City and Wind

Urban Research + Publication

The research focus was developed as an interdisciplinary project with architects, planners, engineers and climatologists. The publication gathers together knowledge about urban and architectural prototypes in the context of climate and identifies principles and mutual dependencies of climate, city and architecture with a particular focus on wind currents and ventilation.

Architecture is often defined as a means of protecting against the climate, which is a physical but also a psychological threat – architecture as hermetic protection against rain, heat and wind. However, an alternative point of view can highlight the importance of climate for architecture. Climate ‘localizes’ architecture and makes it multi-layered, complex and unpredictable.

Climate has had a significant influence on architecture for centuries. Orientation, form and materials have been the logical consequence of local conditions for a long time. This has resulted in the many different traditional architectural styles that have their own regional characteristics and resources. Examples are the wind towers in the Middle East or the low roof slopes in the Alps. These intelligent architectural expressions make use of local climatological aspects.

Urbanisation and technological progress have meant that climate rarely plays a role as a shaping instrument for architecture. The publication is a call to see architecture not only as a means of protecting against the climate, but to work creatively with the elements of wind and weather: ‘We can’t change the wind, but we can set sails differently’ (attributed to Aristotle).


Mareike Krautheim, Ralf Pasel, Sven Pfeiffer, Joachim Schultz-Granberg: City and Wind – Climate as an architectural Instrument, DOM Publishers, Berlin 2014

Flow simulation: Prof. Dr. Hans-Arno Jantzen, Hochschule Münster >>

Climatology: Prof. Dr. Otto Klemm, WWU Münster >>

Consulting: Prof. em. Dr. eh. Klaus Daniels (HL-Technik), Dr. Peter Mensinga (ARUP), Dr. Mohannad Bayoumi (Architekt), Christophe Barlieb (Architekt)


SSG City and Wind Titel

 

SSG City and Wind best practice

Content

The first part, “EXPERIENCING THE INVISIBLE”, sheds light on the complex phenomenon of wind: sensors, art, wind power, flow behaviour, mapping, and protection against wind, even wind gods are examined. The results flow into the “World Map of Wind”. The second part, “METHODS AND INSTRUMENTS”, describes analogue and digital empirical investigations and tells the short story about wind effects. The third and final part, “DESIGNING WITH WIND”, systematically examines traditional and new best practice projects:

  • Masdar City, Abu Dhabi
  • Xeritown, Dubai
  • Mangh, Pakistan
  • Badgir, Iran
  • Malquaf and Dur Qa’a, Egypt
  • Druk White School, India
  • Lyceé Charles de Gaulle, Syria
  • School Complex, Burkina Faso
  • Semiramis, Morocco
  • Space Block, Vietnam
  • Tjibaou Center, New Caledonia
  • Airtree, Spain
  • Interior Gulf Stream, France

SSG City and Wind World Map of Wind Web legend

 

The book launch was accompanied by a series of symposia in Berlin, Rotterdam and Münster.

SSG City and Wind Symposium Design

29.05.2014  Symposium Climate and Design
Kunsthal Rotterdam, NL @ International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam IABR 2014 – Urban by Nature

Duzan Doepel (Doepel Strijkers, Rotterdam), Peter Mensinga (ARUP, Amsterdam), Mareike Krautheim (Architect, Berlin/ Rotterdam), Ralf Pasel (TU Berlin/pasel.künzel architects, Rotterdam), Sven Pfeiffer (MSA), Joachim Schultz-Granberg (MSA)

SSG City and Wind Symposium Planning

01.07.2014  Symposium Climate and Adaptation
ANCB – Aedes Network Campus Berlin

Sanda Lenzholzer (TU Wageningen), Mareike Krautheim (Architect, Berlin/Rotterdam), Ralf Pasel (TU Berlin/pasel.künzel architects, Rotterdam), Sven Pfeiffer (MSA), Joachim Schultz-Granberg (MSA)

SSG City and Wind Symposium Adaptation

11.06.2014 Symposium Climate and Planning
Münster School of Architecture @ Stadtansichten

Klaus Daniels (HL-Technik, München / ETHZ), Eric Frijters (FABRIC, Amsterdam), Hans-Arno Jantzen (Flow simulation, FH Münster), Otto Klemm (climatology, WWU Münster), Chris van Langen (Dean Rotterdam Academy of Architecture and Urban Design), Stadtdirektor Hartwig Schultheiss (Münster), Mareike Krautheim (Architect, Berlin/Rotterdam), Ralf Pasel (TU Berlin/pasel.künzel architects, Rotterdam), Sven Pfeiffer (MSA), Joachim Schultz-Granberg (MSA)

 

Mareike Krautheim, Ralf Pasel, Sven Pfeiffer, Joachim Schultz-Granberg
City and Wind – Climate as an Architectural Instrument
2014
English
Softcover
210 × 230 mm
208 Pages
274 Images
ISBN 978-3-86922-310-0
DOM Publishers

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