INTEGRATING TIMBER PANEL ELEMENTS INTO HISTORIC CHINESE TIMBER-FRAMED HOUSES TO ENHANCE MULTIPLE BUILDING PERFORMANCES

Abstract

The traditional timber-framed house has a several thousand-year-long history in China, and it is an important part of Chinese architectural culture. Despite their high historic value, these buildings have limitations in comparison with today's standards, especially in terms of indoor comfort. This study explores the potential of integrating modular timber panel elements (TPE) into historic Chinese timber-framed houses to enhance multiple building performance, i.e., thermal-acoustic insulation for a comfortable indoor environment and better noise reduction. Comprehensive analyses are carried out on the application of TPEs for the building envelope, including exterior walls, roofs, floors, doors, and windows, to demonstrate the feasibility of using these techniques and to quantify the improvement of building performance. This study innovatively contributes to healthy and energy-efficient living conditions by revitalizing historic Chinese timber-framed houses.