Why does it matter to model the real terrain and real neighboring buildings?
◦ Which aspects of a building design are most affected by surrounding context?
Position of the building is really important because depending on the position of the building certain elements like solar panels can be placed, other things like better insulation to have more energy efficient buildings can also be enhanced by building orientation and an analysis of what is possible in the context of the surrounding.
◦ What kinds of mistakes only become visible once the context is present?
A really tall building with in a flatter neighborhood is a very obvious problem when it is presented with context. the building might accidentally shadow many existing residential neighbors and provide unnecessary shade etc.
Should the building adapt to the site, or the site to the building?
◦ From a developer's perspective?
From a developer’s perspective they would want the site to adapt to the building because they would likely want to put whatever they desire in their building project and make what they imagine a reality.
◦ From a designer's perspective?
From a designer’s perspective, it depends on the type of designer. Some designers would like to design with the ground and the site, but others might have opinions and ways they would like to design and if the site doesn’t match up with how they like to design they might prefer the site adapting to the building.
◦ From the perspective of the neighbors who already live there?
The people who are already living there would not want the building that is a new addition to ruin the site they have been living on.
Sun hours and wind frequently want opposite things from the same massing.
◦ How should a team break the tie when two analyses disagree?
◦ Who should have the final say, and at what point in the process?
Forma's rapid analyses are fast because they are approximate.
◦ What is a rapid operational energy analysis leaving out?
◦ At what stage does that approximation stop being good enough?
◦ What would you need before putting a performance number in front of a client?
You generated three proposals and recommended one.
◦ Did the analysis choose it, or did you choose it and then find numbers that agreed?
I chose the proposal and found the numbers that agreed. I think this is not as great but most of the numbers also matched up with what I hoped for so the proposal that I chose is the one that would have been chosen by the numbers
◦ What would you have had to see to abandon your favorite option?
I would have had to see that the other options had outstanding numbers in the sunlight and also in the noise to convince me.
◦ If the lot next door is built out in three years, does your recommendation hold?
If the lot next door is built out in three years my recommendation will still hold between my three proposals.