Dr. Choi Yong Jin (Choi Youngjin), graduated with a Doctoral degree in April 2011. Since graduation, he worked at Mae-lab as a project researcher for 7 years. And now he is an Assistant Professor at Fukuoka University.
Dr. Choi is specialized in thermal load simulation and air conditioning system simulation.
Hyun-bae Kim,
Dr. Kim conducted his doctoral degree at Mae-lab where he graduated in September 2017.
Dr. Kim is specialized in thermal load simulation and improvement of indoor thermal comfort using latent heat storage material.
After graduation, he joined Mae-lab as an Academic support specialist. In April 2018 he commenced his new research career at the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
Papers published
[1] H.B. Kim, M. Mae, Y. Choi, T. Kiyota, Experimental analysis of thermal performance in buildings with shape-stabilized phase change materials, Energy Build. 152 (2017) 524–533.
http://doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.07.076.
[2] H.B. Kim, M. Mae, Y. Choi, Application of shape-stabilized phase-change material sheets as thermal energy storage to reduce heating load in Japanese climate, Build. Environ. 125 (2017) 1–14.
前 真之 （マエ マサユキ）
東京大学大学院 工学系研究科 建築学専攻 准教授
博士（工学） 一級建築士
いわゆる建築環境を専門に、エコハウスの進歩と普及につながる研究を行っています。
目下の最重要課題は、暖房や給湯にエネルギーを使わない無暖房・無給湯住宅の開発ですが、およそ環境に関わることには大概興味を持っています。
建築研究所という国の研究機関に在職して、純粋に研究だけをやっていた時期もありました。でも大学の教員になってからは、自分１人で研究をやるのではなく、学生の人たちと一緒に研究や勉強をしていきたいと願っています。
私自身は建築の設計を専門にしていませんが、学生の人が設計や研究をのびのびできる環境、プラットフォームを整備することが大事だと感じています。実際、多くのOBが素晴らしい成果を残していってくれています。
環境やエネルギーの問題が社会を賑わせていますが、建築はこうした新しい問題に十分対応できていません。でも、日本には全国に意識の高い素晴らしい人達がたくさんいます。そうした人たちと一緒に考えて行動していければいいな、と願っています。
https://www.facebook.com/mae.masayuki
コラム記事（外部リンク）
住宅断熱.com 「エコハウス」の紛らわしさ
日経WEB エネルギー爆食住宅追放へ
日経WEB 実は少ない冷房の電力消費
日経WEB おしゃれな「吹き抜け空間」は省エネの敵
日経WEB 「採暖」の落とし穴
日経WEB 空気は怠け者
日経WEB エアコン「暖房に不向き」はウソ
日経WEB 「エアコン隠し」は厳禁
日経WEB エアコン選びの極意
日経WEB 「薪ストーブ」 後悔しないための心得
著書
旧版に大幅に内容を追加し、住宅に関する４０＋１の身近なテーマについてそのウソホントを考えてみました。ここでのエコハウスは特別なものではなく、みんなのためのもの。住宅について興味のある人誰にでも読みやすいよう、いろいろと工夫をしながら書きました。特に気候を素直に捉え、快適な温熱環境とは何か？を重視しています。
今までの研究のまとめを、一般の人たちにも楽しく読んでいただけるようにと願って書いたものです。ちょっと刺激的なタイトルかもしれませんが、書いた本人はいたって真面目。
日経アーキテクチャーに２０１１年に連載していたものに大幅に加筆して、ほとんど書下し状態になってしまいました。学生の人たちと調査する中で、環境建築の「定石」に疑問を感じ、当たり前と思い込んでいることに科学的な視点から再検討を試みました。韓国語にも翻訳されています。
大事なことは目に見えない。家づくりは「見えないこと」が大事です。家づくり、最初に知っておきたい基礎知識、「高性能なエコハウス」のつくり方を、家づくりの最前線で活躍する9人のエキスパートが紐解きます。はじめの熱的な快適性について書かせていただいています。
環境省の「21世紀環境共生型住宅のモデル整備建設促進事業」による全国20の自治体で完成したエコハウスの調査を元にまとめました。研究室の住宅調査の原点です。多くの知見を得るとともに、全国に素晴らしい建築家の方々が努力されていることを知ったのが一番の成果でした。
前真之研究室は、長期的で広い視野をもって環境建築の技術に熱心に取り組む意思のある学生の人のため、様々な研究テーマと内部外部で指導・協力してくれる方々のネットワークを構築しています。
環境工学の基礎を学びつつ、修士１年・２年の先輩と一緒にそれぞれの研究テーマにしっかり取り組みます。先輩たちの研究テーマは先進的で社会的にも重要なものばかりです。大学院試験までは基礎的な勉強などの準備をすすめ、院試後は集中して実験やシミュレーション等を学ことになります。
