3
0
t
h
ann
iv
e
r
sary
27th International Conference on
Passive and Low Energy Architecture
ARCHITECTURE
& SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Magali Bodart
Arnaud Evrard
Editors
> Proceedings vol. 2
ORGANISED BY ARCHITECTURE & CLIMAT
PRESSES
UNIVERSITAIRES
DE LOUVAIN
PLEA 2011
ARCHITECTURE
& SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Magali Bodart
Arnaud Evrard
Editors
Volume 2
Conference Proceedings
of the 27
th
International Conference
on Passive and Low Energy Architecture
Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 13-15 July 2011
PLEA 2011
ARCHITECTURE
& SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Volume 2 of (2)
Conference Proceedings
of the 27
thInternational Conference
on Passive and Low Energy Architecture
Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 13-15 July 2011
© Presses universitaires de Louvain, 2011 Registration of copyright : D/2011/9964/19
ISBN : 978-2-87463-277-8
ISBN download version (pdf) : 978-2-87463-279-2
Printed in Belgium All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, adapted or translated, in any form or by
any means, in any country, without the prior permission of Presses universitaires de Louvain.
Graphic design and layout : Sylvie Rouche.
Distribution : www.i6doc.com, on-line university publishers available on order from bookshops or at
Diffusion universitaire CIACO (University Distributors) Grand-Rue, 2/14
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Tel: +32 10 47 33 78
Fax: +32 10 45 73 50
duc@ciaco.com
Distributor in France :
Librairie Wallonie-Bruxelles
46 rue Quincampoix
75004 Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 42 71 58 03
Fax: +33 1 42 71 58 09
libwabr@club-internet.fr
PLEA 2011 - 27
thConference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 13-15 July 2011.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(VOLUME 2)
DESIGN TOOLS AND METHODS
Holistic Evaluation of Sustainable Buildings through a Symbiosis of Quantitative and Qualitative
Assessment Methods ...11
Gitte GyllinG, Mary-ann Knudstrup, per K. HeiselberG, ellen K. Hansen
Embedding Building Performance Evaluation in a Medium-sized Architectural Practice
A Soft Landings Approach ...17
lisa ann pesquale, Mary HancocK, Fionn stevenson
Uncertainty and Sensibility Analysis in Building Simulation:
A Probabilistic Approach to the Real Estate Market of Apartments in Santiago de Chile ...23
Felipe encinas pino, Francisco José sancHez de la Flor, carlos aGuirre núñez, servando Álvarez doMinGuez
Numerical Analysis of Thermal Environment and Energy Consumption for an Actual Residential Area
Based on Various Inhabitants’ Behavior Schedules ...29
riHito sato, taKasHi asawa, aKira Hoyano
The Effect of ‘Default User’ Inputs in Modelling Tools and Methods in Energy Use ...35
Marina topouzi
Sustainable Architecture and the Passive House Concept: Achievements and Failures on Energy Matters ...41
GeoFFreyvan MoeseKe
Support for Energy-Oriented Design in the Australian Context ...47
bianca totH, Flora saliM, robin droGeMuller, JoHn Frazer
Building Envelope Assessment Tool for Systems Integrated Design Understanding and Using
the Reciprocity Between Parametric Analysis and the Architectural Construction Detailing Process ...53
Joy Ko, lynnette widder
Solar Radiation and Architectural Design in Barcelona Reconciling Protection in Summer and Gain in Winter ...59
alexis aGuliar, carlos alonso, Helena cocH, raFael serra
Adequacy of Current Design Tools and Methods for Solar Architecture – Results of IEA-SHC Task 41’s
International Survey...65
Jouri Kanters
From Low Carbon Policy Intent to Design Practice ...71
Gabriela zapata, cHris tweed
Design Decision Tool for Zero Energy Buildings ...77 sHady attia, andré de Herde
Designing Low Energy Buildings: Application of a Parametric Tool and Case Studies ...83
Giulia paoletti, steFano avesani, daGMar exner, roberto lollini
Is the UK’s Zero Carbon Standard for Housing a Solution for CO2 Reduction in Turkey?
Passivhaus Standard as a Means to Achieving Zero Carbon in Istanbul ...89
tuGba salMan, soFie pelsMaKers, Melissa taylor
Bio-emulation: Investigation and Application of a Biomimetic Approach to Environmental Design ...95
rudraJit sabHaney
A Design Support Tool for Climate Change Adaptation ...101
usHa iyer-raniGa, JaMes pow cHew wonG, ralpH Horne
A Tool for Determining the Green Potential of Existing Buildings ...107
oren ben avraHaM, isaac Guedi capeluto
Numerical analysis of solar shading of a deciduous tree for seasonal change ...113
eiKo KuMaKura, KazuaKi naKaoHKubo, aKira Hoyano
Development of an Urban Typology to Assess Residential Environmental Performance at the City Scale ...119
véronique walleMacq, anne-Françoise Marique, siGrid reiter
Identification of urban subcentres by means of land use, electric consumption and CO2 production
The case of Barcelona Metropolitan Area (RMB) ...125
PLEA 2011 - 27
thConference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 13-15 July 2011.
