The Implementation of Sustainable Approaches in the Architectural Design Studio Developing Architectural Designs Using the Solar Envelope Method

Abstract

Teaching students the notion of sustainability during their architectural education is of great importance. The architectural design studio course is the most important environment in which theory and practice can be brought together. In this study, the development of architectural design by using the solar envelope method–which can be considered within the scope of sustainable architectur–was examined in the architectural design studio course in the department of architecture in our university. In the design studio, students had the opportunity to directly observe the impact and use of scientific information that is often difficult to obtain and access. The advantages and disadvantages that appear during the application of this mentioned method was identified based on the observations that were made, and feedback was provided by the students. This method helped the students in conceiving architectural projects in the context of sustainability in a more applied way rather than as a superficial and solely theoretic concept. Through this method, students have gained additional sensitivity regarding solar architecture and perceived its effect on form and space. According to the feedback obtained from students, the most important disadvantage was design freedom. Students found it stringent to be bound to make their designs within very well established boundaries from the early stages. The authors think that the limitations increased creativity and allowed interesting and unusual solutions. The projects were all formed on the basis of the rhythm of nature, which attached more value and meaning to architecture.