Comfort, Energy & Water
0_Introduction to the course
The instructor – team
• Bruno Deraedt
o Engineer architect
o Coordinator
o Expert in the domain of regenerative design with wood + circular & technical buildings
• Marijn Vyncke
o Engineer
o Expert in Daylight
• Manon Schramme
o Architect
o Support in the exercises
Goal & learning objectives
Technical installations as part of a system
• The student can
o Develop the ability to operate with a system thinking mind
o Develop knowledge of resilience and the impact on building and the building services
o Research building plots and understand how to reconnect building environment to the ecology of place
o Generate concepts for resilient building and building districts
o Define and articulate regenerative building principles and differentiate them from traditional and sustainable building
concepts.
o Design integrated building systems (HVAC, energy and water) that contribute to net-positive energy and water outcomes
o Develop an architectural design strategy for regenerative districts
o Understand the fundamental differentiations in building services
o Generate an innovative and research-based design based on the concern for comfort quality and sustainability
awareness
o Assess occupant comfort in regenerative buildings, balancing thermal, air and water comfort with environmental goals
o Analyse and model energy systems for regenerative buildings, focusing on renewable energy sources, energy storage
and efficiency measures
o Apply the principles about natural ventilation
o Develop regenerative water systems that ensure water conservation, reuse and onsite treatment, contributing to the
water-positive performance of buildings
• References
o Extra ventilation/airflow
▪
, o Energy created in the community
▪
o Green building
▪ Roof generates electricity which makes it net-positive
▪
Approach & arrangements
Respect & Transparency
• Constructive learning environment
• Reciprocity
• Respect for everyone’s opinion
• Everyone is unique
• Getting things clear as far as possible
Active participation
• Questions
• Poll
• feedback
(self-)discipline
• focus = gold
• discipline = key skill as an architect and engineer
• avoid use of social media
o smartphone can be used for polls and interaction
Sustainability
• respect for nature
• respect for the environment
• strengthening our community
Rapidly changing world
• Everything is continuously changing
• Transition
Development & resilience
,Course scheduling
• 3 big parts
o Water
o Energy-efficient building
o HVAC components
• Project work
o Integrative exercise
Evaluation
• Partial Continuous assessment (40%)
o Survey or exercise on Water (8 pt)
o Survey or exercise on Energy buildings (8 pt.)
o Survey or exercise on Regenerative technical Equipment (8 pt)
o Projectwork (16 pt)
• Exam (60%)
o Written exam
▪ Multiple choice questions
▪ Open questions
,0_Introduction to Regenerative Design
Strategies for regenerative design of services
From problem-solving to living systems thinking
• Actual thinking mode: problem-solving
o The starting point is a problem or an issue to be solved
▪ Then starts a process to solve:
• Define the problem
• Research it thoroughly
• Brainstorm on possible solutions
• Select the most appropriate solution
• Build a prototype
• Test
• Evaluate
• Redesign
o Creating architecture follows a similar way
▪ Defining the program
▪ Do the necessary research
• Program, context, …
▪ Collect ideas in imagining mode
▪ Make a sketch
▪ Test the program
▪ Evaluate redesign the sketch
▪ Ready for building process
o (mostly) the same procedure for:
▪ Creating building technologies
▪ Engineering work
▪ Product enhancements
• Experiences that do not match with the needs
• External forces
o Legislation
o Culture
o Availability of the materials
o …
• Efficiency
o Disadvantages
▪ Working on single parts
▪ Breaking complex issues into smaller issues
▪ Solving each smaller issue and then setting this together
▪ Going into detail
▪ Specialised professions
▪ Doesn’t see the whole
▪ Stays in old paradigm’s
o Advantage
▪ Getting more knowledge on the behaviour of one part
,• Analytical thinking vs systems thinking
o Analytical thinking
▪ Know how things work
o Systems thinking
▪ Understanding why things work
• Looking at pieces as part of a system
o
• Evolution heating system
o 19th century
▪ Decentral
• 1 space is heated
th
o 20 century
▪ Central heating system
• In the 1970’s : start of insulation
o Begin 21th century
▪ More insulation
▪ Optimalisation of installations
o Paradigm shift?
