BRNO - FORGOTTEN CZECH
Brno is the second largest city in the Czech Republic but many may not even be aware of its existence. For a city with a metro. Population of 800,000 people it has largely grown under the international radar for many years. The capital of South Moravian region in the Czech area, the city historically has rich and deep heritage linked to the historical Moravian and Bohemian Empires. Consisting of a 17th century castle Spilberk and the 16th century cathedral of St Peter and St Paul located on Petrov hill in the city centre, the city over the past 100 years has been ruled for the most part by communism but has still retained its historical and culturally significant pieces of architecture.
BRNO - COMMUNISM + MODERNISM
Politics as played a very important role in the evolution of Brno as a landscape architecturally. Modernism and Functionalism took hold in Brno in the 1920’s as it did around the world, none more significant than Mies Van Der Rohe’s ‘Villa Tughenhat.’ This now UNESCO heritage was built as the time one of the most expensive homes in the world with its state of the art technology and architectural designs. Built with a panoramic view of Brno from the north, its minimalist elevation and smooth surfaces acts as an influence for the proposal at the Mendel site but also as the foundation of modernism in Brno. Communist ‘Bloc’ design is prevalent all throughout the city and a leader for Czech modernism was Bohuslav Fuchs. The Czech architect designed many marge dense apartment blocks around the city with horizontal rectangular emphysis and smooth plaster surfaces and renders. Now after the fall of communism Brno’s new architecture has followed Western design in skyscraper, glass and metal designs which have become the backbone of western design. But the minimalist and functionalist movement still is most prevalent in the city and Brno is one of the largest examples in the world of functonalist architecture today.
TH E B R E I F - A PAN O RAM I C R E STAU RANT
Zidenice – East of the City
Church of the Sacred Heart
Church of the Assumption
Church of St. Peter and St. Paul – City Centre
The aim of this project is to design a multipurpose building in the Husuvice region of Brno city centre, in the north east of the city 10 minutes away from the centre. The site is located on the grounds of the Mendel University residential area, with the student housing blocks and student pavilions like the cafeteria next to the site. The project has a very loose brief but clearly states that the design must include a ‘Panoramic Restaurant’ and parking facilities. With this in mind, and with the buldings location, the proposal enclosed acts not only according to the brief, but as a COMMUNITY HUB for both the public and university residents. Both the content of the area and its surroundings are a great driving force for the development of the design.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
NAT U R E
STRUCTURE
STYLE
MENDEL UNIVERSITY is one of three universities situated in Brno, and its primary focus of studies is BOTANICS. The university has extensive research and courses offered from forestery to biological sciences. As this building shall be situated as part of the Mendel University residential campus, a project designed and influenced greatly by nature would make the building seamlessly fit into its surroundings. Trialling experimental natural habitats and blending this theme with the architecture is crucial in this design.
While encorparating a natural habitat for the project, and with the projects unique hilltop site, the structure of the building is extremely important in the buildings design. The proposal and brief states that the building must have some sort of parking facilities, which means that it must have a hugely robust and strong structure. But while many design try to hide their structure behind facades and glamour, this project plans to highlight and celebrate the structure designed. This will give a contrast but balance between the robust structure, the nature of the site and proposal and the physicality of the site itself.
The architecture of Brno and the style of the setting is hugely important to the design proposal. While many new projects in the city have tried hard to move away from its functional and communist style of design, this proposal shall merely put a 21st century interpretation on its cultural heritage. The prominent high density blocks, with minimal design features that celebrate function are something which this project hopes to achieve, but also blends this functional style with the natural surroundings, and the prominent structure of the project.
Mendel University Business Faculty - Brno
Rokko Housing – Rokko Japan – Tadao Ando
Mendel Student Housing Block – View from the site
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
NAT U R E
STRUCTURE
STYLE
THE SITE - 1 : 2000
SITE REVIEW + ANALYSIS + RESPONS E
GREEN AREAS A review of the green and paved areas surrounding the site. The site has a huge green hillside area which means the sight has uninterrupted views south towards the city. The site has many smaller lanes and public pathways for ease of connectivity through the urban area
MENDEL SITE The size of the university area on the site. Most of the communal blocks are part of the university student residential area, but 1 cleary distinguishing factor is the building directly to the left of the site if private homes. This means consideration must be taken when designing a public building near this block.
