What Are the Characteristics of Tropical Architecture? Find Out Here

Behind the beauty of tropical nature lies the local wisdom that has inspired tropical architecture. From curved roofs to optimal utilization of air ventilation, tropical architecture combines the beauty of nature with the practicality of buildings. Before delving deeper, it's essential to understand the characteristics of tropical architecture that make it so intriguing and relevant in tropical environments like Indonesia.

What is Tropical Architecture?

In appearance, tropical architecture indeed has a very distinctive style. However, tropical architecture is not just about the appearance of buildings using natural materials or vegetation as decorative elements. More than that, tropical architecture encompasses the entire building system, from layout planning, interior spaces, to air circulation and lighting.

The selection of building materials also needs to be considered. By prioritizing materials that can withstand heat and are resistant to humidity and tropical weather, buildings remain comfortable even though the weather tends to be hot throughout the year.

Characteristics of Modern Tropical Architecture

Buildings that embrace tropical architecture are actually not difficult to identify. You can recognize them from the following characteristics:

1. Natural Ventilation

This ventilation plays a crucial role in creating good air circulation inside the room. With adequate ventilation, fresh air from outside can enter, and stale air can easily exit. This prevents the accumulation of pollutants indoors, which can be detrimental to health.

Moreover, natural ventilation also provides sufficient natural lighting inside the room. By utilizing ample ventilation, tropical homes can minimize excessive humidity and maintain comfortable indoor conditions.

2. High Ceilings

Trinity House uses COLORBOND®.

The design of high ceilings helps to naturally cool the interior of the building. With this design, hot air tends to rise upwards, leaving cooler air at the bottom. This creates a vertical airflow that helps reduce the temperature inside the room without relying too much on additional air conditioning.

3. High Floor Elevation

When looking at coastal tropical architecture, they typically have high floor elevations. This design isn't just for aesthetic purposes. It's also intended to reduce the risk of flooding and water entering the building.

Additionally, high floor elevations serve to improve air circulation underneath the building. This helps naturally cool the structure. With high floor elevations, air can flow more freely beneath the building, bringing fresh air into the rooms.

4. Sun Shading

This concept is designed to reduce direct sunlight exposure into the interior, thereby decreasing heat gain and helping to maintain a comfortable room temperature. With sun shading, the building remains cool even under the tropical sun's intense heat.

5. Adaptation to Rainy Weather

Sayana Cabin House uses COLORBOND®.

Tropical buildings are designed to accommodate high rainfall by utilizing sloping roofs and overhangs, as well as efficient drainage systems to quickly and safely channel rainwater. Additionally, selecting construction materials that are resistant to moisture and damage from rainwater is also a priority in tropical architecture design.

The Advantages of Modern Tropical Style

Actually, each architecture has its own advantages. However, specifically for tropical architecture, here are some advantages you can find:

1. Able to Adapt to Tropical Climate

Tropical architecture is designed to withstand the hot and humid tropical climate. Tropical buildings typically feature sloped roofs, good natural ventilation, and the use of materials that are resistant to tropical weather. All of these are done to create a more comfortable and energy-efficient building.

2. Energy Efficiency

By efficiently harnessing sunlight and wind, tropical architecture can reduce reliance on air conditioning and artificial lighting. Building designs that maximize natural lighting and airflow also help reduce energy consumption.

3. Comfortable and Healthy

Tropical buildings tend to be more open and have spacious outdoor areas. This creates a more natural and healthy environment for their occupants. Additionally, designs that take factors such as temperature and humidity into account also make the spaces more comfortable.

4. Able to Mitigate Disasters

Private House Palembang uses COLORBOND®.

Tropical architecture has advantages in mitigating natural disasters, especially for countries like Indonesia located in disaster-prone areas. Elevated floors help reduce the risk of flooding and waterlogging during heavy rains. Moreover, tropical designs often incorporate earthquake-resistant building structures. The use of sloping roofs is also an effective mitigation strategy as it can reduce the risk of damage from strong winds or other extreme weather conditions.

In tropical architecture, the choice of materials is crucial in creating unique and durable designs. To encourage freedom of expression and pride in every design, one of the materials that can be used and has been tested for decades is COLORBOND® color-coated steel.

COLORBOND® offers more than just visual beauty. This color-coated steel provides a new dimension to every project, creating a harmonious balance between aesthetics and strength. COLORBOND® comes in a variety of exotic colors, divided into two types, Standard and Matte Finish.

COLORBOND® provides a perfect solution with outstanding resistance to extreme weather, corrosion, and temperature changes. The extraordinary freedom of expression and durability offered by this material adorn every project with pride and a sense of unparalleled achievement.

With over 100 years of proven technology, BlueScope through COLORBOND® offers a material solution that not only supports architects' creativity in creating timeless designs but also instills pride in every work produced. With this choice, every architectural project can be elevated into a masterpiece that combines beauty and durability, creating buildings that are not only aesthetic but also long-lasting.

COLORBOND® in Modern Tropical Architecture Masterpiece, Private House Jakarta

Private House Jakarta uses COLORBOND®.

Private House Jakarta is an example of tropical minimalist architecture that successfully integrates warmth and tranquility with the functional needs in a hot tropical climate. By using Colorbond® Cocoa Brown, this house not only provides beautiful aesthetic touches but also helps reduce heat inside the house.

In addition to its aesthetic appeal, Private House Jakarta also utilizes Thermatech technology from Colorbond®. This technology is specifically designed to maintain room temperature cool even under the heat of the sun. With the combination of Colorbond® Cocoa Brown equipped with Thermatech, Private House Jakarta not only offers optimal comfort but also reduces dependence on air conditioning and fans.

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If you are an architect who has designed buildings using materials from BlueScope, you can participate in the Steel Architecture Award 2024. The submission process or open submission will continue until June 30, 2024.

Until June 2024, launches will continue to be held in various cities in Indonesia to introduce and invite architects to participate. In October, the best works will be selected to enter the national-level awards. The winners at the national level will then compete in the ASEAN Steel Architecture Award 2024.

There are five categories that can be followed in this award, namely:

1. Industrial Non-Commerce
2. Commerce
3. Residential
4. Infrastructure
5. Lasting Beauty (for buildings built before 2019)

There are several reasons why architects should join this award, including:

• Networking: Opportunities to meet and interact with other architects and relevant parties in the industry.
• Recognition: Recognition of works and abilities in designing buildings.
• Elevate Career: Enhancing careers by adding to the portfolio of achievements.
• Continuity: This award has been held previously in 2017 and 2019 but was temporarily halted due to the pandemic.

For more information, you can visit the official website of this award here!