4
Abersytwyth University: New IBERS Research Laboratories and Teaching Faculty
A Sustainable Building Design Process for the University Sector. ...133
niGel craddocK
Intelligent Support for the Optimal Design Configuration of High Performance Homes ...139
pieter de wilde, yaqub raFiq, wei pan, wei tian
Environmental Quality in Office Buildings: Computer Simulation and Directives for Energy Efficiency
in Brasilia, Brazil ...145
Giselle Marie corMier cHaiM
Inhabiting the Ground - Definitional Elements for a Sustainable Model of the Ground use for Residential Purpose ..151
luiGi FoGlia
Early Design Support for Summer Comfort Evaluation of Dwellings: A Comparison of Calculation Methods ...157
lieve weytJens, Griet verbeecK
Contextualizing International Standards for Compliance in Factories ...163
aHMed zebun nasreen
Improving School Building Quality in the State of São Paulo, Brazil ...169
Marcella savioli deliberador, doris c.c.K.KowaltowsKi
Building Envelope and Solar Energy Optimization: a New “Wizard” for Architects ...175
MarJa edelMan, Mariacristina Munari probst , cHristian roecKer, Flavio Foradini
Tracking Design and Actual Energy Use: CarbonBuzz, an RIBA CIBSE platform ...181
Judit KiMpian, sopHie cHisHolM
Elaboration of Multicriteria Decision-aiding Tools for the Conception of Urban Public Spaces
Proposed Methodology...187
pHilippe boland
Thermal Performance of Residential Buildings with Large Glazing areas in Lisbon- Modelling and Validation ...193
MÁrcia tavares, Hélder Gonçalves, JorGe bastos
Sustainable Assesment of an Academic Building ...199
Fernanda rodriGues, roMeu vicente, Maria João sÁ
Defining Zero Energy Buildings from a Cradle to Cradle Approach ...205 sHady attia, andré de Herde
Energy-Efficient Management Modelling towards Interior Thermal Comfort:
A Case of Composite Dwelling Features Manipulation in Bangkok. ...211
nucHnapanG Keonil, nopadon saHacHaisaeree
Reducing the Environmental Impact of New Dwellings: Analyse of the Balance Between Heating
Energy Savings and Environmental Assessment of the Building materials...217
sopHie tracHte, catHerine Massart
A Sensitivity Analysis Approach: Simulation Tools as Support at the Early Stages of Low Energy Housing Design ..223
Marta Maria sesana, Graziano salvalai, Fulvio esposito
Development of Innovative Bioclimatic Strategies: Method, Experimental Procedure and Results ...229
Francesca olivieri, raquel Guerra, Javier neila, césar bedoya
Solar Access in Densely built Urban Environments - Formal Parameters and Comparative Methodology
in the Case of Barcelona, Spain ...235
alessandra curreli, Helena cocH roura
Assessing Building Forms Through Envelope-to-Volume Ratio ...241
tHanos n. stasinopoulos
Towards an Efficient Model for Low-Energy Affordable Housing
Pilot Project for the Union County Housing Authority Energy- Efficient Housing Program ...247 lisa d. iulo, bruce l. quiGley
EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN
The Leechwell Garden House - A Passive Solar Dwelling Built from Renewable Materials ...255
JiM carFrae, pieter dewilde
From Targets to Occupied Low Carbon Homes: Assessing the Challenges of Delivering
Low Carbon Affordable Housing ...261
PLEA 2011 - 27
thConference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 13-15 July 2011.
5
Passive Evaporative Cooling by Porous Ceramic Elements Integrated in a Trombe Wall ...267
soFía Melero, inMaculada MorGado, F. Javier neila, consuelo acHa
Potential of a Cool Roof Applying Indirect Evaporative Cooling with Floating Insulation and Embedded Tubes ...273
José roberto Garcia cHÁvez, barucH Givoni
Towards Sustainable Housing Quality Assurance System to Achieve Sustainable Housing
in a Working-class Neighbourhood in Gent (Belgium) ...279
a. versele, c.verHoeven, b.wauMan, K.biesbroecK, H. breescH
Thoughts & Facts on Sustainable Urban Design...285
Heide scHuster, Giulia peretti
Climatic Design Initiatives According To Wind Northdern Side Persian Gulf - Case Study: Old Boushehr ...291
eHsan ranJbar, aJMeH Motalaei, MoHaMMad reza pourJaFar, ali aKbar taGHvaee
Sustainable Alternatives in Developing Countries - Preliminary Performance Assessment and Design
Optimization on the Fitima Children’s Day Care and Medical Centre in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso ...297
ninG liu, nicolas Jobard
The Study of Yard-to-Yard Convective Flows in the Multiple-Courtyards of the Casa de Pilatos ...303
raHa ernest
“Corbu” In The Tropics ...309
nitin bansal
Practical Study of the Ecological Rebuilding of Earthquake-stricken Villages in Southwestern China ...315
Jun Mu, edward nG, li wan, tieGanG zHou, Jie Ma
Post Disaster Housing in Chile ...321
José antonio espinoza
Images of Sustainable Architecture in Chile ...327
Maureen trebilcocK, Javier reyes
Bio-climatic Urban Conversion for the Tarahumara Colony in Cuauhtemoc City, Chihuahua, Mexico. ...333
leticia peña, lidia sandoval
Examples of Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design - Take the Transformation of CAVE
in Northern Shaanxi as an Example ...339
cHenG lin, liu JinGHua, Gao yu, liu xianHonG
Neighborhood-garden. A Favorable Answer in a Warm, Humid Climate ...345
ana María de la peña GonzÁlez, raMón raMirez li
Overview from Passive House Schools and NZEB Schools to Plus Energy Schools ...351
wiM zeiler
Synergetics Between Sun and Building...357
wiM zeiler
Low-Income Bioclimatic Dwelling Prototype for Hot-Arid Regions: Mexicali, Mexico ...363
Maria corral, raMona roMero, aníbal luna
Integrating Low Energy and Environmental Design Strategies in Ireland’s First Energy Positive House
ileeid House ...369
patricK daly
The Environmental Performance of high-density Urban Living: With Reference to the City Centre of São Paulo ...375 Joana carla s. Gonçalves, roberta c. K. MulFartH , leonardo M. Monteiro, norberto c. Moura,
alessandra r. prata, anna c. Miana
Low Cost Sustainable Building Solutions Case Studies: Angola and Guinea-Bissau ...381
italMa pereira, Joana aleixo, Manuel correia Guedes
Low Cost Sustainable Building Solutions for East Timor ...389
susana braz, Gonçalo silva, Manuel correia Guedes
Impact of Solar Energy on Cities Sustainability ...395
benoit becKers
The Nectar Project - Solar Development of Post-Industrial Urban Communities
(Tutti Frutti, New Islington, Manchester) ...401
PLEA 2011 - 27
thConference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 13-15 July 2011.
