Block Typology Research Articles

Impact of urban block typology on building solar potential and energy use efficiency in tropical high-density city

This paper presents the results of an investigation on the relationship between urban block typology, solar energy harvesting potential and building energy use efficiency in the context of the tropical high-density city Singapore. Thirty generic urban block cases in six typologies that represent a diverse range of urban forms were examined through simulation-based studies under the same planning conditions and simulation assumptions so as to rule out the impact of non-design related factors. Several key planning and geometric parameters which capture the formal characteristics of the urban blocks were examined as independent variables, and the dependent variables include the performance indicators on solar energy harvesting potential and building net energy use intensity that capture the dual benefits of photovoltaic (PV) systems in reducing building cooling loads and offsetting local plug loads with electricity generated on site. The results indicate that, under the same planning conditions and design premises, differences in urban block typology could lead to up to 200% increase in solar energy harvesting potential and electricity generated from rooftop PV, twelve times higher rate of reduction in building cooling loads, tow times higher rate of reduction in net purchased electricity, and 25% lower building net energy use intensity. The courtyard and hybrid urban block typologies consistently outperform the other typologies, especially the commonly implemented tower and slab blocks, and they benefit the most from PV deployment in the tropics. The comparison between an existing residential precinct and a hypothetical alternative hybrid urban block further demonstrated the significant impact of urban design on efficiency of PV electricity generation and building energy use efficiency. In addition to the significant economic benefit in reduction in utility cost and environmental implication in terms of equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions on urban scale, this study highlights the crucial role that urban design plays in terms of maximising on-site renewable energy production such as solar energy. The significant planning and geometric parameters in relation to the performance indicators provide insight as reference for establishing solar energy friendly urban planning and architectural design guidelines. The methodology and technical workflow as developed can support reliable and efficient feasibility studies, especially in the early stage of urban planning and architectural design. Integrated with other performance evaluations, they can facilitate decision-making on implementation of renewable energy integrated green building technologies and passive design strategies.

The Effect of Climate Conditions on the Relation between Energy Efficiency and Urban Form

Urban sustainability has been connected to form and compactness of the urban tissue. At the same time the relationship between urban form and energy efficiency is strongly affected by climate. This paper investigates the effect of climate conditions on the relation between urban morphology and energy efficiency of urban blocks, focusing on the Greek city context. A set of building block typologies is analyzed with regard to their form factors such as S/V ratio, coverage ratio and building ratio for the climatic conditions of two cities, each one belonging to a different climatic zone. Heating and cooling loads are calculated at an urban block scale for the climate of the city of Thessaloniki (zone C) and of the city of Heraklion (zone A) in order to draw conclusions about the relation between geometry factors and energy efficiency. The results of the research indicate that there is a strong relationship between urban morphology factors and energy efficiency and that the total load demand of urban blocks can be described as a function of form parameters. Results of the research, concerning the energy demand calculation, are valuable since they indicate the energy profile of each typology according to climate and can be used for defining different urban strategies towards sustainability in a context-based climate dependent analysis.

A Cross Scale Analysis of the Relationship between Energy Efficiency and Urban Morphology in the Greek City Context

Urban form is a decisive factor for the energy efficiency of the city. The compact city has been suggested as the most sustainable urban form, but it has been questioned as well by many researchers. Urban morphology is not a simple aggregation of geometry factors, but also the interaction among a set of parameters, that include constructional, functional and building regulation constraints concerning a range of different scales as well. This paper examines in which way the interaction of such parameters affects the energy efficiency of the urban tissue focusing in the Greek city context. A set of building block typologies are analyzed with regard to their geometry factors such as S/V ratios, plot ratio and building ratio. Thermal loads are calculated in order to draw conclusions about the relation between geometry factors and energy efficiency. The results of the research indicate that there is a strong relationship between urban morphology factors and energy efficiency. The theory of compactness of the urban form is generally confirmed by the results of the study which are valuable, since they indicate the energy profile of each typology and can be used for predicting the performance of potential energy demand of urban blocks with similar geometry.

Simulation-based daylighting analysis procedure for developing urban zoning rules

ABSTRACTIncreasing urban density leads to a conflict between space-use efficiency and daylight access. Cities have traditionally relied on zoning guidelines that consist of section-based geometric evaluation techniques and/or hours of access to direct sunlight. However, it is now possible to quantify the performance of detailed design proposals before construction. Annual climate-based daylighting performance metrics for urban environments can be computed accurately, in high spatial resolution and in a timely manner. Given that massing design decisions at the urban planning level may make or break the long-term daylighting potential of a whole neighbourhood, the adoption of these tools by zoning boards, developers and urban planners seems particularly relevant. A simulation-based daylighting analysis procedure reveals the capabilities for both formulating more nuanced prescriptive zoning rules as well as for use by design teams. The procedure is used to evaluate the daylighting performance of 50 block typologies in New York City (NYC). The analysis demonstrates that certain urban massing approaches (e.g. pencil towers on a contextual base) outperform conventional massing strategies. A second case study application of an actual city block shows that innovative urban massings can improve access to daylight for the massing itself as well as for neighbouring buildings.

