Course Contents

The course requires the practice to be categorized into two sections: The theoretical portion for comprehensive learning and the practical application of the studied material into projects or practical assignments. The course is designed to focus the understanding of sustainability, its three main areas i.e. social, economic and environmental, highlighting the issues in the way of sustainable design globally and with reference of Pakistan, and various passive design strategies through which the purpose of sustainable environments may be fulfilled. Thus, the course will investigate the ongoing sustainable problems, climate change, behavioral change, sustainable values, and the role of passive design elements in these parameters.

Course Synopsis

This course is to familiarize the students with global problems emerging from the overall climate change, the steps or strategies that can at least create some resistance in worsening the impacts of increased carbon footprints of the built spaces, the role of passive design strategies that needs to be considered while designing any building and the steps that can be taken to improve the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) of the already built structures. The hybrid of both active and passive designs, their needs and the challenges in designing a building is a critical portion of the course. The other important systems in the course, for achieving the sustainable environment are Rain Water Harvesting and Waste management systems.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. The main objective is to expose student to the realization of human beings about the impacts of lifestyle and architectural styles on the natural environments and why this subject needs urgent attention of field experts and policy makers. 2. The understanding of challenges in achieving the environmental, social and economic sustainability across the globe and within the country. 3. To develop the idea of root causes of the whole disturbance in the climate changes; the carbon emissions and the carbon footprints of the built structures in specific. 4. To make students capable to give the passive design techniques a thought while designing an academic project or infield practice. 5. The importance of building envelope in deciding the impacts of any building on environment in the next 100 years of its construction. 6. The detailed analysis of various design strategies; landscape, wall treatments, roof, openings: doors/windows, infiltration etc. and their effects on the indoor temperature and environments. 7. To create a better understanding of the dynamics of natural ventilation in the buildings, its considerations, impacts and role in maintaining an improved IAQ. 8. The realization of incorporating day-light in the interior spaces, the methods and design techniques for achieving. 9. The hybrid technology of sustainability and the understanding its importance in comfortable indoors. 10. The analysis of various systems that can contribute in sustainability on a society level i.e. Rain Water Harvesting, Grey Water Reuse and Waste Reduction Management and its 3 R’s.