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Domestic Atmospheres

This architectural project addresses Paris’s climate challenges in 2100 by focusing on thermal emissivity and sustainable design. The initiative aims to maintain comfortable living temperatures (20-28°C) while reducing fossil fuel dependence, particularly important since buildings contribute 39% of global CO2 emissions.

The design evolved through three phases: First, exploring thermal emissivity principles, where high-emissivity materials (like wood and stone) absorb and emit heat efficiently, while low-emissivity materials (like polished metals) reflect heat. Second, developing three stackable volumes optimized for different seasons, each with varying heights and materials to manage temperature control. The final phase transformed an existing 5x18x30m building into modular micro-living units.

The final design features three seasonal volumes, each wrapped in 25cm insulation: a flat-roofed winter volume for heat retention, a shed-roofed spring volume for balanced ventilation, and a pitched-roof summer volume for cooling. Rooms are positioned at different heights, connected by small floors and ladders, with bedroom placement varying by season - highest in winter to capture rising heat, mid-level in spring, and ground level in summer for cooling. This modular system creates adaptable, climate-responsive homes that minimize energy use while reimagining domestic living.