Tropical design

An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about tropical design

Project • By Patio Livity • Private Houses

Onchae House

Defined by its thoughtful restraint and seamless integration with its surroundings, Onchae is a minimalist residence utilizing a controlled material palette, strategic cantilevers, and expansive glass walls to capture river views while mitigating harsh western sunlight. Situated on a down-slope lot, the site presents a quiet street presence that descends toward expansive views of an adjacent river. Caption Caption Caption The objective was to create a "warm and welcoming home"—the literal translation of Onchae—serving as a simple, unpretentious family retreat. Fulfilling the client's request for calm, the front facade remains deliberately minimal. However, the site's greatest asset presented a primary constraint:... More

Project • By KOGISARCHITECTURE • Residential Landscape

Brick Roof Residence

Set in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, the Brick Roof Residence by KOGISARCHITECTURE is an innovative residential project designed to achieve thermal comfort without relying on artificial air conditioning. Nithiyan Nithiyan Nithiyan Nithiyan Reinterpreting the traditional Madras terrace, the design features an experimental sloped roof crafted from salvaged country fire bricks, mud mortar, and breathable oxide finishes. In synergy with a high-level air tunnel and a central linear light court, the structure generates a continuous stack effect to push hot air out and draw cool breezes in. Nithiyan Nithiyan Nithiyan Nithiyan Nithiyan With honest local materials, passive thermodynamics, and open spatial planni... More

Project • By Mallol • Apartments

Cëntriqo

Centriqo is conceived as the City Heartbeat of Panama Pacífico: a place where the district’s everyday rhythms converge and become tangible through streets, parks, and mixed-use life. More than a single building, it operates as an urban fabric that concentrates living, commerce, services, and civic space into a walkable center designed to keep the community active throughout the day. Fernando Alda The proposal begins by rethinking the block as a connected network. New transversal streets are introduced between avenues to increase permeability and organize the site into macro-lots that can evolve in phases without losing urban continuity. A principal north–south axis structures the plan, dividing it into two sectors... More