Article
Sustaining Modernity: An Analysis of a Modern Masterpiece -The Gropius House
13th Canadian Conference on Building Science and Technology
(2011)
Abstract
This paper presents a method and initial studies to evaluate the energy performance of the Gropius
House, a Modernist icon. The objective is to quantify energy intensity of the house by creating and
optimizing a parametric computer energy model. The procedure described in this paper provides a
detailed outline of the energy modeling process with accompanying results. The goal is to advance
the understanding of the performance of Modernist icons, offering insight into sustainable building
strategies in use before the advent of contemporary technologies.
The present study is part of a larger project to create a knowledge base of the environmental
performance of iconic homes. In addition to adding knowledge to the two disciplines, Building
Science and Architecture, analytical studies using the digital model are intended to aid property
administrators in evaluating the economic realities of retrofitting and upgrading opportunities as well
as provide information about energy saving characteristics and shading technique designs.
Furthermore, by outlining a protocol and methodology, improvements in the building industry’s
energy performance analysis methods may be developed.
Keywords
- Gropius House,
- energy performance,
- Modernism,
- sustainable building strategies
Disciplines
Publication Date
May, 2011
Citation Information
L Carl Fiocchi and Simi T. Hoque. "Sustaining Modernity: An Analysis of a Modern Masterpiece -The Gropius House" 13th Canadian Conference on Building Science and Technology (2011) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/lcarl_fiocchi/4/