Synopsis
• A landmark text from the International Energy Agency on sustainable architecture in warmer climates
• Uses the approach of bioclimatic housing to explore how sustainable architecture interacts with its environment
• Explores a range of global case studies from the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Australasia, forming an overview of strategies and showing how these can be developed into practice
In the search for sustainable architecture there is growing interest amongst architects, designers and engineers in the relationship between nature and design. The term ‘bioclimatic’, traditionally relating to the dynamic between climate and living organisms, is applied by the authors in focusing on countries where housing requires cooling for a significant part of the year and presenting both the theory and practice of innovative, low-energy architecture. Having set out new definitions of bioclimatic housing, the book interweaves the themes of social progress, technological solutions and industry developments within a discussion of global and country trends. With case studies from Iran, Malaysia, Australia, Japan, Sri Lanka and Italy, this is a truly international and authoritative work, prepared under the auspices of a 5-year International Energy Agency (IEA) project.
Richard Hyde is Director of the Centre for Sustainable Design at the University of Queensland, Australia.