Posts Tagged by case study
Sustainable by Design: An Igloo Primer
| February 17, 2011 | Posted by Lauren Moss under architecture, Guest Bloggers, Sustainable Living |
Greetings Readers! For my first guest post of 2011, I thought I’d try something a little different with a building typology case study- one that is seasonally relevant and inherently sustainable… the Igloo.
www.old-photos.blogspot.com
Having never lived through a ‘true’ winter, I am probably not the best candidate to evaluate or comment on what it’s like to coexist with this phenomenon in the modern world, but as a curious information-seeker and observer of the built environment, I’ll try my best to figure out a bit more on the Igloo, or ‘house’, as translated from Inuit.
So, starting with form… The basic shape of the dome is historically one of the most structurally sound forms used in architecture, with similar properties of an arch- in particular, high compressive strength and resistance to stress.
First built by the Inuit, or Eskimos, hundreds of years ago throughout Siberia, Greenland, Alaska and Canada, igloos were used as both temporary and semi-permanent shelters and ranged in size to accommodate a single traveling hunter to multi-room dwellings. In such regions, building materials are scarce, to say the least- unless one utilizes snow, which performs fairly well when used in the appropriate applications.
Unfortunately, the soft, fluffy, cloud-like snow of this Californian’s romanticized winter landscape is not an appropriate building material for these applications.
Compacted, wind-driven snow is (apparently) fairly easy to cut into blocks and stack, and it insulates surprisingly well, too.
www.primitiveways.com
The basic structure of an igloo requires preliminary excavation below grade, with the structural blocks cut from the compacted snow and stacked in a spiral pattern. Look here or here for further information regarding the details of constructing an ice house- it’s still being done today!
Though typically temporary dwellings, igloos are strong and perform well structurally and thermally. Occupants increase the insulation capacity of the structure with trapped body heat, and this alone can increase the temperature inside by 40 degrees. Structurally, the igloo increases in rigidity and strength after a few days, as solar and body heat cause the snow to melt slightly and re-freeze into solid ice.
Like most buildings, igloos require ventilation, usually in the form of openings near or at the top of the structure. In this circumstance, ventilation is essential to ensure that carbon dioxide escapes, though the fundamental concept remains a key sustainable design issue today, as circulation and air changes are important factors in providing for high indoor air quality. We see this in many passively-cooled spaces, in the form of operable skylights or clerestory windows that provide for thermal comfort, as well as for a means of promoting air circulation without mechanical equipment.
In spite of the growing and increasingly advanced building technologies that enable us to live more efficiently inside our homes, exploring the means by which early dwellings responded to site conditions, in terms of form, materiality, and method, can be of great value.
Additionally, such forms can inspire alternative creative endeavors, such as this cardboard dome, Packed Pavilion, featured at the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
For more on this very high-tech iteration, check out its blog and learn how digital design was used to address logistics and fabrication issues in a modern, global context.
Cheers, and thanks for reading!
Historic Preservation, Adaptive Reuse… & Glassblowing?
| August 26, 2010 | Posted by Lauren Moss under architecture, Guest Bloggers, Inspiration, Sustainable Living |
If there’s a magical time to visit New England, it’s almost here, as the transition to autumn provides the opportunity to witness a visually spectacular natural process- the changing of fall colors. During the several peak weeks in September and October, the natural landscape becomes dominated by vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow.
Within this extraordinary setting, picturesque towns and villages and traditional architecture provide a context that creates a sense of time, place and authenticity. This meaningful relationship between the natural and built environments underscores the relevance of historic preservation, a key topic in the dialogue of sustainable architecture today.
A personal favorite example of adaptive reuse (using an existing structure for a new function or purpose) is the building below, located in Quechee, Vermont, adjacent to the Ottauquechee River.
This masonry building was renovated in 1981 by Simon Pearce, an Irish glassblower who brought his craft to the states and converted the 19th century woolen mill to a glassblowing factory. The renovation included the addition of a restaurant and retail space, as well as the incorporation of a new hydroelectric turbine, tucked beneath the building to utilize the site’s natural resources to provide power to the factory.
