Sustainable Design Solutions Research Articles

Improving Community Health and Wellbeing Through Multi-Functional Green Infrastructure in Cities Undergoing Densification

Abstract Evidence shows that maintaining a relationship with nature is essential for human health and wellbeing. This is of great importance when migration to urban areas is increasing globally and the need for nature as well as green and blue spaces as a source of recreation and relaxation is highly regarded for the health and wellbeing of local communities. Sustainable urban development and alternative design solutions to address urban compactness and densification are becoming increasingly important tools to counteract the adverse effects of urban sprawl. In the context of the highly compact bicultural capital city of Wellington, Aotearoa-New Zealand, this paper examines the effects of urban densification and compact city development in urban green spaces. It explores how architecture and landscape architecture can transform urban environments into desirable places to live and capitalise on the potentials of interstitial spaces, outdated zoning and changing land-use. To achieve that, it looks at green and blue infrastructure design solutions and opportunities that foster sustainable intensification and by offering new views for health and wellbeing that improve the social, cultural and environmental health of the city.

Action Research for sustainability: co-creation overcoming fragmentation in multidisciplinary design teams

Sustainable transitions are challenging management and leadership in architectural practice. As means to overcome fragmentation and drive for sustainability, co-creation has become an emerging trend in construction management research and architectural practice. The early ‘fuzzy’ phase of projects has been identified as of great importance to integrate multidisciplinary perspectives in the design. With action research in architectural practice, three perspectives of co-creation processes were explored to achieve an integrated sustainable design. The experiences are reflected upon, in-action and in retrospect, and through the FfC framework (Framework for Co-designing), the paper contributes with new insight on success/advantage of co-creation processes for sustainable design. Such advantages include the integration of multidisciplinary competences, the creation of stakeholder value and engagement in early phase construction. Further, action research, and especially Gestalt practice and theory, brought a new relational approach to co-creation processes in early design. The architect, in the new role as ‘knowledge-process designer’, shifts focus towards designing interaction instead of artefacts, and thus contributes to SDG 17-Partnerships. The contribution to practice was twofold; 1) a new digital participatory design tool; 2) an innovative sustainable design solution for urban resilience supporting SDGs 11-Sustianable cities, 3-Health, and 14-Climate.

BIM-based LCA and energy analysis for optimised sustainable building design in Ghana

Integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is regarded as useful for making design decisions regarding the environmental and health impacts of building products and materials. This research aimed at studying the process of BIM-LCA integration to assist designers in making sustainable material and product selection decisions in Ghana. A guidance framework for implementation of BIM-LCA supported by energy analysis has been developed to aid optimisation of sustainable design solutions based on simulations using Autodesk Revit as a BIM authoring tool, Green Building Studio and Tally to perform energy and LCA simulations on a hypothetical two-bedroom single-family house. The research considers both operational and embodied carbon effects of the design solution. The framework aligns with the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 Stages 0–2 (i.e. Strategic definition, Preparation and briefing, and Concept design) and presents a systematic approach for BIM-based LCA estimation for the early design stages using the Business Process Modelling Notation. The paper proposes a generic approach which has the potential to incorporate LCA as an integral part to the BIM-enabled design development process. This assists designers in decision-making that consider environmental impacts of materials and energy consumption as part of sustainable building design considerations.

Toward Sustainable Design Solutions for Existing Campuses in Egypt: Case Study Mansoura University (Dept.A )

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Material-based computational design (MCD) in sustainable architecture

Today material is the driving force in architectural design processes run by Computational Design (CD). The architect may lead the design process and its outputs by analysing material type and properties, as well as constraints, at the beginning of the process. This article reviews the state of the art in Material-based Computational Design (MCD) and aims to analyse the role of materials in efficient and sustainable MCD processes. A set of critical projects developed over the past decade have been selected and grouped based on how material is incorporated into the process. In the process, three main categories are identified—namely, Material Performance, Informed Materials and Programming Materials. Based on predefined criteria on efficiency (E) and sustainability (S) in architectural design processes, the projects are analysed to calculate their E + S ratings. The analysis identifies two principal approaches implemented in MCD. One focuses on integrating material properties with other critical parameters—including form, performance and fabrication. The other concerns enhancing material properties by designing new materials. The analysis verifies that MCD generates both efficient and sustainable design solutions. By using CD in architectural design processes, existing materials can be re-interpreted and innovative materials can be produced to achieve new spatial experiences and meanings.

