strategies relates to general building and environmental

control characteristics such as mass/materials, plan shape and section, the

second level relates to the specific aspects of building form such as plan

orientation, landscaping and courtyards, and the third level of climate

strategies is related to the main building elements the roof, the walls and

the floor.

2.1 General building and environmental control characteristics Mass/materials

- Thermal mass can be used to absorb heat from a room during the day

and then be cooled at night with ventilation and it should be thick

enough to store adequate cold. Materials vary greatly in their capacity

for storing heat. Brick, stone and water make excellent thermal mass.

- The technology of thermal storage materials has shown notable signs

of improvement since energy consumption became a matter of

concern. Among the more interesting developments is the use of

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phase-change materials such as Glauber’s salt, these materials absorb

a large amount of heat in passing from a solid to a liquid state and then

release it when they reverse the change and return to the solid state,

they are packaged in tubes and bags. Admittance and density of

selected construction elements clarified in table (1).

Item Admittance

(w/m2 k)

Density

(kg/m3) 1. 220mm solid brickwork, unplastered

4.6

1700

2. 335mm solid brickwork, unplastered 4.7 1700

3. 220mm solid brickwork with 16mm lightweight plaster

3.4 1700 for brickwork 600 for plaster

4. 200mm solid cast concrete 5.4 2100

5. 75mm lightweight concrete block with 15mm dense plaster on both sides

1.2 600 for concrete 600 for plaster

Table (1): Admittance and density of selected construction elements (1)

- Earth edges can be used to shelter buildings from heat extremes. Since

the temperature a few meters below ground level is fairly constant,

underground buildings are able to release heat to the ground through

conduction when their interiors are warmer and draw heat from it

when their interiors are cooler. The earth also acts as an insulation for

temperature extremes. Earth coupled cooling involves partial or full

earth-sheltering of a building, or circulating air through earth tubes

driven into the ground in either closed or open spaces (2). It is

important to design earth sheltered buildings to provide adequate

ventilation in order to remove both moisture and heat. Fig (1) shows

various designs for light and ventilation of different types of earth

sheltering.

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Fig (1) Supplying light and ventilation for earth sheltered buildings

- The amount of radiation absorbed at the surface of the mass depends

partially on the colour of the surface, lighter colours absorb less and

reflect more of the incident radiation.

Plan Shape:

Buildings can be shaped to allow for maximum exposure to summer

breezes and induce air movement. In single courtyard plans, air flows

from the court to the environment in a short time and multiple courtyards

works as follows, at night cold air accumulates in courtyards forming

bigger temperature gradient in deeper courtyards and during daytime cool

air flows from deep court towards larger courts, fig (2). Permeable

buildings can use open plans for cross-ventilation, stack ventilation or

both. In hot climates at night, air movement is frequently slow, in which

case stack ventilation becomes an important strategy, combined strategies

may also be applied for different rooms in the same building, fig (3). Thin

plan buildings will have daylight available for each space. fig (4) as the

amount of light that reaches the interior of a room lit from one side is a

function of the distance from the window.

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Fig (2): Fig (3): Fig (4):

Multi-courtyard system Open plans for cross-ventilation Thin plan enhances daylight

Section

Some architectural forms use the principles of interior energy flow to

induce cooling effect which is shown in the section of the building like

cool towers which are large vertical tubes at least 25 ft. above ground, in

top of it is a water soaked air filter that cools air that passes through it.

The heavier cool air flows down and out of the tower through a large

opening to cool the surrounding space, fig. (5). Cool tubes are simply

long tubes 8 to 24 inches in diameter buried in earth and open to the

interior of a structure at one end and to the outside air at the other. As air

moves through the tube, pulled from outside to inside by means of a fan,

the surrounding earth cools it through its relatively constant temperature,

drainage of condensate collecting in the tubes is provided by sloping the

tube downward to the outside end. Sky lights, louvers and clerestorey

windows can provide many low energy solutions including controlling

the heat gain of a building or allowing the escape of hot air during

summer. Wind tower ventilators differ from passive stocks in that they

are larger in diameter and have dividers to allow them to act as wind

driven ventilators(3), they perform both supply and extract, fig (6). A

naturally forced ventilation system is the solar chimney that provides a

draft as the air in it heats and rises and is expelled. The heating efficiency

is improved with a black metal covering that absorbs solar heat and by

lining it with thermal mass materials so that it continues to function after

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sunset. Ventilation occurs even when there is no wind and is very

effective in extracting stale, hot air from within the building.

