Architectural Solutions for Extreme Climates
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Architectural Solutions for Extreme Climates

College/UniversityOther1 days
In this project, college/university students tackle the challenge of designing resilient and culturally responsive housing solutions for extreme climates like deserts or arctic regions. They analyze climate data, research sustainable materials and traditional building techniques, and conduct community needs assessments to inform their designs. The project culminates in a housing prototype that integrates environmental considerations with the social and cultural context of the chosen community, promoting sustainable and resilient architectural solutions.
Extreme ClimatesSustainable MaterialsTraditional TechniquesCommunity NeedsArchitectural DesignResilient HousingClimate Change Adaptation
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design resilient and culturally responsive housing solutions that address the environmental challenges and community needs in extreme climates like deserts or arctic regions, while also integrating sustainable materials, technologies, and lessons from traditional building techniques?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How can architectural design mitigate the impacts of extreme weather conditions on housing?
  • What are the key environmental factors that influence architectural design in desert climates?
  • What are the key environmental factors that influence architectural design in arctic climates?
  • What are the sustainable materials and technologies suitable for housing in extreme climates?
  • How can traditional building techniques inspire modern architectural solutions for extreme climates?
  • What are the social and cultural considerations in designing housing for communities in extreme climates?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Understand the impact of extreme climates on architectural design.
  • Apply sustainable materials and technologies in housing design.
  • Incorporate traditional building techniques into modern architectural solutions.
  • Address social and cultural considerations in housing design for extreme climates.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Climate Crisis Escape Room

Students enter a pop-up escape room that simulates a climate disaster scenario (e.g., desertification, glacial melt). They must solve architectural challenges within the room to 'escape' and, in doing so, uncover the core design considerations for extreme climate housing.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Climate Data Dive

Students research and analyze climate data for their chosen extreme environment (desert or arctic). They will identify key environmental challenges that will influence their architectural designs.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Choose an extreme climate (desert or arctic) to focus on.
2. Research climate data including temperature ranges, precipitation levels, wind patterns, and solar radiation.
3. Analyze the data to identify the most significant environmental challenges for housing design (e.g., extreme heat, permafrost thaw).
4. Document findings in a detailed report with graphs and charts.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA comprehensive climate analysis report outlining key environmental challenges.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses learning goal: Understand the impact of extreme climates on architectural design.
Activity 2

Material Innovation Lab

Students investigate sustainable and locally sourced materials suitable for their chosen climate. They will explore both modern and traditional materials, assessing their thermal properties, durability, and environmental impact.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research sustainable materials appropriate for desert or arctic climates (e.g., adobe, rammed earth, timber, recycled plastics).
2. Investigate the thermal properties, durability, and environmental impact of each material.
3. Compare traditional and modern uses of these materials.
4. Select the most promising materials for their housing prototype and justify their choices.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA material selection portfolio with justifications for chosen materials.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses learning goal: Apply sustainable materials and technologies in housing design.
Activity 3

Vernacular Architecture Study

Students study traditional building techniques used in their chosen climate. They will analyze how these techniques address environmental challenges and cultural needs.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research traditional architectural techniques used in desert or arctic regions (e.g., wind catchers, igloos, earth shelters).
2. Analyze how these techniques mitigate environmental challenges such as heat, cold, and wind.
3. Identify the cultural and social significance of these building traditions.
4. Document findings with sketches, diagrams, and written explanations.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA case study of traditional building techniques and their relevance to modern design.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses learning goal: Incorporate traditional building techniques into modern architectural solutions.
Activity 4

Community Needs Assessment

Students conduct a needs assessment to understand the social and cultural considerations for housing in their chosen climate. They will research the demographics, lifestyles, and specific needs of the communities they are designing for.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research the demographics, lifestyles, and cultural values of communities living in their chosen extreme climate.
2. Identify the specific housing needs and preferences of these communities.
3. Consider factors such as family size, social interaction, and cultural traditions.
4. Document findings in a report outlining the social and cultural context for their housing design.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA community needs assessment report informing the design of their housing prototype.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAddresses learning goal: Address social and cultural considerations in housing design for extreme climates.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Architectural Solutions for Extreme Climates Rubric

Category 1

Climate Data Analysis

Assessment of the student's ability to research and analyze climate data for their chosen extreme environment, identifying key environmental challenges.
Criterion 1

Data Accuracy and Relevance

Accuracy and relevance of the climate data presented and its direct relationship to the chosen extreme climate.

Exemplary
4 Points

Presents comprehensive and accurate climate data that is highly relevant to the chosen extreme climate, demonstrating a deep understanding of environmental factors.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents accurate climate data that is relevant to the chosen extreme climate, demonstrating a good understanding of environmental factors.

Developing
2 Points

Presents climate data with some inaccuracies or limited relevance to the chosen extreme climate, demonstrating a basic understanding of environmental factors.

Beginning
1 Points

Presents incomplete or inaccurate climate data with minimal relevance to the chosen extreme climate, demonstrating a limited understanding of environmental factors.

Criterion 2

Challenge Identification

Effectiveness in identifying and articulating the significant environmental challenges for housing design based on the climate data.

Exemplary
4 Points

Clearly and insightfully identifies the most significant environmental challenges for housing design, providing a sophisticated analysis of the impacts.

Proficient
3 Points

Identifies the significant environmental challenges for housing design, providing a clear analysis of the impacts.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies some environmental challenges for housing design, but the analysis of the impacts is limited.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify the environmental challenges for housing design, and the analysis of the impacts is minimal.

