Proper ventilation during the summer will allow the space to be cooled. The Psychometric graph below shows the yearly averages of temperature and humidity for Durango. Taking these climactic conditions in to account, we can develop an architectural methodology to capitalize on both the dry, hot and humid, wet conditions that occur in Durango. The area also experiences primarily northeastern winds in the winter, but remains rather mild except for the occasional storm. Humidity also fluctuates throughout the year – Durango receives lower than average rainfall, but higher than average snowfall.

Temperature drastically fluctuates between the summer and winter months due to its relatively low latitude and mountainous climate. The orientation warms the earthen structures in the winter months while providing shade during the summer.ĭurango, Colorado – located in the southwest corner of the state is nearby and has a similar climate to Mesa Verde. Using a cave for overhead protection, the structure was built in to the south facing side of a mountain in order to maximize solar heat gain in winter months. This passive strategy can be seen today in Mesa Verde, Colorado – diagrammed to the right. In America, adobe Indians in the southwest utilized the same building orientation and shade protection to benefit from solar heating.

Additionally, a one and a half foot thick wall on the northern edge of the houses provided protection from winter winds.

The North Hill of Olynthus embodied solar architecture, orienting its streets on a north-south, east-west axis to allow all houses to benefit from southern sun during the winter. A Classical Greek home can be seen below – oriented to the north with a south-facing courtyard, the building maximizes the winter sun while protecting against the cold, northern winds and overhanging roofs shade the house from the high sun in the summer.Īpplying this methodology to the city scale, the Ancient town of Olynthus presents the practical use of solar architecture for an entire community. Building and room orientation, with regards to the sun, allows a building to be protected from the hot summer sun while also harnessing heat form the low winter sun. Planning for the environment allowed architecture to harness and protect residents form natural elements. The origins of solar heating in architecture can be traced back to Ancient Greece, as Butti & Perlin detail in A Golden Thread.

Golden Thread by Ken Butti