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  • How Simulation Tools Drive Sustainable Design Decisions? | Mansi Parikh | InSlides | IIDA 2024

    Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword in architecture. It is a necessity. With rising urbanization and increasing energy consumption, architects and designers must find ways to create resource-efficient buildings. One of the most effective ways to design sustainable through simulation tools—powerful software that helps architects analyze energy consumption, daylighting, ventilation, and thermal performance.

    These tools allow designers to make informed, data-driven decisions, ensuring that buildings are not just visually appealing but also high-performing and environmentally responsible. However, many professionals still rely on traditional methods, missing out on the potential of these advanced solutions. Let’s explore how building simulation tools can transform sustainable design decisions and why they are essential for the future of architecture.

    The Role of Simulation in Sustainable Architecture

    Traditional design methods often rely on assumptions, but simulation tools provide quantifiable insights. They allow architects to evaluate energy efficiency, airflow, and thermal comfort before construction begins. This helps optimize lighting, HVAC systems, and material selection, leading to lower energy consumption and improved occupant well-being.

    An integrated design approach further enhances sustainability by fostering collaboration among architects, engineers, and consultants. Unlike siloed workflows, this method ensures that energy efficiency, passive cooling, and site-specific factors are considered early in the design phase.

    Key Simulation Tools in Architecture

    Several advanced tools help architects design high-performance buildings:

    • DesignBuilder & OpenStudio – Analyze energy consumption and HVAC performance.
    • Ladybug & Honeybee – Assist in climate analysis and daylighting studies.
    • Autodesk Flow Design – Helps with natural ventilation and wind flow studies.
    • CFD Simulations – Optimize airflow and thermal comfort.

    By integrating these tools, architects can achieve net-zero energy buildings, enhance daylight utilization, and improve indoor air quality.

    Beyond Energy Efficiency: Health & Comfort

    Sustainability isn’t just about energy savings—it’s also about occupant well-being. Proper ventilation, glare-free daylighting, and material selection significantly impact comfort. For instance, glazing choices and shading devices can reduce heat gain, while urban heat island mitigation strategies, like reflective surfaces and green roofs, create cooler environments.

    The Future of Sustainable Design

    As the demand for green buildings grows, leveraging simulation tools will become standard practice. Misconceptions about high costs often deter sustainable approaches, but early integration of these strategies can reduce long-term operational expenses. The key is to set clear sustainability goals, use performance indicators, and make data-backed design choices.

    This North Facing House Exudes Gentle Luxury | VPA Architects

    This North Facing villa opens towards the East to always soak in the cool and diffused light. Its orientation is mindful of the adjoining clubhouse and its expansive garden. The planning allows the villa’s private lawn to visually merge with it, creating a larger and cohesive space. With a connection to the open space at […]

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    The Jaali Design in this Layered Home Exudes Earthiness | Pranav Patel Design Studio

    An Urban Sanctuary Woven with Craft, Warmth, and Light Explicitly tucked into a quiet residential pocket, this home with a jaali facade is a thoughtfully layered expression of calm, character, and craftsmanship. Every surface and corner is rooted in intention — where light, material, and memory meet. The Jaali Design in this Layered Home Exudes […]

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    With Landscaped Courtyards & Expansive Openings, This House Emphasises Nature | 9 Degree Design Studio

    The design of the house prioritises connectivity to nature by incorporating green elements like vertical gardens or landscaped courtyards. This is achieved through various means, such as large windows framing scenic views, outdoor living spaces seamlessly merging with the surrounding landscape. The emphasis on connectivity to nature creates a serene and harmonious environment, fostering a […]

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    This 4000 sq ft House Design Unfolds Calm Lifestyle | Avani Mudra Design

    “Viraam,” a 4000 sq ft house design that embodies its literal translation: “a pause.” The vision is to create a sanctuary for relaxation, introspection, and to escape from the constant demands of daily life – an urban void for personal retreat. Editor’s Note: “Viraam is not just a house, it’s a pause. A place to […]

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    This Indian Contemporary House Design is a Tranquil Retreat | DESIGNEX

    The facade of this Indian contemporary house design strikes a careful balance between solids and voids, with sculpted forms that reveal the inner workings of the space. The design plays with light and shadow, creating visual depth and intrigue from the exterior. The form resembles a cuboid that has been scooped out, while the outer […]

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    This 5 Storey Building Takes Inspiration From Haveli | SJK Architects 

    This 5 storey building takes inspiration from ancient haveli architecture. “Hailing from north India, the family held deep nostalgia for haveli, large residences with communal courtyards called chowks, projecting balconies called jharokhas and intricate brick or stone lattice screens called jaalis, vernacular to many western and northern regions of India,” said SJK Architects partner Vaishali […]

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    This Residence Embraces Tradition with Stone Clad Walls | Gaurav Deore Architects

    Set in the serene landscape of Nashik, the Dabholkar Residence by GDA is a home, embracing stone clad walls. Here, tradition and contemporary design exist in harmony. Designed to reflect the family’s deep connection to tradition and art while embracing the style of contemporary living, it is a space where architectural details, heritage furniture, artwork […]

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    This Load-Bearing House Embeds Original Integrity with Contemporary Design | Studio Kosha

    This remodelling project aimed to revitalise a load-bearing house while respecting its original integrity and adapting it to contemporary needs. The design approach prioritised minimal structural intervention, allowing the existing framework to guide spatial reconfiguration. Careful consideration was given to preserving the load-bearing walls, which formed the backbone of the original construction. Openings were strategically […]

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    This Compact House Design is Rooted in Tradition | Design Matters

    Nestled within a 30×40 ft plot is the compact house design in Banashankari 6th Stage, Bengaluru. This residence for the Ellappans, reimagines traditional Indian living in a contemporary, spatially dynamic form. Designed for a family of three- Mr. Ellappan, his wife, and their teenage son- the house expresses a deep connection to vernacular roots while […]

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    Farmhouse Designs in India: 15 Inspiring Styles To Know

    The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]

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  • This Country House Design Is A Retrofit Extension To A 30-year-old Building | Architecture RIFF

    Euclid Furniture Brings Style and Functionality to Modern Homes