판교 월든 힐스 2단지 배치 분석 연구 - 야마모토 리켄의 주호 조합적 측면을 중심으로 -

Since western housing types were introduced into Korea, along with the national industry and land development, apartments are recognized as the representative of korean multi-housing. This recognition were settled and have been sustained until now due to our city phenomenon of quantitative housing development. So far Apartments have taken a major role in our housing solution. But vulnerability of apartments have been exposed over time and forced housing design to be shifted to qualitative aspects rather than quantitative ones. This leads housing study on new site arrangement of multi housing block and new housing typology. And the low-rise & high density housing were triggered in 2005 by INTERNATIONAL PROJECT COMPETITION BY INVITATION (UNJUNG BLOCK). Therefore, this study focuses on Yamamoto Riken's Pangyo Worlden Hills 2 block in terms of site arrangement with diverse unit combinations. 9 unit combination complexes have 4 steps arrangement rule. First step, 7-unit combination type is decided as the standard type. Second step, 6 and 8-unit combination type are added as derived types. Third step, a unit combination complex is composed of 5 buildings, and common units are located in every buildings. The last step, every buildings are expanded by attaching units at right side. Through this study, we found several logical unit combination rules in site arrangement of worlden hills 2 block. And we also came to understand the role of unit typology for diverse effect on site arrangement. So, further study will cover unit plans, typology and comparative aspects of various unit plans with others.

スコピエ・オールド・バザールにおける街区パターン

Today the block pattern of Skopje's Bazaar, created by the Ottoman urban strategy during the 15th and 16th century, is only partially understood. The aim of this paper is to identify the block typology of the Old Bazaar by analyzing the relations between form and development. To meet the aim, we analyzed previous research, Skopje's map from 1929 and conducted field survey (09/2011). Based on the data from 1929 map, we identified two other subtypes of facility blocks from the one facility and three shop blocks described in previous research. Most of the surviving blocks still preserve their shape and structure although in some cases an alteration of the block type occurred as a result of the destruction of Ottoman facility or shop rebuilding. We concluded that the historic urban order of the ground plan and the block pattern, created by the systematic relationships of facility, shop and street in the Ottoman urban strategy, are important values of the Bazaar's urban form. As the pressure for modern development surges, the results of this study can facilitate creation of design guidelines for sustainable conservation of the urban form of Skopje's Bazaar.

Evaluating environmental implications of density: A comparative case study on the relationship between density, urban block typology and sky exposure

Abstract This study is an exploration of the relationship between density, built form typologies and their respective environmental qualities. A methodology was proposed to facilitate the investigation of the environmental implications of density and the search of alternative built form typologies with good environmental performance potential that can be further explored in the context of high density development. The utility of the proposed methodology was demonstrated through a preliminary case study on several representative urban blocks and residential precincts by focusing on one environmental performance variable, i.e. exposure to the sky. The results indicate that the existing environmental performances as indicated by facade and ground level sky exposure vary across the representative built form typologies under study. Moreover, the performances of the cases selected react differently to variation of density due to increase of building height. The differences in existing performances and sensitivities to density variation between the cases investigated in relation to their built form are discussed. The findings suggest that, when targeting at higher development density, the proposed methodology can assist planners and urban designers in their search for alternative urban block typologies that provide different spatial configurations with equally good or even better environmental performance.

Effects of quality of opposition and match status on technical and tactical performances in elite volleyball

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of quality of opposition and match status on technical and tactical volleyball performances, as measured by block, attack, serve, and set actions related to the tasks, space, players, and efficacy of selected game actions. Twenty-five matches from the men's World Cup 2007 were notated and through cluster analysis were classified as “high” (HIGH), “intermediate” (INT) or “low” (LOW) quality. The difference between points scored and points allowed was used to define match status. Multinomial logistic regression identified an association of match status with: set direction (likelihood ratio test [LRT] = 15.5, P = 0.017) and block typology (LRT = 9.6, P = 0.047) in HIGH vs. HIGH matches; attack player (LRT = 17.4, P = 0.026) and block typology (LRT = 9.2, P = 0.010) in LOW vs. LOW matches; and serve type (LRT = 17.4, P = 0.002), block strategy (LRT = 53.7, P <0.001), and serve efficacy (LRT = 26.0, P = 0.001) in HIGH vs. LOW matches. Results suggest that volleyball teams took more risky decisions in unbalanced situations. They also carried less risk through technical and tactical decisions in balanced and moderate situations whether they had the advantage or not. Therefore, strategic behaviour was affected by the interaction of quality of opposition and match status, providing a better understanding of volleyball game performance and new insights for practice, competition, and research.