Effects of Climate on the Form and Elevation of Buildings in Iran
Nazanin Salimi


The specifications of local architecture in tropical areas
The principles applying to the architecture of tropical areas are so much similar to that of raw area.
1) The natural forces affecting on building design in tropical areas
1-1 Sunlight
Due to high sun energy in this area, the most attempts are made to locate the buildings in the shadows. In this area, wide and roofed verandas are used to prevent rain and provide a shadow on room walls, too.

1-2 The Wind
Natural air conditioning is not that much important because of the warmth and humidity of the weather in the region. Therefore enough forecasts are not made to make drafty rooms.
Some big vents are installed in this climate in order to use chilly see breeze. Most of the buildings of the area enjoy vents. Nonetheless in the further areas that are less influenced by sea breeze, the vents are small and short, and there are no vents in many other areas.

2) The effects of climate on buildings in tropical area
Skin wetness is one of the most important problems in the clement areas, which is due to the high humidity of the weather. Therefore the summary of the principles that should be applied in humid and clement climates are as follows:
· Installing influential and permanent air conditioning
· Protecting walls and windows against sunlight and rain penetration
· Preventing inside weather from warming in day
· Decreasing the warmth to the minimum amount at night

Big windows are very useful provided that they are protected against sunlight, rain penetration and insect entry. It is because such openers not only increase natural conditioning but also lead to the decrease of internal temperature at night and in the evening.

The most appropriate height of the windows is 5.5 to 1.5 meters from the ground. If higher distance is more suitable, it is better to use horizontal windows with joint and upward openers so that it leads the wind to downward (the room).

It is almost necessary to set up windows netting in order to prevent insects' entry to the room. Of course the netting reduces natural conditioning and wind stream inside the room. To reduce such a stream, the netting are set up wit some distance from the window and does not stick to the window.

The windows and big openers in humid areas should effectively be protected against sunlight. The visors of the windows should protect the internal space not only against direct rays but also against scattered rays that have a quite considerable amount in tropical climate. In some cases it is possible to adjoin walls, windows, rain and sunlight protection by expanding the ceiling area. The method is mostly essential in the areas with downpour and wind in which the wind directs the rain horizontally and causes rain penetration to splits and cracks.

3) The selection of building materials according to tropical climate
Due to the lessening of temperature fluctuation in tropical climate, high heat resistant and materials without heat capacity are the best ones.

4) The effects of climate on buildings in tropical area
The effects of sun radiation in east and west require the buildings to have a tense format and cubed rectangle shape and locate at the east-west axis. This method is quite useful in making a stream inside the house and lessening humidity. If the building is located in shadow, the plan could be open and free.