Modules may subject to availability. For more queries on the modules, please contact the department directly.

This module covers the principles of environmental responsive architecture, focusing on passive mode and other low energy design strategies for architecture in the various climates. Topics included address the impact of sun, daylight, wind, rain on architectural design. The module enables students to formulate holistic approaches in generating design solutions.

This module deals with topics in ecological and sustainable architecture, focusing on environmental issues as they apply to design. Basic technical knowledge on energy, water, materials, etc are covered in the context of how buildings operate. The module enables students to operationalize the principles when generating design solutions.

This module covers the principles and knowledge of building services systems and energy efficiency, focusing on the active and composite mode of environmentally responsive design. Topics included building services systems, total building performance, fire management, architectural lighting, architectural acoustics etc and the integration of these principles in the design strategies. The module aims to inculcate deeper understanding of how architectural and engineering elements operate in synergy.

This module aims to introduce building technology in the context of design strategies and as the enabler of architectural design concepts and function. Lectures are organized sequentially to relate in one building. a. operator/user requirements to building requirements b. design strategies to meet building requirements c. the technical resolution of those design strategies Design strategies include: Site planning considerations for major provisions such as substation, basement car parks; Construction processes due to site constraints; Structural strategy and concept in relation to architectural form, space and layout considerations; Mechanical & electrical strategy and concept in relation to architecture and layout.

This module starts with a broad introduction into energy illustrating fundamental terms and definitions such as energy carriers, types and conversion principles leading to an understanding of the benefits of renewable energies in general. With buildings consuming the major portion of the global energy supply, renewable energy systems and in particular those with relevance for buildings in the tropics will be explained in greater detail. Architecture and energy concepts will be introduced and deepened through guided technical tours to regional case studies of solar and energy efficient buildings. Architectural and energy reviews of these case studies make up the core of the assignments.

The module engages the contemporary issues of urban ecology and its articulation to design and development in urban settings. The new commitment of the co-habitation of nature and built environment has drawn attentions of the architects, urban designers and environmental professionals. The discourses of urban sustainability have to move away from social sufficiency, ecological efficiency to ecosystem compatibility by linking the forms and flows of urban, industrial and natural systems. The new challenges of urban ecological issue require design and environmental professionals to deal with how urban and environment spaces could be analyzed, designed, managed, evaluated, represented and changed for responding to the cutting-edge sustainable issues. Divided by two main categories, Spatial Typologies and Ecological Flows, the series of lecture covers the trends and issues of sustainable urban design and development. Following the introductory lecture based on planning and design history, the Part One Spatial Typologies includes global ecological effects of mega urban form, suburbanization and propositions of sustainable city, downtown urban design, waterfront revitalization and brown field redevelopment. The Part Two Ecological Flows covers the ecological design issues of landscape ecological flow, material and energy flow, water flow and informational flow. The sessions conclude with the discussion of representational dimension of urban and environmental design that is essential to the professional practices of ecologically sound urban and environmental design. By selecting one of the specific sustainable urban issues, students are required to work on a research project, which is to be presented as a team work during the semester and further developed as an individual term paper at the end of semester.

The studio aims to provide the students with an opportunity to learn design detailing, technological development and resolution of architectural schemes up to a stage where the design information in the project submission may be understood as being equivalent to pre-tender drawings or drawings for construction. The scope of learning comprises of i) Understanding the conceptual intentions of design scheme. ii) Translating aesthetic intention into technological design issues. iii) Identifying separate technical design activities, eg lighting iv) Communicating resolved design solutions as technical specification, architectural/construction drawing.

This module allows the students to employ digital design processes eg. Revit, CFD to simulate building performance impact on building form and configuration as an interactive design process in the development and study of optimal solutions.

This module aims to introduce relevant topics in total building performance, fire management, specification writing and buildability and their application to design management and development. This module is conducted through two intensive one-week workshops. The first workshop starts right after submission of the Dissertation and deals with Total Building Performance and Fire Management relevant to the early design phase of the Final Design Project. The second workshop is conducted in the first week of S2 and deals with Specification Writing and Buildability, issues more relevant for the advanced stage of the Final Design Project. Through this module, students will become aware of the individual requirements of the above topics and codes. Selected examples will be introduced and students learn how these topics can be applied and that their successful consideration does not compromise on the design.

The module covers the basic science relating to projects in the context of sustainable development, with a focus on the elements of the scientific principles relevant to buildings. The major topics include external and climatic effects such as various forms of pollution, humidity and condensation, heat transfer, comfort conditions, comfort zones and indices, air movement, Sick Building Syndrome and solar radiation; lighting such as daylighting and artificial lighting; and building acoustics.

