An Environmental review of wineries over the last centuries : from vernacular to high tech

From Egyptians and Phoenicians to our times, the process of making wine and wineries have gone a long way. Primitive wineries were caves found or made in the compact solid ground or special rooms constructed with high inertia materials such as rocks or earth blocks. These type of construction, with design variations, lasted until industrial revolution when new materials, mainly steel and glass sheets, were available for construction promoting bigger, faster and cheaper possibilities for industrial buildings. These changes affected interior temperatures and, as a consequence, mechanical energy consuming systems like serpentine pipes inside tanks controlled temperature during the fermentation process and air conditioned equipment were installed on oak breeding barrels rooms began to be mandatory in wineries. These last decades innovation in wineries materiality went from different types of metal sheets to petrol derived materials such as polymers. As thinner and lighter the building skin, the more important the amount of envelope in contact with the compact solid ground. This paper presents results in envelope characterization by energy flux exchanges and compactness of different constructive solutions for wineries responding to two different concepts: the high tech image (while traditional envelope still host wine production) and new skins (new industrial designs). The three main production stages (fermentation, breeding and storage) are discussed in the light of passive architecture.Postprint (published version

Sky access versus shading for pedestrian comfort in the hot tropical climate of Jeddah

Many urban studies have been done to demonstrate that urban sprawl is not the right approach in hot climate cities. On the contrary, a compact design is recommended to enhance human thermal comfort. This research aims to clarify the relation between urban morphology and outdoor thermal comfort of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The aim is to develop an outstanding future strategic compact morphology that would facilitate a dynamic development of the city. Jeddah city will soon have a subway that is expected to radically change the habits of its inhabitants. Our idea is to consider the main stations of the future metro as nodes, creating more densely inhabited localities and also defining transitional spaces for pedestrian activities. Microclimates generated in and around these activity nodes must be particularly studied to encourage residents and visitors to reclaim a pedestrian life that was clearly noticeable in the old city, but has virtually disappeared in most recent neighborhoods, entirely devoted to automobile transport. Services and facilities around metro nodes should become the transitional thermal comfort areas of the metro station exits. This paper will provide numerical modeling simulations that are used to assess the solar radiation in the urban layout (the old compact area and the modern sprawl area) by the softwarePostprint (published version

Envelope materiality : light and heavy in wineries : the case of "Santa Ana" winery, in Mendoza, Argentina

In a winery, energy flux exchange and thermal inertia of the envelope are crucial due to the constant need for stabilized temperatures. As a consequence, energy consuming systems like serpentine pipes inside tanks control temperature during fermentation; and air conditioned equipment maintains the appropriate microclimate in oak breeding barrels rooms. “Santa Ana” Winery, located in Mendoza (Argentina), presents two types of envelope materiality: one heavy (mainly adobe walls ¿¿= 0.81W/mK) for fermentation and breeding stages and one light (mainly galvanized steel sheets ¿¿= 45 W/mK) for the storage stage. In both cases the roof is insulated. A complete envelope analysis was made, data from auxiliary energy demand was collected and summer in situ temperature measurements were performed at critical control points. Also, recommendations to environmentally refurbish these envelopes are presented as a light/heavy equilibrium that could serve its purpose with a response from low energy architecture is needed.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Solar and heat protection techniques. Evaluation and design recommendations for different types of fabric awnings

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Architectural repercussions of the air conditioning installations

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3-D geometrical modelling and solar radiation at urban scale - morphological or typological digital mock-ups?

Studies regarding solar energy at the neighbourhood scale always have to deal with the size and the complex geometry of a real built context. Three-dimensional modelling techniques allow visual reproduction of formal features and solar performance of a city portion. Nevertheless, the definition of the right level of detail (LOD) is always a crucial point when creating digital mock-ups. On the one hand, currently available computational resources are not totally able to suport the exact representation of a building cluster and the simulation of environmental phenomena is often based on parametrical analyses. On the other hand, a drastic geometrical abstraction could discard important information and affect the reliability of solar predictions. This study aims to identify the most suitable LOD to simulate the solar performance at the mesoscale of the city. To do this, the direct radiation access within a building cluster is assessed by employing virtual models with different approximation degrees. This comparison allows assessing the margin of error between different levels of detail and discussing about benefits and inconveniences of the two approaches. The results might be elaborated to define a rank of deviation factors, useful to evaluate the margin of error provided by generic models with regard to solar predictions.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Envelope characterization and self-climatic regulation assessment for a winery in the province of Mendoza, Argentina

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Solar access in the compact city: a study case in Barcelona

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Morfologia urbana mediterrània

