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Renewable Energy 49 (2013) 63e67

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Renewable Energy
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/renene

The design strategy of green rural housing of Tibetan areas in Yunnan, China
Junyan Dong*, Hong Jin
School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China

a r t i c l e i n f o
Article history: Available online 5 February 2012 Keywords: Tibetan areas of Yunnan Rural housing Shangri-Las wooden architecture Sustainable development

a b s t r a c t
In order to improve living environment for the villages in Tibetan areas of Yunnan, this paper takes Shangri-Las wooden architecture as research objects, analyses the site selection, plane layout, facade design, building materials and fabric detail of traditional rural housing by investigation. The paper also extracts the local inherent eco-technologies, and identies the shortcomings of rural housing. Aimed at the awed characteristics of Tibetan building such as the scattered building location, high Shape coefcient, lessestory, poor insulation, massive energy consumption and redundant land occupation, this paper researches adaptable design strategies of green rural housing which is suitable to local condition, so as to boost the sustainable development of rural construction of Tibetan areas in Yunnan. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction Shangri-La is located to the northwest of Yunnan Province in China, where is the southern margin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the hinterland of Hengduan mountain range. This region has a large temperature change, which will get to 30  C daily. At the same time, the region is rich in forest resources. This creates a local tradition that the residents use wood as their main building materials. It can be said that Shangri-Las wooden architecture is the result of the natural climate, social and cultural customs, topography and material factors etc (Fig. 1). However, with the entering of modern lifestyles, many contradictions begin to emerge. From the health space, bathroom, to space, lighting, ventilation and the insulation of the kitchen, there are many appearing unsuitability in the traditional wooden architecture. For example, in the modern kitchen, appliances can be displayed at will; and this wooden architecture also will produce choking smoke which could make a re hazard; furthermore, it has poor hygiene without an independent sanitation; it is a dark room, because of technical limitations of rammed earth walls and small windows. Also, there are many other contradictions. And these contradictions are the important reason that the local people abandon traditional wooden architecture. People began to reform the wooden architecture spontaneously. However, because of restrictions of technique, economy and cultural conditions etc., there are also the phenomenon "random destructions and constructions" or "mixed benet and harm". The brick houses that

are built by the local residents in accordance with the construction of urban housing style can be found everywhere (Fig. 2). How to solve these problems in a more reasonable way? How to reduce the rough copy of citys brick mixed living house and create green wooden constructions with their own distinctive characteristic which can provide a strong support for harmonious development of the local nature, economy, society and culture. These questions become more important at present. Not only the harmonious, ecological, healthy and prosperous living tradition of the whole region should be continued, but also a more comfortable, safe and healthy home should be constructed for local residents. 2. System analysis of housing current situations The author has given a detail investigation and research of constructions and the settlements of the existing wooden building in Shangri-La region. Through a large number of measured data, the local typical characteristics of wooden architecture are found out. The following system analysis through the surveys which is made based on the existing wooden architecture in Shangri-La region in functional, technical, physical environment aspects. 2.1. Analysis in the view of function The wooden constructions of Shangri-La are usually two-story building. Its walls are gradually thinner from the bottom to the top. With wooden windows, the constructions are usually added a dual-slope roof in the at roof, because of the inuence of the climate. The windows on the gable and on the back of gable are seldom opened. The 1st layer which is usually used as the storage and livestock building is relatively low. And the people are living

* Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: djyrob2008@yahoo.cn (J. Dong), jinhong_777@yahoo.com.cn (H. Jin). 0960-1481/$ e see front matter 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2012.01.065

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Fig. 1. Traditional wooden architecture of Shangri-La.

