UMD Theses and Dissertations

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/3

New submissions to the thesis/dissertation collections are added automatically as they are received from the Graduate School. Currently, the Graduate School deposits all theses and dissertations from a given semester after the official graduation date. This means that there may be up to a 4 month delay in the appearance of a given thesis/dissertation in DRUM.

More information is available at Theses and Dissertations at University of Maryland Libraries.

Browse

Filters

20072

Settings

Subject: search.filters.subject.LEAFHouse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Application of the Abstract: Making Sustainable and Solar Design a Reality through LEAFHouse
    (2007-12-17) Singleton, Kimberly; Gardner, Amy E.; Architecture; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    'Sustainability' and 'green design' are two terms that have become more common in both professional practice and architectural education. They are merely abstract terms however; concepts which many students find difficult to grasp at a high enough level for thorough implementation in a design project. As a result, sustainable and solar techniques become more of an afterthought, giving students a cursory, at best, understanding of the principles, preventing an understanding of how to implement the principles. Reflecting on the process, product, challenges and achievements of both the 2007 Solar Decathlon team and the LEAFHouse, this thesis posits the importance of hands-on, interdisciplinary design and construction work for the understanding and implementation of sustainable techniques and solar technologies. In addition, it suggests a change in the way that the built environment is conceived, designed and constructed, through the collaboration of practitioners and industry professionals from a range of disciplines.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    From Principle to Product: Exploring Process Through the Solar Decathlon
    (2007-12-17) Williams, Brittany Loanne; Gardner, Amy E.; Architecture; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    The premise of this thesis is to examine the process and development of the evolution of words into built form. The abstract principle followed through the design process is the inspiration of nature as seen in the University of Maryland's Solar Decathlon entry LEAFHouse. This abstract design principle guided the team to design and build a cohesive and inspired house. The maturation process and development of this principle is studied in all aspects of the house from schematic design to materiality to detailing of the windows and doors. These elements combine to create an experience where this principle is evident in the final built form. These experiential and perceptive qualities are examined and documented.