Tropical Energy efficient Designs
In the tropics there is a lot of sun and sunlight, we also have a lot of rain and the water has to be addressed accordingly.
For comfort there must be openings to facilitate wind movement. In taking advantage of these elements and disadvantage we are begining to produce energy efficient architecture.
The challenges and opportunities in the tropics are varied and plentiful.
Introduction:
Energy is used to provide comfort for man. It maintains cooling, heating, lighting, personnel and equipment conveyor system, security control system, and other building automation systems. It drives sophisticated computers, which in turn control other equally sophisticated equipment. Modern buildings are totally depended on electrical energy to sustain them.
To safeguard against any electrical dislocations, breakdowns, or blackouts, engineers provide back-up power supply, only to be followed by further source of back-up power system. It only serves to emphasis the importance of energy in any modern buildings. Many developing countries in their infancy of energy production are contraints by regular electrical breakdowns and blackouts. This impedes their industries and rapid development.
We are told that the developed countries consume 80% of the earth’s resources whilst the only 20%. This presumably is the result of being the first to Indsutrialise. Despite advances by many Asian countries like Japan and S. Korea most of the countries in Asia and these around the equatorial belt are lagging in technology and ability to solve their own problems. After all we should not forget that the world’s economy and power still belongs to the West. Many people may not agree, but the tropic is currently probably the most important region on earth. It is also probably one of the least researched regions on earth.
Research material on the tropics pertaining to the impact of the climate and the environment, on buildings if they exist, are not commonly available. It may suggest that the rivalary and jostling for scientific advantage in the field of bio-diversity research has caused any information to be kept from the public. The situation is further aggravated by the lack of published papers on building science studies and results or findings from local Universities and research laboratories. Very little information is disseminated to the industry for reference.
Modern buildings and building science are relative new to the tropics.
Many so called first-generation buildings were designed in the last fifty years. Modern building automation was only introduced a short thirty years ago in Malaysia. State of the art building technology is still being adopted and familiarised, like at the KLIA in Sepang, or the Chek Lap Kok airport in Hong Kong and the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
A. Energy Tower
More content coming soon.Tropical high rise buildings ought to be “energy towers” producing their own energy to operate its systems and be self-sustainable. It should be able to:
- produce energy from solar panels;
- direct wind cooling at higher levels;
- direct and indirect lighting to the interiors;
- rainwater collection for generating energy;
- wind rotaries at high levels to produce energy;
- reduce use of conventional lifts;
- alternative mechanical movements to produce energy;
- new thoughts and approach to designing high-rise buildings
B. Lower Energy Tropical Building
More content coming soon.
“Architecture without walls”Natural ventilation and dehumidification
- light movable walls/panels, preferably no walls
- layered roofing over
- openings and apertures at apex for free flow
- direct light penetration
- slatted floors and platforms
- air vents and openings at ground level
- light weight operable windows
- operable roof panels
- use non-solid sidings
- raised floor
Designing for larger tropical buildings
- take advantage of the site
- understand the environment
- check wind direction
- creating of cool and hot zones
- layered roofs for wind flow
- high ceilings for convection air flow
- provide apertures at high level for heat escape
- provide heat source to induce circulation
C. Energy Production
More content coming soon.
D. Sustainable Architecture
More content coming soon.
Sustainable Architecture for the Equatorial Rainforests.
People living in the tropics do not require much to survive. There is plenty of sunlight, rain and wind to provide comfort. The forests are full of fruits, berries, nuts, a multitude of herbs and other bio-diversity awaiting research. There are no cold winters to freeze the people and the environment. The seas and rivers are full of fishes to feed the people. There is plenty of drinking water coming out of springs and forest to quench the thirst of the people. This sounds like paradise! Is this the garden of Eden as described in the Genesis? It could certainly pass as one. A situation like this would hardly require much energy to survive. As these countries aspire for modernisation adopting or imitating out of context solutions creates a dependency on energy which is generally obtained from fossil fuel; and the earth’s reserve of fossil fuel will last for another forty years. The question we need to ask ourselves is, “how are we going to tackle this problem from a tropical point of view?”
