Performance Based Building Design 2. From Timber-framed Construction to Partition Walls

Just like building physics, performance based building design was hardly an issue before the energy crises of the 1970ies. With the need to upgrade energy efficiency, the interest in overall building performance grew. The term «performance» encompasses all building-related physical properties and qualities that are predictable during the design stage and controllable during and after construction. The term «predictable» demands calculation tools and physical models that allow evaluating a design, whereas «controllable» presumes the existence of measuring methods available on site. The basis for a system of performance arrays are the functional demands, the needs for acces…