Tropical countries are full of green lushes and flowers that bloom across all the seasons. All of the six seasons in Bangladesh are full of colour and each season carries its own beauty. I have been spending a lot of time travelling across many Asian countries and have noticed how many localities have the same weather and also similar people. Of course, they all have their own culture and heritage but from what I've seen, outdoor sitting is a long-time trend in most of these tropical countries. 

So for this week, we will look at outdoor spacing. What is ideal for sitting, gossiping and resting? Patios, decks, porches, and yards offer the rare opportunity to extend your living space and be truly at home even when you're outside. They are uniquely suited to the hot, humid conditions and represent a type of organic architecture that springs from the tropical bungalow archetype. Geoffrey Bawa, Sir Lankan maestro, was the master architect and craftsman for such woven spaces. 

Relaxing in warm weather comes naturally but you can make it especially easy for your guests by providing them with some comfort and versatility. You can enjoy a quiet moment with tea and a newspaper in an outdoor space or you can take a short nap or do some quiet reading. If you arrange some indoor cane furniture under the porch shed, it can work as an interesting hideaway for when you need some cool downtime. 

Choosing an all-white palette has many advantages for porch settings. Any monochromatic colour scheme creates an uncomplicated backdrop, but pure white adds a cooling touch and makes the space feel instantly airy and larger. Plus, it's more practical as white fabrics don't fade, and white finishes are easy to wash or bleach. To add interest to an all-white daybed, layer it with soft textures such as bed throws. We can take some green palette from the garden and make it interesting by adding small accents of colour in pillows and throws. These types of décor are very common in Bali, Indonesia. 

In Thailand many tropical resorts and houses are made of wood. The warm teak wood with surrounding tropical greenery will make you feel in touch with nature. Wicker furniture with brilliant white huge cushions or sometimes low dining sets with a traditional musical instruments corner creates a relaxing earthly feel. Bangkok is crowded almost all throughout the year which is why many roadside restaurants 

also maintain a sleek outdoor setting. Sometimes the furniture is a simple folding wooden chair and table that are placed under the fabric canopy or umbrella for lunch and dinner. These are accompanied by hanging creepers, orchids, and a small fountain. 

The more comfortable and stylish your furniture feels and looks, the better it is. As it is the tropics we are talking about, we want them to have an edge and a sense of place. It should be a type of decor that compliments all that Asia has to offer. 

During my visit, I had a great time in Sabah and the Sarawak Borneo island of Malaysia. The Mount Kinabalu resort and museum is really thrilling and their open sitting area is soothing to the eye. You can spend some time relaxing at this sanctuary after you have scaled the trails of the mountain. Another enjoyable experience was when I visited a simple tea house in Rangoon, the capital of Myanmar. The people there love green tea and all over the city many open tea houses serve tea, free of cost. The sitting arrangements of these shops are very simple wooden stools. 

'Uthan' is a local name for open space. In our country, open courtyards are a very common part of our house. Back in the old days, villages would maintain two to three courtyards. 'Darber' is the front of the house while 'bathok khana' is the living room. The 'ondor mohol uthan' is situated at the middle part of house. The use of wooden sofas, simple benches, cane and nylon chairs are common for these houses. 

At the end of the day, tropical Asia is both supremely beautiful and also very hot which is why intelligent architecture is important to link your house with the heart of nature by using outdoor arrangements. This allows cross ventilation and invites natural beauty inside our space and soul. 

By Nazneen Haque Mimi
Photo: Tamim Sujat