▪ Is central heating still a must with all that insulation?
• Following our EPB-regulation
o Central heating or heating in every room is necessary
• Do we still need to heat our sleeping room in a good insulated house?
▪ We need to shift towards a new paradigm
• In well insulated houses it is common to only heat the living area and punctually the bathroom
▪ → needs another viewpoint → systems thinking
• Systems thinking
o Quotes:
▪ A system is a whole that is defined by its role or function in a larger system by which it is a part of
- Russel Ackoff
▪ You can’t solve problems created by our current pattern of thought using our current pattern of thought
- Albert Einstein
,o Definition
▪ = a way to approach issues by looking at them as systems
• Rather than considering only how to solve an immediate problem, you consider how all the pieces
connect to make the whole.
▪ A systems thinker
• = someone who recognizes that a sum is greater than its parts
o That all pieces of an organization connect, interact and play a part in outcomes
▪ = the ability to understand and intervene in complex systems
• A system is comprised of elements, which can also be parts, entities, persons and components. The
elements are interconnected, they are related to each other
• The crucial aspect of systems thinking is the necessity to understand a system’s behaviour as a
whole. The behaviour cannot be deducted from its constituting elements alone. It is because of the
element’s interconnectedness that new properties emerge.
▪
o Tools of a System Thinker
▪ Interconnections
• Projects and people are connected
• A systems thinking approach identifies those connections and considers all of them
▪ Emergence
• This is the phenomenon of a larger idea, function property or outcome that results from the
interaction of smaller parts
• It often is a better solution than could be gleaned from simply looking at the individual parts in isolation
▪ Synthesis
• This means combining two or more components in a system to form something new that helps us
understand the entire system better or to build a better system
o “Sometimes you’re combining old ways to make a new way. Sometimes you gain new
information and create something new.”
- Marticek
▪ Feedback loops
• Feedback loops illustrate via charts or diagrams the feedback between various parts of a system
o ‘You gather different pieces of the pie, and at the end, hopefully you have an outcome.”
- Marticek
▪ Causality
• Causality looks at how one thing influences others in an interconnected system
▪ Systems mapping
• Systems mapping is the chart or flow that will inform decision making
o “If you hand this to an executive, this flow diagram will help them understand what is
needed to make the change.”
- Marticek
, ▪
▪
• Design thinking
o = a human-centred approach to innovation
▪ Anchored in understanding customer’s needs, prototyping and generating creative ideas
▪ To transform the way you develop products, services, processes and organizations
o When using design thinking principles, you bring together
▪ what is desirable from a human point of view
• desirability
o what makes sense to people and for people
▪ what is technologically feasible
• feasibility
o what is technically possible within the foreseeable future?
▪ what is economically viable
• viability
o what is likely to become part of a sustainable business model
o it is mostly a linear process but has feedback loops
o
,• Systems thinking vs Design thinking
Systems thinking Design thinking
Holistic Deeply human
Analytical Creative
Abstract Tangible
Conceptual Experimental
Relationship-oriented Action-oriented
Zooms out to see the entire system and the Zooms in to understand people’s individual needs
relationships within it
Allows you to visualize the system Allows you to empathize with stakeholders
Visualize the broader system you’re working with(in). See Empathize with the people who are part of and
connections between stakeholders as well as parts of impacted by the system. Listen to their stories and lived
the system you might have overlooked or missed experiences. Try to see the system from their
perspective.
Focuses on understanding relationships and root causes Focuses on understanding needs and behaviours
Understand relationships, root causes and relevant Understand the underlying needs, challenges and
interrelated factors. Navigate the complexities of a mindsets of stakeholders. Identify their incentives and
system and clarify what problem you’re trying to solve priorities. Understand the motivations behind their
(or which part of the system you’re trying to change) behaviours and uncover deep insights to design more
meaningful and effective solutions
Systems thinking encourages you to identify opportunities Design thinking encourages you to prototype and
experiment with solutions
Look across a system and identify opportunities for Generate many possible solutions to a problem and test
intervention. Surface all the relevant stakeholders (both them before investing your time, money and energy into
obvious and unexpected). The unintended consequences one (or more). Move from abstract ideas on paper to
and potential implication, the best points of leverage and tangible prototypes in order to answer questions, test
the multiple levels at your disposal assumptions, reduce risk, get feedback and work
through complexities.
