期刊名称：The Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa (JSDA)
电子版ISSN：1520-5509
出版年度：2013
卷号：15
期号：8
出版社：Institute of Sustainable Development in Africa
摘要：Traditionally, dwellings have been adapted to climate in the search of shelter with co mfortable spaces. The evolution of the modern movement of architecture placed emphasis on the form-function concept at the expense of comfort issues with dependence on auxiliary space co oling devices to maintain thermal co mfort in buildings. For Ghana as a country, recent attempts at addressing demand for housing have led to the development of architectural design solutions that have most invariably been based on approaches employed in the western countries despite climatic differen ces. The result is excessive energy use in buildings and destruction of the harmony between culture and nature. This paper discusses and presents the outcome of an effort to employ passive design concepts for warm -humid climates employed in a proposal for a contemporary mass housing project initiated by the Government of Ghana (GOG) to reduce the housing deficit in Ghana. A review of passive design concepts, strategies and techniques associated with layout planning and building form, building design and material selection for the natural enviro nmental conditions of the warm-humid climatic regions was undertaken and applied in the design of the housing units. Computer aided simulations were used to achieve precise angles of orientation, effective natural air flow patterns, appropriate design and dimensions of shading devices for all year round performance. AutoCAD Architecture 2010 was used for the orthographic and three-dimensional drawings. The paper is expected to contribute to the identification of a genuine environmental responsive architecture, which is regional in context and provide a useful reference to the contemporary architectural design practice for regions under similar climatic and economic conditions.
关键词：passive design; warm-humid climates; mass housing; sustainable building; Ghana