Energy and Cost Analysis of Building Envelope Components Using BIM: A Systematic Approach

The selection of cost-effective components of the building envelope plays a significant role in a sustainable building design solution. Therefore, in terms of effective decision-making, it is important to have a complete insight into construction and running costs throughout the lifespan of the building. A systematic building information modelling (BIM) approach as a new trend in the innovative approaches in the construction (AECO) industry provides appropriate support for improvement of environmental assessments. Our study presents a new approach to automated/semi-automated comprehensive energy and the whole life-cycle cost analysis of building envelope components using BIM, and, as such, it represents a novelty for Advanced Construction Project Management. It focuses on the sequence of steps required for evaluation of energy and economic assessment, from the basic 3D BIM model, through the energy and cost analysis, to the final evaluation and decision-making. The energy balance was calculated with dynamic simulation, the results of which formed the basis for the cost analysis. Economic assessment of construction and operating costs was performed by implementation of the cost-optimal methodology. Our proposed approach contributes to the environmental assessment of building envelope components throughout the life cycle and includes the economic valuation. The applicability of the systematic approach in our case study considered 24 different variants of building envelope components at three different U-values, namely U0 = 0.28 W/m2K for external wall, U0 = 0.20 W/m2K for roof, U1 = 0.15 W/m2K and U2 = 0.10 W/m2K. Sophisticated project BIM management software was used for the economic evaluation of all elements of the life-cycle costs (LCC). In summary, the main contribution of this approach is provision of a comprehensive and simple insight into all costs in a transparent way, because a 5D BIM model allows for optimal decision-making on appropriate energy and cost-efficient envelope components.

The Application of BIM Tools to Explore the Dynamic Characteristics of Smart Materials in a Contemporary Shanashil Building Design Element

Traditional architecture is known for its crafted facade features that respond to environmental, social and cultural requirements. Contemporary architecture produced facade features that attempted to enhance local design identity and local culture. Despite the advantages of modern technology, architectural elements have difficulties in fulfilling the idea of sustainable elegance that once traditional elements provided. This problem calls for an interdisciplinary design approach to deliver sustainable design solutions that positively adapt to the surrounding environment as well as maintain the state of elegance in design. With this in mind, the research aims to explore the role of new glass technologies to improve the performance and at the same time maintain the design value of traditional facade element “shanashil” in Baghdadi buildings. This research utilises BIM tools and uses smart materials to restore the lost value in design, which mimics the dynamic characteristics observed in nature, inspired by biomimetics strategies. Such qualities are found in the characteristics of smart dynamic glazing material particularly in the switchable, reversible properties of transparency and coloration efficiency. The material characteristics are attached to a 3D digital prototype to visualise the difference between dynamic and static properties through the use of technology tools Revit plugin and smart glazing virtual reality prototype. This research concludes that the dynamic characteristics of smart glazing materials are effective in delivering a multifunctional design quality to collectively blend in harmony with the surrounding environment.

Vernomimicry: Bridging the Gap between Nature and Sustainable Architecture

Biomimicry or learning from nature in architecture is a method that aims to develop a sustainable design solution for modern world challenges by mimicking models, systems, and elements of nature. However, developing biomimetic solutions is not a problem-free approach due to the fact that both, biology and architecture are different. Therefore, the vernacular architecture being the human form of natural construction can be used to help bridge the gap between nature and architecture. There are certain potentials and limitations of using both, biomimicry and vernacular architecture in modern day architecture. However, several methods and the process can be used to develop solutions for these issues. A fusion between both approaches in the form of “Vernomimicry” be used to apply nature based and nature like solutions in architecture successfully.

