THERMAL SPATIAL GRADIENT: THE ATRIUM RETURNS

Abstract

This paper begins with a learning debate about the use of air conditioning in Singapore.

Supporters consider that it provides a stable thermal comfort. Air conditioning has been regarded as a luxury from the beginning, and now it has become more and more popular. Air conditioning in Singapore seems to be not only a cooling technology, but also a part of the building itself, like pillars, floors and windows in the original building. So the use of air conditioning in Singapore is successful.

Opponents believe that air conditioning is not only easy to increase energy consumption and carbon emissions, but also brings a kind of thermal monotony, which makes Singapore’s tropical buildings lose their original environmental sensitivity, thus changing the architectural identity of tropical buildings, it neutralizes and globalizes climate. It makes the attitude towards air conditioning become a moral choice.

The purpose of this paper is to get rid of binary opposition, but to discuss the relationship between the two viewpoints. On the basis of the original temperature onion, it is proposed that in the tropical area, the air conditioning part and the non-air conditioning part of the building should be distinguished, and the relationship between different cooling systems should be discussed, so as to achieve an appropriate balance point to respond to air-conditioning problems.This balance point does not emphasize its short-term results and absoluteness, but hopes to seek an intermediate state in a larger sense, balancing the relationship between identity and gradient, monotony and diversity.