SPOTLIGHT ON..

Andre De Herde
ExCo Vice-Chairman

If you said to any Executive Committee member, "Great enthusiasm for bioclimatic architecture expressed in a strong French accent," they would immediately recognize André De Herde, Executive Committee representative from Belgium and a Vice-Chairman of the ExCo.

An architect with a strong technical background, André plays a somewhat unique position in the IEA SHC Program. He is both an ExCo member and an active participant (at various times) in four of the technical Tasks. This dual status gives him a special perspective on both the research and management sides of the program.

Born in the Belgian Congo (now Zaire) where his father was an administrator for the Belgian government, André and his family moved or, more accurately, escaped to Belgium in 1960. He received his architecture degree with high honor in 1972 from the Catholic University of Louvain in Louvain-la-Neuve. His degree conferred the title "ingenieur civil architecte" which implies completion of a more technical curriculum than a "fine arts" architect. His entire career has been spent at the Catholic University where he was appointed full professor in 1988.

André's C.V. is overflowing with courses taught, positions, committees, memberships, publications, etc., so we can only provide a few highlights here. ("How do you do it, André?" "I sleep only four hours a night.")

At the University, he has been responsible for the Research Unit on "Architecture and Climate" since 1980 and has served as head of the Architecture Division since 1992. In September 1994, he was appointed Chairman of the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering. In addition to his research, he teaches various courses in the Department including thermal energy in buildings, climate and architecture, and heating systems.

André has been involved in numerous national and international projects in the energy and bioclimatic architecture field which are performed through the "Architecture and Climate" research unit. As far as the IEA SHC goes, Andre has been involved in Tasks 8, 11, 13 and 20. In Task 13, he was responsible for the design, construction, and monitoring of the Belgian solar low energy house which was funded by the Walloon Region. In Task 20 on Solar Energy in Renovation, he heads the subtask on simulation of new components and design concepts.

He has also been active in a variety of European Union projects involving passive solar demonstration buildings, development of educational material on energy-conscious design for European architecture schools, production of a primer for European architects, transfer of research results, and daylighting.

In the framework of the Walloon region, Andre has been in charge of the education and training of energy personnel for social housing, has produced a guide on energy management, and one on utilization of natural daylighting in buildings. For the Walloon Housing Company, he provides technical consultation for energy renovation of public buildings.

André's interest in, and dedication to, the concept of energy-conscious architecture was kindled by the energy crises of the 1970's and has been his focus ever since. He is particularly proud of the first International Congress on Bioclimatic Architecture, held in Louvain-la-Neuve in 1986, of which he served as Organizer and Chairman. Many of the ideas and strategies discussed there were reflected in the IEA SHC Task 8 Design Information Booklets. He was also Chairman of the 1994 Symposium on Daylighting Utilization in Buildings, also held in Louvain-la-Neuve.

A few of his noteworthy publications include "Primer for Energy Conscious Design - A European Guide" (in French and English), "A Manual of Responsible Energy - Rational Use of Energy in Non-residential Buildings," and the cooling sections of the "Passive Solar Commercial and Institutional Buildings: A Sourcebook for Examples and Design Insights."

André and his wife Collette have four children. His hobby is walking in the country, and he finds that a quiet walk is often a helpful way to prepare for meetings and lectures.