Numerical Analysis of Natural Smoke Ventilation Design System under External Wind Effect in Factory Compartment

This study applied the numerical simulator tool FDS （fire dynamics simulator）, Version 5.53, and focused on the simulation of the natural smoke flow ventilation design system, an innovative ventilation design using the parallel processing technology MPI （message passing interface）. The design was then compared with the exhaust efficiency of a typical natural smoke vent. The natural smoke flow ventilation design system was located at the top of the factory, where smoke streams effectively converged. Therefore, the source of fire was designed to be 2 MW, which has a better exhaust efficiency than typical natural smoke vent with same area. The simulation discovered that the exhaust efficiency of the natural smoke ventilation design systems is higher than that of typical natural smoke vent with 2 times the opening area and that was not affected by external wind speed, Instead, external wind speed can help to enhance the exhaust efficiency. Smoke exhaust of typical natural smoke vents was affected by external wind speed, even leading them to become air inlets which would disturb the flow of air indoors, leading to smoke accumulation within the factory.

An Innovative Methodology of Product Design from Nature

Nature is an information sourcebook of behaviour, function, colour and shape which can inspire visual design and invention. Studying the form and functional characteristics of a natural object can provide inspiration for product design and help to improve the marketability of manufactured products. The inspiration can be triggered either by direct observation or captured by three-dimensional （3D） digitising techniques to obtain superficial information （geometry and colour）. An art designer often creates a concept in the form of a two-dimensional （2D） sketch while engineering methods lead to a point cloud in 3D. Each has its limitations in that the art designer commonly lacks the knowledge to build a final product from a 2D sketch and the engi- neering designer＇s 3D point clouds may not be very beautiful. We propose a method for Product Design from Nature （PDN）, coupling aesthetic intent and geometrical characteristics, exploring the interactions between designers and nature＇s systems in PDN. We believe that this approach would considerably reduce the lead time and cost of product design from nature.

Bioclimatic Urbanism and Regional Design in Portugal： The Atlantic and the Mediterranean Contexts

The subject of the present work is the study of the relationship between the city shape and its geographical and climatic context. This is a very important feature of the Portuguese city. The Iberian Peninsula comprised by Spain and Portugal belongs to very different environments： the Atlantic and Mediterranean sea. This position is responsible for a series of highly contrasted regions. The external forces presented in each region, influence the shape, location and orientation, not only of individual buildings but of whole villages in such a way that we can identify pattems of construction in different natural regions. There is in fact, a remarkable correspondence between climate and urban type which is useful to identify for planning the different regions. The legacy of industrial city, as in other parts of the world, has changed this close connection between geography and architecture, with consequences not only in environment but especially for the identity of urban spaces. Bioclimatic urbanism is not just a question of sustainability or survival. It is also a question of local identity and variety. There is in fact a relationship between cultural process and environment responsive which we can learn from the structures of the past -- the pre-industrial city. We believe that the reinterpretation of the traditional city pattems forms a language which can be used as a design process for recovering urban landscape.

Design With Nature： The Practice and Theory of Two Chinese Intellectual Architects of the Eighth Century

An old tradition of designing with nature had existed for thousands of years in ancient China. In order to achieve ideal living environment, people believed that they should use, repair, and improve the nature in an active but abstemious way, and a complete system of design theories and techniques gradually developed. The intellectual architects, in particular, pioneered the practical and theoretical developments, especially those in Tang dynasty made extraordinary contributions. Among them, Yuan lie （元结） and Liu Zongyuan （柳宗元） were particularly outstanding. They had different experiences but similar achievements in Yongzhou area, which was a remote, less-developed region but with beautiful landscapes. In this paper, the planning and design practices of these two intellectual architects were examined and compared. Their principles and methods of Design With Nature were summarized. Also, the historical influence of their works and its contemporary value were briefly discussed at last.

Designing with nature:Advancing threedimensional green spaces in architecture through frameworks for biophilic design and sustainability

In the transition to a more sustainable built environment over the last two decades,the“greening”of architecture as a popular approach has received widespread attention.However,there are still many open questions and contradictions regarding how to design with“nature”and contribute to sustainability.In addition,explorations of built examples are rare,and three-dimensional(3D)green spaces in buildings are often overlooked.Therefore,we introduce“green pockets”(3D green spaces)as a typology distinct from two-dimensional green roofs and walls/facades.We draw on a mixed-method approach to study two cases(Erasmus MC and Hotel Jakarta),comprising 12 semi-structured interviews with different stakeholders,design document analysis,and site observation.We develop a critical reflection(a framework)on the impacts of“green architecture”on sustainability from unpacked benefits and adopt a biophilic design framework to analyse designing with“nature”in architectural practice.These findings demonstrate that green pockets contribute to integrating multiple experiences of“nature”into buildings and developing sustainable architecture.Designing green pockets with visibility,accessibility,and spatial characteristics(e.g.,prospect and refuge,organised complexity,peril,and mystery)of“nature”improves building quality.Furthermore,we provide design recommendations to advance green pocket designs and make suggestions for future research.

Geometry and size optimization of stiffener layout for three-dimensional box structures with maximization of natural frequencies

Based on the growth mechanism of natural biological branching systems and inspiration from the morphology of plant root tips,a bionic design method called Improved Adaptive Growth Method(IAGM)has been proposed in the authors’previous research and successfully applied to the reinforcement optimization of three-dimensional box structures with respect to natural frequencies.However,as a kind of ground structure methods,the final layout patterns of stiffeners obtained by using the IAGM are highly subjected to their ground structures,which restricts the optimization effect and freedom to further improve the dynamic performance of structures.To solve this problem,a novel post-processing geometry and size optimization approach is proposed in this article.This method takes the former layout optimization result as start,and iteratively finds the optimal layout angles,locations,and lengths of stiffeners with a few design variables by optimizing the positions of some specific node lines called active node lines.At the same time,thick-nesses of stiffeners are also optimized to further improve natural frequencies of three-dimensional box structures.Using this method,stiffeners can be successfully separated from their ground structures and further effectively improve natural frequencies of three-dimensional box structures with less material consumption.Typical numerical examples are illustrated to validate the effectiveness and advantages of the suggested method.

Design with nature and eco-city design

Designing with Nature is an approach linking design and ecology,which focuses on living with nature,caring for nature,and aiming for a sustainable society.China has made eco-city development,eco-restoration,and eco-civilization its legislative priority and its national strategy,investing a US$618 billion in a 5-year period from 2011–2015 that could reach as high as US$1,124 billion dollars in the period of 2016–2020.“Designing with nature”also means that we must,as we are dealing with resources,consider and understand all the impacting factors and ecosystem capacities.China’s biggest challenge has been to restore water quality,aquatic ecosystems,and landscape patterns.Alongside its natural resources and eco-city development,China possesses a solar energy capacity higher than that of any other country in the world,reaching 174 gigawatts by 2018.Solar power is now cheaper than fossil fuels in hundreds of Chinese cities.In this review,we affirm that the nature-driven design put forth by McHarg’s Design with Nature has withstood the test of time,and we aim to renew interest in McHarg’s ideas by arguing for a design of Chinese cities that is,in keeping with Design with Nature,future-oriented,nature-oriented,and sustainability-oriented.