ARCH256 E-ISSUE 15MAY11 by ARCHITECTURE 256 magazine

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e-ISSUE 15-MAY-11

ARCHITECTURE YOUR GATEWAY TO THE NEW WORLD

E-ISSUE 15MAY 11

. ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS . JOHN E JAQUA SCHOOL .

001

GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE LOCATION

GUANGZHOU,CHINA ARCHITECT

ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS WRITER

COURTESY OF ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS PHOTOGRAPHY

CHRISTIAN RICHTERS, IWAN BAAN,SIMON BERTRAND.

ARCHITECTURE256 / E-MAY 2011 / FOCUS

001 GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE BY

ZAHA HADID

Like pebbles in a stream smoothed by erosion, the Guangzhou Opera House sits in perfect harmony with its riverside location. The Opera House is at the heart of Guangzhou’s cultural development. Its unique twin-boulder design enhances the city by opening it to the Pearl River, unifying the adjacent cultural buildings with the towers of international finance in Guangzhou’s Zhujiang new town. The 1,800-seat auditorium of the Opera House houses the very latest acoustic technology, and the smaller 400-seat multifunction hall is designed for performance art, opera and concerts in the round. The design evolved from the concepts of a natural landscape and the fascinating interplay between architecture and nature; engaging with the principles of erosion, geology and topography. The Guangzhou Opera House design has been particularly influenced by river valleys – and the way in which they are transformed by erosion.

Fold lines in this landscape define territories and zones within the Opera House, cutting dramatic interior and exterior canyons for circulation, lobbies and cafes, and allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the building. Smooth transitions between disparate elements and different levels continue this landscape analogy. Custom moulded glass-fibre reinforced gypsum (GFRC) units have been used for the interior of the auditorium to continue the architectural language of fluidity and seamlessness. The Guangzhou Opera House has been the catalyst for the development of cultural facilities in the city including new museums, library and archive. The Opera House design is the latest realization of Zaha Hadid Architects’ unique exploration of contextual urban relationships, combining the cultural traditions that have shaped Guangzhou’s history, with the ambition and optimism that will create its future.

ARCHITECTURE256 / E-MAY 2011 / FOCUS

001 GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE BY

ZAHA HADID

THE 1,800-SEAT AUDITORIUM OF THE OPERA HOUSE HOUSES THE VERY LATEST ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGY, AND THE SMALLER 400-SEAT MULTIFUNCTION HALL IS DESIGNED FOR PERFORMANCE ART, OPERA AND CONCERTS IN THE ROUND.

