Climate Notes
9/9/13
Check whether we were approved
Adaptation and Control
Overview of Key themes
Traditional Climate-adapted Architecture
Large climate screens (From a historical perspective)
How to read a psychometric chart
Traditional Climate-adapted Architecture
Vernacular adapted architecture
In contrast to the resource-oriented architecture of the 21st century
Should be the 1st thing we attempt to do to adapt the building to the climate
Then look at high-tech approaches to skinning the building
Cairo
Ventilation and Mass
Hot and dry desert climate type
Characteristics
Extreme heat
Largest desert (non-polar)
Fierce sunlight
Lack of water
Diurnal temp. swing
Building Characteristics
Massive, heavy materials
Earth-sheltering
Sleeping terraces
Maximum ventilation and evaporative cooling
Corbeling of buildings on either side of streets
Provides shade on street
Maqa’ad – covered loggia that serves as a buffer zone between the street and house (transition space)
Takhtabush – covered living space cooled by draft from courtyard
Mashrabiya – Wooden boxes that have ornate carved screens that filter light & provide privacy
Townhouses
Qa’a – Central living space
Three parts – durqa’a & two iwans
Durqa’a – a high room with lantern for light and air
Malkaf – wind tower raised above roof – captures northern breeze
Dark spaces
Japan
Hot & Humid (Subtropical) climate type
Openness & flexibility
Pacific island with settlement in the lowlands
Highest population densities
Climate characteristics
Long, warm, humid summers
Sort, cool, windy winter
Building characteristics
Ventilated, high ceilings
Large, covered terraces
Protected openings
Screens & large overhangs
Lightweight materials
Designed to deal with summer conditions
Terrace house with a garden – spatially integrated
Garden is abstraction of nature
Borrowed landscape
Engawa – Transitional space or buffer zone
Often faces south
Blurs the boundary between inside and outside
Check whether we were approved
Adaptation and Control
Overview of Key themes
Traditional Climate-adapted Architecture
Large climate screens (From a historical perspective)
How to read a psychometric chart
Traditional Climate-adapted Architecture
Vernacular adapted architecture
In contrast to the resource-oriented architecture of the 21st century
Should be the 1st thing we attempt to do to adapt the building to the climate
Then look at high-tech approaches to skinning the building
Cairo
Ventilation and Mass
Hot and dry desert climate type
Characteristics
Extreme heat
Largest desert (non-polar)
Fierce sunlight
Lack of water
Diurnal temp. swing
Building Characteristics
Massive, heavy materials
Earth-sheltering
Sleeping terraces
Maximum ventilation and evaporative cooling
Corbeling of buildings on either side of streets
Provides shade on street
Maqa’ad – covered loggia that serves as a buffer zone between the street and house (transition space)
Takhtabush – covered living space cooled by draft from courtyard
Mashrabiya – Wooden boxes that have ornate carved screens that filter light & provide privacy
Townhouses
Qa’a – Central living space
Three parts – durqa’a & two iwans
Durqa’a – a high room with lantern for light and air
Malkaf – wind tower raised above roof – captures northern breeze
Dark spaces
Japan
Hot & Humid (Subtropical) climate type
Openness & flexibility
Pacific island with settlement in the lowlands
Highest population densities
Climate characteristics
Long, warm, humid summers
Sort, cool, windy winter
Building characteristics
Ventilated, high ceilings
Large, covered terraces
Protected openings
Screens & large overhangs
Lightweight materials
Designed to deal with summer conditions
Terrace house with a garden – spatially integrated
Garden is abstraction of nature
Borrowed landscape
Engawa – Transitional space or buffer zone
Often faces south
Blurs the boundary between inside and outside