Abstract
Horyu-ji Temple is the main temple and Buddhist monument in the Horyu-ji area designated a UNESCO world heritage site since 1993. In 1949, the main hall in the Horyu-ji Temple, Nara prefecture, Japan, suffered a fire. Paintings on the burned walls are now stored with other cultural property in the treasure house which has no air conditioning, and doors and windows that are always closed. There is a fear of mold and pest generation due to high relative humidity in the room, so the environment must be controlled to protect the wall paintings from biological damage. Furthermore, Horyu-ji is considering an exhibition of the burned wall paintings in the treasure house, and we therefore need to consider the impact of visitors’ heat and moisture on the generation of mold and pests on the wall. I investigated environmental control methods using a blower in the attic space by numerical analysis. The analysis was performed in two case scenarios. One case involved preserving the walls in a closed treasure house and the other supposed an exhibition. As a result of this analysis, the effect of the reduction of relative humidity using a blower was clarified quantitatively.
Highlights
In 1949, Horyuji Kondo suffered a fire, and a lot of wall paintings were burned
There is a door between each attic space, and the west attic has a vent to the outside
When investigating the CASE3 series, we found the relative humidity of the room could be reduced, but the CASE3 method had some drawbacks: (1) ventilation depended on outside air humidity, (2) humid air was constantly entering the attic space, so the absorption ability of the attic space was reduced, and (3) the relative humidity of the rooms fluctuated greatly
Summary
In 1949, Horyuji Kondo (the main hall in Horyu-ji Temple) suffered a fire, and a lot of wall paintings were burned. The treasure house where the burned wall paintings, burned pillars, and other cultural properties were preserved was built. There is a fear of mold and pest generation on the walls [1], and we need to find a method to control the temperature and humidity to improve the preservation environment. Borostrom et al[9] and Wessberg[10] clarified that an adaptive ventilation method is efficient to lower relative humidity in historic buildings. The purpose of this study is to propose architectural countermeasures and environmental control methods to prevent damage to cultural property by mold and pests. We consider dehumidification by operating a ventilation blower in the attic space and ceiling in the treasure house, which tends to be very humid.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
