Course syllabus for Design and performance optimization for buildings

Course syllabus adopted 2022-02-17 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameDesign- och prestandaoptimering för byggnader
  • CodeARK415
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPARC
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyArchitecture, Architecture and Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • ThemeArchitectural design project 7.5 c
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 05132
  • Maximum participants15
  • Open for exchange studentsYes
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0110 Project, part A 6 c
Grading: TH		6 c
0210 Project, part B 1.5 c
Grading: TH		1.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

-

Aim

The aim of the course is to deepen the skills in the use of advanced simulation tools for the integrated performance optimisation of an architectural design project. A design problem is provided in the form of a building case study each year. These are usually buildings for work and activities, such as offices and other places for work, where specific requirements like generality, flexibility, optimization systems for climate and energy can be formulated. The architectural design process is based on and driven by the possibilities that the simulation tools can give early in the design process.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

After attending the course, the students should be able to:
- apply simulation software in the early phases of the design process to answer specific design questions
- structure and document their optimization process of the design solution
- through several design iterations describe and evaluate design choices and their outcomes in terms of their visual and technical qualities, using results from simple architectural visualization and simulation of building physics
- present their proposal in a digital hand-in
- describe, argue for, evaluate and discuss their own and others’ proposals during a final critique together with university faculty and external reviewers.

Content

The content of the course is adapted to a specific design problem and the case study that is selected each year. In general, the course consists of three parts. First, the course starts with a joint introduction in energy, climate and daylight modelling and simulation in the form of lectures including many real-life examples. Second, the students are expected to learn the required simulation software for energy, daylight, and other performance criteria by using the pre-recorded tutorials with limited support by the teachers in special tutorial classes and using other resources available on the internet. The third part is the main part consisting of the group work on a specific design problem and documentation of the optimisation process. The project work is evaluated based in the final hand in and the final presentation.

Organisation

The design and optimisation project is carried out in groups of 3-5 students. Lectures in the beginning of the course provide the relevant theoretical knowledge. Pre-recorded tutorials are provided, and the students are expected to learn the simulation software by themselves. Tutorials in class will provide the opportunity to receive support. The final digital hand-in of the project is mandatory. Furthermore, the attendance of the mid-term and the final critiques are mandatory.  

Literature

Building Optimization, Max Tillberg, Klas Moberg, Chalmers School of Architecture, ARK415 Building Design Lab, 2018 (PDF – will be provided)
Further literature depends on the project specialization.

Examination including compulsory elements

The grading is based on the final hand-ins, the final project presentation, a review of the design process documentation, and comments during the final critique. The following grades will be used: failed, 3, 4, 5.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.