CHAPTER 2
EARLY STAGE PROJECT
Building Exterior Analysis Sustainability According to research, sustainable design is the approach to developing products and
services
environmental,
that social,
considers and
Figure 16 Vitra Fire Station is made of sustainable reinforced concrete, 2011 photograph by anonphotography.com, source: flickr, 2022 modified by Brianna Chan
the
Reinforced concrete is not only a more environmentally
friendly
and
versatile
material (figure 16), but it is also a long Reinforced concrete
economic
lasting building material which has low
impacts from the initial phase through to
maintenance costs, high energy efficiency,
the end of life. In addition, sustainable
and durability in the face of natural and
design also aims to improve building
man-made disasters (Michael Collins,
performance environmental
by
reducing
impacts,
as
negative well
as
improving the health and comfort of
building
inhabitants.
Moreover,
create
resources,
productive
and
and
Figure 18 Sliding doors are opened to let air flow into the interior, 2016 photograph by designboom team, source: designboom, 2022 modified by Brianna Chan
to
healthy
environments (U.S. General Services
window
panes
are
employed
throughout the building to maximize the
minimize waste, reduce the consumption non-renewable
Large
the
primary goals of sustainability are to
of
2003).
Figure 17 Large window panes help to maximize the amount of sun light that enters the interior, 2016 photograph by koishki, source: reddit, 2022 modified by Brianna Chan
amount of sun light that enters the interior (figure 17). In addition, casement windows and sliding doors are installed to facilitate ventilation air flow into the interior (figure 18). Moreover, concrete can help to
Large window panes
absorb heat to keep the building’s interior
Administration, 2021).
cool
throughout
the
day,
whereas
overnight natural ventilation can be used to cool the concrete down and warm up the room space (Michael Collins, 2003).
Sliding door
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