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Some of the most picturesque projects are built on the mountain.The rustic cottage is wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass panels, overlooking the snow-covered trees.Visually, this building exudes a charming feeling, but is it really a livable space?When a house is built at an altitude of 3,000 meters, it is not efficient or sustainable to install fire protection components alone.The space at such a height or a specific geographic location needs to be treated thoroughly, starting from the building itself.Whether through a hydraulic floor heating system or a wall-mounted chimney, this indoor focus explores that even the most extreme winter conditions will not hinder ensuring the best thermal comfort.
Architects often encounter residential and commercial projects in cold climates. They have proposed many solutions to solve the problem of how to provide adequate and continuous heating throughout the interior space.Several factors followed: environmental awareness, functionality, durability, adaptability, customization, and cost efficiency.Can the space meet the changing needs of customers?Will the cost of the heating solution be higher than the building itself?If the climate gets colder/hotter, will the solution also work?
Generally, there are two main functions to consider: providing heat and/or insulation (although they often go hand in hand, some customers choose only one of these two options based on their location and needs).In terms of providing heat, natural energy sources such as chimneys or power sources such as radiators are usually used.On the other hand, thermal insulation requires treatment of the structure itself, from material selection and wall thickness, to internal circulation and room layout.
Read on to discover 8 different ways architects can generate and/or maintain heat in their indoor spaces.
Today, architects are gradually aware of the relationship between architecture, humans and nature, which has led to the use of passive systems in their design process.Although an efficient passive system largely depends on the location of the project, several factors, such as the building materials, the ratio of opacity to glass, the percentage of heat reflection, and the level of insulation, also have an impact.When the building is independent, the building envelope is no longer just a filter between the outdoor climate and the indoor environment, but as an independent barrier to ensure internal temperature and thermal comfort.
As described in this article, since 350 BC, radiant floor heating has been used in buildings in the form of “Hypocaust”, which is a raised floor system on ceramic piles with a furnace at one end to provide heat to the underground space. Through a wall made of perforated bricks.However, modern floor heating works by air conduction, radiation and convection, using electrical resistance or thin hoses filled with fluid.One of the several benefits of heated floors is that the environment is fully heated and the heat source is completely hidden under the floor surface.
One of the most common heat sources for large contemporary projects is the central HVAC system, which releases heat through vents located in the ceiling and walls.Although very common, these mechanical systems are often very energy intensive, which is not the best choice for environmentally friendly solutions.
Another commonly used system is the radiator.A large number of residential projects around the world used to rely on central radiators to provide heat, and this is still the case today.Similar to the central HVAC system, the function of the radiator is to transport liquid from the central boiler through pipes, convert it into heat, and then release it through a metal grill or panel located at the lower part of the wall.This type of heating system can be powered by electricity, natural gas or fuel, depending on the design.
Another common heat source is a wall-mounted chimney, which is a vertical ventilation structure made of stone, clay, or concrete that can burn or extract smoke from the fireplace below and release it into the outdoor air.
When the interior is spacious enough, install a separate chimney to provide heat to the surroundings.Depending on the design and location of the chimneys, some of them are designed to release heat from all directions, while others are limited to one.
In addition to the solutions mentioned above, the architects further ensured that the heat is perceived through the color palette, whether it is furniture, decoration or wall color.The color range of red, orange, yellow, and brown usually brings a warm feeling.
Thermal inertia is largely controlled by the materials used in the construction.In colder areas, materials with low thermal inertia, such as wood, are usually used so that the interior heats up faster and stays warm for a long time.In addition to building materials, special fabrics such as wool and leather further ensure the thermal feel.
This article is part of the ArchDaily series, exploring the characteristics of interior architecture from our own project database.Every month, we will focus on how architects and designers use new elements, new features and new logos in interior spaces around the world.As always, at ArchDaily, we thank readers for their input.If you think we should mention specific ideas, please submit your suggestions.
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