Architectural & Design Science
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Architectural Science Review
Architectural and Design Science is a discipline with a focus on applying methods from science and engineering to the study of architecture, human environments and design processes. The area encompasses studies in the physical aspects of lighting, daylighting, acoustics, thermal performance, wind effects, noise, structures and construction. It can also includes studies on how people are affected by, react to, and interact with, environments. Research is motivated by the need to understand how the quality of human environments can be optimised, whilst striving for minimal or positive impacts on the natural environment. The three main foci of the Discipline are sustainable design (with regard to thermal performance, indoor environment quality and best use of materials), sound (acoustics and audio systems), and light (daylighting and illumination). Several leading researchers in Architectural Science within the Faculty provide expert supervision of research leading to higher degrees. The Discipline’s members also run postgraduate coursework programs in architectural and design science, and it is possible to undertake some advanced coursework from these programs with your research studies.
The Discipline’s research is supported by substantial research infrastructure, including acoustics and lighting laboratories, and with a new Indoor Environment Quality laboratory to be constructed in 2011. These laboratories provide resources for a large repertoire of physical field measurements and analyses of environments, laboratory measurement of devices (e.g. light and sound sources) and materials, and laboratory-based simulations of environments for human experimental work.
For information about applying for a research degrees in Architectural & Design Science, please Research Supervisor Connect, contact the discipline head , or any member of the discipline group.
The 45th Annual Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Architectural Science Association
From principles to practice in Architectural Science
November 17 to 19, 2011
The Conference will draw attention to the applied research purpose of ANZAScA and its place in relation to both the teaching and practice of architecture and related disciplines. Applied research can bridge the intra-disciplinary gap between research and practice as well as bring cross-disciplinary edginess and relevance to the borders of architectural science.
See sydney.edu.au/architecture/research/conferences/anzasca/index.shtml for more details
Research Projects and Grants
- Richard de Dear
Field Survey of Residential Air Conditioning and Comfort in Australia
ARC Discovery Project 2011-2013 - Richard de Dear
Occupant comfort in naturally ventilated and mixed-mode spaces within air-conditioned offices
ARC Discovery Project 2009-2010 - Richard Hyde, K. Yeang, L. Davies Yeang, N. Groehhout & F. Barram
Exploring synergies with innovative green technologies for advanced renovation
ARC Linkage Project 2008-2011 - Richard Hyde with University of Queensland
Towards novel biomimetic building materials: Evaluating aboriginal and western scientific knowledge of Spinifex grass
ARC Discovery Project 2008-2012 - Richard Hyde
Towards a quality life model for sustainable housing in South East Queensland
ARC Linkage Project 2008-2012 - E. Schubert, D. Cabrera & G.E. McPherson
Redefining Conceptions of Child and Adolescent Emotional Responses to Music using Time-series Analysis
ARC Discovery Project 2010-2013 - D. Cabrera - Audio and Acoustics Research Program Exchange: University of Sydney - McGill University - Tohoku University
Spatial Audio, Sound Quality and Multimodal Perception, University of Sydney
International Program Development Fund 2009-2010
Student Profiles
Chris Field
Acoustics is a specialist discipline in architecture and engineering. Consultancies are small, but we are always looking out for talented people from any architectural or engineering background. There are many streams of acoustic work including environmental noise control, architectural acoustics, building acoustics, railway noise and vibration, just to name a few. The diversity of projects is huge, so we employ a diverse range of people! My study in the Faculty of Architecture's acoustics and audio research group was fantastic and I would recommend it to everyone. I had the opportunity to pursue areas of research I was interested in, not necessary related to the topic of my PhD. The technical staff were first class (Ken Stewart, Phil Granger and Rick Moss) and always went out of their way to help me. I am very grateful to have worked with Associate Professor Fergus Fricke, both as a research leader in the field of acoustics and also as a great person.
My study in acoustics prepared me well, and gave me a head start, for my current job. I have continued to publish conference and journal papers regularly after leaving university. I owe this discipline and skill to my time spent studying acoustics.
Dr Chris Field, won the ABC’s Inventor of the Year Award on the “New Inventors” program with his Silenceair, an invention which allows fresh air into a building while leaving 85 per cent of the noise outside. Dr Field originally developed the idea while studying for his PhD in Acoustics (supervisor, Honorary Associate Professor Fergus Fricke)
Dr Chris Field with his supervisor, Honorary Associate Professor Fergus Fricke. Dr Chris Field, won the ABC's Inventor of the Year Award on the "New Inventors" program with his Silenceair, an invention which allows fresh air into a building while leaving 85 per cent of the noise outside. Dr Field originally developed the idea while studying for his PhD in Acoustics.