Asian Architecture presentation

ASIAN ARCHITECTURE(ARC60403) CASE STUDY PAPER PRESENTATION

MUHAMMAD NABEEL ALI JOOMUN 0320583

ACHIEVING THERMAL COMFORT AND NATURAL ILLUMINATION THROUGH SPATIAL ORGANIZATION IN THE MODERN MACHI-HOUSE, HIROSHIMA, JAPAN

CONCEPT MAPPING Sustainable design Spatial organization

Vegetation

Thermal comfort

Natural light Materials

Heat gain Heat loss

Ventilation

Building orientation

Spatial organization

Spatial organization Solar heat

Insulation

Openings

RESEARCH QUESTIONS •

Why is thermal comfort an important factor in Japan?

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How is thermal comfort and natural illumination achieved during summer and winter in the traditional Machiya?

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How does spatial organization affect the ventilation and illumination in the Machi-house?

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What new innovations, in the Machi-house, are made for better thermal comfort and natural illumination compared to traditional Machiya?

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How does the spatial organization of the Machi-house fit into the context of the city centers?

ISSUES AND OBJECTIVE ISSUES •

To find out how the traditional Machiya and the Machi-house achieve thermal comfort for the different seasons in Japan

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To find out how the Machi-house is naturally ventilated and illuminated in a densely packed urban area

OBJECTIVE •

To understand the difference and similarities, in terms of passive design strategies, between the Machi- house and the traditional Machiya

THERMAL COMFORT

NATURAL LIGHT

It is the state where someone feels comfortable and satisfied of the thermal condition in a specific space. It is usually a combination of air temperature, air speed and humidity level.

Light coming from the sun is a good way of illuminating interiors of buildings passively. This contributes to protecting the environment by using less electricity.

Thermal comfort is important in Japan because it needs to change each time to adapt to the different seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter.

CASE STUDY MACHI-HOUSE

TRADITIONAL MACHIYA

(TOWN HOUSE)

LOCATION: Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan

LOCATION: Mostly found in Kyoto

DESIGN TEAM: Keisuke Maeda

Also known as “Kyōmachiya (京町家)”

SITE AREA: 95.41 sqm.

This type of house was developed during the Heian period and is still present today. It was occupied by merchants and craftsmen who used it both as a house and a retail/ shop space. The shape is narrow on the façade and is long on the side.

The Machi-house is found in the city center in Fukuyama. It is a modern house whose design is based on a traditional Machiya house.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to show how sustainability is attained in the

result of having a linear shape and the presence of a courtyard in the

design of houses found in the densely packed cities of Japan. There is

middle. The interior does not have a lot of walls as this can disturb the

the need for the thermal condition of a Japanese house to adapt to

ventilation flow. During winter, the doors in the Machi-house are closed

the different seasons. Also, since the houses are usually surrounded by

so as to prevent any cold air flow inside. Since they are made of glass,

tall buildings, lack of sunlight could be a problem to bring natural light

sunlight will be able to warm up the interior. This concept was used in

inside. Literature reviews, based on various sources, were conducted to

the traditional Machiya. The difference is the material used. In the

show the design strategies, involving spatial organization, of traditional

Machi-house, there are glass louvres on top of the courtyard. These are

and modern Japanese houses. The Machi-house, found in Hiroshima,

also closed to prevent heat loss. The Machi-house uses a lot of skylight

was chosen as the case study to explain more about the topic. The

and glass wall, positioned at strategic place to ensure proper

Machi- house is based on the traditional Machiya house. The latter is

illumination, coming from the top, in the house. The courtyard is the

the best example of the use of spatial organization to achieve thermal

area where most light come from, just like the traditional Machiya’s

comfort and natural illumination. To get an idea of how thermal

courtyard. This comes to the conclusion that the Machi-house kept

comfort is achieved, two climates in Japan are taken into

most of the design strategies of a traditional Machiya, in terms of

consideration; summer and winter. Only these two are taken because

spatial organization, with some modifications which can make thermal

they are the hottest and coolest seasons, respectively. During summer,

comfort more effective and improve natural illumination of the spaces.

the Machi-house uses a combination of cross and stack ventilation to cool down the ground floor and first floor. These ventilation system is the

FLOOR PLAN MACHI-HOUSE

TRADITIONAL MACHIYA Courtyard garden

Entrance

Bathroom Bedroom

Dining

Living room

Balcony

Both the Machi house and the Machiya has the same spatial layout: linear and narrow. This is most of the houses are shaped in japan, due to the space limitation.

THERMAL COMFORT Natural ventilation

Louvres are used to control the ventilation flow.

In winter, it is closed so as to prevent any heat loss

THERMAL COMFORT Machi-House

Traditional Machiya Use of sliding doors.

Usually they are mad of different materials for different season.

Glass louvres found on the skylight.

Openings in the wall that allows ventilation

THERMAL COMFORT SITE CONTEXT Machi-House

Stuck between two buildings, it would be difficult to get the wind from different directions.

The only way for ventilating the house is through a one way cross ventilation, there are two buildings next to it which will prevent wind from other direction to go in.

The stack ventilation is added for the ventilation to be more effective.

NATURAL LIGHT

Light coming from the courtyard and opened doors.

Light coming mostly from the skylight and through glass walls.

To solve the issue of blocked sunlight by other buildings, The Machi-house uses mostly skylight and Glass wall to allow natural light to go in the house. The courtyard is where most of the light come from just like the traditional Machiya.

NATURAL LIGHT Skylight used to illuminate both the first floor and ground floor.

The use of white coloured wall increases the brightness.

Light coming mostly from the courtyard into the bathroom through the use of a glass wall

The courtyard was the main source of light in the house. It is an open space without roof.

Clerestory used to bring in light in other spaces, like the kitchen. There is also an opening in the roof which is used as a smoke shaft and skylight at the same time.

CONCLUSION

In compacted spaces of Japan, spatial organization is a good way of passively achieving thermal comfort and providing natural light. This design strategy involves simple arrangement of spaces that can allow more sustainability in a building.

REFERENCE •

archdaily.com(29 Oct 2012) "Machi-House / UID Architects". ArchDaily. Retrieved 23 May 2016. http://www.archdaily.com/285165/machi-house-uid-architects/

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NHK world, uploaded by slavo mir.(13 April 2014). “Machiya- traditional houses in Kyoto”. Retrieved on 20 May 2016 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdMVK8T8BPo

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Kengo Kuma. (2010). “JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE: AN EXPLORATION OF ELEMENTS & FORMS”. Tuttle Publishing.

Retrieved 20 May 2016

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Angen, Courtney, "Concept and Technique: How Traditional Japanese Architecture can contribute to Contemporary Sustainable Design Practices" (2013).Environmental Studies Honors Papers. Paper 10. Retrieved on 20 May 2016

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Kyoto Centre for Community Collaboration. "The Handbook on Kyo-machiya Renovation - to keep living in your house - “. Retrieved 12 April 2016

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Arthur Lindsay Sadler. (2009). “Japanese Architecture: A short history”. Tuttle Publishing (October 10, 2009).

Retrieved on 12 May 2016