BIM-enabled learning for building systems and technology

This paper presents a series of educational case studies for the BIM-enabled pedagogical approaches for learning building systems and technology in the early stages of architectural education and provides evidence-based arguments about the influence of BIM on the students’ learning processes. Using a dual-channel pedagogical framework the study employed an object-oriented ontological approach tightly integrated with the parameterization of building components and their behaviors. Students experienced a fully BIM-enhanced course for learning fundamental concepts of building systems and technology where the creation of parametric BIM models was the main vessel for comprehensive understanding. The results show significant conceptual and practical advantages of BIM-enabled learning as well as the observed challenges in an educational context. The study also suggests positive educational transformations due to carefully devised BIM-based pedagogical frameworks for the understanding of building systems through parametric thinking and modeling. Based on a grounded theory approach, the findings are synthesized in a theoretical learning model including the systemic relationships between building technology content and parametric BIM methodology.

Exploring the Science of Vhavenda Traditional Architectural Design and Building Technology

Before now, historiographies and archival accounts of African innovations have often been told from mainly a Western and Eurocentric perspective. This chapter aims to expand this argument. It does this through a philosophical appraisal of the trajectory of progression in the traditional architectural designs and building technologies in the pre-colonial Vhavenda communities. This means exploring the scientific bases behind the progression of the different shapes and forms of the architectural designs and the building technology in the traditional Vhavenda communities. What counts is not whether these progressions have followed a Eurocentric notion of science, but rather unearthing the local rationale within which they are justified, and are hence ought to be regarded as “science.” Following these objectives, two questions are very important: (1) What are the major changes in the traditional Vhavenda architectural designs and building infrastructures? (2) How are these changes justified within the Vhavenda indigenous knowledge system?

Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses of operational errors in air handling units and unexpected user behavior for energy efficiency and thermal comfort

Resource scarcity and anthropogenic climate change require the reduction of performance gaps in existing buildings. In addition to unexpected user behavior, performance gaps are primarily caused by the technical gap due to operational errors in building technology. The main objective of this paper is to quantify model input uncertainty incorporating uncertain boundary conditions in terms of operational errors using thermo-dynamic building performance simulations and to identify the most relevant input parameters for the performance gaps in air conditioning systems by means of sensitivity analyses. Model input uncertainty is stochastically determined using Monte-Carlo Simulations to calculate the target values “primary energy demand” as well as “over- and under-temperature degree hours” for an office building. Selected parameters are simulated in a specific uncertainty and sensitivity analyses using the Sobol’ and Jansen estimators, which distinguish between a direct influence on the target variables and interactions between the parameters. The methodology requires a selection process, which is carried out as part of relative uncertainty and relative sensitivity analyses. Furthermore, the operational errors are compared with construction factors as well as building physics inputs and design parameters for building technology systems to show their reciprocal effects as part of a comprehensive investigation. The main findings of this paper are that operational errors in air conditioning systems play an essential role in decreasing energy efficiency and thermal comfort, but do not warrant the significance of certain construction factors as well as setpoints in building technology. Moreover, the impact of operational errors on thermal overheating of the building investigated is minor compared to other targets that cause greater model input uncertainty.

Nicola Zabaglia’s Scaffoldings for the Maintenance of Architectural Space in St. Peter’s Basilica and throughout Europe in the Seventeenth to Nineteenth Centuries

The scenographic architectural space of St. Peter’s represents an authoritative framework for the exhibition of the Vatican’s intellectual and technological potential. The creation and maintenance of St. Peter’s spurred inventions in construction practices and building technology, including the development of ad hoc scaffolding systems that could be assembled in prohibitive conditions. As demonstrated in this article, St. Peter’s Fabbrica and the Church fostered a reassuring place of experience, where rigour and tradition encouraged the realization of striking accomplishments. Notable among others were the scaffoldings designed by the master carpenter Nicola Zabaglia, to whose work the 1743 Castelli e ponti was dedicated. The 1824 reprint of this volume enjoyed a critical fortune in Europe, disseminating the place-specific knowledge of the Vatican Fabbrica.

