ABSTRACT
Architectural education is a complex process that, in addition to traditional lectures, requires hands-on implementation of lecture material in studios so that the knowledge needed to reduce emissions is embedded in both lecture and studio courses. The author has led several fourth- and fifth-year architectural design studios that explore methods and strategies to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings, and called carbon-neutral design studios or Carbon-neutral design studios. During the course of the studios, multiple exercises are developed at several scales, which involve the use of energy simulation tools. The grant supported the development of a co-lecture classroom environment shared by practice and academia using the Pamo Valley Project as a case study. Using nonsustainably harvested wood products is more environmentally detrimental than the benefits provided by using low-carbon materials in buildings. The Pamo Valley design solutions are context sensitive and harness the site’s specific environmental conditions.
