Simple Passive Design Strategies for Building in a Hot and Dry Climate

Juhi Goyal

11 min read

March 28, 2023

Table of Contents

The balance of thermal energy between our body and the space around us determines the level of physical comfort we perceive in a building. As a good design practice, solar and heat gain in buildings should be reduced in hot and dry regions. Natural ventilation, soil cooling, and radiant cooling must be provided to construct energy-efficient buildings and maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. Historically, architects had to keep these elements in mind without the aid of technology or the use of mechanical tools and machines that relied on electricity. Thus, there were ways to make the inhabitants thermally comfortable within buildings while maintaining a clean atmosphere.

In this blog, we will focus on passive design strategies for hot and dry climates and how to integrate them into building design in an excellent manner.

What are Passive Design Strategies?

Passive design strategies help to maximize a building inhabitants' comfort and well-being while consuming the least amount of energy possible. It adapts to suit the local temperature and site conditions. Making the most of the local climate is essential when creating a passive building.

Any design element or technology used to lower a building's temperature without the use of electricity are referred to as passive cooling. The purpose of this blog is to evaluate the value of using a few passive cooling techniques to enhance thermal performance and lower energy consumption in residential buildings in hot, arid climates, specifically in the Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Passive Design Strategies

Principles of Passive Design Strategies

It enhances the cooling, ventilation, and lighting requirements of a household using free, renewable energy sources like the sun and wind.
Additionally, it can reduce environmental effects like greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption levels.
By implementing passive cooling, indoor air quality can be improved by minimizing temperature differences between indoor and outdoor environments.

Importance of Passive Design Strategies in Hot and Dry Climate

Buildings can be designed using a lot less energy than is common today. The main objective of this research is to identify methods for reducing the building's energy usage in hot, dry areas. In this case, design strategies for energy efficiency are considered. They are mostly based on proper building shape, material selection, and orientation, as well as by implementing passive cooling methods and ventilation. The objective of this blog is to demonstrate how principles give rise to the concepts of using natural energy and passive cooling techniques.

In the summer, well-designed envelopes maximize cooling air movement and block the sun. In a hot, dry climate like that of the United Arab Emirates(UAE), a variety of passive cooling techniques can be advised. Design techniques that minimize the need for mechanical cooling systems include a proper window placement, appropriate glazing for windows or skylights, the right size shading of glass when heat gains are being avoided, light-colored materials for the building envelope, and appropriate landscaping design.

Characteristics of Hot and Dry Climate

The temperature in such areas varies between 27°C and 49°C during the day and 22°C at night.
The humidity is low to moderate, and the skies are typically clear.
Low humidity causes less rainfall, which reduces the number of plants in the area.
There isn't much wind, but when there is, it's hot and dusty.
Precipitation in this type of climate is deficient, ranging from 50mm to 150 mm annually since the air is completely hot and dry.
In this type of climate, the sky is typically clear and blue. Even so, occasionally, dust storms fill the entire sky, producing an unbearable glare.
Only thick leaves and thorny plants may easily survive here due to the extremely loose and sandy soil, low humidity and little rainfall.

Challenges for Building Design in Hot and Dry Climates

The biggest issue is to minimize energy usage to the greatest extent possible, and from this aspect, older buildings may provide the solution. The old houses in hot regions were built to allow for natural temperature adjustment. Small windows, latticed screens or “mashrabiya”, inner courtyards, and wind towers—all using these ancient building techniques are effective at blocking sunlight and increasing airflow.

Use of high pitch roof as a Passive Design Strategy

Some of these factors can be particularly difficult when developing a healthier environment in hot, dry climates like the Middle East because the weather can limit outside interaction, outdoor physical exercise, and active transportation.
Some major challenges are as follows:

Green spaces are hindered by severe water shortages, extended hot summers, and potentially high evaporation.
Thermal discomfort & heat stress is caused by high temperatures and high solar radiation.
Compared to cities in temperate and tropical climates, cities in dry climates have more significant night-time urban heat island effect.

