Editorial introduction: Design and Technology of Sustainable Architecture

The role of architecture and architects in sustainable design has aroused interests and discussions in both academia and profession. Architectural design, especially in terms of climate adaptability and responsiveness have been seen a huge positive impact on building design, construction, use, operation and maintenance. Factors such as building layout, orientation, envelope, and interactions with both the technological and immediate natural and surrounding built environment, influence immensely both energy consumption as well as efficiency and comfortability for the human user

A Comparative Study on Architectural Design-Related Requirements of Green Building Rating Systems for New Buildings

Design teams’ work is greatly influenced by green building rating systems (GBRSs). Early GBRSs that had an energy- or resource-based hierarchy and prioritized mechanical components and active technologies were unable to adequately support the architectural design (AD). Due to the recent rise in awareness of the importance of AD in the creation of GBs, many GBRSs may now improve requirements pertaining to AD. However, it has not been examined in earlier studies. As a result, this study uses a comparative approach, content analysis, and significance evaluation to examine the effectiveness of six GBRSs as applied to AD in terms of significance, inclusiveness, comprehensiveness, and certainty. Six GBRSs include Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Assessment Standard for Green Building (ASGB), Green Mark (GM), WELL Building Standard (WELL), Assessment Standard for Healthy Building (ASHB), and Living Building Challenge (LBC). A heuristic theoretical evaluation framework (TEF) is developed with the goal of providing guidelines and references for the improvement of GBRSs and the strategic idea of AD. There are four key findings. Firstly, LBC assigns the highest and certain weight to AD, followed by LEED and ASGB, then ASHB, and finally GM and WELL. Secondly, green and regeneration GBRSs emphasize resource, environment, and physiological health, while wellbeing GBRSs emphasize physiological and psychological health. Thirdly, GM, ASGB, WELL, and ASHB are the most inclusive and comprehensive in process, resource, and environment, physiological health, and sociological and psychological health, respectively. Fourthly, LBC performs best in setting mandatory requirements in included aspects

Connecting Theory and Practice: An Overview of the Natural Ventilation Standards and Design Strategies for Non-Residential Buildings in Singapore

With increasing environmental damage, passive architectural design strategies, particularly natural ventilation strategies, are essential techniques for architectural design to protect the environment. In order to improve human comfort and the health of the living environment, spaces for human activities are no longer bounded primarily by closed, indoor artificial spaces and have extended to open, semi-indoor naturally ventilated spaces. Singapore, located in the tropics, has a unique climate where the attention of the Singapore government to natural ventilation indicators in green building decision making, and application of natural ventilation tropical architecture, can be seen. This paper analyses the development of evaluation contents related to natural ventilation in the Singapore green building standard – Green Mark, studies typical naturally ventilated buildings and then proposes effective design strategies. The relationship between standards and cases are finally discussed to explore the differences from theory to practice, with a view to using suitable approaches and methods to encourage natural ventilation design, thus promoting the green building movement and achieving sustainability

Sostenible: el modelo urbano basado en alta densidad, construcción en altura, y en el uso intensivo y múltiple del suelo: el caso de Hong Kong

China is going through one of the most dramatic social and cultural transformations in its history. In this speed change scenario, the never - questioned conventions in the western architecture have been betrayed. Invention, reinterpretation sometimes even revolution, never represent a step further as they did in the XXI century theoretical thinking. To engage architectural thoughts with the booming economy could contribute to the definition of a contemporary Chinese architecture, far from the generic city, in a society that has evolved from pre-modernism to post-industrialism in a short period of time. Through the analysis of Hong Kong, and a series of case studies, a conclusion to this scenario is sought.Xina està travessant una de les transformacions socials i culturals més dramàtiques de la seva història. En aquest escenari de canvi de velocitats, les convencions mai qüestionades en l'arquitectura occidental han estat traicionades. Invenció, reinterpretació, inclús a vegades revolució, no representen mai un pas endavant com ho van fer en el pensament teòric del segle XXI. Acoplar els pensaments arquitectònics amb una economia florescent podria contribuir a la definició d'una arquitectura xina contemporània, lluny de la ciutat genèrica, en una societat que ha evolucionat des de la premodernitat al postindustrialisme en un període curt de temps. A través de l'anàlisi de Hong Kong i una sèrie d'estudis de cas es busca una conclusió d'aquest escenari.China está atravesando una de las transformaciones sociales y culturales más dramáticas de su historia. En este escenario de cambio de velocidades, las convenciones nunca cuestionadas en la arquitectura occidental han sido traicionadas. Invención, reinterpretación, incluso a veces revolución, no representan nunca un paso adelante como lo hicieron en el pensamiento teórico del siglo XXI. Acoplar los pensamientos arquitectónicos con una economía floreciente podría contribuir a la definición de una arquitectura china contemporánea, lejos de la ciudad genérica, en una sociedad que ha evolucionado desde la pre modernidad al pos industrialismo en un período corto de tiempo. A través del análisis de Hong Kong y una serie de estudios de caso, se busa una conclusión de este escenario.Peer Reviewe

An Investigation on Ventilation of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics System Using Numerical Modeling

10.1115/1.4044623JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME142

Sustainable: the urban model based on high-density, high-rise and multiple, intensive land use: the case of Hong Kong

China is going through one of the most dramatic social and cultural transformations in its history. In this speed change scenario, the never - questioned conventions in the western architecture have been betrayed. Invention, reinterpretation sometimes even revolution, never represent a step further as they did in the XXI century theoretical thinking. To engage architectural thoughts with the booming economy could contribute to the definition of a contemporary Chinese architecture, far from the generic city, in a society that has evolved from pre-modernism to post-industrialism in a short period of time. Through the analysis of Hong Kong, and a series of case studies, a conclusion to this scenario is sought

Healthy campus by open space design: Approaches and guidelines

This paper examines the architectural and landscape design strategies and intentions for green, open spaces facilities targeting stress alleviation for learning environments such as those of university campuses in a compact urban setting. Literature reviews provide three prevailing perspectives for physical design pedagogical operatives: healing gardens where greenery and plants produce restorative effects; flexible spaces that accommodate functional needs of different activities; and green buildings that incorporate open space as a catalyst for integrated eco-system. Corresponding design approaches (landscape design, spatial design and green design) are scrutinized by case study. A comparison of two university campuses with different urban contexts is conducted to identify challenges and opportunities for applying these design approaches. For a compact campus, high-dense surroundings may limit the size of an open space and may handicap circulation and accessibility; on the other side, a small open space may provide its users more intimate contact with natural restorative elements and also a more controllable microclimate for physical comfort. A healthy campus should encompass diverse open spaces to satisfy different purposes. Finally, a framework that integrates the three approaches is combined to produce a sustainable design rubric