1. Adaptation and Control
Assalamualaikum wrt wbt
Adaptation and Control
Climate Themes:
Cold and Temperate Climate

2. Presentation Summary In this presentation, we will discuss:
Building and Climate: Climate issues
Cold region
Characteristics
Indigenous solutions
Current solution
Temperate region
In this presentation, we will discuss:
Climate issues
The Importance of the geographic region
Climate Zones of North America
Climate Zones of Canada
The 4 primary bioclimatic types
Comfort Zone
Microclimate

3. Vitruvius (Roman architect) in Ten Books of Architecture
“If our designs for private houses are to be correct, we must at the outset note of the countries and climates in which they are built. One style of house seems to be appropriate to be built in Egypt, another in Spain, a different kind in Pontus, one still different in Rome, and so on with lands and countries with other characteristics”
Vitruvius (Roman architect) in Ten Books of Architecture

4. Buildings and Climate
Climate varies around the globe and indigenous architecture are used to respond to climate
20th century buildings became exclusively dependent on mechanical systems to heat and cool buildings
International Style Architecture, characterized by sealed buildings, tried to create an architectural style that ignored climate
This has resulted in a proliferation of architecture that does not properly respond to its climate
Such buildings now account for between 40% and 70% of energy use in North America – and this cannot be sustained given Climate Change (GHG) and fossil fuel shortages
This lesson will examine how to reconnect issues of local climate and building design
Buildings and Climate
Climate varies around the globe and indigenous architecture used to respond to local climate through the use of natural heating and cooling methods that were not reliant on mechanical systems, as well as natural and local materials.
20th century buildings became exclusively dependent on mechanical systems to heat and cool buildings and systemically ignored climate issues. One need only to look at the familiar fast food chain and its architecture that does not seem to change, regardless of location!
International Style Architecture, characterized by sealed buildings, tried to create an architectural style that ignored climate – and very much succeeded if one examines the many sealed glass office towers that populate cities from Houston, to Toronto to Chicago or New York. The architecture is almost precisely the same, regardless of the temperature and relative humidity of the climate.
This has resulted in a proliferation of architecture that does not properly respond to its climate and that is also using excessive amounts of fossil fuels to heat and cool the interiors of the buildings. Even then, some of these buildings fail to create inspirational, or even comfortable, interior environments.
Such buildings now account for between 40% and 70% of energy use in North America – and this cannot be sustained given Climate Change (GHG) and fossil fuel shortages.
This lesson will examine how to reconnect issues of local climate and building design to create a more climate responsive, energy efficient and sustainable type of building.

5. Weather and Climate:
The weather of the world varies by location as relates to the distance from the equator and as influenced by aspects of geography such as the trade winds, adjacency to bodies of water, elevation, etc.
The earth’s atmosphere helps to moderate the climate to prevent radical shifts in temperature from season to season and day to night.
Weather and Climate:
The weather of the world varies by location as relates to the distance from the equator and as influenced by aspects of geography such as the trade winds, adjacency to bodies of water, elevation, etc.
The earth’s atmosphere helps to moderate the climate to prevent radical shifts in temperature from season to season and day to night.
If we understand our local weather patterns, we can learn to use these natural factors to more sustainably design our buildings.

6. The Sun
The impact of the sun on our buildings is a direct result of our distance from the equator.
This affects amounts of solar radiation as well as solar geometry.
The Sun
The impact of the sun on our buildings is a direct result of our distance from the equator.
This affects amounts of solar radiation as well as solar geometry.
Solar geometry changes as a function of both the time of day as well as time of year. This alters the amount of solar radiation (free heat) that can be used to heat our buildings.
Solar geometries, solar radiation intensity, the length of daylight hours and seasonal variations are different around the world. These characteristics must very specifically be incorporated into sustainable, climate responsive, building design. Weather might be variable, but solar geometry is very precise and predictable!

7. The climate
The word has its origins in the ancient Greek and denotes the inclination of the earth in relation to the ray of the Sun.
Ptolemy (AD ) and Vitruvius interpreted the climatic zones into three main areas –
Warm Zone (near the equator)
Temperate Zone (Intermediate)
Cold Zone (near to the N/S pole)

8. The weather and climate can be defined by measurements of parameter
Solar radiation-temperature and lighting
Wind and pressure conditions
Humidity and precipitation

9. Earth’s radiation balance

10. Earth’s radiation balance
Sun
longwave
shortwave
Earth Radiation Balance
Earth

11. Amount of incoming radiation
The amount of radiation that reaches the earth varies accordingly the location on earth
Three primary factors:
The angle of incoming radiation-altitude of the sun
The time of incoming radiation-length of day
The atmospheric radiation-cloud cover & human factor