How Effectively Value Engineering Practices are Being Implemented in Qatar on Infrastructure Projects

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of Value Engineering (VE) practices being used in Qatar mainly on infrastructure projects. This study will further explore the deficiencies in adopted overall VE processes and subsequently recommend the solutions to overcome current problems or difficulties.
 To conduct this study a mixed method approach was adopted, which is a combination of quantitative and qualitative date. Survey questionnaire was used to collect the quantitative date and it was sent to 72 professionals belongs to different construction groups currently involved on infrastructure projects in Qatar. Semi structured interviews were conducted to collect the qualitative date. Interviews were conducted with 06 professionals working as value engineer on different infrastructure projects in Qatar to obtain further practical information about VE processes in Qatar and know about the real difficulties they encountered.
 This research reveals that the value engineering processes being used in Qatar are in line with international standards set by the SAVE International. This study further reveals that only 5 percent to 7 percent cost savings are being achieved on infrastructure projects in Qatar. This is in addition to the improvements in HSE, quality and time of project. 
 However, where this study has shown cost benefits from VE implementation, it also highlighted that significant improvement is required to extend the cost benefits from 7 percent to maximum 12 percent for which VE is known without compromising on functionality and quality requirements. This is a clear indication that current practices need to be improved. The identified improvements include starting VE process at the end of preliminary design stage, more involvement of clients and by considering whole life cycle costs of the projects by introduction of sustainable, environment friendly and innovative alternatives design solutions and construction materials.

An integrated BIM-LEED application to automate sustainable design assessment framework at the conceptual stage of building projects

Construction industry has become more interested in designing and constructing environmentally friendly buildings that can provide both high performance and monetary savings. Generally, the sustainability analysis is mostly conducted at the end of the design stage, once their components and elements have already been selected. However, achieving an integrated sustainable design solution prior to construction means that the design team must manage reciprocal task interdependencies when making decisions related to the selection of the most suitable design alternative that will lead to sustainable and efficient buildings. This study describes a methodology to automate the process sustainability assessment for proposed buildings by integrating Building Information Model (BIM) and LEED certification system while providing a framework to calculate the credits that building could potentially earn at the conceptual stage. This research aims to propose an integrated methodology that links BIM with green building certification systems at the early design stage of a project’s life. A plug-in is developed to calculate and predict the potential accumulated LEED credits with access to the Application Program Interface (API) of the BIM tool, energy analysis and lighting simulation tool, Google Map and their associated library. The plug-in uses K Nearest Neighbour (KNN) data mining method to estimate the missing credits, which could not be calculated directly from design specifications, to propose the whole scale innovative green building evaluation interface for building projects.

Towards Great Streets: Sustainable Design Solutions

Streetscape design is not only about an attractive visual image in the city, or an interesting walking trip while feeling shaded, secured, and comfort. Streetscape design plays a vital role in connecting and accessing communities’ resources. When designed as sustainable; streets help to develop communities in terms of environmental, social, and economic aspects. In addition, sustainable streets protect and enhance the city’s character and aesthetics. This research aims to highlight the importance of sustainability approach when designing a street whether it is a new street or a transformation of an existing one in order to be great. This paper is based on exploring the relationship between the basic principles of streetscape design and the sustainability framework comprising of its regular aspects: environmental, social, and economic. The paper highlights the intersection between the two main factors: 1. Streetscape design, 2. Sustainability framework. The research proposes a matrix through its application on an international case study to reach the final matrix. The final proposed matrix will be applied on Al-Alfy’ street in Cairo as a local case study. As conclusion the paper provides a checklist that may help developing sustainable design solutions for designing great streets.

INCORPORATING SUSTAINABILITY PRINCIPLES INTO ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN EDUCATION: RESULTS OF AN EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN STUDIO

Design is a structured process or a tactical guideline to accomplish a unique expectation of a product, while a design studio is the environment where students are taught the skills to design the product, which may be a building. Hence, the design studio course is the most important component of the architectural education curriculum; it is where the students get an opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge gained through lecture-based courses. Yet most theory is not put into practice; consequently, the principles of sustainable design solutions are developed. There is an urgent need to teach future architects how to integrate sustainable design principles into their projects in order to prevent or mitigate environmental degradation due to the negative impacts of building projects. This experimental study initiated a new design studio pedagogy and a novel teaching structure for integrating sustainability principles into the architectural design projects of 3rd year students. It also evolved a testing method to assess the success of the new pedagogy and the students' final design projects. This paper presents the results of the experimental design studio and delivers recommendations for subsequent sustainable design studio courses.

