Abstract

A new prototype, bioclimatic terraced (or row) house for Tamare, Venezuela is being developed to address contemporary Venezuelan urban problems of lot size, urban sprawl, urban dispersion and high energy con­sumption. The design is based upon principles from three previous vernacular house types in the Maracaibo Lake basin. The design of the high density bioclimate house is proposed with narrow frontage, two or three floors and an innovative interior space which is integrated into the building as a vertical patio to generate a 'detached row building'. The resulting prototype is predicted to consume less energy and land resources while exploiting bioclimatic principles.