Smash or Pass: an approach to [thermal] comfort and iterative design

The architectural design process is increasingly shaped by simulation tools; however, their potential is often wasted due to a disconnect from typical iterative practice. The resulting gap often leads to unconsidered factors and premature decisions in the schematic design phase regarding form, program and comfort. Integrating computational tools early into architectural workflows enables proactive evaluation of comfort metrics, fostering seamless multi-disciplinary collaboration and enriches the experiential qualities of buildings. The proposed methodology for schematic design enables architects to create spaces imbued with computational [thermodynamic] analysis and spatial experience by re-positioning comfort as a vital component in decision making. This challenges conventional approaches which often defer comfort considerations to post-occupancy, emphasizing the importance of early simulation strategies and iterative design practices.