MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Sun:

• The sun is a major factor in hot-dry climates, as it is the major source of the heat, and due to its severity, is also a major producer of light
• By creating lager eaves it would be possible to reduce the heat emission of the the sun into the building
• Reducing the window spaces on the west and the east faces of the building will also have a large impact on reducing the heat emission, as it is along the east-west axis that the sun is at its strongest

Light:

• Light will be most concentrated along the east-west axis, so in order to allow a suitable amount of light into the building without compromising the inside temperature, the windows on the east and west facades will need to be reduced, and windows along the north and south facades can be maximised

Heating:

• Due to the hot environment during the day heating is not an important factor until the night
• By harnessing the heat of the sun during the day then it would be possible to release it into the house during the day.
• This can be done using solar panels in order to collect energy used for heating systems and general power
• Another method would be to collect the heat into an enclosed area, most probably the roof, and create a method of dispersing it when required

Cooling:

• Cooling in a hot-dry climate is a much bigger task than heating, although it is not impossible
• By creating bigger eaves it is able to keep most of the interior out of direct sunlight, reducing the radiation of the sun being emitted into the house
• Create larger, more open and ventilated areas in order to reduce the impact of the passive heating, i.e. human body heat, appliance heat, etc...
• The choice of materials is also a factor; steels are highly conductive to heat, however stone masonry is quite efficient. By choosing the correct material it is much easier to reduce the impact of the environment upon the living space

Materials:

• As previously stated, some materials react in different ways in different weather conditions. For example: Steel shrinks in the cold and expands in the heat, so in the selected climate there would be a lot more variables to take into account if we use steel as a primary material.
  
• If using timber it is important to get a strong/dense hardwood that can cope with the harsh conditions of the desert. A timber like Jarrah, which is native to WA, would be a very good option, as it adheres to both of these requirements, but also has a strong aesthetic appeal that mimics the earthy tones of the desert
• Brick and stone masonry is the best option for wall and floor construction, primarily due to its thermal properties in hot conditions. It is able to repel a lot of the radiation from the sun, creating a much cooler environment inside, whilst slab flooring is a much cooler option to carpet or timber floorboards.
  

Vegetation:

• Australian desert flora has evolved over time to withstand some of the harshest weather condition nature can throw. It is common for the plants to have brighter colours in order to reflect the sun, whilst others grow thinner and longer in ordure to reduce the effect of photosynthesis.
  
• Porcupine Grass is one of the most common forms of desert flora, spanning over acres of desert planes, with roots growing as deep at 10m in soils that are low in nutrients and moisture

• Wildflowers can be described as beautiful during the wet-season, when rains have soaked in and the blossoms have flowered. However, after a lengthy dry period it is said that the build up of nutrients within the bulbs can produce flowers of even more beauty.