Springer Bioclimatic Architecture in Warm Climates: A Guide for Best Practices in Africa

Product Description This book provides a comprehensive, hands-on approach to bioclimatic building design in Africa. Bioclimatic design is at the core of urban sustainability, and is a critical issue in Africa, where “imported” building typologies are being used at an increasing pace, disregarding the local context and consequently causing damage to the environment, to the economy, and to the culture itself. This book provides a concise set of sustainable design guidelines to be applied in both new buildings and the refurbishment of old buildings, and integrates bioclimatic design strategies with other sustainability issues such as: cultural aspects, affordability, and urban planning. Chapters are fully illustrated with photographs and drawings and include best-practice examples and strategies making it accessible to engineers, architects, students and a broad range of professionals in the building industry.   Encompasses all climatic regions in Africa; Integrates bioclimatic design strategies with other sustainability issues; Discusses new design to refurbishment, from urban to rural, including office buildings, residential, tourism, social housing and self building. From the Back Cover This book provides a comprehensive, hands-on approach to bioclimatic building design in Africa. Bioclimatic design is at the core of urban sustainability, and is a critical issue in Africa, where “imported” building typologies are being used at an increasing pace, disregarding the local context and consequently causing damage to the environment, to the economy, and to the culture itself. This book provides a concise set of sustainable design guidelines to be applied in both new buildings and the refurbishment of old buildings, and integrates bioclimatic design strategies with other sustainability issues such as: cultural aspects, affordability, and urban planning. Chapters are fully illustrated with photographs and drawings and include best-practice examples and strategies making it accessible to engineers, architects, students and a broad range of professionals in the building industry.   Encompasses all climatic regions in Africa; Integrates bioclimatic design strategies with other sustainability issues; Discusses new design to refurbishment, from urban to rural, including office buildings, residential, tourism, social housing and self building. About the Author Professor Manuel Correia Guedes is an Architect, Ph.D. (Univ. Cambridge), and Associate Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST). He is the former Head of the Architectural Research Centre of the IST (ICIST-G1), and former Director of the Course of Architecture. Dr. Guedes specializes in Sustainable Architecture, and is responsible for the disciplines of Environmental Design and Sustainable Architecture of the Master and Ph.D. courses. He is an active participant in national and international research projects in the area, and is the Coordinator of E.U. cooperation projects with Africa and Asia. Professor Gustavo Cantuária holds a degree in Architecture and Urbanism from the University of Brasilia, and a Masters and a PhD in Sustainable and Environmental Studies from the Architectural Association School of Architecture, in London, England. He completed postdoctoral studies as a visiting professor at the Martin Centre of the Department of Archictecture,  at the University of Cambridge, England.  He is a full professor and researcher of the post-graduate program in architecture at UniCeub Department of Architecture and Urbanism, in Brasilia, and an evaluator of INEP (National Institute of Studies and Research) from the Ministry of Education of Brazil.  He maintains lines of research with international collaborations in all continents,  with emphasis on sustainability and bioclimatic design, working mainly on the following topics:  environmental comfort, sustainable architecture and urban transformation, passive cooling, urban lands