12. azimuth
An azimuth (from the Arabic السمت as-simt "direction") is an angular measurement in a spherical coordinate system. The vector from an observer (origin) to a point of interest is projected perpendicularly onto a reference plane; the angle between the projected vector and the reference vector on the reference plane is called the azimuth.
wikipedia

13. Sun path
Sun path refers to the apparent significant seasonal-and-hourly positional changes of the sun (and length of daylight) as the Earth rotates, and orbits around the sun. The relative position of the sun is a major factor in the heat gain of buildings and in the performance of solar energy systems[1]. Accurate location-specific knowledge of sun path and climatic conditions is essential for economic decisions about solar collector area, orientation, landscaping, summer shading, and the cost-effective use of solar trackers.
wikipedia

14. Wind pressure system
Resulted from air mass that is heated and causes a low pressure zone
The different temperature causes pressure differences
The earth rotation causes wind deflection
This causes different climates in different places at the same latitude + different climate at different seasons

15. Environmental Moderator:
A building’s primary function is to provide shelter from the elements, as a function of CLIMATE.
To function as a moderator of the environment and to satisfy all other requirements, a building envelope must provide control of:
1. heat flow
2. air flow
3. movement of water as vapour and as liquid
4. solar and other radiation
The Building as an Environmental Moderator:
A building’s primary function is to provide shelter from the elements, as a function of CLIMATE. The severity and type of the local climate will impact the design of the building envelope, as well as its orientation and massing.
To function as a moderator of the environment and to satisfy all other requirements, a building envelope must provide control of:
1. heat flow
2. air flow
3. movement of water as vapour and as liquid
4. solar and other radiation
These flows will vary as a function of the climate in which a building is situated. These variations can either make the design of the function of the building envelope as an environmental moderator easier, or more challenging.
Urban Ecology Centre, Milwaukee

16. Buildings have the task of adapting to the variation of climate
Design must first acknowledge regional, local and microclimate impacts on the building and site.
COLD
TEMPERATE
HOT-ARID
HOT-HUMID
Bio-climatic Design:
The idea of bio-climatic design lies in the need for the architecture to be modified to respond to the regional climate type. Design must first acknowledge regional, local and microclimate impacts on the building and site. Victor Olgyay in his book “Design with Climate” in 1963, outlined the four basic types that still form the basis of climatic design today. These are:
Cold
Temperate
Hot-Arid
and
Hot Humid

17. Different climates around the world
This map illustrates the range of climates around the world as first set out for architectural purposes by Victor Olgyay in his book “Design with Climate” in If we examine the vernacular architecture associated with each climate type, we can begin to understand the range of available natural solutions to the problems to be solved in sustainable building.
It is critically important when looking for inspiration in architectural design, that inspiration be drawn from projects whose climate is highly similar to the one in which you are designing. Although a building in Barcelona, Spain might be very appealing, its Mediterranean climate (temperate) will not make it suitable from a detailed point of view to be transposed to the cold climate of North Bay, Ontario.
Image source: Design with Climate. Victor Olgyay, 1963.

18. Traditional architecture
Traditional architecture = vernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture varies for regions of hot climate and regions of cold climate.
Vernacular = forms which grow out of the practical needs of the inhabitants of a place and the constraints of the site and climate (Oktay)
architecture based on and adapted to local conditions
Depends on local material and response to the climate conditions
Influenced by distinctive culture, religion, social character of the neighbourhood

19. Climatic adaptation Climatic adaptation = energy reduction
climate-responsive architecture, or architecture that is constructed and built with designs that make use of the surrounding climate and its natural effects
Sustainability in terms of minimising energy consumption and energy
All buildings are affected by climate: where where it protects its interior against the exterior climatic elements

20. Buildings and Climate HOT-HUMID TEMPERATE HOT-ARID COLD
In North America there are four primary types of climate: Cold, Temperate, Hot Arid and Hot Humid.
Buildings MUST be designed to fit in with their CLIMATE. Different climate zones demand different architectural responses in order to function properly and be energy and environmentally efficient.
If you look at the four climate zones depicted on the slides and the four buildings, you can easily see that they look quite different – and so they should. Each has been designed very specifically to perform in its own climate, with minimal need of mechanical energy to heat and cool interior spaces.
We will now look at the design and detailing requirements for the four primary climate types in more detail. The strategies outlined below will be examined in more detail in subsequent units. By following the basic Rules, you can work to achieve significant reductions in the energy requirements for your buildings, as well as create more pleasant, climate connected spaces.
Buildings MUST be designed to fit in with their CLIMATE. Different climate zones demand different architectural responses in order to function properly and be energy and environmentally efficient.

