Climatic parameters interpretation to design climate responsive buildings

In this post, I will guide you through interpreting the most influential climatic parameters to design a climate-responsive building (sort of sustainable/green design). Remember our rule: we do not stand on the term itself but its core.

Well, at the beginning, you should be aware that we consider climate, not weather (see the figure below), as some parameters affect your design.

Climate definition and most influencing climatic parameters (Image source and credit: Ahmed Abouaiana)

Therefore, you should know how to read these data, what valid sources to collect the data from, and, finally, how to design climate-responsive buildings. Many online sources provide climatic data, among them https://www.meteoblue.com/ that enables you to find average temperature, precipitation (rains), and wind.

As you see in the figures below, the average yearly temperature for Luxor city in Egypt, and Copenhagen city, Danmark, shows the maximum and minimum mean of temperature, wind speed, and precipitation. The wind rose indicated the wind in Luxor has no impact, while in Copenhagen, the high frequency and speed as well from the south-west to the north-west.

For the wind parameter, you must have a look at the wind rose (see figure below); the wind is determined by three items: direction, speed, and frequency (how many hours during the year the wind comes from a particular direction with a certain speed).

Can you interpret these figures? The figure tells us Luxor has a high temperature and no precipitation, while Copenhagen is cold and has a high precipitation rate (75 mm average). The wind speed is nearly similar. So, to achieve thermal comfort, we need to increase heat gain and avoid cold wind in Copenhagen, while in Luxor, we need to reduce heat gain and humidify the microclimate. The following photo shows residential buildings in Copenhagen. Is it climate-responsive? You may also have to see the project's location on Google Maps to decide this better.

Residential Buildings in Ørestad District. Images source and credit: Ahmed Abouaiana https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Residential_buildings_%C3%98restad,_Copenhagen.jpg

Repeat the exercise for the following building

London - Willis Building 2008 - Lord Norman Foster - 2004 The Gherkin.jpg Image source and credit https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/London_-_Willis_Building_2008_-_Lord_Norman_Foster_-_2004_The_Gherkin.jpg/640px-London_-_Willis_Building_2008_-_Lord_Norman_Foster_-_2004_The_Gherkin.jpg

Did you notice that relative humidity is not shown (it is an essential parameter)? In the next post, I will guide you through using an efficient tool to help you design climate-responsive buildings.

Dr. Ahmed Abouaiana, November 2024