また４年夏学期のスタジオ課題においても、環境系スタジオで環境シミュレーションに取り組んでいます。とても勉強になると思うので、受講をおすすめします。学習した設計手法は卒業設計などにも活用できます。
スタジオ課題 
前＋谷口スタジオ Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/MEDStudio.UT/
修士課程の人たちには国内外で活躍するための「深さ」と「広さ」を身に着けてもらうため、先進的な研究テーマにじっくりと取り組んでもらうとともに、実住宅の実測や環境シミュレーションの経験も幅広く積んでもらうことにしています。実際に建設される環境建築の設計支援に取り組んでもらうこともあります。
研究プロジェクトについては、M1の人はリーダーの修士２年の人について、プロジェクトの基礎を学びます。研究室には他大学出身の人も多く在籍していますが、大概は半年程度で基礎をマスターしてもらえるようです。建築環境設計支援協会SABEDの活動にも参加してもらい、様々なシミュレーションについても習熟できます。スタジオ課題についても、学部生の時よりもさらにハイレベルな内容にチャレンジします。
M2の人はプロジェクトリーダーとして、研究プロジェクトにしっかり取り組みます。多くの先輩が素晴らしい修士論文を書いており、建築学会論文集などの査読論文にも採用されています。スタジオ課題のTAや実設計に関わることで、卒業後も活躍できるスキルと知識を得ることができるでしょう。
博士課程の人たちは自立した研究者となれるよう、広い視野をもって社会に貢献できるテーマを選ぶことがとても大事だと考えます。研究室は様々な機関と連携し様々な研究を行っているので、多くの有益なテーマを見つけることができると思います。
その上で「実測」「実験」「シミュレーション」の３つに精通し、有用な環境制御技術や設計ツールの開発につながる研究を重視しています。大学内での空論に終わらせない、実社会に役立つ研究を重視しています。
研究室のメンバーは環境建築を真剣に学びたい学生を歓迎します。
進学の相談は以下にご連絡ください。
返事には数日かかる場合があることご了解願います。
info@maelab.arch.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp
03-5841-6208
Gao Yun (Kumo/Mark)
3rd year Ph.D. student
Nationality: Chinese
Research Theme
A study of the uncertainty considered decision-making framework using sensitivity analysis and Bayesian inference
Education
October 2016 Ph.D. student in MaeLab, Architecture Department, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, Japan.
October 2015 Research student in MaeLab, Architecture Department, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, Japan.
July 2015 Master of Architecture, Architecture Department, Faculty of Design, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, ROC.
July 2013 Bachelor of Architecture, Architecture Department, Faculty of Architecture & Urban Planning, Chongqing University, PRC.
Wang Jiahe
1st year doctor course
Nationality: Chinese
Research Theme
A genetic algorithm-based fenestration optimization method: focus on daylight use and reducing heat load
One of the most important reasons for the complexity of architectural design is that multiple purposes affect the overall performance of the design building. In many cases, these goals contradict each other.
Under the premise of seeking multi-objective optimization, in order to better connect the building design with the built environment design, the genetic algorithm is used to find the multi-objective optimal solution to balance the optimization of heat load and lighting environment. Change the appearance shape. Use building indicators to assess building environment early in design to guide building facade design
Specialized field
Building Environmental Engineering, Architectural Environment Design, multi-optimization
Education
September, 2019 Doctor student in MaeLab, Architecture Department, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, Japan.
