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Design strategies for environmentally sustainable residential tall buildings in the cool temperate climates of Europe and North America

As the aspirations for tall buildings have shifted towards sustainability, architects face newfound challenges in finding sufficient information on environmental strategies and ways in which to apply them, particularly when specific climatic and functional aspects are considered. This research thus aims to find principles of environmentally sustainable design to contribute to the creation of residential tall buildings in the cool temperate climates of Europe and North America and to organize them to best inform architects during the schematic design stage. Generated as an iterative series of trials, which are characterized by the application of a ‘framework’ version in the design of towers for specific sites, the research consists of three stages. All develop the main elements of the framework – the environmental ‘design principles’, the ‘framework matrix’ that organizes the principles based on the interaction of climatic influence and design stage and a ‘step sequence’ that further specifies their placement within each interaction – but each also has a particular focus. Stage 1 concentrates on the strategies of Ken Yeang as a starting point and finds, through a case study comparison, a lack of their comprehensive use in practices. Stage 2 applies the framework on two sites to evaluate the impact of climatic and urban variations within the climate type and provides an assessment with rating systems to examine the framework’s focus within those systems. In Stage 3, students test the framework’s usability; their feedback and a further literature review inform the fourth version of the framework. The research suggests that bioclimatic design principles can be presented comprehensively and organized hierarchically to best inform architects during the schematic design stage. Adequate information is required, including qualifications, limitations, options and links between principles. It recommends further framework development and proposes that research be more fully integrated into teaching modules and practice.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:590326
Date January 2013
CreatorsFazlic, Sabina
PublisherCardiff University
Source SetsEthos UK
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Sourcehttp://orca.cf.ac.uk/56517/

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