Fig. 3. Indoor conditions.

with the animals, so the sanitary condition of the 1st layer is poor. The 2nd oor is the main room which fuses multiple functions, for example, living, sleeping, storage and cooking etc (Fig. 3). There is replace in the centre, which is surrounded by bedroom. Also, a separate room will be set as a church which is for the chanting and worship. But there is not a toilet setting in the existing settlements. Because the space is not used effectively and the modern function comes in our life, the original space becomes chaotic. Meanwhile, the main room space was too large to be heated effectively. Moreover, the exploitation of timber is limited that makes more villagers begin to built penthouses within their own gardens for the residence in the winter. 2.2. Analysis in the view of technique The load-bearing of the timber building structure is mainly the beam in the Shangri-La area. And the lift beam timber frame is usually used in the building. The pillar is stood on the stone foundation, and a cross wedge-shaped opening is made on the top of the column. Then the vertical and horizontal beams are embedded in the opening to form the main structure (Fig. 4). After that the trabecula are taken on the beams. Finally, the wooden troughs of the match-slot are spread on this structure. The pillars of the second oor are put on the counter position directly on the top of the 1st oors pillars, the beams and wooden troughs will be put in

the same way as the 1st oors structure. What is the different is that 10e15 cm compacted clay will be wiped on the top this oor. Man-shaped roof capped with wooden tiles is put on the top of the house. Because of the wood-frame structural system, all wood inside and outside decorations and all wood walls, those kinds of buildings have caused a serious damage to the fragile mountain forest resources. The walls are made of the rammed earth. While the original rammed earth technology has advantages that it can protect ecoenvironment, it can preserve and insulate heat and it is low-cost, it also has some of its own disadvantages. For instance, it is weak on compressive and tensile property. It is easy to fall in earthquakes. So to maintain a degree of stability and its height, lots of manpower, raw materials are needed. This is ineffective and the quality is hard to guarantee. Furthermore, it building has not a hole with appropriate size, so it is poor on the interior lighting and ventilation. 2.3. Analysis in the view of physical environment With the average altitude of 3450 m, the high transparency of the atmosphere over the high altitude intense and the solar radiation, Shangri-La has difference temperature between day and night. And diurnal temperature can reach 30  C. It has a complex and diverse climatic condition. The main interior heat source is

Fig. 2. Accordance with the construction of urban housing style.

Fig. 4. Structural joint.

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sealed, it is difcult to meet the basic lighting requirements of daily work, study and living (Fig. 5). Using wood as the main heating source in the construction damage the forestry resources is seriously. And smoke generated in the replace is just excluded by the openings of roof. These make it is very difcult for the indoor air circulation and air quality is poor (Fig. 6). The panels and interior partitions of the construction are built by the local artisans. Due to the limited technology, the seal effect between the board and the board is poor. Sometimes, even the light will be passed through the walls. So the walls nearly do not have the effect to prevent noise. 3. Housing improvement strategy The process of modernization has changed the traditional way of life Shangri-La region, more diverse needs of a more extensive space; a more healthy life requires cleaner environment; more security needs of a more rational structure. This calls for local residents to create a more comfortable, safe and healthy home. Shangri-La by The above analysis of the existing timber industry, as well as practice, the existing timber building on the Shangri-Las practice of conversion attempts, the writer make the following design strategy on Shangri-La transformation of the existing timber building: 3.1. The improvement of space of function Along with improving the lives of Tibetan peasants, traditional houses cant have met peasants demand. Therefore, the design must rst understand clearly the zone of function, move the replace a layer, so that not only was satised with the local resident on tradition of continuation, but also more conducive to integration with new technologies to improve the housing of the heating thermal effects. Tibetans are no longer necessary to build penthouse for the winter, so not only it is peculiar to continue the building of tradition single, efcient use of space, but also economized the energy source and protect the environment. The original penthouse can be set into the storage and livestock buildings, and toilet (Fig. 7). 3.2. Technical improvement of wooden architecture (1) The select of materials, use resources of articial forest in priority, followed by a short growth cycle of tree species

Fig. 5. Indoor lighting conditions.

Fig. 6. Indoor air conditions.

from the indoor replace. The minimum temperature measured indoor at night without the heat source, is 0.5  C. Fireplace space scales are too large to be benecial for housing heating. There is only a small window to keep warm. So the building envelope is

Fig. 7. Reconstruction examples.