21. Cold Region: subartic + artic
Characteristics
Indigenous solutions
Current solution

22. subartic

23. Characteristics
Cool summers, bright nights, cold, dark winters, long snow covered periods.

24. Indigenous solutions Fire places
Nomadic Saami-erect tents near forest and water facing east, animal skin as insulator, the tent with smoke opening on the top that encircles radiant heat
Sweden log house-low slope roof as insulator, massive wall using large timber+ brick chimney core

25. Traditional cold climate design
Traditional cold climate design in Canada took to task the shedding of snow from roofs and used minimal windows in the walls to try to keep heat inside the building.
Most of these buildings were constructed of solid (double wythe) masonry and devoid of insulation. Modern insulation types had not even been invented!
Butt this time heating costs were very low, nobody was concerned about CO2 emissions and global warming, so fossil fuels were burned as required to keep buildings reasonably warm. Comfort expectations were also not extremely high, so occupants were content to don a sweater and slippers if the house was draughty or cool, and in the summer, open the windows and slow down their pace, if the interiors were too hot.
Traditional cold climate design in Canada took to task the shedding of snow from roofs and used minimal windows in the walls to try to keep heat inside the building. 25

26. Current solution
The building orientation must ensure optimum solar gain. In cold regions, large windows should face south
Sunlight protection is necessary to prevent overheating on hot summer days
The building must be compact; the smaller the surface of a building, the lower energy losses. However, it can still be designed with great elegance
Large windows are a possibility, but not at the expense of a large energy loss or overheating
The choice of building materials should provide structures that keep the heat inside in cold climates and keep the building cool in warm climates
Solar energy can be integrated in the architecture. As an example, it is now possible to have solar panels looking like roof light windows and solar cells which can contribute to a unique architectural expression.

27. Oriented towards the ocean.
built entirely in pine, with a black lacquer exterior.
The region is a semi-dry, with native trees and a strong wind and cold from the southeast.
This location determines the design, because the house must be open and transparent to the south to get the point of view, but it must also be open to the north light from the rear of the house. House is located in Tunquén, a costal area in the central region of Chile.
The volume of the living area has a height twice to get full sunlight, and also protects the terrace side of the wind southeast.
The terrace is protected from the wind by wooden blinds, a large glass panes, and an existing tree. The dining and kitchen area are located one step above the living area, avoiding its furnishings from blocking the views.
Protection against the summer sun is produced by high beams inclined that only allow sunlight to pass the winter.

28. artic

29. characteristic
Extreme cold, long dark winters and short bright cool summers
Severe temperatures for human survival

30. Indigenous solutions
Igloo: semi circular structures with minimum spaces in relation to volume, constructed with snow blocks, sunken entrance tunnel and maintain internal temperatures above 15C

31. Current solution
Its winter and Norway, which is almost the land of midnight sun has something special in store for the discerning traveler and the architecture enthusiasts. Fantastic Norway has designed an architectural masterpiece in the form of a Norwegian cabin, which provides you a great view of the cold seas of the north.