September, 2019 Master’s degree in architecture from the University of Tokyo graduate school of engineering
September, 2017 Master student in MaeLab, Architecture Department, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, Japan.
September, 2016 Research student in MaeLab, Architecture Department, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, Japan.
July, 2016 Bachelor of Architecture, Architecture Department, Faculty of Architecture & Urban Planing, Shandong University of Architecture, PRC.
Affiliation
Architectural Institute of Japan
Major awards, publications, contributions, etc.
SABED DESIGN AWARD 2018 Grand Prize
GGA Kickoff meeting, October 2014
GGA: is the acronym of the Global Green Architecture
GGA project aims to canvas and review the worldwide Green Design Trends, Codes and Practices. It compiles a deep understanding of the motives and the evolution process of the up-to-date global knowledge concerning and relating directly or indirectly to the green architectural activities.
A memorial photo for the GGA members in 2015 summer term
GGA meeting on April 2015
GGA is a monthly meeting that brings together, professional architects and environmental design specialists, together with researcher and academians in one table to share, complement and insight each other on the intriguing topics of environmental and green architecture. The key participants are architects, engineers, and researchers from Nihon Sekkei, YKK AP.
To know more about our events, topics, and vision, please visit our Facebook page
The last meeting for 2017, was held on the 13th of December. It consisted of five presentations. Two of them were returning topics and another two were thesis propositions.
The meeting began with Mr. Wang, who expanded the topic of the Japanese Passive House. At a previous meeting, he shared the basic model geometry. This time Mr. Wang showed us his understanding of the inputs and presumptions in the model, necessary to run an energy simulation. We hope that this project will be built upon and will promote collaboration between all GGA members through the BIM 360 shared platform.
Next was Mrs. Ji Siyu’s presentation of the latest LEED standard – LEED v4 for homes. It used to be a part of the BD+C LEED package but it was separated in order to give more options applicable to residential buildings lower than six stories. Mrs. Ji Siyu presented the basic workflow for evaluation and certification. One important conclusion was that this standard is more concerned with equipment than with building design.
The meeting continued with a presentation by Mr. Federico. He shared his doctoral thesis topic proposition: “Daylight Regions and energy-daylight balance in Japan”. In brief, the proposition consists of two parts. The first is a categorization on the scale of Japan, based on daylight. The second is a parametric study of different window types, aiming to give valuable insight and suggestions that designers can readily use to achieve better efficiency. Mr. Federico first showed the main parameters that he is taking into account and then the target results – in the form of graphs.
The penultimate presentation was a peek into Mr. Kumo’s chosen topic – “Facade optimization with machine learning”. He began by explaining the way machine learning functions and the expected results. That is a method, that when properly “trained” with an extensive enough database, will be able to predict probability. This will serve to eliminate obviously not working parametric combinations and save a considerable amount of simulation time. Mr. Kumo continued his presentation with two showcases of the method: first in the form of a façade design solution and then as a collaboration on the Japan daylight regions together with Mr. Federico.
Mrs. Chen gave the final presentation of the year, which was a continuation of an ongoing theme – Climate, energy, and architecture. The exact topic was Paris, France. Outside of the already mentioned in the title topics, Mrs. Chen gave special attention to the French native sustainable building code – HQE.
GGA meeting 2017.12.13 agenda were as following;
Opening ————————————————————— 5 min
Mr. J. Wang Heat load calculation in standard model 15 min
Ms. S. Ji Introduction to LEED v4 HOMES-mainly about energy performance 15 min
Mr. Federico Daylight Regions and energy-daylight balance in Japan 25 min
Mr. Kumo Facade optimization with machine learning 25 min
Ms. Y. Chen Climate, Energy & Architecture in Paris (FRA) 25 min
Closing ————————————————————— 5 min
The meeting on September the 26th had involved many diverse topics. We started by sending our congrats to the graduates, to the successful candidates who managed to pass the entrance exams and finally to the newcomers. We then had s bris self-introduction to the two new students, where they have shown us some of their undergrad projects and their interests in general. After this, our recent doctoral graduate, Dr. Kim has reviewed one of his published papers which was part of his thesis. The paper discussed the implementation of the shape-stabilized PCM (SSPCM) across all the Japanese climate zones. in essence, the paper showed that incorporating the SSPCM will reduce the heating and cooling energy costs by maintaining much stable indoor temperatures, and it showed that the best application is to distribute the PCM sheets all over the internal surfaces rather than having it only on the floors. A subsequent presentation illustrated the development of the Japanese standard house model development. And lastly, the final presentation comprised a selected articles from the IBPSA conference that was held in San Francisco, August 2017. The selected articles mainly addressed the topics of the Early design stage design, advancements in the CFD real-time models and daylight-energy simulation coupling and optimization.
