Thermal simulation outputs: exploring the concept of patterns in design decision-making

Abstract

This paper describes the ongoing development of a building performance simulation (BPS) knowledge management scheme for design decision-making. This knowledge management scheme is developed with reference to the patterns of Christopher Alexander and colleagues, which describe commonly recurring abstract problems in architectural design together with successful abstract solutions. As such they form a ‘repository of knowledge’ on architectural design. Patterns have been used in other fields such as software engineering where they also aim at capturing expert knowledge, and their potential to do the same for BPS is explored here. Decision support using simulation is introduced and the concept of patterns described. A pattern structure is developed and some examples given. Interviews with architectural practices investigated whether patterns could support design processes, and the further development of the concept is discussed.

Keywords:

• building performance simulation
• building design
• decision support
• simulation outputs
• patterns

Acknowledgments

The useful discussions and suggestions of the following are gratefully acknowledged: Dr. Paul Strachan, Dr. Jon Hand and Prof. Joe Clarke (Energy Systems Research Unit, Strathclyde University), Dr Ian Knight (Cardiff University), Alan Gillard and Carlos Nicolini (Gillard Associates), Neil Macomish (Scott Brownrigg Ltd), Toby Adam and his team (Gaunt Francis), Chris Loyn (Loyn & Co) and Katja Timmermann and Adrian Jones (Capita Symonds). The comments and suggestions of the reviewers of previous drafts are also gratefully acknowledged. The reported work was funded by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, UK.

Notes

1. See also Hand (1998) for a description of an ‘integrated building design system’.

2. See EnergyPlus Manual. This feature is also made use of in DesignBuilder.

3. The full range of patterns are listed at https://www.patternlanguage.com/

4. The high level or global ‘NightLife’ pattern has a social focus, but many of the patterns particularly at the mid- and low levels concern buildings and parts of buildings such as walls, roofs, windows, etc.

5. This list is open ended and subject to modification in the light of further research. It can also be modified if a different user is being considered. It does however seem uncontroversial as the goals stated correspond to those commonly found in practice.

6. It is assumed that suitable optimization techniques already exist or can be further developed, for example, to provide sufficient ‘robustness’ of the result.

7. These aims and questions have been observed by the authors as recurrent in practice and in educational contexts.

8. A total of 12 designers were interviewed (2 practices with 1 participant, 2 with 2 and 1 with 6).