Fig (5): Evaporative cool towers Fig (6): Wind tower ventilator

When designing a scheme for both cross ventilation and stack ventilation

parts of the section must be kept open to air movement, fig (7), also stack

ventilation through rooms is increased by greater distance between high

and low openings. Wind catchers can capture breezes above roof level for

buildings whose windows have little access to breezes, mean wind

velocity increases with height above the ground, so wind towers can

admit winds of significantly higher speeds and therefore their openings

can be smaller than windows at ground level, wind towers can potentially

admit wind from any direction, fig (8).

Fig (7): Open section for ventilation Fig (8): Wind catcher

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With direct or indirect light, there may be unwanted solar heat gain and

glare. This can be addressed with overhangs and low emissivity glazing.

Light shelves and laser cut glazing minimize heat gain yet enable light to

penetrate. The light levels at the rear of the space can be greatly affected

by reflectors or light shelves at the window wall, it is important that the

surface that first reflects the daylight be light in colour to increase the

amount of light reflected into the space, fig (9). Table (2) shows

recommended finish reflectances.

Surface Recommended reflectance (%)

Ceilings 70-80 Walls 40-80

Floors 20-40 Table (2) Recommended finish reflectances

Ventilation, light and solar gain may be accommodated with separated or

combined openings. The roof monitors in fig(10) combine the tasks and

change their role seasonally, they provide stack ventilation and day

lighting in summer and solar heating and day lighting in winter. Basic

passive heating systems: direct gain, thermal storage walls, attached sun

space can be adapted by shading and ventilation to store coolth in

summer.

Fig (9): Using reflectors to increase light levels Fig (10): Roof monitor

2.2. Specific Aspects of Building Form Plan Orientation Buildings can be oriented to allow for maximum exposure to summer

breezes and cross ventilation can be enhanced by facing the building at an

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oblique angle to the prevailing wind. When openings cannot be oriented

to the prevailing breeze, landscaping or wing walls, fig (11) can be used

to alter the positive and negative pressure zones around the building and

induce flow through windows parallel to the prevailing wind directions.

Fig (11): Wing walls induce wind flow

Courtyards and atria

Cool night air can be captured in enclosed external spaces such as

courtyards. It is most effective in high mass well insulated buildings.

Shady courtyards are tall and narrow and can be used as cold air sinks. In

tall courts, wind blowing over the building won’t disturb the air in the

court, and dust, which is primarily held in air near the ground, will be

kept out of the inner parts of the building. At night, the building’s roof

and the court, especially its floor, radiate heat to the cold night sky

directly overhead. Air that is next to these surfaces’ cools and settles to

the bottom of the court. The cold air in the court cools the surrounding

surfaces. During the day the court remains more comfortable than

exposed out door areas because its surfaces and the ambient air are

relatively cool(4), fig (12). An atrium or light court within a building can

provide light to surrounding rooms. An evaporative strategy is to locate

water sprays at the top of the atrium which serve as a curtain of cooled air

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between the atrium and adjacent balconies, the air then escapes at low

level. (5), fig (13).

Fig (12): Shady courtyards work as cold air sinks Fig(13): Water sprays provide cold air curtain

Landscape

Evaporative cooling involves placing a body of water such as a fountain,

pool or saturated membrane in the path of a breeze. For water to

evaporate, it requires energy that it takes in the form of heat from the air

and thus cools it. Planting trees provide shade and a cooling effect caused

by the evaporation of the water released by the leaves. Deciduous trees

and vines can allow the sun to shine in during winter and block it out in

summer, in fig (14) the vines provide filtered light while blocking

approximately 60% of the solar gain on the wall. In (fig 15) nine sunken

reflecting pools are used to cool air taken in at the basement level. The air

is then drawn into the central hall and exhausted through a vent in the top

of the structure, using fan assistance when required.

