IES announce this year’s winner of the Martin Gough Student Award, Bayan Khayat-Sarama with ‘Designing a near-Autonomous House in Palestine’
IES are delighted to announce that this year’s winner of the Martin Gough Student Award is Bayan Khayat-Sarama. Bayan is a student from Newcastle University, currently studying a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Buildings and Environments.
Her winning paper ‘Designing a near-Autonomous House in Palestine’ impressed the judges due to her innovative use of the IESVE to apply passive design strategies and renewable energy solutions in the design of a near autonomous house in Palestine.
Bayan receives the top prize of £1000, a full 12 month IESVE software licence and access to the IES distance learning portal for one year. Congratulations Bayan!
We caught up with Bayan to find out what it means to her to win the award…
How does it feel to be named the 2019 winner of the Martin Gough Student Award?
I feel very proud to have received the prestigious Martin Gough award. It was amazing news when I found out that I am the winner for 2019 and that my entry highly impressed the judges. Huge thanks to the IESVE team for this great opportunity by highlighting my research and for launching this award in recognition of the late Martin Gough’s invaluable efforts.
How do you plan on using your prize? Do you have any future plans for using the software?
I plan on becoming a green building professional and attaining the LEED Professional Credentials while also maintaining a development of my technical knowledge of green building practices. Additionally, the free IESVE online course and license will advance and develop my skills in the software practices and will enrich my work experience in the simulations of any future sustainable architectural designs. Moreover, using IES will broaden my future opportunities within my teaching career while introducing the software to the young generation in the Middle East.
How valuable has the IESVE software been in your research/studies?
The IESVE software has been of immense help and value throughout my thesis research for my MSc in Sustainable Buildings and Environments. I wanted to increase my knowledge in the IESVE software in order to achieve a near autonomous house in Palestine due to the energy limitations and other restraints placed upon Palestinians. Using IESVE applications including ModelIT, MacroFlo and ApacheSim, along with applying passive design strategies to a base case model could help improve the indoor temperature, air quality, illuminance rate in addition to providing 24% of electricity needed to achieve thermal comfort.
Would you recommend IES tools to others pursuing a career in your field?
I highly recommend using IES for building performance simulations as a robust software in achieving best results for occupants’ thermal comfort. I am already introducing the software through my online media in Palestine to help the new generations of architects change their way of thinking as designers, and to include sustainability within their scopes of work.
What advice would you give to any students that might consider entering the competition in the future?
My advice for students would be to try and reflect on their work as best as they can, highlighting how IES was used to accomplish their study’s goal. Most importantly, they should believe in their work and apply!
Read the 2019 Winner’s Case Study to find out more about Bayan’s winning entry.
