In the Traces of Bioclimatic Architecture: Fid-Bau Portal

In the Traces of Bioclimatic Architecture

Xhexhi, Klodjan

The bioclimaticBioclimaticarchitectureArchitecture is still fascinating to all of us. The lack of energyEnergy that the world is facing nowadays is forcing architects and engineers to implement smartSmart solutions benefiting at the maximum from nature itself without considering the primary sources of energy that the world is actually using. Bioclimatic designDesign has the roots in historyHistory, despite the fact that little attention has been paid to it throughout historyHistory. It is important to understand how natural systemsSystem operates, creating closed or semi-closed systems that mirror the ecologicalEcologicalsystemsSystem on Earth. The components of bioclimaticBioclimatic design deal mostly with: climateClimate type and requirements; adaptive thermalThermalcomfortComfort; vernacular and contextual solutions; tools and assessment methods; microclimateMicroclimate; sunSunpath; windWinds; rain; passivePassive and active systems and responsive formsForm. The aim of the bioclimatic designDesign is to improve the natural environmentEnvironment through the utilization of clean energyEnergyand renewableRenewable energy system; to reduce the need for energy for heatingHeating purposes; and to reduce the energyEnergyfor coolingCoolingproposes, air conditioningAir conditioningand lightingLighting. Furthermore, bioclimatic design involves changes in regulationRegulations, improves the houseHouse comfort, and also improves urbanUrban quality of life. BioclimaticBioclimaticbuildingsBuilding also include the use of building elements such as walls, windows, roofsRoof, and floors, in order to collect, store, and distribute solarSolarthermalThermal energy and to prevent overheatingOverheating. The aim is to manage the energy flows providing comfortable conditions during the entire year and the entire day. Minimization of thermalThermal losses and utilization of climatic conditions (climateClimate; microclimateMicroclimate, sunrise) are other important issues to consider. According to many studies, the best orientationOrientation for a buildingBuilding in order to maximize the heatHeat gain during winterWinter is east–west and the primary façadeFaçade should face southSouth. SustainabilitySustainability is mostly an outcome, rather than a goal or a process. The aim of all designers is to reduce the ecologicalEcologicalfootprintsFootprints and to improve the quality of life. The energy sustainability and the use of natural resourcesResources must be an integral part of a sustainable development. Nowadays, there are softwares that are developed in order to carry out environmental assessment tools and standards, in order to draw conclusions about internal thermal comfortComfort; uncomfortable times in the buildingBuilding during the entire year; the need for shadingShadingdevicesDevices and their dimensions; energyEnergy use, energy cost, etc. SimulationsSimulation are essential in the designDesign process. Examples chosen as case studies participate to have a better insight into the overall approach of the bioclimaticBioclimatic design. Applying the principles of bioclimatic designDesign remains still a challenge in redefining the perfect bioclimatic houseHouse.