Traditional Vernacular Dwellings Research Articles

Thermal performance study and evaluation of comfort temperatures in vernacular buildings of North-East India

Solar passive techniques are being used in vernacular buildings throughout the world. Researchers have done extensive study on thermal performance of vernacular buildings in the different parts of the world. Vernacular architecture of North-Eastern India represents the principle of climate-responsive architecture, which still lacks experimental validation and quantitative analysis. Thermal comfort not only makes the occupants comfortable but also governs energy consumption in the building. Detailed field studies on thermal performances of typical traditional vernacular dwellings in different bioclimatic zones have been undertaken. This field study includes detailed survey of 150 vernacular dwellings, field tests and thermal sensation vote of 300 occupants on ASHRAE thermal sensation scale. Field test includes measurement of temperature, humidity, illumination level and building design parameters. Thermal performances of these vernacular dwellings were evaluated for winter, pre-summer, summer/monsoon and pre-winter months of the year 2008. This evaluation is based on ‘ adaptive approach’, which is the outcome of the field studies and is now part of ASHRAE standard 55/2004 for predicting comfortable temperature of naturally ventilated buildings. This study also tried to find out the range of comfort temperature in these vernacular buildings for different season of the year. It has been found that these vernacular dwellings perform quite satisfactorily except in the winter months and the occupants feel comfortable in a wider range of temperature.

Social acceptance of rural dwellings. Results of a sociological research related to rural dwellings

The paper shows the results of a sociological research, which is related to the protection of rural dwellings. The empiric data were collected in seven villages in Hungary and Slovakia from 2005 to 2008. The text is based on the questionnaire produced in 2005 in Szendrõ (north-east Hungary, Borsod County). The interviewed respondents could choose from eight buildings, four of which they had to evaluate in detail using a semantic differential scale. The photos of the buildings represent three in today´s settlements existing architectural periods: the traditional vernacular epoch, the socialist period and the current trends. The evaluation of dwellings varies mostly by size. Today´s buildings obtained high ratings in every parameter. The typical multi-storeyed family house of the 1970s and 1980s is less suited to create an impression. The traditional vernacular dwelling achieved a medium average rating, but not performing as well as the two larger buildings. The ranking of the older socialist building with a nearly square ground plan and pyramid hip roof was in every respect the worst. There is also the analysis of a similar questionnaire, which collected attitudes in an urban environment. In Budapest the oldest buildings had the highest acceptance; however the socialist era and today´s architecture became the critic. After comparing the results of both researches a working hypothesis was formulated which suggests that the vernacular monuments in Szendrõ are in a transitional period: they are not yet able to reassure the social claims of the inhabitants and they do not yet have a value as cultural heritage.

Study on the thermal performance of the Chinese traditional vernacular dwellings in Summer

Based on the field measurements of the thermal environment parameters and a long-term auto-recorder of the indoor and outdoor temperature at four typical traditional vernacular dwellings at Wannan area in summer, some wrong viewpoints about Chinese traditional vernacular dwellings are clarified. Also, with the analysis of the fine structures design such as the dooryard, the structure of the double-pitched roof and the eaves by the measurements of temperature, wind velocity, etc. some design principles of the traditional vernacular dwellings in Wannan area are revealed, of which sun shading and insulation are of great importance while the natural ventilation is just considered as an auxiliary approach. So the strategy of ventilation design is to restrain the natural ventilation at daytime and to boost it at night. Moreover, the thermal sensation votes (TSV) of the occupants and the predicted mean votes (PMV) are compared and the evaluation standard in a naturally ventilated environment is also discussed.

The grammar of Taiwanese traditional vernacular dwellings

A shape grammar, which can exemplify and visually explain the style of Taiwanese traditional vernacular dwellings, is presented in the form of rules of composition that are derived from considerations of traditional processes of design and construction, and from cultural influences.