Sustainable Learning Hub Design
with focus on Daylighting in Libraries
Thesis 2021, JBRAC
Masters in Environmental Design, Esther | 19171NB002
History & Evolution Spatial Design Standards & Local Laws Daylighting Strategies Sustainable Strategies Acoustic Design Universal Design Post Covid Design
CONTENTS JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
Surveys & Questionnaires
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY
History & Evolution A study into spatial design evolution of libraries so far The history of libraries began with efforts to organise collections of documents and artefacts of a particular region. Topics of interest include accessibility of the collection, acquisition of materials, arrangement and finding tools, the book trade, the influence of the physical properties of the different writing materials, language distribution, role in education, rates of literacy, budgets, staffing, libraries for specially targeted audiences, architectural merit, patterns of usage, and the role of libraries in a nation's cultural heritage, and the role of government, church or private sponsorship. Since the 1960s, issues of computerisation and digitisation have arisen changed the walls of the Libraries. It is cardinal for most Libraries to move with change in order to remain competitive or relevant like any other sector.
The most important library of the A n c i e n t Wo r l d wa s l o c a t e d i n Alexandria, Egypt, and is the model for what we think of as a library today. Scholars traveled from far and wide to study in Alexandria, whose library was built much like a college campus, with rooms to store texts and rooms to study.
The Haeinsa Monastery isn’t what we think of as a library, but since the Middle Ages it has housed the Tripitaka Koreana, “the most complete and accurate corpus of Buddhist doctrinal texts in the world,” according to UNESCO.
The Radcliffe Camera was the first circular library constructed in England. It was funded by the physician John Radcliffe and designed by Sir Christopher Wren’s pupil Nicholas Hawskmoor and James Gibbs. It’s an excellent example of English Palladian architecture. The library is centered around a dome and is full of Classical details, including Corinthian columns.
Named for St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice, and located on St. Mark’s Piazza, the Biblioteca Marciana was designed by Renaissance architect Jacopo Sansovino. It is one of the oldest surviving libraries in Italy and contains one of the greatest collections of classical texts in the world. Originally, the books were secured by long iron chains to the lecterns, which stood in rows like school desks. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, books were often kept in this way so theives could forget about trying to steal them.
In the heart of the Latin Quarter, just steps away from the Pantheon, the Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève is Paris’s grandest library. It was designed by Henri Labrouste to resemble the Beaux-Arts train stations being built around the same time. Architects had only recently begun using cast iron, and realized it could create delicate patterns as well as bear heavy loads.
One of the most famous libraries in the United States, the New York Public Library’s main branch at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue remains a testament to the city’s literary history and a Beaux-Arts architectural masterpiece.
Itzkowitz, L. (2020, October 26). The Architectural Evolution of Libraries. Journal. https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/stories/architectural-evolution-of-the-library/
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
The Trinity College Library was Thomas Burgh’s masterpiece and remains the largest library in Ireland. Originally, the ceiling was flat and there were no books in the galleries. The architects Deane and Woodward completed a major reconstruction of the librar y in 1856 in order to accomodate the books that accumulated after the library was given legal deposit rights, meaning it would receive a copy of every book published in the Republic of Ireland.
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
Seattle Cental Library with lots of open space, a 275-seat auditorium, meeting rooms and a stack system known as the books spiral. Four floors of stacks are connected by gentle ramps, and 75 percent of the collection is located there. The lightfilled reading room is nearly 12,000 square feet and the library houses 400 computer terminals. The building’s diagonal grid system of concrete, steel, and glass.
LITERATURE STUDY History & Evolution
Spatial Design What makes up a Learning Hub and Library? The main objective of designing a learning hub is bringing about a built up environment that caters to the need of readers and other kinds of users in the particular area and thus contribute to the larger need of increasing literacy levels and increase knowledge. The simultaneous focus group becomes the user group that can be encouraged to read more and use the print medium. The spatial design should be such that it incorporates sustainable design strategies that can help in making the project a wholesome experience while at the same time focusing primarily on design strategies that help the reading and learning spaces capitalise on natural daylighting. This also means making sure that passive strategies, daylighting and acoustics have to go hand in hand without compromising each other at the same time handling the Hot Humid Climate..
