from this...
to this....
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Learning from traditional construction.
I visited a friend's cottage in the Muskokas a few years back that was built, i believe, by the Finnish owner's family and other local Finnish craftsmen neighbours. I was struck by the efficiency of the fireplace that had been constructed in traditional Finnish method. Although it is becoming evident that we might need to curb our burning of wood as a fuel source for environmental reasons, If we do have fires in our homes, it makes sense to be extracting as much energy from them as we can.
This fireplace is located in the middle of the cottage which only makes sense. I find it frustrating that so many fireplaces in Toronto and the surrounding area have their chimneys on an outside wall where they are prone to loosing half the warmth from a burn to outside exposure and also create thermal bridges to the cold outside environs.
This fireplace had a recirculating flue that rises from the damper to the top of the fireplace at approximately 8 feet, turnes back towards the ground and then doubles back skywards. The result was that the flue gas warms a very large amount of thermal mass before it escaped to the atmosphere above. I believe this particular fireplace had two flue for the on fire box and had a beautiful draft.
...now, to make this really efficient, 1) let's put a damper on the top of the chimney so that the flue stays warm when not in use, 2) provide a fresh air intake for combustion air so the fire is not drawing air in through the cracks in the house, 3) provide doors on the unit so all the warm air in the house is not drawn up the chimney, 4) and lastly, what about integrating the fireplace with a hydronic heating system (floor preferably) so that there is water jacket running through the masonry structure transferring heat to the rest of the building. The System could be run in tandem with solar collectors so that the thermal mass of the fireplace could be put to use even when there is not a fire burning.
...now all i need is a willing client!
I visited a friend's cottage in the Muskokas a few years back that was built, i believe, by the Finnish owner's family and other local Finnish craftsmen neighbours. I was struck by the efficiency of the fireplace that had been constructed in traditional Finnish method. Although it is becoming evident that we might need to curb our burning of wood as a fuel source for environmental reasons, If we do have fires in our homes, it makes sense to be extracting as much energy from them as we can.
This fireplace is located in the middle of the cottage which only makes sense. I find it frustrating that so many fireplaces in Toronto and the surrounding area have their chimneys on an outside wall where they are prone to loosing half the warmth from a burn to outside exposure and also create thermal bridges to the cold outside environs.
This fireplace had a recirculating flue that rises from the damper to the top of the fireplace at approximately 8 feet, turnes back towards the ground and then doubles back skywards. The result was that the flue gas warms a very large amount of thermal mass before it escaped to the atmosphere above. I believe this particular fireplace had two flue for the on fire box and had a beautiful draft.
...now, to make this really efficient, 1) let's put a damper on the top of the chimney so that the flue stays warm when not in use, 2) provide a fresh air intake for combustion air so the fire is not drawing air in through the cracks in the house, 3) provide doors on the unit so all the warm air in the house is not drawn up the chimney, 4) and lastly, what about integrating the fireplace with a hydronic heating system (floor preferably) so that there is water jacket running through the masonry structure transferring heat to the rest of the building. The System could be run in tandem with solar collectors so that the thermal mass of the fireplace could be put to use even when there is not a fire burning.
...now all i need is a willing client!
Monday, November 9, 2009
I traveled to Goderich a few weeks ago and, walking along the beach of Lake Huron i came upon this bundle of twigs and vegitation in a pool and i thought of artist Andy Goldsworthy. If you have not checked out the film about him, Rivers and Tides, you should ...a fascinating guy and a very well done film.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TWBSMc47bw
coming soon ...pics of a spectacular reno recently completed in Erindale Village ...some new materials and a few new tricks up my sleeve ...look for it soon at http://www.objectsandspaces.ca/featured/index.html
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