BUILDING SCIENCE 1

by Dr TamilSalvi Mari & Dr Sujatavani Gunasagaran

The module is an introduction to the factors that affect the thermal performance of buildings. Its aim is to facilitate students to create acceptable designs which are sustainable (minimizing the use of mechanical cooling systems) and comfortable. The emphasis is on creating acceptable indoor thermal conditions thus minimizing the use of space heating and cooling.

Learning Outcomes

Create awareness and understanding of designing buildings that respond to local climatic conditions that reduce the energy load of mechanical air-conditioning systems.
Introduce thermal mechanisms such as solar radiation, heat conduction, heat resistance and heat convection that determine indoor temperatures, including how building elements respond to thermal mechanisms as well as various design strategies to reduce heat gain of interior spaces through control of variables.

PROJECT 1- ANALYZING PASSIVE DESIGN STRATAGIES

6th Jun 2018

The first project, we have to form groups of 4 members and write a research paper of our chosen theme with a 2500-3000 words (no more than 10 pages).

As a group, we had to analyze and extract the important ideas from one of the theme that we choose which is innovative Passive Designs in Malaysian Architecture. The first part of the essay will be a review of the related text for the chosen theme. Using these ideas as the theoretical framework of each particular theme, we analyzed a particular architecture(s) or urban design(s), highlighting the relationship between the theoretical ideas and the selected works. That should form the main part of the essay, which is the analysis of completed works.

Through this assignment, as a group, we were able to Identify environmental conditions related to site conditions, climate, etc. and explain the effects of the sun on the thermal performance of buildings. Besides that we also able to explain the effect of insulation, thermal mass and air movement on thermal performance of buildings.