• Living systems
o Fritjof Capra
▪ Renowned physicist and systems thinker
• Best known for his work in ecological and systems theories, as described in his books “The Tao of
Physics” and “The Web of Life”.
▪ “A living system is not a mechanical structure but a network of processes. The system’s form is constantly
changing, yet the system maintains its overall pattern. In other words, it is a system that is constantly
renewing itself.”
• Constantly renewing = regenerating
o With its own natural power
o With its own processes
▪
,o Living systems
▪ Ecosystems, organisms or even social systems
▪ = dynamic networks of interconnected parts
• Unlike mechanical systems, living systems are self-organizing, meaning they constantly adapt and
evolve in response to changes in their environment.
• When a living system experiences disturbance (environmental changes, stress or disruption) it doesn’t
just break down. Instead, it responds through adaptation and resilience
o Adaptation
▪ The system adjusts its internal processes to cope with the disturbance
• this could mean changing behaviour, reorganizing resources or evolving
new forms of interaction
o Resilience
▪ Living systems are capable of bouncing back or transforming into a new state of
equilibrium after a disturbance.
▪ They often come out stronger, having learned or evolved from the challenge
▪ In essence, living systems thrive on change, as disturbances can trigger growth, renewal and increased
complexity over time.
o Living systems reflect the Laws of Nature
▪ Law of interdependence
• In nature, everything is connected. Living systems are made up of interconnected components that
depend on one another for survival.
o When a disturbance occurs, it affects not just one part but the entire network.
o The system adapts by reorganizing its relationships and redistributing resources to maintain
balance, similar to how ecosystems adjust when species populations shift.
▪ Law of Flow and Energy
• Energy and matter flow through living systems constantly. When there’s a disruption – such as a
shortage of resources or environmental stress – the system reallocates its energy to ensure
survival. This process is a form of self-regulation, which helps living systems adapt efficiently to
change and remain resilient.
▪ Law of Dynamic Equilibrium
• Living systems are never static, they are in a state of dynamic equilibrium.
o This means that they continuously adjust to external changes to maintain stability, like
ecosystems adapting to seasonal changes
o Disturbances in the environment force living systems to evolve, leading to a new, often
more complex, state of balance – what we call resilience.
▪ Law of Evolution and Emergence
• Disturbances can trigger emergence, where new properties or behaviours arise in a system. This
aligns with natural evolution, where systems evolve through adaptation and natural selection.
• Over time, living systems use disturbances as opportunities for growth, learning and increased
complexity – enhancing their long-term sustainability
o
, Frameworks as tools to explore, understand and discuss
• Frameworks: why we should use them
o Provide clear guidance
▪ Frameworks offer structured approaches, making complex regenerative processes more understandable and
actionable
o Ensure holistic thinking
▪ They help designers consider all aspects of a system, including ecological, social and economic impacts.
o Promote consistency
▪ Frameworks ensure that regenerative principles are consistently applied across different projects and
disciplines
o Facilitate collaboration
▪ A shared framework allows different stakeholders (designers, engineers, communities) to work together with
a common understanding
o Measure and track progress
▪ Frameworks provide tools for assessing how well designs achieve regenerative goals, enabling ongoing
improvement
o Encourage innovation
▪ By setting regenerative goals, frameworks push designers to find creative, forward-thinking solutions to
environmental challenges.
o Adapt to diverse contexts
▪ They provide flexible guidelines that can be adapted to various environmental and cultural contexts, ensuring
relevance to local conditions
o Support long-term sustainability
▪ Frameworks help align short-term design actions with long-term goals for regeneration and resilience
• Transition X-curve
o Developed by Jan Rotmans & his team ‘DRIFT’
▪ it seeks to understand the patterns and dynamics of structural societal change
▪ the X-curve provides a simplified depiction of transitions that explicitly captures the patterns of build-up,
breakdown and their interactions.
