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2025 (Current Year) 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 (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses
-
Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)
Intensive
Class
-
Course Code
ARC.D441
Number of credits
200
Course offered
2025
Offered quarter
1Q
Syllabus updated
Mar 19, 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 design andTypology

Understand the relationship between passive solar design and architectural typology

Class 10

Passive design and Life cycle assessment

Understand the relationship between passive solar design and LCA

Class 11

Presentation and discussion in terms of Anatomy of Passive Design: Element 1

Research and presentation about Anatomy of Passive Design

Class 12

Presentation and discussion in terms of Anatomy of Passive Design: Element 2

Research and presentation about Anatomy of Passive Design

Class 13

Presentation and discussion in terms of Anatomy of Passive Design: Element 3

Research and presentation about Anatomy of Passive Design

Class 14

Presentation and discussion in terms of Anatomy of Passive Design: Integration

Research and presentation about Anatomy of Passive Design

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

  • ARC.D421 : Architectural Design Studio I
  • ARC.D422 : Architectural Design Studio II

Prerequisites

None required.