Literature Review on Building Envelope, Heating and ... - Beeshive.org

• Clapboards, shingles, and plank frames were other adaptations to make the building
envelope more rigid and climate responsive. Exterior non-structural weatherboards
were used over the traditional English heavy timber mortises and tenon frame.
• Sheathing, as a substrate for the weather skin (the cladding), was used for walls and
the roof to form structural integrity and allow the use of lighter timber frame.
• There are no overhangs or porches because, in a changeable climate, they might keep
sun and daylight away from windows.
• Small-paned windows faced all directions to provide daylight and summer
ventilation. Window shutters protected against storms and winter cold. However, at
high latitudes such as in Scandinavia, large windows for daylight are an architectural
compensation for overcast skies.
The Hungarian House
The Hungarian village house combines social custom, indigenous materials, and
acclimatization to a maritime climate from the north and west. Initially, it was mostly
small with one all-purpose room for sleeping and social use, and cooking in a hearth and
oven. Later on, the house evolved to include three rooms in a row. The kitchen function
moved to the middle room and provided heating to the other two rooms.
The bioclimatic features of the Hungarian house include adobe walls, a thatch roof, and a
hearth with heavy mass. The house was partially sunk into the earth; thus the earth
embraced the structure and the earth-shaped interior provided a thermal mass that was
warmed by an open hearth. The north wall had no openings to guard against the cold
winter northern winds. The south wall was open, which evolved to include a continuous
porch. The smoke from the chimneyless kitchen (to avoid taxes) was vented through the
attic. This helped preserve the roof thatch and food stored in the attic, such as sausages.
Sustainability Concepts in Indigenous Architecture
Indigenous design by definition is based on local materials, is restricted by local
resources, and is developed through consistent human engagement. Sustainability
concepts in indigenous architecture could be an answer for today’s building issues.
• Use local materials: Advantages of local materials include resilience to local climate,
low costs of origin, and low transportation cost. They require little processing, and
local workman know how to handle them. For example, cedar shingles and redwood
lumber are resilient materials in their native temperate and damp climates but
deteriorate quickly in a desert climate.
• Design for microclimate: The reliable performance of indigenous architecture is a
result of a conscious design for both indoor and outdoor microclimates.
• Integrate comfort sources: Construction strategies of indigenous architecture always
include the integration of strategic sources for relief from climatic stress, which is
considered as an extension of the architecture both thermally and aesthetically. For
PERD-079: Task 2 - <strong>Literature</strong> <strong>Review</strong> 46