Lecture 1 - Environmental Context & Architecture

Question 1

What are the steps of Climatic Design?

Answer 1

1. Analysis of regional and micro-climate data
2. Biological evaluation of climate data related to human comfort
3. Technological solutions that meet the requirements and manage potential benefits and issues of the context
4. Using the results to implement them into architecture

Question 2

What is the best climate type for thermal comfort?

Answer 2

Between cold and temperate climates, (1, 2)

And

Hot ( dry, and humid ) climates. (3, 4)

Question 3

What are the factors of Environmental Analysis?

Answer 3

1. Geographical
2. Meteorological
3. Topographic
4. Biological
5. Climatic

Question 4

What is ‘arid ground’?

Answer 4

Gravel and sand - higher temperatures with low humidity

Question 5

What is albedo?

Answer 5

A measure of reflectivity of the earth’s surface - how much direct solar radiation that is reflected by a surface

Question 6

What are ‘Degree Days’?

Answer 6

Degree Days represent the severity of the climate.

They measure the number of hours/days above or below the threshold that results in heating/cooling.

Question 7

What is the scale of ‘surface winds’ and what are they influenced by?

Answer 7

Less than 100m

Terrain. Morphology, vegetation, water, obstacles.

Question 8

What is the scale of ‘geostrophic winds’ and what are they influenced by?

Answer 8

Greater than 1000m

Atmospheric pressure differences