An immersive case study for the application of airflow simulations to architectural design

Abstract

The interest in building performance simulations has been growing due to their effectiveness in creating energy-efficient and healthier building designs. Various energy and lighting simulation tools for designers have been developed accordingly, while not many studies on airflow simulation tools are available. Moreover, building research using airflow simulations typically focuses on a single domain of design. Responding to these issues, the present study introduces airflow simulation tools and strategies for holistic architectural design processes and establishes a framework for utilizing the simulations in the early stages of design. An architectural project was selected for the investigation, and various types of simulations were conducted to find how airflow simulations interact with design processes. Based on this, a framework recommending simulation tools and strategies was proposed that may help designers understand the different characteristics of the tools and how to properly use the simulations based on the needs of each design stage.