Environmental Design Commons^™

Rethinking Intramuros: Threats, Values, And Possibilities In Modern Philippines, Ellen Hsieh

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Intramuros, a walled historic Spanish urban landscape in the Philippines, is located at the heart of Metro Manila. Like most of the developing countries in Asia, Intramuros has facedserious confl icts between urban development and cultural preservation. This paper illustrates the full range of threats to Intramuros, including both natural and human factors, and reexamines the value of Intramuros in the Filipino context. According to these discussions, several recommendations will be given. Furthermore, the basic restoration policy of Intramuros will be questioned. The author calls for applying a wider interpretation to the cultural heritage management of the site.

Haus House, Architecture Department, Jonathan Knowles, Sina Almassi, Alexa K. Asakiewicz, Jason W. Askew, Caterina Belardetti, Guoyuan Chen, Kim E. Dupont-Madinier, Sara B. Fetterolf, Zachary P. Futterer, Atara H. Kelman, John A. Mars, Kevin T. Mcnulty, Saja Tourbah, Annabelle T. Tran, Cong-Xin G. Wong

Preliminary Design Work

Preliminary design work for the Solar Decathlon 2014 entry Techstyle Haus completed in a wintersession 2013 RISD design studio in Erfurt, Germany taught by Jonathan Knowles. The Solar Decathlon competition challenges twenty collegiate teams to design and build sustainable homes that are powered exclusively by solar energy and incorporate sustainable architecture and design. Techstyle Haus is an international Brown University, RISD and University of Applied Sciences Erfurt,Germany collaboration designing a solar passivehaus out of high performance textiles.

Techstyle Haus, Architecture Department, Jonathan Knowles, Sina Almassi, Alexa K. Asakiewicz, Jason W. Askew, Caterina Belardetti, Guoyuan Chen, Kim E. Dupont-Madinier, Sara B. Fetterolf, Zachary P. Futterer, Atara H. Kelman, John A. Mars, Kevin T. Mcnulty, Saja Tourbah, Annabelle T. Tran, Cong-Xin G. Wong

Preliminary Design Work

Preliminary design work for the Solar Decathlon 2014 entry Techstyle Haus completed in a wintersession 2013 RISD design studio in Erfurt, Germany taught by Jonathan Knowles. The Solar Decathlon competition challenges twenty collegiate teams to design and build sustainable homes that are powered exclusively by solar energy and incorporate sustainable architecture and design. Techstyle Haus is an international Brown University, RISD and University of Applied Sciences Erfurt,Germany collaboration designing a solar passivehaus out of high performance textiles.

Implementing Building Information Modeling In Public Works Projects In Ireland, Barry Mcauley, Alan V. Hore, Roger West

Conference papers

The Irish State in recent years has suffered huge financial losses in the public works sector, which has now pushed the Irish Government to explore new ways of controlling cost. This background lead to the introduction of the Capital Works Management Framework in 2007 which aimed to support the certainty of outcome in terms of cost and quality, as well as improved risk management, through the implementation of fixed price contracts. In order to successfully compete within this framework it is recommended by the authors, that Irish Government moves towards the legal mandating of BIM. This can ensure a greater …

Roger Williams Park Edible Forest Garden, Mark S. Scialla

Senior Honors Projects

An edible forest garden is a low-maintenance system that uses edible native and regionally-adapted plants arranged in beneficial relationships to meet human, wildlife and ecosystem needs. The forest garden in Roger Williams Park will transform underutilized urban land into a highly productive parcel producing market-viable fruits, nuts, vegetables, medicine and fiber. Forest gardens mimic natural forest systems in architecture and complexity. The design follows ecological principles to create a system that promotes biodiversity and enhances the surrounding ecosystem. This project also demonstrates the potential to grow food and create land-based livelihoods in the city.

