Dimensions of Building Sustainability

CONTENT

Dimensions of Building Sustainability provides an overview of ways that building sustainability is defined, assessed, and ameliorated. The course combines general concepts about sustainable building with specific techniques through which these concepts are instrumentalised in architectural practice. Concepts to be introduced include obsolescence, materiality, economics, durability, technology, circularity and regulation. Review of techniques arising from these concepts will focus on current standards circumscribing sustainable building design and construction in Switzerland and Europe. Students will learn techniques of Life Cyle Analysis (LCA), combining the conceptual and technical aspects of the course in case study assessments of whole-of-life emissions of recent architectural projects.

TEACHING AIMS

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

– Recognize the different ways that building sustainability is defined and assessed, and appreciate how varying sustainability priorities underpin definitions and assessments.
– Understand various theories and concepts that underpin different approaches to measuring and improving building sustainability.
– Understand current standards and regulations for sustainable building that circumscribe architectural design and construction
– Understand and apply the principles and methods of Life Cycle Assessment to assess environmental impacts of architectural designs and inform design decisions.
– Develop critical positions regarding the applicability and effectiveness of various approaches to regulating, and improving building sustainability

TEACHING FORM

The course is structured according to the building life cycle and the stages of Life Cycle Analysis – production, operation, and end-of-life. Each week will address building sustainability in relation to a stage in this process, with presentations introducing general concepts and specific techniques. Students will work in groups undertaking a Life Cycle Analysis of a recent architectural project then proposing and assessing design changes to reduce environmental impacts towards alignment with net-zero targets.