LEARNING HUB As learning becomes more participatory, requiring a co-construction of knowledge from many sources, libraries are transforming from archives of information into “learning commons,” where students come to learn key 21st-century skills and construct new knowledge together.
FLEXIBILITY Creating a flexible space, with furniture and shelving that easily can be moved and rearranged into different configurations, expands the range of activities and also prevents from being locked into a limited number of uses for the space, when the needs will continue to grow.
This new model is changing the design of library spaces. Printed books are still important, but library spaces are no longer consumed by rows of shelving.
OPENNESS Include open spaces, to allow for user to gather together for learning and collaboration. If the space is too cluttered, it will inhibit collaborative a p p ro a c h e s t o t e a c h i n g a n d learning. Improve sight lines and making the space seem more open and inviting, such as by using open shelving or glass walls.
For instance, there are more open spaces and common areas that allow peers and people of same or various fields to get together for creating, sharing and collaborating. It should be a space that turns over to the user, rather than the user having to adapt to the space. Libraries are an important space where using it does not necessarily mean only loaning a book but so many other affiliated activities like reading, discussing and sometimes just a quiet space.
COMFORT The Learning Hub should be a place where users want to drop in, hang around, have conversations and learn. Providing soft, comfortable seating options, using warm colors and adding unique design touches, proper daylighting and socialising spaces will help ensure that students s p e n d t i m e e x p l o r e t h e m a ny resources.
The developing role of the library has created a set of new and complex challenges for those delivering library buildings and services. The libraries of the twenty-first century are no longer simply familiar repositories for books. They have changed and expanded, been rethought and redesigned. Libraries now provide an increasingly wider range of different services, using a multitude of media, and reach a more diverse audience than ever before; see Table I and image LIBRARY, RESOURCE AND STUDY AREAS Developments in ICT reinforce the library’s importance as information centre rather than rendering it unnecessary; books and printed material remain important alongside use of the Internet, CD-ROM and programs networked from central file servers.
INFRASTRUCTURE The design of built up environment should be that of wholesome experience and hands on learning. Enough power outlets to support the e v e r- i n c r e a s i n g a s s o r t m e n t o f electronic devices.
However, both resources and study areas may also be dispersed around the school in faculty centres. If the school is appropriately located and planned, the school’s library may be combined.
REFERENCES
ACCESS Spaces to open and accessible to the public, because this will affect the design of the space as well. It should be easily accessible from all parts of the city, with proper parking.
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JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Spatial Design
REFERENCES
https://www.learncreateshare.vision/
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Spatial Design
INFERENCES The purpose of a learning hub is to make sure the users all have access to educational resources and a space to interact . While designing daylighting, acoustics and sustainability have to go hand in hand to make sure the design is efficient and this has to be around which the spaces are designed in conjunction with the users. 21st Century libraries become places where: Artists and thinkers work, Problems are solved, Ideas are explored, Talents are practiced, Risks are taken, Passions uncovered, Innovations happen, hence the design has to be human centric and a co learning space. The hierarchy of spaces should be designed according to how historically this has evolved over time
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Spatial Design
Standards & Ratings Established Guidelines that help in designing. Standards form the fundamental building blocks for product development by establishing consistent protocols that can be universally understood and adopted. Architectural standards especially help in laying down tested and trusted numbers while designing. Codes such as NBC 2016 (National Building Code), ECBC 2017 and URDPFI help in staying up to date on Indian context of designing eco-friendly buildings. Rating Systems like GRIHA, LEED, IGBC help in designing buildings that incorporate green and sustainable solutions. These help in energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint.
