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The Tropical Asian House
The Tropical Asian House explores how cultural influences, tradition, religion, technology, and the forces of globalization fuse together to produce a contemporary tropical architecture. The author focuses on 26 houses from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka. These houses represent the works of leading architects such as Charles Correa and Geoffrey Bawa as well as others who are searching for their own cultural imprint. The Tropical Asian House will be an important addition to both the professional and academic architectural markets.
- GenresArchitectureAsia
176 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 24, 2023
Architecture for hot climates is becoming especially important in the world today. Most building developments are cookie-cutter homes with no planning for climate change. One also finds the same types of homes being built in hotter climates as the homes being built in colder climates. It doesn’t really make any sense, but that’s also the fault of local government greed. This book, as the title implies, looks specifically at certain homes built for tropical Asian areas, including Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and India. While a few of the featured houses were built with air-conditioning and glazing, others adhere to centuries-old knowledge of cooling a house naturally.
…a house in the tropics should be designed with the minimal use of glass.
The idea for stepping away from glazed windows is because research has shown that homes built in hot, steamy climates work best with an open-to-sky space. It’s a little hard to think that’s okay in a world wanting security and insect control, yet the homes here reflect that concept. Traditional Asian homes were able to regulate tropical breezes and were able to feature interior cooling without resorting to air conditioning. But once modern builders took over, out went the tried-and-true houses and in came the windowed, faceless homes requiring higher amounts of energy. One can look at China and its obliteration of ancient houses that handled the climate well, only to be replaced by stories-high tenements that have mini-split HVAC units breeding across the external surface.
The other concept for a traditional home in tropical climates is to integrate the environment. Instead of cutting down much-needed trees, they should form part of the plan to naturally shade the structure. Verandahs are also important, acting as the connection between interior-to-exterior pathways. Although these homes are meant for steamy climates, the entire concept can apply to most places getting hotter and hotter. The American Southwest, for example, and many parts of California could use some of these ideas.
1. The home should not destroy any substantial trees (shade) and be in harmony with nature.
2. The home should be designed with a minimal number of windows (glazing).
3. The home should not have gutters.
4. The home should be surrounded by a garden and landscaped surfaces.
5. The home should have overhanging eaves to provide shade and naturally move rainwater.
6. The home should have in-between spaces such as verandahs or shaded balconies.
7. The home should have tall rooms to create air mass and thermal insulation.
I also like the use of traditional shutters, which can be used to keep heat out of the interior of the home. These can be awning shutters or side-by-side shutters, but they do wonders for cooling and for security. Cross-ventilation is VERY important and can be accomplished in different ways, but installing a high wall for security or privacy will eliminate the natural cooling. The author took this journey very seriously and provides wonderful pictures of every featured home, along with a simple design outline and a description of how the architect approached the building. I especially like the Cinnamon Hill House in Sri Lanka with its nature-infused design and only two glazed windows. This is a beautiful coffee-table book that also provides a lesson in conserving what we have instead of building to use more and more energy.
I have long believed that the world is on a collision course to disaster if we do not become more attentive to the design of buildings, including houses, which conserve the planet’s resources.
Book Season = Summer (cocktails of breezy delights)
…a house in the tropics should be designed with the minimal use of glass.
The idea for stepping away from glazed windows is because research has shown that homes built in hot, steamy climates work best with an open-to-sky space. It’s a little hard to think that’s okay in a world wanting security and insect control, yet the homes here reflect that concept. Traditional Asian homes were able to regulate tropical breezes and were able to feature interior cooling without resorting to air conditioning. But once modern builders took over, out went the tried-and-true houses and in came the windowed, faceless homes requiring higher amounts of energy. One can look at China and its obliteration of ancient houses that handled the climate well, only to be replaced by stories-high tenements that have mini-split HVAC units breeding across the external surface.
The other concept for a traditional home in tropical climates is to integrate the environment. Instead of cutting down much-needed trees, they should form part of the plan to naturally shade the structure. Verandahs are also important, acting as the connection between interior-to-exterior pathways. Although these homes are meant for steamy climates, the entire concept can apply to most places getting hotter and hotter. The American Southwest, for example, and many parts of California could use some of these ideas.
1. The home should not destroy any substantial trees (shade) and be in harmony with nature.
2. The home should be designed with a minimal number of windows (glazing).
3. The home should not have gutters.
4. The home should be surrounded by a garden and landscaped surfaces.
5. The home should have overhanging eaves to provide shade and naturally move rainwater.
6. The home should have in-between spaces such as verandahs or shaded balconies.
7. The home should have tall rooms to create air mass and thermal insulation.
I also like the use of traditional shutters, which can be used to keep heat out of the interior of the home. These can be awning shutters or side-by-side shutters, but they do wonders for cooling and for security. Cross-ventilation is VERY important and can be accomplished in different ways, but installing a high wall for security or privacy will eliminate the natural cooling. The author took this journey very seriously and provides wonderful pictures of every featured home, along with a simple design outline and a description of how the architect approached the building. I especially like the Cinnamon Hill House in Sri Lanka with its nature-infused design and only two glazed windows. This is a beautiful coffee-table book that also provides a lesson in conserving what we have instead of building to use more and more energy.
I have long believed that the world is on a collision course to disaster if we do not become more attentive to the design of buildings, including houses, which conserve the planet’s resources.
Book Season = Summer (cocktails of breezy delights)
November 26, 2019
He first creates his own unique theory of what "tropical design" is in its essence then proceeds to enumerate about 20 houses, that are in his opinion and capacity, the best tropical asian houses.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews