by Kristine Lofgren, 03/13/15
http://inhabitat.com/infographic-the-greenest-buildings-in-the-world/
How Heatherwick Studio Provides Small-Scale Encounters in a Large-Scale World
Garder un esprit d'échelle réduite dans des grands bâtiments. Ici une idée de plusieurs tours qui gardent des surfaces relativement petites pour dégager des espaces intéressants. Architecte : Heatherwick Studio, immeuble (enseignement) Singapour. (FAAST)
A casual observer might be forgiven for wondering how Thomas Heatherwick has developed such a reputation among architects. A scan of the works of Heatherwick Studio reveals relatively few completed buildings, and many of those that do make the list are small projects: kiosks, retail interiors, cafés. Indeed, to the average Londoner he is probably better known as the designer of the new homage to the iconic red Routemaster bus and as the creator of the wildly popular cauldron for the London 2012 Olympics - both unveiled in a year in which Heatherwick all but officially became the state-approved designer of 21st century Britain.
A look at the website of Heatherwick Studio sheds some light on this conundrum. With projects separated into “small,” “medium” and “large,” it is clear that a progression in scale is mirrored by a progression in time, with many of the smallest projects completed in the Studio’s early years, and most of those in the “large” category either recently completed or (more frequently) still on the drawing board. Their most recently completed project is also one of their largest, a “Learning Hub” for Nanyang Technical University in Singapore. How does a design studio that made its name in small projects adapt to such scale? ArchDaily spoke to Thomas Heatherwick about the Learning Hub and the increasing size of his projects to find out.
In spite of the Learning Hub’s larger scale, the brief for the building was far from luxurious. “We had a budget that was a bit more than for a car park – it was modest,” explains Heatherwick. “That meant that to achieve the highest possible environmental performance for the building, and to meet the buildability codes in Singapore, there was only one material that we could use for the columns, the floors, the, cores and the cladding – and that was to use concrete.”
“When you say “concrete” that many times,” he adds, a Northern European gets “a kind of sinking feeling in the stomach. The associations with cold grey masses of material make that problematic.” He also describes how the 1986 Kenzo Tange masterplan which provides the building’s context “celebrated scale,” with “very long elevations, very long corridors and walkways, very long pieces of glazing.”
In the 21st century, such a celebration of scale is no longer appropriate for a university, Heatherwick argues. A “radical shift in pedagogy,” with students able to do so much of their work online, means that one of the most important things a new university building can provide is a space for informal conversations, where students can meet new people and discuss ideas.
“We were now trying to focus back on the human scale,” he says. As such, the 57 teaching rooms are arranged into 12 separate towers in which “each individual tower is no bigger than a terraced house in plan, but they come together to make lots of nooks and crannies between them in the connected circulation, where ambiguous and informal conversations can take place.”
So far, then, all very much an approach taken from the architect’s standard playbook. But it is in discussing their approach to neutralize those “cold grey masses” of concrete that Heatherwick really shows the benefits of his multi-scaled approach to design.
“To some extent the project was like a clay project, trying to really enjoy using concrete as clay” he says – an approach that fed into the conditions of the building’s creation, where not only money but also time were in short supply. “We needed something that was working with what Singapore contractors knew how to do, and can pretty much get straight on with.”
But the approach is about more than just efficiency: “the epiphany for us really in the process was using concrete in a very handmade way. Often with concrete there is so much emphasis put on fair-faced concrete and trying to make flat, blemish-free perfection. With ceramic we often value more the things with imperfections and natural quirks from the manufacturing process.”
In the Learning Hub, Heatherwick Studio provide ample opportunity for this. The columns of the building are cast with adjustable silicon molds to give their undulating surface pattern, and the walls of the circulation elements are cast with 700 overlapping drawings by illustrator Sara Fanelli. As Heatherwick explains it, “there was an inch of love in the surface of that concrete.”
To Heatherwick, the Learning Hub is at least partly a giant piece of ceramic work, a pot into which other, more conventional architectural ideas can be placed. This sense of scale agnosticism seems to permeate his thinking: twice in our conversation he refers to the entire building as a “device,” a word which these days is usually seen prefixed with “hand-held.”
When I ask how his studio is able to maintain their renowned creativity even when working on larger, more constrained projects, Heatherwick explains: “within the big scale use the small scale. Even if you’re working on a masterplan for a part of the city, you’re probably not going to think well at that large scale if you’re not also sensitized to the human impact at the person-sized scale.”
With projects such as Pier55 in New York, Abu Dhabi’s Al Fayah Park, and of course therecently announced Google Campus still in the works, the increasing size of Heatherwick Studio’s projects is far from reaching a conclusion. In the coming years this approach to scale will be tested many times; the results could well be instructive to the whole profession.
Cite:Stott, Rory. "How Heatherwick Studio Provides Small-Scale Encounters in a Large-Scale World" 20 Mar 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed 08 Apr 2015. <http://www.archdaily.com/?p=611711>
LivingHomes' zero-energy Joshua Tree prefab house is now on sale
Habitation Zéro énergie Préfabriquée ... et Leed Platinium. (FAAST)
LivingHomes recently unveiled the newest version of its C6 prefab house on a 20-acre ranch just north of Joshua Tree National Park, California. The house is based on a LEED platinum-level-certified C6 prototype, which features environmentally friendly materials and cradle-to-cradle design philosophy. The property includes the C6 house installed at Big View Ranch and is up for sale for $485,000.
LivingHomes desgned the C6 series in collaboration with the Make it Right foundation, which was founded by Brad Pitt and architect William McDonough in order to build affordable homes in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. LivingHomes decided to use part of the proceeds from the sale of C6 homes to support the activities of Make it Right. The updated C6.1 model is Energy Star certified and can achieve a LEED Platinum level certification.
Related: LivingHomes Debuts Next-Generation Zero Energy C6 Prefab Home
The house has recycled and cradle-to-cradle-certified products incorporated into its structure, and includes a carbon offset in the purchase of the home to counter the energy used in its construction. It also comes with grey water recycling and photovoltaic systems, which can be installed by local contractors. The basic module features 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and the newest versions have been upgraded to become more sustainable.
by Lidija Grozdanic, 03/20/15
http://inhabitat.com/joshua-tree-ranch-with-livinghomes-zero-energy-prefab-home-is-now-on-sale/
The Treasury Research Centre & Archive / Architectus
Extension du historic Thames Carnegie Library, New Zeland par Architectus.
Pour l'inspiration du bardage... (FAAST).
Architects: Architectus
Location: Thames, New Zealand
Area: 200.0 sqm
Year: 2014
Photographs: Simon Devitt
From the architect. This project restores and extends the historic Thames Carnegie Library to provide archive and genealogy facilities for the Thames Coromandel area.
Restoring and converting a listed heritage structure for use as an archive and genealogy centre provided unique design challenges. The specialised requirements of archive storage and management would compromise the heritage fabric of the original building so these have been designed as an extension to it.
Although built to provide town library facilities in the early 20th century, the library required careful conversion to satisfy the programme requirements of reception, research, storage, and administration. This has been achieved without compromising the heritage qualities of the building.
The extension is required to provide archive storage, work areas and secure management of the archival material in controlled climatic conditions. In a manner that is a clear expression of function, current design and technology, the extension adds to the existing building in a complimentary way that enhances its architectural qualities. The planning provides for secure retrieval of required archival material and controlled research and management of it.
Key responsibilities of the Architectus design team have been to:
- Provide for the specialised requirements of genealogy and archival material storage, security, retrieval and management Extend the complex in a manner that retains the visual primacy of the Carnegie Building, addresses the historic streetscape and reflects the innovative spirit that produced Thames buildings like the Carnegie
- Design an archive to current international standards including compliance with ASHRAE standards as developed for the Smithsonian Institute
Cite:"The Treasury Research Centre & Archive / Architectus" 19 Mar 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed 08 Apr 2015. <http://www.archdaily.com/?p=610889>
Taco Bell unveils its first shipping container store at SXSW
Exemples pour PODs. (FAAST)
That’ll be one sustainable chalupa, please! Taco Bell surprised many SXSW attendees this week by building a Taco Bell stand out of shipping containers. The modular structure was built in just three days and will be used as an experiment to see how the concept works as the iconic restaurant seeks to expand across the nation.
Although the original concept was to build a more elegantly designed pop-up structure, the Taco Bell team eventually opted for a more home-made style, eschewing a glossy finish for a more rustic look. “We started in a place that was exactly like Starbucks with all this wood on the side,” says Kati Gardiner, Manager of Brand Experience at Taco Bell. “It was beautiful, but we lost the coolness.”
Related: How to Spice Up a Shipping Container Home
Although Taco Bell’s coolness factor may be debatable, one thing is for sure: the shipping container design will allow a lot of versatility in terms of space and efficiency. The modular SXSW structure was made out of three shipping container blocks, one for food prep, one for storage and operations and one that holds the cooling equipment. A few partial containers were welded onto the structure to provide a bathroom and a separate freezer space. There is no indoor dining space, but refinished wood pallets and giant wire spools offer outdoor seating space.
The SXSW structure is quite compact, but the modular design would permit the company to add more containers to the design, creating more prep line space and potential indoor dining areas.
After the SXSW event, the structure will be relocated to a undisclosed location, but it remains to be seen if Taco Bell will continue with the shipping container design for future restaurants.
by Nicole Jewell, 03/18/15
http://inhabitat.com/taco-bell-unveils-its-first-shipping-container-store-at-sxsw/
Phipps Center for Sustainable Landscapes achieves Living Building Challenge certification
LEED PLATINIUM pour ce Philips center for sustainable landscapes à Pittsburgh. (FAAST)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is now home to one of the greenest buildings on the planet. The Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens has broken ground after achieving Living Building Challenge™ certification for its Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL). Revered for its innovative sustainability research and science education programs, the center is now the first and only project to attain all four of the highest sustainable building certifications in the world. Feast your eyes on the breathtaking botanical center which thrives in near perfect harmony with nature.
Phipps’ Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) has reached a historical level of sustainability by achieving each of the highly regarded green certifications possible for any building. The CSL has become the first and only building to attain WELL Building Platinum certification and Four Stars Sustainable SITES Initiative™ certification. In addition to its LEED Platinum certification, it has now become the fourth building in the entire world to be certified as a ‘Living Building’ by the International Living Future Institute.
By attaining Living Building Challenge certification, the CSL has fulfilled an impressive goal of operating as cleanly and efficiently as an element of the natural world. The CSL’s unparalleled magnificently verdant landscape, conservatory and botanical gardens combined with its outstanding use of renewable energy, sustainable resources, and water conservation, allows the facility to exist in harmonious co-existence with nature, thereby meeting all six “petals” of the Living Building Challenge.
The CSL is expected to achieve net-zero energy by the end of the year, generating more power than it consumes with several forms of renewable energy, including a vertical axis wind turbine, 125 kW photovoltaic solar panels, 14 geothermal wells, as well as passive cooling, heating and lighting. The former brownfield site now brims with native plants and five rain gardens, a rainwater harvesting lagoon and constructed wetlands which treat all storm and sanitary water on the property.
According to Jason F. McLennan, CEO of the International Living Future Institute, “Phipps’ Living Building is one of the most important projects of its kind in the world, demonstrating to the design community and thousands of annual visitors a profound new paradigm for responsible design and construction.”
by Laura Mordas-Schenkein, 03/18/15
http://inhabitat.com/phipps-center-for-sustainable-landscapes-achieves-living-building-challenge-certification/
The way we live now: the rise of the energy-producing home
Un exemple de bâtiment Zéro énergie, principalement axé sur le Photovoltaïque (FAAST)
Design projects across the world are experimenting with new ways to generate energy through the built environment
The ZEB house is one example of a new type of property designed to produce surplus energy. Photograph: EVE
Imagine living in a house that contributed to society: a house that produced energy, while consuming none itself. Well, imagine no more. After perfecting the “passivhaus”, which consumes minimal energy, engineers and architects have developed the energy positive house.
Generating energy is one thing, building a house is another. But with its plant-decorated walls and enormous double-glazed windows, the ArchiBlox Positive House, introduced in Melbourne’s City Square last month, looks elegant and modernist. “The trick is to make the sustainable and performance products visually pleasing while also practical,” reports David Martin, construction director of the ArchiBlox Positive House - the world’s first pre-fab energy positive house.
Rooftop solar panels and cooling tubes generate energy and regulate the temperature, while double-glazed windows and thick walls conserve energy. The end result: surplus power.
How an energy-producing home works. Photograph: Snøhetta
The ArchiBlox team is not alone in successfully completing the energy positive challenge. The German city of Königsbrunn, working in collaboration with the Augsburg University of Applied Sciences and a local gas and electricity company, is finalising the cube-like Visioneum in the central square, where city officials hope its presence will inspire residents to think about their household energy consumption.
At the University of California, Berkeley, students working in collaboration with Honda have developed yet another concept, theHonda Smart Home, which looks more like a typical terraced house, but which generates surplus energy the same way as the ArchiBlox and the Visioneum: by radically conserving it while generating more than it needs though solar panels.
Students at the Delft University of Technology, meanwhile, have invented a highly innovative “skin” that can be attached to existing houses with similar results. And in Norway, architecture firm Future Built has managed to turn two ordinary office buildings into energy-generating ones, cutting their energy use by 90% through additional insulation and the use of sensors to control light and heating. Here, too, solar panels on the roof provide energy that can be sold back to the grid.
“The development of smart technologies, like the Google Nest, is making energy savings more convenient for users by allowing for control over temperatures in the house while you are away from the house, and allowing temperatures to follow your daily routines”, notes Esben Alslund-Lanthén, an analyst at the Danish sustainability thinktank Sustainia.
The ZEB house. Photograph: EVE
Kristian Edwards says building a plus-house is technically straightforward. “We calculated how many square meters of solar panels we needed and optimised the angle of the roof to get maximum solar yield,” he reports. “But plus-houses are also about minimising energy consumption, so we used as much recycled material as possible, such as whole bricks from a barn nearby.” With its box-like wooden top floor slanted over the lower floor for maximum sun exposure, Snøhetta’s experiment - the ZEB Multi-Comfort House, located in the Norwegian city of Larvik - boasts a visually striking appearance.
There’s just one thing: the cost. “Cost is always a factor when building houses that are taking advantage of the newest technology”, notes Alslund-Lanthén. “Plus-houses will likely remain more expensive than conventional houses, but on the other hand the owners will benefit from lower utility bills throughout the lifetime of the house, and in many cases from added benefits such as a better indoor climate due to improved ventilation, more daylight and better insulation.”
But Edwards, an architect at the Snøhetta architechture firm in Oslo, argues that plus-houses don’t have to be expensive, noting that a ZEB-style house may only cost 25% more to build than a similar, newly-designed home. The dropping cost of photovoltaic cells will also aid the advance of plus-houses.
Either way, utility companies are currently developing new payment models that will allow home owners to pay back the cost of the new technologies through energy savings. Other plus-house owners may opt to sell their surplus energy to the grid. At the ZEB house, in turn, surplus energy will power the electric car that future residents may own.
What’s life in a plus-house like? Norwegian families have volunteered to test the ZEB house for three months each and will report their findings to Edwards and his Snøhetta colleagues. And David Martin is about to find out for himself, having signed up to live in his ArchiBlox construction with his young family for the next 24 months.
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INFOGRAPHIC: The greenest buildings in the world
Une Publication sur les bâtiments les plus "verts" ... tout est relatif mais toujours intéressant. (FAAST)
Sustainability and environmentally friendly design has become an important part of the world of construction. This infographic explores some of the world’s most efficient buildings, ranging from structures as different as Arizona State University’s Student Health Services building to The Crystal in London. From geothermal heating systems to built-in wind turbines, the buildings outlined show just how we are pushing the envelope of green architecture.
UC Berkeley unveils 3D-printed "Bloom" building made of powdered cement
Impression 3D ... sculpté (FAAST)
Ronald Rael and UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design just unveiled the an innovative 3D printed building made from powdered cement. Measuring 9 feet high by 12 feet wide and 12 feet deep, the swirling Bloom pavilion is composed of 840 custom-printed blocks made from an iron oxide-free Portland cement polymer. The variegated bricks are printed with delicate floral patterns that allow natural light to shine into the pavilion's interior, and the building glows like a lantern when illuminated from within. UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design calls it the "first and largest powder-based 3-D-printed cement structure built to date."
3D printing technology has advanced by leaps and bounds over the past decade. Whereas the first printers slowly churned out tiny trinkets and figurines, today’s advanced printers can produce functional tools, full-sized furniture, automobiles, and even entire buildings. Ronald Rael is pushing the technology to its limits, and the new Bloom pavilion opens up new possibilities for the field of 3D-printed architecture.
Rael is an associate professor of architecture at Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design and co-founder of Emerging Objects – a 3D printing think tank that recently developed a brick that can cool buildings using only water. He worked with Thailand-based Siam Research and Innovation and a graduate student research team composed of Kent Wilson, Alex Schofield, Sofia Anastassiou and Yina Dong to develop the elegant, curving structure made from 840 precisely printed bricks
The Bloom pavilion’s construction process and materials set it apart from from other 3D printed structures. Most 3D printed buildings are created by extruding wet cement through a nozzle. This process creates durable buildings, however the finished product is rough and imprecise. Bloom was constructed over the course of a year by 11 3D Systems printers using powdered cement, polymers, and fibers. This process minimized waste and yielded strong, lightweight bricks printed with high-resolution details. According to UC Berkeley, “Bloom is a precise 3-D-printed cement polymer structure that overcomes many of the previous limitations to 3-D-printed architecture. Such limitations include the speed and cost of production as well as aesthetics and practical applications.”
After its official unveiling yesterday, the Bloom Pavilion was disassembled and shipped to Siam Research and Innovation in Thailand to be displayed for several months before touring the world.
by Mike Chino, 03/09/15
http://inhabitat.com/worlds-largest-3d-printed-building-made-from-powdered-cement-unveiled-at-uc-berkeley/