Journal

Notes on building in the tropics

Practical observations on wind, shade, water, solar performance and cost—drawn from working directly on sites across Barbados and shared for anyone planning a house in this climate.

1 article

Sunbury Plantation House, Barbados, with louvred shutters and a shaded arcade

Design notes

Verandas, Jalousies, and Trade Winds: The Passive Cooling Playbook I Keep Coming Back To

Before we turn on the air conditioner, I want the building to try cooling itself. Barbados already has a passive-cooling vocabulary — shade, airflow, operable openings — and the architect's job is to translate it.

Historic (pre-1900) · Passive cooling / Vernacular / Verandas

Jahmal Springer, Principal Architect, Blue Island Projects

27 August 2026 · 10 min read

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