A skywell, or "tian jing" in Chinese, is a typical feature of a traditional home in Southern and Eastern China. They are commonly seen in homes _____31_____(date) to the Ming and Qing dynasties, which _____32_____(design) to house different generations of relatives. Despite their varied sizes and designs, these skywells are typically square and located in _____33_____ heart of the house. They serve to allow in light, enhance airflow, and harvest rainwater.
Since decades ago, the government _____34_____ (advocate) green buildings, promoting environmentally-friendly practice. The increased interest towards traditional Chinese architecture is leading to the restoration of historic buildings with skywells _____35_____ modern use. Architects are also looking towards the principles behind skywells while designing new buildings _____36_____(save) energy. The Dongguan TBA Tower in Guangdong Province, for example, brings natural airflows into every floor with internal "windpipes" _____37_____ function in a similar way to skywells. The aim is to keep the building's temperature _____38_____(comfort) in all seasons, using only natural airflow.
The fact that skywells still exist today shows _____39_____ clever ancient builders were in using nature's elements to create energy-sufficient and sustainable living spaces. These timeless architectural _____40_____(wonder) continue to inspire architects in their efforts to find green solutions for cooling homes and buildings.