The Indoor Air Quality Programme of the WHO Regional Office for Europe

The indoor air quality (IAQ) programme of the World Health Organization Regional office for Europe was initiated in the mid-seventies when it was realized that over 70% of the general population spends its time indoors in homes, office buildings, schools, hospitals, transportation means, etc. The first meting of experts on health aspects related to IAQ was convened in 1979, being probably the first international meeting on IAQ with participation from eastern and western Europe as well as from North America. Seven meetings followed between 1982 and 1990, at which the “sick building” syndrome, IAQ research, formaldehyde and radon, organic pollutants, biological contaminants, combustion products, and mineral fibres were discussed. A ninth meeting on sources, control and mitigation is planned for 1991.     

Multi-disciplinary collaborative building design—A comparative study between multi-agent systems and multi-disciplinary optimisation approaches

The importance of collaboration between different design disciplines has been widely recognised by the building industry. Traditionally this is achieved through physical meetings between the representatives of different design groups. However, this is facing more challenges when dealing with large and complex design problems. Various approaches have been introduced to tackle this problem, such as multi-agent systems (MAS) and the multi-disciplinary design optimisation (MDO) approaches. The former represents an advanced, ICT-based framework which facilitates collaborative design through communication, data and knowledge sharing and negotiation while the latter represents a theoretical modelling approach which facilitates collaborative design through a thorough analysis of the technical problems. By comparing the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches in facilitating collaborative design, this paper provides a roadmap study for the development of collaborative building design.     

Exceedance Degree-Hours: A new method for assessing long-term thermal conditions

Several “discomfort indices” have been proposed and codified into building standards, with several needs usually reported for such indices. They should: express the severity of discomfort in time steps while incorporating all environmental and personal factors; be usable with any comfort model (and thus, a variety of interests, for example, traditional thermal comfort, sleep comfort), among other requirements. The existing indices, however, fall short of meeting all these goals, limiting their usefulness in many situations, such as assessing conditions in mixed-mode buildings, especially when used for building performance simulation and design optimization purposes. Here, a new discomfort index called “Exceedance Degree-Hours” is developed, which accounts for all six main environmental and personal factors. By using an equivalent temperature index, “Exceedance Degree-Hours” can capture variations in discomfort severity between different thermal conditions that other indices cannot. In contrast with other indices, “Exceedance Degree-Hours” can be paired with various comfort definitions from literature, and, importantly, it can be used to assess thermal comfort in mixed-mode buildings, providing a single value as a result. Here, the results of the proposed method are compared to those of existing discomfort indices suggested in standards, and the advantages and limitations of the proposed approach are discussed.     

学校建筑设计漫谈

本文从学校建筑的发展趋势、设计的必要条件、作品实例等几方面对学校建筑的设计进行探讨。旨在为建筑师在设计此类建筑起到“抛砖引玉”的作用。     

Innovative construction and the role of boundary objects: a Gehry case study

Physical objects have long been used in addressing the challenges involved in constructing innovative buildings, yet their significance for collaborative problem solving in inter-organizational projects is rarely acknowledged. The aim of this research is to investigate what happens when a project team has to collaboratively innovate to address radical design challenges in a construction setting. We focus on the role of a full-scale mock-up of a façade in transforming the design intent for a building by Frank Gehry into design realization. The concept of boundary objects is used as an analytical lens via a case study methodology utilizing non-participant observation of weekly meetings and workshops over a period of 10 months covering client, consultant and contractor involvement. The research shows the role of mock-ups in radical construction settings is in tension along three delivery dimensions: performance, aesthetic and technical construction. Task completion competed with the requirements for experimentation around innovative problem solving with the how to construct it problem left unresolved. The findings suggest that co-location and synchronicity are critical conditions for collaborative and innovative problem solving in radical construction contexts. Project teams need to create open-ended ‘moments’ for iterating critical objects and the interactions that take place around them.     

The effect of indoor environmental quality on occupants’ perception of performance: A case study of refurbished historic buildings in Malaysia

This paper presents an assessment of occupants’ opinion of the internal environment of buildings, based upon their responses to questions relating to a range of discrete factors. The survey considers many aspects of the internal environment and seeks to gain occupants responses to each of these in terms of “User Satisfaction” and “Degree of Importance”. The questionnaire utilised a seven-point bi-polar scale to score these responses against each of the factors. In addition, the questionnaire elicits a ‘fingerprint’ that combines up to 22 factors relating to satisfaction with the building. The study documents and considers aspects of the building environment for which the users noted that they were least satisfied as well as those that are considered by the occupants as being of most importance. It is critical that sustainable development results not just in resource conservation, but also in increasing productivity and occupant well-being within buildings. This study hopes to provide insight for the design community on the perceptions of occupants in relation to building performance based on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) criteria. It also seeks to add to the growing body of research on sustainable design and occupants’ perception of IEQ.     