ARCHITECTURE256 / E-MAY 2011 / FOCUS

001 GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE BY

ZAHA HADID

ARCHITECTURE256 / E-MAY 2011 / FOCUS

001 GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE BY

ZAHA HADID

ARCHITECTURE256 / E-MAY 2011 / FOCUS

GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE

001 GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE BY

GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE

WEST ELEVATION 50

NORTH ELEVATION 50

ZAHA HADID

WEST ELEVATION

NORTH ELEVATION

SITE PLAN

PLAN LEVEL 0.0M GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE

GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE

SITE PLAN

PLAN LEVEL 0.00M

1. UNDER-PLAZA SPACE

2. ENTRANCE LOBBY

3. VIP LOUNGE 4. AUDITORIUM 5. STAGE

6. SCENERY ASSEMBLY

7. STAFF ENTRANCE

8. STAGE STORAGE 9. KITCHEN 10. DINING AREA

11. CAFETERIA

12. TICKET OFFICE 13. GIFT SHOP

14. RESEARCH CENTER 15. PRESS CONFERENCE

2 16

ROOM 16. UNDERGROUND ACCESS

12 13

GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE 1

GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE

EAST ELEVATION 50

EAST ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION 50

SOUTH ELEVATION

GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE CROSS SECTION THROUGH OPERATIC THEATER

CROSS SECTION THROUGH OPERATIC THEATRE

GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE LONGITUDINAL SECTION

LONGITUDINAL SECTION

PLAN LEVEL 5.0M

PLAN LEVEL 11.0M GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE

GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE

PLAN LEVEL 5.00M

PLAN LEVEL 16.00M

2 1. PLAZA 2. FOYER 3. CLOAK ROOM 4. AUDITORIUM 5. VOID ABOVE STAGE

6. VOID ABOVE SCENERY

ASSEMBLY

7. MULTI - FUNCTIONAL HALL

4 3 2 1

1. AUDITORIUM 2. SKY RESTAURANT

3. PERFORMER’S LOUNGE 4. VOID ABOVE STAGE 5. BALLET REHEARSAL ROOM

6. OPERATIC REHEARSAL ROOM 7. RECORDING STUDIO 8. VOID ABOVE MULTI-

FUNCTIONAL HALL

ARCHITECTURE256 / E-MAY 2011 / FOCUS

002

JOHN.E.JAQUA ACADEMIC CENTRE FOR STUDENT ATHLETES LOCATION

UNIVERSITY OF OREGON,USA. ARCHITECT

ZGF ARCHITECTS LLP WRITER

COURTESY OF ZGF ARCHITECTS PHOTOGRAPHY

COURTESY OF ZGF ARCHITECTS

ARCHITECTURE256 / E-MAY 2011 / FOCUS

002 JOHN.E.JAQUA ACADEMIC CENTER FOR STUDENT ATHLETES BY

ZGF

The John E. Jaqua Center for Student Athletes at the University of Oregon explores the limits of transparency and connectivity to provide the UO’s student-athletes a place to gather as a community focused on study and learning. The challenge of creating a tranquil environment where students feel connected to natural landscape elements and daylight was heightened by the chosen location: a busy intersection between campus and the city of Eugene, on the site of a former parking lot at one of the major campus entrances. The site’s visual prominence led to the building designed with four public facades and no ‘back door,’ which has reinforced its importance within the landscape as an iconic element. “The Jaqua Center,” as it has become known, uses a series of creative innovations in the design of the building envelope and the surrounding landscaping in support of resolving the challenges of the site, all while addressing and leveraging opportunities within existing state energy policies and state regulations.

PROGRAM: This new 40,000 SF state-of-the-art academic learning center accommodates the NCAA-mandated academic services for the tutoring of 520 student athletes. It contributes to the retention and success of these athletes as well as the recruitment of new athletes, replacing the 8,000 SF Mac Court Annex where these services were previously housed. The first floor of the building is open to the public with a café, auditorium, atrium for public events and heritage space that recognizes past, present and future student athletes at the University. The first floor also includes staff offices and shared tutor areas for student-athlete/general student body group sessions. The two floors above are for the exclusive use of Oregon’s studentathletes and staff and require secure access. The facility includes a 114-seat auditorium, 35 tutor rooms, 25 faculty/advising offices, conference room, flexible classroom, computer lab with 54 computer stations, graphics lab, 3 teaching labs, library, separate lounges for students, tutors and staff, and 40 study carrels configured to accommodate two student-athletes per carrel, enough for all freshmen. The site also includes 34 metered parking spots for building visitors, with LED lighting and white parking “stripes,” formatted like the yard lines on a football field. THE DONNOR: The facility is the result of a generous gift from Phil and Penny Knight to encourage academic achievement along with athletic performance. The building is named after John E. Jaqua, who was a varsity athlete at Pomona College, war hero, successful farmer, revered lawyer, founding board member of Nike, adored father/grandfather and longtime supporter of the University of Oregon. Jaqua’s legacy is meant to awaken every generation to look itself in the eye and be the best it can be, and his namesake represents a challenge to student-athletes to fulfill their promise. Donor recognition in the facility is subtly treated, as names are etched into glass on an entry wall panel. These names are only visible to viewers who stand in front the wall, which is on a motion sensor. Names disappear when viewers are away. DESIGN CONCEPT: The notion of a fertile, natural environment to invigorate and inspire learning was the premise on which the design concept was based. The glass structure rests on a “table of water” and a birch forest celebrates the region’s natural environment. A “double wall” façade addresses acoustic isolation, thermal insulation, and control of available daylight within the building. The walls consist of five elements that create a dynamic response to orientation while reinforcing the concepts of transparency and connectivity. A prismatic, vertical stainless steel screen within this façade provides shading, thermal comfort, and ability for heat harvesting (which reinforces the natural convection within the vessel) as well as visual privacy for the inhabitants. The glazed façade and interior spaces are composed on a rigorous module to achieve an uninterrupted visual connection between internal rooms and the larger garden beyond. The reflectivity of the glass and water obscure the boundary between the building and surrounding landscape. Authenticity to the University of Oregon student experience was a key design driver. As is the celebration of the success of student-athletes in the pursuit of knowledge and athletic achievement. An atrium forms the “heart” of the building. The atrium walls are infused with graphic displays that relay the heritage of athletics at the University. It also includes a scoreboard-inspired wall listing upcoming tutorial appointments for studentathletes.