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Fig. 8. New structure of wooden architecture.

selection; in the process, adopt the prefabricated components of factory, combined eld approach to ensure the quality and speed; in use to minimize the chemical treatment of timber to preserve their natural properties; full use of the old timber of casting, through reasonable process so as to use it again. (2) In the structural, fully excavate the traditional wooden architecture in the reasonable part of the structural system, to make it charisma reappear, combined with the situation of local reality, and actively learn and absorb modern timber building structures to ensure more reasonable and more terse building (Fig. 8). (3) In the construction, the use of compound concepts: such as inside partition adopts the board of double-deck (sawdust, bamboo of arrow and other materials) to solve and keep warm, sound insulation, etc.; oor with double-deck and add the soil practice of sand and stones [1]. 3.3. Improvement of indoor physical environment As the traditional wooden buildings in the technical and economic limitations, indoor lighting, ventilation, sound insulation and other quality of physics are lower, design of wooden architecture must be to create a good indoor environment system as the goal. First, ensure the bedroom and living room with direct sunlight, and reach the eld of window greater than 1:6 ratio to meet the base daily basic work, study and life of lighting requirements; architectural spacing indoor can accept the winter solstice greater than 2 h of UV disinfection; rational arrangement of windows and doors, to ensure that the requirements of indoor ventilation; replace is equipped with direct access to the outside of the chimney, so that it provides for interior heat, while exclude a large number of dust; by reasonable function partitions to ensure reasonable thermal comfort environment and the necessary peaceful environment. 3.4. Renewable energy utilization (1) Make full use of solar energy: First of all, active solar energy. Mainly used in the shower and kitchen hot water supplies, as well as radiant heating of warm wall system. Secondly, passive

solar energy. In the buildings facade with large areas of glass absorbs solar energy. Higher in the summer when solar elevation angle, take advantage of the eaves of the roof of a farreaching and second oor balcony sun, shade the formation of the space. Lower solar elevation angle in the winter, when sunlight shines into the sunroom, heated air, while ground and walls store heat, slowly release during the night, continuous heating. (2) The use of biomass energy: use of biogas, waste treatment will be carried out to eld, sewage purication after, at the same time get the life energy. 4. Conclusions Shangri-Las rich material resources to nance its development of timber industry provided a sufcient guarantee, but we must change the traditional construction method of extensive processing, create the condition for maintaining whole district ecological equilibrium. Technology is one of the main motive forces for the development of modern civilization, combine the local traditional technology fully make the improvement, is the Shangri-La timber an important part of building renovation. We must consider the complex climate factors of Shangri-La regions, the design of a passive-type full advantage of this unique climatic conditions, it is unfavourable to turn into the superiority, not only may diminish the build cost, but also able to create comfortable living space. Safe, comfortable and healthy indoor environment of Shangri-La wooden architecture must be reected in the modern evolution of the process, from planning to building design and then to the whole process of structural design of the node considered to fundamentally improve the living quality of Wooden Architecture. Respect for the villagers way of life and cultural traditions. Sufcient experience and understanding of the lives of villagers as possible to the real needs of the service the villagers. Should renew the resident the work at the same time be regard as the society and transform, not just technology tools. Therefore, in the process of renovation, should be gradually train the villagers, "self-construction capability" and "with the construction of mechanism" to form a village sustainable building capacity what is sent out inside village. The strength of the outside world should be from the "alternative" step by step "guide."

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Today in China when economical and society rapids growth, Shangri-Las traditional wooden architecture of the modern evolution is an inevitable trend. This article by Shangri-Las the traditional wooden architecture, "sustainable development thinking" as the guide to "the economy, appropriate technology" as the entry point, made of timber with Shangri-La construction

update of the design strategy to create out there Shangri-La features the new timber framed buildings. Reference
[1] Wang Haitao, Bai Wenfeng. Study on architecture technology improvment in traditional dwellings in Shangri-La. Building Science 2006;22(5):50e2.

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