The following matrix is an example of a design check list and may be used as such. It presents in a brief form the basic design elements and parameters vis-a-vis climatic principles and concepts, and shows the relations between these two groups. These relations are presented in the form of design strategies, practices and recommendations for each pair design component/ principle. This table is by no means a comprehensive, foolproof framework.
| Principles | Geometry | Shading | Solar exposure | Wind protection | Ventilation | Thermal mass | Insulation | Colour | Texture | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Components
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Site selection: choose sites exposed to winter sun/ summer breeze, protected from summer sun/ unfavorable winds, well drained and ventilated. | |||||||||
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1. Urban Component
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cluster
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Optimize proportions and orientation to take advantage of sun and wind when desirable | Protect open areas; prefer dynamic/ lightweight | Ensure solar access to bldgs/ open spaces | Minimize chill effect | Enhance cooling | Choose finish materials of surfaces and furniture according to optimally serve the following considerations | |||
| Street | Take advantage of built up edges and vegetation | Expose pedestrian areas in winter | Winding; self protected/ avoid parallel to wind direction | Vital for thermal comfort/ pollution minimization |
Albedo vs. heat absorption |
Glare vs. dust trapping | ||||
| Square/ piazza | Built-up edges (proportions!) vegetation, free standing | Especially sitting areas and playgrounds | Size proportions of built up edges/ open space | Important in summer provide openings in edge mass | ||||||
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Arcade/ colonnade
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Incorporate in streets and around open spaces | Orient for solar penetration in winter | As in streets | |||||||
| Parking | imperative | Avoid! | desirable |
Vital! Avoid gas accumulation |
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| Green open space | Use as spacers between clusters to allow solar access/ locate appropriately tall trees with long shadows | Use as wind breakers | Lower albedo; enrich monochromatic environments | |||||||
| vegetation | Deciduous vs. evergreen | |||||||||
| 2. Building Type | Detached | Compact forms minimize heat losses | Easily achieved | problematic | Easily achieved | Vital due to area of exposed envelope | ||||
| Semi-detached | Larger exposed | |||||||||
| Row house | Envelope enables better solar exposure ventilation | Use as wind breakers | ||||||||
| Multistorey | Casts large shadow | Adjacent open spaces suffer | Difficult especially on upper stories/ vital on ground level | Wind speed may be too high for comfort | ||||||
| Patio/ court house | Higher envelope to floor ratio-needs careful treatment | Vital for patio: dynamic! | May be achieved n all spaces | Enhanced if properly designed | ||||||
| 3. Building Component | roof | May be the most vulnerable part of the opaque envelope; may serve as solar collector/ radiative cooler if designed appropriately; provides critical percentage of the building thermal inertia if heavy, especially in summer | ||||||||
| Flat | Prevent overheating: double roof | Prevent heat losses | Prevent overheating: double roof | Thermal inertia | vital | Prefer high reflectivity | Optimize drainage/ dust accumulation | |||
| Pitched | May serve as such over flat roof | Integrate clerestory windows and other solar devices | Minimize heat losses due to large exposed area | Minimize heat exchange | ||||||
| Vaulted | Enable exhaust of hot air in upper strata | |||||||||
| Wall | Not necessary in insulated | Prevent cooling | Enhance thermal inertia/ use for storage | Minimized heat exchange | Prevent glare | Prevents dust/ dirt accumulation | ||||
| Floor | Use as heat storage | Minimize heat exchange with air space underneath | Necessary for heat storage | Prevent thermal bridge unless thermo coupling with ground | Dark for direct gain/ light for indirect gain | Prevent glare | ||||
| window | Prevent overheating by operable and fixed shading | Use for passive heating/ daylighting | Minimize infiltration and heat transfer | Locate according to wind direction | Use insulated shutters/ glazing properties reflective, absorptive, double/ triple | Avoid dark hues which increase absorptance | ||||
| Sun space/ solarium | Optimize proportions & orientation | Sun facing- horizontal east/west- vertical | Take advantage of temperature difference | Optimize integrated/ detached | Vial during summer day/ winter night | |||||
| Solar chimney | Enhance ventilation | Promote passive cooling | Use dark hues to increase updraft | |||||||
| Wind catcher | Convective/ evaporative cooling | |||||||||
| Patio/ courtyard | Optimize proportions orientation | Prevent heat trap | Promote winter use/ modify interior microclimate | Prevent cooling | Promote cooling/ modify interior microclimate | Optimize according to use pattern and time | Insulate adjacent built space/ provide dynamic insulation for patio if used also as sun space | Prevent glare minimize albedo | Prevent glare and dust accumulation | |
| vegetation | Prefer evergreen or deciduous for only summer shading | Combine deciduous and tall to ensure solar access | Use plants with thick foliage | Enhance evaporative cooling/ dust filtering | Lower albedo; enrich mono-chromatic environments | |||||
