Heliocaminus
Heliocaminus refers to a solar heated room, one example, the remains of which can still be seen, is found at the thermal complex of Hadrian's Villa at ancient Tivoli in Italy. The villa was the luxurious Roman residence of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (the years 117 to 138), which is said to have become a type of test bed or laboratory for architectural and artistic creativity, where technological and architectonical innovations were experimented with (MacDonald and Pinto, 2006).
The heliocaminus, a term based on Ancient Greek and Latin, (also translated as solar furnace), at Hardrian's villa it was a large circular room with a coffered dome roof, a central oculus and large south facing windows, it was heated through a combination of the passive solar gains and massive structure and a hot-air under floor heating system invented by the Romans. It was first identified by the use of the solar stove (Paribeni, 1922), then by Sudatio or underfloor air heated sauna (Verduchi, 1975), then by a heated swimming pool (Manderscheid, 1998).
Today Villa Adriana or Hadrian's Villa near Tivoli can still be visited as one of the best kept and most visited archaeological sites in Italy it has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. It is found at the foot of the Tiburtine Hills the vast residential complex originally spread over around 120 hectares (about 300 acres) including the thermal baths, temples, barracks, theatres, gardens, fountains, nymphaeums and the villa itself, around 40 hectares are now open to the public.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Botanical gardens
- Biomes.
- BRE National Solar Centre.
- Building an extension.
- Conservatory.
- Garden greenhouse.
- Hydroponics and buildings.
- Large scale solar thermal energy.
- Odeillo solar furnace.
- Renewable energy sources: how they work and what they deliver: Part 4: Solar thermal hot water systems DG 532 4.
- Sauna.
- Solar heat gain coefficient.
- Solar photovoltaics.
- Solar thermal systems
- Sunspace.
- Types of glass.
- Twenty winters of Bedzed.
- Winter gardens.
[edit] External links
Featured articles and news
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.
A brief run down of changes intentions from April in an onwards.
Reslating an ancient water mill
A rare opportunity to record, study and repair early vernacular roofs.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2025/26
Construction apprentice from Lincoln Mia Owen wins this years title.
Insulation solutions with less waste for a circular economy
Rob Firman, Technical and Specification Manager, Polyfoam XPS explains.
Recycled waste plastic in construction
Hierarchy, prevention to disposal, plastic types and approaches.
UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard V1 published
Free-to-access technical standard to enable robust proof of a decarbonising built environment.
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Why talking about prostate cancer matters in construction.
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch up for free, subscribe and share with your network.
The Association of Consultant Architects recap
A reintroduction and recap of ACA President; Patrick Inglis' Autumn update.
The Home Energy Model and its wrappers
From SAP to HEM, EPC for MEES and FHS assessment wrappers.
Future Homes Standard Essentials launched
Future Homes Hub launches new campaign to help sector prepare for the implementation of new building standards.
Building Safety recap February, 2026
Our regular run-down of key building safety related events of the month.