Survey on Indoor Thermal Environment of Japanese Minka in Kitakyushu

Abstract

Japanese traditional house (minka), in its approach to harmony with natural environment has formed as unique shape which become cultural inheritance of Japanese Architecture. Advocating to the global environment and energy issues, exploring and extracting the good points of traditional house architecture characteristics and indoor thermal environment relevance becomes important considering the future of architectural planning In this study, we selected a minka, located in Machiya (townhouse), Koyanose, Kitakyushu, Umemoto House as a target of measurement minka that has become a place of actual life. This study aims to measure the indoor thermal environment, natural daylight and wind velocity of the summer and to explore the secrets of coolness and energy-saving. This preliminary survey is devoted to investigate the building characteristic, residents' lifestyle and to carry out the actual field measurement. Furthermore, the result of investigation in minka is discussed