Architects’ design process in solar-integrated architecture in Sweden

Abstract

Architects can play a key role in future solar-integrated architecture as they are involved in the building process from the beginning. Solar-integrated architecture takes both passive and active use of solar energy into account. The aim of this research was to gain insight into the actual design processes of solar-integrated buildings. Therefore, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Swedish architects who designed such buildings. Results showed that teamwork was experienced as crucial and building performance simulation tools were hardly used by the architects themselves. Results from these interviews serve as input for the development of new architectural guidelines for designing solar-integrated architecture as part of IEA-SHC Task 41: Solar Energy & Architecture.

Keywords:

• Design process
• architectural design
• solar energy
• teamwork
• design tools

Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank all the architectural offices who cooperated with the interviews, the Swedish Energy Agency for funding this research, Thorbjörn Laike for his comments on the procedures of qualitative research and Miljana Horvat for providing comments and discussion.