HIGH-TECH ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN OF LOW-ENERGY PLACES INAUGURAL LECTURE SERIES 64 Delivered at The Federal University of Technology, Akure On Tuesday, July 10, 2012 By Olu Ola OGUNSOTE, mnia Professor of Architecture Olu Ola Ogunsote, MSc, PhD, MBA, mnia Professor of Architecture TABLE OF CONTENTS Protocol. 1 Introduction . 1 Architecture today . 2 Architectural design . 3 The concept of place in architecture . 3 Low-energy places in architecture . 4 The need for design with climate . 7 The need for a systems approach . 7 Sustainable architecture . 7 Green housing in tropical climates. 8 Advantages and benefits of green housing . 9 Passive cooling of residential buildings . 11 Passive cooling through reduction of cooling loads in residential buildings 11 Passive cooling through removal of excess heat from residential buildings . 12 The almond tree effect. 13 The cultural context of climate-sensitive buildings. 14 Climatic zones for architectural design in Nigeria . 15 Definitions of climatic zones . 15 Existing definitions of climatic design zones . 15 The proposed climatic design zones . 16 High technology in architecture . 19 Computer Aided Architectural Presentation (CAAP) software. 20 CAD software. 20 Graphics software . 20 Multimedia software . 20 Proliferation and complexity of CAAP software . 22 The pros and cons of convergence . 22 Advantages of convergence. 23 Disadvantages of convergence . 23 Three Dimensional Modelling in Architecture . 23 Building Information Modelling (BIM) . 24 Synergy between environmental science software and modelling software in architecture . 24 Examples of three-dimensional models . 25 Production of photorealistic views and renderings in architecture (visualisation) . 25 Software for architectural visualization . 25 3DS Max and 3DS Max Design . 25 Free–form modelling with Rhino. 25 v Special add-ins and enhancements . 26 Examples of architectural visualizations. 26 Computer animation in architecture . 40 Three-Dimensional models for computer animation . 40 Using computer animation software in architecture . 40 Simulating 3D objects using 2D images in architectural animations . 41 Examples of computer animation in architecture . 42 Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) in architecture . 43 Scientific environmental modelling in architecture . 43 Design studio e-portfolios in architectural education . 44 The new learning environment in architectural education in Nigeria . 45 Portfolios, e-portfolios, drawing e-portfolios and architectural design e-portfolios . 45 E-portfolio . 46 Drawing e-portfolio . 46 Architectural design e-portfolio. 47 The advantages and disadvantages of architectural design e-portfolios . 47 Developing workable and flexible standards for design studio e-portfolios in Nigeria . 50 Relevant file formats . 53 New techniques of managing architectural design e-portfolios using the DWF format. 54 Prospects of architectural design e-portfolios in architectural education in Nigeria. 55 Climate sensitive buildings . 55 Characteristics of climate-sensitive buildings . 55 Examples of climate-sensitive buildings designed by the author . 56 Most significant contributions to knowledge in architecture . 81 Books and monographs . 81 Journal publications and conference proceedings . 81 Locally developed software for architectural design with climate in Nigeria 82 Major educational software developed for architecture and building students' instruction . 83 Web sites and portals developed for professional bodies and e-learning . 83 Conclusions . 84 Recommendations . 85 Acknowledgments . 86 Bibliography . 89 Copyrighted Commercial Software for Architects and Builders. 105 Major Educational Software Developed for Architecture and Building Students' Instruction . 106 vi HIGH-TECH ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN OF LOW-ENERGY PLACES PROTOCOL The Vice Chancellor Principal Officers of the University Deans, Directors and Heads of Department My Lords Spiritual and Temporal Members of the Academia Friends of the University Gentlemen of the Press Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen Great Futarians! INTRODUCTION It is with great humility and profound thanksgiving to God that I stand before you today to present this inaugural lecture titled “High-tech Architectural Design of Low-energy Places”. Although the choice of the title was made about a decade ago, I strongly believe that the subject remains topical, and that it continues to encapsulate my academic and professional aspirations and endeavours over the last three decades. Architects always dreamt of buildings that would not only be heavenly in beauty and stylistically significant throughout history, but that would last forever, would be comfortable and require little or no energy during construction and occupation. Moore's law (Moore, 1965) gave even pessimists hope that at least part of this utopia could be achieved during our lifetimes through technology. Today, arguable illiterates manipulate in their palms ten times more powerful technology than teams of scientists sweated in multi-storey buildings to operate just a few decades ago. Yet, advances in architectural technology have been more evolutionary than revolutionary. Many developing countries still struggle with architectural technology problems to which solutions were found centuries ago. Even advanced countries have been forced to re- evaluate the sustainability of their highest architectural achievements, faced as they are by new threats of economic depression, climate change, natural disasters and terrorism. This lecture is a general discussion about architectural design. It emphasizes the architectural design of meaningful places, as opposed to buildings and complexes. The focus is on places that use little or no energy in construction and exploitation. 1 The role that Information and Communication Technology can play in the design of such low-energy places is the essence of this discourse. Architecture Today What is architecture? Despite pretentious custody claims by our colleagues in Information and Communication Technology, the paternity of architecture remains unquestionable. Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings and other physical structures. These other physical structures include open areas, communities and other artificial constructions and environments. Architecture covers all aspects of the built environment, from the macro level (urban design, landscape architecture) to the micro level (interior design, furniture design, construction detailing), and including housing, institutional buildings, sporting and recreational facilities, industrial design, rural architecture, site supervision, remodelling, conservation and restoration. Architecture is an art, but it differs from most other art forms by possessing utility. At the other end of the spectrum, engineering becomes architecture the moment aesthetics becomes a significant factor. When is architecture? One of the earliest treatises on the subject, De Architectura (On Architecture, aka The Ten Books on Architecture), by the 1st century (BC) Roman architect Marcus Vitrivius Pollio, established three requirements – firmness, utility and beauty (Vitruvius, 1914). Today, structural stability, functionality and aesthetics remain cardinal to architecture, and the various styles and movements are only reflections of the priority ordering of these qualities, and the emphasis placed on each. Why is architecture? The origin of architecture can be traced to when man first created a physical structure and, like his own creator, also “saw that it was good” (Genesis, Chapter 1, verse 10). This goodness has been used over the ages to perpetuate cultural superiority, symbolize power, demonstrate technological excellence, and in some cases to provide a link to heaven (the afterlife), as in the Egyptian pyramids. Most of the time however, architecture has provided man with a place to work, play, pray and rest. Who is an architect? All conscious beings are architects, or at least have the potential of becoming architects. All laws and norms restricting the use of the title architect to only a few merely aim to certify the knowledge, expertise and experience acquired in the practice of architecture. 2 Architectural Design A design is generally understood to be a plan or convention for the construction or production of an object or system. It is a conscious and intuitive effort to impose meaningful order (Papanek, 1971). Alexander (1964) defines design as the process of inventing physical things which display new physical order, organization and form in response to function. More technically, a design is a specification of an object, manifested by an agent, intended to accomplish goals, in a particular environment, using a set of primitive components, satisfying a set of requirements, subject to constraints (Ralph and Wand, 2009). Design involves a process which has been variously described using either the rational model (Brooks, 2010; Newell and Simon, 1972) or the action-centric model (Ralph, 2010). Just as it is difficult to draw a line between rationality and intuition in design, the boundaries between design and art is blurred. Likewise, there are opposing approaches, methods and philosophies of design. So, what then is architectural design? Simply put, it is a plan for the construction of buildings and other physical structures. The Concept of Place in Architecture The notion of a place having a special meaning is an old and widely recognised one. Such places are identified by their peculiarities, not commonly