Projects (both at urban / city planning scale and as well as an individual building level) should respond to the local climatic conditions. Our planet is geographically divided into four climate zones. Here’s a brief look at the various types along with their prominent features:
Each climate zone has developed its own construction systems and methods, which is best suited for the said climatic conditions based upon experience – knowledge passed down generations. As a thumb rule, locally available building materials were used which was sensible both in terms of ecology as well as economy. Over time, building techniques improved to such an extent that structures that combined minimum effort with maximum benefit became the universal standard. Traditional building types today may not meet the current functional and energy requirements; however, they nevertheless provide invaluable insights into energy-conscious construction methods. The four climatic zones were further classified to bring out subtle differences, often leading to unique building / construction typologies based upon positive experiences of the locals.