Environmentally Friendly Architectural Design Studio: A Studio Based Case Study

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Sirimas Hengrasmee
Sant Chansomsak

Abstract

The introduction of environmental design strategies into an architectural design studio is not always
an easy task. An experimental design studio at the Faculty of Architecture, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok
encouraged a group of 18 students to design a relatively environmentally friendly office building. The experimental
studio reported here was one of studios in the Special Topics in Architectural Design Studio course,
which allowed students to choose a subject of their interest. The studio’s learning strategies focused on the use
of simple but tangible environmental evaluation activities, such as discussions and workshops, to gauge the
possible health and environmental effects of each design, including its estimated rainwater run-off and solar
efficiency. Through these strategies, the students were able to evaluate the impacts of their design to the
natural environment. The process of measuring and acknowledging these impacts served as a tool for the
students to better themselves by developing lower impact designs in the next draft. As a result, these strategies
were demonstrated to encourage design improvement and served as a useful learning strategy for the teaching
of environmentally friendly design in an architectural studio.

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References

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