House Weafe: Architectural design of a residence resilient to heat waves
Residential Architectural Design. Thermal Resilience. Future Climates.
This Professional Master’s Qualification Project consists of the design proposal for a residence in Natal/RN, with an emphasis on thermal resilience. The main objective is to propose the preliminary design of a single-family residence resilient to heat waves, and to achieve this, three specific objectives were established: (1) to identify the resilience attributes that respond to adverse heat-wave events; (2) to outline guidelines applicable to residential use that materialize these attributes in the built environment; and (3) to explore and apply design solutions suitable for addressing heat waves in future climate scenarios in Natal/RN. To develop the project, a theoretical and conceptual study on the topic was initially conducted through bibliographic research and analyses of related architectural references. Subsequently, the architectural programming was developed, defining the project’s dilemmas and goals. Based on this foundation, and with support from the curricular components of the program, the design process was developed and documented since early stages, including studies of site constraints, bioclimatic analysis, solar exposure, ventilation, thermo-energetic performance, design conception, and architectural parti, up to the preliminary study. As a result of these efforts, a building proposal was reached employing architectural strategies aligned with the attributes of well-being, flexibility, and environmental comfort, compatible with local climatic conditions. In this way, the project demonstrates how architecture can contribute to mitigating the impacts of climate change by enhancing resistance to adverse events, such as heat waves.