OPEN THE WINDOW AND LET THE NATURAL VENTILATION IN

摘要

In 1997, Foster + Partners' CommerzBank headquarters in Frankfurt pioneered natural ventilation in towers by using a double-skinned facade and segmenting the building into eight-storey zones with internal atria. More than a decade later, most landmark projects aspire to be at least partially naturally ventilated through windows or openings in the facade, but the use of natural ventilation in towers is not as widespread as it should be. According to Foster + Partners senior partner Stefan Behling, towers in London should be able to achieve 85-90 per cent natural ventilation, due to the UK's milder climate. In tall buildings, natural ventilation is complicated by high wind speeds at upper storeys. A cultural preconception also persists that prestige developments must be fully air conditioned, but that may be changing: 'Twenty years ago we used to throw in AC without thinking,' says Arup director Joe Sumners, responsible for buildings services on Renzo Piano's London Bridge Shard. All major developments now look carefully at options for natural ventilation.'