ARCHITECTURE256 / E-MAY 2011 / FOCUS

002 JOHN.E.JAQUA ACADEMIC CENTER FOR STUDENT ATHLETES BY

ZGF

ARCHITECTURE256 / E-MAY 2011 / FOCUS

002 JOHN.E.JAQUA ACADEMIC CENTER FOR STUDENT ATHLETES BY

ZGF

The materials palette is intentionally minimal to express the notion of authenticity and relate to the Pacific Northwest region. It includes exposed concrete and Oregon white oak. The layering of color and graphics infused through the building offers texture and visual interest. Discovery is a big part of the experience for building users and visitors. For example, the tile pattern in the men’s and women’s restrooms on the ground floor is the visual repre-sentation of the sound wave file from the Oregon Duck’s football public address announcer who starts every football game with “It never rains in Autzen Stadium.” The floor in the elevator is engraved with Oregon slogans like “I love my ducks!” and the leather handrail in the elevator has the words to the Oregon fight song.

mechanical system The building’s mechanical system utilizes a water-cooled variable refriger-ant volume (VRV) heat pump system along with a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) with heat recovery. A VRV system, was incorporated to take advantage of its abilities to transfer heating and cooling energy between individual building zones. The DOAS allows ventilation air loads and space conditioning loads to be independent of each other, which reduced the required installed equipment capacity as well as energy consumption.The DOAS also features CO2 demand controlled ventilation. This approach introduces fresh air at a rate needed to maintain good indoor air quality, while reducing energy consumption by not overventilating spaces when they are not occupied. The overall mechanical system de-sign approach (VRV coupled with DOAS) leads to improved thermal comfort as well as better ventilation for the occupants, all while capturing usable heat energy that would normally be lost. energy modeling Assessing the energy performance of the multi-layered dynamic façade required working with members of the Oregon Department of Energy’s staff to validate design compliance of the wall. A comparative analysis was required between the Jaqua Center’s unique exterior assembly and a conventional wall, which is usually assumed to be of roughly equal parts of insulated wall and of glazed openings. When any building’s exterior skin design exceeds 50% glazing, prescriptive code-based compliance paths are no longer valid, and then the entire environmental control system must be simu-lated in complicated computer models. The Jaqua Center’s 85% glazed area ratio therefore required sophisticated modeling to demonstrate compliance. And as part of the modeling the VRV heat pump technology required simulation. Although this system is not untested, the Oregon Department of Energy required a cautious mod-eling approach. As a result, the energy model contained conservative yet compliant perfor-mance predictions. day-lighting The high percentage of glazing utilized in the Jaqua Center also challenged the State of Oregon’s modeling criteria regarding the amount of energy assumed for lighting needs. Taking advantage of the building’s atrium and the large amount of exterior and interior glazing, daylight penetrates more deeply than in conventional buildings. Interior spaces that might typically be dark environments have ample access to natural light, thereby reducing the energy load. Electric lighting is controlled by photocells and occupancy sensors located throughout the building that continually adjust for available daylight and use. Anecdotal evidence gathered during the early period of occupancy indicates that the building should use less lighting energy than was anticipated by the energy models. site The site includes a bioswale which cleans and filters the water that falls on the site, before it enters the storm drains. The stormwater from the roof is also diverted to the bioswale. ARCHITECTURE256 / E-MAY 2011 / FOCUS

Celebrating the Human Habitat Impact of Donor Support to Habitat’s Housing Interventions

HFH Uganda: Buildinghouses - Building Hope, brick by brick. As the world grapples with the challenge of inadequate housing, Habitat for Humanity Uganda would like to take this opportunity to join in by drawing attention to the increasing need for descent housing especially for Uganda’s rural poor. In the last 27 years, Habitat for Humanity Uganda (HFHU) has been able to partner with more than 6,000 rural and peri-urban families to build Simple and affordable housing in more than 20 districts. The need for adequate housing among the rural poor in Uganda however continues to grow with the ever increasing population, increasing cost of construction materials and the financial meltdown.

