Assignment 1-  Case Study
Passive Building Design: Assessing Daylight and Thermal Comfort At Modern Houses

Task

For this project, we need to form a group of eight, including both architecture students and those from other disciplines. Our group will choose between a corner lot double-storey terrace or a double-storey semi-detached house, which can be one of our own homes. From there, we will identify a space that has issues with daylighting and thermal comfort—either one space with both issues or two separate spaces.  

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To support our findings, we will analyze and document the issues with photographs. We also need to gather secondary data, including sun path charts, psychometric charts, and relevant climatic information. For daylighting, we will record lux readings three times a day using a smartphone lux meter, while for thermal comfort, we will measure temperature five times a day in the chosen space.  

All data will be tabulated on the floor layout to clearly present our findings. We will then propose passive design strategies to improve daylighting and thermal comfort, visualizing the changes through edited photographs or digital overlays. To support our ideas, we will include relevant sketches and technical drawings, such as a location plan, floor plans, elevations, and a section, ensuring they are drawn to scale.

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Reflection

This assignment enhanced my understanding of architectural principles and their practical applications. By analyzing the precedent, I learned how a building’s concept and context guide its design decisions and how elements like materiality and circulation influence spatial experience. Creating hand-drawn diagrams improved my technical drawing and composition skills, while crafting the models taught me precision and the value of simplicity in conveying ideas.

The assignment also deepened my appreciation for collaboration, as each member’s contributions enriched the overall understanding of the precedent. This experience not only strengthened my ability to visually analyze architecture but also instilled confidence in presenting complex ideas effectively through drawings, models, and multimedia.