This last month has been a really busy time for me, as I have now entered my final (thesis) year at the Newschool of Architecture. As I mentioned in previous posts I am a graduate student pursuing a professional degree in architecture, so most of my time this month has been spent working on research for my thesis.  My thesis exploration will look at the idea of kinetic (dynamic) architecture that can adapt (as needed) to its environment as a way to possibly enhance user experience as well as building performance. The current conditions of finished built structures tend to be static in nature which can at times lead to limits or barriers of how people experience space as well as how buildings perform. This exploration will look at how to potentially integrate parametric and performance strategies as a way to develop high performing architecture that can maximize the experiential qualities of the built environment.

In the last few months my interests on the subject of parameter driven design has increased. Parameter driven design which is more commonly referred to as parametric design gives designers the opportunity to explore the process of creating form. In this type of process designers identify potential variables that could be used to lead the process of form finding. In my thesis exploration I will be looking to further explore the idea of parameter driven design by using social as well environmental conditions as driving factors of form. The use of parametric strategies in conjunction with performative analytical methods will help me develop an optimal approach towards the development of architecture.

While working on my thesis research for the development of high performance architecture, I came across a list of recommended readings posted on Studio Mode’s website. These books are a good source of information on the subject of parametrics, fabrication and performative architecture.

My thesis investigations will give me the opportunity to further explore my goals of adapting performative design strategies for the development of a better approached and more informative process of design. In upcoming posts I will look at simulation software such as Autodesk Ecotect, and Desktop Radiance. Autodesk Ecotect is a popular performance simulation tool can be used in conjunction with Desktop Radiance to create daylighting studies. I have worked with both of these tools in the past during previous employment and found them to be very useful during the design process. The pursuit continues!!

I have to admit being in architecture school is very time consuming and at times extremely stressful, but at the end of the day I can honestly say that it is all worth it. Its a lot of fun.

Sustainability, eco friendly, and green are hot terms that architects, designers, and design enthusiasts are constantly throwning around in casual conversations throughout coffee shops in almost every city. As a graduate student in the field of architecture I am constantly seeing how professors are pushing these ideas of sustainability on to their students. They are pushing them to think green, to believe in green, and to design green. This can be seen throughout many architecture and design campus throughout the world. But in my opinion (though I may be wrong) we are not taught how to justify our decisions in regards to sustainability. We as students sometimes add skylights, double facades, low-e glass, shading devices, and sometimes even photovoltaic panels to our design projects. But how do we know if these design decisions are even the right ones? How do we validate our decisions?

Performance based design | performance guides design decisions

In the last decade or so there has been a large increase in tools used to predict how buildings will perform.These tools can be used to measure and validate the decisions we make. There are tools to measure energy, light, acoustics, structures, comfort, as well as tools to measure air flow. The use of these and other similiar type of tools can help us as designers potentially make the right decisions or at least point us in the right direction. Building simulation tools are key in the development and advancement of high performance design. I strongly believe that as a student of architecture and future architect that high performance should be the aim of every design project. High performance is not about performing designs well, but about designs that perform well.

In this blog I will be investigating these types of tools as well as strategies and technologies that could be implemented into the process of design in order to achieve our goal of high performance.

[ Developing high performance architecture without jeopardizing design intent | vision.]