STUDENT JOURNAL ALYSSA MAREE SANTOMARTINO (585168) ABPL30048: STUDIO AIR
SEMESTER 1, 2014 UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
TUTORS: Haslett Grounds and Brad Elias Studio #11
03
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Pg 3 CONCEPTUALISATION ................................................................................................................. Pg 6 Precedents Pg 7-9 Energy Harvesting Research Reading Response Pg 10-11 Pg 12
04
05
INTRODUCTION My name is Alyssa and I am majoring in Architecture in Melbourne University’s Bachelor of Environments. So far I am enjoying the course and all of the different aspects of learning and designing it involves. I enjoy spending time with friends and family, travelling, learning, reading and music along with design. Having travelled to different places in the world, I enjoy learning about different cultures and their design practices. I enjoy the structured but creative process of architecture; going from the idea, to sketches, to the computer aided design and a model example. I am therefore excited to learn about using parametric modelling in rhino and grasshopper. I have had some experience with Rhino through Virtual Environments course. Through this we worked with panelling tools to create a fabricated model. I enjoyed learning about computer aided design as it is different to what is taught in other studios. Computer aided design, I believe is prevalent in architectural design today, therefore this subject will be of great importance to me. Other than this I have had experience with Auto Cad due to my external internship. The basics of this program were learnt thought the subject Virtual Environments. Here I also learn to use some of the Adobe programs like Indesign, Photoshop and illustrator.
06
PART A CONCEPTUALISATION
07
PRECEDENT PROJECT IDEAS
Project: Sky Domes Submitted: Iranian team consisting of Pouyan Bizet, Iman Amini, Alireza Houbakht, Amin Amini, Delaram Zarnegar, Setareh Sedghi. Aims: to connect Manhattan with the Freshkills Park through a visual relationship as, from the high-rise buildings in the city the park can be clearly seen. The sky domes can land and take off from the ground depending on the wind. Envisage: a wind farm with a capacity of 100MW. The Sky Domes mimic kites however are built with approximately 20 wind turbine lenses. This is an example of innovative technological use. As they mimic something which everyone is familiar with, the idea doesn’t seem so farfetched.
I think that this is a creative idea that could potentially create the amount of energy which has been envisaged. Seeing that they ‘take off and land’, this could potentially dangerous for users of the site, depending on their weight and materiality. The idea depends on the use of many domes, should Manhattan expand, the wind farm could not continue at this scale and the design would not survive. The domes do fit the brief and are a creative design idea which could be seen not only within the park but also from the city, becoming a daily reminder of sustainability. When on the site, the domes are also extremely user friendly which also meets the brief. http://landartgenerator.org/LAGI-2012/ L053I31G/
08
Project: Project Butterfly Submitted: Polish design team; Mirosław Struzik, Tadeusz Zdanowicz, and Tomasz Pultowicz Aims: for the butterfly concept tobecome symbolic of the change that was to happen at the park. “Like a metamorphosis in the life of an butterfly from the egg through unattractive larva to the beautiful adult, this project will change the landfill to colorful and full of attractions place to enjoy.” Envisiage: that New York as a multinational centre. The butterfly has symbolic meaning within many cultures communities therefore all can connect with it. They attempt to create a sculptural artistic design and combined that with new technology to create renewable energy.
The large butterfly outline is lined with smaller butterflies which are raised at angles. The wings of the butterflies are solar cells which aim to create a clean environment with fresh air. The larger butterfly outline is 500 by 620 metres. They aim to create a site where the public can be involved, I however don’t believe that they have fulfilled this. In the design outline the images show a number of paths leading around the butterflies, making public involvement minimal. As they light up at night this is could become an attraction for the area, bringing tourists, however this seems to be a waste of the energy which has been collected by the butterflies. Overall however I don’t think that the design is leading in its technology, rather it is a little immature and tacky. Usage of solar panels is not new and innovative. The designs should be inspiring of ways to renew energy which has not been seen before as this could influence new ideas within the community about energy renewal.
http://landartgenerator.org/LAGI-2012/MS071256/
09
Project: Aeolian Transport Submitted: Emma Froh, Olivia Waller from the USA Aims: Use wind turbine technology to transform wind into energy Envisage: a project which will transform Freshkills Park from a landfill to a community space. The design intent production and movement, the final pink form being made up of curved hill shaped lines to display this I think it is a comprehensive design. Landscape architecture has been considered;how the seed dispersal of plants will be characterised by the wind turbines.
During peak harvesting periods the arch’s glow bright, lighting up the night sky. I think this is a brilliant idea as it serves as a celebration of energy renewing. This would become a reminding force to the public which could become a changing factor in the way people think. It contributes practically and ideologically to renewable energy. This design stands out as the design team has considered how their project would last over time on the site. Whilst the vibrant hot pink arches are not that appealing to me in that location, nor are they extremely complex from a design point of view, the opportunities they present for the future are exciting and promising, therefore I’m inclined to like this proposal.
http://landartgenerator.org/LAGI-2012/TGV28B5J/
10
ENERGY HARVESTING TECHNIQUES Geothermal
Geothermal energy harvesting refers to the residual heat under the earth’s crust from the creation of the planet1. Once the heat is extracted, energy can be collected. The heat can then be reused for other purpose after extraction. Sktech: The geothermal process understood by me
Green Diesel
Green Diesel uses naturally occurring oils, like canola and vegetable, to produce diesel. This is a modern issue due to the shortage of petrol. The process involves heating the oil to 600 degrees2 which could lead to problematic issues with public involvement.
Kinetic Energy Harvesting: Piezoletric Generators
Piezoelectric Generators convert kinetic energy from mechanical strain into electrical energy3. When exposed to vibrations from weight placed upon them power is produced. An example is a footstep. From walking on the plate’s power can be produced4. Due to this some research is being taken to place them within footpaths. The energy collected would be used to power lights and other small scale road connected objects5. The downfall however, it does not have a 24hour effect, only when in use will the energy e produced. Therefore, whilst it is an easy way for energy to be produced it may not collect as much energy as something over a 24 hour period. The bonus, however, is that such a technique could be easily incorporated into which ever design as today; it is available in many forms. Only small amounts of energy would be able to be collected according to the Piezoelectric website6. On the site, piezoelectric technology could be installed underneath the land everywhere. An outdoor training area could then be manufactured where people could come to not only train but also create energy. Process of Energy Capture
Image: Piezotechnology, Energy Harvesting- The Piezo Effectt for generating Energy, (2013), <http://www.piceramic.com/energy_harvesting. php> [Accessed on 10/3/14] 1.Robert Ferry &Elizabeth Monoian, a Field guide to renewable energy technologies, LGIA 2012, pp. 2.Ibid, pp. 3.Piezotechnology, Energy Harvesting- The Piezo Effectt for generating Energy, (2013), <http://www.piceramic.com/energy_harvesting.php> [Accessed on 10/3/14] 4.Robert Ferry &Elizabeth Monoian, a Field guide to renewable energy technologies, LGIA 2012, pp. 5.Andriopoulou Symeoni, A review on Energy Harvesting from Roads, <http://kth.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:549685/FULLTEXT01.pdf> 6.Piezotechnology, Energy Harvesting- The Piezo Effectt for generating Energy, (2013), <http://www.piceramic.com/energy_harvesting.php> [Accessed on 10/3/14]
11
Photo Voltaic: Infrared and UV
Infrared and UV Photo Voltaic energy generators are essentially Solar energy panels, however the advancement leads to a 24hour capture potential. Normal Solar Panels collect the thermal energy from the sun, Infrared and UV, however, just collect the infrared and UV rays from the sun7. This allows all of the visible light spectrum to filter through. The technology developed has created a glass with this type of energy collection within. Potentially, this could be used on a house and it would permit natural light in and collect energy as well. The technology also reduces internal heat gain within the building 8. The conversion efficiency is extremely high, up to 90%9, therefore maximum energy can be captured. Technology has been developed from solar panels, where “multiple thin films of varying absorption capabilities are required to catch the entire spectrum of light”10 and then store it. This technique could be used on site in a sculptural manner, seen in the sketch
Hydroelectricity (Hydrokinetic): Vortex Power
Vortex power is a concept based on the idea that fish use water vortex energy to propel themselves through it . These vortices created by placing objects in flowing water creating obstacles for the water to move around. As it replicates nature, it is not ecologically damaging like some of the other hydroelectrically energy creators . Fins are placed in the water which in turn generates a current through vibration. This creates an efficient feedback loop . The idea originated at the University of Michigan where a VIVACE (Vortex Induced Vibration for Aquatic Clean Energy) was created. It “emulates the natural and destructive phenomenon of vortex induced vibration” known as VIV. This is “motion which is induced on a body facing an external flow due to the periodic irregularities in the flow caused by boundary layer separation” . These vibrating bodies only need 1-2 knots of vibration. It is still in the stage of development. Due to the site context, water could be brought directly onto it and the public could be involved in the process of creating obstacles for the vortexes. An example of this could be through the creation of a water way for the public.
7.Robert Ferry &Elizabeth Monoian, a Field guide to renewable energy technologies, LGIA 2012, pp. 8.Ibid, pp. 9.Ibid, pp. 10.Rick Martin, New PV Cell generates electricity from UV and IR light, April 2014, < http://www.gizmag.com/pv-cell-ultraviolet-infraredlight/14708/> [ accessed, 10/3/14] 11.Robert Ferry &Elizabeth Monoian, a Field guide to renewable energy technologies, LGIA 2012, pp. 12.Ibid, pp. 13.Ibid, pp. 14.Michael M. Bernitsas & James C. MacBain, VIVACE: A NEW CONCEPT FOR HARVESTING HYDROKINETIC ENERGY, (publication date unknown) < http://www.nist.gov/tip/wp/pswp/upload/87_vivace_a_new_concept_for_harnessing_hydrokenetic_energy.pdf> [ accessed 11/3/14] 15.Ibid
12
READING RESPONSE In ‘Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice’1 , Fry argues that better designing is needed for the future. He says that without it, there mightn’t be a future at all2. Presently we are downing in a sea of un-sustainability. Nature cannot be relied upon as a sustaining method due to the large population of the Earth and the amount of ecological damage that has been done to it. Currently the renewable resources can not keep up, being used 25% faster than they renew3. Therefore the ethical and ecological implication must be understood when designing. There needs to be a change in the thought process of design. The problems need to be resolved; however after effects may still be around for years after due to the length of time atmospheric gases have been in the atmosphere. Should issues not be resolved this would lead to global population re- distribution on a massive scale 4. “In increasingly more unsustainable worlds, design intelligence would deliver the means to make crucial judgements about actions that could increase or decrease future potential.” 5 These actions however, also have to be considered over a lapse of time, as whilst they might provide some relief for the moment, they could worsen the situation in the future, something which Fry claims might be happening at the moment6. Design
is
the
leading
area
which
can
provide
change
1. Fry, Tony (2008). Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg), pp.1-16 2. Fry, Tony pp.2 3. Fry, Tony pp. 4 4. Fry, Tony pp. 5 5. Fry, Tony pp. 12 6. Fry, Tony pp. 13
for
sustainability.
13
14
15