Abu Dhabi's Masdar City is a showcase for sustainable building design, and technology plays an important role in the implementation of passive design strategies. Some examples of how technology is used to enhance passive design strategies in Masdar City include:

1. Smart building controls:
Buildings in Masdar City are equipped with smart building controls that adjust lighting and temperature based upon the outdoor conditions.

2. Automated Shading Devices:
Shading devices in Masdar City are equipped with automated controls adjusting the shading based on position of sun, reducing heat gain and improving energy efficiency.

3. Use of Advanced Insulation materials:
Buildings are designed using advanced insulation materials that minimizes heat transfer and reduces the need of air conditioning.

Use of Photovoltaic Panels as a Passive Design Strategy, Abu Dhabi’s Master City

Key Passive Design Strategies for Hot and Dry Climate

Following are some design objectives and considerations for Hot and Dry Climate

1. Building Orientation and Form

A building's orientation and form must be in the proper direction to obtain the best climate response. Orienting a structure according to the sun's path and wind direction, placing the long face in the north-south direction to minimize east-west exposure, can be incorporated in the design strategy. To reduce unnecessary heat loss and gain, the building's design must be more compact.

The strategies to consider when designing are as follows:

Reducing the depth of the structure.
Lessening the requirement for artificial lighting inside the structure.
The construction of the building must be as narrow as possible to facilitate cross ventilation.

Courtyard In Seville as a Passive Design Strategy

The courtyard, or "hosh," has long been regarded as the center of the home in the Arab world. There are fruit trees, shade trees, and flowers growing. Always preferable is a water feature, which may also include a covered outdoor seating area. The Arabic courtyard evokes the way of life of a Muslim family by offering privacy, protection from an unfavorable climate, and outdoor space.

2. Ventilation and Openings

External ventilators may not be necessary if the existing natural ventilation is adjusted. To minimize afternoon heat gain, consider incorporating openings that promote air circulation. For optimal climatic response, modify the size, shape, placement, and positioning of the openings to meet the specific requirements of each space.

The strategies to consider when designing are as follows:

Install windows higher to operate as ventilation outlets, and create openings in all the outside walls so air can flow both ways.
Remove west-facing windows and use south-facing windows with horizontal louvers instead.
Add northern side apertures for diffused light and reduced radiation.
Customize the window size to meet the usage, orientation, and shading needs.

Use of Mashrabiya screen as a Passive Design Strategy

This contemporary residence, which is situated halfway between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, is covered in a Mashrabiya screen, which helps to keep the interior cool even on the hottest of days. The screen is a latticed screen enclosure on the outside of buildings that not only adds aesthetic value but also helps in passively designing buildings.

3. Daylighting and Shading

When constructing spaces in regions that have plenty of natural daylight, it's crucial to take heat gains and glare into account. In regions with hot and dry climates, shading is very useful for reducing heat gain.

The design strategies to consider when conceptualizing are as follows:

Pergolas, louvers, and screens are examples of outdoor shade structures that assist in letting just the necessary quantity of natural light into areas.
To let in as much daylight as possible, position the window opening as close to the ceiling as you can.
Let more natural light enter the space through Jaali walls, perforated roofs, semi-open pergolas, partially shaded patios, etc.

“Iwan” as a Passive Design Strategy

In the Middle East’s traditional architecture, shading components lessen the amount of solar radiation that enters buildings. One of these conventional shading components that are significant in buildings is the Iwan. The Iwan connects and integrates other areas of the building in traditional houses. Iwans can serve a variety of purposes depending on their form, size, and installation location. It might be surrounded by a lot of spaces. They are frequently used as the primary elements in one or more views in the houses that have survived the Safavid and Qajar periods.

4. Walls

The main problems in hot and dry areas to avoid are excessive humidity or heat gain that might affect the building, either now or in the future.

The strategies to consider when designing are as follows:

Choosing external wall treatments that are bright in color to radiate heat and lessen heat absorption.
Install ventilated claddings driven by the stack effect behind the outside surfaces of the wall to get rid of moisture in humid environments.
Use thermally insulated facades for airtightness and resistance to mold growth in hot, humid areas.
Walls may be used as a part of the shadow for outdoor spaces by using the sun path as a reference.

