Materials for a warm climate

Design weighs more than the material

A cool house starts with orientation, eaves and cross ventilation. Before you pick a material, decide where the sun enters and where the air leaves.

Materials that work well

• Exposed concrete on walls and slabs protected from the sun, for thermal mass.
• Treated, sealed timber for facades and screens that shade and let air through.
• Ventilated roofs and light colours to cut heat load.
• Solar-control glass and generous eaves.

Maintenance

In any climate, an exposed material needs care. Plan it from the design: timber treatments, concrete sealing and joint checks.