Prediction of building envelope performance in the design stage: an application for office buildings

Building envelope should provide visual, thermal and acoustical comfort in accordance with the function of the room. The material properties of the translucent-window- and opaque components-wall- of the building envelope and the ratio of these components are effective in the establishment of comfort conditions in an interior. The perfection of the building envelope design is highly related to the consideration of all parameters together for visual, thermal and acoustical comfort.In this article, at first basic design process to predict the building envelope providing visual, thermal and acoustical comfort, namely “optimum building envelope” is explained, then the used methodologies and some of the results of a research project named “Optimum building envelope design in terms of visual, thermal and acoustical comfort in offices” are presented.     

A new approach to performance-based building design exploration using linear inverse modeling

Despite the development of a large number of building performance simulation tools, designers still need a systematic framework appropriate for energy-oriented decision-making in the early stages of design. While the current workflow follows a “forward” modelling procedure in which simulation tools predict the performance of a design, this study proposes an “inverse” procedure that entails a performance objective that estimates design parameters. Using linear inverse modelling, this approach generates plausible ranges for design parameters given a preferred thermal performance. The paper begins by demonstrating that thermal demand in a particular building operation-and-climate condition can be expressed as a linear regression model and then, in two case-studies, uses the regression model to develop an inverse algorithm. After defining energy performance targets as input, users obtain a probabilistic estimate of design parameters as output that represents a large “menu” of feasible design solutions, provides confidence, and embodies the iterative nature of design.     

初步设计阶段的BIM造价协同管理模式研究

针对建筑工程项目造价管理阶段性介入设计,远滞后于设计,难以及时有效提供成本决策依据问题,以初步设计阶段为研究范围,以设计与造价的协同管理模式为研究对象,采用 BIM 和数据库技术,设计相应工作流程,实现设计与造价的协同管理。并以某办公楼项目为例,重点介绍基于 BIM 的造价协同管理模式在初步设计阶段成本控制中的应用,通过与传统模式的时间价值指标对比,验证了造价协同管理模式在成本控制中的高效性,为 BIM 技术推动初步设计阶段设计与造价协同管理的发展提供参考。     

Collaborative design using a shared IFC building model—Learning from experience

This paper reports on a multi-disciplinary building design studio where a shared IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) building model was employed to support a collaborative design process in a teaching context. The paper discusses the background to the idea of design collaboration based on a shared building model, looking at both the nature of design decision-making, as well as the process opportunities afforded by close multi-disciplinary collaboration and rapid feedback through design analysis. The paper reflects on our experience in running an initial studio class in 2004 and, more recently, planning for a repeat studio in 2005, focussing on the operational issues that are encountered when working with a shared building model during a design process. The paper concludes with a statement of the lessons learnt and strategies to be adopted in future projects of this nature.     

里地里山和社区景观营造视角下的日本乡村景观规划

“里地里山”,是对于日本乡村景观的一般性概括,包含着对于乡村景观独特的理解。另一方面,日本结合其自身国情,创造出了一套有别于一般的国土规划和城市规划的“社区营造”的工作方法体系,这种独特的工作方法,直接影响了日本乡村景观规划工作的进程与结果。概念和工作方法本身是相互依存和影响的,日本的乡村景观亦是如此。发掘和总结此二者之间的关系,正是本文的关注点和创新点所在。     

A computational approach for achieving optimum daylight inside buildings through automated kinetic shading systems

Parametric architecture can be used to improve design quality by integrating and coordinating design components, and any change in one parameter affects the final design. Daylight is a crucial parameter in designing energy-efficient buildings. In this research, daylight inside a building was improved by designing a kinetic shading system with independent units parametrically responding to sunlight through 3D rotation (around the centers of the units) and 2D movement (on the surface of the shading system). Various patterns were determined to create the unit's basic form and allow the designer to have a wide range of options. The units were defined with the plugin “Grasshopper.” Their rotation was parametrically controlled on the basis of sun path and weather data by using “Honeybee” and “Ladybug” plugins to provide constant optimized daylighting inside the building. Results showed that the use of such a shading system in optimal situations can greatly increase the efficiency of indoor daylight.     

Energy costs and environmental impact joined to the substitution of CFCs in vapour compression plants

At present, the utilization of vapour compression plants in refrigeration and air conditioning fields may have a negative impact on the environment both in direct and indirect terms. In fact, polluting substances are released during the conversion processes which occur to make the necessary mechanical energy available; but it is also acknowledged that a great many of the usual working fluids take part in stratospherical ozone destruction and/or in the so-called “greenhouse effect”.

Therefore, such problems are the subject of many studies and meetings in which international research workers, manufacturers and designers are involved.

These studies especially aim at:

i. an appraisal of actual and potential damage

ii. the setting up of plants and/or alternative working fluids

iii. a comparative evaluation in terms of energy efficiency and environmental impact (see 2)

iv. localization of any potentially dangerous working practices.

In this paper, energy costs and environmental impacts associated with the utilization of compression plants running with both traditional and “alternative” fluids will be evaluated on a theoretical-numerical base.     

