RMB 8 - Assessment of Modern Buildings in Use

Recommended Prerequisites

N/A

Teaching Methods

The course involves discussion of theoretical/methodological concepts and presentation of relevant examples complemented by practical exercises based on a case study (modern building in use). Exercises are planned to allow the application and testing of methodological procedures and analytical tools and involve descriptions/data, plans, photos, diagrams, etc. focusing on the application of SUA and POE methodologies.

Students’ grades will be determined on the basis of the student portfolio ( group work) done through the semester and class participation.

Learning Outcomes

The course underlines the importance of the user’s perspectives in the reuse of modern buildings. It is based on a critical reflection on the different conditions, requirements, implications and risks that arise along the design stages. The aims are:

i) to provide students with theoretical, methodological and technical assessment for the re-use of modern buildings;

ii) to develop understanding of the conceptual knowledge and research methods employed in Space Use Analysis (SUA) and Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) in various facility contexts;

iii) to exercise student’s ability to generate, organize and search information on the problem under study, to analyse the information collected in SUAs and POEs; to communicate the validity of the produced analyzes (diagnosis) and take decisions (solutions and intervention measures); to write practical and strategic reports based on the findings and apply the information to inform the design phase.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Course is focused on 3 main topics:

THE PROBLEM: How to identify and formulate problems, and to envisage and enact processes in response to them;

THE EVIDENCE: How to carry out a SUA and a POE project; How to collect and analyse facts (reliable information to inform the design process); How to find, evaluate and synthesize information from evidence. How to uncover and test concepts, determine needs and inform design decisions.

THE RESULTS: How to develop critical thinking, make informed judgments, solve problems, and construct knowledge and arguments; How to make effective use of oral, written, statistical, visual and other forms of communication to critique, negotiate, create and communicate understanding.

Students acquire these capacities by developing exercises based on case studies.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Students’ grades will be determined on the basis of the student portfolio ( group work) done through the semester and class participation.: 100.0%

Bibliography

Baird, George (1996). Building Evaluation Techniques (Centre for Building Performance Research, Victoria University of Wellington). McGraw-Hill.

Brand, Stewart (1994). How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built? Viking Press,1994.

Friedmann, Arnold, Zimring, Craig, & Zube, Ervin (1978). Environmental Design Evaluation. Plenum Press.

Kernohan, David, Joiner, Duncan; Daish, John; Gray, John (1992). User Participation in Building Design and Management. Butterworth.

Preiser, Wolfgang (2003). Improving Building Performance. NCARB.

Preiser, Wolfgang, Rabinowitz, Harvey Z, & White, Edward T. (1988). Post-Occupancy Evaluation. Van Nostrand Reinhold. 

Preiser, Wolfgang & Vischer, Jacqueline C (Eds.).(2005). Assessing Building Performance. Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann. 

Preiser, W., Davis, A., Salama, A. & Hardy, A.(2015). Architecture beyond criticism. Expert judgment and performance evaluation. Routledge. 

Groat, Linda, & Wang, David (2002). Architectural Research Method.Wiley.