This module covers the management of technology relating to development projects to meet regulatory requirements, and prevailing buildability and quality standards. The topics include preliminary works, substructures, structural systems, functional elements for reinforced concrete and structural steel buildings, and external works. Emphasis is put on the management of development technology for projects to ensure that appropriate decisions and processes adopted fulfil the requirements specified in the Factories (Building Operations and Works of Engineering Construction) Regulations, Building Control Regulations, Buildable Design Appraisal System, Construction Quality Assessment System and other relevant codes of practice.

This module covers the evaluation, selection and performance of specialised advanced construction technology for tall buildings with emphasis on the integration of construction systems. Themajor topics are: deep foundation systems, proprietary wall and floor systems, advanced formwork and scaffolding technology, precast andprestressed concrete construction, envelope systems, and roof construction. Also covered are the basic principles relating to the selection, operation and integration of specialised equipment for construction work, and the fundamentals of site surveying, setting out and alignment systems for high-rise buildings.

This module covers the mechanical and electrical systems in modern facilities, with special focus on a building. It considers the principles and design of major systems such as: heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, power generation and distribution, vertical and horizontal transportation systems, fire fighting systems, and communication and security systems. This module also covers the engineering principles and key factors influencing the thermal environments and quantification of utilities, and the design of systems to local codes.

This module introduces the properties, characteristics, selection, specfication, assembly and inter-relationship of materials utilised in modern facilities, focusing on construction materials. Major topics are materials suitable for application in relation to weather resistance, stability, durability, damp prevention, insulation, energy conservation and fire protection. Principles relating to the weathering and corrosion of materials, especially building materials, are also covered. The coverage includes practical tests to evaluate the behaviour of selected materials under various conditions.

This module covers the essential principles of energy management in the operation of facilities with special emphasis on the operation of buildings. The major topics include: quantitative energy analysis, prediction, simulation and relevant codes of practice. Students are given experience in the real time application of computers in energy monitoring and auditing. Other topics are: energy benchmarking, energy market policy and procurement.

This module covers the maintainability issues of various categories of facilities under tropical conditions, focusing on buildings. It aims to improve the standard and quality of design, construction and maintenance practices so as to produce efficient buildings that require minimal maintenance. The module examines the durability, sustainability and maintainability of various materials and components to set benchmarks for the selection of materials, components and systems for better maintainability. The basic principles involved in building pathology-diagnosis and repair are covered.

This module aims to provide the concept and principles of total building performance and diagnosis, and introduces the methodology for building performance evaluation and rectification. It also considers four systems of integration in buildings – Structures, Envelope, Mechanical and Interior. The module discusses trends in office evolution

The aim of this module is to examine urban conservation in the context of sustainable development. Students will acquire an understanding of the policy initiatives for urban conservation and asses its viability in land scarce cities, focusing on Singapore. They will examine the rationale for urban conservation and the challenges faced in view of the need to optimize scarce land resources, and to allocate these for commercial, residential, recreational, infrastructural and institutional uses. The main topics include the concepts of sustainable development, urban conservation, national policy initiatives and framework for conservation, key challenges to conservation of historic, and cultural and heritage areas. Students will attempt to assess past and current efforts at urban conservation in the context of economic sustainability, social sustainability and environmental sustainability. They will recommend measures for improvements based on their research findings.

The objective of this module is to provide the theory and practice for students to understand ecodesign and sustainability and its affects on design practice. It will study the design methods related to ecodesign and sustainable design and its applications. Project work will be conducted to provide the bridge to integrate such theoretical knowledge into practice.

This module introduces to students the core principles of sustainable development associated with the real estate development. The first half of the module discusses selected environmental issues, environmental impact assessments, and green benchmarking for property developments. The second half of the module focuses on urban sustainability issues such as the preservation of urban wildness, brownfield redevelopment, eco-industrial planning, and designing sustainability indicators. At the end of this module, student should be able to identify the main environmental issues that impact on the real estate business; and the main environmental impacts of the real estate business.

This elective module provides a seminar-style platform for senior undergraduate students in the School of Design and Environment to examine the concept, design, development and management of sustainable cities. The main focus is integration, and topics include the concepts of sustainable cities, frameworks for designing, developing and managing sustainable cities, city dynamics, institutional design, socio-spatial issues, energy, infrastructure management, and urban trends.