Introduction:

The scientific problem starts from a vision of sustainability in developing countries and is summarized in how architectural design may contribute to improve the indoor thermal environment and to reduce energy in the Cuban climate. Objective: to demonstrate that it is posible to reduce the temperature in the inner spaces and so the energetic comsumption due to the use of artificial air conditioning in buildings through a specific architectural design, suitable for the weather, the urban context and the orientation.

Methods:

It has been structured in three units responding to specific objectives, which reflects the evolution of research techniques and methods, software and measurement equipment, at a lab and natural scales, as well as calibration and validation of simulation with respect to monitoring.

Results:

The proposed theoretical and methodological base focuses on sustainability of the built environment from the point of view of the developing countries, taking the Cuban case as a reference; they are proposed variables, parameters an indicators to evaluate the influence of urban morphology on the passive and active uses of sun and wind; it is characterized the urban context according to projected shadow; it is demonstrated the need to update the Cuban Standard; it is proposed a procedure for the qualitative evaluation of design solutions in a warm and humid climate, and simulation and monitoring results are calibrated and validated. Conclusions: In order to move towards sustainability in developing countries, it is necessary to satisfy basic needs. Cuban society has demonstrated to be highly resilient, but it should pay more attention to the influence of architectural and urban design on indoor thermal environment and energy consumption.

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