Bahasa IndonesiaInside a tropical house, to provide rooms with natural ventilation and natural light, the source can be from front yard, innercourt, and backyard. According to government's recomendation for simple house standard, rooms must be ventilated to natural circulation above 5 % from room's width. Windows and ventilation ought to be controllable as needed.
This picture show the yards as source of natural ventilation. From this sources, natural ventilation should be maximized for healthy house.
In traditional architecture, there has been a tradition in house design to maintain healthy houses. One example is by using ceiling to prefent heat to fall from the roof inside the house.
The picture above shows how ceiling can prevent heat from the roof. Logically, the higher the roof, the cooler the room below it can be, because heat is captured by insulation space below roof. In our traditional houses, usually there are holes to cross the hot air below roof.
Can air fans reduce heat? Yes, it helps the air moving to make our skin cooler. But the real condition is the air is still hot and is only flowing around the room. This is why it is suggested to pay attention to air temperature element.
Bahasa Indonesia
Design by astudio
You might have read or know from TV shows about 'secondary skin concept' or second wall layer of a building. This concept is originated from an analogy; house as a human skin.
Biologically, human has skin, to protect human from many danger, virus, disease, and other thread outside human body. Skin has a function to manage relationship between body and outside body. For example, if it is too hot, human skin will react by keeping temperature stable, for example sweat.
Human also has a way to react to external condition for example, by using clothes. There are clothes for hot weather, cold weather, etc. Clothes can be made to fit our comfort.
In architecture, it is Known the concept Of building as human skin, that has a function to protect human body. Building can be designed, to fit tropical climate, from heat and rain, and from other climate related environmental condition.
'Secondary skin concept was derived from analogy of human skin and clothes, and this concept can be used whenever one layer of building 'skin' is not quite enough to deal with climate impact.
To apply secondary skin at home
To apply secondary skin concept it is important not to be mistaken with creating building ornaments, because usually, house facade will look more aesthetic than using just a Single wall.
Many and more tropical houses use secondary skin concept. this is because tropical houses need more advanced concept than just a single wall concept. to apply secondary Skin concept for Your home consider these points;
When designing, observe the surrounding houses. are they comfortable enough? In term of air freshness. humidity, etc. If you feel that it is not really fresh and comfortable, consider to use secondary skin for your future home.
If your house is already been built, see if there is a possibility that you could better the level of air and natural light comfort by adding secondary skin.
In houses of tropical area, most secondary skin for buildings are made of wood louvers, steel, or other materials. One unique example is one house that was designed by Ridwan Kamil using bottles as secondary Skin. Other materials like bamboo, recycled material, glass, etc can be used innovatively
Level of human comfort in tropical area is quite specific. Some consider rather dark room is comfortable. How much natural light can get in to a room is one of main considerations beside air flow, humidity etc. Nowadays, glass material ate often being used. the impact is higher temperature level.
The use of secondary skin is quite similar to being below the shadow of a tree. You can imagine that being under the shadow of trees when the sun shine very hot is very comfortable.
(Probo Hindarto)
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