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School: Rensselaer
Polytechnic University
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| Abstract: This report describes a
"building work-up" assignment that focused upon daylighting analysis, exploring
the relationship between research and design through case studies of significant
"masterworks" of architecture. The assignment made a connection between case
study analysis - combining scale modeling and field measurement - and design exploration,
as part of a "research/design studio." Students first studied significant architectural exemplars by constructing and testing daylight models and then compared results through a field test that included lighting measurement and an occupant survey. Lighting models enable simulation of a space under all lighting conditions. Field testing allows comparison with observation of actual conditions. By combining the two approaches, students go from model-scale to full-scale testing, while exploring questions about lighting design lessons and principles that might be derived from the case study. Three well known works of architecture were selected for study in a design studio at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The results of these studies are reported here. All are libraries, selected to allow cross-comparisons, but without an "answer" defined in advance of what detailed case study analysis might reveal. The examples are: University of Michigan Law Library Mt. Airy, NC Public Library Phillips Exeter Academy Library We learned that it is instructive and in some cases essential to combine scale-model testing with case study assignments. The experience also showed that such research assignments can be integrated into a design studio - one could argue should be - in order to demonstrate the necessary iteration between research and design exploration. |
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Background: Professor Watson received a $5000 Vital Signs teaching support grant during the spring term of 1996 that helped support this investigation. |
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All contents copyright (C) 1998. Vital Signs Project. All rights reserved. Created: 11/11/98 |
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Daylighting in Three Libraries: a
Research/Design Studio Assignment