La ciudad es un sistema complejo en el que confluyen muchos parámetros que dificultan sobremanera un análisis preciso de todos ellos y, en consecuencia, la valoración de los fenómenos que se producen y sus repercusiones en el medio ambiente. La planificación urbana es uno de los retos ante los que se encuentra la sociedad actual, implicando tanto a arquitectos y urbanistas como a otros colectivos muy diversos que convergen en este espacio común de intercambio energético y ecológico.La población mundial se está desplazando hacia las áreas urbanas en proporción cada vez mayor, por lo que estos son posibles puntos de conflicto y oportunidad en los que es necesario actuar y planificar de forma cuidadosa. Para optimizar la planificación urbana, será fundamental disponer de un cuerpo de doctrina en temas ambientales y sociales que tengan en cuenta aspectos de consumo energético y de recursos, así como de confort y bienestar personal.En este contexto nace el proyecto de investigación “MUM-Fundamentos para la Caracterización de la Morfología Urbana Mediterránea”. Este proyecto avanza en la mejora de la eficiencia energética en ciudades mediterráneas, identificando parámetros morfológicos de los edificios, en tanto que configuradores de ciudades, que permiten caracterizar distintas tramas urbanas y su influencia en la demanda energética.Actualmente no existe una parametrización de las estructuras urbanas que permita simular su comportamiento ambiental de forma razonable. Esta investigación ha identificado y definido parámetros urbanos necesarios para esta caracterización geométrica de las distintas tramas que facilitarían una aproximación al comportamiento ambiental.The city is a very complex system in which many parameters converge. The large number of these parameters greatly hinders not only an accurate analysis of all of them, but also the assessment of the phenomena that occur in the city and its impact on the environment. Urban planning is one of the challenges that society faces today, involving architects, planners and other social and professional stakeholders. All of them converge in a common field of energetic and ecological exchange. The world’s population is moving towards urban areas in an increasing proportion. Consequently, these areas are becoming potential points of conflict and opportunities and, therefore, must be carefully planned. To optimize urban planning, it is essential to have a body of doctrine in both environmental and social issues, considering subjects such as energy and resources consumption, comfort and well-being. In this context, the investigation project “MUM- Identification of Parameters Involved in Architectural Energy Efficiency is originated. This project aims to improve energy efficiency in buildings of Mediterranean cities by identifying those parameters of buildings morphology that allow to describe different urban tissues and their influence on energy demand. Nowadays, there is a lack of urban structures parametrization systems that allow to simulate their behaviour accurately. This investigation aims to identify and define urban parameters required for a geometric description of the different urban fabrics, in order to ease an approach to environmental performance assessment.La ciutat és un sistema complex en el qual conflueixen molts paràmetres que dificulten en gran manera una anàlisi precís de tots ells i, en conseqüència, la valoració dels fenòmens que es produeixen i les seves repercussions en el medi ambient. La planificació urbana és un dels reptes davant els quals es troba la societat actual, implicant tant a arquitectes i urbanistes com a altres col·lectius molt diversos que convergeixen en aquest espai comú d'intercanvi energètic i ecològic. La població mundial s'està desplaçant cap a les àrees urbanes en proporció cada vegada més gran, de manera que aquests són possibles punts de conflicte i oportunitat en els quals cal actuar i planificar de forma acurada. Per optimitzar la planificació urbana, serà fonamental disposar d'un cos de doctrina en temes ambientals i socials que tinguin en compte aspectes de consum energètic i de recursos, així com de confort i benestar personal. En aquest context neix el projecte d'investigació "MUM-Fonaments per a la Caracterització de la Morfologia Urbana Mediterrània". Aquest projecte avança en la millora de l'eficiència energètica en ciutats mediterrànies, identificant paràmetres morfològics dels edificis, com a configuradors de ciutats, que permeten caracteritzar diferents trames urbanes i la seva influència en la demanda energètica. Actualment no existeix una parametrització de les estructures urbanes que permeti simular el seu comportament ambiental de manera raonable. Aquesta investigació ha identificat i definit paràmetres urbans necessaris per a aquesta caracterització geomètrica de les diferents trames que facilitarien una aproximació al comportament ambiental.Peer Reviewe

Solar access assessment in dense urban environments: the effect of intersections in an urban canyon

The urban canyon model has been recurrently used as a basis for many solar access studies. However, its conception as endless structures disregards the effect of street intersections, despite being characteristic elements of urban fabrics. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of street discontinuities on solar access over building façades. The potential of crossings to increase the available radiation has been assessed through computer simulations in dense urban environments in a Mediterranean location. For the cases studied, results show that local effects of an intersection almost disappear beyond a speci¿c distance for each aspect ratio, which can be helpful to determine the suitable level of detail for solar analyses at an urban fabric scale.Postprint (published version