Unit 3 Eco Friendly Design
What makes a Building Eco Friendly? Commercial buildings currently use non renewable fossil fuels such as crude oil, coal and natural gases. These finite resources use materials that are currently being used quicker than they can be reproduced. The current method we use to create electricity is by burning non renewable materials such as coal. Disadvantages of using these non renewable gases are that they produce pollution from nitrous gases and acid rain from sulphur dioxide. Burning these fuels also create greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide that is adding to the global warming which is harming the earths atmosphere. The natural gases are formed from the remains of living organisms millions of years ago which have slowly seeped into the soil. They have now been used because when they are burnt they release heat energy. To solve this issue we must start to use sustainable methods of creating energy. This may be by using wind turbines that create energy as they are forced to spin in the wind. Other ways of creating sustainable energy is by using solar panels. These solar panels create energy by using the sunlight from the sun to create heat that can then be used as electricity. By looking at solar panels I found a variety of different types of solar panels. We are now able to use solar panels that aesthetically look like roof tiles. This is an effective design as you originally aren’t able to recognise that they aren’t solar panels. I am going to try and incorporate the idea of becoming eco friendly in my design as it can help us to become more aware of our environment and will try to protect the earth for future generations.
Sustainable Energy Sustainable energy is now becoming more common in peoples homes as they are becoming more aware of the advantages these technologies offer for them and their environment. The two key types of sustainable energy that are usually found are wind turbines and solar panels. Although wind turbines are not as easy to be incorporated into a house design, solar panels are accessible and easily hidden in the designs of buildings. If a building can produce solar heat gains they are able to create electricity for the home through the solar panels. This concept will help to lower the costs of electricity as they will not have to burn as much non renewable fuels as they can use sustainable methods for producing the electricity their home need. To create a effective home that can supply for itself I will fit sustainable methods which I can reuse and reproduce. Solar panels will become a priority as they are the most effective method of creating electricity for a house as the is sunlight each day. Solar panels can be adapted to suit the style of a house as they are now available to be produced as the roofs tiles. This could help the panels to be disguised in the design. They are effective as they can produce around 50% of the electricity a house uses in one year. Sustainable energy will also help the house in the long term as it will be able to supply for its needs.
Self Sufficient To create a building which is self sufficient I will first have to list all the needs a house may have. By being able to list the needs I will then be able to create a solution for how the house can produce for itself. Key things which are needed to help a house and homeowner to become solely self sufficient are: •
Electricity
•
Heating
•
Running hot and cold water
•
Food
For a house to include all four of these features I will have to incorporate methods of producing them in my design. Initial ideas for how we can produce electricity would be to include solar panels in my design, these panels could be placed on a roof south facing so that the most amount of sunlight will be used for electricity. The placement of the panels will be key as I would like them to be hidden from the view of people as they are not aesthetically pleasing. Other methods of producing electricity is a running water source which is available would be to place a turbine into the flowing water which will turn as the water pushes through, this would then produce electricity in the generator as the turbine is turned. This would then be another method of producing electricity for the house. If a water source is available it could also be used to supply water for the house. This could become an effective design for the house as the clean water could pass through a filter to insure that the idea is safe. The water used could be reused by being pumped back through the water filter so that it can be used again. Heating can be created by insulating the house thoroughly so that the heat cannot escape the building. This could be done by using a newspaper insulator between the walls so that the heat can’t escape. This method will also help our environment as the newspaper would have been recycled and has found another use. The initial heat could be produce by a log burning fire. This will help the environment as no electricity would have to be used to heat a radiator. The logs could also be cut from a forest. The tree could then be replanted so that no trees are wasted. This would help our environment as it is a sustainable material that can quickly be reproduced. To help keep the house insulated I will also try to keep the ceilings and room sizes to a minimum so that there is less space for the heat to rise. The house could also be insulated by a roof top garden that would help to maximise the floor space as the roof would not be used for any other use. This natural insulator would consist of mud and clay which is a natural insulator. This garden could also help to grow crops and fruits for its owners use. This would help to cover the heating and groceries that the house would need to survive.
