This seminar aims to empower students with the theoretical background and the technical expertise to inform architectural design in an urban case study site using environmental simulations.
The undoubtedly significant contribution of buildings’ performance to the devastating effects of climate change has in the past decades driven research and development efforts in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. To enable the shift towards more performance-aware design, environmental simulation tools have become more readily available through the constant development of new interfaces that incorporate state of the art simulation engines in mainstream CAD frameworks. Architects and urban designers have at their disposal today, as part of their design workflows, a wide range of analytical tools that allow them to assess the environmental performance of their designs, in order to make informed and sustainable design decisions. Further to the incorporation of simulation tools the recent developments in optimization and generative design methods are fundamentally changing the computational design workflow and enable the exploration of vast design spaces, unconceivable by manual processes.
This seminar aims to empower students with the theoretical background and the technical expertise to inform architectural design in an urban case study site using environmental simulations. Either on empty unused land plots or the rehabilitation of existing infrastructures, the projects will have synergy with the rest of the digital tools seminars, allowing the students to apply the knowledge received into a practical and speculative design proposal. This hands-on investigation will enable students to apply evidence-based solutions to complex environmental design problems using state-of-the art software and analytical techniques.
At course completion the student will:
Spring Summer Autumn Winter Figure 1.1: New York Seasonal Change New York City experiences distinct seasonal changes that shape its environment and urban character. In spring, the city transitions to milder conditions, with unpredictable weather patterns and renewed greenery. Summer brings intense heat and humidity, influencing activity patterns and urban energy demands. Fall is marked … Read more
LOCATION City: Milan Climatic cat.: Zone E, 2 404 DD – by ENEA National Agency Coordinates: 45°28′01″N 9°11′24″E Altitude: 120 m s.l.m. Characteristics: Hot summers and cold winters. Local exceptions to the humid subtropical climate model are to be expected.Protected from both cold winds and mild winds.High humidity, given the alluvial nature of … Read more
This project explores the relationship between Singapore’s tropical climate and architectural design. By analyzing climatic data—such as temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind patterns—we evaluated how a specific building shape interacts with the environment. Through computational tools, we simulated the building’s performance to address key challenges like heat gain and airflow. The results informed potential … Read more
Gatwick: Located about 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of central London, is one of the city’s major international airports. Gatwick plays a role in tracking London’s climate through its IWEC (International Weather for Energy Calculation) station. Coordinates: Latitude: 51.099351, Longitude: -0.178547 Altitude: Approximately 70 meters (230 feet) above sea level. This area is relatively flat … Read more
Rome has a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Average temperatures range from around 8.5°C in winter to about 31°C in summer. The city experiences moderate rainfall, with the wettest months typically being October and November. Climate Analysis In Rome, the bulb temperature, which reflects the combined effect of air … Read more
Austin has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfa), characterized by hot summers and mild winters. The city experiences long, hot summers and short, mild winters, with brief transitions in spring and fall. The climate data used in this analysis was obtained from: – Location: Austin-Mueller Municipal Airport, Texas, USA – Weather Station ID: 722540 … Read more
This analysis focuses on Richmond, Virginia in the United States of America. Weather conditions in Richmond are typical of a mid-latitude location. We’ve explored the environmental conditions that shape building design and urban planning in this mid-latitude location. Our focus is on a vacant lot at 701 East Canal Street, in downtown Richmond. This property … Read more
Understanding Abu Dhabi’s Climate and Its Impact on Design Abu Dhabi, classified as a subtropical desert under the Köppen-Geiger system, enjoys sunny blue skies year-round. However, its climate presents significant challenges due to extreme seasonal variations in temperature, humidity, and solar radiation. Key Climate Features Wind Patterns The prevailing winds are from the northwest, with … Read more
When it comes to designing sustainable urban spaces, understanding the local climate and environmental factors is crucial. This analysis on environmental conditions for Porto focuses on climate, thermal comfort, solar radiation, wind analysis, and urban heat mitigation. Here are the key takeaways from this comprehensive research. Climate Analysis: Understanding Porto’s Unique Conditions Porto’s climate is … Read more
A Case Study in Cairo, Egypt In today’s rapidly urbanizing world, environmental analysis has become a cornerstone of sustainable design. Team AS08, comprising Amira El-Saeed and Mohamed Attay, presented their findings on environmental analysis for Cairo, Egypt, using advanced digital tools. Their presentation, titled “Digital Tools for Environmental Analysis,” explored a range of climate-related challenges … Read more
LOCATION General Characteristics of this climate Stockholm’s climate falls under the humid continental climate (Dfb) category according to the Köppen-Geiger classification. This means it experiences cold, snowy winters and mild to warm summers. Precipitation is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year, though summers tend to have more rainfall. Winter temperatures in Stockholm can drop below freezing, while … Read more
Part 1: Climate Analysis Madrid falls into two koppen climate classification zones: a cold semi-arid climate (classification BSk) in the metropolitan area, and a mediterranean, dry-summer climate in the west half of the city (classification Csa). The main characteristics of this climate are hot, dry summers and cold, humid winters. There are also large temperate … Read more
