The architecture of shade

The veranda is the most important room in a tropical house and the one most commonly omitted. This is partly economic — verandas are expensive per square metre and do not appear in the usable area calculations that drive most residential valuations — and partly a consequence of the air-conditioning industry's success in convincing people that climate can be managed mechanically rather than architecturally.

A well-designed veranda does several things at once. It shades the wall behind it, reducing radiant heat gain. It extends the effective usable space of the house without enclosing it. It creates a sheltered outdoor area usable during rain. And it provides a gradual transition between inside and outside rather than the abrupt change of temperature that produces condensation and discomfort.

On the Casa Maresia project, the veranda is four metres deep on the western elevation. This seemed excessive to the clients when they first saw the plans. They now consider it the best part of the house.