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Fig (14): Vines used as sun shade Fig (15): The use of sunken pools in cooling

2.3. Main Building Elements

Roof

Design features like mirror-tube skylights, light wells, light shelves and

up lighter glazing panels are used to distribute light further into internal

spaces by reflecting daylight off the ceiling. In hot climates double roofs

are used in which the outer uninsulated roof reflects the sun’s rays, air

flows between the two roofs to dissipate the heat emanating from the top

roof, and the lower roof (which is insolated) forms a barrier to the warm

air and radiation from the top roof. Night sky radiant cooling utilizes the

fact that the temperature of the sky is lower than the temperature of the

ground surface, resulting in a net radiant transfer to the sky. The simplest

night sky radiant cooling system is a massive roof that is covered with

movable insulating shutters during the day and exposed at night. The

mass needs to be directly exposed to the space below so the roof can

absorb heat from the space. Common systems include roof ponds, where

the thermal mass is water enclosed in plastic bags or under glass,

supported by a flat roof. Spraying the roof mass with water so it can lose

heat by both evaporation and radiation can augment the heat loss.

Circulating air past the underside of the ceiling can cool the building. In

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winter the shutters are removed during the day to collect heat that is then

released into the building through the ceiling at night. Fig. (16), (17)

Fig (16): Nocturnal radiator Fig (17): Ventilated roof ponds

Phase change cooling system draws daytime warm external air by fan

over an array of fluid-filled heat pipes. The pipes conduct heat to storage

modules containing a solid phase change material which, located in the

ceiling void, absorb the heat as they slowly melt during the day providing

cool ventilation air fig (18), during the night the opposite occurs. Shutters

to the outside air are opened and the fan reverses direction to draw the

cool air over the phase change material causing the material to solidify.

Fig (18): Phase change cooling

Walls

Walls and window placement are important for efficient circulation of

summer breezes, sizing the inlet area equal to the outlet area and

horizontally shaped windows work best for ventilation. Protruding wing

walls or open casement windows can act as scoops to enhance wind

capture and can also generate different localized air pressures on the same

side of a building, greatly increasing the air flow through the adjacent

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space. Moveable shading elements can provide more flexible and

responsive control, overhangs that can be extended in summer and

retracted in winter or canopies that can be removed entirely in winter are

most effective. A layer of overhead shades protects the building and

courtyard from the high sun, while a layer of vertical shades can protect

from low sun. Light shelves beyond the exterior surface, evenly distribute

light and reduce glare if extended into the space. At the same time it can

reflect light off its top surface through the upper glazing to the ceiling,

where it is then reflected deeper into the space fig (19). Day light

enhancing shades can protect windows from solar gain while preserving

sky view, reflecting daylight, and reducing glare. The louvers are tightly

spaced near the buildings to shade the high sun and loosely spaced farther

away to shade law sun while allowing air circulation within the shade

itself to reduce heat transfer from it to the interior space fig (20).

Fig (19): The use of light shelves to distribute light Fig (20): Loosely spaced shades

An internal shading layer behind the window or an in-between shading

layer separating two glazing panes can reduce solar heat gain. An

important consideration with insulation is its placement with respect to

the two areas to be thermally separated, the insulation, insulation curtains

or panels would function more effectively on the outside(6). Double skin

materials should be selected to reflect solar heat gain and avoid

transmitting heat to the inner layer, this can be attained through

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absorptivity of outer skin, emissivity of cavity and rate of ventilation in it

fig (21). Thermochromic glass depends on “clear gel” which is a clear

film which when heated above room temperature reflects sunlight by

turning an opaque white, turning clear again when cooled. Electrochromic

glass depends on certain compounds that undergo reversible colour

changes when a small voltage is applied across a thin layer causing a

change in the oxidation state. It changes colour from clear to blue when a

current is passed across it fig (22). Prizamtic glazings are designed to

optimize day lighting by high precision coated plastic components filted

to glazing; they act to redirect light from window areas that are too bright

further into a room through calculation of light angle. Other types can be

used to reject excess sunlight through the same mechanism. Low contrast

between the window frame and adjacent walls will reduce glare and

improve vision fig (23).

Fig (21) Fig (22) Fig (23)

Section of double-skin wall Electrochromic glass panel Low contrast between window & wall

Floor

Ground coupling using air: the system operates by passing air through a

network of pipes set at 2-5m below ground. The soil temperature is

roughly the same as the average yearly ambient temperature. Best results

are obtained when the circuit of pipes is positioned within gravel or sand

and below the water table. The cooled air can be used directly as a

cooling agent or it can provide air for ventilation fig (24).

