As it is not very cold in winter in Hong Kong we decided to use glass and water to cool the building down, and along with two chimneys to ensure well ventilation and a comfortable humidity.
In Hong Kong, direct sunlight cast on a building's surface lead to a very high indoor temperature, especially when the building is made of cement, so we use glass as it reflects light and does not heat up easily. Water is run over the surface of the building and recycled when it is collected in the water trench at the bottom of it. As water has a high specific heat capacity and a low viscosity too, it can absorb and carry heat away quickly due to the temperature gradient. In winter, this water-cooling system could be switched off.
The two towers at the ends of the building are for ventilation. Concave mirrors are fixed near the top of the towers so that the air of that are can be well heated up, and thus creating a lower air pressure. By creating this low air pressure, air the flows vertically upward from high pressure are to lower pressure are along the cylindrical free space of the tower, that is the route with least resistance. Air would also be drawn from corridors and classrooms and with a higher intensity of air movement, relative humidity could be kept low.
The building is in a shape that some blocks are recessed to other blocks so that these block can be partially or totally shaded from direct sunlight. The presence of external louvers can also provide shading from direct sunlight so that only even and moderate diffused sunlight can reach the interior of the building.
A solar panel serves as the roof. The electricity converted from heat energy of the sun can power the water circulation system outside the building. This can ensure the minimum use of electricity produced from fossil fuels.
Click any of the pictures of on the left to see the model we made.
