Exploring the influence of occupants’ connection with building history on thermal comfort perception: a case study of a victorian building in London

• Autores: Athina Petsou, Héctor Altamirano, Robyn Pender, Sung-Min Hong
• Localización: Oltre lo sguardo / coord. por Alessandro Ippoliti, Elena Svalduz, Vol. 2, 2025 (La città misurata = The measured city / coord. por Marta Calzolari), ISBN 9788831277112, 134 págs.
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Current retrofitting practices often overlook social and cultural aspects, neglecting users’ needs, perception of thermal comfort, and heritage values. This paper aims to bridge this gap by exploring the influence of occupants’ connection with a building’s history on their perception of thermal comfort within retrofit interventions. By recognizing that comfort extends beyond controlled temperatures, we acknowledge the complex interplay of environmental, behavioral, psychological, and social factors. The study focuses on a Victorian building in London currently used as social housing accommodation. Through surveys and interviews with residents, we investigate how individuals perceive their homes, identify conditions that contribute to their comfort or discomfort, and explore strategies employed to cope with thermal discomfort. Particularly, we examine the relationship between residents’ connection with the building’s history and their comfort perception and their daily energy practices. The findings of this study hold valuable insights for building practitioners involved in the retrofit design of historic buildings, offering guidance from a user-centered perspective. Additionally, the research contributes to mapping the social parameters of thermal comfort, expanding our understanding of the multi-faceted nature of comfort perception.