Building Science 1

Building Science Project 1 : Case Study : Analysing Passive Design Strategies

Choosen Feeling : BCA Academy

Passive design does not require mechanical heating or cooling. Buildings that are passively designed take advantage of natural climate to maintain thermal comfort.
Incorporating the principles of passive design in building:

• Significantly improves comfort
  
• Reduces or eliminates heating and cooling bills
  
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions from heating, cooling, mechanical ventilation and lighting

Group work with maximum 6 students is required to:

• Choose a building that best features 2 passive design strategy for tropical climate. Group will select one building in Singapore / Klang Valley.
  
• Choose a building that best features 2 passive design strategies for tropical climate. Selection will be based on building certified and recognized as Green Mark / Green Building, (http://www.greenbuildingindex.org/organisation-certified-buildings-NRNC.html), certification may other be Platinum, Gold or Silver .
  
• Have a thorough research on the passive design strategies, the principles and details needed for these passive design strategies to perform best in tropical climate and to achieve thermal comfort in this building/space.
  
• Identify two (2) passive design strategies used for a building.
  
• Identify an instrument /equipment or software/interview/survey to aid in proving that the passive design strategy is effective in this building. (eg: shading devices – simulation in Revit software, ventilation – simulation in Vasari)
  
• Analyze the monitored temperatures, looking at the effects of solar radiation, thermal mass, insulation, and ventilation.

• Explain how the thermal environment of your case study is affected from natural and man-made factors. (relate to micro site and macro site / climate)
  
• Research poster should contain the following:
  1. Building Introduction (images, pictures, diagrams, drawings and description)
     
  2. Thermal Analysis; basically means using a manual calculation or computer program to
     mathematically model the interplay of thermal processes within a building
     
  3. Wind Analysis (Vasari software); Airflow and air quality is an important aspect of human
     comfort. Moving air helps people feel cooler, and natural ventilation is a key strategy for
     passive cooling.
     
  4. Sun Analysis (Revit software); analyzing the impact of the sun on a site, as well as the building’s
     location, the spatial arrangement, orientation, window placement, daylight access and other design features, the designer can take full advantage of passive solar design features and increase the energy efficiency and comfort of the building.
     
  5. Concept and analysis of building’s passive design strategies. Highlight the 2 passive design features used in each building and elaborate the effect and importance of it. 
     
     
     SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT
     -2A3 BOARD INCLUDING ONE PASSIVE DESIGN IN EACH
     
     
     COMPLETED BOARDS
     
     1st PASSIVE DESIGN : SUN SHADING DEVICE
     
     
     
     2ND PASSIVE DESIGN : LOW-E GLASS
     
     
     
     Reflection
     
     This subject has thought me how to make a building more functional. I bet that says it all because the most important thing a building should have is not only form but function as well. A building cannot be called beautiful without a good function. I have learnt to have a good time management in this project because it takes time a create the building the in 3d and also to apply it in Revit. Throughout this project, I have explored myself a lot into different kind of softwares, which I have not used before for example Revit, Vasari, and also some common softwares like Photoshop, AutoCad, Rhino and a lot more. It really improves my digital skill, which can help in my architectural career. Nonetheless, I really learnt a lot on how to improve a building's function and how it actually works because when we design we always never think of how the building works and all. I personally think that this project is really helpful. Thank you to all my lecturers and group mates to make these 2 amazing boards happen.