AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to focus on the environmental assessment of the architectural project in its different components, in order to relate the choices resulting from functional requirements and architecture expression.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim is to provide the tools for facing a design project, considering technological and environmental aspects (as limited sources, pollution, etc.) and to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate performances and environmental impacts of design choices, in relation to the specific characteristics of the site. Since the majority of the European and world population lives in urban areas, the main ecological and environmental issues of such areas are faced, as well as related strategies to be adopted to increase resilience and climate change adaptation.

The main learning outcomes can be summarized as follows:

• Critically elaborate and evaluate the relations between urban environment, architecture and urban design and ecological and environmental issues;
• Applying methodologies and tools to drive design choices for climate change adaptation and mitigation;
• Quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the environmental impacts and benefits of design choices, among which the selection of design strategies and technologies (e.g. NbS), in relation to the site characteristics, considering in particular thermal comfort improvement.

TEACHING METHODS

The course includes the use of innovative teaching methodologies to reach the mentioned aims. Most of the topics will be faced and deepen by in class activities, such as debates, exercises, application of tools to a (simplified) design project. To do so, study at home materials will be provided for most of the topics.

The use of the mentioned teaching methods is to favour a critical view of the topics and active involvement of students, in addition to the application of selected tools to a design project. Such activities are addressed to the students attending classes for all the semester.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The main topics are:

• sustainability in architecture and climate change
• ecological and environmental issues of urban areas
• environmental and microclimatic analysis of a site with a focus on thermal comfort
• strategies and technologies for climate change adaptation and mitigation
• nature based solutions
• architecture and (urban) ecology

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Slides will be available on Aulaweb. For each topic a specific bibliography will be provided as well.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

KATIA PERINI (President)

CLARA VITE (President Substitute)

LESSONS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final exam includes the evaluation of the students’ skills considering methodological, theoretical and practical knowledge of the topics of the course. For students attending classes, it is based on a discussion on the activities and exercises developed during the course.

For the students not attending classes, the exam is oral, with questions related to the study at home material and the documents uploaded in Aulaweb.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Students attending classes

The activities implemented during classes (see Teaching method) will evaluate the ability of the students to critically elaborate and relate the different topics and issues. A simplified design exercise will allow verifying the abilities to apply the knowledge acquired and to quantitatively and qualitative evaluate the impact of design choices on the environment.

Students not attending classes

The oral exam will evaluate the ability of the students to critically elaborate and relate the topics. In addition, thorough specific examples and cases, the abilities to apply the knowledge acquired and to evaluate the impact of design choices on the environment will be verified.

The evaluation takes into account also the quality of exposure and the correct use of specific terms.

Exam schedule