Chair of Architecture and Building Systems

Open Opportunities

Experimental Testing of Facade Components with Solar Simulator ETH Zurich Chair of Architecture and Building Systems As the main interface between interior and exterior environments, facades hold great potential to support the decarbonization of the building sector, while providing high visual and thermal comfort levels. The Solar Simulator and climatic chamber at the Zero Carbon Building Systems Lab [3] offer the opportunity to test and analyze the performance of envelope components, supporting the development of new facade system. After the completion of a first calibration phase, the lab infrastructure shall now be extended to a validated experimental setup for measuring solar gains, heat and light transmission through 1:1 scale facade components. The establishment of testing protocols and their validation is essential to enable the use of the laboratory infrastructure for future research projects. This thesis will develop a validated setup for measuring the angle-dependent solar, optical and thermal exchanges through facade systems. Building Science and Techniques ETH Zurich (ETHZ), Master Thesis

Optimizing district thermal network design and phasing strategies using the City Energy Analyst ETH Zurich Chair of Architecture and Building Systems This research focuses on optimizing district thermal network design and phasing strategies by incorporating existing infrastructure and studying interplays with urban design metrics. While many existing district thermal network models often assume the absence of prior infrastructure, this study introduces methodologies to account for existing pipes, plants, and pumps, enabling a more realistic scenario for network planning. Additionally, the research explores phased implementation strategies to maximize return on investment under budget constraints, providing a pathway for incremental network construction and operation. A key aspect of the study is the feedback loop between urban design and thermal network engineering, which quantifies how urban parameters such as building density, land use types, and development phasing affect network performance, and vice versa. The proposed methodologies are applied to case studies in Zurich, Singapore, and Shanghai, representing diverse climatic and urban contexts. The outcomes include a framework for integrating existing infrastructure, strategies for phased implementation, and insights into the dynamic interplay between urban design and district energy systems. If time permits, the research will also produce a computational prototype for integration into the City Energy Analyst (CEA). Architecture, Urban Environment and Building Master in Integrated Building Systems (ETHZ), Master Thesis