Located on the edge of a …

Does Design Affect Behavior? A Case Study Of Pomona And Sontag Halls, Erin F. Morgan

Pomona Senior Theses

This paper investigates the successes and failures of architectural design techniques used to improve the sustainability of occupants. It looks broadly at research that has taken place in the past and focuses specifically on the strategies used in Pomona and Sontag Halls - two dormitories constructed at Pomona College.

Legal Issues In Green Construction, Namrata Shrestha

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The most recent "green construction movement", made a significant impact on the design and construction industry in the United States. Organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) have lobbied governmental entities to provide financial incentives to promote green construction. The green construction community also promotes the notion that a healthier working and living environment is achieved. Due to finical incentives coupled with projected long-term energy cost savings, many owners of new construction are considering green construction as an option. Accompanying the "green construction movement", new kinds of legal issues, particularly relating to green aspects such as certification, energy …

The Economic Case For Early Adoption Of Facilities Management, Barry Mcauley, Alan V. Hore, Roger West, John Wall

Conference papers

The construction industry in Ireland has been the sector hit the hardest during the recession with a potential return to output volumes of the mid-1990s. In order to compete within this struggling construction sector the traditional way of doing business must be re-engineered. One of the ways to achieve this is by introducing the Facilities Management (FM) process much earlier into the construction process, in order to maximize long term sustainability, and above all whole life construction costs. This paper will focus on a recently constructed sports clinic in Dublin, in which an aggressive programme was introduced around energy management …

The Future Needs The Past:Problems And Challenges Of Post-Cataclysm Heritage Management In Kotagede, Jogjakarta Special Province, Indonesia, Widjaja Martokusumo

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

In addition to traditional causes of decay, cultural heritage is increasingly threatened by natural disasters. Earthquakes interrupt the historical continuity of place making and create an opportunityto both reconstruct historical fabrics and to create new meanings and functions. As demonstrated in Kotagede, Jogjakarta Special Province, Indonesia, sustainable conservation should evolve with new contemporary needs and not be about making static museum places. Two case studies of post-calamity reconstruction illustrate the utilization of existing urban fabric, in which through redefi nition and reprogramming do not reveal solutions, but demonstrate the challenges in response to the urban dynamics after the 2006 earthquake.

The Signifi Cance Of Implicit Socio-Cultural Values In Self-Built Housing Transformation, Tareef Hayat Khan

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Households' spatial needs change along with inhabitation. At certain points in time, these needs may reach a critical point when households decide to make changes in the usage of space. Moving or transforming are the two basic options. Studies show that irrespective of location or context, scale or affl uence, users prefer transforming instead of moving. Moreover, transformation can occur more than once during inhabitation. Besides being identifi ed as economicaly a more sustainable option, there are several explicit reasons behind the preference for transformation. But this study goes deeper and investigates the impact of implicit values behind those explicit …

Life Cycle Costing Template (Excel), Dermot Kehily

Reports

No abstract provided.

How Much Do U.S. University Students Know, And Want To Know, About Sustainability And Green Building? The Findings Of A Survey, And Possible Implications For General Elective Curricula., Jeremy R. Farner

Purdue Polytechnic Masters Theses

Using the survey approach, this investigation examined the attitudes and interest of college students at two universities in different geographic locations within the United States.  Approximately 24,000 students from all disciplines and majors at Weber State University (WSU) in Utah, and 4,000 at Purdue University in Indiana, were invited to participate in a study to determine current knowledge, familiarity, and interest in topics within the sustainability and Green Building educational arena. The goal of this study was to determine what students already know, would like to know, and how much interest there would be in developing …

How Much Do U.S. University Students Know, And Want To Know, About Sustainability And Green Building? The Findings Of A Survey, And Possible Implications For General Elective Curriculum., Jeremy R. Farner

Purdue Polytechnic Masters Theses

Using the survey approach, this investigation examined the attitudes and interest of college students at two universities in different geographic locations within the United States.  Approximately 24,000 students from all disciplines and majors at Weber State University (WSU) in Utah, and 4,000 at Purdue University in Indiana, were invited to participate in a study to determine current knowledge, familiarity, and interest in topics within the sustainability and Green Building educational arena. The goal of this study was to determine what students already know, would like to know, and how much interest there would be in developing …

Crossings, Noel Brady

Books/Book Chapters

Chapter concentrates on the bridges of Dublin’s river Liffey; their importance to the vitality of the city, its commerce and people. It also highlights the importance of crossings in the city linking and opening up new paths to growth and development.

