Most Recent by Astrid Roetzel
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Architectural Science Review, 2019
This paper aims to better understand the human inhabitation of buildings through an investigation... more This paper aims to better understand the human inhabitation of buildings through an investigation of the influences of architectural order, indoor environmental as well as personal and cultural variables on student’s selection of a preferred place to study. The approach for this interdisciplinary inquiry is based on Integral Sustainable Design in combination with a simplified version of Integral Methodological Pluralism using methodologies from the disciplines of architectural design, architectural science and psychology. The results indicate that participant’s preferences emerged out of either personal or collective cultural narratives. The integral approach was useful to identify collective preference patterns as well as deviations from these and to understand why they occur. Important influences on participant’s selection of their preferred place to study were spatial characteristics, in particular a balance of prospect and refuge as well as individual past experiences, and the nature of the given task in this case study.
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A Best Academic Paper at the Integral European Conference, this paper presents an integrally‐info... more A Best Academic Paper at the Integral European Conference, this paper presents an integrally‐informed, Wilber‐influenced approach to expanding the study of occupant behaviour beyond building science. Poorly understood occupants are a main reason why predicted and actual building energy performance deviate significantly. Existing research focuses on a useful but limited objective science and engineering approach. This research project develops an integral methodology for transdisciplinary inquiry of occupants' experience and action in architectural space, with regard to their experience of nature and natural forces. Each of four major perspectives has two research questions; each question, a method from architectural design, building science, cultural theory, place phenomenology or social psychology. Our hypothesis is that spatial‐temporal patterns can serve as an integrating frame among diverse perspectives. We conclude with proposing conceptual frames for future research into architectural inhabitation from sixteen prospects generated from four levels of complexity in each of four primary perspectives.
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Conference Presentations by Astrid Roetzel
This paper investigates the historical development of comfort expectations in relation to context... more This paper investigates the historical development of comfort expectations in relation to contextual influences focused on office environments. It presents a rough categorisation of different "comfort eras", based on related changes in thermal comfort legislation. The prevailing legislation of an era is related to new technical and social trends and changes in lifestyle, development of new office layouts, the function of the facade, and other influences. From this historical overview the key parameters are derived which have been influencing comfort expectations in the past. Some first conclusions are drawn, what potentials may be derived regarding the future of comfort expectations and the influence on resulting energy consumption of office buildings.
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DeKay's concept of Integral Sustainable Design (ISD) is based on Integral Theory, a framework pro... more DeKay's concept of Integral Sustainable Design (ISD) is based on Integral Theory, a framework proposed by the American philosopher, Ken Wilber. It offers four simultaneous perspectives (represented by quadrants) which each take a different view of the problem. The 'experiences' quadrant focuses on individual human experiences. The 'behaviours' quadrant looks at environmental performance. The 'cultures' perspective focuses on the collective interpretation of meaning, symbolism and worldviews and the 'systems' quadrant investigates the response and interaction with context. Integral Theory can act as a reminder for architects of the different perspectives that a sustainable building should address. In order to evaluate ISD, the Waterfront Campus Building of Deakin University has been used as a case study. The building, its performance, impact and perception, has been evaluated using both quantitative and qualitative data. Two surveys have been conducted to gather qualitative data to: (i) determine the experience of building users (staff and students) and (ii) the perception of non-users (Geelong residents and tourists). Data from building services and a site analysis has enabled quantitative assessments to be made. These inputs have been analysed, guided by ISD, to evaluate the usefulness of ISD as a sustainability assessment tool.
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This paper aims to advance the understanding of Integral Sustainable Design (ISD) as an approach ... more This paper aims to advance the understanding of Integral Sustainable Design (ISD) as an approach for the environmental assessment of buildings. The potential of ISD is the integration of qualitative as well as quantitative perspectives on a subject. ISD offers a bottom up approach to environmental assessment, whereas most common building energy rating schemes follow a top down approach. This paper explores how two and three-dimensional visual mapping can be used to integrate the qualitative and quantitative assessments of buildings. It is suggested that the ISD approach is suitable for the architectural design process even in the early design stage. It also enables the designer to identify and focus on synergies between the design intention and environmental requirements rather than their differences.
