Bioclimatic House

Bioclimatic design aims directly at adapting buildings to the natural environment and local climate, seeking to limit energy consumption, have low energy requirements, achieve energy independence, and maintain low usage and maintenance costs without disrupting the comfortable living conditions of users. Passive construction and complete energy independence cannot be achieved without prior bioclimatic design at the architectural design stage. We design and implement each residence to operate in harmony with the climate rather than against it. To some extent, every house can be designed according to bioclimatic principles. However, on open ground, the possibilities are clearly much greater, taking into account factors such as:

– The best views.

– Directions of bothersome or beneficial winds.

– Natural ventilation.

– The time the sun illuminates the plot.

– The microclimate of the area.

– The vegetation of the plot.

– Application of technology to make it less time-consuming.

We have:

– Orientation of the building in the best way.

– Decisions on where openings will be.

– Decisions on where shading systems will be installed.

– Consultation on the appropriate configuration of the surrounding space and the type of vegetation preferred at a later stage.

– Guidance on the points where vegetation will be planted.

– Installation of technology according to the type of residence, area, usage cost, and plot position.

How it Works:

– Buildings can function like periscopes, utilizing light, the sun, and the wind while providing a view. If a building is designed with the purpose of incorporating any of these functions, care should be taken to orient it in the right direction.

– Outside the tropic zone, the optimal orientation for more sunlight, brightness, and warmth is towards the equinox. If a building is oriented 15° towards the east or west of the sun’s direction, the energy it collects will be nearly the same for both cases.

– Orienting the living room towards the sun in moderate climates can save up to 30% of annual heating needs.

– Even in challenging locations, with careful design, the exploitation of light and solar heat is feasible.

– Even if the location doesn’t provide suitable orientation, sunlight can still be harnessed using periscopes protruding from the building in the form of windows with awnings, roof windows, and windows with three glazed sides.

– The most challenging orientation is westward, as the setting sun coincides with the hottest time of the day (midday), causing overheating in west-facing spaces unless the building is in an area with a high latitude.

– Westward orientation should be avoided, especially in sunny areas, due to potential overheating.

– Consideration is given to how the room will be used, as well as the type of light and heat required from the sun. For example, a room used in the morning is better off with an eastern design to take advantage of morning sunlight, while the dining room should harness afternoon sunlight.

– Few, well-designed openings for light can make the house more pleasant than having many.