BUESA Laboratory

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Lectures

Sustainable Architecture I (spring semester)

The building sector contributes significantly to resource consumption as well as to other environmental impacts, such as GHG emissions, air pollutions and solid waste generation. According to the IPCC report (2007), about 8% of GHG emissions were derived from the building sector in the world. However, if indirect emissions, e.g. electricity consumed in buildings, are included, the emissions are far more than that. This course aims to equip students with fundamental theory and technologies for achieving sustainable architecture. The particular focus is drawn on the passive heating/cooling techniques. By the end of this course, each student should be able to:

Understand the environmental impacts caused by buildings and the needs for achieving sustainability in the built environment,

Obtain basic knowledge of technologies for sustainable architecture, and

Explore the latest advances in sustainable architecture through the review of actual practices.

Course schedule

  1. Introduction
  2. Thermal comfort in buildings
  3. Thermal comfort standards
  4. Passive solar
  5. Photovoltaic and active solar
  6. Modern sustainable architecture - Examples
  7. Presentation - Review of sustainable architecture 1
  8. Presentation - Review of sustainable architecture 2
  9. Passive cooling - Principles
  10. Passive cooling - Night ventilation
  11. Vernacular architecture
  12. Urban heat island
  13. Presentation - Review of sustainable architecture 3
  14. Presentation - Review of sustainable architecture 4
  15. Summary

Sustainable Architecture II (spring semester)

One of the most effective ways to learn about sustainable architecture is to visit the sites and experience the actual environments. This course provides students with several opportunities to visit sustainable architecture in and around Higashi-Hiroshima. After each of the site visits, the students discuss the sustainable techniques that were seen in the examples. The results of the discussions are presented by the students afterwards. The practices that are going to be visited include not only modern buildings but also traditional houses.

Course schedule:

  1. Introduction
  2. Site visit 1
  3. Group discussion
  4. Presentation
  5. Site visit 2
  6. Site visit 2 (continued)
  7. Group discussion
  8. Presentation
  9. Site visit 3
  10. Site visit 3 (continued)
  11. Group discussion
  12. Presentation
  13. Site visit 4
  14. Group discussion
  15. Presentation

Possible sites for visit:

  1. Saijo traditional buildings
  2. Shiraichi traditional shop-houses
  3. Saijo modern show houses
  4. Kinki university's experimental house
  5. Takehara conservation site
  6. Hiroshima smart houses, etc.