rakennustiede

Rakennustiede, literally building science in Finnish, is an interdisciplinary field devoted to understanding and improving the performance of buildings as complex systems. It treats buildings as assemblies of structures, envelopes, and services whose behavior is governed by physics and materials science. Core concerns include energy efficiency and thermal comfort, indoor air quality, moisture management, acoustics, lighting, durability, fire safety, and resistance to environmental loads such as wind and seismic events.

Disciplines involved include structural engineering, materials science, building physics, architectural science, and construction technology, often integrated through building performance simulation and lifecycle assessment. Applications cover the design of new structures, renovation and modernization, and operation and maintenance of existing buildings. Building science informs codes and standards, such as the Eurocodes and national regulations like the Finnish RakMk, to ensure safety, reliability, and sustainability.

Methods range from experimental testing and field measurements to numerical modeling (finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, energy-modelling software) and performance monitoring. The field supports energy retrofit, passivhaus-style design, daylighting optimization, and resilience against climate-related risks.

Education and professional practice typically occur within civil or architectural engineering programs, with researchers and consultants advancing knowledge on materials, envelopes, and building systems. Overall, rakennustiede aims to predict, explain, and improve how buildings perform over their life cycle while balancing safety, comfort, and energy use.