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Fig (24): Ground coupling using air

3. Analysis of some local case studies:

3.1 Introduction

The range of cases is based on both traditional and contemporary

buildings, the traditional demonstrate that the climate response

has been optimized over time while the contemporary help

examine the way traditional approaches have been developed to

adapt to the modern context. In hot aid regions, buildings tend to

employ a combination of measures to suit local climatic

characteristics. Historical studies of pharaonic settlements show

that even the ancient civilizations recognized regional climatic

adaptation as an essential principle in architecture that was

obvious in introducing massive thick wall buildings to make use

of the time lag in cooling, using courtyards where cold air

accumulates at night and flows to the spaces during the day and

provide natural light, vaults reduced the area exposed to direct

sun light, wind catchers were used for ventilation, clerestories

were introduced for homogeneous natural light, atriums to

modify lighting and thermal environment as well as earth

sheltered parts of the buildings fig (25).

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Fig (25): Climate adaptive pharaonic buildings

Islamic buildings used the potentials offered by the climate to

produce dramatic designs that enhance the comfort of the

occupants. High massive walls were used, multiple courtyard

system that accumulates the night cold air and at daytime the

cool air flows from deep courts towards larger courts, cross-

ventilation was provided also through courtyards. Also using

landscape and water in providing evaporative cooling in

buildings and roofing with domes and vaults. Wind catchers,

wind shafts and wind towers were built to cool internal spaces

and latticework screens were used to shade the interior while

allowing sunlight to filter through it fig (26).

Fig (26): The use of courtyard, wind shafts and domes for cooling purposes in Sultan Hassan

Mosque

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The following case studies are being analyzed according to the

previous criteria illustrated in part 2.

3.2 Market place at the village of New Bariz Egypt

In his design, the architect decided to employ a system of

internal courtyards as a primary means of climate control along

with shading. He stressed that thermal comfort in the design he

proposed depended on the natural control of air temperature, air

movement, relative humidity and radiation fig (27).

Mass/ material Massive ground coupled buildings of mud brick walls with paraffin

and bitumen emulsions used as stabilizers.

Plan shape Rectangular shape with internal courtyard as means of cooling

ventilation and natural light fig (28).

Fig (27): Layout of New Bariz village Fig (28): Plan of the market place

Section A serious of unidirectional wind catchers were designed. The shops

on the windward direction of the courtyard can be cross-ventilated,

but they would block much of the wind to shops on the leeward

side of the courtyard. To solve this, wind is captured high and

directed down to two levels, one below ground for storage of food.

Air can then exit out an updraft stack ventilation tower that is

capped with slated metal louvers to increase suction. To add to

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their cooling capacity, the windward towers had straw mats

hanging inside them which were dampened by a hand pump at

regular intervals during the day. fig (29)

Courtyards The courtyard reduces diffused light and glare and contains cooled

air from evaporative cooling.

Roof Vault and dome system in stabilized mud brick offers the

maximum radiant surface. Fig (30)

Fig (29): Section clarifying ventilation system Fig (30): Roofscape of New Bariz market

Walls

Solid walls were made of mud brick with paraffin and bitumen

emulsions used as stabilizers, small openings admitted night time

ventilation.

3.3 Showrooms at Harraneya Arts Center

The project is adapted to the environment, enhancing the role of

earth as a building material and demonstrating organization of

volumes and the subtle use of light.

Mass/materials Barrel-vaulted block with a series of small domed spaces alongside

it. Building material is mud brick laid in mortar, providing time lag

insulation fig (31), (32).

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Fig (31): Harraneya Arts Center Fig(32): Plan of showrooms

Section The showrooms are lit by shafts of sunlight from oculi in the

vaulting roof, fig (33).

Orientation The east-west orientation of the main axis enables catching northerly

winds. With the main axis in the shade all day, there is a reservoir of

relatively cool air on which the south-facing workshops can draw.

Roofs Barrel vaults and small domes are pierced by small circular openings

to admit shafts of sun light. Roofs are sealed with a cement, lime and

gypsum rendering to improve insulation, any rain water is thrown

clear of the walls by pipes through the parapets. Fig (34).

Fig (33): Daylight shafts. Fig (34): Oculi in the vaulting roof

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Walls Seventy cm thick walls were used, perforated brickwork filters the

light, interior walls of workshops are white washed to increase light

reflectivity and those of showrooms kept their natural earth colour.

