02 Nov 2011
A recently completed research paper written by Studio Pacific Director Evzen Novak in collaboration with our 2010/11 summer research scholar Stuart Taylor and Christina Mackay, a senior lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington School of Architecture, has been selected as a paper to be presented at the Annual Conference of the Australia and New Zealand Architectural Science Association 2011.
The conference will be held at the University of Sydney in November this year.
The paper examines the thermal performance of a selection of recent Studio Pacific residential projects using modelling software AccuRate NZ. The thermal insulation, construction materials and glazing to wall ratio of each house were modelled and analysed in order to determine the efficacy and relationship of each component and to better understand how each measure can be employed to respond to the specific conditions of each architectural project. The paper investigates the empirical basis for the conventional 'rules of thumb' and finds a high degree of variability between houses in the effectiveness of each measure's ability to improve thermal performance. We anticipate that the outcomes of this research will make a valuable contribution to our understanding of thermal performance and enable design professionals to make better sustainable design decisions in future designs.
The paper can be downloaded here.