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Poma_2023_Building res and info_The kindergarten of Crosara
Journal article

The kindergarten of Crosara by Sergio Los : reassessing a pioneering thermally efficient building

  • Poma, Elena ORCID Accademia di architettura, Università della Svizzera italiana, Svizzera
  • Palma, Daniele ORCID Accademia di architettura, Università della Svizzera italiana, Svizzera
  • Molina, Moreno Accademia di architettura, Università della Svizzera italiana, Svizzera
  • Graf, Franz ORCID Accademia di architettura, Università della Svizzera italiana, Svizzera
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  • 2023
Published in:
  • Building research and information. - 2023, vol. 52, no. 3, p. 358-372
Energy use in buildings
Simulation tools
Heating demands analysis
Sustainable architecture
Thermal comfort
Sergio Los
English Given the environmental and energy crises, European directives are targeting building energy efficiency. Architects must improve the thermal performance of their designs to approach Nearly-Zero Energy Building (NZEB) standards. Energy-efficient experimental buildings from the 1970s are often held up as inspiring examples of energy-conscious architectural design. However, the lack of quantitative data about their thermal performance, measured using current evaluation standards and units, makes their legacy difficult to interpret today. This study aims to verify the relevance of 1970s energy-efficient architecture by quantifying the thermal performance of an exemplary case: the kindergarten designed by Sergio Los in Crosara (Italy). The thermal performance of the building in its original configuration is re-assessed using energy simulation software and discussed relative to past and present standards, including carbon emissions. The results quantify the contributions of different energy-conscious strategies and show that the building’s pioneering performance results primarily from the architect’s bioclimatic design decisions. The study demonstrates how architects reduced building energy demands in the 1970s and explores the impact of their strategies relative to contemporary efficiency priorities.
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Language
  • English
Classification
Architecture
License
CC BY-NC-ND
Open access status
hybrid
Identifiers
Persistent URL
https://n2t.net/ark:/12658/srd1330188
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