6
Subsidy to Land Occupation in the University Campus: a Brazilian Experience ...407
anGelina costa, neusa leMe, eduardo vianna, Joel santos, caroline cevada, raissa rodriGues
Climate Sensitive Architecture of Marikal, a Village in Telangana Region in Andhra Pradesh, India ...413
MadHavi indraGanti, devasaHayaM Karlapudy
Microclimatic Interventions on an Urban Square in Patras, Greece (38°15’N, 21°.45’E) ...419
saranti Konstantina
Hybrid Ventilation in Nordic Schools - Environmental Performance and Adaptive Opportunities ...425
silvestre celis Mercier, andré potvin, MicHel tardiF, ouazia boualeM
CLOUD AND MOUNTAIN. Ideas for a Building in Symbiosis - Competition for the Madrid
new “Campus of Justice” - Access and Services Building ...431
nieves Mestre
Sustainable Solution for the Reconstruction of Low Income Housing in Post-Disaster Zone ...435
cristina blanco-lion, soFie pelsMaKers, Melissa taylor
Energetic Rehabilitation In Tower Of Housings, San Sebastian
The Step from Obsolete to a Sustainable Modernity ...441
aleJandra zaMbrana, Marta arrieta, cristina lópez, Macarena Farias, elena caMpo, eliane liMa
A Qualitative Analysis of Five Tall Buildings Presented as Sustainable ...447
erica Mitie uMaKosHi, Joana carla Gonçalves
Options and Limitation of Natural Ventilation in Tall Mixed-use Building ...453
MaGGie Mei Ki Ma
Bioclimatic Landscape Design in Extremely Hot and Arid Climates ...459
sHady attiaand inGrid ducHHart
The City without a Nighttime Heat Island : Reproduction and Evaluation of Summer Thermal Environment
in Urban Residential Areas in Early Modern Tokio Using Numerical Simulation ...465
MasaHito taKata, aKira Hoyano, aKinobu MuraKaMi
Designing Carbon Neutral Schools: The Victor Miller Building, a Critical Review ...471
daniela besser, lucelia rodriGues, benson lau
Courtyards in arid zones - Thermal behaviour of two school courtyards and their adjacent classrooms. ...477
María alicia canton, carolina GaneM, JorGe Fernandez llano
Methodology for planning and designing eco neighborhoods: Cifuentes Plan, case study
Sabadell (Barcelona), Spain ...483
ezequiel uson Guardiola
As an Example Sustainable Development: Tarsus Kırkkaşık Covered Bazaar ...489
Fehime Yeşim Gürani, TülaY (Özdemir) CanbolaT
Performance of Downdraught Evaporative Cooling System in Hot & Dry Climate:
The PDEC System in Punjab Energy Development Agency Building (PEDA), Chandigarh, India ...495
pattnaiK oMpriya MoHanty, brian Ford
Life Architecture Open and Sustainable Building for a Strategic Dwelling System ...501
sonia pettinari, MassiMo perriccioli, Monica rossi
Architectural Elements on the “Towards Institutional Sustainability Plan” (PIHASU) at the Universidad
Autonóma Metropolitana in Mexico City ...507
Gloria castorena, aníbal FiGueroa, víctor Fuentes, José roberto Garcia
RENEWAL/REFURBISHMENT
Energy Behaviour in Historical Buildings: Limits and Potentials for the Project Evaluation ...515
raJendra s. adHiKari, elena lonGo, valeria praccHi, alessandro roGora, elisabetta rosina, Giulia scHippa
Tradition, Character and Energy Efficiency - An Example of Sustainable Renovation/expansion
of a Traditional Irish Cottage...521
catHal stepHens
Design Approaches for Upgrading Historically Significant Architecture Toward Zero-Energy:
The Republic of Cyprus Presidential Palace ...527
ute poerscHKe, louKas Kalisperis, anastasia spanou, MattHeos santaMouris
Energy Refurbishment of Mies VanDerohe Residential Buildings ...533
PLEA 2011 - 27
thConference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 13-15 July 2011.
EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN
501
Life Architecture
Open and sustainable building for a strategic dwelling system
Sonia
P
ETTINARI,
Massimo
P
ERRICCIOLI,
Monica R
OSSIUniversità degli Studi di Camerino, Scuola di Architettura e Design “E.Vittoria”, Ascoli Piceno, Italy
The research proposes a new approach to the issue of residence; at the center of its focus lies the user within the complexity of his needs and his interaction with the environment, aiming at environmental and social sustainability. The research manifests itself through the identification of an open settlement/housing system which sets out in three different scales of intervention (urban, of the building, of the single dwelling). For each scale, the research defines functional, social and environmental rules, thereby becoming a tool capable of flexibly responding to the uses' variety and dynamism and to the context's characteristics, providing high functional and quality standards. The application of this methodology results not in immobile and closed buildings but in open and multi-shaped ones, which are constantly changing in time along with social and environmental variations, are able to conserve resources, use renewable energy sources, assess the entire life cycle of the employed products and promote sustainable social dynamics. The housing image originates from the totality of choices and transformations brought by each individual, even though contained inside some general rules. Thus, it is not a homogeneous, fixed and pre-configured solution but a complexity which reflects the complexity of the human actions and the environmental system of which humans are a part.
Keywords: open and green building, user, transformability, adaptability, social and environmental sustainability 1. STATEMENT
Life Architecture is an approach for housing that
focuses on the user within the complexity of his quantitative and qualitative needs (spatio-functional, socio-relational, comfort-environmental).
This approach holds today a particular meaning due to the renewed connection between man and the environment. A new space-for-action is thereby taking shape so that the architectural project becomes a tool for sustainability in all its forms.
This space sets out in three design dimensions:
strategic, systemic and holistic. Systemic in that the
different design levels which come into play have to be associated together [1]. Strategic since in the definition of the relationship between user and designers, there are determinable and indeterminable aspects [2]. Holistic since such an approach calls for righteous processes of interaction between disciplines, competences and knowledge fields in order to define answers for the proposed questions [3].
2. PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS
The research follows the steps of a contemplation about modes of evolving relations between the designer and the user in the last decades, with a particular reference to the project of the daily-used spaces.
G. Nardi [4] claims that, in the past, a wide-spread technical ability strictly connected to the materialistic culture and an expression of a direct tie between design, construction and use, ensured a more compatible approach to transformations in their social and environmental aspects and a great attention to available resources and their management.
On the contrary, today, the complexity of each intervention's phases and the larger availability of technologies have clearly distinguished the designer's figure from those of the producer, the constructor and the end user. This entails that often there is no relationship between the designer and the end user. The former, has carried out needs (real or induced) analysis, and has made choices which would be later imposed on the end user playing the role of the passive consumer. In this way, it is the designer who retains the knowledge of the materials, the techniques and the processes, and the proposed solutions prove to be indifferent to the socio-economic and environmental contexts. The user/dweller loses, compared to the past, the awareness of the product and the ability to interact with it.
Such considerations are well reconciled with a contemplation of the present conditions of the Italian architectural heritage which is prevailingly composed of neighborhoods and artefacts produced throughout the second half of the past century. This heritage has clearly demonstrated the limitations and the consequences of the scarce attention of the designer to the input stemming from the changes housing dynamics and the new interaction modes between the dweller, the building and the environment.
From here, a reduction of the system of requirements into a uniform quantity of norms and limitations originated; the schematization and the regulation adapted at that time have proved to be too approximate and generic. All this has, on the one hand, reduced the user into a “end consumer” of a finite and not transformable “product”, and on the other, an excessive design rationalization and an economic optimization have lead to a low building quality. The dweller's action, where it emerges, has been reduced into the overlaying of interventions, more or less efficient, in making up for the deficiency minimize the intense solar gain. PDEC system can
be used to make the building a favorable place to work. From the overall result it can be concluded that the temperature, relative humidity and airflow rate increase from case 1 to case 3 which leads to unsuccessful result. Hence the central atrium space in between neighboring offices is working properly having PDEC system with one tower and it would be the best option to work with. From all the cases it can be concluded that ground office space also getting
comfortable temperature during summer.
Comparing the results with wet pad, sprinkler and micronizer, the favourable and best indoor environment can be achieved through micronizer having better nozzles.
9. CONCLUSION
Evaporative cool towers work best with open floor plans that permit the air to circulate throughout the building without any obstacles. From the TAS result, it can be concluded that, the atrium space is working properly with application of PDEC system by getting 10-12°C lower than ambient temperature, which also helps to cool the neighboring south office space to maintain a comfortable space to work. From all evidences, PEDA can be said to function as a passive solar complex. Overall the building performs well for the whole of the year except the peak summer period which can be improved through the evaporative cooling system. Hence Without any major changes in building profile and structure, existing wind tower and solar chimneys can be modified to incorporate the PDEC system, which can perform better during hot and dry summer days.
10. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to thank Professor Arvind Krishan, Architect of the PEDA for giving relevant information and his kind permission to publish his project.
11. REFERENCES
[1] Ford.B, Schiano-Phan.R, & Francis.E. ‘The
Architecture & Engineering of Downdraught Cooling a Design Sourcebook’ ISBN
978-0-9565790-0-3. PHDC Press, UK. 2010
[2] Kwok. Alison G. & Grondzik. Walter T. ‘The
green studio handbook: environmental strategies for schematic design’, Architectural Press,
Oxford, UK. 2007
[3] Khan. Naghman, ‘Use of building simulation
software TAS to investigate the performance of a school building with installation of a monodraught natural ventilation and cooling system’, Fourth National Conference of IBPSA -
USA, New York. 2010
[4] Information from Architect and PEDA Authority.
Figure 23: Study of Temp., humidity & airflow in atrium space.
Figure 24:Testing through PHDC Airflow tool (tower having micronizer)
PLEA 2011 - 27
thConference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 13-15 July 2011.
502
EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGNin the dwelling spaces. Today, we find ourselves facing an enormous building heritage which does not correspond any more to the social, functional, hygienic and energy-environmental requirements.
