SDPPG - Research at SSoA - School of Architecture

Missing insulation - a hidden performance issue
Door jammed open by frustrated users
'Refreshingly integrative' - Architects Journal

Sustainable Design, People and Performance Group

The Sustainable Design, People and Performance Group is focused on ‘closing the loop’ towards the production of a more sustainable built environment. Research is undertaken to investigate how design intentions can be continuously improved through feedback from innovative and cross disciplinary building performance evaluation.

There is particular emphasis on understanding how people interact with technology and promoting sustainability through place and user-centred evaluation of buildings, products and processes. The unit builds on the internationally recognised work of its members who are at the leading edge of research which informs policy and practice at every level.

Current and Recent Projects

Technology Strategy Board (TSB), Ecos Homes, Stawell, Initial Occupancy Study, £49,613.

TSB, Homes and Community Agency, Hanham Hall Carbon Challenge Programme, Initial Occupancy Study, £46,733.

TSB, Crest Nicholson PLC, Avante Initial Occupancy Study, £67,263.

TSB KTP: Embedding a capability for post-occupancy studies of buildings in association with Architype Architects Ltd., £111,394.

Stewart Milne Group and EST, Sigma Home Post Occupancy Evaluation, including monitoring of prototype Code 5 CSH MMC house. £27,500.

Publications

Stevenson, F.,and Rijal, H.B., (2010) Developing occupancy feedback from a prototype to improve housing production, Building Research and Information, (38) 5, pp.549-563.

Stevenson, F. and Leaman (2010) Evaluating housing performance in relation to human behaviour: new challenges, Editorial, Building Research and Information, ( 38) 5, pp.437-441.

Leaman, A., Stevenson, F. and Bordass, B. (2010) Building evaluation: practice and principles, Building Research and Information, (38) 5, pp. 564-577.

Stevenson, F. (2009) Post-occupancy evaluation and sustainability: a review, Urban Design and Planning, (162) 3 , pp.123-130.

Stevenson, F., Humphris, G., Howells, L., (2008), Promoting Wellbeing in Palliative Care, World Health Design, (2), 1, pp.57-63, ISSN 1654-9654.

Stevenson, F. and Leaman, A. ed.,(2010) Special Issue: Housing occupancy feedback:linking performance with behaviour, Building Research and Information, (38),5. ISSN 0961-3218.

Homes and Communities Agency, (2010) Monitoring guide for carbon emissions, energy and water use: the Carbon Challenge:developing an environmental evaluation of housing performance in new communities, Homes and Communities Agency.

Stewart Milne Group (2009), The future of low energy, carbon neutral homes, Stewart Milne Group.

Pasquale, L., Hancock, M. and Stevenson, F. (2011) Building performance feedback in practice, Proceedings of the 27th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Louvain Le Neuve, 13-15th July.

Samangooei, M. and Stevenson, F. (2010), Buildings as a food system in a temperate climate, AESOP 2nd European Sustainable Food Planning Conference, Brighton.

Rijal, H.B., and Stevenson, F.,(2010) Thermal comfort in UK housing to avoid overheating: lessons from a ‘Zero Carbon’ case study Proceedings of Conference: Adapting to Change: New Thinking on Comfort Cumberland Lodge, Windsor, UK, 9-11 April 2010. London: Network for Comfort and Energy Use in Buildings, http://nceub.org.uk

Stevenson, F. (70%), Roberts, A., Altomonte, S. (2009),Designs on the Planet: a workshop series on architectural education and the challenges of climate change, Proceedings of the 26th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Quebec, 22-24th June.

Hancock, M. and Stevenson, F (2009) Examining the interrelationships of microclimate, construction performance and user behaviour, to inform design strategies, Proceedings of the 26th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Quebec, 22-24th June.

Stevenson F. and Rijal H.B. (2008), The Sigma Home: towards an authentic evaluation of a prototype building, Proceedings of the Passive and Low Energy Architecture 2008 Conference, Dublin, 22-24 October. ISBN: 78-1-905254-34-7.

Stevenson, F. (2008) Integrating sustainability through imaginative studio assessment, The Oxford Conference: A Re-evaluation of education in architecture, ed. S.Roaf and A. Bairstow, WIT Press, ISBN: 978-1-84564-206-8

Activities and Events

Advisory roles:
2010-12 Expert advisor on Zero Carbon Hub Task Group for Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality.

2010-14 Expert advisor for Technology Strategy Board’s Building Performance Evaluation £8m programme. I helped to initiate, design and steer this new national research programme.

2010-14 Technology Strategy Board accredited Building Performance Evaluator.

Conference organisor:
2009 The Sustainable Building Association Annual Conference Building For a Sustainable Future, Fionn Stevenson co-organiser, June 11-12th, Oxford Brookes University.

2008 International Conference The Oxford Conference: A Re-evaluation of education in architecture, July 22-23rd, Oxford University, Fionn Stevenson member of organising committee and sessional chair.

2008 National Workshop for Schools of Architecture Designs on the Planet, January 25th, Department of Architecture, Oxford Brookes University. Fionn Stevenson was the overall organiser for this seminal conference attended by 100 academics, as well as co-ordinator with two other follow-on conferences in the Universities of Nottingham and Cardiff.

Recent Conferences:
2011 Invited Speaker: Usability and Design, The Sustainable Building Association National Conference, Oxford Brookes University, 17th September.

2011 Invited Speaker: Focussing on the customer:education, care and post-occupancy evaluation, AIMC4 One Year On, national conference, The Building Centre, London, June 30th.

2009 Invited Speaker:The future of low carbon homes, INSITE national conference, BRE, July 4th

Invited Speaker: Technology Review: response to Designs on the Planet, Standing Heads of Schools of Architecture conference, TUC conference centre, April 23rd.

Invited Speaker: Post-occupancy Evaluation, The Sustainable Building Association National Conference, Oxford Brookes University, 12th June.

Invited Speaker: Eco-towns: theory and practice, The Sustainable Building Association National Conference, Oxford Brookes University, 12th June.

2008 Invited Speaker: Embedding sustainable design, iBEE National Workshop, Sheffield Hallam University, 10th September.

Invited Speaker: Designs on the Planet, Standing Heads of Schools of Architecture conference, Portmerion, Wales, April 10th.

Post-occupancy evaluation of housing, Change to Survive: Creating a 21st Century Sustainable Built Environment, Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development,15th January.

Situating the Decision-making Process for Teaching Sustainable Design in the Studio, also Panellist, Designs on the Planet, National Workshop, 23rd January, Oxford Brookes University.

2009 Designs on the Planet: workshop series on architectural education and the challenges of climate change 26th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Quebec.

2008 The Sigma Home: towards an authentic evaluation of a prototype building, Proceedings of the 25th Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Dublin, 22-24 October.

2008 Integrating sustainability through imaginative studio assessment, The Oxford Conference: A Re-evaluation of education in architecture, Oxford, 22-23rd July.