Description of module 7

• 11.7.1 Code: AA 6306

• 11.7.2 Name: CLIMATIC DESIGN
• 11.7.3 Number of credits: 8

• 11.7.4 Sub – Enabling outcomes

• 2.3.1 Describe the basics of climatology in Architecture
• 2.3.2 Apply climatic design concepts to building
• 2.3.3 Apply light principles in building design
• 2.3.4 Describe day-lightings in buildings
 Description of module 7
• 11.7.6 Learning Context
This module will be conducted through Lectures and Assignments
• 11.7.7 Learning materials
• Books, Psychometric charts, light meters, Graph books, drawing
boards, sketch books, calculators.
• References:
– Neufert Architects’ data
– Allan Everett
– Environmental Science. B.J. SMITH
– Francis. D. Ching: Architecture form, space and order

• 11.7.8 Integrated method of Assessment

• Assignments 10%
• Test 30%
• End of Module examination 60%
 General Introduction
Architectural Climatology

Climatology.

it is the basic science a designer is concerned about.

It involves majorly on climatic elements how they are behaving
on us how to be benefited by these climatic elements how to
protect ourselves from the adverse effect of climatic elements

The major steps in architectural climatology are:-

• climatology-study of climatic elements
• biology-study of human comfort level with respect to
climatology
• technology-creating of built environment architecture
 Climatology in Architecture
Climatology:
Is a study of energy conservation and design to create comfortable
shelters with respect to climate.

What Climate Means

It can be defined as an integration in time of physical states of the
atmosphere, environment, characteristic of a certain geographical
location.

In short, climate is the description of the long-term pattern of weather

in a particular area.

Some scientists define climate as the average weather for a

particular region and time period, usually taken over 30-years. It's
really an average pattern of weather for a particular region.
 Climate/ Weather
What Weather Means
Weather is basically the way the atmosphere is behaving, mainly
with respect to its effects upon life and human activities. The
difference between weather and climate is that weather consists of
the short-term (minutes to months) changes in the atmosphere.
Most people think of weather in terms of temperature, humidity,
precipitation, cloudiness, brightness, visibility, wind, and
atmospheric pressure, as in high and low pressure.

In short, Weather is the momentary state of atmospheric

environment a certain location.

In most places, weather can change from minute-to-minute, hour-to-

hour, day-to-day, and season-to-season. Climate, however, is the
average of weather over time and space. An easy way to remember
the difference is that climate is what you expect, like a very hot
summer, and weather is what you get, like a hot day with pop-up
thunderstorms.
 What's the Difference Between Weather
and Climate?
The difference between weather and climate is a measure of
time. Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over
a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere
"behaves" over relatively long periods of time.

Things That Make Up Our Weather

There are really a lot of components to weather. Weather
includes sunshine, rain, cloud cover, winds, hail, snow, sleet,
freezing rain, flooding, blizzards, ice storms, thunderstorms,
excessive heat, heat waves and more.
What's are the elements of weather?
There are several elements that make up the weather and climate of a
place. The major of these elements are FIVE: temperature, pressure, wind,
humidity, and precipitation. Analysis of these elements can provide the
basis for forecasting weather and defining its climate. These same
elements make also the basis of climatology study, of course, within a
longer time scale rather than it does in meteorology.
• Temperature is how hot or cold the atmosphere is, how many degrees it
is above or below freezing. Temperature is a very important factor in
determining the weather because it influences or controls other
elements of the weather, such as precipitation, humidity, clouds and
atmospheric pressure.
• Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere.
• Precipitation is the product of a rapid condensation process (if this
process is slow, it only causes cloudy skies). It may include snow, hail,
sleet, drizzle and rain.
• Atmospheric pressure (or air pressure) is the weight of air resting on
the earth's surface. Pressure is shown on a weather map, often with
lines called isobars.
• Wind is the movement of air masses, especially on the Earth's surface.
 Macro and Micro Climate
Microclimate is a related term of macroclimate.
As nouns the difference between microclimate and macroclimate
is that microclimate is a small, local region having a unique
pattern of weather or weather effects that differ from the local
climate while macroclimate is the climate of a relatively large
geographic area.
• Macro-climate the climate of a larger area such as a region or
a country.
 The climate of a relatively large geographic area.
• Micro-climate the variations in localised climate around a
building.
 A small, local region having a unique pattern of weather or
weather effects that differ from the local climate.
 The microclimate on the south side of a building may differ
from the one on the north, so that different plants may thrive.
 The coastal hills are home to many different microclimates.
Macro and Micro Climate continue…..
• The macro and micro climate has a very important effect on
both the energy performance and environmental
performance of buildings, both in the heating season and in
summer.
• The site and design of a building can have a profound effect
upon the interaction between a building and its environment.
• The building site affects exposure to the prevailing wind, the
solar radiation the building receives, pollution levels,
temperatures and rain penetration.
• The orientation of the building affects solar gains and
exposure to the prevailing wind (ventilation).
• The location of neighbouring trees and buildings affects the
solar gains (shading) and wind patterns.
• Neighbouring trees and buildings also protect the building
from driving rain.
Macro and Micro Climate continue…..
• The orientation of the building affects solar gains and
exposure to the prevailing wind (ventilation).
• The location of neighbouring trees and buildings affects the
solar gains (shading) and wind patterns.
• Neighbouring trees and buildings also protect the building
from driving rain
Macro Climate
The macro climate around a building cannot be affected by any
design changes, however the building design can be developed
with a knowledge of the macro climate in which the building is
located. General climatic data give an idea of the local climatic
severity:
• Seasonal accumulated temperature difference (degree day)
are a measure of the outside air temperature, though do not
account for available solar
• Typical wind speeds and direction
• Annual totals of Global Horizontal Solar Radiation
• The driving rain index (DRI) relates to the amount of moisture
contained in exposed surfaces and will affect thermal
conductivity of external surfaces.
• This Meteorological data gives a general impression of the
climate at the site of a building and the building design can be
planned accordingly. However the building itself and
surrounding geography will affect the local climate
Micro-Climate
The site of a building may have a many micro climates caused
by the presence of hills valleys, slopes, streams and other
buildings.
Micro Climate – Effect of Local Terrain
Surrounding slopes have important effects on air movement,
especially at the bottom of a hollow. In hollows air warmed by
the rises upwards due to buoyancy effects (anabatic flow), to
be replaced by cooler air drifting down the slope (katabatic
flow).
Micro-Climate continues….
Micro-Climate – Effects of Buildings
Buildings themselves create further micro-climates by shading
the ground, changing wind flow patterns.
One example of how buildings affect the local climate is the heat
island effect in large cities where the average temperature is
higher than the surrounding area:
Solar energy absorbed and re-emitted from building surfaces,
pavements roads etc. creates a warming effect on the
surrounding air. Also the large quantities of buildings break up
the wind flow, reducing wind speeds and causing the warm air to
remain stagnant in the city. This also causes increased pollution
as well as temperatures.

The presence of local high rise buildings can degrade the local
climate as wind speed at ground level can be significantly
increased, while extensive shadows block access to sunlight for
long periods, increasing space heating costs in surrounding
buildings.
 Group Assignment
Discuss one weather element considering its
properties/behaviour and its measurements. Give example of
climate data and calculate mean and range. Provide its
design aspects to be considered during design of a residential
house in region with hot humid (Dar es Salaam) as well as
cold region (Mbeya).

1. Group 1 - Temperature
2. Group 2 - Humidity
3. Group 3 - Precipitation
4. Group 4 - Atmospheric pressure
5. Group 5 – Wind

Group members will be distributed by module master