In the light of these considerations, the dweller cannot remain a “neutral” element in the design process of residential spaces, but has to become an integrated and active part, since his actions and his ability to interact with the environmental system influences positively or negatively the pursuit of sustainability objectives (social, economic, and environmental).
This does not imply that the programming and planning should be assigned to the community, but it is the designer who should interpret the interaction between the dweller and the environment, and between the dweller's needs and the specific environmental and social conditions of the context [5].
This introduction implies that, in an aware and socially and environmentally responsible design process, it is not enough to quantify the housing needs nor to procede through use behavioral models. It is necessary to identify use aspects on the basis of qualitative parameters and dynamics that depict the user/dweller in his daily activities, in the differentiated uses of space, and in the types of relationships with communal and public spaces, in the temporality of the functional needs. Since desires and needs are variable dimensions, thus, they don't require design solutions which freeze the choices at the moment of the building construction, but rather an open design approach, qualitative and adaptive.
3. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
The objective proposed by the research is to fine-tune a design and operation strategy based on the realization of settlement/housing construction systems that are open and sustainable, endowed with a high functional and environmental quality, ensuring forms of socialization and exchange between the dwellers.
The design strategy, with reference to recent experiences of open and green-building [6], is based on four points:
1. the reconsideration of the user as the central figure in the design and construction process.
2. the articulation of the project at different levels of intervention: urban, building, single dwelling
3. the innovative use of existing prefabricated reinforced concrete construction systems for the realization of the supporting structure which resolves the aspects of the positioning in the lot and of the urban relationships with the residential settlement; 4. the use of light, flexible and reversible
technological and construction systems which guarantee spatial flexibility and the transformability of the dwelling in time,
adapting itself to the mutations of needs and housing modes.
Based on this introduction, the executed experimentation goes further than working itself out in a project with finite and closed solutions, the experimentation takes shape in a design methodology and an operative strategy in order to define a matrix of possible spatio-functional configurations in constructing residential settlements with high environmental quality and low energy consumption.
4. INTERVENTION STRATEGY
The design strategy sets out in three different but interacting scales of intervention:
- urban scale; - scale of the building; - scale of the single dwelling.
4.1. Urban scale
The settlement/ housing system at the urban scale is composed of a series of levels (floors), specific functions are assigned to each level and adjusted to the relationship with the urban and environmental context.
Figure 1: Ideogrammatic schematization of the levels which constitute the system.
ground level_ The system-building, elevated
from the terrain level, leaves space underneath for greenery, for pedestrians and bicycles, for urban gardens, for children play areas and for open-air activities. Beyond the advantages of the pervasive green space in residential areas (especially in areas inside the city), These solutions permits the reduction of soil consumption, a greater adaptation of the building to the site morphology, the reduction of pith, and a better management of rain water (which filtring through the terrain revives its water-bearing layers without overweighing the public sewerage system or the purifying implants).
urban level_ the first floor of the settlement/ housing is reserved to communal/collective spaces: the square, parking areas (screened by vegetation which tempers the visual impact, acting also as a filter for polluting dust).
housing level_ the following floors are for the
most part set to residential functions. Each floor has the same potential facilities, in terms of accessibility, occupiable surfaces, and areas dedicated to gardens and services.
PLEA 2011 - 27
thConference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 13-15 July 2011.
EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN
503
roof level_ the building's top is usable and it accomodates collective areas and services, and it is covered by various types of greenery, which in addition to its more pleasing exploitation of space, contributes to the reduction of the solar radiation captation, and the increase of thermic insulation, due to its ability to retain water and to reduce polluting agents present in the atmosphere.
The various levels which constitute the building-system are connected by a series of ramps, which, in addition to providing access to the various floors, are themselves of collective and green spaces capable of transforming the building in a vertical city, connected to the existing city. The ramps become, moreover, a technological device since, in their interior, they provide for a system of meteoric water collection with the purpose of water reuse.
Figure 2: Schematization of the system of ramps that connect the various levels.
4.2. Building scale
At the scale of the building, the design strategy uncovers many common elements and methodological references with the experience of the
Open Building, initiated by N. John Habraken [7] and
by the SAR in the seventies, with the research by Daniel Chenut [8] on the flexibility of the dwelling and with the most recent experimentation of the Green
Building [9].
The building-system is composed of a supporting structure of precast photo-catalytic reinforced concrete pillars and floors (capable of absorbing consistent proportions of air pollution) of the type TX Active product from the Italcementi. Each floor is provided with technological devices and necessary plants to satisfy the present and future housing needs, as well as communal and green spaces. The supporting system, in addition to forming the sufficiently firm and modular grid which accommodates the single dwellings, undertakes the task of establishing relationships with the terrain and with the urban surroundings.
For each residential floor, there is a subdivision of the supporting structure's surface, this is in response to the necessity of establishing the positions of private spaces (open or closed) in relation to the communal spaces.
Figure 3: Scheme of the subdivision of the residential floor into zones according to the relation with the exterior.
The residential floors can accommodate more dwellings (apartments) and each family nucleus has a maximum taken up surface of 200m2, in addition to a fixed provision of three invariant devices of a technological, functional and environmental nature.
Figure 4: Schematization of the organization of the surfaces dedicated to the dwellings in housing level.
The technological device is composed of a nucleus in C precast reinforced concrete which contains the technological implants serving the dwellings and their entrances.
The functional device is a space which acts as a connector, from the spatial-distributive point of view as well as the plant-engineering, thereby ensuring the complete functionality of the house's spaces in all the possible configurations.