Floors Natural materials were used, mainly compacted earth, the main axis

being set with rough-hewn lime stone.

3.4 Residential house in Cairo

Mass High massive building with thick walls.

Plan Shape Rectangular in shape with almost half of the building foot print used

for an outdoor room that is an open courtyard. Fig (35), (36).

Fig (35): Half of the building footprint is an open courtyard Fig(36): Screen on openings

Courtyard The main part of the sunken courtyard is open to the sky developing

cold air flow and provides natural ventilation and offer range of

options from full shade to sun.

Landscape A sunken fountain in the courtyard provides evaporative cooling.

Roof Vaults and domes were used offering maximum radiant heat surface.

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Walls High walls that shade the court during summer mornings and

afternoons. Windows in walls allow enough air to move through for

night cooling, while screens help to provide turbulence and remove

dust from the air.

3.5 University of Helwan, New Campus

Mass Contiguous massive buildings capture and store the cooler night

temperatures for natural ventilation. Fig (37)

Plan Shape Concentrated, compact building strategy with contiguous grouping

of courtyard buildings providing cross-ventilation. By placing

buildings closely together, the surface area exposed to solar radiation

is minimized.

Section Wind shafts oriented to the prevailing wind for ventilation.

Orientation The group of buildings are properly oriented to the sun and

prevailing wind to moderate the microclimate conditions to eliminate

costly air conditioning and heating systems.

Landscape Compact exterior spaces tend to channel air flow and ensure

sufficient protection from the climate so that trees and vegetation

survive for evaporative cooling and shading purposes, fig (38).

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Fig (37): Compact building strategy Fig (38): Grouping of courtyard buildings.

Courtyards Courtyards provide cross-ventilation shaded areas and uniform

lighting.

Roof Solid to reflect sun radiation.

Walls Massive walls with well shaded windows to the outside & intensive

openings on the courtyard to provide cross ventilation and natural

light.

3.6 Egyptian University for Science & Technology

The building comprises and integral environmental system which

provides a balance between natural and built environment. The

environmental design system developed traditional climatic

strategies into a modern dimension. Fig (39), (40)

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Fig (39): The use of multiple courtyards Fig (40): Building elevation

The use of multiple courtyards in the campus resulted in the

variability in the volumes of cold air stored during right and in the

variation of shaded areas during day time producing differences in

air movement from courts with low air temperature to those with

higher air temperature through internal spaces.

The Research Center Building

Plan Shape Rectangular with an atrium to modify natural lighting and thermal

environment by developing a cool core.

Section The building has 4 wind catching shafts serving 4 equal zones. The

shafts are high enough to scoop cold air coming from the north

direction and directs it to different spaces of the building through the

corridors to the rooms. The original design of the roof was intended

to be double roofing for heat insulation but was cancelled due to

budget constraints. Fig (41)

Orientation The building is oriented towards the prevailing wind direction to

allow air from north in summer and prevent the dusty southerly wind

in spring and provide uniform daylighting.

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Atrium An atrium was located in the center of the building surrounded by all

building zones. It is covered by a series of pyramidal shapes, the

three tilted surfaces of the pyramids are concrete slabs and the fourth

glazed vertical surface is oriented towards the north to provide

uniform day light and prevent the penetration of direct sun light and

thus glare. Fig (42)

Fig (41): Section revealing atrium and wind shafts Fig (42): Atrium distributes daylight to building zones

Roof Flat, light in colour roof to reflect solar radiation, with the exception

of the atrium roof covered by pyramidal shapes.

Walls Walls act as separating units between the inner and the outer

environment. Opening were treated by two methods, horizontal

louvers for the southern facades and vertical for eastern and western

facades. Windows were deeply set surrounded by storage units

which act as heat and noise insulation. Area of openings in the

northern facade were twice those in the southern facade and four

times the openings in the eastern and western facades.

The University Central Library Building

Plan Shape There are two parts with an atrium designed between to provide a

cool core over the main entrance hall. Fig (43), (44).

