Design With Microclimate: The Secret to Comfortable Outdoor SpaceRobert Brown helps us see that a "thermally comfortable microclimate" is the very foundation of well-designed and well-used outdoor places. Brown argues that as we try to minimize human-induced changes to the climate and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels-as some areas become warmer, some cooler, some wetter, and some drier, and all become more expensive to regulate-good microclimate design will become increasingly important. In the future, according to Brown, all designers will need to understand climatic issues and be able to respond to their challenges. Brown describes the effects that climate has on outdoor spaces-using vivid illustrations and examples-while providing practical tools that can be used in everyday design practice. The heart of the book is Brown's own design process, as he provides useful guidelines that lead designers clearly through the complexity of climate data, precedents, site assessment, microclimate modification, communication, design, and evaluation. Brown strikes an ideal balance of technical information, anecdotes, examples, and illustrations to keep the book engaging and accessible. His emphasis throughout is on creating microclimates that attend to the comfort, health, and well-being of people, animals, and plants. Design with Microclimate is a vital resource for students and practitioners in landscape architecture, architecture, planning, and urban design. |
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Design With Microclimate: The Secret to Comfortable Outdoor Space Robert D. Brown No preview available - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
absorbed air molecules air temperature allow amount of solar amount of terrestrial asphalt ation atmosphere birch trees blow body Boston City Hall building client climate cold color comfortable outdoor consider convective cool air cooler create deciduous deck direction earth east effect emitted energy budget evaporative evaporative cooling evolutionary psychology example face feel Figure flow full sun garden going heat hill human humidity input kilometers landscape architects living look Machu Picchu measure meters microclimate modification microclimatic design modify move oriented outdoor areas outdoor spaces paddy field patterns perature person piazza places radi receive Saskatchewan seasons side slopes snow solar radiation south-facing Sturgeon Landing summer sunny surface terrestrial radiation thermally comfortable thermometer things Thunder Bay tipi typical urban urban heat island Vancouver walls warm warmer weather station westerly wind speed windbreak winter York Times Tower