The environmental device is composed of a greenhouse and gardens both with south exposure, so that, if properly used, contribute to the reduction of the energy demands of the dwelling, through the accumulation of heat in certain periods of year, the reduction of solar irradiation in the other periods, and the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere. Endowing
each dwelling with the kitchen garden guarantees the possibility of self-supply of essential goods.
in the dwelling spaces. Today, we find ourselves facing an enormous building heritage which does not correspond any more to the social, functional, hygienic and energy-environmental requirements.
In the light of these considerations, the dweller cannot remain a “neutral” element in the design process of residential spaces, but has to become an integrated and active part, since his actions and his ability to interact with the environmental system influences positively or negatively the pursuit of sustainability objectives (social, economic, and environmental).
This does not imply that the programming and planning should be assigned to the community, but it is the designer who should interpret the interaction between the dweller and the environment, and between the dweller's needs and the specific environmental and social conditions of the context [5].
This introduction implies that, in an aware and socially and environmentally responsible design process, it is not enough to quantify the housing needs nor to procede through use behavioral models. It is necessary to identify use aspects on the basis of qualitative parameters and dynamics that depict the user/dweller in his daily activities, in the differentiated uses of space, and in the types of relationships with communal and public spaces, in the temporality of the functional needs. Since desires and needs are variable dimensions, thus, they don't require design solutions which freeze the choices at the moment of the building construction, but rather an open design approach, qualitative and adaptive.
3. RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
The objective proposed by the research is to fine-tune a design and operation strategy based on the realization of settlement/housing construction systems that are open and sustainable, endowed with a high functional and environmental quality, ensuring forms of socialization and exchange between the dwellers.
The design strategy, with reference to recent experiences of open and green-building [6], is based on four points:
1. the reconsideration of the user as the central figure in the design and construction process.
2. the articulation of the project at different levels of intervention: urban, building, single dwelling
3. the innovative use of existing prefabricated reinforced concrete construction systems for the realization of the supporting structure which resolves the aspects of the positioning in the lot and of the urban relationships with the residential settlement; 4. the use of light, flexible and reversible
technological and construction systems which guarantee spatial flexibility and the transformability of the dwelling in time,
adapting itself to the mutations of needs and housing modes.
Based on this introduction, the executed experimentation goes further than working itself out in a project with finite and closed solutions, the experimentation takes shape in a design methodology and an operative strategy in order to define a matrix of possible spatio-functional configurations in constructing residential settlements with high environmental quality and low energy consumption.
4. INTERVENTION STRATEGY
The design strategy sets out in three different but interacting scales of intervention:
- urban scale; - scale of the building; - scale of the single dwelling.
4.1. Urban scale
The settlement/ housing system at the urban scale is composed of a series of levels (floors), specific functions are assigned to each level and adjusted to the relationship with the urban and environmental context.
Figure 1: Ideogrammatic schematization of the levels which constitute the system.
ground level_ The system-building, elevated
from the terrain level, leaves space underneath for greenery, for pedestrians and bicycles, for urban gardens, for children play areas and for open-air activities. Beyond the advantages of the pervasive green space in residential areas (especially in areas inside the city), These solutions permits the reduction of soil consumption, a greater adaptation of the building to the site morphology, the reduction of pith, and a better management of rain water (which filtring through the terrain revives its water-bearing layers without overweighing the public sewerage system or the purifying implants).
urban level_ the first floor of the settlement/ housing is reserved to communal/collective spaces: the square, parking areas (screened by vegetation which tempers the visual impact, acting also as a filter for polluting dust).
housing level_ the following floors are for the
most part set to residential functions. Each floor has the same potential facilities, in terms of accessibility, occupiable surfaces, and areas dedicated to gardens and services.
PLEA 2011 - 27
thConference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 13-15 July 2011.
504
EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGNFigure 5: Scheme of the devices. 4.3. The scale of the single dwelling
Around these three devices, the dwelling is constructed. In its initial and possible future configurations, the dwelling is carried through on the basis of a modular grid which is derived from the micro-module that coincides with the supporting structure's pace. Based on the modular grid (in modules and sub-modules), functional spaces defining and configuring the residential unit are assembled.
Figure 6: the construction of spaces based on the module and the association among spaces and some of the
possible functions.
The different combinations around the three
devices (technological, functional and environmental)
allows the dwelling to have different spatial solutions, to be adaptable to the users' real requirements (and not to estimated uses), and transformable according to the variation of exigencies in time (for example, the variation of the family nucleus, the economic
conditions, new functional requirements or simply the replacement of the occupants).
Figure 7: Scheme of some possible configurations of the dwelling in relation to the users.
For a greater adaptability of the system, the surface dedicated to a dwelling (surface of type A) can be divided (surface of type B), allowing the occupation of the same surface by two residential units, which although they share the same fixed equipment (devices), enjoy all the characteristics and the independence of a typical dwelling.
Figure 8: Surfaces of type A and surfaces of type B.
The combination of modules, which configure the residential unit, does not occur in an arbitrary mode, rather, it follows certain basic rules which guarantee meeting the qualitative standards. These rules are concerned with the positioning of the rooms according to the orientation, the nucleus of the technological implants and to the class of spaces to which they belong (services, activities of a specific nature or to general activities).
The construction of the dwellings takes place by means of employing light building systems and industrial products from the catalogue. In order to facilitate adaptation, customization and transformation of the system and of the dwellings and in order to guarantee a good overall maintenance of the building. We propose an innovative use of technology and of wood and steel construction systems which are available in the market (such as Massiv holz, Platefom frame,
PLEA 2011 - 27
thConference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 13-15 July 2011.
EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN
505
systems, etc.) easily assembled and dismantled. The use of dry assembled construction technologies plays a fundamental role in the adaptability of spaces and the reversibility of their constituent elements, thereby, allowing the dismantling of the used materials and their later recycling, reducing in this way the overall impact on the environment [10].
The user's participation in the construction of his own house comes not only through choosing spaces and construction technologies to build them, but also through finishing and managing the assigned green spaces (gardens and kitchen gardens).
Choosing the construction technology and the finishes sets the contextual characteristics as reference points and considers the possibility to deliver local products. The variability of the offered construction possibilities makes the system adaptable to different situations, therefore environmentally compatible with different settlement contexts.
The personalization action, both in the initial phase and in the subsequent modifications of the dwellings, is not exclusively entrusted to the user but it is guided and controlled by planners, which coordinate the realization process, through a catalogue of shared solutions.
Regarding resources management, the system, beyond the reduction of energy resources, introduces active renewable energy production systems compatible with the available resources in the specific intervention area. In any case, the system provides for the treatment of rain water and sewage, each treated differently for its reuse thanks to the installation of constructed wetland implants which was possible thanks to the ground level characteristics.
5. THE CASE STUDY: VALLEMIANO NEIGHBORHOOD IN ANCONA (ITALY)
In order to verify the design strategy, it was experimentally applied to a first case study in an urban area in the city of Ancona (Italy). The area, at present, is occupied by some disused buildings, a sports facility and a parking. The area is almost 37.000 m2 and is placed inside the consolidated
urban tissue. Its most important characteristics are the presence of the railway which defines the southern limit of the area, an overpass which divides the area crosswise, and two different urban levels. The site is close to the city's principal road network and to its entrance.
Figure 9: Aerial photo of the intervention area placed inside the consolidated urban tissue. The project includes the
demolition of disused buildings pexisted and re-naturalization of the terrain of entire area.
The application of the proposed system in this area provides a response to the dwelling demands as explained above, and has permitted us to work on some critical issues raised by the places' actual state.
The work on the ground level has called for a re-naturalization of the terrain, previously cleared of pre-existences, with consequent benefits in terms of the permeability and of a more sustainable water cycle with the economic repercussions due to less commitment to public sewerage and sewage treatment plants. The introduction of a large green surface confronts the deficiency of green areas and spaces for open-air activities in the existing urban tissue and reduces the heat island phenomenon typical of urbanized areas. The urban level in the specific case, in addition to providing areas dedicated to parking, services and other public spaces, has efficiently established a relationship between the different existing urban levels, a relationship, which, in the present state is almost absent, generating a fluidity of relations not only between the different levels but also between different parts of the neighborhood. In this case the two levels (ground and urban) are connected to a pathway, which in parallel to the railway breaks the area borderlines connecting the levels with the open spaces, the pathways, the sport facilities (already present in the area and adjacent to it) and the services within a larger surrounding (all the way to the harbour).
Figure 10: Intervention stratification. Figure 5: Scheme of the devices.
4.3. The scale of the single dwelling
Around these three devices, the dwelling is constructed. In its initial and possible future configurations, the dwelling is carried through on the basis of a modular grid which is derived from the micro-module that coincides with the supporting structure's pace. Based on the modular grid (in modules and sub-modules), functional spaces defining and configuring the residential unit are assembled.
Figure 6: the construction of spaces based on the module and the association among spaces and some of the
possible functions.
The different combinations around the three
devices (technological, functional and environmental)
allows the dwelling to have different spatial solutions, to be adaptable to the users' real requirements (and not to estimated uses), and transformable according to the variation of exigencies in time (for example, the variation of the family nucleus, the economic
conditions, new functional requirements or simply the replacement of the occupants).
Figure 7: Scheme of some possible configurations of the dwelling in relation to the users.
For a greater adaptability of the system, the surface dedicated to a dwelling (surface of type A) can be divided (surface of type B), allowing the occupation of the same surface by two residential units, which although they share the same fixed equipment (devices), enjoy all the characteristics and the independence of a typical dwelling.
Figure 8: Surfaces of type A and surfaces of type B.
The combination of modules, which configure the residential unit, does not occur in an arbitrary mode, rather, it follows certain basic rules which guarantee meeting the qualitative standards. These rules are concerned with the positioning of the rooms according to the orientation, the nucleus of the technological implants and to the class of spaces to which they belong (services, activities of a specific nature or to general activities).
The construction of the dwellings takes place by means of employing light building systems and industrial products from the catalogue. In order to facilitate adaptation, customization and transformation of the system and of the dwellings and in order to guarantee a good overall maintenance of the building. We propose an innovative use of technology and of wood and steel construction systems which are available in the market (such as Massiv holz, Platefom frame,
PLEA 2011 - 27
thConference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 13-15 July 2011.
506
EXAMPLES OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGNArchitectural Elements on the “Towards
Institutional Sustainability Plan” (PIHASU)
at the Universidad Autonóma Metropolitana in Mexico City
Gloria C
ASTORENA,Aníbal F
IGUEROA,Víctor F
UENTES,José Roberto G
ARCÍA Metropolitan Autonomous University, Mexico City, MexicoABSTRACT: In 1997, the plan “Towards Institutional Sustainability” (PIHASU) at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana was launched. It is a series of strategies and actions that lead teaching, research, culture divulgation and campus management towards a more sustainable culture. Actual results include a rational use of water management; design preservation and management of green spaces, green acquisitions strategy, adequate waste management, energy efficiency and bioclimatic architecture for new and existing constructions. Four bioclimatic design buildings are operating at the campus: Computer Center, Design Laboratories and Workshops, East and West Faculty Office Buildings and Laboratories Greenhouses.
