Tropical Architecture reviewer

Tropical Design_

St. Peter Memorial Chapel, Tacloban, Leyte
Author/s: Palileo, Christine Mae G. Mapua Institute of Technology, Manila, Philippines [e-mail]

Abstract: Tropical architecture is usually associated on the visual aspect of the design, that every time we hear it a particular visual is associated with it, but tropical architecture is more than that. In this paper, tropical architecture is discussed based on its concept. Showing its application to a memorial chapel located in Tacloban Leyte.
Keywords: Tropical architecture, Tacloban, natural ventilation
Introduction
Tropic countries have rapidly and continually develop and urbanize its cities, creating skyscrapers, commercial buildings, residential, etc. However, most of these countries adapts the western architecture to most of their structures. Tropical Architecture deals with the thermal comfort achieved by passive design elements, which promotes the natural circulation of air inside the structure.

Case: St. Peter Memorial Chapel, Tacloban, Leyte
1.1 Location Tacloban was recently struck by the Super typhoon 'Yolanda ' or internationally known as 'Haiyan '. The recent study conducted by Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines and BPI Foundation, tells that Tacloban is highly vernurable to the effects of climate change. They gave this score based on 3 factors: climate or environmental exposure, socio-economic sensitivity, and capacity to adapt. Tacloban 's location on the country 's eastern seaboard exposes it to many climate risks, like tropical cyclones during the southwest monsoon. Geohazard maps of the city also show high susceptibility to landslides, particularly for its upland villages. Being only 3 meters above sea level, Tacloban is also threatened by sea level rise. Studies show that seas can rise by 4 to 6 meters due to climate change.
1.2 Climate Tacloban has a tropical rainforest climate or equatorial climate, which is a type of tropical climate where there is no dry season throughout the whole year that has the precipetation values of at least 60 millimetres (2.4 in). The weather is typically hot and wet with frequent heavy rainfalls the whole year.
The average high (daytime) temperature for the year in Tacloban is 29.4 °C (84.9 °F). The warmest month on average is May with an average daytime temperature of 31 °C (87.8 °F). The coolest month on average is January, with an average (nighttime) temperature of 23 °C (73.4 °F).
The highest recorded temperature was 41.1 °C (106.0 °F), recorded in December. The lowest recorded temperature in Tacloban is 12.8 °C (55.0 °F) which was also recorded in December.
The average rainfall for the year is 2294 mm (90.4 in), with the most rainfall on average in December with 305 millimetres (12.0 in) and the least on average in April with 119 millimetres (4.7 in).

Fig. 1 Climate Data for Tacloban City

Fig. 2 Annual Mean Temaperature for Tacloban City
2.1 Structure Analysis The structure is built mainly by concrete with granite and carpet tile floor finishes. The memorial chapel uses mixed mode where electro-mechanical systems such as air conditioning are used to provide comfort to the users. Electro-mechanical also to ventilate spaces such as the embalming area. Though the place uses air-conditioning, it was only turned when the room is functioned as a viewing area.

Fig. 3 Original Floor Plan

The structure is oriented towards south. The site analysis is shown in Fig 3.
Fig.4 Site Analysis

Conclusion: The revision done are the following:
The plenum is provided to provide natural ventilation and lighting.
Provisions of low partitions to allow the warm air to rise and escape to the plenum.
Provision of lighting shelf to maximize natural lighting.

Fig. 5 Section, Ventilation and Lighting Analysis

Fig. 6 Final Perspective

References
Bay, Joo. Tropical sustainable architecture: social and environmental dimensions. Oxford: Architectural, 2006.
"Climate change threatens economy of 4 PH cities." Rappler. http://www.rappler.com/nation/47937-climate-change-economy-four-ph-cities (accessed March 16, 2014).
Wikimedia Foundation. "Tacloban." Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacloban (accessed March 16, 2014).
"Tacloban: In the jaws of a 'climate sandwich '." Rappler. http://www.rappler.com/nation/48129-tacloban-climate-adaptation-study (accessed March 16, 2014).
"WWF-Philippines." WWF-Philippines. http://wwf.org.ph/wwf3/climate/publications (accessed March 16, 2014).
"What made Tacloban so vulnerable to Haiyan?." Rappler. http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/typhoon-yolanda/43712-tacloban-assessment (accessed March 16, 2014). de Jesus, Amando. "Tropical architecture." Inquirer Business. http://business.inquirer.net/19613/tropical-architecture (accessed March 16, 2014).

References: Bay, Joo. Tropical sustainable architecture: social and environmental dimensions. Oxford: Architectural, 2006. "Climate change threatens economy of 4 PH cities." Rappler. http://www.rappler.com/nation/47937-climate-change-economy-four-ph-cities (accessed March 16, 2014). Wikimedia Foundation. "Tacloban." Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacloban (accessed March 16, 2014). "Tacloban: In the jaws of a 'climate sandwich '." Rappler. http://www.rappler.com/nation/48129-tacloban-climate-adaptation-study (accessed March 16, 2014). "WWF-Philippines." WWF-Philippines. http://wwf.org.ph/wwf3/climate/publications (accessed March 16, 2014). "What made Tacloban so vulnerable to Haiyan?." Rappler. http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/typhoon-yolanda/43712-tacloban-assessment (accessed March 16, 2014). de Jesus, Amando. "Tropical architecture." Inquirer Business. http://business.inquirer.net/19613/tropical-architecture (accessed March 16, 2014).