Understanding Architecture: Key Principles

• Chapter One lecture notes for Selected Topics in Architecture Design 0404482 for Spring 2024- 2025.

Architecture? General Introduction

• Architecture merges art and science to design functional, aesthetically pleasing spaces responsive to community and individual needs.
• Architecture essentially creates life-enhancing built environments while addressing form, function, and environmental challenges.
• Architecture bridges technical skills, creativity, and problem-solving to create improved living environments.
• Roman Architect Vitruvius stated that architecture must embody strength ("firmitas"), utility ("utilitas"), and beauty ("venustas").
• Frank Lloyd Wright described architecture as life, the mother art rising from needs and desires.
• Louis Kahn defined the architect as the intermediary between societal inspiration and construction reality.
• Architects are creators, problem-solvers, and visionaries improving human life through built environments.
• An architect is a creator and problem-solver balancing beauty with function and practicality.
• Spatial needs require developing creative solutions.
• Challenges addressed include site conditions, environmental constraints, budget, and regulations.
• Architects blend art, science, and technology to create iconic or sustainable structures.
• Architects solve spatial and environmental challenges.
• Architecture design should focus on people's comfort, safety, and well-being.

Key Roles of the Architect

• An architect's roles include creator, problem solver, interpreter, and guardian
• An architect's general role is about functional and aesthetic spaces, problem-solving, human needs, as well as public safety and well-being

Creator of Functional and Aesthetic Spaces

• The goal is to combine function with beauty to create purposeful, inspiring spaces/environments.
• Key responsibilities include designs with efficiency, safety, ease of use as well as an incorporated artistic vision for visual appeal.

Problem Solver

• Addressing and solving design challenges based on context and constraints is the goal.
• Key responsibilities include working within budget, environmental factors, and material constraints.
• Responsibilities also include the challenge of spatial issues such as fitting functions into small spaces.
• The role includes innovating solutions for energy, accessibility and sustainability.

Interpreter of Human Needs

• Translating client/user needs and desires into spatial design is the goal.
• Key responsibilities encompass understanding a client's vision, lifestyle, and aspirations.
• Conducting user research ensures the design meets social and functional needs.

Guardian of Public Safety and Well-Being

• Designing structurally sound, safe, and code-compliant buildings is the primary goal.
• Buildings must adhere to fire, seismic, and accessibility codes.
• Responsibilities should include using appropriate materials and engineering techniques to ensure safety.

Coordinator of the Built Environment

• Balancing the relationship between buildings, surroundings, and environment is the goal.
• Integrating designs with urban and surrounding landscapes is a responsibility.
• Key responsibilities also include designing in harmony with nature respecting ecological systems.

Visionary for the Future

• The goal is to anticipate future trends and design spaces that remain relevant and adaptable.
• Designing flexible spaces evolving user needs is a key part.
• The role should consider future technologies and societal shifts.

Comfort as a Reflection of Building Performance Mandates

• Aligning a building's design/operational goals with occupants' physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.
• Comfort highlights the correlation between building performance and occupant satisfaction.

Thermal Comfort

• Thermal comfort is the state of mind expressing satisfaction with the thermal environment per ASHRAE Standard 55.
• Metrics include air temperature, MRT (mean radiant temperature), humidity, air speed, clothing, and activity.
• Comfortable thermal conditions enhance workplace, school, and activity-based environments.
• Design/management of thermal comfort reduces energy consumption by lowering operational costs while minimizing environmental impacts.

Acoustic Comfort

• The capacity to perform tasks without unwanted noise or disruptions, ensuring speech intelligibility and sound isolation.
• Sound Pressure Levels (SPL), Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC), and Reverberation Time (RT) are important metrics.
• Poor acoustics affect communication, productivity, and overall space satisfaction.
• Excessive noise disrupts focus, productivity, and sleep.

Visual Comfort

• Achieved when lighting allows tasks efficiently, avoids discomfort, and creates psychological ease by balancing light quantity/quality.
• Key standards include illuminance levels, glare index, daylight factor, uniformity ratio, color rendering index, and correlated color temperature.
• Visual comfort enhances productivity, reduces fatigue, and ensures efficient use of natural/artificial lighting.
• Natural light/external views reduce stress, boost mood, and improve occupant satisfaction.
• Optimizing daylight/task lighting reduces reliance on artificial lighting to save energy.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

• This is the degree that building air is free from pollutants, is appropriately humidified, and thermally balanced.
• Minimum ventilation rates (ASHRAE Standard 62.1) are essential for controlling volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulates, humidity, and carbon dioxide.
• Good IAQ reduces risks, enhances productivity, and aligns sustainably with the building.