Keywords: energy, green spaces, water management, daylighting and ventilation.
1. INTRODUCTION
The Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) was founded in 1974 in Mexico City. From its origin it had a multidisciplinary approach that included an Environmental Design Department that preceded the Bioclimatic Architecture Group that started in 1985. One of its objectives is to include on campus design the principles of energy efficiency, passive design, climatic response and conscious use of natural resources on the building environment. New projects now under development at the Bioclimatological Design Area include: light-duct daylighting systems for the gym; daylighting and natural ventilation project of the central administration area; thermal, lighting and acoustic proposal for audiovisual halls; improvement of thermal behavior of the academic coordination area; net-interconnected photovoltaic systems at the Bioclimatological Design Lab; design and construction of the Artificial Lighting Laboratory; Water harvesting at Design Workshops Building and greenhouse design and operation for bio-technology labs.
As a result of the “Towards Institutional Sustainability Plan” the UAM Azcapotzalco received in 2010 the Ecological Merit Award from the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry (SEMARNAT) of Mexico [1].
2. BIOCLIMATIC OPERATING BUILDINGS
There are a number of Bioclimatological buildings or areas that are finished and operating at the campus.
2.1. Design Workshops and Laboratories Building
The Design Workshops and Laboratories Building was built from 1990 to 1992. The main aim was to provide safety and comfortable spaces to design students and professors of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in architecture, graphic design and industrial design. It is a two-story building
with a total area of 5,000 m2. It houses laboratories and workshops in: ceramics, textiles, glass, metals, wood and plastic workshops; Cinema, audiovisual and animation, photomechanical, serigraph, aerograph and offset workshops; Ergonomic, formal analysis, and bioclimatic architecture laboratories.
Figure 1: Venturi devices. Conceptual design
Bioclimatic design was the premise to achieve comfortable spaces using passive acclimatization and daylighting. To achieve this objective, a south oriented saw tooth roof was designed in order to receive winter radiation. The prevailing wind is north, therefore a venturi device was designed on the top of the saw tooth roof (Fig.1). This device increases low pressure that induces constant and natural exhaust ventilation, avoiding air conditioning or electromechanical devices (Fig.2).
Figure 2: Patio of Design Workshops and Laboratories
Adapting itself to the context in which it is set, the system reads some dynamics of use of existing external spaces (areas dedicated to sports, small gardens, etc.) and includes them seeking to develop them.
Figure 11: West elevation.
Figure 12: Perspective.
This first experimentation, in addition to demonstrating the large applicative potential inherent in the proposed methodological approach, has been a kind of first verification which has permitted, according to a recursive process, to re-examine and reformulate some spatio-functional and dimensional aspects of the system.
6. RESULTS
From the first application of the developed design strategy on a real case the following results are derived:
- Open and multi-shaped buildings, in constant change in time due to the variation of internal (social) and external (environmental) conditions. The image of housing derives from the totality of choices and transformations carried out by each individual, even though within some general rules. Thus, not pre-configured solutions, but a rich variety of solutions which reflects the complexity inherent in human actions and the surrounding environmental system. - A “project democracy” which provides equal
conditions to all inhabitants. Each dwelling, in fact, has the same orientation and has at its disposal the same facilities in terms of accessibility, spaces, and accessibility to services (distributed vertically in the building all the way to the roof), avoiding the traditional distinction in terms of value
between the ground level and the above levels.
- User's active partecipation which emerges in all process, design, construction and maintenance phases. The possibility to act directly on the user's own dwelling guarantees a greater satisfaction on the user's side who develops a deeper interest in its management and maintenance, with evident benefits in terms of common maintenance and improvement of ecological efficiency of the buildings.
- A mix of residences, communal spaces and common services (self- directed kindergarten, spaces of co-working, artisanal shops, spaces for open-air activities, etc.) which are consequences of the verticality of the urban system, which, also due to the ramps connecting the different floors, guarantees a greater vitality of places and a better chance for exchange and socialization.
- A considerable presence of green areas, which, in addition to the greater psycho-physical well-being and the higher quality of open spaces it guarantees, carries out an important role in controlling solar radiation and the quantity of polluting substances in the air and in the purification of water (natural purification processes of rain water which reach the water-bearing layers, processes of constructed wetland for the reuse of rain and sewage water).
7. REFERENCES
[1] S. Kendall and J. Teicher, Residential Open Building, London New York (2000)
[2] Y. Conde, Architecture of indeterminacy, Barcellona (2000)
[3] G. Hausladen and M. de Saldanha and P. Liedl and C. Sager, Climate Design, Munich (2004) [4] G. Nardi, Le nuove radici antiche, Milano (1984) [5] A. Paolella, Progettare per abitare, Milano
(2003)
[6] T. Herzog, Solar energy in architecture and urban planning, Munich London New York (1996)
[7] N.J Habraken, Supports: an Alternative to Mass Housing, London (1972)
[8] D. Chenut, Ipotesi per un habitat contemporaneo, Milano (1968)
[9] Mark Kalin Alexis Karolides Seiglinde K. Fuller Andy Walker Joseph Macaluso, Green Building: Project Planning and Cost Estimating, 2006 [10] W. McDonough and M. Braungart, Cradle to
Cradle. Remaking the way we make things, New York (2002)
