Bioclimatic closures for hot humid climates: The fourth house

Abstract

In intertropical latitudes such as Venezuela with hot humid climates, building envelopes must reduce influence of solar radiation, and in these, roofs and windows must receive special attention. Venezuela is also the country with the highest energy consumption per capita in Iberoamérica, much of which is generated by air conditioning systems in residential buildings, and Maracaibo and the surrounding lake basin have some of the highest temperature and humidity values in Venezuela, which increase energy consumption even more. A bioclimatical house for this climate is proposed. This building incorporates principles from traditional indigenous, colonial and oil company houses in the Maracaibo lake basin to generate a new prototype, called the Fourth House.