Back outside, the cantilevered addition of the Simon Pearce Restaurant provides architectural contrast to the existing design language and responds to its unique site, creating a truly dramatic dining experience, especially when the expansive window wall is open, further enhancing a connection to the natural beauty of the site.
www.simonpearce.com
Hovering over the rushing waterfall, the dining room design highlights the connection of old and new and exposes original materials to maintain a strong sense of place, rooted in history and community. The fantastic restaurant uses seasonal local ingredients from nearby farms.
The workshop has been producing its own electricity for over 25 years and guests are encouraged to take a look at the equipment that harnesses the energy of moving water, as well as visit the workshop and learn about the art of glassblowing.
www.simonpearce.com
This inclusive, education-focused approach is consistent with the company’s philosophy and commitment to innovation within the context of tradition and history. The importance of craft, function, longevity, and local production is evident in the beautiful pieces created by these artists and seeing the process is just as inspiring…
Learn more about Simon Pearce and the history of the Mill at www.simonpearce.com.
Living Roof Road Trip…
| July 29, 2010 | Posted by Lauren Moss under architecture, Guest Bloggers, Sustainable Living, travel |
With summer in full swing, it’s the perfect time for a weekend getaway…
A popular road trip for those of us in Orange County is the drive up to Northern California, where beautiful natural landscapes and a dynamic city keep visitors and locals busy both indoors and out during the warmer summer months. And then, of course, there’s the architecture…
A fantastic site to visit while in the Bay Area is the California Academy of Sciences, at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, designed by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop. If you haven’t yet had the chance to visit this extraordinary interactive center, it’s reason enough to plan a trip up north!
In addition to housing the world’s largest digital planetarium, a living rainforest and natural history museum, the design features an extensive, undulating planted roof that takes the concept of ‘green roof’ to another level. The domes formed by this element respond to the natural landscape of the city, establishing a strong visual connection to the larger environmental context (and a great view for the volunteers in the image below).
The sloping topography of the four domes is also a way to help control microclimate, using the means by which air movement interacts with steep site conditions to cool exterior gathering spaces below. It also provides for insulation and minimized runoff, as rainfall is absorbed by the numerous species of California native plants, chosen specifically to attract wildlife and provide habitats for insects, birds, and butterflies.
Additionally, the roof has integrated, automated skylights that respond to changing temperature and humidity levels, providing ventilation and creating an open, comfortable interior space, with natural light illuminating the steel and glass structure and highlighting the central rainforest dome.
Also noteworthy is the great view of the de Young museum across the plaza…
Transparent photovoltaic panels surround the planted roof, enhancing the sense of lightness and transparency distinct to the architectural aesthetic.
For more information on visiting the California Academy of Sciences and for further details on this unique convergence of urban ecology and sustainable architecture, visit www.calacademy.org.
Happy Travels!
Sustainable By Design: Living Building Challenge
| May 6, 2010 | Posted by Lauren Moss under architecture, Guest Bloggers, Sustainable Living |
First things first… A huge congratulations to Linsi and David on last month’s launch of Redefine Home. If you haven’t been yet, make sure to visit and check out some very unique and inspiring design!
Also noteworthy was the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22nd. To celebrate the ‘greenest’ month of the year, I thought it might be the right time to discuss what some consider the ‘greenest’ building project in the United States. The Omega Center for Sustainable Living is one of the first projects slated to receive designation as a ‘Living Building’, based on standards developed by the Cascadia Green Building Council and the International Living Building Institute.
The Living Building Challenge program differentiates itself from other certification systems with a performance-based approach, as opposed to a prescriptive one, meaning specific design strategies and elements aren’t necessarily required for certification. Instead, creativity and collaboration are encouraged in order to meet stringent performance standards. In fact, a project must be operational for a year before it can be assessed given the designation as a Living Building.
In this sense, the Living Building Challenge is ‘sustainable by design’, as it challenges us to think comprehensively and inclusively to generate design solutions that are site-specific and contextual, with the ultimate goal of shaping a built environment that coexists harmoniously with natural ecological systems.
