designing sustainable development in moscow, idaho Jessica Shoemaker, Anne Zuercher
table of contents mission what is “sustainable” or “regenerative” development? orientation and site context studies: existing conditions case studies proposed changes land water waste energy circulation social summary bibliography
mission
The mission of this sustainable design in Moscow is to design a community continually adapting to meet the social and economic needs of its residents while preserving the environment’s ability to support it. The intention is to design and build economical, equitable and ecologically healthy communities that serve as a model for future design planning. With the incorporation of water conservation and local agriculture, as well as renewable energy, wildlife preservation and alternative transportation, this development will serve as a major educational resource center for all aspects of sustainability. Integrating mixed use, human scaled development creates diverse community involvement, as well as connection to the surrounding neighborhoods and a more pleasing atmosphere to spend time in. Sustainable design is not simply about “sustaining� the quality of our lives - it is about improving it by emphasizing on the long term, local and community benefits.
site
North Moscow and PCEI
orientation
highway 95
to Potlatch
highway 8
to Troy
sustainability:
The ability of an ecosystem to maintain ecological processes, functions, biodiversity and productivity into the future. For humans to live sustainably, the Earth’s resources must be used at a rate at which they can be replenished. The U.N. World Commission defines sustainability as “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts: the concept of “needs”, in particular the essential needs of the world, to which overriding priority should be given and the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs. Sustainability developed from the unsustainable patterns of production and consumption which have produced our present dilemma. A shift is necessary toward lifestyles less geared to environmentally damaging consumption patterns.”
regenerative development: Development that improves the environment and continues to do so over time. This means creating more natural resources than you use and developing a system that can continously heal itself. Regnerative development can also be applied to the ideas of the cradle-to-cradle theory, a model of industrial systems in which material flows cyclically in appropriate, continuous biological or technical nutrient cycles. All waste materials are productively re-incorporated into new production and use - “waste equals food.”
pros -wide variety of housing types -zoned for commercial along highway
cons -large amount of single family and
duplex housing, creating low density development -limited amount of land for agriculture -separation between commercial, residential and agricultural -limited connectivity routes in many areas
motor business multifamily residential single family (9600 sq. feet) agriculture single family (7000 sq. feet) suburban residential duplex farm/ranch/transitional city limit streets
zoning
residential
multi-family single family (9600 sq. feet) single family (7000 sq. feet) suburban residential duplex city limit streets
commercial
motor business agriculture farm/ranch/transitional city limit streets
zoning
It is vital to establish compact towns and cities using urban growth boundaries and other planning and zoning measures. This type of land use creates coherent urban regions which are a fundamental social, economic, and ecological unit. Such regions are naturally bounded by topography, watersheds, greenbelts, and surrounding farmland and wildlands. Compact cities, towns and villages ease development pressures on forests and farms, helping to stabilize rural communities and maintain wildlands. Urban growth boundaries help prevent development patterns from sprawling beyond the edges of a town, city or metropolitan region. Mixed-use neighborhoods with a gradient of densities from park to commercial center form the basic building blocks of towns and cities.
land
existing pros -large trees mark property
boundaries and create private space -PCEI has planted new vegetation on site
-lack of vegetation used as a cons buffer for streets and sidewalks
streets city limit paved area trees and greenery buildings
-non-native vegetation -large green grass yards -no growth boundary to reduce sprawl
land use
Tyron Farms, Northern Indiana
the land
the homes
save the farmland and the woods establish wetland habitats reestablish prairies clean sewer water for irrigation control storm water minimalize roads manage waste establish gardens protect open space
cluster the houses protect privacy make simple designs use good materials built well design private courtyards place windows for sunlight keep night lighting low
features
preservation of natural beauty and resources 120 acres of the 170 acre farm left open for hiking, views, and habitat several wetland ponds, prairies, meadows and woods to roam horses, pasture and stables next door goats and chickens living in the original farm buildings bonfire circle in the middle meadow. large area with shared garden plots for your use, picnic tables, mowed area for kite flying, baseball events such as movies, bike hikes, potluck suppers, bird walks, discussions and seminars at the old barn, restored prairie, farmed fields
case study
Middleton Hills,Wisconsin neotraditional neighborhood the neighborhood is limited in size so that a majority of the population is within a 5-minute walking distance of its center. The needs of daily life are theoretically available within this area. The streets are laid out on a grid or network, so that there are alternate routes to every destination. This permits most streets to be smaller, with slower traffic. Streets are spatially defined by buildings which enfront the sidewalk in a disciplined manner uninterrupted by parking lots. The buildings are various in function, but compatible in size and in disposition on their lots. There is a mixture of houses, large and small, outbuildings, small apartment buildings, shops, restaurants, offices and warehouses. Open space is provided in the form of specialized squares, playgrounds and parks.
unique features smaller lots result in closer configurations and counter the sense of land waste and isolation that typify modern development. Generous greenspace and open areas are incorportaed into the design. Grouping of housing units on smaller lots permits forty acres of undeveloped greenspace. Narrow streets that follow the topography of the land discourage speeding, and are therefore safer for pedestrians -- particularly children and the elderly -- to cross. They also encourage neighbor interaction. The criss-crossing of streets in a grid system provides more optional routes and less congestion than typical suburban thoroughfares.
open space
-save the optimal land for all to enjoy -preserve the conservation land
-implement zones in prime growing area -increase vegetation in and around site -community gardens
-mixed use development -dense, clustered housing -community gathering space -separate private and public sectors
-implement growth boundary -follow planned layout for future -water and waste features to mitigate unnecessary consumption
agriculture
integration of community
planned development
existing streets city limit paved area trees and greenery buildings proposed implementation
bioswales
irrigation channels retention pond
bioswales recycling center composting stations wind turbines
proposal
The most critical part of the Ecological Infrastructure is the movement of water, stormwater, and wastewater throughout the city. When residential and commercial developments employ permeable paving, rooftop rainwater catchment systems or water-retaining eco-roofs, they allow water to infiltrate on-site, often after one or more uses. Neighborhood-scale gathering and infiltration of stormwater can be accomplished with bioswales and retention ponds.
water
existing pros -water on site can be harvested
-permeable paving on PCEI land absorbing runoff -existing water retention pond on PCEI land
cons -flooding due to lack of storm water
storm system streets city limit retension pond/constructed wetlands water drainage
management -lack of water capture and filtration on site -erosion of fertile soil -non-porous streets and sidewalks limiting water absorbtion -no limit on water consumption -no restrictions on water use
storm and waste water
runoff reduction
Sidwell Friends Middle School
design a green roof system
water conservation education
educate building management and employees about water conservation
landscape plantings
landscape with indigenous vegetation
managing storm water
design a constructed wetland for pollutant removal from storm water
rainwater collection
collect and store rainwater for uses in building collect and filter rainwater for use in cooling towers
design buildings to use treated wastewater for non-potable uses
wastewater and gray water recycling
case study
proposal constructed wetlands
-rice paddies -sand filter -greywater storage tank
additional retention pond
-managing flooding -wildlife habitat
green house and living machine existing water drainage retention pond city limit streets
proposed implementation irrigation channels greenhouse/living machine retention pond bioswales constructed wetlands
-blackwater treatment -agricultural use -education
repurposing waste
-composting toilets -reuse and use of recycled materials -recyling facility
-manage flooding -swales
irrigation channels for agriculture
One of the underlying reasons waste generation is increasing is that neither industry, retail firms, governments, nor individual consumers have an incentive to use natural resources frugally. The resources are artificially cheap, and the gross national product and other measurements of economic health do not capture the environmental and social consequences of the initial and subsequent waste production and disposal costs. Therefore, we must extract and use materials in such a way that they do not systematically accumulate in the biosphere, any bioregion, or any ecosystem. Sustainable Materials Cycles emphasize materials which are highly abundant, non-toxic, and which can be digested by ecosystems and eventually sequestered back in the crust. Resource Efficiency decreases both the overall flow of materials in the industrial economy and their inevitable leakage into the biosphere. Use materials which are highly abundant, non-toxic, and easily broken down by ecosystems helps promote resource efficiency to minimize the need for raw materials.
waste
existing pros -savagable materials on site
-adaptive reuse of existing structures -available land for composting and recycling -strawbale constructed bike shelter
cons -use of virgin materials
-degenerative material use -cradle-to-grave approach -no composting -no restictions on materiality use -active systems
streets city limit buildings
material reuse
earth-smart design at IslandWood, they are active participants in energy conservation, composting, recycling, and harnessing alternative energy sources. all of the facilities on our campus feature numerous sustainable elements that help restore and maintain the site and remind visitors that even our simple, day-to-day tasks have an impact on the environment. general overview all concrete contains 50% flyash, a recycled utility waste product of coal walk-off mats at entry doors are made from recycled tires Wood harvested from solar meadows used for exterior siding and interior trim main center the small sections of carpet are made from 95%-recycled carpet a 92-foot, 120-year-old salvaged wood beam serves as a major design element flooring is assembled from salvaged wood dining hall bathrooms feature recycled glass tiles in floor and wainscoting educational studios each classroom features a different sustainable flooring: cork, bamboo, recycled rubber, and concrete bathroom stall partitions are made from recycled plastic each classroom countertop features a different sustainable surface: recycled-content concrete, recycled yogurt container composite creative arts studio walls are constructed from straw bales sleeping lodges throw rugs are woven from upholstery remnants and discarded clothing flooring in great room and loft made from recycled wood wood use sustainably harvested wood was purchased and used in 75% of the entire project site-harvested trees, cleared for siting the buildings on campus, were dried and milled, and used in exterior and interior trim
IslandWood
case study
proposal
use of savagable materials
-reuse of existing structural materials -adaptive reuse of concrete foundations -use of recycled products
treatment of materials -untreated materials to reduce off-gasing
-sustainable manufacturing
earth-smart planning
-restictions upon material use (true cost) -cradle-to-cradle approach -land use regulations
implementation of composting trees and greenery proposed trees and greenery recycling center
composting stations photovoltaics sustainable development city limits
-composting for housing units -recycling center for community
Generating energy using renewable sources, including wind, solar, small-scale hydro, biomass, and geothermal can extravagantly reduce the amount of energy used. Advances in wind turbine technology, falling costs, and unstable fossil fuel prices have combined to make wind-generated electricity an increasingly viable alternative to conventional energy resources. The efficiencies of photovoltaic cells and solar thermal systems continue to increase slowly, with rapid cost decreases. Small-scale hydropower, cleanly and efficiently converts the power of flowing water into electricity without blocking a river. Biomass, including agricultural and forestry residues and the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes, can be burned to produce both heat and electricity. Geothermal power plants capture steam from hot underground brine fields to spin turbines that in turn generate electricity. Hydrogen provides a viable transportation fuel alternative to fossil fuels, and a viable energy storage device complementing the electrical grid. All of which can help limit the amount of energy that is drawn from that grid.
energy
existing trees city limit west prevailing winds sun path existing structures streets existing water
pros -potential for passive systems cons -use of the city grid
-no natural ventilation -lack of passive solar penetration -lack of orientation planning -no incorporation with existing environment
existing
renewable energy Sidwell Friends Middle School
The renovation and addition to the middle school transforms a 55-year old facility into a school that teaches environmental responsibility by example. The 39,000 sq. foot addition provides modern spaces for music and art, science and computer labs, counseling, and a library while retaining and enhancing the value of the existing structure. The existing landscape was a biological and aesthetic scar in need of restoration. The design team carefully analyzed the regional context and ecology of the site with the goal of reestablishing connections to local geology, watersheds, and habitat. The campus sits on a ridge near the highest point in the District of Columbia, between two watersheds that flow to the Potomac River. As a result, water management and landscape development became central to establishing meaningful connections between the campus and the community.
energy strategies solar cooling loads shade south windows with overhangs daylighting for energy efficiency south-facing windows for daylighting large interior windows to increase daylighting penetration non-solar cooling loads operable windows ceiling fans to improve comfort at higher temperatures cooling systems commission the HVAC system ventilation systems heat-recovery ventilation
energy implementation
passive solar design high-efficiency electric solar ventilation chimneys photovoltaic array
the building uses 60% less energy than comparable buildings designed to code
case study
existing trees city limit proposed wind turbines proposed trees for shading houses with photovoltaics existing streets irrigation channels
photovoltaics -implement on extisting structures as well as potential addition wind turbines -possible placement on north side of site (highest topographical point) thermal mass -design earth bermed structures for additional development
-explore alternative insulation strategies such as straw bale contruction
-propose shading devices based upon sun angles and seasonal climatic characteristics
-water heating through photovoltaics
-design spaces with operable windows
daylighting and solar gain -practice passive options to improve natural lighting
passive solar heating -windows to allow for direct sunlight during winter months natural ventilation -implement cross ventilation strategies
proposal
Improved transit access will occur through the creation of effective competition between many different travel modes. The hierarchy of least cost transportation mode alternatives runs from: walking, biking, bus, to personal car. With the creation of a more efficient, effective, and accessible public transit system, a strong alternative will be provided to the singleoccupant vehicle. Infrastructure should be constructed without severing the neighborhood fabric. It will preserve connectivity, providing safe and pleasant passage for both people and wildlife.
