Global
Contact
logo Repsol
Contact
Plans and designs of bioclimatic buildings

What is bioclimatic architecture?

Building a more sustainable future

As well as promoting energy efficiency, bioclimatic architecture minimizes the ecological footprint of buildings by opting for a building design that takes into account the climatic conditions of the place where it is located and the resources available.

Energy efficiency, respect for the environment, use of natural materials, etc. These kinds of buildings mainly seek to reduce their environmental impact, while improving the well-being of those who live in them. The idea of bioclimatic design is, in essence, to find the balance between the environment and users.

According to the European Commission, buildings in the EU are responsible for 40% of our energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. And there's more. The 2022 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC) revealed that, in 2021 alone, the construction sector represented more than 34% of the global energy demand. It also warned of a negative rebound from 2020 in the decarbonization of the buildings sector, with higher energy intensity and higher emissions.

Bioclimatic architecture seeks to precisely minimize emissions, thus contributing to the mitigation of climate change. But what are the main characteristics of bioclimatic architecture? What advantages does a bioclimatic house offer compared to traditional builds? Bioclimatic urban planning has become a need in the current context, where climate change requires that we pay attention to how we design our buildings to minimize our ecological footprint and reduce energy consumption without sacrificing the comfort of the people who live in them.

Bioclimatic building behind some trees

What is bioclimatic architecture?

Bioclimatic construction refers to the design of buildings that make the most of natural resources and the environment's climatic conditions to reduce consumption and improve energy efficiency.

From this point of view, we are talking about a sustainable architecture whose main characteristics have to do with the orientation of the buildings, the use of recycled materials or materials with low environmental impact, and the commitment to renewable energies, among others.

Despite the fact that the term bioclimatic architecture may seem somewhat new, it's true that historically all societies have taken into account the climatic environment in which they have developed when designing their homes. Socrates, Aristotle, and even Vitruvius left evidence of this type of design in ancient history, proposals that, over time, have evolved through empirical knowledge and experimentation. Therefore, it is no coincidence that houses in southern Spain are whitewashed or have flat roofs, while the houses of any region of the Alps have pointed and gabled roofs, in addition to protecting their facades with stone or other coatings.

An even more ambitious example of the goodness of bioclimatic design are the Earthships in New Mexico, United States, homes built from recycled materials that use passive design techniques to adapt to the environment and achieve high energy efficiency and autonomy. The same happens with the Torre BioVentilated, located in Medellín, Colombia, a building that uses a ventilated facade and a structure with vegetation inside to reduce the temperature and improve the air quality. The Melbourne Pixel Building, Australia, incorporates solar panels, rainwater collection systems, and natural ventilation to minimize energy and water consumption.

Objectives and strategies of bioclimatic architecture

Icon of a home on grass

Achieving greater energy efficiency and promoting sustainability are two of the goals of bioclimatic urban planning. From this point of view, bioclimatic architecture focuses on several design goals and strategies, among which the following can be highlighted:
 
  • Adaptation to the environment and local climate: They are two of the identity signs of a bioclimatic home to reduce energy costs and optimize resources, including smart space management.
  • Improves sustainable habits: By fostering the connection between nature, the use of natural materials, and energy, bioclimatic architecture promotes a more active and healthier lifestyle.
  • Innovation: Bioclimatic design promotes smart materials such as tiles that store heat to contribute to heating/cooling, glass that darkens depending on the incidence of the sun, and the implementation of energy management solutions.
  • Integration with the environment: Boclimatic urban planning adapts to the natural environment by minimizing the environmental and aesthetic impact and preserving resources such as trees and bodies of water.

Advantages of sustainable architecture

Pictograma Reciclaje

Energy consumption savings

Bioclimatic design reduces dependence on artificial heating/cooling and lighting systems, which translates into considerable energy consumption savings.

Pictograma Reciclaje

Reduction of gas emissions

By making the most of renewable energy sources, bioclimatic architecture contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and combating global warming.

Pictograma Reciclaje

Improves quality of life

Spaces designed under bioclimatic principles and the use of certain materials offer greater thermal and light comfort, as they maintain a constant temperature, regardless of the climate or season.

Pictograma Reciclaje

Light optimization

The home's orientation enables it to make the most of natural lighting, which contributes to creating more pleasant and healthier environments for their occupants, and ultimately, to improving their quality of life.

elementos-arquitectura-bioclimática.jpg

Elements of bioclimatic architecture design

  • Orientation: The design of bioclimatic homes is carried out by taking into account solar orientation, wind incidence, and other climatic factors to make the most of the natural conditions that, among other things, enable natural light to be optimized and excessive heating to be minimized.
  • Materials: Construction materials such as certified woods and recycled materials are used, which have a lower environmental impact compared to conventional materials.
  • Ventilation: The aim is to adequately control natural ventilation to optimize air circulation and maintain a comfortable temperature inside the buildings.
  • Use of renewable energies: Bioclimatic architecture promotes the use of clean and renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, wind energy, or rainwater collection systems, which reduces dependence on non-renewable sources.

 

Bioclimatic architecture infographic

Homes of the future: Bioclimatic architecture and smart homes

Bioclimatic architecture also coexists with innovation and automation in the smart homes of the future, where an efficient integration of renewable energies and the use of efficient technology are sought. These types of buildings are committed to renewable energy generation systems such as solar panels to supply the energy needs of the home. Moreover, the homes of the future incorporate home automation and smart energy management systems that allow consumption to be controlled and optimized in real time, which improves comfort and efficiency indoors.

Through bioclimatic design, the use of renewable energies, and integration of smart technologies, more efficient, comfortable, and eco-friendly homes of the future are built, making bioclimatic architecture a key tool to promote the construction of a more sustainable world and reduce our ecological footprint.

Smart cities

A smart city takes advantage of the potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to promote sustainable development in the most efficient manner and improve the quality of life of its citizens.

All about smart cities