Filed under: books | Tags: architecture, lisa heschong, thermal delight in architecture
I needed to balance all my rather dry research readings (Hullo Olgyay) with some rather more poetic readings. This one offers an interesting perspective on the issue of thermal comfort , something that every living creature has to contend with.
Rather than follow the notion that the ideal situation is to achieve a constant and stable ‘optimum’ temperature within buildings, Heschong’s book suggests that the thermal quality of buildings has been too often neglected as a sensual delight, and deserves attention and thought to its provision rather than a blanket solution (attention that is commonly given to the rather more glamorous quality of light).
In this compact volume, she documents many traditional thermal experiences (Japanese Onsen, Persian gardens etc.) and offers a case for sensitive passive design with a greater consciousness of nature. This is very much related to my other readings, but at the same time much more of a pleasure to read.
