Sustainable Mediterranean Construction

FROM THE CHIMNEY TO THE AIR CONDITIONING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BUILDINGS

Autori: 

Sabriela Kazazi, Fani Vavili

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Introduction

Industrialization has changed societies radically. This paper focuses on traditional low-tech methods and techniques in Mediterranean areas that applied to create a naturally controlled interior atmosphere in buildings.
Thermal comfort is defined, as the sensation of well being of an individual, is the condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment and is assessed by subjective evaluation [10]. A comfortable indoor environment is affected by air and radiant temperature, relative humidity and air velocity. Natural ventilation, which is the process of supplying and circulating air in indoor spaces, without using mechanical systems, is an important consideration in the design and construction of all buildings. Natural ventilation in and around buildings employed for the following tasks (fig. 01):

  1. to provide essential air exchange for hygienic reasons
  2. to cool human skin by accelerating conductive and evaporative loos when needed
  3. to cool interior space when desirable
  4. to cool building fabric in overheated conditions
  5. to remove undesirable moisture from the building’s fabric, surfaces and moisture spaces [1]. 

A brief architectural historical review inform us that thermal comfort inside buildings was basic in the constructions of the era and the so-called today bioclimatic design principles are used since the ancient times. Humankind has used, for a very long period, natural forces to create the desired thermal environment and to adjust indoor quality. In the Mediterranean climate there are many familiar architectural features applied, from the small houses to the big building complexes, in order to maintain the humidity of the interior atmosphere and to create a good air circulation, which ensures that occupants are in comfort. There is too much to learn from the traditional architecture and the builder’s talent for fitting their buildings into the natural surroundings; applying natural technologies with simple means and techniques, creating an environmentally friendly architecture, etc. Traditional craftsmen managed to ensure the maximum comfort conditions inside the buildings, taking into consideration the climatic conditions of the region, the orientation, the openings, the vegetation, and local building materials.

Anteprima

SMC N.03 2016

SMC MAGAZINE N. THREE/2016

001_ COVER

003_VIEW_ The Air as Parameter for Designing Man’s Space
Dora Francese

010_ BOARDS AND INFORMATION

FOCUS ON AIR AND ENVIRONMENT

011_ From the Chimney to the Air Conditioning in the Mediterranean Buildings
Sabriela Kazazi, Fani Vavili

016_ From the Redrawing of the Papyri to the Paradigms of Passive Ventilation in Architecture
Adriana Rossi, Luis Palmero, Armando Di Nardo

023_ Impact of Natural Ventilation Options on Architectural Synthesis. Floor Plan, Section, Façade
Anastasia D. Stavidrou

029_ Ventilation Performance in Semi-buried Buildings in Greek Architecture
Georgia Cheirchanteri

034_ Ventilation in patient’s room
Artemis Kyrkou

038_ Wind Turbines and Landscape Transformation. A Necessity Turned to an Artifact
Maria Tratsela

042_ The Wind as a Musical Mapping Tool of the Urban Environment in the Mediterranean Area. The Example of the City of Thessaloniki, Greece
Dimitra Sideridou, George Sideridis

STUDIES AND RESEARCHES

046_ Exercises in Sustainability: Another Case Study
Anca Mitrache, Anca Mihaela Costantin

050_ An Approach to Assess Urban Resilience to Flood Risk Through Spatial Analysis
Angela Esposito

054_The Restoration of the Pisè Heritage: Experienced Results from Safeguarding Operations for the Marrakech Walling
Khalid Rkha Chaham, Naoual Gamrani, Mounsif Ibnoussina, Dora Francese, Saverio Mecca

058_ Towers, Urns and Castlets. Historical Evidence of Ancient Systems of Water Supply and Conveyance in Palermo
Tiziana Firrone

PHD RESULTS

066_ The Role of Fluid Dynamics for Green Buildings Performance
Valeria Cecafosso

067_Technological Design for Bioclimatic Architecture. Strategies and Natural Ventilation Systems for Passive Cooling in Environmental and Energy Retrofit in the Mediterranean Climate
Filippo Calcerano

069_ LIST OF AUTHORS

L’ultimo numero della Rivista
SMC n. 19 | 2024