VIRTUAL Lisbon Livable Cities
Abstract
This comparative research explores the potential of tube house architectural typology and offers solutions aimed at improving comfort and lowering energy consumption in contemporary housing. This paper demonstrates the potential to rely on natural ventilation through window operation in alley street tube houses situated in Vietnam’s tropical climate. Vietnam is one of the developing countries in the Global South area which has been facing issues relating to sustainable development, particularly in urban areas. While the housing demand in Vietnamese urban cities has been increasing significantly, the residential building sector accounts for 32.5% of national energy consumption. Tube houses are the most popular dwelling type in urban areas, yet they face challenges such as poor microclimate conditions and a reliance on air conditioning for user comfort. This research aims to provide an overall view of current tube house thermal and design issues and investigate the potential of using natural ventilation in these buildings by examining window-opening behavior. An alley tube house will be selected as the case study, and analysis conducted using energy simulation software (IES-VE). The research illustrates that it is feasible to cool spaces of tube houses by simply opening and closing windows, without air conditioning.
Quynh Xuan Tran (B.Arch, M.Sc) is a Vietnamese architect with nearly 10 years of experience in architectural design industry. She earned her Master in Sustainable Energy Engineering from Ireland in 2020. With passionate about sustainable architecture and passive design, she enjoys conducting research to create optimal spaces that harmonize with the environment.
Dr. Peyman Akhgar (B.Arch, M.Sc. Arch, PhD) is a Lecturer in Architecture and Design at the School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University. He studied architecture in Iran, Italy, and Australia, gaining extensive expertise in architectural design. After completing his PhD in 2021, he began his academic career at the University of Queensland before joining Griffith University in 2023. His research focuses on the transformative role of architecture as an “agent of change” in shaping meaningful socio-political spaces in the Global South and Australia.