Collaborative approach on building design to meet environmental goals

Abstract

This paper discusses the theme “participate+collaborate”, focusing on design process in the architectural field to understand collaborative approach to match building environmental goals. The requirements influence the design processes so that the main gaps detected are related to the forms of interaction and collaboration among team members throughout the process. The fulfilment of environmental performance targets can be achieved, without harming other variables involved, since there is collaboration with a systemic approach between different specialists, from the initial stages of the project. Such statement is discussed based on a critical review of literature and results of the exploratory research carried out with the architects and consultants, during the sketch design stage of a nursery school project, in order to match the thermal and daylight comfort requirements of the PBE-Edifica energy label. This case study resembles a multidisciplinary process with tasks division, and the consultancies consist of computer simulations, identifying problems, assessing alternatives and indicating adequate solutions. The architects pondered the guidelines received with the other design limitations in order to take the decisions. In conclusion, it is necessary to develop the design process management from the initial stages to facilitate the collaboration among specialists.