ARC 409 Assignment

RELEVANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO ARCHITECTURE

Submitted by

KEHINDE IFEDAYO O
(ARC/07/0970)

Course lecturer

Arc. J.J Adams

December,2010

RELEVANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO ARCHITECTURE

Architecture is a profession that primarily deals with the provision of shelther for man in the environment. In the practice of architecture, the environment provides the designers with resources(situations) which can be beneficial or detrimental. The environment can either be the natural or the man- made and it is defined according to the Oxford Learners dictionary as the natural world in which people,animals, and plants live. There is a constant relationship amongst man, shelter and his environment.
Man

Shelter

Environment

The relationship here is that man builds his shelter,plants and carries out activites and the environment in return also has its effects on man and his shelter. Environmental control comes in as a way of providing the best living conditions for man (as the focus of architecture), trying to stabilize the conditions the environment for the optimum habitation of man. The relevances to architecture are viewed in three ways 1. Thermal environment 2. Luminous environment 3. Acoustic environment Thermal environment The normal human body temperature is about 37oC and may be exceeded on very hot days.

- cold oC Optimum thermal condition

+ hot o C

Ther e are different climatic regions all over the world ,from the tropical rainforest with very humid days and high volumes of rainfalls to the polar climates where we have extremely cold temperature all year round. Man (in and out of his shelter ) will try to adapt to an certain optimum temperature by finding ways so as to make him survive. Th architects, engineers, scientists have come up with different methods to achieve thermal comfort. The architects for example might use reflective materials such as granite, silver coated panels to help reflect the rays of the sun thereby reducing temperature around man.

Solar radiation

Reflected back into the atmosphere Reflective roofing sheets

Cooler interior conducive for human

In cold regions, hearth (fireplaces) are incorporated into the designs, where logs of wood or coal can be burnt to increase the temperature of interior. Also the architect tries to reduce the number of openings to exterior and the use of dark coated materials to help retain heat. The use of air conditioners is also to achieve a thermal comfort in a very hot weather and on the other hand heaters are used in cold climates. Thermal control is beneficial has it helps to get man the best thermal conditions which he can live in.

ACOUSTIC ENVIRONMENT
This deals with the control of sound. Man within and outside his shelter can accommodate a certain level of sound into his ears. In the different uses of buildings such as studios,the interference of sound from outdoors must be avoided, also the prevention of reverberation must also be considered. Echo must be avoided in studios to prevent poor transmissions. The use of vacuum spaces or foams to finish the wall will help absorb sounds produced. In hospitals,libraries noise from outside must be reduced not to disturb the users, therefore the use of acoustic materials or planting of trees with thick foilage to help absorb the noise coming from the exterior is required.

Noise from humans and automobiles

Absorbs sound to prevent disturbances around the building

Also in the residential buildings, noise is controlled by places where noise is less admittable such as bedrooms, studyrooms e.t.c

Noise which is a disturbacnce has varying psychological effects on man and his shelter which can reduce the rate of productivity of man is studied and controlled to give man the best possible situation for him to live in.

LUMINOUS ENVIRONMENT
The major light source on the planet earth is the sun, it rises from the east and sets in the west. According to Le Corbusier in 1927 stated that architecture is the masterly or magnificient play of masses seen in light(Fadamiro,2005). Architects try to control the amount of light absorbed into a building by varying the sizes of openings, materials used to finish the openings, and the use of rooflights. Light source can be divided into the artificial or natural light. The artificial light sources include the electric bulbs,flourescent bulbs e.t.c. In areas where little amount of light is required in the interiors such as cinemas, there are few or no openings which will help to view the images on cinema screen without interference with external light. The height and size will help determine the amount of light.

CONCLUSION
Man being the major focus in architecture needs to live in a comfortable and habitable environment. Environmental control tends to find all the possible ways to enhance the comfort of man living in his environment. Environmental control can adopt many means from architecture,science, technology,climatology and so on.