Towards Green-Sensibility in African Architecture - A Climate-sensitive Approach to Design in East Africa

Abstract

This Paper makes a commentary between science and architectural design of vernacular architecture in East Africa. It relates the history of architectural theory and contemporary practice of environmental control. Firstly, it describes the climate of East Africa and shows the potential of climatic controls in hot humid conditions. Secondly, it focuses on the physics of heat and light as applied to buildings in achieving interactive comfort. It includes the potentials, limitations and constraints of using the ASHRAE psychrometric charts for situations where people in developing countries have acclimatized. Finally, it makes observations on vernacular architecture and contemporary trends on interaction between climate, site conditions and building form.