Articles

Your beautiful courtyard house can make your home feel like a private oasis. A courtyard in the middle of a house can add an intimate garden or a natural outdoor space within your home.  They are an incredible addition to your house plan design. Courtyards have many benefits in a home. They can improve the […]

Jalousie windows are one of the most effective windows for providing natural ventilation. In warm climates, having ample natural ventilation creates a much cooler house. In some tropical and subtropical regions, jalousies are prevalent. Australia and some parts of Southeast Asia still use them often. However, in several regions, jalousie windows are thought of as

Cross ventilation is one of the most effective ways of naturally cooling a house. Houses in hot, humid climates like the tropics can become hot and unbearable. As a wind-driven strategy, cross ventilation uses wind or breezes to move air through a room. Hence, reducing the temperature in a house significantly.    Before air conditioning, cross

In our world today, we have many issues that challenge our lives, homes and communities. Topics such as climate change, water scarcity and rising energy costs force us to seek more sustainable home design ideas. I was recently asked to collaborate on an article by Redfin, the real estate agency. They were writing a blog

Minimising the impact that a building has on the land has sustainable benefits. Any artificial structure on a site has an effect. Many of these impacts are negative. Hence, minimising your home’s impact on the land or terrain is vital. The construction industry has had a tremendous effect on our environment. From manufacturing building products

Making outdoor spaces and nature part of tropical homes is ideal. Our tropical climate and natural environment make spaces for outdoor living beneficial in many ways. In tropical climates, the outdoor temperature does not get so low that it would make being outside unbearable. These regions enjoy a mild temperature range during the day and

Having a double roof system can help create a much cooler house. A double roof can significantly reduce the heat gain in your home through the roof. Hence, this lowers your indoor temperature and reduces the need for air conditioning. (Note in this article, the term double roof refers to using two roof layers as

Wind forces can have devasting impacts on your home. The wind forces during a storm or hurricane can cause your home to fail in several ways. It is essential to ensure that your house is best prepared to withstand the effects of tropical storms and hurricanes in tropical climates. Hence, it is a significant consideration

The roof of a house is typically the most exposed to solar radiation. Therefore, choosing the right roof in hot tropical climates is essential to minimise the heat coming into your home. A roof is an essential part of a house or building. In the tropics, places of shelter can get away without having windows,

There is a wide range of wall materials out there for constructing a home in the tropics. Different materials have various properties and will perform differently. In hot, humid tropical climates, your wall materials need to perform a variety of functions. Walls provide shelter and security for a home or building. They protect you from