Computer-aided training of bioclimatic architectural design : experience with teachware for building performance prediction

"Bioclimatic Architecture" offers adequate inner thermal comfort for human use, while, responding to the climatic outdoor conditions with reduced heating and cooling loads. This demand. asks for prediction. and preevaluation of thermal performance of architectural design. solutions. The new German building-regulation sets legal limits to precalculated, yearly heating-loads / m2, considering solar gains through transparent building elernents. The paper compares the manual and computer based calculation methods for building performance prediction, exemplified by student-work of the seminar "New Chances for Solar Architecture" and the ongoing developrnent "Interactive Learning System - Bioclimatic Architecture" for training and life-long learning.