Environmental Performative Architecture and Planning

The course is divided in three parts: theory, software and design studio.

• In the theory part there will be four lectures, one each four weeks, about the development in history of architecture of the idea of performance and how it is used nowadays by prominent architects in their projects.
• In the hands-on software lectures the students will learn parametric design, visual programming, environmental simulations and building performance analysis and how to integrate the topics in architectural design and planning.
• In the design studio the students will chose one subject and one specific area among those selected by the lecturer in the city of Tallinn to apply the concept and newly learned techniques and methodologies of design to a project of building layout, facades or urban planning.

NB! This course will take place in autumn semester 2024/2025 which starts on 2nd of September and ends 26th of January (you can find that information under Start date section). The real course start and end dates will be announced at the beginning of September at the latest.

The students attending the course will broaden their design and building performance knowledge related to solar design, daylighting and energy design. At the same time will learn how to integrate environmental analysis and building performance design tools and methodologies into architectural design and planning from the very early stages of the design process. The expected outcome are:

• Using parametric design software the students will learn how to realize algorithmic models that integrate different aspects and create interaction between different elements of the architectural and planning projects.
• The course will develop the student’s awareness and skills about integrating solar design, energy analysis and daylight simulations into building design and planning from the early stages of design.
• The students will get the important knowledge of building performance analysis and environmental simulations increasingly requested to the professional architect newly graduated.

Final assessment can consist of one test/assignment or several smaller assignments completed during the whole course. After declaring a course the student can re-sit the exam/assessment once. Assessment can be graded or non-graded. For specific information about the assessment process please get in touch with the contact person of this course. For specific information about grade transfer please contact your home university

This course is meant only for students of architecture and civil engineering.

• - Branko Kolarevic and Ali M. Malkawi, Performative Architecture: Beyond Instrumentality, Routledge, 2005.
• - Michael Hensel, Performance-Oriented Architecture: Rethinking Architectural Design and the Built Environment, Wiley, 2013.
• - Tomoko Sakamoto, From Control to Design: Parametric/Algorithmic Architecture, Actar, 2008.
• - Branko Kolarevic and Kevin Klinger, Manufacturing Material Effects: Rethinking Design and Making in Architecture, Rouledge, 2008.
• - Brown, G., Z. and DeKay, M., Sun, Wind and Light. Architectural Design Strategies, second edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, USA, 2001.
• - Kjell Anderson, Design Energy Simulations for Architects. Guide to 3D Graphics, Rouledge, 2014.
• - Darren Robinson, Computer Modelling for Sustainable Urban Design: Physical Principles, Methods and Applications, Earthscan Publications, 2011.
• - Christoph Reinhart, Daylighting Handbook I. Fundamentals. Designing with the Sun, MIT Press, 2014.
• - Mode Lab, The Grasshopper Primer, GitBook, 2015. http://grasshopperprimer.com/en/index.html

lectures, exercises