o
o It’s also used in participatory work
▪
0_Introduction to the course
The instructor – team
• Bruno Deraedt
o Engineer architect
o Coordinator
o Expert in the domain of regenerative design with wood + circular & technical buildings
• Marijn Vyncke
o Engineer
o Expert in Daylight
• Manon Schramme
o Architect
o Support in the exercises
Goal & learning objectives
Technical installations as part of a system
• The student can
o Develop the ability to operate with a system thinking mind
o Develop knowledge of resilience and the impact on building and the building services
o Research building plots and understand how to reconnect building environment to the ecology of place
o Generate concepts for resilient building and building districts
o Define and articulate regenerative building principles and differentiate them from traditional and sustainable building
concepts.
o Design integrated building systems (HVAC, energy and water) that contribute to net-positive energy and water outcomes
o Develop an architectural design strategy for regenerative districts
o Understand the fundamental differentiations in building services
o Generate an innovative and research-based design based on the concern for comfort quality and sustainability
awareness
o Assess occupant comfort in regenerative buildings, balancing thermal, air and water comfort with environmental goals
o Analyse and model energy systems for regenerative buildings, focusing on renewable energy sources, energy storage
and efficiency measures
o Apply the principles about natural ventilation
o Develop regenerative water systems that ensure water conservation, reuse and onsite treatment, contributing to the
water-positive performance of buildings
• References
o Extra ventilation/airflow
▪
, o Energy created in the community
▪
o Green building
▪ Roof generates electricity which makes it net-positive
▪
Approach & arrangements
Respect & Transparency
• Constructive learning environment
• Reciprocity
• Respect for everyone’s opinion
• Everyone is unique
• Getting things clear as far as possible
Active participation
• Questions
• Poll
• feedback
(self-)discipline
• focus = gold
• discipline = key skill as an architect and engineer
• avoid use of social media
o smartphone can be used for polls and interaction
Sustainability
• respect for nature
• respect for the environment
• strengthening our community
Rapidly changing world
• Everything is continuously changing
• Transition
Development & resilience
,Course scheduling
• 3 big parts
o Water
o Energy-efficient building
o HVAC components
• Project work
o Integrative exercise
Evaluation
• Partial Continuous assessment (40%)
o Survey or exercise on Water (8 pt)
o Survey or exercise on Energy buildings (8 pt.)
o Survey or exercise on Regenerative technical Equipment (8 pt)
o Projectwork (16 pt)
• Exam (60%)
o Written exam
▪ Multiple choice questions
▪ Open questions
,0_Introduction to Regenerative Design
Strategies for regenerative design of services
From problem-solving to living systems thinking
• Actual thinking mode: problem-solving
o The starting point is a problem or an issue to be solved
▪ Then starts a process to solve:
• Define the problem
• Research it thoroughly
• Brainstorm on possible solutions
• Select the most appropriate solution
• Build a prototype
• Test
• Evaluate
• Redesign
o Creating architecture follows a similar way
▪ Defining the program
▪ Do the necessary research
• Program, context, …
▪ Collect ideas in imagining mode
▪ Make a sketch
▪ Test the program
▪ Evaluate redesign the sketch
▪ Ready for building process
o (mostly) the same procedure for:
▪ Creating building technologies
▪ Engineering work
▪ Product enhancements
• Experiences that do not match with the needs
• External forces
o Legislation
o Culture
o Availability of the materials
o …
• Efficiency
o Disadvantages
▪ Working on single parts
▪ Breaking complex issues into smaller issues
▪ Solving each smaller issue and then setting this together
▪ Going into detail
▪ Specialised professions
▪ Doesn’t see the whole
▪ Stays in old paradigm’s
o Advantage
▪ Getting more knowledge on the behaviour of one part
,• Analytical thinking vs systems thinking
o Analytical thinking
▪ Know how things work
o Systems thinking
▪ Understanding why things work
• Looking at pieces as part of a system
o
• Evolution heating system
o 19th century
▪ Decentral
• 1 space is heated
th
o 20 century
▪ Central heating system
• In the 1970’s : start of insulation
o Begin 21th century
▪ More insulation
▪ Optimalisation of installations
o Paradigm shift?