BUILDING TYPOLOGY This shows the type of buildings in the surrounding area. Dark Yellow – High density Residentail area Light Yellow Low density Residential area Dark Green Public university building (Cafeteria etc) Light Green Commercial Building
ROAD CONGESTION The main street to the south of the block is an important and busy street in Brno, as well as the strret swooping further right. This should be the main access points, but there is also access to the site deeper in the urban block with smaller 15km/h streets accessable.
THE SITE - 1 : 500
SITE ANALYS IS
The project has a challenging site due to its steep ascending hill heading north. But this hill only offers spectacular views south towards the city, and a huge suntrap on the projects southern elevation. With this, a top floor terrace has been constructed to maximise this. In the site, consideration has been taking with regards to the surrounding buildings. Both building to the sides are residential so the orientation has been made to maximise north and south elevations, minimising the eastern and western impacts. A large northern park space has been created on the site, creating a public realm of circulation and relaxation, with large natural habitat being added to the site. This also gives a pleasant view from the building and surrounding buildings onto the site. The path continues from the south around the building to the north, keeping the public spaces open to everyone. The building also connects to the existing external sports area, with the new HUB taking new jurisdiction over the area. The roof design continues with the style resonated in the rest of the building and also with the buildings surrounding the site. The roof has green areas and also solar panels improving the buildings carbon footprint.
F L O O R P LAN 1:200
- 2 : CAR PARK I N G
The design works that there is 3 ½ levels of car parking buried into the hillside of the site, keeping it hidden and maximising the main spaces above it. A clear one way system is employed to ensure efficiency for the cars. On the left is the main circulation space for the entire building which travels throughout. On the right a fire escape stair also projects through the entire building, as well as a service elavator. A control room for the car parking is also positioned at the entrance.
CAR PARK LEVEL G
CAR E NTRANC E
F L O O R P LAN 1:200
- 1 : CAR PARK I N G
CAR PARK LEVEL 1
CAR PARK LEVEL 2
ENTRANCE
Traveling up through the building the car parking continues in the one way system, keeping traffic flowing. As the hillside of the site pulls further north, this level is where the main southern entrance to the building is situated. By entering through this door and continuing upwards through the levels you come to the main control point of the building. The room on the right is one of 3 different plant room areas and storage spaces for workers in the building. This particular room has space for Ventilation facilities.
F L O O R P LAN 1:200
0 : MAIN GYMNASIUM
ENTRANCE
MAIN SPORTS HALL
On this floor is the main entrance to the building from the south and the main control point of the entire building. The reception area serves as a main control for both car parking, sports hall and smaller halls. On this floor the Main Gymnasium is located. With Dimensions of 36m x 20m the hall is large enough for 1 professional sized basketball court, plus a viewing stand behind the west basket. You also have sufficient male + female changing for all areans, including the outdoor hall. Office space is also situated here. To the east of the building this is the exit to the outside from the fire door, which people would then move to the north f the site. Also a large storage area is located at the part for storing sports equipment for the hall. The internal walls here are thicker than usual as they are built with sound insulation to protect the external areas from noise pollution from both the arena and the changing facilities.
F L O O R P LAN 1:200
1 - DANCE HALL
The first floor has 1 of 2 Dance studios situated in the building. These spaces are adaptable areas with mixed purpose use, offering views to the north and south, but which also offer views into the main sports hall area. The circulation space repeats and continues upwards on both sides. On the right the services space is a Plant Room which deals which heating the building. MIXED USE HALL 1
2
MIXED USE HALL 2
F L O O R P LAN 1:200
: DANCE HALL
This floor is almost an exact replica of the floor below, adding more dance studio spaces to the building. But as its purpose as a COMMUNITY HUB this spaces can also be used for various activities like art displays, local council meetings etc. One key feature displayed on the plans is the gradual increase of transparency in the walls of the main gymnasium. This is to offer more natural light into the space at the high windows so to not distract the sports people using the space. The views into the gymnasium from the dance hall are more obscured as the steel trusses holding up the roof space are 2m deep and enter into the eyeline of people looking into the space.
F L O O R P LAN 1:200
3 : R E STAU RANT
MAIN RESTAURANT
TERRACE
The top floor is where the panoramic restaurant is situated, located here to offer as best of a view possible of Brno below. This can be accessed by the main circulation stair or elevator on the left. The thoughts behind this space is to make every seat in the restaurant a special place, whether it be by the views or the privacy it offers. The whole southern section is an external terrace area offering a fantastic suntrap and views of the city. The northern part of the design focuses on the natural theme and design elements throughout the building. A small external courtyard space is taken from the centre of the plan to offer a relaxing and beautiful dining experience. The external walls are covered in windows to offer maximum views south to the city, or even north up the hill of the site or onto the external garden space provided and designed.
