fabrisse

A week or so ago, Siderea mentioned awnings as a forgotten technology for cooling. Travelling through Greece, I've been reminded of some of my other favorite technologies for living quarters.

1) Transoms -- these have a couple of advantages. In winter, when they may need to be shut to exclude draughts, they still let in natural light which prevents rooms from getting too chilly as well as brightening the place up. In summer, opening the transoms allows cross-ventilation, including across hallways.

2) Shutters -- real shutters actually cover the windows. They help keep heat in during the winter. Over an open window, they provide cooling if the slats are opened. French windows with closed shutters have been a common sight from about noon to 4 p.m. The slats are opened to catch the breezes, but the hot sun is blocked.

3) Awnings -- Siderea mentioned awnings already, but seeing them extended over balconies as well as ground floors are a reminder of how helpful they can be in regulating shade.

4) Whitewashing -- some of the houses we've seen have been painted, but the majority have been whitewashed with lime. This helps prevent illness.

5) Channels -- the curves of the tiles on the roofs channel water usually into drains, but in previous eras into cisterns or hogshead rain barrels. Some parts of Santorini are still capturing water to be used for irrigation, washing clothes and dishes, or the toilets. Drinking water comes from the mainland, but not having to buy potable water to use for grey water is a huge savings. On Skiaros, today's stop, there were channels for rainwater built into the cobblestone streets which allow them to drain quickly.

On a more modern note, small solar panels are all over the roofs in Athens and Istanbul, mostly for hot water systems we were told. Windmills are being used to generate electricity in both countries which means two of the most polluted cities in the region, 40 years ago, now have clear skies.

I'm looking forward to our new house, though I dislike the unusable shutters on the front. We're already planning an awning over the back deck, solar panels with storage batteries for hurricanes and other potential power outages, and we're considering options for rainwater. [side note: why does Georgia not.require rain gutters on houses? With all the rain we get?]

The fire began in the The Library (link goes to a panoramic interactive view) and that part of the building has almost totally been destroyed. The rest is still viable, but will need lots of work. Many have declared that the Library should be rebuilt, just the same as it was. Rennie Mackintosh and Mary MacDonald left detailed notes and drawings on all their projects. It should be possible to make a full restoration, if there's money for it, if there's the skill for it.

As many of you know, I've been reading lots of books on urban planning and architecture. One of the concepts that I find exciting is Biophilia especially as it applies to design and Victor Horta who established the "Brussels Ribbon Pattern" which is widely considered the earliest form of Art Nouveau. I look at Charles Rennie Mackintosh whose designs in Glasgow maximized sunlight. He was a precursor to Frank Lloyd Wright and Mackintosh and Horta both influenced Louis Sullivan who was Frank Lloyd Wright's partner early in Wright's career.

(By the way, this is one reason I'm so mad that I left off Eero Saarinen.)

I didn't just list architects I liked. I prefer Wren to Hawksmoor, for instance, though their styles are very similar and Hawksmoor worked for Wren (who learned from Inigo Jones). While their styles are more classical and imposing, Wren especially worked with light and the placement of his buildings in a wider environment.

My apartment, though part of a block long building, has a little park in back for residents. It was built just before central air conditioning became standard, so the balconies are stacked in such a way that they provide shade even though the windows are floor to ceiling allowing in a maximum amount of light in the winter. It's not to everyone's taste aesthetically, but as a living space, it's very comfortable and allows connection with the environment. Cloethiel Woodard Smith did a good job.

Arena Stage reopened in a redesigned building soon after I moved to the neighborhood. Bing Thom did a wonderful job connecting the space to the waterfront.

On the other hand, Frank Gehry, in my opinion, ignores practicalities and often ignores other elements in the environment. On a third hand, Studio Gang Architects created a high rise that breaks up wind rather than amplifies it while creating a unique and intriguing facade.

I'd love to hear about architects you admire and how you feel about the way they use the existing environment or help create a new one.