Articles

Natural or passive ventilation is one of the primary concerns of a tropical home. How good the passive ventilation in your home is, will determine the level of reliance on mechanical ventilation systems in tropical climates. What Is Passive Ventilation? Passive ventilation is the process of naturally moving air through an indoor space. It involves […]

A courtyard in a house can have many benefits. Courtyards are a great way to improve the functionality of a home. The benefits of a courtyard in a house are significant in the tropics. This situation is because of the function they perform in cooling a house. They are, however, suitable for any home in

Vernacular architecture and the chattel house are familiar to us in Barbados. The chattel house is our most identifiable example of vernacular architecture. Many of us may have heard the term “vernacular architecture” before. The words can sometimes conjure in us a primitive style of building. We may think about small, old-fashioned houses that lacked

In the Caribbean, we are accustomed to vibrant colours. It is a big part of our fashion, food, and cultural events. It is also a major aspect of houses and buildings. Therefore, choosing a paint/trowel finish colour for your home is an important decision. This is more important for your exterior walls since this is

Choosing the best windows for natural ventilation is a significant decision in a tropical home. Windows that encourage the most natural ventilation are among the most important factors when building in the tropics. Generally, windows are a critical part of any home. Windows allow natural light and ventilation into your rooms. They protect against rain,

Over the past few decades, it seems as if the average house size has grown significantly in the Caribbean. As I drive around the island, I wonder if people have gotten that wealthy in Barbados. How are they so many enormous homes that are under construction or recently built? They are found in several residential

The Coronavirus disease, COVID-19 has consumed the entire globe. Its wave of illness and death has affected us all in some way or another. We may know someone who had it, or we may have. Perhaps it is how it monopolized every aspect of the news, how we were quarantined to our homes for an

I live in a concrete block wall bungalow built about 40 years ago. The house follows the typical style bungalow you see across Barbados and other parts of the Caribbean. It has the bedrooms and bathroom on the east to catch the breezes and the living, dining and kitchen on the west. The house offers