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The primary objective of ventilation in a building is to ensure that the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), together with the heating system, keep the thermal climate at an acceptable level. Meaning the deployment of ventilation air at the appropriate temperature rate supplied to meet the thermal climate into the parts of the building where residents reside.

In Sweden, the two most commonly used ventilation strategies are stack ventilation and forced extract ventilation. Both methods utilize exhaust openings in kitchens and sanitary areas, while fresh air is drawn from either permeable external walls or through inlets located near windows and as distant as possible from the exhaust openings (Manz & Huber, 2000). Stack-effect ventilation, also known as buoyancy ventilation, utilizes convective forces. Thus, vertical interior openings such as stairways or atriums play an essential role in the distribution of air and its suitability. Utilizing additional building elements such as a chimney enhances the stack-effect ventilation by elevating the height of the “vertical core” of warm air within the structure. The disparity in density (the difference in temperature between hot and cold) increases as a result of the amplification of pressure disparities (Liu et al., 2010). Hence, larger differences in pressure between the inside and outside will result in an increased driving force for the stack effect by enhancing the convective currents. The principle operates by drawing cooler air from the exterior,generally from the bottom or sides of the building, into the building. The air is then gradually heated and ascends through the vertical core due to convective forces, before being ultimately discharged through the chimney (Savin & Jardinier, 2009).

The architectural proposal seeks to adhere to sustainable building development by employing deliberate steps that incorporate a combination of principles and strategies based on the theory of convection. In order to acquire knowledge and validation, an extensive investigation of case studies was carried out, with the works of Philippe Rahm serving as the fundamental basis for further development. Furthermore, a laboratory environment was established to conduct physical tests as well as virtual simulations (CFD) in order to gain deeper understanding and accuracy regarding the relationship between convective forces and geometry.

The thesis set out to place a bet based on the notion of consciousness, in terms of implementation of chosen principles, using materials with low embodied carbon, and employing a strategic geometric relationship. This approach enabled the design of an architectural proposal that is both responsive and educative, while also addressing the existing knowledge gap between different professions.