TIME SAVERS STANDARDS
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Standards & Ratings
METRIC DATA HANDBOOK NBC 2016
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Standards & Ratings
IS 7942:1976
IS 1553:1989
REFERENCES
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
NBC 2016, Bureau of Indian Standards IS 553:1989 IS 7943:1976
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
Public Library Space Needs: A Planning Outline
LITERATURE STUDY Standards & Ratings
ECBC 2017
REFERENCES Public Library Space Needs: A Planning Outline
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Standards & Ratings
INFERENCES DAYLIGHTING ECBC mandates 40% Window to Wall Ratio for all ECBC compliant buildings. For Super ECBC compliance the Building should achieve illuminance level between 100 lux and 2000 lux for minimum percentage of 90% for at lest 90% the potential day lit time. Skylight Ratio should be limited to 5% while using prescriptive method. The SHGCs, U Factors etc should be in compliance with the given tables in the ECBC 2017 handbook U Factor depends on the climate in which the building is located, in this case hot and humid. OTHERS LPD Calculation depends on the building typology Comfort Systems have to designed based on climate.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Standards & Ratings
LEED RATING
TOWN PLANNING MANUAL
URDPFI 2016
GRIHA RATING
All new construction projects with built up area more than 2500 m2 (excluding parking, basement area, and typical buildings) are eligible for certification under GRIHA v.2019. The various parameters like site planning, water and wastewater management, building design optimization, energy performance optimization, renewable energy utilization, solid waste management etc.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Standards & Ratings
Daylighting Strategies A sustainable learning space needs natural daylighting The first requirement for library lighting is to provide enough light to accomplish a visual task such as reading. For daylight, this means tuning the aperture designs to minimize solar heat gain while achieving the illumination levels required for visual acuity. The second requirement is that the contrast brightness of other objects within the field of view must not be excessive, such that the library user can view the task comfortably and not become visually fatigued over time. The amount of daylight and its direction at the window or roof of a building vary during a typical day as the sun moves, and seasonally as the sun's predominant position in the sky changes. In general, people enjoy variable daylight and the connection it provides to the natural environment. However, it is important in libraries to maintain a relatively constant light level for visual tasks so that short term variability does not become distracting or result in inadequate illumination.
DAYLIGHTING STRATEGIES The sun is the rich source of natural light for the illumination of forms and spaces in architecture. While the sun’s radiation is intense, the quality of its light, manifested in the form of direct sunlight or diffuse daylight, varies with the time of day, from season to season, and from place to place. As the luminous energy of the sun is dispersed by clouds, haze, and precipitation, it transmits the changing colors of the sky and the weather to the forms and surfaces it illuminates. Daylighting is a building design strategy to use light from sun. Presence of natural light in an occupied space brings a sense of wellbeing, increases awareness of one’s surrounding and also increases energy saving potential with reduced dependence on artificial light. Appropriate use of windows, skylights, clerestories, and other apertures in the building provide means to harvest daylight. Daylight factor is used for determining daylight. It is equivalent to the sum of the diffused skylight (SC), internally reflected light (IRC) and externally reflected light (ERC). Quality and quantum of daylight entering a space can be controlled by modifying these three factors. Sidelighting is the most common method of allowing daylight into the building. Glare from direct sunlight can be prevented by using light shelves. These shelves redirect the light rays toward the ceilings which in turn reflect uniform, indirect light. ORIENTATION AND FORM FOR DAYLIGHTING Buildings can be located and oriented to take advantage of sun’s movement throughout the day, as well as seasonal variations. Buildings that are longer on their east-west axis are better for daylighting and visual comfort. Larger and taller buildings should have thinner profiles to maximize daylighting potential from side windows. Large buildings can get daylight into more spaces by having central courtyards or atria, or having other cut-outs in the building form. Focus should be given to maximum daylight factor, increase uniformity of light spread, reduce glare, and minimise solar gains. Increasing the height of each storey to allow for higher windows also helps pull daylight further into the building. Plan for daylight by minimising floor plate depth.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Daylighting Strategies
