02 form giving climate slides

CliC Climate Construction in Architecture Lecture 2.

Form Follows Climate

Heating, Cooling, Lighting as Form-Givers in Architecture

‘Microclimate Design’

In his book, Norbert Lechner introduces climate comfort constraints as driving force in architectural design.

Energy consumption

His approach is a sustainable one, but he is going further by identifying architectural strategies for different climates.

‘Vitruvian man’

Just like in case of Vitruvius, the focus is on the human body. In addition to proportions however, the demand of climate comfort is equally important.

‘Universal Comfort?’

Lechner identifies climate differences but keeps the goal universal: the exact same comfort zone for any location and human being, following ASHRAE standards.

The method is different in each climate, but the goal is the same.

‘Personal Matter’

Lisa Heschong however questions this approach and argues that (just like climates) thermal comfort is also a personal matter, that can be different for each individual and more importantly, it even may change for the same person in time.

‘Comfort as Inspiration’ The term Climate Construction refers to architecture methods to provide personal climate in buildings and to use these challenges as a driving force in design.

In 21st Century, thermal comfort refers to a personal demand that not only varies from one user to another, but also changes in time for the same user, depending on external conditions.

Climate Construction methods are a strategy that aims to establish a direct link exactly between these two: user’s changing demand and actual external conditions with a responsive architecture that is operated by both material and mechanical systems of the building.

‘Thermal Comfort Inspiration’

Reyner Banham presents the Prairie houses of Frank Lloyd Wright as an example for such an approach, when architect does not see the issues of thermal comfort as a direct remedy, but as a driving force in design.

Identity

Lechner’s climatic approach to architecture inherently connects him to vernacular architecture and to Critical Regionalism, which seeks a specific approach to architecture based on local context.

Six Points for an Architecture Resistance

Kenneth Frampton argues that “critical regionalism should adopt modern architecture, critically, for its universal progressive qualities but at the same time value should be placed on the geographical context of the building�

Universal Values and Architecture

Climate Construction method does not attempt to undo the qualities of modern architecture but rather build on it and improve it by offering a sustainable approach for personal climate comfort and thereby inspiration in design.

Universal Values and Architecture

Climate Construction method does not attempt to undo the qualities of modern architecture but rather build on it and improve it by offering a sustainable approach for personal climate comfort and thereby inspiration in design.

Jorn Utzon: Bagsvaerd church

Frampton presents 2 examples to explain this critical approach of connecting universal civilisation and world culture (global+local).

Bagsvaerd church utilizes a partly prefabricated outer shell (universal) and a uneconomic organic inner shell for illumination (culture).

Jorn Utzon: Bagsvaerd church

Frampton presents 2 examples to explain this critical approach of connecting universal civilisation and world culture (global+local).

Bagsvaerd church utilizes a partly prefabricated outer shell (universal) and a uneconomic organic inner shell for illumination (culture).

Jorn Utzon: Bagsvaerd church

Frampton presents 2 examples to explain this critical approach of connecting universal civilisation and world culture (global+local).

Bagsvaerd church utilizes a partly prefabricated outer shell (universal) and a uneconomic organic inner shell for illumination (culture).

Jorn Utzon: Bagsvaerd church

Frampton presents 2 examples to explain this critical approach of connecting universal civilisation and world culture (global+local).

Bagsvaerd church utilizes a partly prefabricated outer shell (universal) and a uneconomic organic inner shell for illumination (culture).

Jorn Utzon: Bagsvaerd church

Frampton presents 2 examples to explain this critical approach of connecting universal civilisation and world culture (global+local).

Bagsvaerd church utilizes a partly prefabricated outer shell (universal) and a uneconomic organic inner shell for illumination (culture).

Alvar Aalto: Saynatsaloo Town Hall

In case of Aalto, Frampton refers to the importance of tactile qualities of the buildings materials, especially the brick surface in contrast with the wooden materials indoors. The building utilizes universal technology, but there is a resistance in the way materials are presented in the building.

Alvar Aalto: Saynatsaloo Town Hall

In case of Aalto, Frampton refers to the importance of tactile qualities of the buildings materials, especially the brick surface in contrast with the wooden materials indoors. The building utilizes universal technology, but there is a resistance in the way materials are presented in the building.

Alvar Aalto: Saynatsaloo Town Hall

In case of Aalto, Frampton refers to the importance of tactile qualities of the buildings materials, especially the brick surface in contrast with the wooden materials indoors. The building utilizes universal technology, but there is a resistance in the way materials are presented in the building.

‘Comfort as Inspiration’ Critical Regionalism appears to be connected to Climate Construction on many levels, in reality the aims and focus of the two are entirely different. The first focuses on identity in architecture through utilized materials, construction and design theory, why the latter is about thermal comfort in architecture.

On the other hand, there are some lessons to learn from Critical Regionalism when it comes to Climate Construction.

The first is that it only criticizes Modernism, which does not mean eliminating its achievements and qualities. The aim is rather to build on that and enrich it with locality. Climate Construction is definitely about the same, and shall never deny technology and ‘go back’ in time. The question is rather always how can locality and the new demands of thermal comfort enrich architecture of our time.

4 climates

Kรถppen-Geier classification defines 5 main climate groups in the world: Tropical, Dry (Arid), Temperate, Continental and Polar-Alpine climates.

In case of Climate Construction, we refer to 4 different groups; Hot-Humid, Hot-Dry, Temperate and Cold.

Hot-dry Climate (Arid)

Arid climate is characterized by high temperature throughout the year. Humidity is low and insolation (Solar gain) is very high.

Hot-dry Climate (Arid)

In historical architecture, the key for arid climate is building mass and evaporation cooling.

Walls are typically thick and heavy, windows are small since even with limited size they can provide sufficient light and ventillation.

Hot-dry Climate (Arid)

Water absorbs a large amount of heat during evaporation without increase in temperature. This gives an opportunity for simple cooling especially because humidity in air is low.

Hot-dry Climate (Arid)

Latent heat is a very effective and natural cooling process, that is proportional to temperature of the air. It is important to note, that it is only effective in dry climates and when the water is not exposed to the Sun.

Hot-dry Climate (Arid)

An ingenious solution was developed in the ancient city of Yazd, Iran for cooling, which is a combination of: (1) wind towers that increased ventilation (without solar exposure of indoors) (2) water supply through underground channel (ghanat)

Hot-dry Climate (Arid)

Another invention of Arid historical architecture is the mashrabiya, a unique shaded terrace that offers seating area in the open, protected from the sun and from the outside view (as required by local culture).

Hot-dry Climate (Arid)

Another invention of Arid historical architecture is the mashrabiya, a unique shaded terrace that offers seating area in the open, protected from the sun and from the outside view (as required by local culture).

Aedas: Al Bahar Towers

The Al Bahar Towers is based on the same mashrabiya principle, but develops it further utilizing cutting-edge technology to design the world’s largest sun responsive façade.

Aedas: Al Bahar Towers

The Al Bahar Towers is based on the same mashrabiya principle, but develops it further utilizing cutting-edge technology to design the world’s largest sun responsive façade.

Aedas: Al Bahar Towers

The Al Bahar Towers is based on the same mashrabiya principle, but develops it further utilizing cutting-edge technology to design the world’s largest sun responsive façade.

Aedas: Al Bahar Towers

The Al Bahar Towers is based on the same mashrabiya principle, but develops it further utilizing cutting-edge technology to design the world’s largest sun responsive façade.

Aedas: Al Bahar Towers

The Al Bahar Towers is based on the same mashrabiya principle, but develops it further utilizing cutting-edge technology to design the world’s largest sun responsive façade.