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[ climate responsive design ]

• Gut, P. and Ackermann, D. (1993), Climate Responsive Building: Appropriate Building Construction in Tropical and Sub-Tropical Regions, SKAT (Swiss Centre for Development Cooperation)

This book describes alternative techniques for designing buildings for specific climates in tropical and subtropical regions. Emphasis is given to "soft measures" and natural means that will reduce energy consumption by well considered construction and appropriate selection of materials. It gives the theoretical background which is necessary to understand the climate factors, the principles of thermal processes and climatic design.

• Lauber, W. (2005), Tropical Architecture, Prestel Verlag

This forward-thinking survey considers the challenges of making buildings that withstand the vagaries of climate, economy, and limited resources. Although the tropics cover nearly forty percent of the world's surface, from rainforests to dry, desert regions, the architecture of this climatically extreme geographic area has gone largely unnoticed by the majority of architectural firms based in North America and Europe. With exploding populations and numerous ecological and economic concerns, the regions are looking increasingly towards sustainable solutions. In this unique study Wolfgang Lauber explores the ways traditional, pre-colonial structures were better adapted to the area's topography and climate than more modern structures built by European settlers.

• Bay, J.H, and Ong, B.L. (2006) - Tropical Sustainable Architecture: Social and Environmental Dimensions, Architectural Press

The tropical belt – where large areas of South East Asia, India, Africa and parts of both North and South America are located – forms the biggest landmass in the world and has one of the highest numbers of rapidly developing cities. Coincidentally, architecture in these regions shares common problems, the most easily identifiable being the tropical conditions of climate and natural environment. The context for architecture here is fraught with conflicts between tradition and modernization, massive influx of rural poor into urban areas, poorly managed rapid urban development as well as the cultural and social strain of globalization.

Many local and overseas architects and planners are interested in the social and environmental dimensions of these areas that contribute towards short term solutions and long term sustainable developments. This book, developed from the first conference of the International Network for Tropical Architecture, supplies a wealth of information from experts worldwide covering the cultural, environmental and technical aspects of thinking, researching and designing for the tropics.

• Melby, P. & Cathcart, T. (2002) - Regenerative Design Techniques: Practical Applications in Landscape Design, John Wiley & Sons

Sustainable and regenerative design is the practice of considering the environmental, economic and cultural impact of modern life. Regenerative Design Techniques provides practical and applied information on sustainable and regenerative principles, as well as techniques for analyzing and implementing these principles into the design of a structure or site. Written in a clear and accessible style, this book enables readers to easily and immediately apply all the material presented.