▪ Is central heating still a must with all that insulation?
• Following our EPB-regulation
o Central heating or heating in every room is necessary
• Do we still need to heat our sleeping room in a good insulated house?
▪ We need to shift towards a new paradigm
• In well insulated houses it is common to only heat the living area and punctually the bathroom
▪ → needs another viewpoint → systems thinking
• Systems thinking
o Quotes:
▪ A system is a whole that is defined by its role or function in a larger system by which it is a part of
- Russel Ackoff
▪ You can’t solve problems created by our current pattern of thought using our current pattern of thought
- Albert Einstein
,o Definition
▪ = a way to approach issues by looking at them as systems
• Rather than considering only how to solve an immediate problem, you consider how all the pieces
connect to make the whole.
▪ A systems thinker
• = someone who recognizes that a sum is greater than its parts
o That all pieces of an organization connect, interact and play a part in outcomes
▪ = the ability to understand and intervene in complex systems
• A system is comprised of elements, which can also be parts, entities, persons and components. The
elements are interconnected, they are related to each other
• The crucial aspect of systems thinking is the necessity to understand a system’s behaviour as a
whole. The behaviour cannot be deducted from its constituting elements alone. It is because of the
element’s interconnectedness that new properties emerge.
▪
o Tools of a System Thinker
▪ Interconnections
• Projects and people are connected
• A systems thinking approach identifies those connections and considers all of them
▪ Emergence
• This is the phenomenon of a larger idea, function property or outcome that results from the
interaction of smaller parts
• It often is a better solution than could be gleaned from simply looking at the individual parts in isolation
▪ Synthesis
• This means combining two or more components in a system to form something new that helps us
understand the entire system better or to build a better system
o “Sometimes you’re combining old ways to make a new way. Sometimes you gain new
information and create something new.”
- Marticek
▪ Feedback loops
• Feedback loops illustrate via charts or diagrams the feedback between various parts of a system
o ‘You gather different pieces of the pie, and at the end, hopefully you have an outcome.”
- Marticek
▪ Causality
• Causality looks at how one thing influences others in an interconnected system
▪ Systems mapping
• Systems mapping is the chart or flow that will inform decision making
o “If you hand this to an executive, this flow diagram will help them understand what is
needed to make the change.”
- Marticek
, ▪
▪
• Design thinking
o = a human-centred approach to innovation
▪ Anchored in understanding customer’s needs, prototyping and generating creative ideas
▪ To transform the way you develop products, services, processes and organizations
o When using design thinking principles, you bring together
▪ what is desirable from a human point of view
• desirability
o what makes sense to people and for people
▪ what is technologically feasible
• feasibility
o what is technically possible within the foreseeable future?
▪ what is economically viable
• viability
o what is likely to become part of a sustainable business model
o it is mostly a linear process but has feedback loops
o
,• Systems thinking vs Design thinking
Systems thinking Design thinking
Holistic Deeply human
Analytical Creative
Abstract Tangible
Conceptual Experimental
Relationship-oriented Action-oriented
Zooms out to see the entire system and the Zooms in to understand people’s individual needs
relationships within it
Allows you to visualize the system Allows you to empathize with stakeholders
Visualize the broader system you’re working with(in). See Empathize with the people who are part of and
connections between stakeholders as well as parts of impacted by the system. Listen to their stories and lived
the system you might have overlooked or missed experiences. Try to see the system from their
perspective.
Focuses on understanding relationships and root causes Focuses on understanding needs and behaviours
Understand relationships, root causes and relevant Understand the underlying needs, challenges and
interrelated factors. Navigate the complexities of a mindsets of stakeholders. Identify their incentives and
system and clarify what problem you’re trying to solve priorities. Understand the motivations behind their
(or which part of the system you’re trying to change) behaviours and uncover deep insights to design more
meaningful and effective solutions
Systems thinking encourages you to identify opportunities Design thinking encourages you to prototype and
experiment with solutions
Look across a system and identify opportunities for Generate many possible solutions to a problem and test
intervention. Surface all the relevant stakeholders (both them before investing your time, money and energy into
obvious and unexpected). The unintended consequences one (or more). Move from abstract ideas on paper to
and potential implication, the best points of leverage and tangible prototypes in order to answer questions, test
the multiple levels at your disposal assumptions, reduce risk, get feedback and work
through complexities.
