Japan Sustainable Building Database

Understanding the surrounding environment (pre-design)

Environmental Location Map: Detailed surveys conducted to clarify the natural environment of the location

As always, detailed surveys were conducted to understand the surrounding environment of the site as a part of "Pre-design" process. These include a variety of field surveys on site, as well as thorough collection of information, at the local municipality and libraries, regarding natural and social aspects of the local environment as preconditions for design.
Information about the natural environment around the site provides decisive factors for the planning and design. This includes temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind velocity and direction, which have been collected from the AMeDAS data of the Meteorological Agency to make a graph showing average values over the last 6 years. Wind velocity and direction, in particular, have been sorted according to seasons to be reffered to determine the house layout and plan. Finally, all the data have been compiled and visualised on a map representing the enviornmental features of the location (Environmental Location Map).

Provision of the house records to date and the future maintenance information to the owner

"House Book", provided with information about the house and its maintenance and management after completion

“House Book”was prepared and given to the owner. This booklet provides indispensable and helpful information about how to live in and maintain the house, including the principle of ventilation, the types of lightbulb used, how to take care of the floors, and even how to release water from the pipes in cold climate areas.
Good building performances can not be quaranteed if proper way of use and maintenance are not constantly executed. Therefore, post-occupancy communication should be kept as much as possible as a part of Post-design process. The “House Book” is a basic tool document for such communication.