Tropical architecture, a term widely used in architectural discourse, lacks a consistent definition. The adjective ‘tropical’ relates to the zone between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, which covers more than 40% of the earth’s surface. Heat is possibly the only shared characteristic of this belt. The tropical zone holds a range of climates from arid to wet, as well as a variety of geographic, social, and economic contexts. Unlike in temperate or arctic zones, a single umbrella term is used to describe the architecture of the tropics.
‘Tropical architecture’ implies that regional construction is solely driven by climatic conditions and geographical location. While this is true, cultural contexts, economic factors, and local materials in different countries equally determine regional architectural forms. The form of architecture is based on intense integration between the built environment and its natural context.
