Philippine Climate

The climate of the Philippines is TROPICAL &

MARITIME.
It is characterized by:
Relatively high temperature
High humidity, and;
Abundant rainfall.

PROBLEMS IN TROPICAL CLIMATE

High Temperature Level (Heat)
Due to direct solar radiation, reflected solar
radiation, long wave radiation,
Heat transfer (convection)
High Humidity Level
Water content in the air and on the body
does not evaporate as fast resulting in very
low comfort levels
Slow wind velocities
High Precipitation Levels during rainy days
High Incidence of Typhoons
Damp ground conditions causing an abundance
of insects and rodents.

GENERAL STRATEGIES FOR TROPICAL

CLIMATES

Minimize Heat Gain

Maximize Ventilation (but protect from typhoon
wind)
Prevent unnecessary increase in humidity
levels.
Have a good drainage systems to accomodate
high precipitation during the year.
Protect spaces from insects and rodents.

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN FACTORS

Thermal Forces Influencing Orientation:
Climate factors (wind, solar radiation and air
temperature) play the most eminent role in
orientation.
Northern Latitudes - air temperature
(cool) structures should be oriented to
receive the maximum amount of sunshine
without wind exposure.
Southernly Latitudes - opposite is
desirable - building should be turn on its axis
to avoid the suns unwanted radiation and
face the cooling breezes instead.

ADAPTATION FOR WIND ORIENTATION

Low Buildings - use of wind breaks and
arrangement of openings in high and low

pressure area can help ameliorate air flow

situation.
High Buildings - surrounding terrain has little
effect on upper stories, careful consideration
has to be given.

ORIENTATION

GENERAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Orientation is the relationship of the building to

its environment.

Reduce or eliminate external heat gains.

Design to allow nighttime temperatures and air
movement.

Factors that determine the most appropriate

orientation of a building:
Suns heat
Sunlight
Existing vegetation
Desirable & undesirable views
Objectional noise
Velocity and direction of prevailing wind or
breezes
Land forms and shapes
Lot and structure size
Relationship of the site to the neighborhood
Local building codes
One approach in achieving thermal comfort in
cooling application is:
Building Envelope Design - integrated design
of building form and materials as a total system
to achieve optimum comfort and energy
savings.
Good Envelope Design - responds to climate
& site conditions to optimize the thermal
performance.

INTEGRATE STRUCTURE WITH LAND

FORM
Buildings should not appear as appendages to
the land.
Indoor and outdoor areas as part of plan.
Building and lot must be designed together.
Conditions of the building site must be studied
for climate factors.
Consider specific physical characteristics of the
site.
Large bodies of water affect air temperature
and air movements.
Surrounding pavement areas and buildings can
raise or lower temperatures.
Orientation of specific areas toward the best
view.
Sloping sites offer variety of conditions.
Organic Architecture - design of a building to
completely integrate with its surroundings.

LOT AREAS
Planning Purposes - lots are divided into three
areas:
Public, Private & Service Areas
(Continuation of Integrate Structure with Land
Form)

Vegetation greatly aids in heat, light, humidity,

and noise control.
Trees, shrubs and ground cover foliage baffle
undesirable views and enhance attractive
scenes.
Deciduous trees maximize summer cooling and
winter heating.
Dense coniferous (evergreen) trees & shrubs
most effective for blocking & redirecting
northwest storm winds.

WIND CONTROL
Wind easily diminish suns effect.
Wind Chill Effect - loss of internal stored heat
Building orientation, vegetation, and the features of
land can control or minimize the effects of the
prevailing wind.

WIND EFFECTS
Wind Eddies - this effect is caused by high
velocity winds striking the upper floors of highrise buildings creating turbulence on the
surface.
Venturi Effect - created as large amounts of
moving air are forced into narrow openings.

PASSIVE SYSTEM FOR TROPICAL

CLIMATES

Passive
Passive
Passive
Passive

Cooling Through Orientation

Cooling Through Site Layout
Cooling Through Solar Control Devices
Daylight Concepts

Passive Cooling
- a system which takes into consideration
building design which does not have any
sophisticated mechanical equipment in order to
induce comfort conditions in building interiors.
Active Cooling
-a system in which consider mostly high
technology inputs
and equipment together with
mechanical and moving
parts.

PASSIVE SYSTEM FOR VARIOUS

CLIMATES
A. Hot-Humid Climate
Maximum Wind Exposure
Maximum Internal Airflow
Maximum Radiant Heat Gain
B. Hot-Dry Climate
Minimum Radiant Heat Gain
Moderate Wind Resistant
Moderate Internal Airflow
C. Cool Climate
Maximum Thermal Retention
Maximum Heat Gain
Maximum Wind Resistance
D. Temperate Climate
Moderate Thermal Retention
Moderate Radiant Heat Gain
Slight and Exposure
Moderate External Airflow