SIZE OF OPENING: The size of a window or skylight controls the amount of daylight a room receives. The size of an opening in a wall or roof plane, however, is also regulated by factors other than light, such as the materials and construction of the wall or roof plane; requirements for views, visual privacy, and ventilation; the desired degree of enclosure for the space; and the effect of openings on the exterior form of a building. The location and orientation of a window or skylight, therefore, can be more important than its size in determining the quality of daylight a room receives. LOCATION OF OPENING: The location of an opening affects the manner in which natural light enters a room and illuminates its forms and surfaces. When located entirely within a wall plane, an opening can appear as a bright spot of light on a darker surface. This condition can induce glare if an excessive degree of contrast exists between the brightness of the opening and the darker surface surrounding it. T he uncomfortable or debilitating glare caused by excessive brightness ratios between adjacent surfaces or areas in a room can be ameliorated by allowing daylight to enter the space from at least two directions. When an opening is located along the edge of a wall or at the corner of a room, the daylight entering through it will wash the surface of the wall adjacent and perpendicular to the plane of the opening. This illuminated surface itself becomes a source of light and enhances the light level within the space. Additional factors influence the quality of light within a room. The shape and articulation of an opening is reflected in the shadow pattern cast by sunlight on the forms and surfaces of the room. The color and texture of these forms and surfaces, in turn, affect their reflectivity and the ambient light level within the space. South-facing windows are the easiest to shade. Horizontal shading devices are most effective as they can block summer sun and admit winter sun. East- and west-facing windows are best shaded with vertical devices, but these are usually harder to incorporate into a building, and limit views from the window. The provision of glare protection devices will reduce the amount of daylight harvested. A balance between glare protection and daylight harvesting needs to be done carefully to ensure that the design of the daylight harvesting system will perform as intended.
REFERENCES
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JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Daylighting Strategies
Glazing area should be reduced as long as it does not affect the uniformity of daylight distribution in a building. Reduce Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) as less heat will be transferred into the building. Reduce the U-Value of glazing and also lower the SHGC except for the cold climate where higher SHGC is recommended. When specifying windows performance, take care to specify “whole product performance values” / whole window unit for U-factor and SHGC. Use of “glass-only ” U-factors should be avoided as they can be 10% to 40% better than the whole product value. Fenestrations (windows, skylights, & other openings in a building etc.) allow daylight and the prevailing wind inside the building when needed. However, solar radiation that can penetrate through these fenestrations, especially windows, can lead to considerable heat gain. Glazing in windows traps the heat inside the space. Window glass allows short wave infra-red radiation from sun to pass through easily, but is very resistant to passage of long wave radiations emitted from objects inside the building that have heated from the solar radiation.
Resultant temperature inside the building can thus be even greater than outside temperature if fenestration systems are not designed carefully.
INFERENCES Methods to reduce heat gain through windows are: Orientation and size Glazing Internal shading devices (blinds, curtains) External shading devices Fenestrations ate be designed for daylight harvesting potential by reducing lighting loads without compromising on visual and thermal comfort of building occupants. Location, sizing and glazing of windows can be used judiciously to reducing cooling load, and resultantly, smaller building cooling systems. Achieving a balance between daylight penetration and heat gain requires a careful calibration between visual and heat transmission qualities of glazing, and the orientation and sizing of opening.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
Solar radiation intensity is minimum on north facing openings or walls both with respect to quantum and duration, followed by south facing facades. East and west facing openings (or walls) receive large amount of solar radiation throughout the year. Top lighting is an effective daylighting solution for wide buildings where side lighting cannot be used for adequate lighting of the deeper areas of the floorplate. To reduce glare, skylights must be designed with reflective surfaces that redirects direct sunlight into the space. Design of direction specific skylights must take in consideration angle and path of sun during winter and summer. North facing skylights are most suitable for work spaces.