Sustainable Materials Sustainable materials will have to be used in the build of the house so that a consistent theme and ethics round through the building. Key sustainable materials that can be used in my design that will also enhance the aesthetics of my building would be to use glass, woods, steel and metals and natural stones for cladding. •
What makes these materials sustainable?
Glass is a sustainable material as it consist of sand and silica and burnt in a kiln. This material is sustainable because of the large amounts of sand that the earth has and how the weather works down rocks to produce sand. Glass is a good material to use in my design as it will help to allow sunlight into rooms so that electricity isn’t needed to turn a light bulb on. Glass will be used in my design as it will help to heat my rooms because the glass will produce heat that can be transferred into the rooms. The glass will then keep the heat in as the heat will not be able to rise and escape through the glass. Steel and other metals will be used in my build as of it’s structural properties. Steel is a strong durable material which has a good tensile strength that is commonly used for structural beams in large buildings. This sustainable material will be used as it will help to keep my building structurally sound. I will also use woods in the build as the location of my building would be in a green field which is surrounded by nature and trees. I would use woods on the outside of my building which are similar to the trees colours so that the building does not stand out in between the trees causing as less harm to the environment as possible. Woods will be a good material to use n the exterior of my building as they will produce a patina over time which will help to protect the natural material. These natural woods and glass would be used on the outside of my building so that from the outside the building will blend into the surrounding with the trees and landscape reflecting onto the exterior of the building. And from the inside of the building the glass walls will become effective at offering views to the surrounding landscape from the inside.
Recycling and Upcycling Commer
How to insulate and lower costs Commer
Grow your own food – grass garden on roof which adds to insulation. Wood log fire Double glazed windows to help keep heat in will then lower waste and costs. Energy saving light bulbs. Ceiling fans instead of air conditioning so you only turn them on when you are in the room, lowers waste. Sunlight windows will be used so that during the day when the building will be used by students, you won’t have to use electricity as daylight will be able to come through the windows lighting up the rooms Can use a lot of glass so that it can allow the sunlight in and keep the heat inside
Existing Sustainable Buildings This existing build that is situated in rural Kent is able to provide for itself with the use of solar panels which have a special cooling system that stops them from overheating. This is an important part of the design because the panels contain silicon which works efficiently when cool. These panels produce enough power to heat and light the house. The rainwater is collected from the flat roof tops and is used for the lavatories and washing machines the windows help to keep the house warm as they are triple glazed so they keep the heat in and stop it from escaping. These efficient windows also make most of the natural light as it helps to regulate the temperature inside. The natural light that is let in also helps to keep the rooms bright without needing the use of electricity during the day. The walls also help to insulate the building as they are filled with ten tones of recycled newspaper which have been recycled and reused in the house. The doors as well are vacuum insulated and help to keep the heat inside the building. The floors of the building also plays its part in keeping the house warm. This is done by the use of crushed glass bottles that absorb the heat and release it when the temperature drops. The concrete slabs which are used as the foundation are 50% recycled and also absorbs and releases the heat. From studying this building I have found that they have used multiply sustainable and recycled materials such as natural woods, concrete and soil for insulation.
Understanding a Building I chose to look at the exterior space from the previous building because I liked how the building has been designed to include a separate space which is filled with sunlight because of the large glass doors surrounding each wall. By looking at the outer building it has used three different materials which can all be recycled to use again. The three materials used are red brick, glass and timber. The wood used on the upper level is a sustainable material as they have been cut from a tree. The natural timber helps to protect the building from all weather and over time will create a patina which will protect the material. I have explored this building and created a good understanding by drawing in detail each material and shapes used in the design. From exploring this building I will take the materials and placement of walls into my design as this building makes the most of natural sunlight because there are no walls blocking the light into rooms as the glass planes help the sunlight into the rooms and also insulates them.
