Atmospheric Conditions

PASSIVE RESILIENCE

Recorded by Elizabeth Donovan, images by Essi Nisonen and Veera Saastamoinen

KEY READINGS 

• Climate and Architecture. Torben Dahl. Routledge

• Designing for the climate emergency, a Guide for Architecture Students. Pelsmakers, S., Donovan, E., Hoggard, A., Kozminska, U. RIBA

• Lo-TEK: Design by Radical Indigenism. Julia Watson. TASCHEN

• Climates: Architecture and the Planetary Imaginary. The Avery Review: Columbia Books on Architecture and the CIty

• This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate. Naomi Klein. Simon & Schuster

INSPIRATIONAL BUILT EXAMPLES

• Gando Primary School Library. Kéré Architecture. Burkina Faso

• Curtain Wall House. Shigeru Ban. Tokyo, Japan

• Naoshima community centre. Hiroshi Sambuichi. Japan

ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS

This talk is about passive resilience and atmospheric conditions. It discusses the differences between the atmosphere and climate, and the four factors that make up the atmospheric condition: temperature, humidity, wind, solar exposure, and precipitation. Temperature has a direct impact on energy and efficiency, and passive design techniques such as building orientation, insulation, and shading can help maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. In hot climates, passive cooling strategies such as shading and ventilation can reduce the need for active cooling systems. In cold climates, passive solar heating and thermal mass materials can help reduce the need for energy intensive heating systems. It is important to consider the temperature range for a location when selecting building materials to ensure they are durable and appropriate for the local climate. Energy efficiency can be improved by considering the temperature of a building and using passive cooling techniques.