Tropical House Design Handbook: Bioclimatic, Safe, Comfortable, Economical and Respectful of the Environment

Packed with accessible information, this book covers all the technical and practical aspects of home design in tropical environments.

It begins by outlining the prerequisites needed to understand the issues involved (climate, heat, thermal comfort, etc.) and discusses the solutions offered by traditional housing. It then identifies current solutions for protecting buildings and their occupants from solar radiation and external heat, while promoting bioclimatic and environmentally friendly approaches.

The economic viability of the solutions identified is discussed, as are the advantages and disadvantages of the materials, depending on the context and standards in force.

Numerous examples illustrate how buildings can be adapted to local realities, from the avant-garde creations of Jean Prouvé to those of today’s architects who are committed to sustainable development, as well as specific projects incorporating the recommendations made in this book.

More than 460 photos, drawings, diagrams, tables, maps, house plans, logos and pictograms illustrate this reference work for all those involved in construction in tropical regions, particularly students in the field and, more generally, anyone – from professionals to private individuals – looking for useful information on this subject.

Tropical House Design Handbook is a collaborative work, designed and produced by ETIK2A*, with the invaluable participation of the following contributors, all experts in their field of knowledge and active in the main tropical zones of the world:

Architects: Bruno Stagno (San José, Costa Rica) is founder of the Institute of Tropical Architecture and promoter of sustainable bioclimatic design that respects architectural traditions while enriching them with relevant current concepts and mobilising local communities and materials. Benny Kuriakose (Chennai, India) is an expert in architectural conservation and the design of new buildings using natural materials. Joyce Owens (Florida, USA) is a defender of modern, bioclimatic and sustainable tropical architecture that is resilient to natural disasters. Jolyon Robinson (Eumundi, Australia) designs pure, functional and aesthetic buildings that are respectful of the local environment and enriched by recent innovations.

Researchers: Yuosre Badir (Bangkok, Thailand) is Associate Professor and director of the doctoral programs (PhD & DBA) at the School of Management of the Asian Institute of Technology. He is a specialist in green product and process innovation, low-carbon technology assessments and emerging market digital transformation. Yézouma Coulibaly (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso) is Associate Professor at the International Institute of Water and Environmental Engineering, where he teaches energy, and, in particular, energy efficiency in buildings. Yves Jannot (Nancy, France) is a CNRS research engineer at the Laboratory of Energy and Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the University of Lorraine and has taught heat transfer and solar thermal energy in several engineering schools in France and Africa. Noppol Kobmoo (Pathum Thani, Thailand) is a researcher in ecology and evolutionary biology at BIOTEC; he works on evolutionary mechanisms at the origin of new species and their adaptation in tropical environments.

* ETIK2A, a non-profit association, provides scientific information and promotes ethical behaviour.