Thermal pleasure in built environments: physiology of alliesthesia
This article summarises a research paper 'Thermal pleasure in built environments: physiology of alliesthesia' by Thomas Parkinson & Richard de Dear published in 2015 in --Building Research & Information, 43:3, 288-301, DOI: 10.1080/09613218.2015.989662.
It is the second in a series exploring thermal alliesthesia in the context of indoor comfort.
It has long been recognised that our experience of thermal comfort is more complex than the steady-state heat balance adopted by many international standards which strive simply to achieve 'neutrality'.
As de Dear (2011) stated: If the very best that can be achieved in an isothermal, cool, dry and still indoor climate is 'neutral' or 'acceptable' for little more than 80% of a building's occupants at any one time, then the standards that have been set to date leave much to be desired.
The recent mainstreaming of 'adaptive comfort' begins to recognise the dynamic complexity of thermal comfort. However, 'thermal alliesthesia' goes beyond this, proposing that the hedonic qualities of the thermal environment (qualities of pleasantness or unpleasantness, or 'the pleasure principle') are determined as much by the general thermal state of the subject as by the environment itself. In its simplest form, cold stimuli will be perceived as pleasant by someone who is warm, whilst warm stimuli will be experienced as pleasant by someone who is cold.
The alliesthesia hypothesis suggests that non-steady-state environments where there are localised differences in skin temperature can create conscious experiences of thermal pleasure. The paper proposes that the alliesthesia concept is more complex than simple consideration of the relationship between core and skin temperature, and includes a spatial component. For example, we derive pleasure from wrapping cool hands around a warm mug.
The paper suggests that the concept of a one-size-fits-all approach to the provision of thermal comfort using centralised mechanical systems is flawed, and diversity in thermal preferences suggests criteria for evaluating comfort may need to be reconsidered. The implication is that standards for building services would focus more on providing the appropriate thermal conditions to the individual.
Non-steady-state thermal environments may give the potential to lift occupant satisfaction rates above 80%. To create instances of thermal pleasure, these dynamic effects need to be better understood, and solutions developed that excite the thermal sense and overcome thermal boredom.
Thomas Parkinson & Richard de Dear (2015) Thermal pleasure in built environments: physiology of alliesthesia, Building Research & Information, 43:3, 288-301, DOI: 10.1080/09613218.2015.989662
Read the full paper at Taylor & Francis Online.
See also: Healthy excursions outside the thermal comfort zone.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Cold stress.
- Comfort in low energy buildings.
- Dry-bulb temperature.
- Evolving opportunities for providing thermal comfort.
- Globe temperature.
- Healthy excursions outside the thermal comfort zone.
- Heat stress.
- Maximum and minimum workplace temperatures.
- Mean radiant temperature.
- Operative temperature.
- Overheating - assessment protocol.
- Predicted mean vote.
- Preventing overheating.
- Psychometric charts.
- Sling psychrometer.
- Temperature.
- The building as climate modifier.
- Thermal comfort.
- Thermal environment.
- Thermal indices.
- Wet-bulb temperature.
- Wet-bulb globe temperature.
[edit] External references
- de Dear, R. (2011). Revisiting an old hypothesis of human thermal perception: Alliesthesia. Building Research&Information, 39(2), 108–117.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09613218.2011.55226
Featured articles and news
Download your free guide.
Four new types of prior approval for solar developments
Online Planning Portal application types from 5 September.
Election fails to spark construction industry revival
Contract awards and planning; post election.
Making diversity and inclusion easy for SMEs
The CIOB tool for companies with limited resources.
Sustainable Futures: Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living
BSRIA Briefing 2024, initial speakers announced.
Looking back at the UK's first Passivhaus leisure centre
Reflections on St Sidwell’s Point with CIAT.
A-Level results and electrical apprenticeships
Electrical Skills Index highlights areas with skills shortages.
One of the world's more unusual drive-throughs.
A quick introduction.
Hadrian's Wall Path and the national trails
The trails are heritage assets in their own right.
Articles on timely advice and hydraulic lime.
Building Designers Association of Australia
CIAT and BDAA sign Memorandum of Understanding.
Built Environment Inclusive partners issue statement committed to inclusion.
Building regulation requirements can have unintended consequences.
CIOB announces 2024/25 vice president
Sustainability champion Professor Saul Humphrey.
Accelerating towards a net-zero built environment.