CLIMATOLOGY TO DESIGN UK RESIDENCES

 Climatology: 

Scientific study of climate is called climatology. Climatology is a very old topic, has been studies by Hippocrates II around 400BC. Climatology is understanding fundamental natural resources we are providential and positioning it to better use by collecting data of average radiation of sun during a month of a years, calculating prevailing average winds speeds for months, studying the land topography for soil conditions and contours. Our ancestors were expert in climatology to use these phenomena for agriculture, travel, rainwater harvesting and other daily activities. But our farmers and common people have been introduced to technology we need not worry about any of these natural resources for our daily activities. In this post I am mostly discussing applying these ideas of climate in our regular usage of residential projects.  

I really enjoy analysing climatology, while I am designing spaces to be compliant with sun, wind and topography of the project. As my professors in architecture used to say, “no 2 plots on our planet can have same climatic”. It is important and interesting to follow climate to design an efficient building. In India they say “Vastu-shastra” it is the depiction of nature and symmetry was initially created to build Hindu temples. Vastu-Shastra is also called science of Architecture, in other words architecture is combination of nature and symmetry. Nature = Climate, and from above discussion no 2 plots can have same climate.

* 1: KAJRAHO, LAKSHMANA TEMPLE FLOOR PLAN

* 2: KAJRAHO, LAKSHMANA TEMPLE

To understand climatic principles applied in UK residential designs. I taught it was a worth our time to understand Georgian and Victorian floor plans used to designs Mansions and Palaces. Before we get into examples, I have collected few data from Met, could be useful for anyone designing their houses in UK to consider this climatic information, possible to achieve Net-Zero Energy Building. This might also help you in reducing Carbon Footprint.

Sun:

Sun is our natural source of heat and light energy. If we try to use this efficiently, we can easily achieve Net- Zero Energy, meaning self-sufficient energy produced within our properties. Because of our earth axis tilted by 23.5 degree and it revolves round the sun is the reason we have different seasons. Some parts of the earth are prominent and other are mild changes. Specially the countries located close to the equator experience tropical climate almost all round the year.

UK sun can be captured through out the year minimum 8 hours to maximum 16 hours 30 min in January and July respectively, this is the maximum solar energy can be put in use at an ideal situation, e.g. solar panels facing south or maximum heat capturing windows located facing south.   

CHART 1: AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FROM 2000-2019

The above chart is a collected data of UK temperature from 2000-2019 to comprehend average heat radiations received in UK topography throughout year. The highest temperature is in July with 16 hours 30 min sunlight and lowest is in January with 8 hours of total sunlight during day. 

Wind:

Wind energy is also very powerful. The direction of wind changes from place to place in this post we are discussing wind in UK. So UK gets the prevailing winds from south west and west.

Directions and temperatures:

North (N), South (S), East (E) and West (W) are the main prominent directions we have. These directions are perpendicular to each-other at any given point of time. North-East (NE), North-West (NW), South-East (SE) and South-West (SW) are the sub directions identified for convince. 

Since UK is in Northern Hemisphere and with a tilt of 23.5 degree. SE, S, SW are the directions with maximum exposure to sun through-out, design suggestion: This could have a large windows to bring in the sunlight through-out the day. N direction has less or sometime no exposure to sun at all is considered cold, Design Suggestion: this side of the house could be used for least habitable spaces e.g. staircase, toilets, garage, storage and etc. E and W directions are the moderate heat & light capturing directions during winters and maximum heat capturing during summers, Design Suggestion: Habitable Space

Note: Habitable space is a space with more people and more time spent in, during day or night; Non-Habitable space is a space most likely to be related with circulation, storage and services.  

NORTH - WEST Non- Habitable Rooms	NORTH Non- Habitable Rooms	NORTH – EAST Non- Habitable Rooms
WEST Habitable Rooms	DIRECTIONS	EAST Habitable Rooms
SOUTH – WEST Habitable Rooms	SOUTH  Habitable Rooms	SOUTH – EAST Habitable Rooms

    

Note: HOT , WARM , MODERATE COLD , COLD

Resources:

Vaastu- Shastra “Golden Principles of Vastu-shastra”

Climate data- Met office