Currency Value: In a country where for a dollar, the exchange rate oscillates between 1,500 - 2,500 Uganda Shillings, the Impact of HFHU’s partner donations (i.e. from MTN, Barclays Bank, Hima Cement, Stanbic Bank, MoneyGram, Citibank and International partners like USAID and our Habitat/Tithe partners) has been astounding - every piece a ‘cameo of magic’ transforming housing conditions of rural families and entire communities. Housing: With as little as US $4,000 in the Fiscal Year (July 2010 – June 2011), HFH Uganda continues to house entire households of more than 6 individuals (most of them Orphan and Vulnerable Children) – providing a four room 18”X20” (360Sq.Ft) home complete with a water tank for rain water harvesting, Ventilated Improved Pit-latrine (VIP) and an adjacent shower stall.

orphaned due to war, HIV/AIDs and a host of other factors. The house, complete with VIP latrine and adjacent shower stall, is provided as a grant with no repayment since the intervention targets a very poor and vulnerable group.

The HMF program is divided into two projects: Housing Micro Finance Partnerships and Housing Micro Lending sometimes also referred to as Wholesale Lending and Retail Lending respectively.

Under the OVC program, Habitat also trains the families on inheritance/succession planning (to prevent property/house grabbing) by helping families formulate wills. The families are also trained in malaria prevention and given mosquito nets.

1. Housing Micro Finance Partnerships (wholesale lending): The long-term objective of this project is to influence the Micro Finance Industry to take on HMF as a viable loan product and valuable addition to their loan portfolio. The project is based on the realization that Habitat alone cannot meet the housing demand of low-income families.

2. Housing Microfinance (HMF) Program: A credit transaction aimed at financing housing needs of low-income rural and peri-urban families. The program has a repayment aspect (for sustainability) and targets families who are a tier above the OVC households and earn some form of income.

2. Housing Micro Lending (Retail Lending) In this project, HFHU directly offers Home Improvement Loans to low-income families. Here, Habitat also develops Housing Finance best practice which it can transfer to partner Microfinance Institutions or SACOs.

Our Desire...

Hygiene: In Kumi District located in the east (one of the poorest regions) of the country, HFH Uganda through its Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) program has partnered with families in

Poor In-hygienic Housing: Improved Housing for the world’s poor should be a shared concern for all. Population, Poverty & Housing in Uganda Known as the Pearl of Africa for its beautiful, lush scenery and diverse natural resource, Uganda’s population is now over 30 million and one of the fastest growing in the world. Over 80% of this population is rural based. Uganda, despite its beauty, has one of the poorest populations in the world. According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Human Development Index, Uganda is ranked 154th out of 177 countries. Only 17% of the 30 Million Ugandans live in homes built with permanent structures. The majority live in mud and wattle grass thatch or old corrugated iron/tin roofed houses.

Ongino Sub-county whose Pit Latrine coverage was less than 1%, transforming it into one with the highest Pit Latrine coverage in the entire district. Each toilet unit, complete with a shower stall, cost US$ 304. Despite the minimal amount, 17% of Uganda’s population still have no toilet access and use the bush. INNOVATIVE HOUSING SERVICE DELIVERY: In order to maximise use of every dollar we receive from our partners, HFH Uganda has done proactive programming – crafting two programs to address specific housing needs of the rural poor; 1. Orphans & Vulnerable Children (OVC) Program: Targets child headed families and those caring for children

An Affordable, Decent Home For Every Family Contact: Habitat for Humanity Uganda, Plot 7206, Bukasa Close, Off Muyenga - Tank Hill Road P.O. Box 9873 Kampala - Uganda Tel: +256 414 501 45, +256 392 760802 Fax: +256 414 501458 Web: www.habitat.ug, Email: noffice@hfhuganda.org

Photo Courtesy: Christina Tapper