RENOVATION OF JAPANESE TRADITIONAL HOMES AND IMPROVEMENT OF INDOOR CLIMATE

The traditional house of Japan, Kominka, is constructed of wooden pillars and beams, and clay walls.The indoor space in the Kominka remains cool in summer because overhanging eaves block solarradiation and the open frame airs out. Technology to make small cracks airtight is undeveloped.Consequently, drafts enter the indoor space and chill occupants during winter. Improvements of indoorclimate have not been realized. This report describes "Yukis house," which is a Kominka built in thelatter 1700s, defined as a residence of the privileged class. Large-scale renovation of the home wasdone through high insulation and airtightness reainforcement in 2006. The temperature and humidity inwinter in Yukis house and in "Ts house," an unrenovated Kominka built in 1897, were measured, and acomparison was done for verification. In Yukis house, the overall heat transmission was decreased byprogress of capability for insulation and airtightness. Thereby stable and comfortable indoorenvironment was provided. A clay wall contributes as thermal storage and a cooling influence insummer. This paper clarifies the renovation techniques used for Yukis house and the effects for indoorenvironment improvement. Renovation of Kominka to achieve high comfort is reported herein.