Building Performance Overview

Primary Function of a Building

• Providing shelter and protection from the elements

User Safety and Comfort Performance

• Ensures user well-being through safety and comfort

Ergonomic Performance in Buildings

• User's physical comfort, ease of use, and interaction with the building

Spatial Relation Performance

• Question NOT related: "What is the building's primary purpose?"
• It focuses on the relationships between spaces within the building, such as circulation patterns, accessibility, and visual connections.

User Comfort Performance

• Addresses how well a building caters to the comfort of its occupants.

Control Factors for User Comfort Performance

• Temperature, lighting, ventilation, and noise levels can all be factors in user comfort performance.

Building Performance Types

• Spatial Relationship Performance primarily focuses on the connection and interplay between spaces within a building.

Focus When Discussing Buildings

• The course's main focus is on how buildings perform in relation to various aspects such as user comfort, sustainability, accessibility, and aesthetics.

Importance of Ergonomic Performance

• Ergonomics in building design is essential for user comfort and safety, reducing strain and promoting well-being.

Evaluating Building Performance Criteria

• One criterion NOT mentioned is the building’s environmental impact

Defining A Building (Davies & Jokineimi)

• A building is defined as a structure that provides shelter and serves as a physical representation of human activity.

Building as an Act

• Emphasizes the ongoing process of building as an act of creation, maintenance, and transformation.

Defining a Building (Cyril M. Harris)

• A building is defined as a permanent structure that serves as a place of dwelling, work, or assembly.

DPWH Defining a Building

• A significant feature of a building, as defined by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), is its purpose and function.

User Convenience in Building Design

• User convenience in building design means creating spaces that are easily navigable, accessible, and allow for efficient use of the building.

Francis D.K. Ching's Building Definition

• According to Francis D.K. Ching, a building is a "constructed space that is intended to shelter people, goods, or activities."

Illumination Control

• The primary focus of illumination control in a building is to provide adequate lighting for different activities and needs, while also considering energy efficiency and user comfort.

Thermal Comfort

• Thermal comfort in a building design seeks to achieve a comfortable temperature range for its occupants, balancing warmth, coolness, and air movement.

Moisture Control

• Moisture control concerns preventing the accumulation of moisture within the building through strategies like ventilation, drainage, and moisture-resistant materials.

Aesthetic Performance

• Aesthetic Performance focuses on the visual appeal and aesthetic qualities of the building, including its form, materials, colors, and textures.

Building-Site Relationship

• The factor NOT considered when examining the relationship between a building and its site is the building's economic performance.

Psychological Impact

• Refers to how a building's design and features affect the emotional and psychological well-being of its occupants, considering aspects like light, space, colors, and views.

Structural Safety Performance

• Characteristic NOT involved: the aesthetic appeal of the structural elements.

Forms and Massing in Building Aesthetics

• Forms and massing in a building's design contribute to its aesthetic appeal by creating visual interest, defining the building's silhouette, and influencing the overall design aesthetic.

Fire Safety and Prevention

• The primary focus of fire safety and prevention in building design is to minimize the risks of fire outbreaks, ensuring efficient evacuation pathways, and employing fire-resistant materials.

Social Performance in Building Design

• Social performance does NOT always consider the building's environmental impact.

Differential Settlement

• Refers to uneven sinking or settling of different parts of a building's foundation, which can lead to structural damage and instability.

Building Resistance to Natural Elements

• An important consideration regarding buildings' ability to resist natural elements such as wind, rain, and earthquakes is the building's structural integrity and its ability to withstand potential forces.

Environmental Impact

• Environmental Impact, in building design context, refers to the building's effect on the surrounding environment, considering factors like energy consumption, waste generation, and resource usage.

Fire Suppression Systems

• The availability of fire suppression systems ensures a measure of safety by quickly extinguishing fires or containing them, minimizing damage and facilitating safer evacuation.

Accessibility Features in Building Design

• Designing buildings with accessibility features promotes inclusivity and social equity, ensuring all individuals can access and use the building regardless of their abilities.

Mitigating Negative Neighborhood Impact

• One strategy to mitigate negative impacts on the neighborhood by a building is designing the building with a visually appealing and cohesive facade that blends with its surroundings.

Traffic Impact

• Traffic Impact specifically assesses the effects of a building's presence on the flow and congestion of traffic in the surrounding area.

Initial Cost of a Building

• Cost NOT included: Maintenance Cost

Economic Performance in Buildings

• Assessing the economic performance of buildings examines how efficiently and cost-effectively a building operates, including factors like energy usage, maintenance expenses, and return on investment.

Operational Cost

• Operational Cost encompasses daily expenses such as electricity and water bills.

Cultural/Heritage Impact

• Evaluates a building design's potential impact on cultural or heritage sites in the area, considering preservation efforts and respecting existing characteristics.

Construction Cost

• NOT part of the Construction Cost: Operational Cost

Maintenance Cost

• Maintenance Cost typically includes routine repairs, cleaning, and upkeep of a building to maintain its functionality and appearance over time.

Project Justification

• Evaluates the justifiable value of a building's project by considering project feasibility, financial viability, and long-term benefits.