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Daylighting Strategies
WINDOWS Window-walls offer more expansive views and permit a greater amount of daylight to penetrate a space than any of the previous examples of openings. If they are oriented to capture direct sunlight, sunshading devices may be necessary to reduce glare and excessive heat gain within the space. Amount of daylight that enters a room depends on the window location and its dimensions. Determine the window size, height and glazing treatments for each facade separately. Maximize southern exposure and optimize northern exposure. North-facing windows provide consistent indirect light with minimal heat gains. Minimize eastern and western exposure when the sun is lowest and most likely causes glare and overheating. They are more difficult to shade because the sun is closer to the horizon. There is a direct relationship between the height of the window head and the depth of daylight (Typically adequate daylight will penetrate one and one half times the height of the window head). Allow daylight penetration high in a space. Windows located high in a wall or in roof monitors and clerestories will result in deeper light penetration and reduces the likelihood of excessive brightness. Use advanced daylight harvesting methods in case of large window area (such as use of external light shelves, light tubes, a higher ceiling height and other similar technologies, would help to distribute the daylight deeper into the building). Use of light coloured interior surfaces reduces luminance contrast and improves coverage. The more the sunlight that enters the building, more the heat that needs to be dealt with. Thus, by placing apertures correctly, nature can work with you. Integrating daylighting with artificial lighting can considerably reduce energy consumption, but at the same time may lead to higher air conditioning loads due to heat gain. Thus design consultants and decision makers need to appropriately balance daylight harvesting features and minimize solar heat gains. Hence, daylighting becomes an integral part of a building design strategy from early design phase to lower the energy consumption of a building.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Daylighting Strategies
SKYLIGHT Locating a linear skylight along the edge where a wall and ceiling plane meet allows incoming light to wash the surface of the wall, illuminate it, and enhance the brightness of the space. The form of the skylight can be manipulated to capture direct sunlight, indirect daylight, or a combination of both. Penetrating a space through windows in a wall plane, or through skylights in the overhead roof plane, the radiant energy of the sun falls upon the surfaces within the room, enlivens their colors, and reveals their textures. With the shifting patterns of light, shade, and shadows that it creates, the sun animates the space of the room, and articulates the forms within it. By its intensity and dispersion within the room, the luminous energy of the sun can clarify the form of the space or distort it. The color and brilliance of sunlight can create a festive atmosphere within the room or a more diffuse daylight can instill within it a somber mood. An opening can also be oriented away from direct sunlight and receive instead the diffuse, ambient light from the sky vault overhead. The sky vault is a beneficial source of daylight since it remains fairly constant, even on cloudy days, and can help to soften the harshness of direct sunlight and balance the light level within a space.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Daylighting Strategies
LILAVATI LIBRARY, AHMEDABAD Complete with an operating manual for students, the building’s modulated, louvered facade can be manually adjusted to allow in less light or more ventilation in response to Ahmedabad’s severely hot and dry climate. Located at -4 meters and -8 meters below ground level, the book stacks, carrels, and study spaces benefit from both plentiful and filtered natural lighting that pours in through the louvered facade as well as the natural cooling effect provided by the surrounding earth. In this way, the building serves as a hands-on laboratory for students to experiment with the principles of passive ventilation, lighting, and traditional cooling systems in South Asia.
https://www.archdaily.com/911812/lilavati-lalbhai-library-rma-architects
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Daylighting Strategies
MAYA SOMAIYA LIBRARY, SHARDA In the pursuit of making the building interactive, a unique form was created by blending the ground plane with the structure’s accessible roof, making it seem as though the structure is an extension of the ground itself. One enters the book room to find an unobstructed singular space that modulates with respect to the volume, owing to the vaulted ceiling and the outer form of the structure. With the central space spanning 45m by 8m, the design allows freedom and continuity to flourish, enriching the space with comfort and ample light to read.
https://www.stirworld.com/see-features-maya-somaiya-library-by-sp-a-wins-beazley-award-for-architecture
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Daylighting Strategies
SINGAPORE NATIONAL LIBRARY Sunshading blades have been fitted onto the building’s facades to prevent excessive heat and glare. Other facades also have sunshaded glass panels that let in natural daylight. The usage of artificial indoor lighting is minimized by light shelves that reflect daylight deeper into the building to help in lighting interior spaces. Passive-mode features include optimized daylighting, solar orientation and configuration; sun shading; natural ventilation; responsive facade design; and landscaping. The building's distinctive louvers, which perform solar shading and anti-glare roles, are up to six meters (20 feet) deep in places, and help define a tropical aesthetic for the library as well as serving as light shelves to deflect natural light into the inner parts of the library.
