Climate-Responsive Design for Singapore

Singapore is located just 1° north of the equator.

Located location between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean

Seasons in Singapore

1. Northeast Monsoon Season (December to early March)

Weather Features: This season is marked by prevailing northerly and northeasterly winds. The early phase (December to January) typically experiences moderate to heavy rainfall, while the latter phase (February to early March) is generally drier and windier.

2. First Inter-monsoon Period (Late March to May)

Weather Features: This transitional period can bring hot afternoons with occasional thunderstorms. It is also one of the warmest times of the year.

3. Southwest Monsoon Season (June to September)

Weather Features: Characterized by south easterly and southerly winds, this season often sees heavy rainfall due to “Sumatra squalls.” Afternoon thunderstorms are common during this time.

4. Second Inter-monsoon Period (October to November)

Weather Features: This period typically has increased rainfall and stormy afternoons as it transitions back into the Northeast Monsoon.

Temperature

Humidity

The average temperature in Singapore ranges between 24°C and 33°C. During the night (from 19:00 to 07:00), temperatures typically stay between 24°C and 26°C, while daytime temperatures range from 29°C to 34°C

High Humidity: Relative humidity fluctuates between 60% and 90%, with an average of about 70% to 80%

BUILDING FORM

11 story building Sqm per floor 330m2 Total 3630m2

Rotated slabs with a small balcony on each level. Extended 2m balconies on each level

By using rotational slabs in combination with the shading system, we manage to reduce direct sunlight while maximizing solar radiation and daylight.

Thermal Comfort Analysis: Psychrometric Chart + PMV indoor

This chart shows Singapore’s climate data in terms of temperature and humidity.

The red and blue points represent how often certain conditions occur throughout the year.

Most of the data is concentrated around 25°C to 30°C with high humidity, indicating that Singapore experiences hot and humid conditions for long periods.

This suggests a need for cooling strategies like air conditioning, dehumidification, and natural ventilation to ensure thermal comfort.

Thermal Comfort Analysis: Universal Thermal Climate Index 

This highlights as to how the major temperature range observed is from 40 to 63 degrees which highlights the warm climate of singapore which is observed majority throughout the day. Highlighting strategies required for reducing heat gain and passive cooling strategies.

Thermal Comfort Analysis using UTCI for Singapore: 

The hourly distribution of thermal stress conditions throughout the year highlights frequent strong to moderate heat conditions with minimal periods of thermal comfort, indicating significant thermal discomfort due to Singapore’s tropical climate. 

Thermal Comfort Analysis: UTCI in Urban Context

3D Visualization of UTCI in Urban Context: 

Analyzing the thermal comfort within a built environment in Singapore shows significant heat accumulation in urban areas. 

The majority of area is yellow and red which shows that only near the structures there is less heat gain, otherwise the heat percentage is consistent throughout. 

Here it can be seen that the change is more in clustered geometries than individual ones

Urban Context: Singapore

Urban Heat Distribution Based on UTCI: 

A top-view thermal map combined with a 3D perspective shows how architectural massing and urban density influence thermal conditions. Higher UTCI values in red indicate hot spots of thermal discomfort, especially around large building clusters, reinforcing the need for heat mitigation strategies in Singapore’s urban planning.

Conducted wind analysis using Infrared City and Grasshopper plugins.

Results indicated that wind levels are generally low to average in Singapore.

Ran an optimization process using Galapagos to identify the optimal building position, but no significant improvements were observed.

Key findings and recommendation:

1. Optimize building orientation to minimize heat gain from south and southwest facades, where major heat.
2. Implement effective shading devices, particularly on south and southwest-facing surfaces, to control solar heat gain while allowing natural light.
3. Utilize breathable building materials, indoor plants, and natural ventilation to regulate indoor humidity.
4. Maximize exposure to prevailing winds for passive cooling, especially during the Southwest Monsoon season.
5. Design for consistent daylight throughout the year, using light shelves, reflective surfaces, and skylights to enhance natural illumination.
6. Incorporate green roofs and vertical gardens to provide natural cooling through evapotranspiration.
7. Employ rainwater harvesting systems to manage high rainfall and reduce water consumption.