32. Climatic Design: COLD
Where winter is the dominant season and concerns for conserving heat predominate all other concerns. Heating degree days greatly exceed cooling degree days.
RULES:
First INSULATE
exceed CODE requirements (DOUBLE??)
minimize infiltration (build tight to reduce air changes)
Then INSOLATE and fenestrate for DIRECT GAIN
ORIENT AND SITE THE BUILDING PROPERLY FOR THE SUN
maximize south facing windows for easier control
apply THERMAL MASS inside the building envelope to store the FREE SOLAR HEAT
create a sheltered MICROCLIMATE to make it LESS cold
YMCA Environmental Learning Centre, Paradise Lake, Ontario
Bio-climatic Design: COLD
A cold climate is deemed to exist where winter is the dominant season and concerns for conserving heat predominate all other concerns. Heating degree days greatly exceed cooling degree days.
The general RULES that govern Cold Climate Design are:
First INSULATE – the insulation place in the envelope (walls, roof and floor) acts to retard the flow of heat from the interior to the exterior in the winter (remembering that heat flows from HOT to COLD, and the flow rate is accelerated when the temperature differential across the envelope is higher)
exceed CODE requirements – current building code requirements are considered to be minimal if you are trying to design sustainably and achieve maximum energy efficiency. Studies have been done that would indicate that to be more energy efficient, doubling of the current recommendation is in order. This will make envelope detailing more challenging.
minimize infiltration . Infiltration is the leakage of warm air out of minute cracks in the building envelope. As we are paying to heat that air, we don’t want it to leak. Therefore we need to both detail and build our envelopes to be tight to reduce air changes.
Then INSOLATE – insolation is the heating of the building interior, naturally, by the sun. This will be explained in more detail under Passive Heating Design in the next powerpoint. Suffice to say that if you let the sun shine into your building, and transfer its free energy into materials of thermal mass (concrete, brick, heavy clay tiles) that the building will gain free heating energy. This is called Direct Gain.
ORIENT AND SITE THE BUILDING PROPERLY FOR THE SUN. If the building cannot receive free heat from the sun due to the orientation of its glazing away from the sun, then this will be a problem.
maximize south facing windows for easier control. When we look at solar angles in the Passive Design powerpoint, you will see that south facing windows are preferable, both for the amount of free energy that they can provide, as well as the ease of shading them in the summer months when we wish to exclude unwanted heat from our building interiors. East and West facing windows are more difficult to control for solar issues. North facing windows do not benefit from solar gain, and result mostly in heating losses through the envelope.
apply THERMAL MASS inside the building envelope to store the FREE SOLAR HEAT. Materials like concrete, brick, and clay tiles are able to store heat and will reradiate it back into the building interior when the temperature drops enough to induce heat flow. (Temperature flows naturally from hot to cold).
create a sheltered MICROCLIMATE to make it LESS cold. If you design the site to capture the sun and buffer it from winter winds, it will make the local temperatures and conditions easier for the building to respond to.

33. Design Strategies
The following is the main architectural strategies,
building configuration and design elements, and the
reasons and the basis for more comfortable indoor and
outdoor spaces for the inhabitants of the regions for
thousands of years. They are the architectural aspects
in the cold climate, which include the most important
design strategies that were driven from the analysis:
a. Introverted building morphology in a cube-like
form was preferred: To minimise external heat
loss and to retain the internal heat.
b. Maximum compact configuration was an
important strategy: To minimise the structure’s
exterior surfaces in proportion to the interior
volume, for reduction of the contact with the
prevailing cold air movement.
c. Compressed arrangement with some earth sheltering
was intended: To take advantage of the
earth’s heat when the temperature was lower.
d. The most spatially efficient spaces and minimum
circulation between them was implemented: To
reduce the internal circulation and volume, and to
reduce the volume and therefore minimise the
need for heating.

34. e. Roof cover, primarily in a high pitched or flat
form, was used: To increase the melting of ice
and snow by insolation.
f. Smooth building surfaces were applied: To
decrease the contact with air movement and
freezing winter winds, to decrease heat loss, and
to maximise sun exposure.
g. Maximum window areas on the south, moderate
on the east and some on the west were adopted:
To control and take advantage of insolation for
internal heat gain.
h. Minimum window areas on the north facing
facades were employed: To reduce the heat loss
of contact with the colder northern winds.
i. Short horizontal shading devices for south facing
windows were applied: To control the heat gain
in the short overheated period.
j. Heavy construction materials for some interiors
elements or surfaces were used: To retain heat for
Under heated hours.
k. Non-porous building materials were used: To
decrease heat dissipation.
l. Heavy weight materials for exterior elements
were employed: To maximise heat storage.

35. Temperate Region: Moderately humid + moderately dry
Characteristics
Indigenous solutions
Current solution

36. Moderately humid

37. Moderately humid Temperate coastal climate
Moderately warm, humid, rainy and changeable
Covers coastal areas halfway between the equator and N-S poles
Characterized by proximity to the sea, windy, frequent precipitation, short cool summers and mild winters
The four seasons are equally the same length

38. Indigenous solutions
Buildings should be protected against humidity and wind
Building gable should be oriented towards the sea + prevailing winds
Transition areas
High pitched roof
Small windows to protect from cold wind or sometime large to compensate lack of daylight

39. Current Solution

41. Moderately dry: mediterranean

42. characteristics Mediterranean climate
Long, warm summers and short cool winters
Mild climate with little variation between day and night

43. Indigenous solutions
Heavy stone buildings to achieve stable indoor climate throughout summer, require heating in winter, few small windows, shutters and louvers to provide shading against sun
Loggias, balconies, terraces, porticos, patios, enclosed courtyards, gardens as buffer zones for outdoor living in summer

