Strömshuset
Performance-Led Extension Study
Project Type
Academic Case Study / Performance-Led Design Exploration
Location
Gothenburg, Sweden
Focus
Daylight Analysis | Energy Performance | Urban Infill | Environmental Optimisation
Tools
Rhino | Grasshopper | Revit
PROJECT OVERVIEW
This academic project used the completed extension of Strömshuset in central Gothenburg as a case study to explore how performance-led design methods can inform architectural form. Rather than proposing the built extension itself, the project re-examined the site through alternative massing strategies to investigate daylight access, energy performance, and spatial quality.
Environmental analysis was treated as a design driver rather than a technical check. By comparing different extension options, the study explored how building form could respond to compact urban conditions, balancing solar access, energy use, glare risk, and internal spatial quality.
The outcome was an academic design exploration that strengthened my understanding of integrating environmental performance into architectural decision-making for additions to existing buildings.
1. Understanding the Existing Context
Image: Site documentation undertaken during project research. The building was analysed to understand its architectural character, urban context, and environmental constraints before developing alternative extension proposals.
Strömshuset is an existing office building in central Gothenburg that recently underwent a real extension by another architectural practice. Rather than redesigning the completed project, this study used the site as an academic case to investigate how different extension strategies could respond to the same urban conditions.
The surrounding dense city fabric, neighbouring buildings, and limited daylight availability created an ideal environment for testing how environmental performance could influence architectural form.
2. Project Aim
Balancing Daylight and Energy Performance
The objective was to investigate how an extension could achieve an effective balance between environmental performance and spatial quality.
Instead of treating daylight and energy simulations as final validation tools, they were integrated throughout the design process to compare alternative forms and guide design decision
Image: Two alternative massing strategies were explored to balance daylight access, energy performance, and urban integration.
3. Design Exploration
Exploring Alternative Massing Strategies
Two initial design concepts were developed and refined through iterative environmental simulations.
Each iteration was evaluated using daylight availability, glare probability, compactness, and energy demand, allowing performance feedback to progressively inform the architectural form.
4. Selecting the Preferred Strategy
Exploring Alternative Massing Strategies
Performance-Based Evaluation
The alternative with the strongest overall environmental performance was selected using a comparative evaluation framework.
Instead of optimizing a single metric, the project balanced multiple performance criteria including:
• Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI)
• Daylight Glare Probability
• Shape Factor
• Energy Use Intensity
This multi-criteria approach helped identify a solution that achieved a balanced environmental response.
5. Design Concept
The final proposal combined several passive design principles to improve environmental performance while maintaining spatial quality.
Key strategies included:
• Compact building form
• Central atrium
• Roof skylights
• Hybrid ventilation
• Reduced thermal bridges
• Improved daylight penetration
6. Environmental Optimisation
Performance-Led Refinement
After selecting the preferred strategy, the proposal was further refined through environmental simulations.
Daylight analysis, thermal performance, and energy demand were continuously evaluated to improve building performance while preserving the overall architectural concept.
7. Final Proposal
Final Architectural Proposal
The resulting design demonstrates how environmental performance can actively shape architectural form rather than simply validate it.
Although developed as an academic exploration, the project illustrates a workflow in which performance analysis becomes an integral part of early-stage architectural decision-making.
8. Reflection
This project fundamentally changed how I approach architectural design.
Rather than treating environmental analysis as a technical check carried out after design decisions have been made, I learned to use performance data as a creative design tool. The process reinforced how iterative testing can support better architectural judgement when balancing daylight, energy efficiency, and spatial quality within complex urban conditions.
This project demonstrates how environmental analysis can become a design driver rather than a post-design validation tool.