Retrofit Design - ARCH7014

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Module delivery information

Location Term Level1 Credits (ECTS)2 Current Convenor3 2026 to 2027
Canterbury
Spring Term 7 20 (10) Giridharan Renganathan checkmark-circle

Overview

You will learn to assess an existing building and propose retrofit/ refurbishment options. Globally substantial part of the built environment that is already built will remain for many more decades to come. Many of them may not be resilient to climate change and ready for net zero target. Therefore, you will develop comprehensive skills to assess environmental sustainability in the context of net zero policy and develop solutions to retrofit/refurbishment buildings. You will learn to assess environmental issues related to layout, form, structure/construction and building performance and develop a retrofitting proposal incorporating suitable passive/low carbon technologies that are applicable to the context. Over the course of the term, you will develop skills to apply environmental principles and analyse the complex design options, and develop sound construction details to integrate the solutions.

Details

Contact hours

Lecture: 8 hours
Practical/Tutorial: 40 hours
Assessment - final crit: 5 hours

Method of assessment

Main Assessment Methods:
Thermal integrity of the façade system (20%)
Technical portfolio (80%). This assessment is pass compulsory.

Reassessment methods:
Like-for-like

Indicative reading

Learning outcomes

On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1. Apply principles associated with designing for optimum daylight, ventilation, heating and cooling.
2. Critically assess alternative passive environmental strategies to reduce operational energy and make suitable recommendations for the retrofit design.
3. Critically assess alternative façade and roofing systems to reduce embodied energy and make suitable recommendations for the retrofit design
4. Evaluate challenges related to integrating building fabric (materials), services and environmental control regimes into a unified environmental design strategy for a context
5. Formulate innovative and improvised strategies to respond to contextual issues

Notes

  1. Credit level 7. Undergraduate or postgraduate masters level module.
  2. ECTS credits are recognised throughout the EU and allow you to transfer credit easily from one university to another.
  3. The named convenor is the convenor for the current academic session.
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