The Integration Of Biomimicry Into A Built Environment Design Process Model: An Alternative Approach Towards Hydro-Infrastructure, Timothy Lee Albertson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Current methods and processes that support the planning, design and construction of a sustainable built environment include ambiguous principles (Roseland 2000), lack feedback loops (Van Bueren and Jong 2007) and lack a common language between disciplines (Brandon et al 1997). As a result of 3.8 billion years of "research and development" (evolution), nature provides a set of design blueprints that may be used to guide us to create elegant, sustainable, and innovative designs for human technologies (Benyus 1997). The field of biomimicry analyzes nature's best ideas and adapts them for human use (Benyus 1997). The built environment could benefit from …

Performative Design: Investigating Form In The Natural And Capitalist Environment, John M. Santoro

Architecture Senior Theses

"Rethinking the design process from conception and allowing natural forces, such as wind, solar exposure, and rainfall to drive the initial design will generate a structurally and environmentally efficient form."

Didactic Architecture: A Tectonic Response, Elizabeth Kankainen

Architecture Senior Theses

"Using the tectonic nature of architecture as the vehicle, architecture can educate its users of material life cycles., Through revealing particular stages of production by exposing, exaggerating and juxtaposing the connections between materials, the physical process of a buildings formation can be understood, along with architecture's inherent connection to nature."

Sustainable Commercial Interior Design, Órla Keane

Dissertations

This dissertation looks at the environmental benefits of 3 key areas in relation to interior design: Energy, Water and Air; energy efficient lighting, water efficient plumbing fixtures and the effects of interior materials and finishes on indoor air quality.

Qualitative research methodology: Extensive literature review of texts available on these topics, and also of the relevant building codes and environmental legislation applicable to Irish interior designers and the built environment.

Quantitative research methodology: A comprehensive survey of then currently practicing Irish interior designers, and their use of sustainable design strategies (or lack thereof). The survey was conducted in conjunction with …

The Poetry Of Sustainability: Inhabiting The Landscape Through Sustainable Design, Sarahjo Bellissimo

Architecture Thesis Prep

"Our society is a dependent of the inevitably doomed industry of fossil fuels. We rely heavily on nonrenewable resources to maintain our lifestyles. Ethically, our relationship to the earth is unbalanced. In order to balance the scales of our future in architecture we must look toward sustainability through technology."

The Very Basics Of Sustainability - An Alternative Viewpoint (Slides With Audio) (Large File! To Speed Up Download, Right-Click On "Download" Link To Save To Own Pc.), Jim Mcgovern

Other resources

This presentation sets out the very basics of ‘sustainability’, although a definition of sustainability is not attempted. Some of the very basics are the context in which the Earth and humankind exist in space and time, the Earth’s climate, the Earth’s population and humankind’s options and choices. The author advocates keeping an open mind on all available options, including the use of oil, gas, coal, tar sands, carbon capture and sequestration, nuclear power etc., as well as the technologies that are more widely considered ‘green’. The author also argues that, in addressing the challenges that humankind faces, globally concerted effort …

Application Of Pv Panels In Large Multi-Story Buildings, Sara Kayal

Master's Theses

Application of PV Panels in Large Multi-Story Buildings Feasibility Study Sara Kayal

The awareness of global warming along with an ever increasing demand for a new source of energy has brought a strong interest in harnessing natural resources such as solar energy. This thesis evaluates the viability of applying photovoltaic (PV) panels in high-rise commercial buildings of around 20 stories. Specifically, the thesis is intended to provide a pre-planning tool during the early design stage for architects and designers who are considering the deployment of PV panels in new multi-story construction.

