Innovative Evaluation Techniques for Hanok Sustainability Based on Integrative Comfort Indices

Abstract

This study aims to present integrative evaluation techniques that can assess spatial comfort reflecting the unique value of a vernacular building type in Korea called Hanok. For this purpose, current evaluation indices and methods of official standards for normal building performance were analyzed through previous studies, since any certified tools for Hanok evaluation do not exist. This situation has made relevant markets to be deactivated, although Hanok has valuable meanings as the traditional architecture to be succeeded to the next generation in Korea. Accordingly, specific assessment indices were derived to evaluate the Hanok sustainability especially focused on spatial comfort by using a qualitative field surveys with combined quantitative references. Then, actual resident data were collected from a series of Hanok testbeds for specific time-points including summer and winter solstices on the lunar-year system. As a result, resident data could be employed to reveal the characteristics of comfort performance from those target specimens, and show the tendency of the Hanok comfort by suggested innovative criteria for the market as a clue for its commercial potentials. Accordingly, it was concluded that the proposed techniques and indices could be certified for the Hanok evaluation and applied to the field of associated industries to show its specific values and advantages.