Edge conditions — climatic considerations in the design of buildings and settlements

Abstract

The degree to which buildings and settlements in extreme climatic conditions create favourable living conditions depends to a large extent on their interface with the surrounding natural environment. The intricacy of this relationship is clearly expressed in historical and indigenous architecture, whilst contemporary planning and building very often ignore this issue. Edges should be designed carefully to respond to topography and landscape orientation, wind patterns, humidity, and visual and physical links with the surroundings. Proper edge design must operate at all levels, from the settlement, through the housing cluster, the individual house, and down to building details and materials. This paper advocates the concept of edges as a major form determinant of architecture and planning in extreme climatic conditions.