https://www.archdaily.com/438400/free-university-of-berlin-foster-partners
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Daylighting Strategies
FREE UNIVERSITY'S PHILOLOGY LIBRARY, BERLIN A translucent glass fibre inner membrane acts as a diffuser to spread natural light, ‘glowing’ with ambient light throughout the day and subtly registering the weather outside in a dappled play of reflections and patterns over its surface. Views through the transparent panels and openings allow glimpses of the sky above, with the light diaphanous envelope giving an impression of being surrounded by light and air.
https://www.archdaily.com/438400/free-university-of-berlin-foster-partners
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Daylighting Strategies
THAILAND CREATIVE AND DESIGN CENTER This translucent architectural system wrapping around and i n s e r t i n g throughout the facility is a double wall r e c e s s e d fenestration system.
WEST BERKLEY LIBRARY Low-E, or low-emissivity, glass was created to minimize the amount of infrared and ultraviolet light that comes through ythe glass, without minimizing the amount of light that enters the building. Operable Skylights contributes significantly to the overall 97% of daylighting entering naturally. https://www.archdaily.com/438400/free-university-of-berlin-foster-partners
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Daylighting Strategies
YOGANANDA LIBRARY, SOLAN The big blank concrete central library- the Yogananda library of the Shoolini University in Solan, overlooks a beautiful green valley. The upper two floors are made deeper as the contours recede and the front remains aligned. This allows a large central courtyard that pours uniform indirect light into all the parts of the built floors. The courtyards connect playfully in voids and volumes as they broaden up to the terrace to become a natural container of light. This unrestricted light but controlled temperature and views bring the required climatic control within the building.
https://www.archdaily.com/438400/free-university-of-berlin-foster-partners
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Daylighting Strategies
LIVERMORE LEARNING HUB One story, 52,300 SF library included extensive site work and landscaping. The interior features exposed structural steel alongside custom woodwork. Different daylighting strategies are Clerestory Windows, and Skylights along with Corner Windows
https://www.stirworld.com/see-features-maya-somaiya-library-by-sp-a-wins-beazley-award-for-architecture
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Daylighting Strategies
Sustainable Strategies Design Strategies that will help in creating a better future Sustainable design seeks to reduce negative impacts on the environment, and the health and comfort of building occupants, thereby improving building performance. The basic objectives of sustainability are to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources, minimize waste, and create healthy, productive environments. Sustainable design has a long-term approach to environmental protection. Sustainability, green building, and environmental awareness are common elements of contemporary library and learning spaces design. By understanding how the site works with both the climate and topography, it provides clues to the design team in how they program and shape the building to both meet functional requirements and yet work in concert with the climate to create a high performance building. These design concepts need to be modeled and analyzed to ensure that the design is on track.
FORM & ORIENTATION
Service cores can act as thermal buffers against heat gain and loss. Optimal locations for building service cores are in the east and west.
INFERENCES In tropical climate like India, long facades of buildings oriented towards north- south are preferred. Buildings should be oriented with their longer axis (north –south) aligned perpendicular to the prevailing winds to facilitate maximum air-flow and cross ventilation through the building. (Buildings can be oriented at an angle between 0° to 30° with respect to the prevailing wind direction Buildings that feature a courtyard (in climates where cooling is desired), orienting the courtyard 45° from the prevailing wind maximizes wind flow into the courtyard and enhances cross ventilation in the building.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Sustainable Strategies
SHADING & FENESTRATION
INFERENCES As a first step towards shading, longer sides of a building should be oriented North- South which is preferred to minimize overall solar gain through the envelope. South-facing windows are the easiest to shade. Overhangs on south-oriented windows provide effective shading by blocking summer sun and admitting winter sun. Use fixed horizontal overhangs on south-facing glass. 1m shading device can reduce cooling loads substantially. Semi-outdoor spaces such as balconies (2.5m – 3m deep) can provide shade and protect interior spaces from overheating and climatic variations. At the same time they act as wind scoops and provide a private social space for the unit. If no exterior shading is possible, a lower solar heat gain coefficient for the glazing will be mandatory To enhance natural light utilization, passive design strategies such as light shelves are very useful for deeper and uniform distribution of light (most effective on the south side of the buildings, mostly recommended in mild climates and not for tropical or desert climate).