Existing Sustainable Buildings This eco house which has been built from scratch is located in the New Forest National Park and designed by Perring architecture and design. This stylish sustainable building is almost entirely self sufficient and has got to be as the building is only accessible via a 1 mile dirt track that isn’t very practical to got to the shops to buy groceries. This is why the building has been designed to become self sufficient and supply for the home owner. The water is supplied to the building by recycling rainwater to a fully refurbished well supplied drinking water. Photovoltaic solar panels are used to generate electricity that runs the ground source heat pump and filters for the rainwater so that the water, heat and electricity is generated via the solar panels. The heat is also enhanced with the use of wood burning stoves. And because of the National Park the wood is supplied through the trees and surrounding landscape. The homeowner says that they use their own surroundings and environment to run their house. I think this is an idea which I should use in the design of my eco friendly house as I want to change how people build houses to use unsustainable materials which are slowly running out. As the footprint for this built was restricted to the planning permission, the architect found a solution to the problem by building downwards to create a basement space that has been used for the filters and extra storage space. This amount of dirt and mud wasn’t to go to waste as it was used in the build to help carve the landscape to maximise the light and view that the building could gain. This mud, dirt and grass was also used to insulate part of the building as it is a natural insulator that is effective and cheaper as it would cost £30,000 to transport the dirt to a landfill. The build was also influenced by the surrounding as they tried to cause as less impact to the landscape as possible. This build also includes a grass roof as it blends into the landscape acting as a camouflage for the building, this grass also helps to insulate as it restricts the amount of heat that would escapes via the roof. The building is also cladded by wood so that it helps to keep in with the theme of a natural dwelling. I will try not to dig holes out of the landscape as I wish to cause minimal harm to the environment.
Existing Sustainable Buildings The buildings here have used passive design in the process of creating the buildings floor plans. This has consisted in choosing materials and orienting the house so that it soaks up the heat and light from the sun. The most effective way in which this has been incorporated into the buildings design is to put the largest windows south facing so that they have the most amount of sunlight as it would gain the heat from the sun throughout the day as the sun will rise from the east to west. If this was to be combined with materials that have a thermal mass such as concrete which will also help to heat and insulate the building. Concrete has a thermal mass as it has the ability to soak up heat and release it later. Materials which release the heat quickly have a low thermal mass but others such as concrete have a high thermal mass as they slowly trickle heat out over a long period of time and only as the temperature drops so that the material helps to keep a nice temperature inside. This building is not build with the use of concrete as the beams would struggle to withstand the weight of the materials. The building helps to retain heat in a different way by improving the insulation of the walls with the added use of Celotex a high performance foam insulator. The wooden cladding has also helped to insulate the building as it has created its own patina which protects the material and also adds a coat of insulation. The building is also kept warm with the use of double glazed windows which lower the amount of heat lost. This means that less electricity is used to heat the building as the heat is retained to a consistent heat because no heat is lost.
Existing Sustainable Buildings This low energy timber hut is located in Suffolk England. It is a modern design which is spacious inside as it includes three wings hat work as corridors segmenting the building allowing for people to have their own privacy as the rooms are exposed on two or three walls to the outside allowing for an effective use of glass windows and doors maximising the sunlight which can enter the room and the views of the farm and surroundings from inside the rooms. It also includes a raised terrace between the wings allowing for a small space outside but elevated from the muddy ground. This terrace is also sheltered from any winds with the two wings blocking the weather. This building is complete with a board to board vertical cladding which helps rain flow down the building instead of getting between the boards with them were butted together.