Defining and demonstrating a smart technology configuration to improve energy performance and occupant comfort in existing buildings: a conceptual framework

PurposeTo achieve the building and property by 2050, decarbonisation goals will now require a significant increase in the rate of improvement in the energy performance of buildings. Occupant behaviour is crucial. This study seeks to guide the application of smart building technology in existing building stock to support improved building energy performance and occupant comfort.Design/methodology/approachThis study follows a logical partitioning approach to the development of a schema for building energy performance and occupant comfort. A review of the literature is presented to identify the characteristics that label and structure the problem elements. A smart building technology framework is overlaid on the schema. The framework is then applied to configure and demonstrate an actual technology implementation for existing building stock.FindingsThe developed schema represents the key components and relationships of building energy performance when combined with occupant comfort. This schema provides a basis for the definition of a smart building technologies framework for existing building stock. The study demonstrates a viable configuration of available smart building technologies that couple building energy performance with occupant comfort in the existing building stock. Technical limitations (such as relatively simple building management control regimes) and pragmatic limitations (such as change management issues) are noted for consideration.Originality/valueThis is the first development of a schema to represent how building energy performance can be coupled with occupant comfort in existing building stock using smart building technologies. The demonstration study applies one of many possible technology configurations currently available, and promotes the use of open source applications with push-pull functionality. The schema provides a common basis and guide for future studies.

MODERN CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES AS A TOOLKIT OF THE TRANSITION FROM TRADITION TO MODERNISM IN CHURCH ARCHITECTURE

Purpose. Consideration and analysis of twentieth-century church architecture in which the modernist style and their modern building technology was applied, using nine churches from different countries as examples. Methodology. The use of critical analysis of scientific and methodological literature of architectural modernism of churches, virtual analysis of architectural and construction projects of modernism and their use in the construction of churches, the method of systemic, structural and activity approach. Findings. The scientific formation of the concept of architectural and church modernism has been performed. The main components of architectural and church modernism and the use of the latest architectural and construction technologies are revealed. Reasonable reasons for the slow use of Architectural Church Modernism in modern times. Examples of twentieth-century architectural church modernism are provided. Originality. An analysis of the use of twentieth-century architectural-church modernism in the world is offered. An analysis of the use of architectural and church modernism in the architectural and structural design of churches has been conducted. Practical value. The rationale for the use of architectural and church modernism in the architectural and structural design of churches has been carried out. The components of church modernism are disclosed. The result is the creation of conditions for the harmonious interaction of customers-churchmen and executors-architects in the use of modernism. There were many arguments about what the temple and temple complex should be – modern or a copy of the canonical model – it all depends on the views of the customer and the architect, their views on religion and its purpose in modern life. The dispute can be long, but creativity is unstoppable, and in the world of temple construction has always kept up with current trends in architecture and construction, using new materials, designs and technology. Understandably, there are concerns that innovations in architecture may be followed by undesirable changes in the whole church tradition, but there is no stopping the new thinking. The new generation must step forward to embrace new trends, architectural modernism of churches, also search for new trends and embody them.

Activating Sustainable Building Technology’s Role in Contemporary Housing Design Strategies for Low-Income People after COVID19 Pandemic

In the developing world, practical steps are taken to provide adequate, sustainable housing, especially for low-income people within technological age capabilities in construction by searching for new techniques of building technology to meet that goal. In the Arab countries, contemporary housing design is particularly effective because it is the primary unit of the contemporary urban fabric and the basic cell that constitutes most of the city’s area. So the following research questions are discussed in this study: What are the challenges facing contemporary sustainable housing design in specific affordable housing for the lower-income groups? What is the potential for sustainable building technology to meet that goal considering the social and economic dimension of the COVID 19 pandemic? What are the ambitions that they set out to achieve in that house? To emphasize the essential role of sustainable building technology and techniques in acquiring and implementing different goals and actual needs of all strata of society.