• Living systems
o Fritjof Capra
▪ Renowned physicist and systems thinker
• Best known for his work in ecological and systems theories, as described in his books “The Tao of
Physics” and “The Web of Life”.
▪ “A living system is not a mechanical structure but a network of processes. The system’s form is constantly
changing, yet the system maintains its overall pattern. In other words, it is a system that is constantly
renewing itself.”
• Constantly renewing = regenerating
o With its own natural power
o With its own processes
▪
,o Living systems
▪ Ecosystems, organisms or even social systems
▪ = dynamic networks of interconnected parts
• Unlike mechanical systems, living systems are self-organizing, meaning they constantly adapt and
evolve in response to changes in their environment.
• When a living system experiences disturbance (environmental changes, stress or disruption) it doesn’t
just break down. Instead, it responds through adaptation and resilience
o Adaptation
▪ The system adjusts its internal processes to cope with the disturbance
• this could mean changing behaviour, reorganizing resources or evolving
new forms of interaction
o Resilience
▪ Living systems are capable of bouncing back or transforming into a new state of
equilibrium after a disturbance.
▪ They often come out stronger, having learned or evolved from the challenge
▪ In essence, living systems thrive on change, as disturbances can trigger growth, renewal and increased
complexity over time.
o Living systems reflect the Laws of Nature
▪ Law of interdependence
• In nature, everything is connected. Living systems are made up of interconnected components that
depend on one another for survival.
o When a disturbance occurs, it affects not just one part but the entire network.
o The system adapts by reorganizing its relationships and redistributing resources to maintain
balance, similar to how ecosystems adjust when species populations shift.
▪ Law of Flow and Energy
• Energy and matter flow through living systems constantly. When there’s a disruption – such as a
shortage of resources or environmental stress – the system reallocates its energy to ensure
survival. This process is a form of self-regulation, which helps living systems adapt efficiently to
change and remain resilient.
▪ Law of Dynamic Equilibrium
• Living systems are never static, they are in a state of dynamic equilibrium.
o This means that they continuously adjust to external changes to maintain stability, like
ecosystems adapting to seasonal changes
o Disturbances in the environment force living systems to evolve, leading to a new, often
more complex, state of balance – what we call resilience.
▪ Law of Evolution and Emergence
• Disturbances can trigger emergence, where new properties or behaviours arise in a system. This
aligns with natural evolution, where systems evolve through adaptation and natural selection.
• Over time, living systems use disturbances as opportunities for growth, learning and increased
complexity – enhancing their long-term sustainability
o
, Frameworks as tools to explore, understand and discuss
• Frameworks: why we should use them
o Provide clear guidance
▪ Frameworks offer structured approaches, making complex regenerative processes more understandable and
actionable
o Ensure holistic thinking
▪ They help designers consider all aspects of a system, including ecological, social and economic impacts.
o Promote consistency
▪ Frameworks ensure that regenerative principles are consistently applied across different projects and
disciplines
o Facilitate collaboration
▪ A shared framework allows different stakeholders (designers, engineers, communities) to work together with
a common understanding
o Measure and track progress
▪ Frameworks provide tools for assessing how well designs achieve regenerative goals, enabling ongoing
improvement
o Encourage innovation
▪ By setting regenerative goals, frameworks push designers to find creative, forward-thinking solutions to
environmental challenges.
o Adapt to diverse contexts
▪ They provide flexible guidelines that can be adapted to various environmental and cultural contexts, ensuring
relevance to local conditions
o Support long-term sustainability
▪ Frameworks help align short-term design actions with long-term goals for regeneration and resilience
• Transition X-curve
o Developed by Jan Rotmans & his team ‘DRIFT’
▪ it seeks to understand the patterns and dynamics of structural societal change
▪ the X-curve provides a simplified depiction of transitions that explicitly captures the patterns of build-up,
breakdown and their interactions.
o
o It’s also used in participatory work
▪
