Page 124 - JCAU-6-4

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Indoor wind environment in buildings for Qinghai-Tibet plateau of China

4.1.4. Changes in structural materials

The materials used in traditional Tibetan building
envelopes are mainly sourced from local natural resources,
which are abundant and readily available (Liu et al.,
2022). These materials typically include high-viscosity
clay, granite slabs, sandstone, dry wood branches, and
laths. Rammed earth, adobe clay, and slate are used for
walls, while sandstone and dried timber branches serve as
insulation and floor slats (Chen, 2007). The walls of DSPH
are predominantly constructed from rammed earth, more
than 1.0 m thick, with reinforced stone masonry on the
1 floor. This design makes it difficult to add windows,
st
which hinders the exchange of indoor and outdoor air.
Without openings, ventilation is challenging. As the
number of floors increases, the structural materials of
Figure 7. A-A1 profile (airflow condition). Source: Drawing by Zhong the DSPH change. Rammed earth walls are replaced with
(created with Tecplot) wood-paneled or air-permeable walls known as “walls
of Bianma,” which allow for better air exchange. More
windows and ventilation openings are also added, enabling
more frequent indoor-outdoor air exchange.

4.2. Climate-adaptive design of the DSPH
To address the challenges posed by intense solar radiation
and extreme diurnal temperature variation – while also
considering cultural practices, craftsmanship, materials,
and other factors – traditional Tibetan architecture has
evolved to adopt a building form characterized by thick
walls and few windows. The DSPH, influenced by these
considerations, incorporates modifications to traditional
Figure 8. Airflow conditions in the scripture room (3 floor). Source: Tibetan architecture to satisfy indoor activities and adapt
rd
Drawing by Zhong (created with Tecplot) to the local climate.
First of all, the building envelope is constructed with
4.1.3. Multiple atriums to promote thermal natural stone walls reinforcing rammed earth walls, unlike
ventilation traditional Tibetan architecture, which typically uses
entirely rammed earth walls or stone walls. In addition, the
The DSPH features three atriums: —One large and two upper floors are made of wooden walls to reduce weight
smaller ones. The large atrium, located at the center of the and enhance ventilation. Second, the DSPH features a semi-
building, has a significant influence on the entire structure, open roof, creating an indoor atrium that allows for greater
while the two smaller atriums, located on the north side daylight, wind, and heat, providing ample illumination and
of the building, primarily affect the storage areas of the sufficient air circulation for drying Tibetan paper. In terms
wooden scripture carving boards. These atriums facilitate of window placement, the DSPH opens windows along the
heat exchange between the building’s internal and north-south axis to promote airflow through the building,
external environments. The upper parts of the atriums such as the convection between the north window and south
are heated by direct sunlight, while the surrounding doorway of the East District Sutra Hall, and the convection
shaded areas remain cooler. This temperature difference between the north window and the south sunroom window
causes warm air to rise from the perimeter to the atrium, of the West District Sutra Hall. This through-draught
drawing cooler outside air into the building and creating helps reduce moisture in the air, minimizing its potential
the phenomenon of “natural ventilation due to thermal to damage the wood structures. The ventilation system of
pressure.” Therefore, this architectural design effectively the DSPH greatly increases airflow within the building. In
increases airflow and natural ventilation throughout the the horizontal direction, air flows through the north-side
building. windows, the south windows and doorways, and the large

Volume 6 Issue 4 (2024) 10 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2396