Opening ————————————————————— 5 min
– Welcome and Self-Introduction of newcomers,
1- Ms. Yanmeng Chen 5 min
2- Ms. Ji Siyu 5 min
Mr. Kumo EnergyPlus use in the MAU (Musashino Art Uni) Project 30 min
Dr. Kim Paper review about the Application of shape-stabilized PCM 30 min
Mr. WANG J. + Dr.Yasin Japanese Standard House Model report 10 min
Mr. Kumo + Dr.Yasin IBPSA conference – selected topics 45 min
Closing ————————————————————— 5 min
meeting on the 28-June 2017 was structured to cover two cities under the CEA topic, i.e. Climate, Energy & Architecture interrelations and their cross implications on the green design practice in the specified region. Moreover, in our meeting, we send congrats to Arch. FRANK la Rivier for the reward on the international “A’-Award” competition. Mr. Frank elaborated the competition process and shared his winning design strong points and the means of presenting them that enabled him winning the trophy. Lastly, Ms. Por, a Mae-lab Ph.D. student, has reported the progress of the GGA project, “Th Musashino Art University” stack effect and cross ventilation evaluation project. in summary, the meeting agenda was as the following;
自宅を環境面、エネルギー面から分析し、客観的に評価することで問題点を抽出する。
レポート課題について 2013.4.23更新
4.23「自宅の調査」
以下においてあるファイルをダウンロードして、レポートを作成してください。
「前研究室卒論テーマ紹介」を講義関係にアップしました。
研究室の学生さんには、それぞれのメインテーマをもってもらい、研究についてじっくり取り組んでもらうことが大事だと思います。学生の時に深く考え試行錯誤することは、人生にとって得難い財産だと考えているからです。
それとともに、世界の建築設計で活躍できるよう、環境建築設計の実践的な知識を身につけてもらうことも大事にしています。環境設計に必要な気候分析やシミュレーション技術はみんなに習得してもらうようにしています。産学連携による建築環境設計支援協会（ＳＡＢＥＤ）、学部生や修士を対象とした環境設計のスタジオ課題など、環境建築設計の実践を学べる機会が多くあります。
研究室には留学生も多くおり、世界的な視野で環境建築の勉強ができるようになっています。
Global Green Architecture(GGA)へのリンク
卒業したOBは、建築設計や建築設備の様々な分野で活躍しています。卒業していく学生の人が生涯にわたり世界で活躍できる知識と技術を身に着けてもらうことが、研究室の大きな目的です。
「実験」は条件を揃えて検証ができるので重要です。屋上の実証実験棟を始め、様々な実験ができる環境が用意されている。
また実住戸で行う「実測」も、現地の気候や住民・設計者の人たちと触れ合いながら、住宅の挙動を理解していく上で大変重要です。
高解像度サーモカメラを初め、充実した計測器を多数準備しているので、通常ではできないレベルの詳細な計測が可能です。
そして、これから建つ家をどのように設計するべきなのか、を考えるとシミュレーションが不可欠になります。研究室では数値流体・熱負荷・光について、長い時間をかけて教育プログラムを開発してきました。学生のみなさんが速やかに技術を習得できるよう、工夫しています。
研究室のメインとする建築種類は住宅です。人の日々の生活を支える住宅は、最も身近な建築であり、かつ全体を把握するのにちょうどよいサイズと考えるからです。そして目指すのは、「幸せな生活」を「末永く」支えてくれる家づくりです。
日本の省エネのため、地球環境保護のために家を建てる人。家は一緒に暮らす家族のために建てるはずです。家族が幸せに暮らすには健康・快適が大切。温熱や空気質・光を含めた質の高い室内環境を実現する必要があります。
また大量に化石エネルギーを浪費するようでは、これから先は生活水準を維持できません。幸せな暮らしを「末永く」守っていくためには、自ずと省エネや自然エネルギー活用が不可欠となるのです。
エコハウスは世界のどこかにポツンと建っている珍しい住宅ではありません。全ての人がエコハウスに住めるようになることが一番大事です。前研では、住宅の高性能化につながる技術開発とともに、一般の設計者も活用できるデザイン手法を開発することで、エコハウスの設計の発展と普及に貢献したいと考えています。
地球環境やエネルギーが社会の重要テーマとなる中、大量のエネルギーを消費しCO2を排出する建築の形は今後大きく変わっていかなければなりません。
建築は人の生活を包み込む最も身近な環境調整システムです。建築が人のよりよい生活に役立つためには、まず人の願いを理解し叶えようとする意志が必要です。住む人を苦しめる建築はもう許されません。
一方で、建築は物理的な存在でもありますから、自然界の摂理から逃れることができません。思いだけでは建築は人を幸せにできない。人の願いと物理の必然とをつなげる手段が必要なのです。それが「建築物理」の役割だと考えています。
地域の気候やエネルギーを手がかりに、建築物理の力を活かし、住む人の願いを叶える。これが研究室の究極の目標です。