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
To the greatest extent possible, limit the amount of east and west glass (minimize window area) since they are harder to shade. Consider the use of landscaping to shade east and west exposures. An extended roof can provide shade to the entire north and south wall from the noon sun Shading is generally not required at the north side. Only cutting the low evening summer sun can be achieved by vertical shades or internal blinds.
On lower buildings, well-placed deciduous trees on the east and west will reduce summer overheating while permitting desirable winter solar gains
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Sustainable Strategies
COOL ROOF
VEGETATION
Climate is an important consideration when deciding a cool roof installation. Cool roofs achieve the greatest cooling savings in hot climates, but can increase energy costs in colder climates due to reduced beneficial wintertime heat gains. Roof coatings should include special chemicals that prevent mold or algae growth for a few years. In warm, moist locations, cool roof surfaces can be more susceptible to algae or mold growth than hot roofs. Proper design techniques should be used to avoid condensation, especially in cold climates. In cold climates, roofs can accumulate moisture through condensation, and it is possible that cool roofs might be more susceptible to accumulating moisture than dark roofs of the same design. However, in most cases they are considered inexpensive energy efficiency measure in buildings.
INFERENCES Recommendations on cool roof materials includes use of well-graded broken pieces of glossy glazed tiles (broken china mosaic) ,modified bitumen with plastic and a layer of reinforced material, RCC roof topped with elastomeric cool roof coating or simply finished with broken white glazed tiles. Slate and tile products are available with solar-reflective surfaces that offer a wide range of cool colours. Additionally, the dense, earthen composition of slate and tile products provide increased thermal mass, yielding additional energy savings not realized through solar reflectance and thermal emittance measures alone. Concrete and clay tiles may be obtained in white, increasing the solar reflectance to about 70 percent (compared to 20-30 percent range for red tile). Additional measures like roof insulation, vegetative roofs, and solar panels can be used to inhibit the flow of heat from roof to conditioned space within a building. Use of local species for vegetation is highly recommended as they are accustomed to the variations in temperature, rainfall patterns and soil conditions for that region. They are relatively low maintenance in terms of water usage, and are resistant against local pests. In addition, that also support birds and insects that thrive naturally in the region and help maintain the balance of natural flora and fauna. It is recommended that exotic species should cover no more than 25% of the landscaped area of a building. Reduce lawn area in the garden to a minimum to reduce the amount of water that is needed for irrigation.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
Deciduous vegetation can be considered as flexible shading devices. During winter, the vegetation will shed leaves to allow penetration of sunlight to the same occupied space which it would shade in summer.
LITERATURE STUDY Sustainable Strategies
VENTILATION
INFERENCES For good na tural ventila tion, building openings should be in opposite pressure zone ( since natural ventilation rely on pressure to move fresh air through buildings). The building can be oriented 0° to 30° with respect to the prevailing wind direction (wind rose diagram) / most preferably orientating longer facades of the building towards predominant wind direction. Maximum air movement is achieved by keeping the sill height at 85% of the critical height. Windows should be staggered rather than aligned If the space has only one façade exposed to the exterior, it is preferred to provide at least 2 windows on the façade. Total area of openings should be a minimum of 30% of floor area.
Pools, ponds and water features immediately outside windows or in courtyards can pre-cool air entering the house. As water evaporates it draws large amounts of heat from surrounding air.
Window-Wall-Ratio (WWR) should not be more than 60%.
