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I have a love-hate relationship with patios and other covered outdoor rooms. Having covered outdoor rooms like a patio, balcony or veranda is awesome in the tropics. However, I find that in many homes, this space is often underused. Hence, it is just another extra wasted space in your home. There are many reasons why

When building a new home, site orientation is critical. The orientation of your home on its site dictates how well it responds to passive design principles. These principles determine the thermal comfort of your home and its energy efficiency. In general, the site orientation of a home can be based on several factors. Some of

We all know what a house should look like. It is square or rectangular, has a triangular roof, with a window and a door side by side. You have seen it hundreds of times throughout your life and have probably drawn several of this style house many times as a child growing up. Though our

The current state of the global economy has forced many people to consider other forms of income. One of these is creating a short-term rental space in your home. Short stay or short-term rental areas are not a unique consideration for people living in the tropics. However, I feel that many of our countries are

What Is Biophilic Design Biophilic design is an intentional design approach that incorporates nature into a building. The word biophilic relates to humans’ tendency towards the natural environment. Benefits of Biophilic Design Throughout history, humans have always had a close relationship with and love for nature. We long to find shade under trees or hear

Building a house is expensive. Between labour and materials, constructing a house is not cheap. One way to reduce the construction cost of your home is by using cheap building materials. Typical building construction materials and finishes are pricey. Often, the more attractive and durable the material, the more expensive it is. It is understandable

Kitchen gardens have become more popular in recent months. Many people have been turning their patios, backyards or any available outdoor space they have into a kitchen garden. Stay-at-home and lockdown mandates due to COVID-19 have forced people to be at home. As such, many have taken to gardening. Not just gardening, but kitchen gardening.

Flooding is a major concern for consideration in a resilient building design. Depending on your location, different natural disasters can cause flooding in your region and home. Hence, it is important to design our homes, cities and neighbourhoods to be resilient against flooding. Effects Of Flooding One of the most devastating effects of some natural

Sun shading or solar shading design is critical for creating a cooler tropical home. Direct sunlight shining on or in a home increases the temperature in the room. Adding sun or solar shading design strategies decreases heat gain. Hence, creating a home that is cooler and better thermally comfortable.  Today, solar shading devices are not