As a result, functionally and aesthetically proficient settlements emerged, fully integrated into the local natural environment. So far, traditional architecture is a valuable source of knowledge and reference for modern bioclimatic construction.
orientation. Vernacular buildings tend to have a SE orientation, to utilize the sun. Thus, it remains cool in the summer and in winter, when the sun is low, is heat up.
Often, the position of individual building volumes is such as to create shady spots, sun-protected during summer period.
walls. Stone walls are 60-80 cm thick, a fact which ensures a proper insulation of the building (mild temperature variations). Utilizing the heat capacity of the exterior walls is a very common practice. In some cases the walls are as thick as 1 m (when the building is 4 or 5 floors high or for defensive purposes). The stone walls are usually constructed without mortars (xerolithia-dry stone), constructed in such way so as to ensure the interior’s protection from wind and rain. The inner walls (and sometimes the outer ones on higher floors) are built with wooden slats coated with plaster made of lime and gypsum (tsatmas). This construction method ensures the building’s flexibility and makes it resistant to earthquakes. In some cases the inner part of external walls is coated with wood, a fact which, along with wooden floors and ceilings, contributes to the rapid heating of interior space. (dark wooden boards are sometimes used for a greater absorption of solar radiation.
roof. Either sloping roofs (mountainous, lowland and coastal areas) or flat terraces (coastal and island areas) are used. Roof slopes are smooth ending, in their lowest part, to an overhang with a significant width (70-140 cm), which offers protection against rain and sun. Thus, windows are shaded while shutters remain open, allowing for proper lighting and ventilation of the interior. Furthermore, the overhang protects the exterior walls from rain (avoid moisture) and if two opposite eaves are close to each other the road can be also protected from rain and intense summer solar radiation. Roofs are used for the collection of rainwater (from the roof, to the gutters and then to the cisterns, where it is stored).
openings. Small windows are placed in the northern part of buildings to ensure proper lighting and ventilation, as well as thermal insulation (reduction of thermal losses). The main facade as well as the biggest openings is usually facing the south.
space order. Winter and summer spaces are created to better address climate conditions. Summer places are usually placed on the floors with an outer wall made of wood and lime-gypsum plaster (tsatmas), varying in different locations. Large openings are placed on these walls for ventilation reasons, especially in the summer. Furthermore, in the northern part of the buildings secondary spaces are placed, such as storage rooms and kitchens, as well as an extra room or a small yard for summer accommodation. On the contrary, most main spaces are commonly found at the southern, or in some cases at the SE or SW part of the building.
Usually in rural houses the warehouse or premises is located towards the north aiming at the creation of a buffer area in contact with the main residential spaces, which were thus protected against cold.
structural elements. On the façade shelters, terraces, trellises (often vine covered) and pergolas are commonly used to protect external walls from overheating. Overhanging volumes (sachnisi) with large openings provide proper natural lighting and ventilation. Sheltered semi-outdoor spaces (chagiati), galleries and small arcades create cool pleasant areas during summer months and provide a sheltered space with sufficient light during winter.
vegetation. In the surrounding areas of buildings, trees are planted at appropriate locations, protecting from summer heat with their leaves. During winter they lose their leaves, thus allowing sunrays to heat up the building. (deciduous trees). Locally, scarcity of water resulted in poor natural vegetation. However, certain types of trees were commonly used even from the ancient times. Grapevines, fig trees, olive trees, almond trees, lemon trees, pepper trees, cedar trees, cypresses, juniperus phoenicea, mulberry trees and, the last decades, bougainvilleas are often found. It is important to note that most of them had multiple uses – timber for building, nutritional purposes, shading and cooling, oil, wine and vinegar production.
materials. Structural materials in traditional Greek architecture are those found at the construction environment, resulting in full integration of buildings in the landscape. Stone and wood are the basic building materials, varying in type and usage, depending on local conditions. In mountain areas stone is mainly used both for the outer walls and roof (tile-like stone). Wood is more common in locations where it is plentiful (mountainous and forest areas) and it is used for inner walls, roofs, overhangs, floors, opening frames, stairs etc. Lime, straw (used as binder), bricks (sun baked), limestone, iron and steel in small quantities (mostly rails), gypsum, glass, sand, reed, algae (insulator), clay (in islands). Volcanic rocks are used in respective locations (Santorini, Nisyros etc). White color used in certain island settlements contributes in reducing the heat absorbed by the outer surface of the walls. Material search in the direct natural environment is enforced by the inability to transport them from elsewhere, thus production cost is minimized and energy usage is significantly reduced (material transportation).
The way traditional settlements are organized follows some basic rules. Building layout, roads and footpaths follow the natural terrain slope. This way buildings and lines fit smoothly into the natural landscape and optimal use of space is obtained.
Settlements are usually found in locations with southern orientation, for maximum sunlight to be obtained. In the warmer areas, buildings are denser so that air blowing through narrow streets cools down the environment. Furthermore, structural elements, such as pergolas, trellises, shelters etc, are interwoven and create individual spaces with comfortable micro-climate conditions throughout the settlements.
Buildings layout is such that allows the unrestricted natural lighting and ventilation of every building. In areas with strong terrain slope, space arrangement ensures unobstructed view for almost each building. Settlements layout also takes into account the balanced space distribution of water resources to ensure best service of all the individual neighborhoods. Public functions are gathered in one or more central points to maximize accessibility and serviceability.
a. building typology
orientation. Vernacular buildings tend to have a SE orientation, to utilize the sun. Thus, it remains cool in the summer and in winter, when the sun is low, is heat up.