http://architizer.com/pr ojects/new-house-atwalk-barn-farm/
Primary Research
Finding inspiration from London’s buildings I chose to look at buildings which were modern and luxurious. I chose these buildings over the historical landmarks as their intentions are not to create a building from an early era. From looking at the nature that surrounds these modern buildings I have found certain designs and aspects of the builds which I can use in my design. I started of by looking at buildings which have a cladding that can look like it has been created with natural materials such as stone. The first building I found had a grey stone cladding on the outer exterior. I liked this choice as the final design added an executive and professional finish to the building. I also found that this building worked well alongside big planes of glass. These two materials worked together as they contrasted with one another. As the reflections of the natural cladding on the glass added a second dimension to the building making it look more spacious than what it originally is. Continuing to look at this building I also found how the balconies wrap around the buildings footprint. I liked how the glass panels which are used as the walls for the balcony do not interfere with the amount of light and vision which can pass through the rooms out onto the views of London. This effective use of glass have worked in this design because it doesn’t block the view of the homeowners from inside the building as the views from inside and outside are continuously visible. The cladding which has been used on the outer of the building allows the design to fit into its surroundings as the footpaths surrounding this building are also cover with the same coloured stone cladding. This is an effective choice of materials as the building looks like it has always be in its current location and has not randomly been placed there.
Finding inspiration from London’s buildings From looking at the surroundings of the buildings and the footpaths I found that the same cladding has been used throughout the pavements as this helps to distinctively show that this is one area that as been joint together to create one small town with several buildings which all have common materials used in their designs. Along with the stone cladding, concrete was also used several times as this materials has easily been shaped to the appropriate shapes and sizes that were necessary. these two materials worked well together as they too also create a clever contrast as they are both the same colour but different in texture and size. These smoothed concrete surfaces were placed between the tower blocks and were surrounded by natural plants as this helped to add colour to the surroundings. This technique could be used in my design as the concrete is a cheap sustainable material that visibly worked well alongside the greenery.
Finding inspiration from London’s buildings The concrete is also continued throughout the space as a border for separate levels. This railing has been placed to fit the curvature of the floors footprint. The concrete is topped off with the use of a aluminium railing that differentiates the railings design to be different compared to a plane concrete wall. The aluminium is thin and flexible making it easy to shape into the curved cylinder which runs along side the concrete wall. With the use of the two materials a contrast is created with the concrete and aluminium working together to produce one final design. The concrete wall doesn’t look out of place as the common theme is used in different segments of the space allowing the concrete to be used in the way it has been. The concrete seating is continuously used as it is a easy material to mould into place as when it sets it can withstand all types of weather, making it a durable building material.
Finding inspiration from London’s buildings A different type of material is also used in the space to add a different dimension to the appearance. The use of water has many beneficial features to add to a space as of the noise it creates when it comes into contact with a material. The use of water in this space has helped to change the design from a plain concrete and stone paving to existing and encouraging space to enter. The water has also been manipulated to travel in different ways so that it has a different effect. The water has been pushed up into the air to create multiply small water fountains or has been pushed down a small trough to create a urban stream which is buried within the stone paving. These techniques with the water could be used in my design to create a calming tranquil environment which is welcoming to anyone who enters.
Finding inspiration from London’s buildings A different material which had been used in London was glass. This sustainable material has been shaped in different ways to fit the design of the building. The glass has been used on large scales so that it allows huge amounts of sunlight into the buildings. The glass has been shaped as it has melted when being created. The glass has been shaped to fit curves and vertical buildings. With the use of glass it adds a professional feel to the building as the designs look very commercial as they are mostly used on these scales for office tower blocks. These building show that the glass panels can be used next to different materials such as red brick or wood but still not look out of place. This helps me to investigate how I can use glass in my design with the other sustainable material which will be used such as different woods and stones.
Elevation Drawings I explored how I can record and study a building in different effective ways. I found by drawing elevations of a building I gained a better understanding o the building as I have to take care of the details and I find features of the buildings that I may not of seen if I wasn’t drawing the building.
Floor Plans Drawings By looking at existing interior spaces I was able to experiment and enhance my drawing skills and understandings of building by drawing the floor plans of existing spaces. I have used clear straight lines in the floor plans so that the spaces are clear and easily understood. I have also understood how to sim plify an object and use an architectural drawing technique.