Sustainable Design Treatments for Thermal Range

The research deals with the thermal range phenomenon at the in inhabited areas. The shape and size of buildings varies according to the location, weather conditions and elements of the environment, thus exploring the nature, the negative effects, the causes and the elements of the human environment that help increase this phenomenon to the aim of developing the appropriate solutions to reduce the effects of the thermal range phenomenon. Hence emerged the issue of this research (The Absence of Comprehensive and Clear Sustainable Design Solutions to Reduce the Phenomenon of Thermal Range). In order to find solutions for this problem, a comprehensive conceptual framework was developed that illustrates a set of sustainable design solutions to reduce the phenomenon of thermal range. The theoretical framework application concepts on selected local study cases adopted to determine the extent to which these cases are met for the sustainable design solutions within the theoretical framework. By analyzing the results of the application, the selective local study cases showed that they did not acquire these solutions a matter that leads to the increase of this phenomenon and its multiple negative effects. The research concluded that the adoption of the sustainable design treatments within the theoretical framework is contributing to reduce this phenomenon that most of our local cities are suffering from.

From the seat to the system: Re-designing a tram drivers' workstation combining technical and contextual aspects

Through the detailed account of a design case-study, the paper aims to demonstrate how the activity-oriented approach promotes a systems perspective in ergonomics interventions. Specifically, by presenting an activity-oriented re-design of a tram drivers' workstation, it is shown: (i) how technical and contextual aspects were jointly considered, (ii) how their combination affects workers' activity in a non-trivial manner, and (iii) how this system level view helped generate feasible and sustainable design solutions. First, the activity-oriented theoretical lens is briefly presented, followed by the analysis of the tram driving activity, emphasizing on drivers' efforts to compensate for the original work-system design flaws. Next, key elements of the re-design process are presented, through a concept map, combining technical and contextual aspects, coupled with an account of stakeholder debates and resolution processes. The paper ends with a discussion on the lessons learned, concerning the adopted approach for design interventions in real work situations.

Utilisation of the conceive-design-implement-operate framework in a mechanical engineering capstone project

The Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate framework was initiated around 20 years ago at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in order to reform engineering education to cope with the latest needs and challenges available in the industry. MIT researchers thought of the set of skills that graduates would need to have upon graduation. Then they developed the framework and syllabus, and then ran it through pilot programmes to monitor and refine its underlying approaches. The framework takes into account students’ ‘Technical Knowledge and Reasoning’, ‘Personal and Professional Skills’, ‘Interpersonal Skills’ and ability to ‘Conceive-Design-Implement and Operate’ engineering system or processes. It is now well established with over 100 universities applying its concepts to enhance engineering education. The framework defines 12 standards, which are implemented to describe the frameworks structure. This framework has been applied to several modules (or courses) within Taylor’s School of Engineering. In particular, the present investigation discusses the application of this framework within the context of a Capstone Project module in the school’s Mechanical Engineering Programme. This module is a yearlong, 3rd year module within a 4-year engineering degree programme where students are tasked to design and build a complex engineering system. This paper discusses how the framework is used to enhance students’ ability to brainstorm and develop suitable and sustainable engineering design solutions for a specified design challenge. The paper will discuss what the students have accomplished in each part of the conceive-design-implement-operate framework stages, as well as how these techniques have enabled them to appropriately design an engineering solution in addition to the rubrics used to assess them in each part of the framework.

Sustainable Queuing-Network Design for Airport Security Based on the Monte Carlo Method

The design of airport queuing networks is a significant research field currently for researchers. Many factors must to be considered in order to achieve the optimized strategies, including the passenger flow volume, boarding time, and boarding order of passengers. Optimizing these factors lead to the sustainable development of the queuing network, which currently faces a few difficulties. In particular, the high variance in checkpoint lines can be extremely costly to passengers as they arrive unduly early or possibly miss their scheduled flights. In this article, the Monte Carlo method is used to design the queuing network so as to achieve sustainable development. Thereafter, a network diagram is used to determine the critical working point, and design a structurally and functionally sustainable network. Finally, a case study for a sustainable queuing-network design in the airport is conducted to verify the efficiency of the proposed model. Specifically, three sustainable queuing-network design solutions are proposed, all of which not only maintain the same standards of security, but also increase checkpoint throughput and reduce passenger waiting time variance.

