Climate Responsive Building Design Project

Code

ABEE4092

School

Architecture and Built Environment

Level

4

Credits

20

Semesters

Spring UK

Summary

Architects, engineers and other relevant professionals engaged in designing sustainable and energy efficient buildings and neighbourhoods require in-depth understanding of human thermal comfort and the impact of prevailing local site physical and climatic conditions on building design and its surrounding environment, (e.g. site topography/landscape, sun’s position and radiation, ambient temperature and humidity and onsite wind speed and direction).

In this module students will be introduced to the principles of site planning, building design and technology in different climates, employing critical review and analysis of examples of real building projects from different climatic regions. Lectures will also present and discuss results of field measurements and computer simulations of real traditional and modern buildings thermal performance. Lectures will also be supported by relevant video presentations, to help students further understand module contents such as human thermal comfort and building energy performance.

This module will also examine the concepts of bioclimatic design and outdoor and indoor human thermal comfort at international level. These include the role of thermal mass, earth-sheltering/integration and ventilation in controlling indoor temperature. The module will also address climatic and socio-economic impacts on building form and structure in a global context.

Students will have the opportunity to work together in groups to produce climate responsive site plans and landscape for a complex of public building in different climatic regions. In their project, students use the knowledge gained from this module and well-known computer programs, such as EnergyPlus and ANSYS, which are taught as part of two other MSc autumn modules.

Students will also use other free computer tools which are specifically developed for this module for the assessment of human thermal comfort and development of the human comfort zone and potential of passive cooling and heating. 

In the process, students are expected to give group PowerPoint presentations of their final projects. Students will also work individually to produce detailed climate responsive building design and energy efficient building envelope/structure, depending on their professional backgrounds. Students will receive studio-style tutorial support during their group and individual project work.

Target Students

Strictly, Postgraduate students only. MSc Renewable Energy and Architecture plus Postgraduate Taught Students in the Faculty of Engineering. Registration on a Postgraduate Taught Programme in the Faculty of Engineering. Registration and attendance of ABEE4102 - Wind Environment 3D Simulation in Architecture - and - ABEE4101 - Passive Solar Design Principles and Simulation.

Assessment

• 30% Coursework 1: Written group report, based on siteplanning/design and computer simulations.
• 10% Coursework 2: In class activity. Oral group presentation.
• 60% Coursework 3: Written individual report, based on building/technology design/integration and computer simulations.

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding
-The principles and techniques of site and building bio-climatic and energy efficient design in different climatic regions
 

Intellectual skills
-Application of judgement and reasoning to the selection of appropriate systems/technologies for optimizing urban and individual building design performance, with respect to local climatic conditions prevailing on site
 

Professional/practical skills
-Selection, design and evaluation of climate responsive site-plan and building form and fabric for any location
 

Transferable/key skills
-Decision making regarding the selection of appropriate climate responsive systems and technology for a given application and location
 

Conveners

• Dr Mohamed Gadi