London City Hall By visiting the London City Hall I was able to understand the building by drawings my view of the structure. I was able to understand how the curvatures of the building were built in separate layers so that the building gradually was built upwards.
Finding inspiration from London’s buildings By looking at the exterior of this coffee shop situated in London I have been able to understand how this wooden exterior can fit into a modern surrounding even though the sustainable material which will be much older than the man made materials can work in a surroundings which has clearly been created by humans and not nature. This allows me to create a building which may use man made and nature materials in the same build even though they are two different materials in appearance and processes they need to be made. This building has used a mitre joint on the corners of the building so that the finish of the building doesn’t show part of the material which shouldn’t be exposed. This join can be used as it will look better compared to a butt joint which shows the end of the material of where it has been cut.
Finding inspiration from London’s buildings From looking in London and how the different levels have been segmented safely I found this type of balcony which has been restricted with the use of the glass panels. With the use f this material the balcony has been cut off safely but still allow people to see the views of the greenery even with a material in between the two. This glass panel can be used to segment two spaces but still allow the room to feel spacious as they will not be boxed off with the use of a wall but will be separated with a glass panels with can allow the sunlight in and also allow people to view out. This glass railing could be use in my design if I was to include a balcony. My buildings location will allow for fantastic view of the surrounding land as the glass will not block the views. This technique will be incorporated into the design of my walls as I want the house to allow views from inside so that the rooms feel spacious.
What I Will Be Designing From researching sustainable building methods that are practical and environmentally friendly I have came up with an initial idea of how I can design an eco friendly building which is suitable and capable of living in. Existing buildings which I have studied all have certain aspects in common these would be sustainable methods such as solar panels and rainwater filters. These aspects of the building will be helpful to include in my design as I would like to design a building which is unique but also includes key features which have already been used. My intentions with my building would be to create a luxury space that has been influenced by the environment and how I can not cause any harm to the environment but still have an accessible place to live. The main materials used for the exterior of the building would be natural woods as this would help to blend the building into its rural environment. I will also try to use materials such as glass and concrete as the concrete could be recycled and can help to insulate the build as the material will absorb heat but release it when the temperature drops. Where as glass can also help to heat and insulate the building as the sunlight that will pass through the glass will help light and heat the room. The glass will then stop the heat from escaping as it may be double or triple glazed. I will try to cause as less harm as possible to the environment as possible. I will achieve this doing this by building my house on stills as a hole will not have to be dug into the location for the foundations. The holes will be drilled in specific places so that it can support the elevated structure. This idea will bring other advantages such as views of the surroundings. As the space will be elevate, it would allow the homeowner to have elevated views from above the trees and surrounding environment.
Initial Models By folding paper I have been able to visually display how the exterior materials of my design will look. By using the wooden panels for the exterior I can overlap the strips so that if it was to rain the water will run downwards and will not slip into the walls of the building as the wooden panels are filtering the water downwards. I have been able to fold the paper so that the strips overlap and as water is poured onto the walls it will run downwards.
Initial Models By using thin wire I was able to manipulate the material by bending it into different shapes. I created these shapes by looking at the skyline and larger buildings surrounding the Tower Bridge, London. I looked at the Shard as this is the largest building as then tried to recreate the triangular shape and smaller square buildings which surround the large skyscraper. I also tried to create shapes that I couldn't see and use them as inspiration for abstract shapes which can be used in a later design. I think the different sizes of the shapes would be effective in a design format because they will all be a unique individual design and built.
Initial Models By
CAD Models ss
CAD Models By changing the materials creates different model
Glass buildings
http://www.thecoolist.com/glass-buildings-15-creative-uses-ofglass-in-architecture/
By
Basque Health Department Headquarters of Bilbao Spain
Louvre pyramid
Leonardo glass cube by 3deluxe
http://www.designboom.com/architecture/leonardo-gla cube-by-3deluxe/