5. Design in the computer age

This contribution offers a view of architectural design which emphasises the importance of appraising design alternatives during the early stages in the evolution of the design concept. In high-value capital works such as buildings, where conventional proto-typing and production runs are not appropriate, it is important to have the capability of ‘virtual prototyping’, i.e. testing and refining the design while it is still on the drawing board. This can best be done through computer-aided appraisal techniques. The current state-of-the-art in computer-aided appraisal is presented and the specific contribution of computer-based modelling of the energy behaviour of buildings is elaborated. Examples of systems and their application in practice are presented and an estimate is made of how these have impacted on the reduction of the consumption of fossil fuels and consequent pollution.

• Design

• Appraisal of design alternatives

• Computer-aided appraisal

• The current state-of-the-art

• Specific contributions to modelling of the energy behaviour of buildings

• The next generation

• References