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The aim of this paper is to advance the understanding of social-psychological and architectural p... more The aim of this paper is to advance the understanding of social-psychological and architectural parameters influencing occupant behaviour and resulting operational energy consumption in office settings. Existing knowledge on occupant behavior is reviewed from an architectural and social-psychological perspective. The identified parameters are visually mapped using the framework of Integral Sustainable Design (ISD). Conclusions are drawn concerning the interrelationship and interaction of parameters and the direction of future interdisciplinary research.
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journal papers by Astrid Roetzel
Sustainable, 2021
Citation: Mahdavi, A.; Berger, C.; Amin, H.; Ampatzi, E.; Andersen, R.K.; Azar, E.; Barthelmes, V... more Citation: Mahdavi, A.; Berger, C.; Amin, H.; Ampatzi, E.; Andersen, R.K.; Azar, E.; Barthelmes, V.M.; Favero, M.; Hahn, J.; Khovalyg, D.; et al. The Role of Occupants in Buildings' Energy Performance Gap: Myth or Reality? Sustainability 2021, 13, 3146. https://
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Building and Environment, 2020
The aim of this research was to assess the reliability of occupants’ verbalised thoughts and expe... more The aim of this research was to assess the reliability of occupants’ verbalised thoughts and experiences of
environmental conditions for objective environmental condition assessment. This research was based on the
Integral Sustainable Design approach and included concurrent think-aloud method and environmental measurements
at participants indicated most intense temperature, air movement, sound, lighting and preferred place
to study (PPS) locations. The results showed that parameters of the most intense environmental places were
significantly higher or lower than PPS. Participants’ experiences of the most intense environmental places as
intensely high and low, compared to PPS, was generally mirrored by differences in measured environmental
parameters between the two sets of places. Findings show that, in this case, human sensors of environmental
conditions are reliable. The think-aloud method revealed that participants considered multiple environmental
parameters of PPS concurrently and made trade-offs that prioritised the studying task. Future studies might
consider integrating first-person reporting with building operation and maintenance functions to improve efficiency
without compromising occupants’ preferences, satisfaction and comfort.
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This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/copyright
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This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the a... more This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/authorsrights a b s t r a c t The building sector has a significant share in a county's total greenhouse gas emissions, and as a reaction to the Kyoto commitment most countries are constantly adjusting building energy requirements in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the climate change. While it is easier to set standards for the building fabric and for technical systems, the impact of occupants on comfort and energy performance in buildings has proven to be important, but is a lot harder to account for. This paper therefore aims to investigate the magnitude of influence of occupants in relation to climate and architectural design on thermal comfort and CO 2 emissions in offices in different climate zones of the world. The aim is to identify typical patterns and key parameters for optimisation. For this purpose, a parametric study for a typical cellular office room has been conducted using the simulation software EnergyPlus. Two different occupant scenarios are each compared with three different architectural design variations and modelled in the context of three different locations for the IPCC climate change scenario A2 for 2030. The evaluation of the results is focused on two different modes of operation. For natural ventilation adaptive thermal comfort according to ASHRAE Standard 55 has been evaluated, and for mixed mode operation final energy consumption and resulting CO 2 emissions. The results indicate a first approach to estimate comfort levels based on climatic data, architectural design priorities and occupancy. Additionally, warmer climates seem to have larger optimisation potential for comfort and energy performance in offices compared to colder climates.
