How field data can influence design outcomes

Thermal comfort research has shown that natural ventilation can reduce energy consumption while increasing comfort. However, giving occupants control over their environment introduces uncertainty into building performance which is challenging to emulate using current simulation techniques. Traditionally, window operation is modelled deterministically, for instance by assuming windows to be opened at a predefined temperature. Studies have shown this to be inaccurate, often causing large discrepancies between simulated and actual performance; instead, probabilistic models have emerged based on field study data. The literature on this topic is currently limited to building science and lacks an analysis of how these insights may affect architecture. In a design study, we used evolutionary computation to determine comfort-optimized housing designs for various climates, each time comparing the results of both window operation models. The resulting designs varied considerably; most notably, using the stochastic approach resulted in more shading elements, especially in warmer climates.