5. Roofing

Roofing design strategies in hot and dry climates aim to minimize heat absorption and improve ventilation to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

The strategies to consider when designing are as follows:

To reduce the effects of excessive heat and sunlight on buildings, one effective approach is to use lighter, cooler roofs.
Some of the best materials which reflect more sunlight and absorb less heat include clay, terra cotta, metal, and slate.
Green roofs are covered with vegetation, which helps to insulate the building and reduce heat absorption.
Proper ventilation is essential to maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature. Roof vents, ridge vents, and turbines are some of the common ventilation methods used in hot and dry climates.

Bilad al-Sham

When it comes to cultures of the Arab world, building these outdoor-inspired inside spaces is a lot more than simply bringing in some daylight and good air quality. It is an architectural representation of a rich culture that transcends generations and influences nations beyond their boundaries. In "Bilad al-Sham," it is thought that courtyard homes initially developed at the start of the third millennium. It became a crucial component in Arab and Islamic architecture, emphasizing the requirement for an enclosed but open space in domestic design.

6. Landscaping

Now that technology is so advanced, vegetation is not limited to the ground. In a hot and dry climate, it is practical and efficient to use roof gardens, vertical gardens, or varied flows through trees to cool the area.
The strategies to consider when designing are as follows:

To encourage natural earth cooling at the site, grow gardens in open areas.
By protecting the roof from harsh direct weather, such as rain and sunshine, rooftop gardening can improve a roof's life.

7. Water: A cooling element

Water may significantly change the cooling capacity of a hot region due to its natural cooling propensity. Every tiny detail counts since the rise in energy use is a constant issue. Passive design is a step towards making an impact for both the user and the environment.

The strategies to consider when designing are as follows:

Evaporative cooling reduces the temperature of the interiors. The evaporation rate will grow as the amount of water that comes into contact with the air does.
Every water feature on the property—be it a pond, lake, fountain, waterfall, or other—helps to naturally cool the surrounding air.

8. Use of Materials

To protect trees and plants, minimize air pollution, and use building materials with lower embodied energy, the design solutions for the hot and dry area will have to take into account the choice of building materials.

Environmentally friendly locations are chosen for sourcing stones to reduce air pollution and promote resource reuse.
The use of stone dust and chips in making concrete helps reduce soil and air pollution.
Salvaged wood is reused instead of new wood to conserve trees.
Blocks made of stabilized soil have a lower embodied energy value.
The use of low-VOC paint is encouraged to reduce air pollution.

In Conclusion

Before resorting to advanced technology and mechanical devices to regulate the internal condition of buildings, it is important to consider passive design strategies. This blog explores several basic methods that can greatly improve the comfort level of modern buildings in hot, dry climates without the need for advanced software. Coping with the severe temperatures of hot, dry regions can involve various methods, such as blocking direct sunlight, using cooling devices, increasing ventilation and airflow, and adding moisture to dry air.

Traditional architects have included numerous scientific techniques in the structure in hot, arid areas to provide people with thermal comfort. These techniques can be examined and used in modern designs to reduce the price of today's energy and to maintain a clean atmosphere. If conventional solutions are insufficient, they can be implemented using the least amount of technology.

Building energy simulations currently used are time-consuming, challenging to carry out, and have low levels of interoperability between theoretical and actual energy data. As an alternative, Building Information Modeling (BIM), a fascinating method, can be used. BIM technology is a concept that enables AEC companies to implement sustainable design more successfully and to improve building energy efficiency. It is a digital depiction of the building that can be used for cost and performance predictions, high-quality construction documentation, planning, and design decisions. BIM also offers current and trustworthy information about project design, cost data, timetables, energy analysis, structural design, and other crucial elements for building projects.

Interested in learning more about BIM (Building Information Modeling)? Here’s something you should look into: What is Building Information Modelling(BIM)? | Understanding key benefits of BIM.

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