circulation
pros -two valley transit lines
-sidewalks through developed area
cons -lack of sidewalks or alternative
paths -bus route does not pass through site -no pedestrian connection to downtown Moscow -bicyclists must use streets intended for vehiclular transportation -streets are cul-de-sacs and dead ends, rather than connectors -high car use creates significant emissions
streets city limit
alternative transportation route (bicycle/pedestrian) automobile transportation
bus route
existing
circulation Binbrook Ontario, Canada
The Village of Binbrook is located in the southwest portion of the newly amalgamated City of Hamilton in southwestern Ontario. It is a standalone community of under 1,000 people separated from the Hamilton urban area by 6 km of rural countryside. Design alternatives were developed to maximize space for landscaped boulevards and medians, sidewalks, and parking. In order to encourage consolidation of accesses, alternatives for roadway cross-sections were developed that included strategically placed left-turn lanes and medians. Alternatives for cross-sections that incorporated continuous centre left-turn lanes were also developed, but it was recognized that such alternatives would not encourage land consolidation and use of consolidated access points. Urban design alternatives were developed that built on the opportunities presented by the former, including such features as massing the buildings along the front property lines, and providing parking in the rear.
Design Objective: Traffic and Parking: -minimize potential pedestrain and vehicular conflcits through well defined streets and paking lot access for vehicles and pedestrains -incorportate planted medians as traffic calming strategy -provide on-street parking -consolodate parking lot entrances to reduce potential vehicle and pedestrain conflicts -provide traffic calming opportunities through the use of planted medians -parking lots to be located to the rear of exsisting and proposed development -incorporate bicycle lanes thorughout the core area to provide a connection to adjacent neighborhoods
case study
alternative transportion During the last fifty years Brazil has, as many countries in the South, witnessed a rapid urbanization. People leave the country side and the shrinking agrarian sector for the educing city lights in hope for a better life, but unlike the urbanization process of Europe at the turn of the last century there are no longer any factory floors to accommodate the growing labor force. The influx of people from the country side combined with a growing population created city growth numbers around five per cent annually. City planners decided to address the increasing growth by developing a master plan for the city which focused on five key principles: -changing the radial urban growth trend to a linear one by integrated land use, road network and transport strategy -decongest the city center and preserve its historical buildings and neighborhoods with legislation and economic incentives -demographic control and management -economic support to urban development -infrastructure improvement
Curitiba, Brazil
These structural corridors are composed of a triple road system with the central road having two restricted lanes dedicated to express buses. Parallel to the express bus lanes are two local roads running in opposite directions which allow local traffic to pass through the city. Large buildings holding a high density of people were permitted to be built along these corridors, but as you moved away from these central corridors the admissible densities declined from urban apartment buildings to residential neighborhoods. The tube stations were constructed to speed up the system. Passengers now enter from the tube station at an even level to the bus floor and the passengers pay their fares by tokens or in cash to an attendant at a turnstile when entering the tube station. Boarding times are thus reduced, approaching those of subway passengers, and the short waiting times are in a relatively sheltered and safe environment. The policy of encouraging high density development along the five structural arteries has helped to divert transport movement from the city center. The low congestion consequently made it easier to promote other means of travel in the city center. Hence, the city created a pedestrian network, covering an area equivalent to nearly fifty blocks, in the downtown area.
case study
city limit grid layout for infrastructure development proposed bus route existing bus route potential bus stops
vinyl valley and rodeo drive
proposed bike and pedestrian path
-eliminate cul-de-sacs and make roads connect to polk -widen sidewalks to include a natural buffer from traffic -implement car pool system -create connection between commercial and residential
palouse clearwater environmental institute
-implement perviously paved road into sustainable community -connect rodeo to upper neighborhood -create walking paths around development
bus route and connection to moscow
-add another bus route to include vinyl valley, pcei and polk street
highway 95
-reduce lanes, increase sidewalks and include a natural buffer from traffic -implement more and better defined bus stops
streets
proposal
Communities are the incubators for cultural diversity and cultural preservation. They allow people of many different races, faiths, and worldviews to enrich each other, providing an enduring sense of security. Communities enhance Social Equity by providing a variety of social options, including religious organizations, neighborhood associations, and non-profit entities, helping people meet their needs.