The first three chapters cover a comprehensive literature review …

No Child Left Inside: Environmental Education Through A Reciprocal Relationship Between Architecture And The Natural World, Leah Kleinman

Architecture Senior Theses

"Through a reciprocal relationship between architecture and the natural world, this thesis contends that environmental education programs can teach children to appreciate and preserve our natural environment. Architecture becomes an instructional tool itself and a way of experiencing the natural world while sustaining it and providing a healthy and comfortable setting in which to learn and have fun."

{Perm] House: Performance Of Recycled Materials, Cristina Alonso

Architecture Senior Theses

"The construction of single-family housing units will prodive an opportunity to design using recycled materials. This thesis seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of the unit's performance in a tropical climate, through means of passive cooling; in particular the promotion of comfort ventilation during the daytime."

Leaving A Smaller Footprint: Optimizing Passive Systems For Single Family Attached Housing, David J. Silver

Architecture Senior Theses

"Creating the best internal comfort conditions for the resident, while using little to zero non-renewable energy, is ideal in creating a sustainable, innovative, and contemporary structure that embraces both a flexible and efficient lifestyle and, at the same time, addresses important energy issues that will be a solid foundation for a new modern world."

Tips For Going Green, City Of Las Vegas, Nevada

Publications (SD)

No abstract provided.

Crossection: An Exploration Into Assembling Sustainability, Brian Goehle

Architecture Thesis Prep

"The field of architecture sits at a crossroad today, we have an opportunity to rethink the way we design using new materials and building techniques to reduce the negative impact architecture has on the wider environment. As architects, we must critically look at our constructions methods and question whether they are appropriate and the best choices we could be making for the environment. My thesis has generated a framework that used a set of sustainable materials that outperform their conventional alternatives, to produce affordable and highly efficiently built homes that leave a neutral impact on the environment."

Identity And German Architecture : Views Of A German Architect, Marcus Hackel

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Since 1989 the author has designed and managed architectural projects in Europe, Middle East, South, Southeast and East Asia. In his overseas architectural practice, he was often confronted with the question of what is German architecture or why his architectural design shows unique German Identity.

Building A Sustainable Housing Environment, Shanna Telesco

Architecture Thesis Prep

"There are three major factors being studied throughout this exploration: sustainability, housing, and the environment. Each factor can be carefully examined separately under its own terms, but ultimately, the goal of this thesis is to gain a better understanding of their possible integration within the processes of architecture.

My housing project seeks to integrate and improve the existing methods of sustainability that have evolved in architecture by carefully considering renewable resources found in nature, especially the sun, air, and water."

A Sustainable Foundation, Mark K. Wizeman

Architecture Thesis Prep

"My intentions of this project are to investigate the potential of architecture to augment its efforts of sustainable strategies with aspirations of achieving a socially sustainable foundation in the urban setting. Within the context of Trenton, the understanding of the local communities, the capital and business districts, the education system, and the areas of renewal efforts can reveal solutions to the rebuilding of the city's community by way of reconnecting these now divided forces. What makes architecture critical in this application is its ability to effectively address the very tangible aspects of sustainable practice and the potential for it to …

Green Reintroducing Nature To The City, Andrew Cunneen

Architecture Thesis Prep

"The architecture of present day America reflects the way in which we give little consideration to the impact that built forms have on the environment. American cities are expanding beyond their former limits into the natural environment previously untouched by built form. It is important for us to foster a sense of environmental concerns in an age of increasing development and advancements. While technology continues to progress it seems that these advancements are applied to everything but architecture. We have designed ways to get more mileage out of a tank of gas, and created appliances that reduce our electric consumption, …