Design Studio AI for Sustainability : H2O

As the impacts of climate change continue to exacerbate, the availability of water resources is becoming increasingly limited. Reduced precipitation and a diminishing number of rainy days pose significant challenges in maintaining adequate water reserves. This issue is particularly pronounced in regions like Izmir, Turkey, which experience extreme hot summers and mild winters, characterized by a Mediterranean climate. In Izmir, agriculture plays a pivotal role in the local economy, making water accessibility a paramount concern. The region faces escalating difficulties due to the dwindling water levels in nearby dams.

This innovative design studio endeavors to unlock the potential of architecture as an essential infrastructure for water harvesting. By using Izmir as a case study, students will gain hands-on experience in developing design systems through an experimental and systemic approach. Throughout the semester, students will delve into these topics from a highly analytical perspective, employing numerical methods for site analysis, performance simulation, and design evaluation. Emphasizing shell systems as structural solutions, the course will explore generative design, structural simulation, and optimization techniques. Moreover, artificial intelligence (AI) will be integrated into various stages of the design process. Starting with satellite analysis to comprehend the region's climatic and microclimatic properties, students will harness AI as a catalyst for creating adaptive architectural systems.