human
existing
pros -great potential for rural sustainable community cons -no sense of place
-lack of “eyes on the street� -no human diversity in and around the site -lack of economic diversity -no mixed use land development -lack of community transportation, path systems
sense of place
fairview village is about making connections mixing houses and apartments of assorted sizes and prices to bridge the divide of age and economic status. designing “third places� for informal socializing, where individuals can connect with the larger community. creating physical connections; mixing houses with shops, churches, and government buildings to which residents can easily walk; and, constructing a network of continuous walkways and streets so residents can easily reach other parts of the Village. transportation to get people out of their cars and back on the streets. streets are designed for walkers and bicycle riders as well as motorists. 30 acres of conservation lands provide attractive forested areas through which the SalishTrail System meanders. neighborhoods each neighborhood has a pocket park within a two-minute walk of every home. each pocket park is distinguished by a special landmark feature - a brick plaza, a fountain, or a special tree variety - to give each neighborhood a separate character. streets end with a visual reference point - a significant feature like a park, a bridge, or a building. every street terminates with a vista, not a garage door! commercial retail and residential is connected by a continuous system of sidewalks and footpaths so that residents are no more than a five-minute walk from work, shopping, and recreation.
Fairview Village
Portland, OR
mixed use offers a broad variety of housing choices -- single family homes, row houses, townhomes, flats above garages, apartments over shops, garden apartments, and senior living opportunities. every generation of a family can live in the same neighborhood. in addition to the home and the work place, people need public places where they can meet to relax and catch up on “the latest”. urban living is about sustaining human contact. It’s about running into old and new friends. eyes on the street in much of suburbia, we have all but lost what has been called the “ quintessential urban pleasure” -- to walk along the streets of our neighborhoods and meet other people. public spaces at Fairview Village -- including the streets, parks, and squares -- are designed to be the focus for the conduct of daily living. throughout the Village, the street and sidewalk design is intended to foster “low-tech interactions,” where residents stroll after dinner and stop to chat with neighbors. the ritual of watching other people, being watched, and chatting is the core of the social promenade overall design emphasizing a diverse mix of land uses within walking range of each other, smaller lot sizes, along with public gathering spots, strong civic buildings, and all interconnected by a comprehensive street and walkway system.
case study
proposal mixed use development
-offers a broad variety of housing choices -availability for live/work environment -mix of residential, commercial, civic and public space
-increase connectivity of existing streets -walking paths -additional bike route -carpooling -implementing bike lane
-pocket parks, gathering spaces -scheduled community events and functions -comprehensive street and walkway system for communication -housing development based upon social interaction
-diverse categories of housing -implementation of low income and subsidized housing
community transportation retention ponds trees and greenery protection, healing housing
prospertity
commercial development
energy, happiness conservation lands
peace
park
nature, restful
earth, order PCEI
formality streets
safety, purity city limits
social interaction
dispersion of economic differences
summary
Overall, the building design process is never ‘conventional.’ The integration of sustainable technologies should be viewed as an ongoing design opportunity that should be taken advantage of from design development to post-occupancy. The designer must look at the site up close and from afar, in order to read the site and learn from what is apparent, invisible and ephemeral. The best way to use the proposed strategies of land, water, waste, energy, circulation and human, is to understand their basis in order to be able to match the technology with their need in the design. Working with environmental strategies is more than assembling parts, or the choosing of systems, it is important for the parts to blend with an infinite variation of execution. Great projects are sometimes a case of understanding and applying innovative modes of design.
bibliography Roseland, Mark. Toward Sustainable Communities. Canada: New Society Publishers, 2007. Grondzik, Walter and Aison G. Kwok. The Green Studio Handbook. New York: Architectural Press, 2007. McDonough, William. Cradle to Cradle. New York: North Point Press, 2002 Cowan, Stuart. “Concervation Economy.” 2008. 22 April 2008. <http://www.conservationeconomy.net/>.