Environmental science Engineering Coursework Paper (Coursework Sample)

BUILDING DESIGN
Name
Professor
Course
Date
City
Q1. Environmental factors
Environmental Factors Considered in the Design of a Building
A built environment refers to all living spaces and buildings that are developed and modified by people. It also includes core factors that facilitate healthy living such as transportation, waste management as well as utility management (Young, 2012). Designing a building is a critical aspect, particularly in the current generation where sustainability is stressed. There is need to balance the different factors that affect the sustainability of a particular building. There are many factors that designers consider when building but current focus is on the environmental factors as they impact on the sustainability of the buildings.
The first factor that one needs to consider in the current architectural field is sunlight. Sunlight is essential in the healthy livings of human beings. However, too much lighting might also make homes uncomfortable. Improper design concerning sun results to overheated spaces, glare, gloomy interiors, sun damages, and so forth (Demky, 2008). In the sustainability-conscious generation, poor natural lighting buildings get extinct in a short while. As a result, there is need for proper mapping of sunlight to determine places to put shades, and also enhance outdoor living. Sun is a critical aspect in design and designers have to put it under consideration for a sustainable building in a built environment.
Perfect designers must always take account of wind. It is difficult to predict the wind’s pattern when compared to the sun, but efforts must be made to address it at the early phase of a design. It is a critical factor that can make or break a building within a built environment. The aspect of wind comes into play when designing buildings and living spaces at different climatic regions. For instance, in warmer regions, one needs to site the building on the path of the breezes so that the warm wind warms the building. Conversely, in cold regions, it is essential to create buffers between the building and the breezes to avoid high heating costs. Wind properties vary from one region to the other, and it is the mandate of architects to make sure that a site of a building enhances its sustainability and provide a conducive outdoor living space (Demky, 2008). Wind is an essential environmental factor that must be considered before establishing a building in a particular site.
Buildings are always surrounded by unique aspects, and it is essential to consider the views when constructing a building. There are different aspects of designs that enhance views from a particular building. The most common in the urban set up is the floor to ceiling windows that allows the inhabitants of the particular building to view the surrounding features. Also, some designers specifically design small focus views which people use to interact with the surrounding environment. Views help a home be incorporated to its unique views. However, care must be taken when designing views as wrong views can subject people to boredom and eyesores. For instance, the views might make inhabitants to interact with terrifying environment such as garbage and so forth. Views are essential as they allow the users of a building to interact with their environment.
Noise can be a menace to the healthy living of human beings, and as a result, there is need to always consider the impact of sound when designing a living space. Before proceeding with the construction phase, it is essential ever to visit the design site to determine the cause of noise pollution (Demky, 2008). In such a way one can design against noise pollution or relocate to a quiet place. It is also important to consider the type of building when planning for noise. Public places might be tolerant to noise while people in bedrooms and kitchen are irritated by any uncontrolled sound. Different aspects can be incorporated into a design to make sure that the noise menace is reduced. They include landscaping, sound insulation, valuable windows, and so forth. Designers need to consider the impact of sound on their buildings proposed and provide corrective mechanism.