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Unit outline_

DAAE3001: Sustainable Architectural Practice

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The unit of study begins by exploring the concept of ecologically sustainable design as it applies to architectural practice and defines those key attributes of buildings which make them sustainable. It discusses the implication of applying sustainable design principles upon contemporary architectural practice. This unit will cover the fundamentals of passive solar design, the environmental impact of building materials, water sensitive design and the environmental certification of buildings. Through the use of case studies and project work students will learn about how to design environmentally sustainable buildings by understanding contemporary trends in sustainable architectural practice, methods to critically evaluate environmental claims about buildings and will develop a personal position on applying sustainable design principles to architecture. This unit is an Architecture Elective in the Bachelor of Design in Architecture and elective in other courses.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Architectural and Design Science
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
BDES1023 or (DAAE1001 and DESA3011) or (DAAE2002 and DESP1001)
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Daniel Ryan, daniel.ryan@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Michael Hollo, michael.hollo@sydney.edu.au
Daniel Ryan, daniel.ryan@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Assessment 2: Plan and Design an ESD demonstration space
Design
70% STUVAC 6 x A3 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment group assignment Assessment 1 Case studies
Case study
30% Week 05 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Assessment 1 Case study: 
    • Environmental initiative case study - find an example of a building type of a similar scale and climate to the one you live in, that facilitates a sustainable lifestyle. You are asked to explain its relevance, describe how it works and analyse the claimed benefits and what aspects of the environment it claims to improve
    • Explain what principles are relevant for your next design project
  • Assessment 2 Plan and Design an ESD demonstration space:
  • You are asked to examine your environmental footprint and identify improvements in one area. 
  • Building on the first assignment and lessons learnt from your footprint analysis, you are asked to reimagine the place where you live so that it demonstrates and communicates the benefits of environmentally sustainable design.
  • All students should submit and present preliminary site analysis for the building, design drawings with short written explanatory text and diagrams and show how you have built on preliminary  research and analysis for the design.

 

Further information may be found on Canvas

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.

Credit

65 - 74

Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.

Pass

50 - 64

Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.

Fail

0 - 49

Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late penalties as per resolutions of the University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning for coursework awards on late submission of work. See: https://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/architecture/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 1.1 Introduction to the unit 1.2 Ecologically sustainable development Lecture (2 hr) LO3
1.3 Discussion on ESD assignment 1 preparation Tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 02 2.1 Making the connection: the environmental impact of each stage of the building process Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3
2.2 Assignment 1 case study discussions (continued) Tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 03 3.1 Application of ESD principles to design: Design for climate Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
3.2 Assignment 1 discussions evaluating environmental benefits of case studies. Personal commitments Tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 04 4.1 Design for climate: Passive solar design 1 Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
4.2 Assignment 1 – presentation and discussion of ESD considerations for design studio project Tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05 5.1 Design for climate: Passive solar design 2 Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
5.2 Introduction and commencement of ESD demonstration design Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 06 6.1 Environmental selection – materials, processes, waste minimisation Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
6.2 Application of solar orientation etc to design projects Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 07 7.1 Communicating sustainable design + Guest lecture. Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
7.2 Application of passive solar and water management principles to design projects Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 08 8.1 Water management in urban design and in buildings Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
8.2 Application of solar orientation etc to design projects Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 09 9.1 New environmental rating systems: driving innovation or assessing the wrong things? Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
9.2 Review progress with assignment 2 design Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 10 10.1 Renewable energy, active systems, energy efficiency; Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
10.2 Review progress with assignment 2 design Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 11.1 Summing up ecologically sustainable practice.and social sustainability Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
11.2 Review progress with assignment 2 design Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 12 12.1 Project reviews Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3
12.2 Assignment 2 project reviews Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 13.1 Wrap up discussion Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO5
13.2 Project reviews/feedback Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School: http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/architecture/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. integrate knowledge from a diverse range of allied fields related to environmental sustainability into a set of sustainable design principles
  • LO2. evaluate the appropriateness of a range of sustainable design principles to design projects
  • LO3. develop an ethical position about the environmental consequences of design decisions
  • LO4. present information in graphic and written form regarding the relationship of the design of a building and its environmental impact
  • LO5. collect, organise and analyse information and ideas about existing buildings and environmental initiatives
  • LO6. work effectively in groups towards a common outcome.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The unit was well received last year. We have fine tuned the assessment to better link the first and second assessments. Lectures have been updated to build on recent developments in the area of sustainable architecture.

Additional costs

You will be expected to produce printed drawings each week and regular printed reports which will require additional expenditure. You may also wish to make working physical models and consider purchasing one of the recommended texts.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.