ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOOR COMFORT ASSESSMENT
cod. 1008356

Academic year 2020/21
2° year of course - Annual
Professor
Barbara GHERRI
Academic discipline
Architettura tecnica (ICAR/10)
Field
Attività formative affini o integrative
Type of training activity
Related/supplementary
10 hours
of face-to-face activities
1 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in ENGLISH

Learning objectives

Knowledge and understanding:
The aim of the course is to consolidate the fundamental skills for the correct and complete interpretation of the existing city, in relation to the energy flows and environmental resources that buildings have on indoor and outdoor comfort conditions for citizens and users. The knowledge must serve for an exhaustive and articulated analysis, aimed at evaluating the most suitable and sustainable methods of transformation and technological-environmental adaptation of the open space within the consolidated city.
Skills:
The ability to choose and correctly use technologies for the design of the outdoor space between buildings, systems and building materials will be acquired, in order to maximize the use of natural and local sources of heating, cooling and ventilation to create comfortable conditions in the open spaces of the city. The skills will focus towards the choice of the best solutions to assess environmental conditions such as solar radiation, natural day and night ventilation and the use of finishing and coating materials, in order to support urban overall comfort.
Judgment autonomy:
At the end of the course, the student should have developed the ability to critically evaluate which traditional or innovative tools and technologies are the most suitable in case outdoor spacxe design, aimed at fostering the elements of sustainability in the transformation processes.

Communication skills:
Students will develop the ability to describe, communicate and represent the building envelope as well as open areas within the existing city, involving every aspects at different scales, through the use of the most appropriate methods and tools, which will be illustrated during the lessons.
Learning ability:
Different lessons are intended to support the student in the correct using of critical analysis methods in case of open area and transitional area design, involving environmental and bioclimatic aspects: the student should have acquired the knowledge and skills to face, in the future, an in-depth and autonomous application of these aspects.

Prerequisites

Course unit content

The class will concern the morphological and environmental analysis of open spaces inside the existing city. Later on, we will discuss some regulatory aspects, starting from the EPBD2010 directive towards several national receptions, to get to some regional and local laws on decarbonization and energy savings, in. order to achieve the zero emissions targets, set for 2050 both for buildings and open spaces.
Both expeditious and exhaustive assessments methods for the outdoor environment and to evaluate outdoor comfort conditions of open spaces will be illustrates; qualitative assessment will be carried out through conventional tools, as well as quantitative assessments will be presented by using specific softwares and simulations. In that sense, several environmental mitigation strategies for the existing city will be illustrated, in order to reduce and mitigate f Heat Urban Island effects and to increase the well-being of users’ comfort, focusing on architectural tools and methods’ applications at the urban microscale.

Full programme

Further didactic material:
any supplementary material will be made available after the lessons (e.g. slide)

Bibliography

-CoR (2011), Adaptation to Climate Change: Policy instruments for adaptation to climate change in big European cities and metropolitan areas, European Union. Committee of the Regions, Brussels.
-Dessì V.(2007) Progettare il comfort urbano, Simone editore, Napoli.
-Fanger, P.O. (1970), Thermal comfort. Analysis and applications in environmental engineering. Copenhagen, Danish Technical Press.
-Gehl (2008), Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space. Washington: Island Press.
-Gehl J. (2010), Cities for People. Washington: Island Press.
-Olgyay V., Olgyay A (1963), Design With Climate: Bioclimatic Approach to Architectural Regionalism, 1st Edition, Princeton University Press, Princeton New Jersey.
-Givoni, B. (1998) Climate Considerations in Building and Urban Design. New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold.

Teaching methods

Live Lectures (if necessary, lessons can be held via WEB classes, according to future needs.

Assessment methods and criteria

Oral test possibly preceded by a design project

Other information

2030 agenda goals for sustainable development

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