A Sunlight Design Tool
Loading...
Date
1989
Authors
Brown, G. Z.
Wood, D. J.
Brown, A. G. P.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Center for Housing Innovation, University of Oregon
Abstract
Computer-based techniques for Environmental design tend to be analytical. They are aimed
at the Engineer who takes a previously designed building and then analyses the
environmental performance of the building so as to be able to give performance requirements
for servicing plant. Thus the building has been designed by an architect using experience
and some broad background knowledge of environmental performance, but it is usually not
until the analysis stage is reached that the building's environmental performance is
accurately assessed. A sunlight design program (application) has been written to address
this problem. This program is aimed at the designer and should allow them to assess quickly
the sunlight characteristics of their building. The intention has been to produce a tool which
is easy to understand and use: a tool which is interactive and in which data can be changed
easily. Thus the tool can be used to check the effect ofdesign changes on sunlight
performance. The tool is meant to be both an aid to design itselfand to the understanding of
the environmental performance ofbuildings. This paper describes the application and the
use of it by architectural students. lVe describe the application, assess it and evaluate its
educational value by comparing students' estimations ofsunlight perfonnance in their own
buildings with performance predicted by it. We look at how students interact with the
program to modify their design in response to this interaction and report on their evaluation
of the application during a controlled exercise.
Description
7 p.
Keywords
Design tools, Sunlight, Design education, Architecture -- Environmental aspects