Research on Human Thermal Adaptive Behavior in the Vernacular Housings: A case study in Sandaoguai Traditional Settlements, Chongqing, China

摘要

Vernacular architecture, unlike many modern buildings, mainly relies on various bioclimatic design strategies and passive methods to create and regulate the indoor physical environment rather than mechanical equipment. Therefore, the types and patterns of human thermal adaptive behavior are different and varied, which is worthy of further study. However, most studies that related to thermal adaptive behavior are focused on modern buildings, such as offices, schools and apartments, only few aimed at vernacular architecture. Based on the theoretical framework of thermal adaptation comfort, this paper, taking Sandaoguai traditional settlements ( Chongqing, China) as a case study, conducting a long-term field investigation on the behavioral adjustments in three aspects: personal adjustments, technical/environmental adjustments and cultural adjustments. Firstly, in the aspect of personal adjustments, the average thermal resistance of clothes in this area is counted. Combined with the calculations in other studies in the same area, this paper reveals the characteristics and causes of clothing adjustments. Secondly, in terms of technical/environmental adjustments, more than 10 behavior patterns that related to cooling and heating, as well as the regulation rules of typical modes such as door opening, window opening and air conditioning use are analyzed. In addition, this paper finds there are different patterns of reconstruction behavior, which are unique in vernacular architecture. It shows that the technical/environmental adjustments in Sandaoguai vernacular architecture are not only acted on the use of the building, but also on the partial renovation of the building. Thirdly, in cultural adjustments, the patterns and regularities of work and rest time, spatial use and social activities are discussed. Finally, based on the characteristics and patterns of human thermal adaptive behavior, this study also puts forward suggestions for the sustainable design and renovation of vernacular housings.