The Infinity Dimension

At this stage, you must:

 

• Know that at this stage of the design collaboration between the architect and the engineers is important to build a successful project.

 

• Start with the project geometries, and define the overall massing (height, volume, location, orientation).

 

• Choose construction type, this depend widely on the building type, and the location of the project.

 

• Explore alternative design options of the massing, you must use stimulation of each option on the site , build simple geometries, volumes, and areas, use default values, and generic materials and equipment and then compare how building geometry can take advantage of the site’s factors like topography, sun, and wind for passive design strategies.

 

• Accompany conceptual modelling; analysis tools become more accessible, it is a valuable step to use them; however, the early-stage whole-building energy analysis is not done in a professional practice.

 

• Test and compare energy models for the conceptual design can help you align a better orientation for the building, massing for the geometries , program layout for the function, window size for the openings, and façade shading, and you can compare impacts of design options on building energy use, cost, environmental impact, and others.

 

• Focus on energy efficiency, like daylighting, heating, cooling, natural ventilation, shade and shadows, and materials; because the environmental impact of any building come from the decisions at this stage.

 

• Understand which parameters are affecting the performance of the design, is it the orientation, massing, opening, materials, or the function layout.

 

• Set your final design decision after a deep thought, because design decisions start to get more difficult to change, good collaboration with other engineers, can ensure you are aligned in the most promising right direction.