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- From: Open Architecture Challenge
- Contributed By: Sandhya Naidu
Introduction:
A basic understanding of the sun’s seasonal and daily patterns is invaluable for environmentally friendly building. Climate responsive building was traditionally standard practice, now many architects and designers are returning to these principles to break the cycle of high energy consuming building systems.
Group Size: Any
Learning Objectives:
Students will begin to understand how a building’s orientation can affect its performance and energy needs as well as the comfort of the inhabitants. They must be able to express how their classrooms are affected by these principles.
Guiding Question:
• How can the sun’s direction affect the temperature in your classroom? What about the light from the sun? How can you use the sun to your advantage? What techniques can you think of to shade from the sun? • How is this relevant to sustainability?
Materials:
Sunny day, compass, pen and paper for documentation
Procedures:
Option 1: Outline building shadows on the ground with chalk. Using different colors, repeat this exercise at different times throughout the day and check to see how they change.
Option 2: Build a closed rectangular box with openings to create interesting patterns of light and shadow. Imagine it is a hallway/ passageway, which leads from the inside to the outside.
Assessment:
Option 1: Evaluate the creative use of light and shadow to create an interesting effect. Students can also be evaluated based on their expression concerning the intentions for this project.
A basic understanding of the sun’s seasonal and daily patterns is invaluable for environmentally friendly building. Climate responsive building was traditionally standard practice, now many architects and designers are returning to these principles to break the cycle of high energy consuming building systems.
Group Size: Any
Learning Objectives:
Students will begin to understand how a building’s orientation can affect its performance and energy needs as well as the comfort of the inhabitants. They must be able to express how their classrooms are affected by these principles.
Guiding Question:
• How can the sun’s direction affect the temperature in your classroom? What about the light from the sun? How can you use the sun to your advantage? What techniques can you think of to shade from the sun? • How is this relevant to sustainability?
Materials:
Sunny day, compass, pen and paper for documentation
Procedures:
Option 1: Outline building shadows on the ground with chalk. Using different colors, repeat this exercise at different times throughout the day and check to see how they change.
Option 2: Build a closed rectangular box with openings to create interesting patterns of light and shadow. Imagine it is a hallway/ passageway, which leads from the inside to the outside.
Assessment:
Option 1: Evaluate the creative use of light and shadow to create an interesting effect. Students can also be evaluated based on their expression concerning the intentions for this project.
Collaborative for High Performance Schools, Lighting
Michelle Kaufman talks to the students about the SUN. She talks about some great projects from Michelle Kaufman Designs focusing on the use of natural light and ventilation. Watch the full video here.
