The environmental response of office buildings from the Brazilian bioclimatic modernism in Sa similar to o Paulo: the case study of Complexo Conjunto Nacional-CCN (1962)

Author(s)

Mulfarth, Roberta Consentino Kronka ^[1] ; Goncalves, Joana Carla Soares ^{[2, 3]} ; Michalski, Ranny Loureiro Xavier Nascimento ^[1] ; Shimomura, Alessandra Rodrigues Prata ^[1] ; Nascimento e Souza, Beatriz ^[1] ; Cunha, Guilherme Reis Muri ^[1] ; Marcondes-Cavaleri, Monica Pereira ^[1] ; Monroy, Manuel Alvarez Gomez ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Conforto Ambiental & Eficiencia Energetica, Dept Tecnol Arquitetura & Urbanismo, Fac Arquitetu, Lab Environm Comfort & Energy Efficiency, Dept Tec, Rua Lago, 876, Cidade Univ, BR-05508080 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Architectural Assoc Sch Architecture, 36 Bedford Sq, London WC1B 3ES - England

^[3] Univ Westminster, Sch Architecture & Cities Architecture & Envriome, 309 Regent St, London W1B 2HW - England

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Solar Energy; v. 220, p. 617-634, MAY 15 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

In commercial buildings from the Brazilian modernism (1930 -1964), narrow plans allowed for good daylight and natural ventilation. However, little is known about the environmental performance of those buildings. Economic pressures led to a proliferation of tall office buildings of larger floors and sealed facade, with major impacts on buildings thermal behaviour. In this context, the objective of this technical study is to draw lessons from the performance of the iconic office building of Complexo Conjunto Nacional (1963), in Sa similar to o Paulo (24oS), with focus on its thermal response. Since the case-study building has no external shading, the counter effect of thermal mass from the concrete structure, coupled with the potential of natural ventilation, was examined by means of fieldwork and analytical studies. The relation between orientation, solar exposure and daylight was also addressed by measurements as well as the impact of operable windows in the internal acoustic environment. Thermodynamic simulations revealed that comfort can be achieved for more than 85% of occupied hours in the hottest month of the year, with passive means. Daylight measurements showed that illuminance levels remain within the visual comfort range, when direct solar radiation is not impinging on windows. Noise levels above the recommended by national standards were registered with windows opened and closed. Nevertheless, regardless the acoustic conditions, fieldwork confirmed that some occupants choose to open windows for natural ventilation at various heights in both buildings orientations. The work presented here is part of the research project quoted in Goncalves et al. (2018). (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/15961-9 - The thermal and daylighting performance of iconic buildings from the bioclimatic Brazilian modernist, produced between 1930 and 1964, in São Paulo
• Grantee: Joana Carla Soares Gonçalves
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/04646-8 - Performance under the Ergonomic approach of buildings icons of the Brazilian Modernist Architecture in São Paulo, produced between 1930 and 1964.
• Grantee: Roberta Consentino Kronka Mülfarth
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/25711-0 - Acoustic comfort of iconic buildings in modernist Brazilian Architecture in São Paulo
• Grantee: Karen Daiane dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation