11. Adaptive Design
12.2 Responsive Design Process
There are various methods and strategies in which climate responsive design could be achieved, but what they have in common is that in order to achieve a bioclimatic building, it is necessary to follow an architectural design process based on an ecological perspective.240 This research will adopt the similar schematic design process that is shared in the book The Green Building Handbook by Alison G. Kwok, which I find successful in providing a good basis on how to design a climate responsive architecture.
The schematic design process consists of:
Schematic Design Process241 Defining the Problem
240 Alison G. Kwock, and Walter T. Grondzik. The Green Building Handbook:
Environmental Strategies for Schematic Design. First ed. (Oxford, UK. Elsevier, 2007). 7.
241 Kwock,The Green Building Handbook.7-13.
96 Form Giver
- Daylighting
- Passive and Active strategies Feedback Loop
Although the process is organized in a strategic way, the form finding of a building is not restricted to the order of which this process is laid out for as Kwock would note, “they can be executed with infinite variations,”242 but also reciprocates with one another. The next section will briefly discuss the initial part of the design process as defined by Kwok, however, I briefly define only elements that I find significant in relation to this research. In addition, I will discuss various tools as mentioned by Kwok, which would assist in making the proper decisions that would improve the overall building performance.
Lastly I would explore various measures to assess the thermal comfort of the environment.
Defining the Problem
To briefly explain, as defined by Kwok, understanding the parameters and the vision of a project is very important and should be established in the
242 Ibid, 13.
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very beginning of the design phases.243 It is here that the overall concept and benchmarks of the project design, the goals, and the assumptions are established.244
Project Data
It is in this process where the composition of the building form begins.
Understanding and evaluating the site is very important to for all architectural design, especially for a bioclimatic building which encompass passive systems. The condition of the microclimate, topography and other characteristics of the site like neighboring structures, informs the designer in making the most effective solutions.245
Form Givers
The building mass can be influenced by many factors depending on the design concept and intent. In design a bioclimatic architecture, the building mass would be influenced by the sun in reducing heat gains, optimizing wind ventilation and maximizing daylight.246 Daylighting focuses on design strategies that maximize daylighting which is a significant element on creating a visually comfortable environment. At the same time
243 Ibid.7.
244 Ibid, 8.
245 Kwock,The Green Building Handbook.9.
246 Yeang, Ken. The Green Skyscraper.205-212.
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daylighting have psychological benefits.247 This consist of properly sizing windows and or openings and other lighting strategies to fully optimize daylight.248 Passive strategies refer to the use of natural elements to provide comfort in the indoor environment, such as natural ventilation or sun light for heating.249 Active strategies on the other hand refer to mechanical systems to provide cooling and heating, like air conditioning.250 However both can be integrated at the same time which is called a hybrid system.251 This is a way to allow the building to responsive to certain conditions and could also allow control for users.252
Building Organization
This part of the process refers to the layout of programs in the building, this could influence or be influenced by the overall form of the building depending on the intent.253 Programs could be organized based on orientation, social purposes, or optimizing the building performance.254
Transitional Spaces
247 Lisa Heschong. "Daylighting and human performance." ASHRAE journal 44, no. 6 (2002): 65.
248 Kwock,The Green Building Handbook.9.
249 Ibid.
250 Ibid.
251 Ibid.
252 Ibid
253 Ibid. 11.
254 Kwock,The Green Building Handbook.11.
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Transitional spaces in this case are circulation between spaces of a building.255 The location of the circulation of a building is important because it may influence the over mass of a building. The location of the circulation may also influence how the sun will impact the building surface which would affect the internal comfort.256 The circulation mass in this case may function as a barrier.
Passive and Active Strategies
The building climate control systems refer to the passive and/or active techniques to respond to a certain climatic condition.257 Passive strategies refer to using natural elements along with creative solutions from the architect, to respond to the micro climate of the building site.258 This refers to proper configuration and placement of building components such as walls, windows, overhangs, or shading devices.259 Active Strategies on the other hand refer to the mechanically operated systems such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC) to provide thermally comfortable environment. Sometimes the two are combined to create a hybrid system; passive and active strategies work together, usually between the building envelope and the HVAC systems to respond to climatic
255 Ibid.
256 Yeang, Ken. The Green Skyscraper: The Basis for Designing Sustainable Intensive Buildings. Munich: Prestel, 1999.208.
257 Ibid, 10.
258 Ibid.
259 Ibid.
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conditions.260 The operation of a hybrid system may be manually adjusted by occupants or computer operated to automatically employ the systems based on the climate conditions.261
Envelope
The envelope of a building is generally composed of specific materials and insulation.262 Certain properties of the materials and insulation of an envelope impacts the amount of heat that from the exterior environment into the indoor spaces.263 Which affects considerably the thermal comfort of a building, therefore choosing the proper materials is essential in providing a thermally comfortable indoor environment.264 The envelope could also include shading devices along the façade like louvers or screens to prevent solar radiation or rain from entering the building.