Multifamily Tropical Living

Barrio Bejucos, Isabella, PR Project-in-lue-of Thesis/ ARC 6971 / Fall 2022

As part of my Master’s Research Project, I researched the history of Puerto Rico, especially the architectural typologies of each era, to understand how the current design tendencies came to be. The research also involved the comprehension of the island’s climate to make appropriate decisions in the design. The end product is an apartment complex located in the Northwestern municipality of Isabela that provides housing to lower and middle-class citizens while responding to the climate of Puerto Rico.

Since Isabela and other municipalities of the Northwest attract many tourists, many homes around the area are being bought by foreign investors to convert into shortterm leases, gentrifying families from their communities. The design of the apartments is to provide adequate living conditions that take advantage of the prevailing winds to provide comfort while minimizing the use of mechanical equipment to condition the spaces.

Proportion

To ensure the use of passive design techniques, I research the work of Dr. Pedro Muñiz Rivera, a professor from the University of Puerto Rico that specializes in tropical architecture. His research has encompassed the weather and climactic conditions of the island so that the data can be used as design tools. From the research, he concluded that: 1) The prevailing winds arrive from the Northeast; 2) that the adequate proportion of the building for Puerto Rico is that of 1:1.7; 3) That the optimum angle to orient the building for shade is at 5°; among others.

TYPICAL GROUND FLOOR LAYOUT

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WITH WIND DIAGRAM E W N S