S p o n t a n e o u s A r c h i t e c t u r e a n d E n e r g e t i c S u s t a i n a b i l i t y
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a: cane roofing
b: pipe’s flap
c: external roofs
d: the windows and the vault
Figure 4: some details of the building elements.
As you know the main role of the building envelope is to assure the safety, from static
point of view. So the good indoor environmental conditions act as an unforeseen feature
which adds value to the building.
But there is a shrewdness directly addressed to the this aspect: the white color of the
façades. In fact the local materials, the volcanic sands, are dark in color. To have a light
dye they had to import the milk-lime from another region, as I have just said.
The shading system
You should consider the use of shade as a really important component in the
Mediterranean buildings. No one enjoys staying in a open square, during a hot, sunny
day, without
a good reasons; they would look for a tree to protect themselves. So you should plan
adequate shading elements for the buildings.
In the Filicudian houses, shade is obtained in a really elegant way: a cane roofing, along
the south façade. It is supported by strong wooden beams, which in turn are supported
at either ends from steel wall hooks on one side and big masonry pillars on the other.
