Climatic Design Factors in Architecture

Roof Pitch and Materials

• Climatic concerns about roofs drive the roof pitch for homes. Snow accumulation on the roof dictates the entire roof load. Heavy snow occurs in mountainous communities and some of the roofs have steep pitches and use metal roofing, since snow slides easily off the metal surfaces. Other considerations regarding the climate and roof pitch are in sunbelt states where the roof pitch needs to be 13 degrees so that solar panels can sit level on the roofs.

Siding Materials

• Warm climates found across the U.S. have wider options for siding materials that can dictate the exterior design. Stucco is common in homes across the southern tier states and as a material, is easy to apply to exterior arches, bay windows or circular pop outs. Colder climate exteriors use more traditional materials like brick, aluminum, vinyl or wood siding and the elevations are often more traditional, like cape cod styles or colonials. In the South, popular elevation styles are based on the Mediterranean model where the intense sun dictates using materials that do not attract termites, crack or fade.

Infrastructure Considerations

• Hurricanes, heavy rain, earthquakes and extreme heat or cold drive the designs and engineering of homes. In California where flooding, earthquakes and extreme heat occur, builders design and engineer homes to strict drainage and structural standards. Homes built from Florida to Texas require special roof installation and shingles to prevent major roof damage. Basements are uncommon in the southern states where storm shelters are optional and families do not need to store four seasons worth of clothing and linens.

Weather and Floor Plan Design

• Climate dictates some floor plan design. Homes designed for cold, snowy climates often have a secondary entrance from the outside called a mud room, a space large enough to remove muddy or snow-covered boots, coats and hats. Homes in hot climates can have a bathroom adjacent to the backyard, making it easy to access the bathroom without dripping water throughout the house when swimming in the backyard pool. A coat closet in a cold climate may be considerably larger than in a warm climate where winter coats take up little space.