Incorporating Sustainability As A Primary Design
Fundamental In Residential Architecture: A Case
Study Analysis Of A Single-family Residence
Author(s)
R. J. Michal & N. V. Chalfoun
Abstract
As recorded in the earliest existing written work of architecture, The Ten Books
on Architecture written by Vitruvius in 27 BC, one of the primary goals of
architecture has been to strike the balance between \“Firmness, Commodity and
Delight” or structural integrity, functional efficiency, and aesthetic beauty.
While the terms \“sustainability” and \“sustainable architecture” were not coined
until the late twentieth century, Vitruvius’ treatise did incorporate the underlying
concepts of sustainability: resource efficiency, human thermal comfort and
recognition of regional environmental factors, under the category of commodity.
Beginning in the late nineteenth century however, with technological
advances in materials and the introduction of modern mechanical systems, these
underlying sustainable concepts appeared to have been forgotten and commodity
was reduced to a focus primarily on spatial relationships. These changes in
design values have come at a cost. This is evidenced first by the ever-increasing
dependency of modern forms on fossil fuel driven mechanical systems to create
and maintain optimal human thermal comfort. This is also evidenced by the
decreasing presence of uniquely regional architectural forms. The ubiquitous use
of homogenous universal or \“placeless” architectural forms such as
interchangeable residential housing tracts and retail strip malls represent the
pursuit of brand recognition and economies of scale offered by universal
standardization at the expense of regional and climatically appropriate
architectural design.
The purpose of this paper is to critically review and analyze the impacts on
architectural form, function and appearance of a case study residence located in
the extreme arid climate of the Sonoran desert in the Southwest United States, in
which the concept of sustainability was incorporated as one of the primary
design fundamentals. The case study residence is an approximately 2,000 square
foot home built for a family of five with four bedrooms and two bathrooms and a
separate attached guest bedroom and bath. This paper will provide an overview
and analysis of the case study residence in terms of: 1) the original project
values and goals as represented by the design and computer energy modeling
process and 2) the project results as captured by the qualities (structural and
aesthetic) of the final constructed physical form and its post-occupancy
performance (functional, spatial and resource conservation).
Keywords: sustainability, thermal comfort, thermal mass, regional, energy
efficient, passive solar.
Keywords
sustainability, thermal comfort, thermal mass, regional, energy
efficient, passive solar.
Related Book
Other papers in this volume
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