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Fig (43): The Central Library Building Fig (44): Ground Floor Plan

Section The atrium is covered with glass domes to provide homogeneous

daylighting and chimney effect where it courages the movement of

hot air upwards and out of the space and the hot air is replaced by

cold air from northern openings. Book stacks are located south for

heat insulation. Fig (45)

Roof The roof of the reading hall is inclined towards north and is covered

with pyramidal shapes, three sides concrete and the fourth tinted

glazing open towards north for ventilation and homogeneous

daylight. In summer, cool air entering the reading areas through the

roof will finally exit the building through openings in the glass dome

covering the atrium, in winter, air heated by the chimney effect of

the glass domes covering the atrium is used to heat the buildings, fig

(46).

Fig (45): Section of atrium and inclined roof Fig (46): Pyramidal roof shapes

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Walls Eastern and western facades have vertical louvers to prevent direct

sun radiation and provide northern orientation to eastern and western

facades.

3.7 New and Renewable energy Authority Building

The building was designed as an application of passive cooling

methods of double walls, heat insulation, ventilation pipes. Passive

cooling proved effective in reducing temperature inside the building

10°C as long as the outside temperature does not exceed 35°C where

central air conditioning is applied.

Mass/material Earth coupled mass, well shaded by corbel and insulated by double

roof and cavity walls the external of cement aggregate and the

internal of gypsum blocks and polyurethane insulating sheet in

between, fig (47).

Plan Shape U shaped building of thin plan depths to facilitate ventilation,fig (48)

Section The double roof system formed tunnels in the north south direction.

Electric fans are used on the north end of the tunnels to enhance air

movement and thus cool the air inside the tunnels at night. In the

morning these fans are closed by shutters to keep cool air inside.

The eastern and western facades have openings in the external part

of the double wall covered by aluminum louvers beneath and above

the window. This facilitates the movement of the cold air from the

louver opening to ventilate the double wall and then goes out as hot

air from the upper openings, fig (49), (50).

The space system used in the ground floor is composed of a series of

air ducts under ground floor to get fresh air through electric fans to

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force the air from the air inlet through an air filter to remove dust

and small particles then the air passes through a series of air ducts of

C.S.A of 40x40cm2 by the whole length of the building. These ducts

reach vertical shafts to transfer air to the different rooms in different

levels of the building. This system makes use of the low constant

temperature of the ground so that the air loses temperature during its

movement through the long ducts in the ground floor to earth by

conduction. The courtyard attracts the air through its location in

north direction towards air electric fan which takes the cooled air

from lower level of the courtyard through an air filter to remove the

dust and then supply cold fresh air to laboratories in the ground

floor. The hot air which accumulates in the laboratories is sucked

through openings in the suspended ceiling to outside the building by

means of electric fans.

Plan Orientation The U shaped building is located towards prevailing wind direction.

Landscape Planted areas around the building and in the courtyard together with

the fountain lose a part of its temperature as a result of evaporation

caused by northern and north-western winds, thus cooling the air in

the courtyard and the spaces around it.

Courtyard The courtyard is located towards the north direction to make use of

the cold air to ventilate this part of the building through lower

openings in the wall to attract the air by means of an electric fan.

Fountains and green areas are used to enhance evaporative cooling.

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Roof

A double roof was used, the lower part is a structural concrete slab

while the upper one is made of precast units settled on brick masonry

walls of height 80cm forming tunnels in the north-south direction,

fig (51).

Fig (47): Corbel and protruding concrete shades Fig (48): Thin plan depths

Fig (49): Window Isometric Fig (50): Window Section

Fig (51): Roof detail

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Fig (52): Northern-southern wall Fig (53): Eastern-western wall

Fig (54): Floor air space system

Walls External walls differ in thickness and material according to the

orientation and to the thermal load. East and west walls were

designed as cavity walls of total thickness 35cm with an insulation

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sheet of polyurethane panel of thickness 5cm in between. Air

movement through the cavity is provided by means of an air inlet in

the walls under the windows and outlets above them. All windows

have precast concrete sheds protruding 30cm from all sides. Corridor

windows are covered by an aluminum grid of thickness 6cm to

prevent direct sun radiation, fig (52).

Northern and southern double walls consist of cement aggregate

external wall and internal solid gypsum blocks with insulation of

5cm polyurethane between them. The total thickness of the wall is

30cm, fig (53).

Floor Ground floor air space system was used, fig (54).

3.8 Indoor Climate Central Practice in Toshky Region

Toshky region is a desert region located to the southeast of the

Egyptian western desert. Features that characterizes the climate

there is aridity, high summer daytime temperatures, large diurnal

temperature variations, low relative humidity and high solar

radiation. The target was to keep indoor climate within control

level passively by using materials with high heat resistance

coefficient.