Designing a Shelter for Refugees in Light of Sustainability

The most important questions about the design of refugee's habitats are simple ones. Can architecture contribute to saving lives of refugees, and offering them enhanced quality of life, how can architects repower the new techniques of sustainability to offer suitable, affordable, smart, and practical, people-oriented places for refugees, and what characteristics should these places have? These questions will be answered through three case studies that demonstrate how sustainable design can be a key in solving the refugee crisis. Only by answering these questions can we take a step forward on the way to a new perspective by leading a better quality of life for refugees. Architecture can contribute to saving lives and enhancing quality of life. Fabrication and advancement in using computerized systems in building and construction could potentially tighten the gap between need and desire, leading humanity to develop the life of homeless, poor and unprivileged people. Nowadays, manmade conflicts have spread across countries. With waves of mass displacements as collateral damage the world has witnessed the displacement of millions of people across continents. Sustainable design solutions for refugee's habitats are the issue of this paper. It aims to examine a variety of developed sustainable design criteria to create a dynamic, zero-energy design, using local resources, which can adapt to the environment and human needs of refugees, and help designers create productive settlements and produce more humanitarian living environments. The study provides a set of recommendations to visualize both present and future needs of refugees to survive in new perspective of considering climate change and the lack of basic world resources; opening an extended horizon for sustainable architecture to respond positively to environmental disasters and react appropriately to sudden local and/or global risks.

Fashion design solutions for environmentally conscious consumers

This paper intends to give an overview of the design solutions in fashion for environmentally conscious consumers, presenting green and ethical practices in contemporary clothing design. The results introduce the concept of slow fashion and discuss available fashion design solutions, giving most prominent examples of sustainable products and brands, these contain one or more design features. By this, the discussion extracts the main contemporary ideas. The presented examples of current offers are all envisioning less impact on the environment and society. Sustainable design solutions use more environmentally friendly materials such as organic cotton, incorporate circular design or design for recycling, e.g., replacing button closures with alternative closing possibilities or leather labels with printed versions, or ensure long product life through durability, among other methods. There are differing designs due to creators’ individuality. This overview can be beneficial for the future development of new solutions for more environmentally friendly fashion.

The elephant in the room: biomimetics and sustainability?

Biomimetics, with diverse origins, has generated a ‘biomimetic promise’ of sustainable design solutions. This promise posits that biological systems are inherently sustainable and emulating these time-tested patterns will result in optimal sustainability characteristics. However, this has rarely been empirically explored and there is little understanding of how biomimetic practitioners are assessing sustainability impacts. This paper examines connections between biomimetic innovation and sustainability theory and investigates how practitioners are approaching sustainability issues. It includes (a) a review of concepts connecting sustainability and biomimetic innovation, highlighting epistemological disparities among disciplines, and (b) an exploratory survey examining practitioners’ use and views of biomimetics for sustainability-oriented innovation. Four findings are that (a) practitioners use a variety of sustainability frameworks with no established system of accountability; (b) there is a disconnection between biomimetics and sustainability agendas at multiple levels; (c) biomimetics is creating new narratives of sustainability; and (d) epistemological variations in biomimetics research and practice contribute to the variety of conceptions of sustainability and need to be considered as an aspect of the biomimetic promise. In conclusion, biomimetics has an important role to play in the evolving conceptualisation of sustainability and measures of success needed to integrate science-based targets and the interests of diverse stakeholders.

A UNIFIED ARCHITECTURAL THEORY FOR ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

This research aims to identify criteria for sustainable design solutions to meet the needs of Muslims today. Under the theoretical framework of Nikos Salingaros’ Unified Architectural Theory, design needs and strategies derived from Islamic knowledge and values are identified and used to inform principles for building typologies, location, and movement between buildings. Green building technologies in line with Islamic values and examples of sustainability promoting policies are analyzed and used to further develop design strategies. The findings include a theoretical model that proposes the essential design criteria for appropriate architecture for the Muslim world. This research is relevant for architects designing for Muslims, who have a duty to create housing appropriate for their particular needs and cultural context.