THERMAL COMFORT IN THE TRADITIONAL JAPANESE HOUSE

The purpose of studying vernacular Japanese architecture is to understand to what extent a house with large opening surfaces, no thermal insulation and very low environmental impact can become a valuable shelter during cold winters and hot humid summers. The reason of this result is to be found in the strict relationship between the socio-cultural context and the environmental characteristics of the building. The occupant’s behavior, the way of dressing, relaxing, living inside the house is a complement of the thermal, daylight and solar performances of the envelope. The comfort conditions are actively sought by the inhabitants and are guaranteed in winter by the use of thick cloths and small objects to heat locally the body. In summer the operation of large surface of paper panels and the connection with the outside nature trough the veranda, are an effective way to cope with the hot and humid climate. As a result the study of the traditional Japanese house demonstrates that one cannot analyze the environmental performances of a building without considering the socio-cultural context in which it is built