Jean Prouvé designed La Maison Tropicale with the Congo climate in mind. The Congo has a hot and humid climate, with little variation in temperature between the wet and dry seasons, and between day and night. Prouve specified every aspect of his design to suit these extreme conditions.
The house is supported by fifteen stilts. This allows the house to be situated on most of the ground conditions present in the Congo, as well as take advantage of the higher air flow.
Stilts used in La Maison Tropicale were similar to those used in primitive huts in the area.
The windows, doors, and other openings also make the most of the wind. The windows are circular portholes consisting of a treated glass which protects from harmful UV rays. Certain portholes are operable, and are controlled by disks. However, most of the air movement comes from sliding door panels on the north and south sides. These doors, through their placements, limit the amount of sun that enters through their large openings while maximizing cross breezes. Additionally, surrounding the veranda is a set of louvers, which assist in controlling the sunlight while still allowing the much needed ventilation. Essentially, the house promotes free airflow.
Design of the roof was derived from indigenous techniques for shading.
There are a few exceptions to this free ventilation aspect. Primarily, the washrooms were separated from the main interior spaces, with access only from the outside. This prevents the excessively moisture laden air from entering the already humid living space. The plan also maximizes on the outdoor living space with a two metre wide veranda surrounding the entire house. This is covered by a wide overhang which protects from the sun as well as rain, and prevents material decay. This overhang is part of a double roof system, which increases ventilation and allows for heat dissipation to the outside.
Jean Prouvé's ventilation system developed from indigenous techniques
The roof and walls are light coloured, to diffuse the glare of the sun and reflect the radiation. The walls also do not absorb moisture, and are resilient to fungus and mold growth. Many portions of the walls are sliding, which provides unobstructed air flow and releases any moisture back into the atmosphere. These walls are not for a thermal barrier, since the large roof overhang protects them, but are designed more for privacy and to reduce insect disturbances.
Since La Maison Tropicale was designed as a prototype for modular housing, the siting conditions and orientation are malleable. Its original placement was at the bottom of a short hill, overlooking the street. Two other residential buildings surrounded La Maison Tropicale, and the third side of the lot was forested. However, these conditions were not the main factors in designing for the climate. The shorter walls were designed to be on the east and west sides, to minimize the amount of sunlight hitting the building. The adjustable stilts allow for variations in the ground conditions, including swamps and hills. These stilts also lift the house high up into the breezier air, a technique already used by many natives to the Congo. Infact, many of the design principles that greatly assist in reducing the heat were very common in the Congo, but in a cruder style.
-Clara Walker
-Clara Walker
Information Citations:
Hamilton, William L. "From Africa to Queens Waterfront, A Modernist Gem For Sale to the Highest Bidder" (2007).
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/nyregion/16house.html (accessed January 5 2010).
King, Emily. "Grand Designs" (2007).
http://www.frieze.com/issue/article/grand_designs (accessed January 5 2010).
"Prouve House for Design Museum at Tate Modern" (2008).
www.tate.org.uk/about/pressoffice/pressreleases/2008/14056.htm (accessed January 5 2010).
Image Sources:
Huppatz, D.J. "Maison Tropicale Sliding Doors" (image). Available from: Critical Cities
http://djhuppatz.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html (accessed on January 5 2010).
"La Maison Tropical" (image). Available from: flickr.
"La Maison Tropicale by Jean Prouve" (image). Available from: que-sited.
http://designknowledge.quesited.com/?m=200802 (accessed on January 5 2010).
National Geographic. "Last Place on Earth" (image). Available from: The Congo.
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/congo/forestry.html (accessed on January 5 2010).
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