Mark DeKay, Registered Architect, M.Arch, M.Arch
Professor
Mark DeKay is a Full Professor of Architecture specializing in sustainable design theory, research, and design tools. His current work is in various applications Integral Theory and in the experience of sustainable design. He is a registered architect and has taught at the university level since 1992. He is author of Integral Sustainable Design: transformative perspectives and primary co-author of, Sun, Wind, and Light: architectural design strategies, 3rd ed. Prof. DeKay received two national AIA teaching awards, and was a Fulbright Fellowship to India. At Tennessee he has been twice awarded University Scholar of the Week, along with the Chancellor’s Awards for both Teaching Excellence and for Research. His recent work won 2 of 3 Best Academic Paper Awards at the Integral European Conference. He collaborates on research with scholars in Australia, California, Canada, Scotland, Lebanon and Greece.
Education
- M. Arch., University of Oregon, 1992
- M. Arch., Tulane University, 1984
Expertise & Interests
- Sustainable design
- Climatic design and passive systems
- Design knowledge structures
- Integral Theory applied to design and architectural photography
- Integral approaches to design education
- Integral approaches to design research
- Net-zero energy and carbon-neutral design
- Design patterns for experiencing nature and natural forces in buildings
- Design patterns for connecting people to nature
- Biophilic deign
Work + Research
NEWS: Architectural Photography Course 2019 mini-term course in Greece, with Pygmalion Karatzas and Susanne Bennett.
- EXHIBIT: ‘Capturing the Human Experience’, College of Architecture + Design, University of Tennessee, Knoxville USA, October – November 2019.
- Course web site
- Feature on Dodo photography magazine, Nov 2019
- Feature on ArchiSearch Greece site, Nov 2019
Scholarly Work in Progress
Work of GreenVision Studio is conducted at the Architecture Research Annex, 2124 Terrace Ave.
• [Book in writing] Felt Form: Experiential Design Schemas with Prof. Gail Brager, building scientist (Berkeley)
• [Research project] An Integral Sustainable Design approach to human inhabitation of architectural spaces, with Astrid Roetzel (PI), Akari Nakai Kidd, Ana Klas, Deakin University, Australia
• [Journal article] “Architectural, Indoor Environmental, Personal And Cultural Influences On Students’ Selection Of A Preferred Place To Study,” Architectural Science Review, with Astrid Roetzel (first author), et al, Deakin University, Australia
Publications
Selected Publications
For full list and citations, see Curriculum Vita above. All publications, except books, are available in PDF on Academia.edu
Books
Book descriptions and illustrations are available at the GreenVision Studio web site.
Integral Sustainable Design: Transformative Perspectives on Amazon
Sun, Wind & Light: Architectural Design Strategies, 3rd edition (2 vols) on Amazon
Chapters
Foreword to Pygmalion Karatzas, The Integral Lens, vol. 1, editorial and artistic approaches to architectural photography
SWL Tools, v.6, 62-page Excel spreadsheet included ‘workbook’ to accompany Sun, Wind & Light, 3rd ed.
Teachings From Bapu Kuti, in Migrants and Stowaways: an Anthology of Journeys on Amazon
Journals
[in press] with Roetzel, et al, Architectural, Indoor Environmental, Personal And Cultural Influences On Students’ Selection Of A Preferred Place To Study, Architectural Science Review
Daylighting and Urban Form, an urban fabric of light, Journal of Architecture and Planning Research
Gray City, Green City: New thinking and new settlement patterns can bring about urban sustainability, Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy
Implications of Community Gardening for Land Use and Density, Journal of Architecture and Planning Research
Continuing Education Courses, online
Green Design: Ecological Design Thinking: six perceptual shifts. Published by RedVector
Green Design: Intro to Integral Sustainable Design Theory. Published by RedVector
Green Design: Levels of Complexity Theory. Published by RedVector
Green Design: Designing Relationships with Nature. Published by RedVector
Conference Proceedings
Dynamic Microclimate Modeling for Urban China: Assessing Pedestrian Comfort, Air Quality and Building Ventilation Potential, with Veda Baglia (1st) et al, Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference, Hong Kong
Designing Relationships to Nature: five kinds of stories and five kinds of connection, Integral European Conference 2018, Hungary
The Integral Lens: Exploring a Multi-Perspectival Approach to Architectural Photography, with Pygmalion Karatzas, Greece, Integral European Conference 2018, Hungary
An Integral Sustainable Design (ISD) approach to human inhabitation of architectural spaces, with Astrid Roetzel, et al (Deakin Univ.), Integral European Conference 2018, Hungary
The Carbon Balance Index: a simple metric for progress toward net-zero carbon, 37th International Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference
Urban Wind Patterns in High-Rise Residential Super-blocks: assessing pedestrian comfort, air quality and building ventilation potential, with Sitan Zhu, 37th International Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference
The Energy Balance Index: Extending the 2030 Targets to plus-energy buildings, with Peter Giddings, International Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference
In the Beginning Were Buildings: the radical idea of learning architecture by designing it, with Hansjörg Göritz, National Conference on the Beginning Design Student
The Four Perspectives of Integral Sustainable Design, International Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference
The Bundle-Up! Game: a collaborative learning tool for net-zero energy design,” International Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference
Using Pattern Maps to Chart the Knowledge Base of Climatic Design, International Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference
Five Levels of Aesthetics for Sustainable Design, International Passive and Low Energy Architecture Conference
Climatic Urban Design: Configuring the Urban Fabric to Support Daylighting, Passive Cooling, and Solar Heating, Sustainable City 2012, International Conference on Urban Regeneration and Sustainability
A Model for Integral Sustainable Design Explored through Daylighting, with Mary Guzowski, Proceeding of the National Passive Solar Conference
Honors & Awards
Fulbright Specilaist Program, 2018–2021
Best Academic [Creative] Paper Award, Integral European Conference 2018
Best Academic [Applied Theory] Paper Award, Integral European Conference 2018
Chancellor’s Award for Research and Creative Achievement, 2017
Green Lights Award, US Green Building Council, East Tennessee
Building Technology Educator’s Society Book Award, 3rd award
Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence
University of Tennessee Scholar of the Week
AIA Upjohn Initiative Award for architectural research
University of Tennessee Scholar of the Week
AIA COTE/Tides Foundation Award for Ecoliteracy in Architecture Schools, with Prof. Ted Shelton
Fulbright Fellowship, Center for Environmental Planning and Technology, Ahmedabad, India
AIA National Education Honor Award
Courses Taught
Arch 364 Performative Design I: Passive Systems Design
Arch 425/525 (special topics) Interiority and Expression for Creatives
Arch 471 Integration Design Studio
Arch 491 Foreign Study: Architecture and Landscape Photography in Greece
Practice
With collaborator Susanne Bennet, at In_FORM, we offer workshops for faculty on integral approaches to multidisciplinary team-based research and design education, and on applications of climatic design. We also lecture internationally together on the topic of “Solving the Climate Crisis by Design.” We have worked in Scotland, the US, Canada, South Africa, India, Australia, and Lebanon.