Often, the position of individual building volumes is such as to create shady spots, sun-protected during summer period.
walls. Stone walls are 60-80 cm thick, a fact which ensures a proper insulation of the building (mild temperature variations). Utilizing the heat capacity of the exterior walls is a very common practice. In some cases the walls are as thick as 1 m (when the building is 4 or 5 floors high or for defensive purposes). The stone walls are usually constructed without mortars (xerolithia-dry stone), constructed in such way so as to ensure the interior’s protection from wind and rain. The inner walls (and sometimes the outer ones on higher floors) are built with wooden slats coated with plaster made of lime and gypsum (tsatmas). This construction method ensures the building’s flexibility and makes it resistant to earthquakes. In some cases the inner part of external walls is coated with wood, a fact which, along with wooden floors and ceilings, contributes to the rapid heating of interior space. (dark wooden boards are sometimes used for a greater absorption of solar radiation.
roof. Either sloping roofs (mountainous, lowland and coastal areas) or flat terraces (coastal and island areas) are used. Roof slopes are smooth ending, in their lowest part, to an overhang with a significant width (70-140 cm), which offers protection against rain and sun. Thus, windows are shaded while shutters remain open, allowing for proper lighting and ventilation of the interior. Furthermore, the overhang protects the exterior walls from rain (avoid moisture) and if two opposite eaves are close to each other the road can be also protected from rain and intense summer solar radiation. Roofs are used for the collection of rainwater (from the roof, to the gutters and then to the cisterns, where it is stored).
openings. Small windows are placed in the northern part of buildings to ensure proper lighting and ventilation, as well as thermal insulation (reduction of thermal losses). The main facade as well as the biggest openings is usually facing the south.
space order. Winter and summer spaces are created to better address climate conditions. Summer places are usually placed on the floors with an outer wall made of wood and lime-gypsum plaster (tsatmas), varying in different locations. Large openings are placed on these walls for ventilation reasons, especially in the summer. Furthermore, in the northern part of the buildings secondary spaces are placed, such as storage rooms and kitchens, as well as an extra room or a small yard for summer accommodation. On the contrary, most main spaces are commonly found at the southern, or in some cases at the SE or SW part of the building.
Usually in rural houses the warehouse or premises is located towards the north aiming at the creation of a buffer area in contact with the main residential spaces, which were thus protected against cold.
structural elements. On the façade shelters, terraces, trellises (often vine covered) and pergolas are commonly used to protect external walls from overheating. Overhanging volumes (sachnisi) with large openings provide proper natural lighting and ventilation. Sheltered semi-outdoor spaces (chagiati), galleries and small arcades create cool pleasant areas during summer months and provide a sheltered space with sufficient light during winter.
vegetation. In the surrounding areas of buildings, trees are planted at appropriate locations, protecting from summer heat with their leaves. During winter they lose their leaves, thus allowing sunrays to heat up the building. (deciduous trees). Locally, scarcity of water resulted in poor natural vegetation. However, certain types of trees were commonly used even from the ancient times. Grapevines, fig trees, olive trees, almond trees, lemon trees, pepper trees, cedar trees, cypresses, juniperus phoenicea, mulberry trees and, the last decades, bougainvilleas are often found. It is important to note that most of them had multiple uses – timber for building, nutritional purposes, shading and cooling, oil, wine and vinegar production.
materials. Structural materials in traditional Greek architecture are those found at the construction environment, resulting in full integration of buildings in the landscape. Stone and wood are the basic building materials, varying in type and usage, depending on local conditions. In mountain areas stone is mainly used both for the outer walls and roof (tile-like stone). Wood is more common in locations where it is plentiful (mountainous and forest areas) and it is used for inner walls, roofs, overhangs, floors, opening frames, stairs etc. Lime, straw (used as binder), bricks (sun baked), limestone, iron and steel in small quantities (mostly rails), gypsum, glass, sand, reed, algae (insulator), clay (in islands). Volcanic rocks are used in respective locations (Santorini, Nisyros etc). White color used in certain island settlements contributes in reducing the heat absorbed by the outer surface of the walls. Material search in the direct natural environment is enforced by the inability to transport them from elsewhere, thus production cost is minimized and energy usage is significantly reduced (material transportation).
b.spatial structure
The way traditional settlements are organized follows some basic rules. Building layout, roads and footpaths follow the natural terrain slope. This way buildings and lines fit smoothly into the natural landscape and optimal use of space is obtained.
Settlements are usually found in locations with southern orientation, for maximum sunlight to be obtained. In the warmer areas, buildings are denser so that air blowing through narrow streets cools down the environment. Furthermore, structural elements, such as pergolas, trellises, shelters etc, are interwoven and create individual spaces with comfortable micro-climate conditions throughout the settlements.
Buildings layout is such that allows the unrestricted natural lighting and ventilation of every building. In areas with strong terrain slope, space arrangement ensures unobstructed view for almost each building. Settlements layout also takes into account the balanced space distribution of water resources to ensure best service of all the individual neighborhoods. Public functions are gathered in one or more central points to maximize accessibility and serviceability.
Hi Natalie,
ReplyDeleteCan you please remove the comment above by DeKing. I am the owner of the website it is linking to and would like the comment removed please.
Thank you