Integrating Environmental and Economic Sustainability in New Building Construction and Retrofits

The aim of this paper is to grow the literature on methodological approaches directed to find out the most preferable retrofit design solutions for Energy-Efficient Buildings, sustainable from both an environmental and economic point of view. The paper proposes a methodology based on the integration of two existing approaches and finalized to support designers, constructors, developers, and public authorities in the decision-making process. The first approach is based on a joint application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC). The outputs are proposed as an input to the second approach, the Strategic Choice Approach (SCA), considered as a preliminary “platform” in which information deriving from three specific disciplines (“Materials Science and Technology”, “Environmental Technology” and “Real Estate Market Evaluation”) could be structured, shared and accessed by stakeholders, in order to facilitate the decision-making process. First findings are illustrated through an application of the proposed methodology on a case study in the city of Turin (Northern Italy). The selected case study constitutes a reference building for the Turin area because it represents the building construction techniques that mostly need to be refurbished in order to reduce energy consumptions at building level and, as a consequence, at urban level.     

A WEY to Design

Abstract

The material and fabrication research of architectural applications for aerogel was the result of a collaborative seminar titled Immaterial/Ultramaterial that took place in spring 2000 through spring 2001, at the Harvard Design School. The seminar involved students in the exploration of existing and emerging material technologies, engaging them in the process of research, fabrication, and installation. The work culminated with an exhibit in March 2001 titled “Immaterial/Ultramaterial.”     

Queering BIM

The use of building information modeling (BIM) for architectural design assumes precision and coordination of data. Outcomes prioritize constructability, assigning a stereotypically “straight” perspective to its high degree of building likelihood. Queering BIM is an applied method that challenges the normalization of BIM's default “family” objects. By shifting the focus of digital content development (on this often-imposed platform), a more socially responsible and equitable strategy promotes work with design specificity and collaboration potential.     

A dedicated collaboration platform for Integrated Project Delivery

To improve efficiency and reduce waste in Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) projects, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) has been proposed and used in some projects, revealing great advantages. However, IPD depends heavily on “big room” collaboration, which requires the constant presence of nearly all participants and is particularly difficult for small or medium projects. To overcome this problem, this research aims to develop a dedicated collaboration platform for IPD to achieve more efficient collaboration and replace the highly resource-consuming “big room”. Based on requirement analysis and design of the system architecture, a prototype system is developed and tested in a virtual IPD project. When combined with a few meetings, this collaboration platform can replace the “big room”. This will significantly reduce the difficulty associated with implementing IPD projects and thus promote the adoption of IPD.     

Supporting constructability analysis meetings with Immersive Virtual Reality-based collaborative BIM 4D simulation

Immersive Virtual Reality-based collaborative BIM 4D simulation can offer a unique, supportive environment for conducting constructability analysis meetings in the construction industry. While many research works have addressed various aspects of VR-based 4D simulation, there is still no comprehensive and neutral framework to help both practitioners and experts to identify the main challenges to address. This paper proposes four main complementary steps with which to define the VR environment, to develop the 4D model, to prepare and transfer the model in the VR system and to conduct constructability analysis meeting. In the current state of the framework, the 4D-based constructability analysis is more about the collaborative use of 4D rather than the collaborative generation and interaction with the 4D model. Each step of the framework is supported by appropriate methods and tools. A collaborative personas-based case study helps to evaluate the framework and to show how it can be used. Compared to recent related works, the proposed framework is more structured and comprehensive, providing a structured approach using concepts from multiple scientific areas.     

城市植物景观与关键种的协同共生设计框架——以野花草甸与传粉昆虫为例

城市植物景观的系统稳定性、观赏效果和生态服务功能的维持正面临气候变化和快速城市化的严峻挑战。近年来,生态系统关键种的保育研究为城市植物景观提供了增强环境适应性与可持续发展的可能性。分析关键种对于城市植物景观的重要生态功能,综述国内外关键种的研究应用进展,在此基础上提出重建“城市植物景观—关键种”协同共生体系的设计框架。从环境要素设计、关键种选择与吸引、植物筛选及种植、营巢生境与庇护生境设计、踏脚石生境与迁徙廊道设计等方面探讨关键种与城市植物景观协同共生体系设计的基本要求。提供风景园林实践中以关键种与植物景观协同共生来提升城市植物景观功能的有效途径,以及“城市植物景观—关键种”协同共生设计与实践的理论归纳、设计框架和应用范式参考。     

A participatory product design process with children with autism spectrum disorder

This study aims to explore the ways of involving children with autism in participatory product design processes. Due to the impaired skills of children with autism, a key aspect of the process is to gain an understanding of the nature of the disorder and how these children interact with their social and material surroundings as well as their daily life problems. Considering this, a case study was conducted with children with autism, their parents and teachers, and also industrial design students in a public special education centre in ?zmir, Turkey. The design task was to reconsider the conventional trampoline design with respect to the needs of the sample group and the special education centre as well as the benefits it provides. The task was based on the patterns of behaviours, actions and movement. Observations, interviews and questionnaires were carried out, as well as collaborative meetings and discussion meetings. Through the case study, the findings provided insights into conducting a participatory process with children with autism, the roles of the participants, and the interaction and communication among them. Furthermore, participants’ attitude towards participatory design, the potential benefits of the design process, and innovations to benefit children with autism were explained.