Though the Challenge focuses on seven performance areas (Site, Water, Energy, Health, Materials, Equity & Beauty), something especially unique to this program is an importance placed on beauty. The concept that beauty is fundamental to a truly ‘green’ building implies that sustainability does not hinder creativity, nor does it negatively impact one’s experience of a space. Instead, it serves as a mandate to design efficient buildings that create meaningful, inspiring, and educational spaces.
The Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL) does just that. Located in Rhinebeck, NY and designed by BNIM Architects, this project includes 6,200 square feet of educational facilities. All energy is generated on-site, and, as a self-sustaining (hence, living) building, the Omega Center incorporates passive design strategies, in conjunction with innovative technologies, to achieve zero reliance on existing infrastructure.
To address water filtration needs, principles of biomimicry were used in the design of a wastewater retention pond, incorporating natural biological systems to recycle, purify and restore water resources. For more details on how this process works, refer to John Todd Ecological Design, the firm behind the design of the Omega Center’s wastewater ‘Eco-Machine’.
The system is designed to serve as an educational tool for visitors as well, as seen in the image below of the interior greenhouse.
In addition to the wastewater treatment system, passive strategies include: strategic siting to maximize existing site opportunities for heating and cooling, the use of clerestory windows to enable stack ventilation for natural cooling, lightshelves and sunshades for daylighting and views, and a green roof for higher insulation values.
Additional technologies include a photovoltaic array that provides for all the building’s energy needs and solar tracking skylights, as well as an underground geothermal system that uses heat stored in the earth to supplement passive heating and cooling systems.
For more information on this project, which also received the AIA/COTE (Committee on the Environment) Top Ten Award this past Earth Day, please refer to their website.
sustainable by design: site & context
| February 25, 2010 | Posted by Lauren Moss under architecture, cocktails, Guest Bloggers, Sustainable Living |
To start, I’d like to thank Linsi and David for the opportunity to contribute to one of my favorite design blogs. MYD’s monthly series will focus on case studies and analyses of buildings that are not only architecturally significant, but are ‘sustainable by design’, meaning they exemplify the basic principles that are fundamental in establishing a ecologically and socially responsible built environment.
For the first case study in this series, we’d like to present a project that has not only inspired us, but has informed and enhanced our understanding of what makes a project sustainable.
The Stryker Sonoma Winery exemplifies the concept of environmentally-responsive and contextually appropriate architecture that serves the needs of the program, while minimizing development impact on the site. Designed by a local Sonoma firm, Nielsen:Schuh Architects, this project is a beautiful example of site-sensitive design.
Because minimizing a building’s impact on the environment is a critical preliminary consideration early in the design process, the existing conditions should be carefully evaluated with regard to location, programmatic needs and appropriate design strategies. Stryker Sonoma Winery is responsive to these issues in a number of carefully planned and executed elements described below…
The existing grade of the site hasn’t been disturbed; walls, roads, and the buildings’ footprints follow the natural contours of the land, while the public and private buildings share the same road access. This limits paving and allows for the preservation of as much natural landscape as possible, while minimizing stormwater runoff.
The interior layout utilizes the gently sloping topography efficiently, with the wine cellars located to take advantage of below-grade thermal efficiency, as seen in the section drawings below.
The existing vineyards have been maintained and are highlighted as a design. The main building utilizes low walls, made from local stone, as a natural material to connect the occupied visitor spaces above to the natural setting below. These walls extend into the vineyard, to further underscore a strong relationship to the site.
The buildings are oriented in order to take advantage of prevailing winds for natural ventilation and light, and the built forms respond to the elements by providing shade at the deep roof overhangs, concrete floor and wall systems where appropriate for thermal mass (where heat is absorbed throughout the day and slowly released at night).
Precast concrete louvers provide an architectural language that serves a number of purposes. The color is derived from the natural stone terrace walls, while the form mimicks the linear nature of the vineyard. These elements also provide screening for shade at both exterior and interior spaces and become guardrails at certain locations.
MYD had the opportunity to meet Amy Nielsen and Richard Schuh during a recent trip to Northern California and discovered that these architects not only design with sustainability in mind, but they practice a green lifestyle personally as well as professionally.
Their regard and respect for the environment and contextual issues are exemplified in this beautiful, unique, and inspiring project, making it truly ‘sustainable by design’.
For more information, visit http://nielsenschuh.com.
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