Development of Maps for the Design of Bioclimatic Housing in Madagascar Based on Mahoney’s Table

Housing design, which has become highly complex, requires integrated approaches that combine functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics in residential buildings. The central focus of bioclimatic design is passive thermal comfort. In Madagascar, the use of such systems in housing is minimal. In a bioclimatic home, climate control makes optimal use of solar radiation and natural air circulation. This concept is based on the bioclimatic profile. This profile is described by bioclimatic variables representing annual trends such as average annual temperature, annual precipitation, seasonality, and extreme or limiting environmental factors. The diversity of Madagascar’s tropical climate makes thermal comfort particularly difficult to achieve. This article aims to identify recommendations for designing bioclimatic housing adapted to local conditions. The Mahoney Table is a structured method that integrates orientation, openings, and material selection. Our meteorological data covers Madagascar from 1991 to 2020. In the Boeny region (humid, very rainy, with hot and cold winds), openings must be strategically oriented with moderate spacing and wind protection (awnings, horizontal sunshades). The hot and humid regions of the Central East and Southeast (Ambatosoa, Atsimo Atsinanana, Atsinanana) require lightweight materials (wood/straw sandwich panels, wooden houses with ventilated air gaps under the roof) and thermal insulation of the walls (wood frame plus plant-based panels). They also require appropriate management of openings to limit overheating in summer and heat loss in winter.