Make Your Tropical Home Design More Comfortable and Cool with These 6 Tips!
Indonesia is a country located in the tropical region as it is crossed by the equator. This naturally results in our country experiencing only two seasons, which are the rainy season and the dry season. With these two seasons, of course, the design of houses in Indonesia will be different from houses in four-season countries. Although it can be applied, there are various things that need to be considered. Here are some tips for designing residential homes in a tropical country.
1. Building Orientation
Before determining the shape of the building, architects or homeowners need to pay attention to the building's orientation. The direction of the wind will be influential in ensuring that the house is filled with light and air. The facade of the house will also be affected by shading in areas that are excessively exposed to the sun's heat.
The sides of the building facing east and west should be given more protection because these sides are where the sun rises and sets. Excessive heat and light are not conducive to the comfort of the occupants inside.
2. The Use of Sloping Roofs
Sloping roofs are essential in tropical homes. The slope for the roof is usually quite steep, ranging from 35 to 45 degrees. The design of this roof slope is also intended to allow rainwater to flow directly downwards. Not only rainwater, but dried leaves on the roof can also fall off without the need for cleaning. This ensures that the roof is not burdened with various objects falling onto it.
3. High Ceilings
In addition to sloping roofs, the ceilings in a house should also be high to allow for continuous air exchange inside and outside the dwelling. Cross ventilation is essential in a home to ensure that it remains comfortable and cool at all times. In addition to having high ceilings, the presence of windows or ventilation openings should also be designed around them.
4. Building Materials and Colors
The choice of materials will greatly affect the comfort of a residential home. The use of bricks with concrete walls, for example, serves different functions and benefits. Bricks can adapt to the surrounding temperature, making the interior of the house feel more comfortable. In addition to the type of material used, the color of the building will also significantly impact wall insulation. Light colors will reflect light and heat, while dark colors will absorb heat into the material. Therefore, it is advisable to use very light colors for the exterior walls and roof of the house.
5. Add Plants Inside and Outside the House
By adding plants around the house, whether in the form of a garden or as decorations inside the house, you can enhance the comfort of your home. Placing them in various corners of the house or in the front yard also adds aesthetic value to your dwelling. Plants that undergo photosynthesis will provide freshness with their oxygen production during the morning and daytime. Choose lush and green plants for the front and backyards. Inside the house, you can place plants in pots.
6. Water Elements Add Coolness to the Home
It doesn't have to be a very large swimming pool; designing a fish pond, a mini fountain, or water curtains around the building can help lower the ambient temperature. It's even better if the water feature is placed outside, beneath the windows. This can help cool the air that enters the house through the windows.
