He wondered whether it could be used to map against BIM models, in order to extract all of the relevant information that planners need to assess and develop a decision.
However, it’s also due to our simple desire to create the best buildings we can; those which promote health and well-being for occupants, and are comfortable, durable and safe to use.. WELL building standards and passive design.As in so many other areas of our lives, COVID-19 has created new challenges within the architecture and design space, with clients now regularly requesting COVID-secure design.
The idea of designing for COVID is very compatible with sustainable design’s broader focus on health and wellbeing, and ties in nicely with the WELL Building Standard.This American rating system, launched in 2013 and now in the UK, challenges the built environment from a wellness perspective, while the UK’s earlier environmental assessment method, BREEAM, also places some attention on things like thermal comfort and air volumes.In the case of designing for COVID, the most obvious starting point is to look at the airflow of a building — how it might move through an office floor plate, for example.
Here, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) offers us a way to address the challenge using a process based on mathematical modelling..Passive design measures also form a key part of a sustainable design strategy.
We must consider elements such as building orientation, the optimisation of facades to balance seasonal heat loss and gain, enhancing daylight and using natural or mixed-mode ventilation.
To truly achieve sustainability in design, we should use passive design measures as much as we can to address health and wellness related challenges, as we search for a balance between wellness and energy efficiency.This approach not only speeds up the design process but also ensures high-quality, adaptable solutions tailored to specific site conditions and client needs.. Industrialising Reference Design.
Even traditional construction processes benefit from optimised Reference Designs.However, the true potential lies in unlocking DfMA and industrialised construction.
Initial assets may be built traditionally, but subsequent assets can be increasingly industrialised, engaging key suppliers for standardised equipment and prefabricated sections.This phased adoption allows the supply chain to adapt confidently, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs over time..