Chapter 3: Case Studies

This chapter presents a review of examples of strategies used in current practice for the design of biophilic workplaces. Such methods include the sub-set of development solutions defined from the theoretical framework of Kellert and backed by empirical evidence found as part of the literature review. The aim of these development approaches is to provide direct and indirect biophilic interactions and relationships centred on locations. The case studies collection was driven by three main parameters. The case studies must include one or more of the empirically supported biophilic development approaches established through the study of literature, provide office space for knowledge workers, and provide examples from both India and the world.

3.1 Case Study 1- CookFox Architecture Studio

Location: New York, USA Project Address: 641 Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave) New York, NY Project Type: office, commercial Area: 12,1212 ft office space and 3,6002 ft green roof Year of Completion: 2006 Occupant: COOKFOX Architects LLP Design Team: COOKFOX Architects LLP Biophilic Patterns: Visual Connection with nature, Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli, Biomorphic Forms

and Patterns, Prospect

As a renovation project, the COOKFOX studio at 641 Avenue of the Americas began to occupy the entire 12,121 square foot penthouse of the former Crawford Simpson department store in the Ladies ' Mile Historic District. As COOKFOX leased the building for the first time in 2006, some key features of the office were underused and in poor condition. Much of the initial ceiling and features of the Corinthian pillar were either destroyed or covered up, and the building was deeply Figure 11 : Expansive windows curve around the eastern wall overlooking the green roof. The windows allow day light into the office and provide 90% of occupants with views of dramatic sunsets reflecting off the city skyline. (P1 P2 P3 P5) ( Terrapin Bright Green, 2019) separated and split into separate office sections. What would transform into a high-profile green roof"[ was] a tar beach with outdated mechanical equipment," according to Rick Cook. 641 Americas Avenue is unique in that the reconstruction of the building was directly influenced by biophilic architecture. Recognizing the importance of the workplace environment in employee and visitor well-being, COOKFOX integrated biophilic construction techniques into the renovation early in the process.The early adoption of trends is evident in the size and engagement to visual and non-visual interactions to nature, non-rhythmic tactile sensations, and shelter, and is marked with the installation of a green roof of 3,600 square feet by the department. Product choices and historical conservation

are leveraged to support nature in the interior space. Overall, the internal and external atmosphere is designed to promote improved office productivity, employee well-being, and work innovation, as well as better worker retention rates and decreased absenteeism.

Figure 12 Plan: Illustrating examples of prospect within the space, and the green roof, showing the accessibility of direct views to natural stimuli. (P1 , P11) Section: Refuge space (conference room) highlighted, showing unimpeded prospect view to visual connection with nature. P1, P3, P11, P12)

Figure 13 Left: Tall seasonal grasses on the periphery of the green roof provide non-rhythmic sensory stimuli. (P1, P3) Centre: Existing detailing with new office fit-out partitions, preserve the biomorphic forms and patterns in the coffered ceiling. (P8) ( Terrapin Bright Green, 2019) Right: Circulation is pushed to the exterior wall, preventing overhead glare and increasing access to views for the office. (P1 ¸P3, P11) ( Terrapin Bright Green, 2019)

3.2 Case Study 2- Glumac Shanghai Office (Commercial Office)

Location: Shanghai, China Project Address: 753 Yuyuan Rd., Building C, 3/F Shanghai, 200050 China Project Type: office, commercial Area: 10,0002 ft Year of Completion: 2014 Occupant: Glumac Design Team: Glumac, Gensler, Shimizu, GIGA, Terrapin Bright Green Biophilic Patterns: Connection with Natural Systems,Visual Connection with Nature,Biomorphic Forms

& Patterns, Dynamic & Diffuse Light

Glumac, a technology and consulting firm dedicated to costeffective, sustainable development, views its offices as a testing ground for new high-performance design innovations. As their Shanghai subsidiary extended their office, Glumac saw a chance to build a facility that would meet environmental targets beyond and above anything that was developed up to date in China. The selected site was a historic low-rise building Figure 14 The Kvadrat cloud climbs playfully across the walls and ceiling of Glumac’s light-filled bistro, dampening the sound that reverberates from the exposed concrete floor. (P1, P6, P8,P9) (Terrapin Bright Green, 2019) located in a lush garden courtyard in the middle of busy downtown Shanghai. A desire to honour the cultural value of the site flourished in a drive to create an office space in which people would like to work. Glumac employees enjoy views of the courtyard

from their desks in a spacious open plan office. Organic models and indoor plants carry the relaxed atmosphere of the field into storage. The design builds on the attributes of the existing structure and uses creative solutions to the challenges associated with Glumac's ambitious goals. This innovative project was a partnership between Glumac, Terrapin Bright Green, Gensler, Shimizu, Japanese building advisor, and Shanghai-based green materials consultancy GIGA. Glumac hopes that a "seed of change" will be planted in China in this space and encourages others to design for human and environmental health.

