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Japanese culture is sensitive to the change of the four seasons. The key to make the room temperature comfortable in the summer /winter is the "temperature, humidity and the mild wind" of the refreshing climate of the spring/autumn. Here, we would like to explain the methods of bringing in the natural environment into residences. We will discuss the different planes of architecture and cooling/heating.
In the architectural plane, there is a method of making the exterior walls double and having the middle air space function as an insulator. This is called a "double-skin" structure. Outside the building frame insulator, another exterior wall is established to have a vent layer. Having the air go through a vent layer from the floor to the ceiling make the temperature and the humidity of the outer building circumference adjust to cool the interior. The P residence, designed by architect Tomoyuki Utsumi, employed the "cool tube" which utilizes the earth thermal. The earth thermal keeps a stable temperature of 15℃throughout a year and the tube embedded in the ground will take in the warm air in the winter and the cool air in the summer. Both occasions utilize the air flow caused by the temperature difference and it doesn't use any energy so there is no maintenance cost. Moreover, by building a house with a building frame and equipment separate from each other, the degree of freedom for one's lifestyle is heightened along with, the equipment renewal and the renovation. Amongst the building frames, the big openings are the source of losing heat and this can be resolved by having double-glazed and wooden sash windows. Having the flow of wind is important in planning the layout.
In terms of equipment, heat accumulation, which can be used when necessary, makes the indoor air flow naturally depending on the temperature difference so uncomfortable fluctuations in temperature and wind go unnoticed. There are various methods for heat accumulation such as building frames, earth medium, water, and trees. However, to implement these methods, the degree of insulation in the house has to be high. Otherwise, the effect would be weak. As for humidity control, employing materials that have the function of adjusting the humidity for the walls and the ceilings has a bit of effect.
A comfortable, temperature-controlled environment can be achieved by effectively combining each technology. Taking into consideration indoor thermal environments is a good opportunity to rethink one's lifestyle.



Architect : Claesson Koivisto Rune

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