Cambridge Architectural Research offers advanced capability in modelling the environmental performance of buildings, at a range of scales from an integrated overview to the finest detail. Our modelling experts draw on a broad background of skills within the design team - architecture, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering, building physics, materials science and conservation studies - to help clients integrate the output from modelling studies into their design decision-making. We have particular skills in addressing the challenges of exceptional buildings - such as those of architectural and historic importance - and the width of our expertise enables us to identify and analyse the interaction between complex effects.

Daylighting design
Daylighting goes to the heart of the architectural enterprise, revealing space, form, texture and colour. CAR has developed techniques and experience in both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of daylight. Integrated assessment of effects of building form, orientation and façade design is followed by detailed computer and/or physical modelling for design development and analysis.

Sunlight
Similar techniques allow us to analyse sunlight penetration into spaces, in order for example to design appropriate shading to avoid glare, sunpatching and damage to precious artefacts. Modelling also provides detailed input of solar gain for thermal analysis.

Natural ventilation
Natural systems are attracting attention as an alternative to mechanical ventilation and air conditioning in non-residential buildings. They can provide robust solutions with low maintenance and running costs, low fuel use and consequently low CO2 output. Levels of system control by occupants - and hence satisfaction - are typically high. Natural ventilation is driven by pressure differentials across the building envelope, caused by wind pressure or buoyancy effects due to thermal differences (also known as stack effect). CAR uses a variety of modelling tools - both computer-based simulation and analogue methods - to quantify these effects in relation to the external environment.

Thermal design
CAR can integrate ventilation and daylighting studies, together with knowledge of a building's other characteristics such as materials, occupancy patterns and specialized systems, to predict its thermal performance with advanced modelling tools. A particular emphasis is on the optimum use of thermal mass for non-mechanical cooling. We have experience of working in a wide variety of climatic regions worldwide.

LT
The LT Method was devised at Cambridge University's Martin Centre and developed with CAR. It has been widely adopted for lighting and thermal modelling throughout western Europe. Designed specifically to analyse different options at an early stage in scheme development, the Method has been further developed for application to refurbishment projects.

Projects

• Potsdamer Platz
  Client: Richard Rogers Partnership
  The integration of daylighting strategies with shading and thermal aspect for these dense urban courtyard buildings required both detailed physical and computer modelling.
• D'Hautree Secondary School, Jersey
  Client: Plincke Leaman and Browning
  For this large school, daylight was the key to creating a stimulating educational environment, meeting functional requirements of light distribution and glare control, and ensuring energy efficiency.
• Ionica Headquarters, Cambridge
  Client: RH Partnership
  Detailed lighting and solar thermal analysis for a low energy office building at the St. John's innovation Centre.
• Bluewater Shopping Centre
  Client: Eric Kuhne Associates
  Numerous strategic options for providing a stimulating and glare-free daylit environment were assessed and compared before the final design was determined.
• Energy Efficient Residential Buildings in China
  Client: UK Overseas Development Administration/BRE
  CAR consulted on the design and construction of two residential projects in Beijing, in collaboration with the Building Research Institute of China: a new 20 000 sq. ft. building and a rehabilitated 18 000 sq. ft. apartment building. We analysed the scheme designs and devised optimal solutions within their constraints, and consulted during the construction and subsequent monitoring of the projects. This was accompanied by a training programme in the UK for our Chinese clients, the production of bilingual reports and a project launch with a series of lectures in Beijing.
• Air inSTRUCT
  Client: DGXII of the European Union
  This project investigated the performance and suitability of three innovative ventilated building components for different climates, with partners in Greece, Spain and Austria. CAR tested the performance of a dynamically insulated wall, using CFD modelling and a full-size test rig mock-up.
• Vivendas Bioclimaticas, Tenerife
  CAR provided input to a successful proposal for the low-cost family housing competition organised by the provincial government for Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
• Ruskin Library, Lancaster
  Client: MacCormac Jamieson Prichard
  It was essential to determine that light penetration would not be detrimental to fragile exhibits in this library, through detailed heliodon and artificial sky analysis.
• Bournemouth Combined Courts
  Client: Stride Treglown
  Following on generic work on courtroom ventilation, this was CAR's first case study of entirely naturally ventilated courtrooms.
• Engineering School, DeMontfort University
  Client: Short Fort & Associates
  CAR was part of the design team for this naturally ventilated university building.
• Westminster and Chelsea Hospital
  Client: Sheppard Robson
  CAR, acting as consultants to the architects, carried out a series of studies on the design of the six-storey atrium using computer modelling as well as water modelling. These studies determined the number of inlets and outlets required to achieve natural ventilation through the stack effect.
• Conference Centre, Gifu, Japan
  Client: Richard Rogers Partnership
  Physical modelling and testing offered a cost-effective means of fine-tuning the design of the main office spaces in terms of sunlight and daylight.
• Olympic 2000 Stadium, Sydney
  CAR were natural ventilation consultants on the competition-winning scheme for the Olympic Stadium in Sydney. Using salt solution modelling techniques, air movement through the stadium section was modelled to minimise the need for air-conditioning.

Publications

N. Baker and K. Steemers. Daylighting Design: A Handbook for Architects and Engineers, James + James, 2000.

N. Baker and K. Steemers. Energy and Environment in Architecture: A Technical Design Guide, Routledge, 2000.

H. Mulligan and D. Cawthorne. Strategic implications of large, dynamically insulated buildings in cities, International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Kushiro, Japan, January, 1997.

H. Mulligan and K. Steemers. Total energy use in refurbishment: avoiding the over-commitment of resources, World Architecture, Beijing, Aug 2004.

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