Spatial and Functional Comfort

• Spatial layout supports intended building use and adapts to changing needs.
• Accessibility standards which include ADA, space efficiency, scale, environmenal connections and flexibility for multiple uses are important metrics.
• Spatial comfort allows users to feel safe and at ease, improving both productivity and satisfaction.
• Improves inclusivity by ensuring building access and use for all, including those with disabilities.
• Supports well-being by adapting spaces to occupant needs.

Environmental Comfort

• The integration of a building with natural surroundings with energy/resource is important.
• Sustainable energy use and renewable integration are essential components.
• Considering a connection to nature through biophilic design principles.
• Comfort must also respect building interaction with the external environment.

Low-energy buildings, Environmental buildings and Sustainable Architecture

• Low energy buildings has evolved over time, due to societal, technological and environmental.
• Buildings before energy systems were made to naturally regulate temperature.
• Early designs utilized sunlight, wind, and thermal mass for heating, cooling, and ventilation.
• Industrialization led to reliance on mechanical heating, cooling, and lighting.
• Traditional passive strategies were abandoned as energy became inexpensive.
• Governments and researchers began advocating for energy-efficient building to reduce dependence on oils from the crisis of 1973-1979.
• Passive Solar Designs re-emerged as a response to energy scarcity.
• Maximizing sunlight for winter heating and minimizing summer heat gain became a focus for architects.
• Building codes mandating energy efficiency was introduced by governments.
• The Passive House standard (Passivhaus) in Germany (1988) set very low energy buildings.
• Ultra-low cooling and heating energy demand with airtight construction/ mechanical ventilation was implemented.
• Becoming a benchmark for efficiency was the effect of a Passive House.
• Net-zero energy buildings (ZEBs) generate as much energy as they consume annually via renewables.
• Governments/organizations set goals, such as the European Union's NZEB directive.

Environmental buildings

• A design emphasizing harmony by reducing the building's environmental footprint and integrating with natural systems.
• Energy crises forced architects to rethink their fossil fuel reliance and prompted energy-efficient/climate-responsive buildings.
• Institutionalization of environmental principles occurred in the 1980s with green building frameworks.
• BREEAM (1990) from the UK, was the first green building certification.
• LEED (1998) introduced in the U.S.

Key Environmental Aspects (not limited to)

• Key points encompass energy, resources, water, sites, and indoor quality
• Enphasizes green house emmisions, building, fixtures, quality etc.

Sustainable Architecture Principles

• Sustainable design integrates social, environmental, and economical considerations into design which minimizes outcomes benefitting all.

Key Principles

• Resource Efficiency: Prioritizing renewable and biodegradable materials to reduce resource depletion.
• Lifecycle Thinking: Considering material sourcing and usage to reduce harm
• Durability and Adaptability: Designing for long-lasting and changing user needs.
• Social Responsibility: Promotes ethical labor practices, fair trade sourcing, and positive community effects.
• Economic Viability: Balances economic efficiency and environmental goals.

Environmental Aspects in Sustainable Design

• Environmental aspects of sustainable design focus on minimizing negative impacts
• Designers makes choices that conserve resources, reduce pollution, and protect ecosystems.

Key Environmental Aspects in Sustainable Design

• Include the use of energy efficiency with renewable energy, material selection, waste/water reduction, biodiversity with carbon footprint reduction.
• Lowering consumption
• Using sustainable materials
• Eliminating toxins
• Protecting habitats
• Offsetting emissions

Waste Reduction and Management

• Designing for minimal waste generation.
• Promoting reuse, recycling, and composting of materials.
• Implementing circular design principles.

Pollution Prevention

• Limiting air, water, and soil contamination.
• Using eco-friendly production and non-toxic finishes.

Water Conservation

• Reducing water consumption.
• Incorporating water-efficient systems.
• Preventing water pollution via sustainable waste.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Protection

• Avoiding practices that harm natural habitats and ecosystems.
• Designing projects that support biodiversity.
• Minimizing land use and deforestation.

Lifecycle Impact Assessment

• Evaluating the environmental impact at every stage.
• Making improvements to reduce the overall ecological footprint.

Carbon Footprint Reduction

• Lowering emissions and operations.
• Offsetting emissions via neutral initiatives.

Sustainable Transportation

• Designing logistics and supply chains to cut transportation emissions.
• Supporting public transport and friendly infrastructure.

Rating Systems

• Rating systems ensure that the buildings integrate economic viability, social equity, and environmental responsibility.
• These help to ensure that the building is sustainable by checking key factors and metrics

Purpose of Rating Systems

• Promote better sustainability goals
• Offer Metrics
• Encourage innovation
• Consider the lifecycle
• Have better market Recognition
• Have better Performance

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Established by the United Nations.
• Are a global blueprint for achieving a better and more sustainable future by 2030.
• Help to ensure the integration of sustainablity in future goals

Goals and Statistics

• Energy Consumption: Buildings accounted for about 34% of global demand in '22
• GHG Emissions: The construction sector is responsible for ~37% of CO2 emissions.
• Resource Consumption: Construction consumes over 60% of world's resources.

