The Third Skin

This book provides an introduction to the principles of environmental performance in architecture. It explores the way aspects of the built environment are experienced by the occupants, and how that experience is interpreted in architectural design. The first chapter concentrates both on the relationships between architecture and the human body and architecture and the environment. This chapter develops the idea of architecture as a filter between the human body and the natural environment, and the various environmental conditions which are altered (intentionally or otherwise) by the construction of building fabric. The book then considers the way this 'passive' filtration has become supplemented by various forms of technology or active control - especially electric lighting and air-conditioning. This establishes a basic framework for the subsequent chapters to investigate the various forms of energy and matter - heat, light, sound, air and water - and the way they are controlled using active and passive systems. The penultimate chapter introduces basic concepts of fire safety in buildings, whilst the final chapter investigates some of the implications and future directions for sustainable architecture. The book is ideal for use by undergraduate architecture students undertaking architectural technology, science or design courses.