E. Tropical Architecture
The Rites of the Tropic
The EQUATORIAL TROPICAL climate of Malaysia has
only two seasons,-
“hot and wet”, and the
“hot and wet and more wet”.
The tropic is a celebration of the following:
- Celebration of Colours in Nature
- of differing intensity
- and variation,
- of shapes and sizes,
- of the play of light against Darkness.
- Celebration of Sounds
- of water
- of the rainfall
- of the rivers and flowing streams
- Celebration of Smells of Nature
- of the ground, as heat surrenders itself to the rain
- of the decay and death as the sun and heat sap the life out of the descarded organic matters.
- It evokes a Professional route to celebrate a transformation of sensuality accentuated by the heat and the humidity.
- It enhances a Visual experience and celebration is tantalised by the different layering of shapes, light and shade, variety of hues and the mysticism of the unseen and unanticipated.
- Tropical architecure allows a Symbiotics relationship between Man-made elements and Nature, It is a cerebal relationship laced with emotions and memories, It embraces totally all of one’s senses, the intertwining of Nature into Man-made structure celebrates this symbiotic relationship
- It provides the opportunity for the invisible ’structure’ of Nature to be “stylised” and “framed” in the organic expression of the roof form and other interior parts and structures
- The mysticism of Transparency, layering of Forms, Light, Shade, Structural texture – accentuates the Visual Surrealism of the Space, – blurs the distinction between Space, Distance and Time.
- History can be a Juxta- positioning of memories focus one’s vista on the journey of time and history. It contextualise the visual composition.
- Weaving of the lattice screens, delineations of the flooring, exploding of the walls creates depth, transparency and surrealism.
- Integrating structural elements freezes the intergrated complexities of structures found in Nature.
- Darkness and shade intimate coolness acting as a visual magnetic draw upon one’s sensitivities, in contrast to the surrounding brightness and heat.The magnetism between light and shade is a constant continuing conflict of pain and joy.The tension between light and shade perpetuates the continuing search for comfort and discomfort.
Design typologies for the Tropics, a new approach
- non heat retentive external material
- using more natural material e.g. timber
- minimum disturbance to the environment
- maintaining all vegetation where possible
- minimise earthworks
- minimise width of roads and its construction
- create natural drains maintain natural water courses
- raise buildings above the ground to conserve energy
- use large over hanging eaves
- use more verandahs for shading
- more openings both at the sides and overheads
- refrain from importing irrelevant and unsuitable ideas
- work with the climate
- work within the constraints
- retain both traditional and cultural values
- there are many lessons to be learnt from the past
F. Recycled Materials and Design
Refer to LINK .
G. R&D : Telok Pulai House
More content coming soon.
To test his own believes and to demonstrate the qualities of timber, recycled building components and materials, Jimmy Lim Design used his own house at 26 Jalan Telok Pulai, Taman Seputeh, in Kuala Lumpur as a R&D laboratory.
It was initiated in 1981 and has gone through nine stages of experimentations.
The results of the various experiments on eco-friendly and sustainable architecture were later applied to their projects. It had many visitors and notable architects over the years from all over the world. Among them were Geoffrey Bawa (Sri Lanka), Charles Correa (India), Philip Cox (Australia), Itsesu Hasegawa (Japan), Wu Liang Yong (China), William Lim (Singapore), Ken Yeang (Malaysia), and students from Universities all over the world.
H. Zero Energy Architecture
More content coming soon.
Zero energy architecture is one where the materials used had already negated the energy used in its production. Recycled building material from demolished buildings were regularly utilised in as a gesture to lower the energy consumed. Integrating recycled material with new can be challenging and requires care, innovation and creativity. The final designs are ultimately influenced by the layering-over of these re-cycled components.