Figure 15 Floor Plan: The spine of the office is a long hallway, flanked on the north side by private and open plan office spaces and on the south by meeting rooms with adjustable partitions and the bistro. Daylight floods the office through the light well adjacent to the open office, large windows along the entire north wall, and glass with adjustable transparency on the south wall bordering the terrace. Elevations: Daylight filters into all three of the spaces pictured in the above elevations. The kvadrat cloud adds visual interest to the bistro, and carpet with organic patterning creates a calm atmosphere in the private office. The corridor, which is adjacent to open office area, features a wall of air filtering Sansevieria trifasciata. (Terrapin Bright Green, 2019)

Figure 16 Left: An exposed section of the radiant heating system allows employees and guests to engage with the office’s utility systems. (P1, P6, P7) Right: The entryway to the office features a glass wall etched with abstract swirls of Chinese lucky clouds, a symbol of good fortune and happiness, and a meter that displays indoor and outdoor air quality indicators. (P6, P8, P9, P11) (Terrapin Bright Green, 2019)

3.3 Case Study 2- Kickstarter Commercial Headquarters

Location: New York, USA Project Address: 58 Kent Street,

Brooklyn, NY 11222

Project Type: office, commercial Area: 29,000 sq ft Year of Completion: 2014 Occupant: Kickstarter Design Team: Ole Sondresen

Architect

Biophilic Patterns: Non-Rhythmic

Sensory Stimuli Material Connection with Nature Connection with Natural Systems Prospect & Refuge

Kickstarter is a global platform for crowd crowdfunding whose mission is to help bring creative projects to life. Kickstarter selected a former pencil Figure 17 The rooftop garden includes Refuge spaces off the main path for plant in Brooklyn, NY while looking occupants to use. The garden has edible plants, as well as species that support for a new building that catches the migratory birds and butterflies. (Terrapin Bright Green, 2019) essence of the company's culture. Built by local designer Ole Sondresen, the retail office occupies the whole 29,000 ft2 area including a large green roof. "The existing building is deep, gloomy and partly below ground, which means that it had very little sunlight or fresh air capacity." Ole Sondresen explained, "The plan was to cut out a courtyard, a very' renaissance ' concept, as this building was surrounded by industrial buildings. It needed a sense of interior relief for the user to connect to the outside.”

Ole Sondresen Architect built a dynamic, atmospheric commercial office and headquarters with sunshine, natural materials and textures, and views of outdoor gardens by intuitively using several principles of biophilic layout. With curtain walls from floor to ceiling, high ceilings, a two-story central courtyard with a rain forest, and a rooftop landscape of 8,500 square feet imitating the natural ecosystem of the city, space was redesigned to promote a healthy, flexible working environment with a close connection to nature. A case study discusses the techniques used to construct a biophilic environment, including product options, improvements to the external form of the house, and mindful green spaces outside. The design creates an engaging space that supports the strengths and culture of Kickstarter while at the same time promoting its employees ' creativity, productivity and well-being.

Figure 18 Plan: The office includes many patterns of biophilic design. The courtyard and green roof are significant architectural design strategies that promote both visual connection with nature and dynamic and diffuse light within the interior.

Section: A central courtyard cuts through the building and provides dynamic and diffuse natural light and access to the outdoors.

(Terrapin Bright Green, 2019)

Figure 19 Left: The courtyard and second-floor terrace provide a setting for Non-rhythmic Sensory Stimuli including migratory birds, tall flowing grasses, and conditional water capture.[ P1, P3, P5, P6, P11]

Right: The 2nd-floor library offers both Prospect views and Refuge conditions. Reclaimed heart pine used for interior doors throughout the office provides Material Connection with Nature. [P1, P6, P11, P12] (Terrapin Bright Green, 2019)

3.4 Case Study 4- Titan Integrity Campus

Location: Bangalore, India Project Address: 193, Veerasandra Electronic City,

Banglore-560100, Karnataka, India

Project Type: Corporate Office Area: 3900002 ft Year of Completion: 2017 Occupant: Titan Company Design Team: Mindspace Architects Biophilic Patterns: Visual Connection with nature,

Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli, Biomorphic Forms and Patterns, Prospect, Connection with Natural Systems, Dynamic & Diffuse Light.

The corporate office building is located on a 6.5-acre site with an east-side lake and north-facing lane. The model has an incredibly special connection to the site and the lake next door. The idea is to take advantage of every view on the lakeside and render every client a spectator of this serene environment. A bio lake is designed to the east side of the site that responds to the existing lake and looks like an extension of it. Around this bio, the lake is a planned office building with all its ancillaries. The tower is shaped to longer sides facing north-south in order to bring natural light free from glare. The porosity of structure and form allows constant breeze flow through wind tunnels.

Figure 20 Titan integrity office, Bangalore (Nikhanj,2019 )

The structure on three floors has a terrace garden at all levels. Free-flowing Cascading green terraces, reminiscent of rice fields, are connected through external staircases, giving each of these floors a feeling of elevated ground. Such terraces also provide protection to office spaces below, thus increasing the resonating heat / AC load to the concept of green design. Green terraces not only enable one to work outdoors, stimulate interaction between the flora and fauna, but also offer trails for those who want to enjoy relaxing walks. A walk along the proposed green walk path covers around 650 meters. Over the year, the greenery on both sides of the lake's receding terraces will welcome the constructed rendering it a non-building. A green wall on the building's western side shields the usable spaces from the harsh western sun. The green buffer zonebetween green wall and spaces that can be used further cuts off the radiation.

Space Planning– Unifying Diversity of departments

Figure 21 Ground floor plan (Archdaily,2019)

Figure 22 Sectional view of the office (Archdaily,2019)

Planning of the program is in such a way that each of the departments like Watches, jewellery, eyewear, accessories etc has its own zone but are yet connected to the other departments through voluminous atriums which bring in light and allows hot air to escape and houses lifts and staircases. The depth of office space is conceived in such a way that entire office space is enveloped with daylight if there is light outside thus minimizing the use of artificial light. Artificial lighting is planned with light sensors and occupancy sensors.