An Examination of the relationship between climate responsive design strategies and the sense of place : with special reference to buildings in hot-humid climates

Abstract

The inspiration for this dissertation has derived from the five long years of formal architectural education, as well as from informal learning through observation and apprenticeship. Although this dissertation is written for the final examination leading to the masters degree, it encapsulates my personal philosophy and inclination to architecture, and life in general. I consider 'survival' to be the ultimate reality in life. In order to survive all forms of life respond to nature and co-exist with it. Responding to environment, especially climate , and preserving the sense of the place are therefore the two most important aspects that is of utmost importance in the field of architecture. As the well known philosopher, Ravindranath Thargore says , "creativity is in the resolution of contrary forces". Creative and meaningful products of architecture result when contrary forces, whether they be quantitative and qualitative aspects, are harmonized. The ultimate purpose of my endeavor is to show the importance of harmonizing climate responsive strategies which are the quantitative aspects of architecture, along with the qualitative aspect - the sense of place, in order to create meaningful architecture. Further, it is an attempt to open the doors to reveal another view point to look at architecture. "The sun never knew how wonderful it was" , the architect Louis Kahn said, "until it fell on the wall of a building". Architecture should be perceived and interpreted in that way. Sunlight is intangible, while the wall of a building is tangible. In most cases intangible aspects become more meaningful when they are related or harmonized with tangible aspects. Architecture too would reach its highest goals, if it is in equilibrium with both the tangible and intangible factors of its art. A greater emphasis has always been laid on the numerical values, statistics and technical methodologies attached to climatology, that are governed and regulated by the laws science. Consequently, the sensory perceptions of climate have been neglected. The spectrum of thermal and visual delight, that is also consistent with climatic exposure and evident in architectural locations with "a sense of place", needs therefore to be examined more carefully. There are universally recognized sensations of climate. Therefore this dissertation is written with reference to such universal sensations, with the writer applying them to and evaluating them in local conditions. The study focuses on the architecture of south and south-east Asia, especially of Sri Lanka with hot - humid climates. Warm climates have a climatic potential beyond that found in more temperate and cool climates. Unlike cool climates, where the sense of enclosure emerges from climatically defensive strategies, tropical buildings open and filter the climate in a multitude of ways. The architectural response to climate, further expands and extends the experience of built fabric. These intangibles aspects of architecture act as contextual palette for aesthetic and creative concepts. The architecture of the hot-humid region is discussed not as a comprehensive guide, but selectively, so that a sufficient range of buildings which evoke the unique aura of the tropics - buildings which are tangible witnesses to their place and time can be presented to support the arguments of the dissertation. It is hoped that they should act as catalysts to the discovery of the sensitive physicality of the architecture of the region. Although the theoretical scope of the dissertation is comparably comprehensive, the illustrations and visual statements are necessarily selective and limited, and intended to support the idea rather than for expansive documentation. The medium of photography in particular is a valuable means of strengthening statements and conveying qualitative notions. Paul Goldberger's observation that, "the photographer's responsibility is to give the building the fairest chance to speak for itself, may be aptly quoted. It is the qualitative aspect of architecture, determined by the essence of a sense of place in architectural fabrics through climate, that remains the principal concern of this dissertation. Architecture of consequence interprets climate through built-form. It is this means, that students of architecture strive to apply in their comprehensive design projects. The dissertation has been an opportunity to investigate it's theoretical aspects.