Mass/Material

A light coloured ground coupled high mass built of Leka cement

insulating blocks (40x30x20cm). Insulating materials have been

added to sandstone blocks to improve its thermal characterization,

fig (55), (56).

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Fig (55): Single courtyard plan Fig (56): Final view of the new building

Section Wind catchers were supplied with water reservoirs to enhance

evaporative cooling inside the building.

Landscape Plants were used in the courtyard provide evaporative cooling.

Courtyard The parapet of the courtyard was elevated one meter off the flat parts

of the roof so as to allow the movement of hot air upwards which

provides a constant supply of cold air in the courtyard which is

covered by a wooden pergola to reduce direct sunlight.

Roof Vaults and domes were used to reduce the area exposed to direct

sunlight. It was built of 25cm thick hollow blocks and covered with

7cm heat insulation and then the finishing layer. Vaults and domes

were supplied with small openings which open at night to get rid of

hot air.

Walls Walls are made of (40x30x20cm) Leka blocks insulated with

polystyrene. During daytime the external layer of Leka and plaster

absorbs and stores heat and at night the temperature of this layer is

higher than the outside air so heat is directed outwards.

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3.9 The National Pottery Center In Fustat

Mass Well shaded ground coupled mass by means of compact composition

light in colour to reflect more of incident radiation, fig (57).

Fig (57): Domes and vaults provide radiant heat surface

Plan Shape Thin plan depths (to facilitate ventilation) around a single courtyard.

Section Open section to maximize ventilation vaults and domes were used

with high openings to provide homogenous day lighting and prevent

glare, fig (58).

Fig (58): Plan and section of the building

Courtyard Provides diffused light and reduces glare, contains cold air from

evaporative cooling.

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Roof Vaults and domes as maximum radiant heat surface.

Walls Small well-shaded recessed windows and some large openings

covered with perforated surfaces to filter light and remove dust from

the air.

3.10 New AUC Campus

The design approach aimed an integration between natural systems

and built features using innovative technology, fig (59), (60).

Fig (59): Fig (60):

Compact structures & series of courtyards Landscape providing evaporative cooling & shading possibilities

Mass

The campus is designed around a series of courtyards, one leading to

another, compact scale of structures helps to minimize sun exposure

on facades.

Landscape Plants, trees, water pools and fountains provide evaporative cooling

and shading possibilities.

Orientation The whole complex faces north east orientation.

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4. Conclusion:

Climatic responsive design is considered one of the elements of the

ongoing sustainable development adopted now in Egypt: The government

started to encourage this approach for its positive environmental impact,

this comes after the vast increase since 1985 in both research and

applications of climatic design, especially in the areas of passive cooling

and daylighting. The timing of the consideration of climatic issues in the

design process is very important. Most decisions that affect building’s

energy use occur during the schematic design stage of the project. The

designer has to think about cooling, ventilation and daylighting within the

context of thinking about architectural elements and their relationships

and that helps the designer to fit the forms generated by energy concerns

with forms generated by other architectural issues. For the effectiveness

of climatic treatments the architect has to ensure that the building

envelope should be capable of constant adjustment to accommodate

climatic changes through the flexibility of the systems used.

References:

Books:

1) Randall Thomas, Max Fordham Partners, Environmental Design, St.

Edmunsburg Press, Great Britain, 1999.

2) Craig A. Langston and Grace K.C. Ding, Sustainable Practices in the

Built Environment, Reed Educational and Professional Publishing

Ltd., London, 2001.

3) Tom Woolley and Sam Kimmins, Green Building Handbook, St.

Edmundsbury Press, Great Britain, 2000.

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4) G.Z. Brown and Mark Kekay, Sun, Wind & Light, John Wiley &

Sons. INC., Canada, 2001.

5) Peter.F.Smith, Sustainability At The Cutting Edge, Gray Publishing,

Kent, 2003.

6) John Tillman Lyle, Regenerative Design For Sustainable

Development, John Wiley, Canada, 1994.

7) James Steele, Sustainable Architecture, Mc Graw Hill, 1997.

8) Richard Hyde, Climate Responsive Design, E. Et FN Spon, London,

2000.

9) David Lloyd Jones, Architecture and The Environment, The Overlook

Press, New York 1998.