Category 2

Material Innovation

Evaluation of the student's investigation into sustainable materials suitable for their chosen climate, assessing their thermal properties, durability, and environmental impact.
Criterion 1

Material Research and Selection

Depth and breadth of research into sustainable materials and the appropriateness of the selected materials for the chosen climate.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates extensive research into a wide range of sustainable materials, selecting the most appropriate options with strong justifications based on thermal properties, durability, and environmental impact.

Proficient
3 Points

Demonstrates thorough research into sustainable materials, selecting appropriate options with clear justifications based on thermal properties, durability, and environmental impact.

Developing
2 Points

Demonstrates basic research into sustainable materials, selecting some appropriate options with limited justifications.

Beginning
1 Points

Demonstrates minimal research into sustainable materials, struggling to select appropriate options with insufficient justifications.

Criterion 2

Justification and Analysis

Clarity and strength of the justification for chosen materials, including a comprehensive analysis of their thermal properties, durability, and environmental impact.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides a compelling and well-supported justification for the chosen materials, including a comprehensive and insightful analysis of their thermal properties, durability, and environmental impact, comparing traditional and modern uses.

Proficient
3 Points

Provides a clear and logical justification for the chosen materials, including a thorough analysis of their thermal properties, durability, and environmental impact.

Developing
2 Points

Provides a basic justification for the chosen materials, but the analysis of their thermal properties, durability, and environmental impact is limited.

Beginning
1 Points

Provides a weak or unclear justification for the chosen materials, with minimal analysis of their thermal properties, durability, and environmental impact.

Category 3

Vernacular Architecture Integration

Assessment of the student's understanding and incorporation of traditional building techniques into modern architectural solutions.
Criterion 1

Technique Analysis

Depth of analysis of traditional architectural techniques used in the chosen climate, including their effectiveness in mitigating environmental challenges and their cultural significance.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates a deep and nuanced understanding of traditional architectural techniques, providing an insightful analysis of their effectiveness in mitigating environmental challenges and their profound cultural significance.

Proficient
3 Points

Demonstrates a thorough understanding of traditional architectural techniques, providing a clear analysis of their effectiveness in mitigating environmental challenges and their cultural significance.

Developing
2 Points

Demonstrates a basic understanding of traditional architectural techniques, but the analysis of their effectiveness and cultural significance is limited.

Beginning
1 Points

Demonstrates a minimal understanding of traditional architectural techniques, struggling to analyze their effectiveness or cultural significance.

Criterion 2

Relevance and Application

Demonstrated ability to relate traditional techniques to modern design challenges and to apply these insights in innovative ways.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates an exceptional ability to connect traditional techniques to modern design challenges, applying these insights in highly innovative and effective ways to enhance the proposed architectural solutions.

Proficient
3 Points

Demonstrates a strong ability to connect traditional techniques to modern design challenges, applying these insights effectively to enhance the proposed architectural solutions.

Developing
2 Points

Shows some ability to connect traditional techniques to modern design challenges, but the application of these insights is limited.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to connect traditional techniques to modern design challenges, and the application of these insights is minimal.

Category 4

Community Needs Integration

Evaluation of the student's understanding and integration of social and cultural considerations into the housing design.
Criterion 1

Needs Assessment

Thoroughness and accuracy of the community needs assessment, including consideration of demographics, lifestyles, and cultural values.

Exemplary
4 Points

Conducts a comprehensive and insightful community needs assessment, accurately capturing the demographics, lifestyles, and cultural values of the target community and demonstrating a deep understanding of their specific housing needs and preferences.

Proficient
3 Points

Conducts a thorough community needs assessment, accurately capturing the demographics, lifestyles, and cultural values of the target community and demonstrating a good understanding of their specific housing needs and preferences.

Developing
2 Points

Conducts a basic community needs assessment, capturing some of the demographics, lifestyles, and cultural values of the target community, but the understanding of their specific housing needs and preferences is limited.

Beginning
1 Points

Conducts a minimal community needs assessment, struggling to capture the demographics, lifestyles, and cultural values of the target community, and the understanding of their specific housing needs and preferences is insufficient.

Criterion 2

Design Integration

Effectiveness in integrating the findings of the needs assessment into the housing design, demonstrating sensitivity to social and cultural context.

Exemplary
4 Points

Seamlessly integrates the findings of the community needs assessment into the housing design, demonstrating a deep sensitivity to the social and cultural context and creating a culturally responsive and appropriate design solution.

Proficient
3 Points

Effectively integrates the findings of the community needs assessment into the housing design, demonstrating a clear sensitivity to the social and cultural context.

Developing
2 Points

Partially integrates the findings of the community needs assessment into the housing design, showing some sensitivity to the social and cultural context.

Beginning
1 Points

Minimally integrates the findings of the community needs assessment into the housing design, lacking sensitivity to the social and cultural context.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflecting on the entire project, what was the most significant challenge you encountered while designing architectural solutions for extreme climates, and how did you overcome it?

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Question 2

To what extent do you believe your housing prototype effectively addresses both the environmental challenges and the community needs in your chosen extreme climate?

Scale
Required
Question 3

Which aspect of your design process do you think contributed the most to the success of your housing prototype?

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Climate data analysis
Material selection
Incorporation of traditional building techniques
Community needs assessment
Iterative design and prototyping
Question 4

If you had the opportunity to revisit this project, what specific changes or improvements would you make to your housing prototype, and why?

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Question 5

How has this project changed your understanding of the role of architecture in addressing climate change and supporting communities in extreme environments?

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