Normally, prudent architectural design, building science, building analysis software, and best practices are enough to ensure that an intervention (renovation, rehabilitation, etc.) in an historic building does not damage the structure and reduce its service life. Future-proofing is the process of anticipating the future and developing methods of minimizing the effects of shocks and stresses of future events. Future-proofing is used in other industries such as electronics, medical industry, industrial design, and, more recently, in design for climate change. The principles of future-proofing are extracted from other industries and codified as a system for approaching an intervention in an historic building. Use of computational analysis software such as WUFI-ORNL/IBP, THERM/Window, HygIRC, DesignBuilder, and EE4 support careful analysis of proposed building systems used in such an intervention, but cannot prevent all deleterious design flaws. However, there are common pitfalls which can yield incorrect results. These common pitfalls are summarized to inform the use of computational analysis software, but must be used in conjunction with the principles of future-proofing to assure the appropriate extension of the service life of an historic building.
2 comments on “Future-Proofing – An Initial Literature Review”
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is future proofing only about extending life of historic buildings?does future proofing deal with envisioning the future challenges and deriving a design solution??
Future-proofing was originally developed around rehabilitation of existing historic buildings. As it was further developed, it grew and changed into something that could be applied to other existing buildings and new construction as well. One way to use the Principles is as a subjective evaluation tool as designs are developed. There is also an objective point rating system.