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Building simulation is most useful and most difficult in early design stages. Most useful since t... more Building simulation is most useful and most difficult in early design stages. Most useful since the optimisation potential is large and most difficult because input data are often not available at the level of resolution required for simulation software. The aim of this paper is to addresses this difficulty, by analysing the predominantly qualitative information in early stages of an architectural design process in search for indicators towards quantitative simulation input. The discussion in this paper is focused on cellular offices. Parameters related to occupancy, the use of office equipment, night ventilation, the use of lights and blinds are reviewed based on simulation input requirements, architectural considerations in early design stages and occupant behaviour considerations in operational stages. A worst and ideal case scenario is suggested as a generic approach to model occupant behaviour in early design stages when more detailed information is not available. Without actually predicting specific occupant behaviour, this approach highlights the magnitude of impact that occupants can have on comfort and building energy performance and it matches the level of resolution of available architectural information in early design stages. This can be sufficient for building designers to compare the magnitude of impact of occupants with other parameters in order to inform design decisions. Potential indicators in early design stages towards the ideal or worst case scenario are discussed.
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The planet is in environmental crisis and the challenge is to live sustainably within the limits ... more The planet is in environmental crisis and the challenge is to live sustainably within the limits imposed by nature. The built environment has a massive impact on the environment: climate change, resource and water use, loss of biodiversity. Changing the way and what we build is fundamental. Integral sustainable design theory offers a chance to rethink our approach and to genuinely shift paradigms. The theory is challenging and to date has been largely ignored in architectural design. This paper describes research that has used the theory to evaluate the sustainability of an existing re-used building. The results indicate that the theory has potential to shift thinking from quantitative performance criteria to embrace qualitative and experiential aspects in a holistic way. The interconnections between the art and science of building are revealed. The research also reveals questions to be resolved if integral sustainable design theory is to be further adopted.
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Papers by Astrid Roetzel
This paper presents an ideal and worst case scenario approach for occupancy modelling in early de... more This paper presents an ideal and worst case scenario approach for occupancy modelling in early design stages which can be used in building simulation. It defines the range of impact that occupant behaviour can have on comfort and energy performance in buildings, and can thus contribute to the decision making of architectural projects in early design stages.
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Sustainability
Buildings’ expected (projected, simulated) energy use frequently does not match actual observatio... more Buildings’ expected (projected, simulated) energy use frequently does not match actual observations. This is commonly referred to as the energy performance gap. As such, many factors can contribute to the disagreement between expectations and observations. These include, for instance, uncertainty about buildings’ geometry, construction, systems, and weather conditions. However, the role of occupants in the energy performance gap has recently attracted much attention. It has even been suggested that occupants are the main cause of the energy performance gap. This, in turn, has led to suggestions that better models of occupant behavior can reduce the energy performance gap. The present effort aims at the review and evaluation of the evidence for such claims. To this end, a systematic literature search was conducted and relevant publications were identified and reviewed in detail. The review entailed the categorization of the studies according to the scope and strength of the evidence ...
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Architectural Science Review
This paper aims to better understand the human inhabitation of buildings through an investigation... more This paper aims to better understand the human inhabitation of buildings through an investigation of the influences of architectural order, indoor environmental as well as personal and cultural variables on student’s selection of a preferred place to study. The approach for this interdisciplinary inquiry is based on Integral Sustainable Design in combination with a simplified version of Integral Methodological Pluralism using methodologies from the disciplines of architectural design, architectural science and psychology. The results indicate that participant’s preferences emerged out of either personal or collective cultural narratives. The integral approach was useful to identify collective preference patterns as well as deviations from these and to understand why they occur. Important influences on participant’s selection of their preferred place to study were spatial characteristics, in particular a balance of prospect and refuge as well as individual past experiences, and the nature of the given task in this case study.
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Sustainable Cities and Society
The planet is in environmental crisis and the challenge is to live sustainably within the limits ... more The planet is in environmental crisis and the challenge is to live sustainably within the limits imposed by nature. The built environment has a massive impact on the environment: climate change, resource and water use, loss of biodiversity. Changing the way and what we build is fundamental. Integral sustainable design theory offers a chance to rethink our approach and to genuinely shift paradigms. The theory is challenging and to date has been largely ignored in architectural design. This paper describes research that has used the theory to evaluate the sustainability of an existing re-used building. The results indicate that the theory has potential to shift thinking from quantitative performance criteria to embrace qualitative and experiential aspects in a holistic way. The interconnections between the art and science of building are revealed. The research also reveals questions to be resolved if integral sustainable design theory is to be further adopted.