44. Case study: ancient Greek
The key to reaching that goal is good insulation and sunshine exposure, which helps to keep the warm air inside the building.
The ancient Greeks employed this technique by realizing that the winter sun had a low arc in the southern sky, due to the tilt in the Earth at the season, allowing windows in the walls to capture much needed heat from the sun (Oktay).
A traditional building is usually built just below the brow of a hill on the southward slope. This way the building is protected by the hill and by surrounding shelterbelts of trees (Oktay). The north face of the building typically has few openings while the south contains the main openings to maximize sun exposure.
Orientation is important because it affects which sides of the buildings receive the most sunlight and how long the sun stays with those sides. The long axis of the building should ideally stretch east to west. The north end receives the least amount of sunlight and, consequently, has lower temperatures (Oktay).
This is why storage rooms, toilets, and kitchens typically are located at the north end of many buildings. The south end is much warmer and generally will house the living room, bedrooms, and study areas. To minimize and reduce heat loss many rooms contain low ceilings, thick stonewalls, small windows, and centrally located heating.
The difference between thick walls in cold and hot climates is that in hot climates the walls outside are meant to shade the interior from the intense heat, whereas, in cold climates the walls inside are meant to insulate and keep heat in.

46. The volumes of the houses in rough plaster are integrated or separated by wood structures that mainly serve as sunshades, as wind protectors, as pergolas intended to be covered by creeping plants and as visual barriers that ensure privacy. The whole plot has been planted and as vegetation grows the image of the houses will constantly change in accordance with the seasons of the year.

47. Moderately dry: Continental climate

48. Long, warm, dry summers, long cold winters
characteristics
Long, warm, dry summers, long cold winters
Significant seasonal differences and temperature variations, low humidity and strong winds

49. Indigenous solutions
North American Indians tepee: entrance is steep with back against the wind, adjustable smoke flap to control ventilation, central fireplace and animal skin insulation
Turkish dwellings: heavy materials for substructure and superstructure with insulated timber structure, stone faced roofs with low pitch and overhangs

50. Principles for climate adaptation

51. Buildings to be climatically adapted
Passive climate control:the building and its spaces can be used in various ways over day and night or at different seasons of the year in relation to the changing climate
Active climate control: building can change dynamiccally and can adapt to the changing climate conditions
A + B: can both be used in varied ways and actively adapt to the climate

52. Passive climate control
Rooms are formed to be generally usable but have different cliamate adaptation in terms of layout, choice of materials and construction, and be used differently in relation to the hours of the day, the seasons and the changing climate

53. Active climate control
Rooms can adapt to different climatic conditions through active adjustments of light, air and temperatures by means of interactive facades; i.e buffer zones, adjustable shutters and blinds

54. combination
Climatically varied rooms (thermal mass), temperature zoning (insulation) and active climate controllling facades (utilization of passive solar energy) and provide optimal solutions
new hybrid or “mixed-mode” buildings use intelligent facades, natural ventilation, and highly developed computer control systems to attempt to bridge the passive and active gap – an unconventional HVAC strategy that allows both the users and the computer control system to simultaneously operate the building.

55. Using new technologies, methods of construction and materials, the buildings should be flexible and climate active
The new technologies should be combined with traditional examples for a more functional, interactive and energy efficient architecture
Architects should strive for new design strategies to provide low energy buildings that are more adaptable to changing conditions under the impact of climate change.

56. Technique vs. Technology
Old stone buildings relied on their massive nature to withstand the weather. New buildings are comprised of thinner layers, that are individually less able to withstand the elements.
Technique vs. Technology
Old stone buildings relied on their massive nature to withstand the weather and potential migration of the interior air to the outside through the wall. New buildings are comprised of thinner layers, that are individually less able to withstand the elements.
The interior environments of old buildings were much less warm and moist than we expect our climate controlled buildings to be now. This resulted in less envelope related problems that we have today with our expectations of warm climate controlled interiors today.
TRADITIONAL METHODS
BUILDING SCIENCE

57. High Performance Buildings
Greater London Authority, Norman Foster
Channel 4 News, London, Richard Rogers
High Performance Buildings
There is a growing trend towards the construction of High Performance Buildings as a sustainable design solution that is both climate responsive and accountable. These buildings also have “thin skins”.
But nowadays, people expect an awful lot MORE PERFORMANCE from their buildings – as technological symbols and cultural icons. Shelter is just not enough.
These buildings also have “thin skins”. But nowadays, people expect an awful lot MORE PERFORMANCE from their buildings – as technological symbols and cultural icons. Shelter is just not enough.

58. In class Assignment
Student will be group into small group of three people
Each group will study the paper distributed and outline the climatic design strategies for a given climate
At the end of the discussion, the students will submit short notes on A4 format.

59. wassalam