2020 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Architecture and Building Engineering Graduate major in Architecture and Building Engineering
Passive Solar Design
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Architecture and Building Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Ryo Murata
- Class Format
- Lecture (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Intensive
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ARC.D441
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Passive solar design is a methodology for architectural design, based on knowledge from environmental engineering, that takes into account the physical properties of buildings. This course deals with the use of natural energies such as light, heat, and wind and the concrete configuration methods of architecture, through historical and modern works.
Students work to acquire systematic knowledge through lectures, create design plans, analyze assigned problems, and give presentations and participate in discussions. Furthermore, to facilitate the education of diverse talent and cooperative learning, English will be used as the primary language, and Japanese as the secondary language.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Learn aspects of the theory and practices of passive solar design
2) Learn to take into account the correlations between architectural objects such as floors, walls, roofs, and windows with environmental effects such as the regulation of light, heat and wind that use these objects
3) Apply gained knowledge and come up with specific ideas through proposing solutions for problems
4) Enhance presentation skills and international sensibility by performing presentations and participating in discussions in English.
Keywords
Passive solar design, Environmental architecture, Sustainability, Architectural design, Architectural planning
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The first half of the class is devoted to a lecture, the second half is devoted to students' research works and presentations.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction | Understand the origin of passive design |
| Class 2 | Passive solar design and geographical factors | Understand the geographical factors on passive solar design |
| Class 3 | Passive solar design and historical factors | Understand the historical factors on passive solar design |
| Class 4 | Passive solar design and physical factors | Understand the physical factors on passive solar design |
| Class 5 | Basic theory for passive solar design | Understand the basic theory of passive solar design |
| Class 6 | Design of light | Understand specific methods on design of light |
| Class 7 | Design of air flow | Understand specific methods on design of light |
| Class 8 | Design of heat | Understand specific methods on design of heat |
| Class 9 | Passive heating and passive cooling | Understand the difference between passive heating and passive cooling |
| Class 10 | Passive design and Life cycle assessment | Understand the relationship between passive solar design and LCA |
| Class 11 | Presentation and discussion on design of light | Research and presentation about design of light |
| Class 12 | Presentation and discussion on design of air flow | Research and presentation about design of air flow |
| Class 13 | Presentation and discussion on design of heat | Research and presentation about design of heat |
| Class 14 | Presentation and discussion on design of passive heating and passive cooling | Research and presentation about passive heating and passive cooling |
Study advice (preparation and review)
Textbook(s)
N.A.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Dictionary of methods of passive solar design (SHOKOKUSYA)
The design method of the LCCM demonstration house (KENCHIKU GIJUTSU)
Methodology of House Design incorporating Time (SHOKOKUSHA)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Presentation and report.
Related courses
- ESD.D502 ： Sustainable Campus Design
- ESD.F501 ： Practical Theories in Man Environment System Design
Prerequisites
None required.