29/06/2022
On warm summer days what’s more soothing than a gentle indoor breeze? Feeling connected to the outdoors while staying cool indoors is a treat. Doors and windows open. No AC.
In a lot of the world it’s possible to enjoy fresh air in the comfort of one’s home many months of the year.
Here’s a look back at a house project of ours that passively cools the interior. Located off the beach in Garza, Costa Rica, it uses the Venturi effect, cross ventilation, and thermal mass.
Offshore breezes pass through the large intake scoop below the main level. Aided by the Venturi effect, the pressurized air circulates upward through a central ‘chimney’ during night and morning hours. As the tropical temperature rises during the day, the windows and shutters open to allow the warm air to escape. The three-meter high, load bearing scoop doubles as a terrace with views of the coast, while the landscape of large rocks provides thermal mass for cooling.
The house’s conditioned air travels a similar path as smoke through a b**g. Air moves in from outdoors just like the smoke is drawn from the bowl into the stem. The air then travels over the rocks and is cooled, like the smoke that cools as it passes through the water chamber. The air is then displaced upward along the vent stack to the outside. Smoke in the commissioned b**g illustrates the B**g House’s air path.
Kickass partners , , , .morita.architecture
Images:
Model:
**ghouse