In November 2016, Prof Mae and a group of the Doctoral Students had participated in the Workshop on Energy policy and simulation in Northern California and Japan, at the Univerity Calfornia Berkeley. The visit has also included many interviews and talks with leading firms, organizations, and personals in the field of Sustainable design and policies. In addition, There were great tours to highly efficient buildings and to two to Autodesk showrooms. The Workshop Key speakers were: Mindy F. Craig (Blue Point Planning), Olivier Brouard (SOM), David Goldstein (NRDC), Eleanor Lee (LBNL), Konstantinos Papamichael (UC Davis), Stefano Schiavon (UC Berkeley), Brendon Levitt(LOISOS + UBBELOHDE), Santosh Philip (L+ U).
Specific heat measurement of SSPCM sheets
The specific heat values of the SSPCM sheets were measured using a thermostatic chamber, the thermocouples measured the upper and lower surfaces and internal temperatures of the SSPCM sheets, and a heat flow meter was used to determine the heat flow on the surfaces of the SSPCM sheets. The sides of the samples were covered with insulating materials, which prevented heat leakage. The measurement temperature range selected was 10.0 ℃–35.0 ℃. The inside temperature of the thermostatic chamber was changed by 1 ℃ every 30 min within the testing temperature range for cooling or heating. The stabilization period was 4 h before changing the mode of heating or cooling. The specific heat was calculated by a sum of the top and bottom heat flows of PCM while changing the temperature of a thermostatic chamber by 0.5 ℃. Each specific heat of melting and solidification was obtained by the experiment of heating and cooling.
Temperature control of the thermostatic chamber
Specific heat–temperature relation of the SSPCM sheets
Reference
H.B. Kim, M. Mae, Y. Choi, Application of shape-stabilized phase-change material sheets as thermal energy storage to reduce heating load in Japanese climate, Build. Environ. 125 (2017) 1–14.
Application of shape-stabilized phase-change material sheets as thermal energy storage to reduce heating load
Maintaining constant thermal conditions in building interiors requires substantial energy. Using phase-change materials (PCMs) with construction materials can improve thermal performance without increasing energy expenditure. Herein, shape-stabilized PCMs (SSPCMs) were used. We measured the thermal performance of a PCM sheet and established the melting- and solidification-temperature ranges at 19–25℃. Three identical huts were examined using varying PCM levels under natural and heating conditions. In Hut A, no SSPCM sheets were applied; in Hut B, four layers of SSPCM sheets were applied to the floor; in Hut C, one layer of SSPCM was applied to the floor, walls, and ceilings. The results demonstrated that the application of SSPCM sheets improves thermal performance. For an equal number of SSPCM sheet layers applied on each side, the floor directly exposed to solar radiation showed the highest indoor temperature stabilization effect, followed by the walls and ceilings. Hence, effective PCM usage can entail large-scale application of SSPCM sheets to building surfaces.
