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 night and even throughout the year.
In addition, the lush green vegetation and beautiful landscapes are some of the things that make tropical countries a paradise to be in. From the Caribbean to the Maldives, people travel from their cold, dreary weather to the tropics’ beautiful outdoors and natural environment.
Hence, creating outdoor spaces where you can interact more closely with nature is an excellent addition to tropical homes or vacation stays.
Outdoor spaces can come in many types and forms. They include covered exterior areas like patios, balconies, and verandahs. You can also have uncovered outdoor spaces like terraces, decks and courtyards.
Covered Outdoor Spaces
Having a covered outdoor space as part of your home is a beautiful way to enjoy some outdoor living. They are an excellent addition to a traditional or a tropical modern house.
Spaces like patios, verandahs, porches, and balconies can have multiple benefits. These benefits include climatic response as well as spatial requirements.
Since the area has a roof, it shades you from the intense heat from direct sunlight. It also becomes a fantastic spot to enjoy a rainy afternoon without getting wet.
Such areas also provide a place to sit and relax while taking in the view. Because of the mild tropical temperatures, you can enjoy your outdoor spaces all year. Hence, they can also be functional rooms of your home.
Dining or games rooms are spaces that can permanently occupy the outdoors. This idea means that you do not need indoor rooms for these activities. Hence, reducing the square footage of your indoor area and the cost that comes with it.
In addition, the roofs of these exterior rooms can shade interior spaces from the sun. This arrangement depends on the orientation of the house.
For example, the roof on a patio or verandah along your north or south-facing walls can completely shade those walls from direct sunlight. Hence, they will not heat up during the day. They can even provide some shade on east and west-facing walls.
Also, doors and windows can remain open while it is raining. Sheltered outdoor spaces will prevent rain from entering your home.
Another bonus of a covered outdoor area is that it can increase the wind entering your home through passive ventilation. The roof and walls of an outdoor room can funnel wind through your doors and windows. This process increases the effects of cross ventilation throughout the home.
Uncovered Outdoor Spaces
Uncovered outdoor spaces are another way to interact with nature in and around your home.
These include terraces, decks, courtyards and gardens. They also consist of rooftop gardens and open roof decks.
Areas like these create an open-to-sky area that is near or in your home. They could also have a partial cover like a trellis or pergola. These structures could help define the enclosure while providing some shade. You can also grow vines or other plants on them.
In the tropics, uncovered spaces may sometimes not be as valuable as covered ones. Not having a roof means you do not get protection from the sun. Also, you must scamper every time the rain starts to fall.
However, these uncovered areas can be extraordinary spaces to enjoy nature.
Though uncovered, these areas can provide climatic benefits to a tropical home.
For example, a courtyard is a great way to improve the natural ventilation in your home. Cross ventilation works best when the wind has shorter distances to travel. Courtyards break up the interior of a wide home. Hence, providing a place for wind to enter or exit the interior parts of your house.
Nature and Environment
Spending time in nature has lots of benefits to people. Just being close to natural elements like plants, trees or water can bring significant improvements to your mood and psyche.
Hence, designing a home that incorporates biophilic strategies is critical in tropical dwellings.
These strategies also provide environmental and sustainable benefits.
Traditionally many tropical regions have an abundance of natural elements in their environment. Elements such as trees, forests, birds, rivers, beaches and oceans are some of the reasons many visitors consider our tropical islands a paradise.
We used to have many tropical fruit trees and other food-bearing plants around our homes. However, with development and urbanisation, we find ourselves replacing trees with pavements. The natural terrain around our homes is now concrete slabs since these are easier to maintain.
But maintaining natural elements in and around your home has significant benefits. These benefits improve the environmental and climatic response in our homes. In addition, they provide us with many physical and psychological health benefits.
Water, Ponds and Pools
Most people have a natural love for bodies of water. We love to listen to the sounds of the waves and watch their rippling.
In tropical climates that are not as humid, a body of water like a pond or pool can help create a cooling effect in your home.
The evaporation of a body of water and a breeze moving over it can make a room or area feel cooler.
However, apart from the climatic benefits, the calming look and sounds of water are soothing.
Pools and pool decks are great places to relax and unwind.
Ponds, particularly with fish and plants, are also a great way to add a natural water feature to your home.
Trees and Plants
Vegetation around a house has an incredible impact on how the interior spaces feel and function.
Trees can help shade the walls and openings of your home. This strategy is advantageous on west-facing walls. Since the evening or west sun is low and intense, using trees to shade west-facing walls is beneficial.
Large trees also help shade the area around your house. The trees help prevent the sun’s rays from heating the ground outside. Hence, when the wind blows, it brings in cooler air.
Plants and shrubs outside the house are also cooler than using hard, thermal massing pavements like concrete.
Opening out your home to a garden is a fantastic feeling as well. Whether you are growing flowers, herbs or vegetables, I think a garden is an excellent addition to a tropical home.
My personal preference is a kitchen garden to grow food-bearing plants like vegetables, fruits or herbs. Being part of the process of producing some of your food is extremely rewarding.
Conclusion
Outdoor spaces are a great addition when designing a home in the tropics. They provide you with extra space and a great way to interact with nature.
Though covered spaces may be a bit more functional, uncovered areas are also excellent for outdoor activities.
These outdoor spaces provide ways of generating stronger connections between the interior and exterior of your home. Hence, creating more enjoyable areas to live in.
Featured image photographer: Grant Pitcher
Project: Tinderwood
Architect: Metropole Architects
Related topics in this series:
Find out all the major principles of designing a house in the tropics.
Or explore more of the other topics in this series.
Site Orientation: The orientation of your home on its site dictates how well it responds to passive design principles.
Shading Strategies: Reducing the solar heat gain in your home can create a better thermally comfortable home.
Passive Ventilation: Natural or passive ventilation is one of the primary concerns of a tropical home.
Wall Materials and Construction: In hot, humid climates, your wall materials need to perform various functions.
Roof Design: Choosing the right roof in hot tropical climates is essential to minimize heat gain.
Exterior Spaces: Making outdoor spaces and nature part of tropical homes is ideal.
Water and Energy Efficiency: With climate change, renewable energy and water resource management are crucial.