Architecture and the Sustainable Environment

How can we design buildings that keep us comfortable, while global temperatures rise, and we want at the same time to reduce, not increase, our use of energy? This module first provides an understanding of the important energy flows in a building (heat, light, air) and how these are driven and can be controlled. It then demonstrates techniques that have been used in innovative buildings to provide brilliant daylit spaces, comfortable and even temperatures, high air quality and at a much-reduced energy and environmental cost. You will also learn about buildings that overheat, are noisy and stuffy – and why this is so and can be avoided. Building fabric and services are explained and how resource requirements for maintenance can be reduced. Advanced materials and techniques are introduced. You will also learn how to assess a building’s environmental strategies to see if it really does have a low environmental impact. 

How has the environmental dimension of building design changed over time in the UK and beyond?  You will learn how to evaluate past environmental technologies and strategies, combining historical research methods and technical analysis. You will research the historical, geographic and cultural context of the development of environmental technologies and scientific principles. Over the course of the term you will conduct a detailed case study in order to gain a critical understanding of the environmental considerations underlying the design, operation and adaptation of historic buildings, including the current challenge of adapting historic buildings to climate change. Students from MSc in Architecture and the Sustainable Environment and MSc in Architectural Conservation will come together in this cross-disciplinary module to explore how to reconcile the requirements of heritage preservations and environmental design.

You will explore different empirical and modelling techniques to critically evaluate the environmental and energy performance of buildings and the routes contributing to the performance gap.

Over the course of the term, you will conduct a building performance evaluation (BPE) through field surveys of appropriate case study buildings, where you will monitor the indoor environmental conditions. Subsequent use of dynamic thermal simulation modelling tools will enable you to further assess the environmental conditions and energy performance of buildings throughout the year.

The critical engagement with the results from the BPE and modelling will enable you to identify problem areas, benchmark against similar building types, and propose appropriate mitigation strategies to improve the environmental conditions and energy performance of buildings.

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.

The designs we create significantly influence both the communities and the environments we inhabit. This module unveils the intricate relationship between ethical considerations and design decisions, emphasising sustainability's essential role in crafting environmentally conscious and socially responsible spaces. You will explore these concepts through lectures and seminars introducing the theoretical underpinnings of ethics and sustainability and engaging you in discussions about case studies and current events that highlight sustainable practices in the design world.  

Throughout this journey, you will be equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary to incorporate sustainable methods into your design projects, ensuring that your creations are both innovative and mindful of environmental and social impacts. By the end of this module, you will have a deeper understanding of how sustainability intersects with design, preparing you to be a conscientious designer who actively contributes to a more sustainable future.

You will focus on the impacts of urbanisation on urban climate and impacts for how we plan, design and build places for communities.

It follows the resilience definition of the capacity of individuals, communities, institutions, and systems within a city to survive, adapt, and grow irrespective of the chronic stresses and acute shocks they experience.

With the focus on the built environment, you will evaluate the impact of urban morphology, built materials and nature-based solutions on the urban microclimate through a range of experimental and digital techniques along with technical site visits and industry-led workshops. In focusing on how cities build climate resilient urban solutions, you will explore how cities address and meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly focusing on SDG11, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and other evolving global sustainability metrics and standards.

What perspectives and research methodologies do different disciplines offer? How can these be utilised to address questions relation to the built environment? How can they help you to address the particular challenges associated with the development of research methods for use in creative processes or industry-based projects? 

This module brings you together with peers from different PGT programmes in order to encourage the exploration of cross-disciplinary approaches to research on the built environment. You will develop a proposal for a written dissertation, research-led creative project, or industry-based project in a topic of your own choice. Delivered over the course of two terms the aim of this module is to support you in developing project proposals in preparation for your final module Dissertation or Industry-based project. You have the options to develop proposals for three kinds of projects: (1) traditional written thesis, (2) research-by-practice, and (3) industry-based project.  Through a programme of seminars and practical workshops you will develop the knowledge and skills required for designing projects within academic and professional settings. You will apply these skills in the development of project proposal that covers a literature review, outline of the methodology, project schedule, and where required, will also involve full research ethics approval.

You will develop your research skills through a large project under the guidance of a supervisor. This can be untaken within an academic or professional setting. You can choose between research-based or practice-based projects in a topic related to their field of study. This provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate your capacity to work as independent researchers in your chosen area of specialism. You will have the choice between three options. You can choose to produce a substantial piece of written work, undertake a creative project, or a project undertaken in the context of external placements within industry or public sector organisations. During the development of your proposal you will have chosen between three pathway options for your project, distinguishing between projects in which you can demonstrate the application of advanced skills and knowledge within the context of an academic research, creative projects or professional placements. The pathways are:  

- **Research project**: You will undertake an independent research project on a topic related to their discipline, which will be assessed on a written dissertation of 12,000-words. This is the pathway for students on the MSc Urban Planning & Resilience.    

- **Creative project (practice-as-research)**: You explore your research questions in the context of a creative project within their field of study. This will be assessed on a portfolio, together with a 4000-word written essay, which will frame and discuss the project theoretically. 

- **Industry-based project**: You explore your research questions through projects within the professional settings of a work placement within the public or private sector. This will be assessed on a project portfolio, together with a 4000-word written essay, offering a critical reflection on research in practice.