SSPCM sheet
Cross-section of SSPCM sheet installation
Weather conditions and indoor temperature
Indoor -temperature difference
Reference
H.B. Kim, M. Mae, Y. Choi, T. Kiyota, Experimental analysis of thermal performance in buildings with shape-stabilized phase change materials, Energy Build. 152 (2017) 524–533.
A library that coexists with the climate
Project motives
After the Great East Japan Earthquake, the energy problem encountering Japan have been getting worse. Nowadays it is improper to design a building without thinking deeply about its energy consumption issues. After all, by incorporating the free ambient energy, such as daylight, heat, and airflow into the design, it is possible to establish a new relationship between architecture and the built environment, in a way that is pleasant to the building users and the society.
Studio kickoff 2017
The library is a building that welcomes all the social spectrum, from all generations. Our core aim for the design is to provide a space where various activities can coexist comfortably while preserving energy. To achieve this goal, not only passive technologies such as natural lighting should be effectively harnessed, but they should be well backed up with the appropriate active technology systems, i.e. using building equipment and artificial lighting.
The project brief is provided in this link (in Japanese) PDF➢2017前スタジオ課題文(修士)
Site selection
In this studio, we provided 4 locations that have tangible climatic differences for students to opt from. All the locations are true locations in US cities. The variation in the climate characteristics creates different environmental challenges, where the derived designs will be influenced by this variation creating a rich and diverse outcome. In this way, a student will observe the influence of the climate on their colleague’s designs.
A student is to select one of the following site, that eventually dictates certain climatic features. The Climate zones of America are based on ASHRAE169 classification.
・Miami City, Florida ( Climate classification 1A, Very Hot Humid )
・San Francisco, California ( Climate classification 3C, Warm Marine)
・Seattle, Washington ( Climate classification 5B, Cool Dry)
・Anchorage, Alaska City ( Climate classification 7, Very Cold)
In order to further facilitate the sense of the space, the chosen sites are for real locations, with real boundaries and surrounding contexts. the images show the San Francisco site location and context.
The proposed site in the city of San Francisco
Design Process
Following the latest trends in environmental design simulation, and joining BIM with BEM (Building Energy Modelling) tools, we structured our studio to expose students to such advanced workflows. The proposed design process is back up with supporting affiliates of Autodesk-japan. The design workflow is depicted in the image shown herewith. Students start exploring the climate characteristics and understand the climate challenges using climate consultant tool, plus the Autodesk online tool; Green Building Studio.
Design workflow and software in use
The second step is to appreciate the site by developing some basic shapes in FormIT 360. This enables the student to manipulate the inaugural geometries upon monitoring the solar heat gain and shading on the annual and seasonal basis. Thier main aim at this point is to tweak the building masses either to increase the solar heat gain or provide solar protection, based on the location needs.The subsequent advancement to the previous step is to investigate the energy performance of these basic geometrical compositions and how the context and climate influence the heating and cooling loads. This step is initiated when conveying the model from the FormIT to the Online Insight 360 domain.
Insight 360 online screen: Students projects in Anchorage city
In Insight360 students can infer so many tips to improve their design’s performance. That is, having all the students work in one place, online, that is accessible to everyone, make students learn to form each other, where they start to build the sense of the energy performance, in terms of what makes some compositions perform better than others. This open platform and transparent platform incredibly enhances the connection and arguments between students, all trying to justify the reasons behind good and poor energy performances between their designs.
One will certainly make use of the handy sensitivity analysis that informs the student of which parameter influence the energy consumption the most. For example, the online tool shows the sensitivity analysis of the WWR (Window to Wall Ratio), the glazing type and the hading elements projection in all directions, as well as the building orientation, the walls, and roof constructions and so forth. Such sensitivity analysis is easy to build, yet very informative.
