LiamStone & Stepnoy
LiamStone LiamStone
Stepnoy Stepnoy
LiamStone LiamStone
I was looking at how the stone terraces at Machu Picchu keep cool in the high Andes, and I started wondering if we could learn a trick from them for modern buildings.
Stepnoy Stepnoy
Stone terraces are like a long‑term experiment in passive cooling – the walls absorb heat slowly and the stone’s high thermal mass keeps the interior cool. If we copy that, we’d need thick stone or concrete walls, maybe with a reflective surface, and a system that lets the walls “breathe.” But modern buildings also need windows, insulation, and sometimes heating, so just copying the terraces isn’t enough. It’s a good idea to study the pattern, not the stone itself.
LiamStone LiamStone
That’s exactly the angle I was going for – using the stone’s thermal inertia to smooth out temperature swings, but then layering on a high‑performance glazing system and smart ventilation. I’m still crunching numbers on wall thickness versus weight, but the idea of “breathing” concrete, maybe with a thin bio‑reflective coating, could give us a passive cooling advantage without sacrificing daylight. I’ll need to run a few simulations before we commit to the design.
Stepnoy Stepnoy
Sounds good, but remember stone isn’t the only game in town – a thick wall can be a weighty liability if it’s not well anchored. Also, a high‑performance glazing system will only help if you’re not letting the sun hit the wrong angle. Keep an eye on the wind patterns too, because even the best thermal mass can be blown off track. I’d still run a quick draft with a real façade model before you lock down the thickness. And that “breathing concrete” idea might work better as a perforated skin or a vegetated layer; stone can be stubborn, but so can budgets.
LiamStone LiamStone
Good point about the anchoring and the wind load. I’m already sketching a model that layers a perforated concrete skin over the thermal mass, then tops it with a thin living wall to keep the mass breathing and add some natural insulation. I’ll run a quick CFD on the façade to check sun angles and wind deflection before we lock the wall thickness. Keeping the budget in mind is crucial – I’ll look for ways to use recycled aggregates and off‑site precast panels to trim cost.
Stepnoy Stepnoy
Nice to see the plan taking shape – a perforated skin and a living wall could do the job, just make sure the perforations don’t get clogged. Recycled aggregates are a good call, but keep an eye on the compressive strength if you’re pulling them into the thermal mass. CFD will give you the angles, but a quick field test with a small mock‑up can catch surprises before the concrete pours. Keep the numbers tight and the skepticism on, and you’ll have a building that actually breathes.