A comparative study in the architectural design of low energy apartments for two climates: New Zealand and Reunion Island

Abstract

This work is part of a global research project whose aim is to identify the principal design features of the zero energy apartment building. Its approach is to compare and contrast apartment designs for different climates. This paper deals with the comparison of apartment building design for New Zealand and Reunion Island. Both are influenced by the ocean and the altitude, but are at very different latitudes. Apartment design strategies are different for temperate climates and tropical climates, but in terms of low energy goals, some basic principles may be the same and can be applied anywhere in the world. If an apartment is well-designed and is well-adapted to its local climate, it is possible to apply the same design rules and standards for all apartments and both for temperate and tropical climates.