Theme Environmental sustainability

What

Why

How

An intermingling of methods used for investigating how to build more environmentally friendly by securing focus on various sustainable parameters throughout the design process.

Knowledge within this field is obtained, in order to be able to assess different design concepts holistically. E.g. on how the concepts will affect the environment, how they will perform in terms of costs and how much energy they will consume/produce.

Method: Study of history and tradition

For gaining knowledge within the use of natural materials and former building methods the architectural term, vernacular architecture has been studied. In continuation of this, Danish building traditions have been investigated through a historical analysis of the overall different approaches that have been dominating throughout times. Tools: Lectures, historical articles, images.

Method: Climate Analysis

To obtain knowledge of the climatic conditions at the site, climatic analyses are carried out. The results of these help us identify where to create shelter from the strong winds, how to utilize sun conditions and what climatic challenges that endanger the project. Tools: Mappings, data-collection, simulations.

Method: LCC & LCA

In order to be able to compare design concepts in terms of the chosen materials and costs holistically over years to come, calculation methods like LCA and LCC are very useful. The perspectives within the two methods are comprehensive, and the methods can help us identifying presumable issues on a material basis. Tools: Lectures, LCAbyg, LCCbyg

Method: Case study

Investigating existing buildings within the framework of the project, can be used to understand the different architectural gestures, qualities, energy- and CO2 reduction strategies that work and those that do not in the sketching and synthesis phase. This method is especially useful in combination with literature studies, by looking at the research and the knowledge that has been applied to the projects. Tools: field trips, literature, databases, architectural journals