Course Overview
This course is an introduction to some of the basic planning concepts used in the design of site-responsive buildings. Lectures cover a variety of subjects pertaining to the built environment, site planning influences, and residential design considerations in the context of sustainable development practices. This course focuses on how regional climate and other local site features influence decisions and impact building form. Issues of energy conservation, human comfort, and water conservation are explored using passive site, building, and landscape strategies. Building and site design challenges are approached using the “design process”, a systematic methodology for creative problem solving that involves analysis, evaluation, synthesis, and resolution. Assignments provide the opportunity to consider practical applications to planning issues and to develop effective and environmentally responsible solutions to building design problems.
Prerequisite(s)
- No prerequisites are required for this course.
Credits
3.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the impact that buildings and construction have on the environment and explain ways that these impacts can be reduced.
- Describe the principles of sustainable development and identify attributes of a “green” building.
- Identify, analyze, and evaluate the factors from the natural and built environments, including climate and context, which impact and shape a building’s schematic layout and form.
- Identify and apply appropriate strategies that preserve and enhance the site.
- Identify and apply appropriate passive building strategies that respond to climate and promote energy conservation.
- Identify and apply appropriate landscape strategies that promote water conservation, restore the site, and support building passive strategies.
- Apply the “design process” as an approach to developing thoughtful, creative, and responsible solutions to practical site and building design problems.
- Recognize that challenges presented by site conditions and programmatic requirements are design opportunities that can inspire a unique and appropriate building response.
- Propose a design solution that reflects the inter-relationship of context, site, and building.
- Develop and draw a workable design solution to a residential planning problem.
- Prepare design diagrams, sketches, and finished drawings using the graphic tools and language of the industry to represent pertinent information.
- Promote an approach towards development that reflects sustainable practices.
Effective as of Fall 2014
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.