The impact of environmental and ecological parameters becomes increasingly formative in architectural design. To give architects a head start within this discourse, this course aims to develop design strategies that integrate architectural sciences, such as building physics and ecological engineering, into the design process.

Energy Design: Energy Design is a design strategy, which allows to develop systems to balance the energy consumption and the energy production of buildings -it is a strategy to achieve sustainability. Beyond that, in this course, energy shall not only be discussed as an economic and physical quantity, but in the context of perceptual qualities. Energy design shall thus be applied at the very beginning of the design process, not only informing the design for an improved energy performance but making energy-related environmental qualities an intrinsic part of the architectural experience.

Methodology: Parametric methods and software for building performance evaluation are combined to pursue a design research in performance-driven architecture.

Based on an individual research agenda, students develop a specific design study based on their pre-diploma project. Analysis, concepts and the formal impact have to be presented in a PDF booklet.

Task:

For a start, please send me a PDF concept file, comprising:

(A) a short introduction to your studio design concept (B) a climate analysis for the site or the region, your are working on...or any other relevant physical fact (C) a raw, sketchy outline of first ideas and questions for an energy design concept ...at least QUESTIONS!

There is no project where Energy would not play a role - from the very first considerations! Energy Design is not just integrating building physics or considerations on efficiency. To design with energy in mind means to understand the tangible world as a whole and not to focus on mere optical phenomena.

Prerequisite: This course can only be chosen during your pre-diploma (5th semester) and has to be based on your pre-diploma studio project.

Organisation: There will be a kick-off lecture. All other dates are meant to be individual consutling sessions. Seminar is taught in English or German, as you wish.

Distant learning (Corona-mode):

All regular dates are online during Mode Orange/Red resp. Lockdown. Time slots for individual advice are agreed upon via termino.gv.at.  All meetings are held via zoom.us. The key to the meeting is sent to registered students only via basemail.

All regular dates are cancelled during Mode Orange/Red resp. Lockdown.

We are happy to have you online.