This exercise is aimed at (a) studying vernacular urban forms in the light of their responses to climate (b) crafting regulations and understanding the challenges (c) developing some practical regulatory tools that can guide and encourage smart responses to climatic conditions. This exercise has three steps:
1. Choose a climate zone (either hot humid or hot arid) and discuss the climatic requirements of this zone along with exemplary responses evolved through vernacular urban settings. Gather information about the physical/formal characteristics of the vernacular settings and evaluate these characteristics in the light of the climatic efficiency and function. Identify some morphological rules, values, and correlate these to the lifestyles.
2. Choose one or two vernacular or traditional building types that can fit to one of the three contexts listed below. Decipher lot types (craft a set of density, use, and bulk regulations) from the building types you have chosen. Although, following a lot types or building types approach is encouraged, other innovative approaches are welcomed as well.
Urban edge / T3 / R2, R3, Low density business, mixed use, etc. (around 1 to 3 stories / 0.7 – 1.3 FAR) Urban / T4 / R3, R4, Medium density mixed use, Medium density business, etc. (around 2 to 4 stories / 1 – 2 FAR)
General Urban / T5 / R4, Business, Urban Mixed Use, etc. (around 3 to 6 stories / 1.5 – 3 FAR) (Denver’s New Zoning Code / typical transect / conventional zoning district)
3. Test your regulations by pretending to be a designer designing a development proposal for a half-block or block area using these regulations and build a SketchUp model of this development proposal. You are asked to provide a PowerPoint presentation in the class. The presentation is to be compact, to the point, and short: no longer than 12 minutes.
You are also asked to provide a paper version of your presentation. The visuals will be an important part of your paper. Although length is not an important criterion (the content is) just to give an idea, 12 – 18 pages is a reasonable length.