Key SDGs Relevant to Sustainable Design

• There is an emphasis on affordable energy, sustainable cities, responsible consumption and climate action

• The end goal is to reduce waste and carbon emmisions, improve sustainability and protect the environment for future generationas to work

• There are goals to ensure that people have electricity, better infrastructure and clean services to use

• Chapter Two lecture notes.

• Focuses on foundational sustainable design principles, emphasizing how buildings relate to their thermal environment.

• Key is understanding heat transfer mechanisms as well as thermal resistance, thermal mass, and the greenhouse effect.

• The lecture highlights can scientific principles guide the design of buildings that are environmentally friendly.

Fundamentals

• Sustainable building design is rooted in heat and energy interaction with the environment.
• Architects optimize thermal performance and cut energy use by controlling energy flow.

Types of Heat

• There is sensible, latent and radiant heat to work with

Sensible Heat

• Is the agent that changes the temperature of a material or space without changing state
• Managing sensible heat helps control indoor air temperatures effectively.

Latent Heat

• Heat is absorbed during a phase change such as liquid/vapor
• Understanding helps design HVAC systems and manage humidity for comfort/efficiency.

Radiant Heat

• Heat transfers through electromagnetic waves (e.g., sunlight).
• Radiation is essential in passive solar design especially during cooler months.

Energy Flow in Buildings

Energy flow involves how heat enters, exits, or is transported throughout a building which is influenced by design/materials.

• Heat Gains: Generated by occupants, appliances, and sunlight
• Heat Losses: Occurs via windows, walls and ventilation.
• Strategies: To minimize gains in hot areas and maximize gains in cold areas

Mechanisms of Heat Transfer

• Impact thermal performance, energy efficiency, and comfort explaining how energy moves via conduction, convection, and radiation.

Conduction

• Transfers heat within solid materials when energy moves from warmer to cooler regions.
• Heat flows via molecules because of temperature.
• Thermal Conductivity (k) and material thickness affect conduction.

Convection

• Transfers heat via fluid (liquids or gases) movement (air circulation).
• Process can be natural (warm air rising) or forced (fans circulating air).
• Factors include air movement, temperature and surface area

Radiation

• Transfers heat through electromagnetic waves: no medium needed.
• Heat is emitted (warm surface) and absorbed (cooler surface).
• Properties include orientation/exposure and distance.

Thermal Comfort

• Thermal comfort is the condition in which the occupants can feel the most satisfied thermally
• Achieving thermal comfort is a key aspect of sustainable design.
• Thermal Comfort is affected via both environmental and personal factors.

Environmental Factors

• Temperature of air surrounding occupants optimally varies between 20-26C
• Humidity is important for cooling
• Occupants can enhance cooling through air velocity
• MRT or the average temperature all affects the occupant
• Factors should be taken account of to ensure optimal results

Personal Factors

• Also include metabolic rate and clothing insulation
• Clothing helps retain warmth
• A person at rest releases less heat than someone active

Thermal Mass and Time Lag

• Helps to affect the temperature by using materials
• This includes absorpotion, storing and relasing heat
• Ideal during climates with big varying temperature periods

Thermal mass

• Is the ablity of the material to store and release heat

Time lag

• Time lag is the time between absorbing the heat and it's release
• Factors to affect therma mass are the materials, climate, surface and the shading

Greenhouse Effect

• Solar radiation enters through transparent/translucent surfaces, is absorbed by surfaces, then trapped as heat.
• The green house effect can heat homes in cold regions

Challenges of Green House Effect

• Challenges exist such as overheating, glare and heatloss issues
• Mitigating approaches involve the use of low-E glass, window placement with strategic orientation and shading

Thermal Resistance and Insulation

• They both play key roles because they affect the amount of heat in buildings

Thermal Resistance

• The material to resist the ability of flowing
• Represented by RValue

Insulations

• Improves efficiency in use and reduces energy
• This can lead to increased cooling and heating
• Some materials include fiberglass and spray foam and mineral wool

Embodied Energy in Materials

• Is described as the cumulative energy consumed in stages to associate a aterial from creation of the raw product, to it's eventual desposal.

Stages of Embodied Energy

• Extraction
• Manufacturing
• Transportation
• Construction
• Maintenance
• Demolition

Importance of Sustainability

• This reduces environmental impacts, improves lifecycle and durability
• Durability and longevity ensures its longevity.