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Palenc 2010 Proceedings of the 3rd Passive Low Energy Cooling For the Built Environment Conference 2010, 2010
This paper investigates the historical development of comfort expectations in relation to context... more This paper investigates the historical development of comfort expectations in relation to contextual influences focused on office environments. It presents a rough categorisation of different "comfort eras", based on related changes in thermal comfort legislation. The prevailing legislation of an era is related to new technical and social trends and changes in lifestyle, development of new office layouts, the function of the facade, and other influences. From this historical overview the key parameters are derived which have been influencing comfort expectations in the past. Some first conclusions are drawn, what potentials may be derived regarding the future of comfort expectations and the influence on resulting energy consumption of office buildings.
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Building Simulation, 2014
Building simulation is most useful and most difficult in early design stages. Most useful since t... more Building simulation is most useful and most difficult in early design stages. Most useful since the optimisation potential is large and most difficult because input data are often not available at the level of resolution required for simulation software. The aim of this paper is to addresses this difficulty, by analysing the predominantly qualitative information in early stages of an architectural design process in search for indicators towards quantitative simulation input. The discussion in this paper is focused on cellular offices. Parameters related to occupancy, the use of office equipment, night ventilation, the use of lights and blinds are reviewed based on simulation input requirements, architectural considerations in early design stages and occupant behaviour considerations in operational stages. A worst and ideal case scenario is suggested as a generic approach to model occupant behaviour in early design stages when more detailed information is not available. Without actually predicting specific occupant behaviour, this approach highlights the magnitude of impact that occupants can have on comfort and building energy performance and it matches the level of resolution of available architectural information in early design stages. This can be sufficient for building designers to compare the magnitude of impact of occupants with other parameters in order to inform design decisions. Potential indicators in early design stages towards the ideal or worst case scenario are discussed.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
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Most Recent by Astrid Roetzel
Conference Presentations by Astrid Roetzel
journal papers by Astrid Roetzel
environmental conditions for objective environmental condition assessment. This research was based on the
Integral Sustainable Design approach and included concurrent think-aloud method and environmental measurements
at participants indicated most intense temperature, air movement, sound, lighting and preferred place
to study (PPS) locations. The results showed that parameters of the most intense environmental places were
significantly higher or lower than PPS. Participants’ experiences of the most intense environmental places as
intensely high and low, compared to PPS, was generally mirrored by differences in measured environmental
parameters between the two sets of places. Findings show that, in this case, human sensors of environmental
conditions are reliable. The think-aloud method revealed that participants considered multiple environmental
parameters of PPS concurrently and made trade-offs that prioritised the studying task. Future studies might
consider integrating first-person reporting with building operation and maintenance functions to improve efficiency
without compromising occupants’ preferences, satisfaction and comfort.
Papers by Astrid Roetzel
environmental conditions for objective environmental condition assessment. This research was based on the
Integral Sustainable Design approach and included concurrent think-aloud method and environmental measurements
at participants indicated most intense temperature, air movement, sound, lighting and preferred place
to study (PPS) locations. The results showed that parameters of the most intense environmental places were
significantly higher or lower than PPS. Participants’ experiences of the most intense environmental places as
intensely high and low, compared to PPS, was generally mirrored by differences in measured environmental
parameters between the two sets of places. Findings show that, in this case, human sensors of environmental
conditions are reliable. The think-aloud method revealed that participants considered multiple environmental
parameters of PPS concurrently and made trade-offs that prioritised the studying task. Future studies might
consider integrating first-person reporting with building operation and maintenance functions to improve efficiency
without compromising occupants’ preferences, satisfaction and comfort.