The course covers both the wider contextual and sustainable approach to environmental design, and the more technical aspects of environmentally and energy conscious building design and performance. As well as taught modules, you will take design-based modules where you will apply quantitative and qualitative analysis to the study of existing built environments and to new design projects.
The modules will cover the following subject areas:
Theory and History of Environmental Design
You will look at ethical and environmental drivers of environmental design; climate change, energy conservation and economy; standards and regulations; history of environmental design; and the various definitions of sustainable, environmental, bioclimatic, green design.
Principles of Environmental Design
You will look at the principles of passive solar design and strategies for bioclimatic architecture (eg enhanced thermal performance of building envelope, solar control, natural ventilation, day-lighting, passive solar heating and cooling etc)
Building Physics, Energy and Environmental Foundations
You will look at the fundamentals of heat exchange and energy balance of buildings; and Thermal and Visual comfort.
Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of the Performance of the Built Environment for both Indoor and Outdoor Spaces
This will include climate and microclimate analysis and fieldwork methods for the measurement of environmental and energy parameters, thermal comfort surveys and post occupancy evaluations.
Building Energy and Environmental Modelling
You will undertake software workshops and design application of dynamic thermal modelling, Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) modelling and day-lighting. The software used will be tailored to the various stages of the design process and will range from climate data analysis to day-lighting and thermal modelling.
Final Thesis Project
You will explore advanced topics and contexts of research applicability. The topic chosen can depend on your individual interests and aspirations, ranging from analytical projects to design proposals.