TROPICAL DESIGNSITE AND BUILDING LAYOUT

MACATULA, JOHN DALEROMERO, ERVIN CHARLES

SANTOS, EARL JOSEPH

SITE AND BUILDING LAYOUT

Orientation, layout and location on site will all influence the amount of sun a building receives and therefore its year-round temperatures and comfort.

Other considerations include access to views and cooling breezes. Orientation and layout will also be influenced by topography, wind speed and direction, the site’s relationship with the street, the location of shade elements such as trees and neighbouring buildings, and vehicle access and parking.

ORIENTATION FOR PASSIVE HEATING AND COOLINGFor maximum solar gain, a building will be located, oriented and designed to maximise window area facing north (or within 20 degrees of north)

Orientation for solar gain will also depend on other factors such as proximity to neighbouring buildings and trees that shade the site.

While solar gain for passive heating is important, other considerations include noise,daylighting, protection from prevailing winds, access to breezes for ventilation, shade to prevent summer overheating and glare, views, privacy, access, indoor/outdoor flow, owners’ preferences, and covenants and planning restrictions.

ORIENTATION FOR PASSIVE HEATING AND COOLING

the building should be oriented to take advantage of prevailing breezes.

Orientation, location and layout should be considere d from the beginning of the design process – ideally, from the time the site is being selected. Once a building has been completed, it is impractical and expensive to reorient later.

Orientation of house for the sun

With good orientation and suitable shading, summer sun is excluded but winter sun is allowed in to keep the house warm.

Designing to avoid shaded areas of the site

Shade from trees and landforms can be avoided by building higher on a site or by using skylights or clerestory windows. Taller buildings will increase the amount of shaded area on a site.

Design factors for a south-sloping site

Clerestory windows can be used to provide solar gain on a south-facing site.

BUILDING LOCATION

other factors such as views, wind, topography, and the location of trees and neighbouring buildings will also influence a building’s location on the site.

LAYOUT

Rooms and outdoor spaces should be located to maximize comfort during use. In general, this means living areas and outdoor spaces facing north, and service areas such as garages, laundries and bathrooms to the south.