INTERNAL SPACE – THE MAIN GYMNASIUM HALL he main gym hall is split over 3 floors and has an uninterrupted height 6.8m. The hall exposed the concrete structure of the space and also has 2m deep steel roof trusses, which hold up the roof an the restaurant above. Matching with this industrial look which is created, the interior is lined with clay “false” bricks (thickness of 50mm instead of normal.) The space shows the punctured windows in the elevations which let in huge amounts of natural daylight into the space, with more light coming in from the upper levels. The Space also has a timber bleacher like stand behind the western basket.
SOUTH ELEVATION
EAST ELEVATION
NORTH ELEVATION
WEST ELEVATION
EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC
This drawing clearly shows the regularity of the vertical circulation spaces throughout the building. It also shows the functionalist design in plan with a very regular and simple design throughout. The service areas are highlighted and located at both sides of the building, with the main feature of each floor sandwiched between these areas, whether it be circulation, plant rooms or circulation spaces.
SECTIONAL
The height of the main gymnasium hall is vitally important to its productive use. The space has an uninterrupted height of 6.8m – plenty much to fulfil the minimum requirements of a sports hall height. The steel trusses help create an industrial feel to the space while providing vital structural support for the space above. The car parking reaches 33m to the north, while the whole building only reaches 20m. This section shows the height of the 3 levels and the use of the garden space above the car parking area.
STRUCTURAL DESIGN The space cuts into the site hill and builds its foundations here, while building the underground parking and main block of the building above this. The building is built with a concrete construction of beams and columns, with the exposed concrete columns carrying all loads vertically into the ground. The columns are 500mm x 500mm in size, with the beams 500mm x 800mm. This deeper size helps carry the loads to the columns.
The structure of the Gymnasium was very difficult As the space has a span of 20m without support, and also has a weight of the restaurant above this space. This is combated with 2m steel trusses installed under the columns to help carry the loads to the vertical columns. Where the main space has this steel structure the entirety of the rest of the building is held with concrete columns, with the spaces cleverly zoned and marked t help carry loads to the ground. The car park space on the half level also has the garden space above it, and this is held up with concrete columns throughout the car park.
• GREEN WALL CONSTRUCTION – The project has 2 different sets of green walled construction. The first type is on the external façade of the building, facing north and south and is build into the façade. This is called a SAGE VERTICAL GARDEN SYSTEM. This system has a modular hydroponic system for low maintenance and high levels of natural growth. The second system is located on the interior walls of the main staircase, built onto the interior of the western façade. This is called a VERSAWALL system, which uses small pots of plant life fitted into the wall and uses minimal maintenance. Also, on the top floor of the building a large vegetation patch is located to the southern façade next to the external terrace. This area is a vegetation patch designed as a location itself to grow its own fresh vegetables and ingrediants. • SOLA R PANELS + RAIN COLLECTION SCHEMATICS – The roof of the project Is covered in both solar panels + grasses areas. The grass helps blend the building into its natural made surroundings, and the solar panels provide a low carbon source of energy for the building. The roof also has a rain water collection schematic aimed at reducing and reusing the water in the building, primarily to water the green walled constructions. • CLEANER AIR + VENTILATION SCHEMES – The green walls throughout the building provide an extra sense of natural ventilation throughout the building. The building has equipped a Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery (MVHR) units throughout the building which mechanically ventilate the spaces within. The primary units for this are located in the Plant rooms to the East of the building. • GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMP – Due to the fortunate site of the building, the location has enough space for a ground source heat pump unit to be installed deep into the ground and to act as an eco friendly way of powering the building. This bores deep into the ground at the side of the eastern façade of the building, and generates the boiler room to this side also. This building is then heated through a mixture of underfloor heating systems and wall mounted radiators, aimed at reducing the wasted heat emitted in the building. • ACOUSTIC DESIGN – To combat the huge levels of sound generated from the main sports hall, the roof of the hall is lined with soundproof wedge foam insulation to stop the sound from travelling upwards into the restaurant above. Also the changing facilities, located so close to the entrance and reception, re fitting with sound proof materials inside the cavity of the walls to reduce this noise pollution.
E N V I R O N M E NTAL D E S I G N
PR E S E NTAT I O N