Asian architectureproject 1: case study presentation

chung wei jin0313789

Strategies to achieve thermal comfort using materials, courtyards and fenestrations as the approach in westin hotel, xi’an

Research questions

1. What is thermal comfort?

2. How does chinese traditional architecture use materials, courtyards and fenestrations to achieve thermal regulation?

3. How does the courtyards help to achieve thermal regulation in westinxian?

4. How does the materials help to achieve thermal regulation in westin xian?

5. How does the fenestrations help to achieve thermal regulation in westinxian?

Thermal comfort

thermal comfort is the condition of mind of the users of a building that expresses satisfaction with the thermal

environment

COURTYARDS

“JUST AS WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT IS, WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE USEFULNESS OF WHAT IS NOT”

-NELSON WU

AT LEAST ONE OPEN SPACE.

CLIMATE AFFECTS PROPORTIONS OF ENCLOSED STRUCTURES, TRANSITIONAL SPACES AND OPEN SPACES.

NORTH SOUTH

Shaanxi style siheyuan

Elongated + narrow courtyards

Buildings are placed closer together to block intense sunlight during summer

Tight structure + high walls block cold wind during winter

Sunken courtyard

materials

Dark stucco and stone cladded exterior

• Traditionally used as bases of pillars to prevent the invasion of termites on the wooden pillars

• Has a high thermal mass• releases heat during summer and stores heat during winter• Aids in regulating temperature in the building.

fenestration

• Thick walls creates egg crate shading device.

• Windows are specially designed to be slanted facing away from direct sunlight.

• East and west facing walls have windows slanted at opposite directions.

reference

1. R.g. knapp, (2005),chinese houses: the architectural heritage of nation, singapore: tuttle publishing.

2. C.z. chen, h.x.pan & b.j.lu, (2008), chinese houses: A PICTORIAL TOUR OF CHINA’S TRADITIONAL DWELLINGS, SHANGHAI:THE READER’S DIGEST ASSOCIATION. INC.

3. Archdaily, (2015, may 30), Xi'an Westin Museum Hotel / Neri & Hu Design and Research Office, retrieve from http://www.archdaily.com/386244/xi-an-westin-museum-hotel-neri-and-hu