Bioclimatic landscape design in extremely hot and arid climates

In the desert the role of bioclimatic landscape design is to consider three major environmental factors, solar radiation, evaporation, wind and air flows. Therefore the landscape architect should be prepared with a group of design principals and design guidelines that can help him to improve the micro-climate and conserve energy. This paper presents a group of passive design strategies for bioclimatic landscape architecture in the desert. In this study, a bioclimatic landscape design strategy is proposed that consists of a three layers approach; (1) bioclimatic-zones concept, (2) thematic walled gardens concept, (3) extensive and intensive landscape concept. The passive design strategies should start at early design stage of the master plan creation. This study demonstrates that the three layers approach could be very efficient in order to enhance the microclimate passively with low energy and low water consumption rates. The three established strategies in the design stage have been tested and evaluated for a campus design in Egypt’s hot arid desert. Some quantitative calculations and measurements together with shading analysis have been taken in order to verify these design strategies using the PET index. Finally, the three layers approach showed ability for improving the microclimate and cooling the outdoor environment. The paper set site planning and bioclimatic landscape design recommendations that can be applied in similar extremely hot and arid climates.