THERMAL COMFORT IN THE TRADITIONAL JAPANESE HOUSE

The purpose of studying vernacular Japanese architecture is to understand to what extent a house withlarge opening surfaces, no thermal insulation and very low environmental impact can become avaluable shelter during cold winters and hot humid summers. The reason of this result is to be found inthe strict relationship between the socio-cultural context and the environmental characteristics of thebuilding. The occupants behavior, the way of dressing, relaxing, living inside the house is acomplement of the thermal, daylight and solar performances of the envelope. The comfort conditionsare actively sought by the inhabitants and are guaranteed in winter by the use of thick cloths and smallobjects to heat locally the body. In summer the operation of large surface of paper panels and theconnection with the outside nature trough the veranda, are an effective way to cope with the hot andhumid climate. As a result the study of the traditional Japanese house demonstrates that one cannotanalyze the environmental performances of a building without considering the socio-cultural context inwhich it is built.