Developing a New Sustainable Architecture Design Studio Course: Connecting Students to Nature Case Study

Abstract

Sustainable design in architecture is a dynamic and evolving field as it continuously adapts to address the challenges of contemporary environmental issues. In doing so, it would stand to reason that there are several themes architecture programs must undertake in order to educate future architects effectively. One of the themes that continues to gain momentum in the realm of sustainable design, which is particularly evident in the Architecture Design Studio Course Projects, is that of residential architecture, commercial architecture, and urban landscapes integrating Biophilic Design principles. This is a great tool for architecture students to understand the basics of sustainable design. Nevertheless, realizing the fundamental first step in teaching students. So, they might reconnect with nature and teach them about the intrinsic value of the natural world. In this context, it is important to introduce in the curriculum other design topics, such as Modern Sustainable Farms, which offer the right context to accomplish this by becoming a place where students integrate practices that not only minimize the environmental impact of a modern farm but also enhance the resource efficiency and ensure the long-term viability of the farm. To assess the success metric of the course and the topic, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) methodology is adopted. The results were promising. The end of semester assessment findings indicate that defined Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) have been achieved over 70%, and it is satisfactory. Additionally, selected ABET student outcomes (SOs) clearly show that 82% of the students reached developing and 18% reached a proficient level.