Students in the tutorial session
The model history bar chart comes into play when one start exploring the various scenarios and start having many of them. Having all the scenarios in a history record keeps students focused on the target of reducing the energy budget, and most importantly, develops the intuition of how the design elements correlate and how do they perform as one entity.
Final designs panel discussion
Mr R. Fujiwara’s model or the final submission
At the end of the day, the studio program produced excellent library projects, that have excellent energy performance, since they were primarily informed by the local site environments. Here is a model of one of these captivating projects designed by Mr. Fujiwara, Ryo and some of the selective panels for other students as well.
By Miyamori @ Miami
By Okamoto @ SF
By: WadaRyohsuke @ Seattle
By: Yamamoto @ Seattle
Purpose
A cafe’ is a public space that is actively connected with the city. People refuge to cafe’s to spend, mostly, relaxing moments, whereas providing comfortable environment is a design necessity. In fact, typical cafes’ not only demand pleasant internal environment, but they usually have an attached outdoor terrace, where adopting the external environment become important as well. The relaxing environment should watch for all the environmental components, i.e. the thermal environment and the wind flow, and equally important, the lit environment.
Project brief (in Japanese}
Another cultural dimension of tea ceremonies in different parts of the world, and covering three continents, Asia, Africa, and Europe. To enrich this quality, we asked our international students to share their tea ceremonies and coffee drinking habits and rituals. whereas at the same time, they could provide diverse challenges for each group, not only from a cultural point of view but also, form the various climatic challenges, in essence.Our TA (Ph.D. Students) are from Sudan (resembling the Hot-arid climates), China and Thailand (representing Taiwan hot and Humid climate), tougher with our remote support form Finland (as Cold climate ambassadors).
To proving the qualities, one should carefully understand the climatic challenge of each country and couple it with the cultural habits and the building usage profile. only deep climatic understanding, coupled with optimized simulations could lead to a good design. Overall, in this studio 2016, we focused on the parametric design optimizations tools, namely, we focused on training the student of how to master using Ladybug and Honeybee tools (both are Grasshopper-based parametric design tools).
The utilized software
Our roadmap for mastering these tools along the exploration journey starts with understanding the climate using the Ladybug components, then moving to the light/and or energy simulations in Honeybee components. 
In a subsequent stage, student transfers their models to FlowDesigner, a CFD tool that enables them to form simulating the air movement and its relation with humidity ratios, and the odor/pollutant removal, if nay.The students were able to utilize these tools in a surprisingly effective way, and they came up with astonishing designs that they would like to share with their colleagues.
Not to forget, we have raised an intriguing question, for everyone to answer, i.e. to which degree it possible to change the experience of the cafe space via the internal and external environmental conditions?
Down below, we have prepared streamline photos for the design progress, enjoy it!
Since 2008 Mae have been holding the design studio for both, undergraduate and graduated (master) students, all under the environmental design topic, with the following posed challenges
Summary of the posed Challenges
1. Exploring environmental approaches from codification, tradition, and culture of the country from discussions with students and studying abroad.
2. Analyze meteorological data around the world using weather analysis tools and analyze the environmental potential of the ground.
3. Learn environmental simulations using Rhinoceros and Grasshopper and conduct form studies linked to climate.
For earlier studio programmes, please check the links below;
ExTLA Lite, a simple Excel-based calculation tool for energy consumption of residential building
A calculation tool for a single room. Insulation, types of windows, orientation, etc. can be studied.
Manual for ExTLA Lite 1.4.1 (PDF)
ExTLA Core, a accurate calculation tool for annual heat load
* Right click on the link and save the file.
* It has been confirmed this tool work with Excel 2007 and 2010 on MS Windows, not confirmed on MacOS.
A Macro of MS Excel converting weather data of Japan (expended AMEDAS) into EPW
Download link of EPW file converting Macro
* Right click on the link and save the file.
* It has been confirmed this tool work with Excel 2007 and 2010 on MS Windows, not confirmed on MacOS.
エコハウスのウソ (Amazonへのリンク)