In public buildings, water in pools and fountains can be used as a cooling element along with cross-ventilating arrangement of openings.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Sustainable Strategies
THERMAL MASS
GLAZING
INFERENCES Insulation should be placed at the hotter side of the surface (in case of summer cooling, insulation should be on outer side, while in case of heating the building, insulation should be placed on the internal side). Insulation material should be chosen keeping in mind the following parameters – thermal performance, lifetime performance, fire safety, moisture and condensation, air infiltration and environmental benefits. Insulation can have a disadvantage that it can prevent the building from cooling at night.
INSULATION
Insulation should be always used with a heat storing material, this storage mass should be placed inside a passively cooled building. When damp proof materials are used, they should always be on the warm side of the insulation. Use of insulation is more effective in hot climates where demand for cooling is very high. During summer months in hot climates, thermal insulation must be combined with an effective ventilation strategy at night (when it is cooler) to flush out the heat. REFERENCES https://nzeb.in/knowledge-centre/passive-design/ Smart Libraries, Joachim Schöpfel, GERiiCO Laboratory, University of Lille
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
https://nzeb.in/knowledge-centre/passive-design/ insulation/ https://nzeb.in/knowledge-centre/passive-design/ daylighting/
LITERATURE STUDY Sustainable Strategies
Smart Libraries: Joachim Schöpfel, GERiiCO Laboratory,
SMART SOLUTIONS
INFERENCES Building automation systems are Internet of Things (IoT) projects mixed with control and automation. Sensors that monitor a local condition send the data about the condition via a high-speed network to be processed. The data is then used to initiate a decision and take an action. .Not only are smart library services user-friendly and user-centered, they are also grounded in the vision or assumption of the smart library user as an active (co)producer of knowledge and not as a p a s s i v e consumer of information.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Sustainable Strategies
ALTERNATE ENERGY
americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2020/03/02/by-the-numbers-libraries-andsustainability/
The Government of Tamil Nadu realized the importance and need for renewable energy, and set up a separate Agency, as registered society, called the Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) as early as 1985,as per G.O.Ms.No.163, P. & D. (EC) Department, dated 29.11.1984 with the following specific objectives:To promote the use of new and renewable sources of energy (NRSE) and to implement projects therefore. To promote energy conservation activities. To encourage research and development on renewable sources of energy.
library user as an active (co)producer of knowledge and not as a p a s s i v e consumer of information.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
wri-india.org/blog/three-actions-tamil-nadu-consider-its-energy-transition
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Sustainable Strategies
ECO FRIENDLY MATERIALS INFERENCES Grasscrete benefit of reducing concrete usage overall, there’s also another important perk — improved stormwater absorption and drainage.
Rammed earth is a technology that has been used by human civilization for thousands of years, and can last a very long time. Modern rammed earth buildings can be made safer by use of rebar or bamboo, and mechanical tampers reduce the amount of labor required to create sturdy walls. HempCrete blocks are super-lightweight, which can also dramatically reduce the energy used to transport the blocks, and hemp itself is a fastgrowing, renewable resource. bamboo is a promising building material for modern buildings as is its combination of tensile strength, light weight, and fast-growing renewable nature. Used for framing buildings and shelters, bamboo can replace expensive and heavy imported materials and provide an alternative to concrete and rebar construction
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Sustainable Strategies
https://www.saint-gobain-facade-glass.com/sites/saint-gobain-facade-glass.com/ iles/Resources/Brochure%20Cool-Lite%2050.22%20II%20SG%20%20Copy.pdf
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JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
LITERATURE STUDY
Acoustics Design Specifically for Hot & Humid Climate and Predominantly Naturally Ventilated Spaces In learning spaces, balancing social, interactive spaces with the need for quiet study becomes a challenge. Like many other working and learning spaces, the library is constantly evolving and the acoustic requirements of these spaces is evolving in response. The design of good acoustics in libraries, contrary to popular belief, is not to lower noise levels, but rather to enable effective communication in areas where it is required, and reduce disruption in areas where concentration and quiet contemplation are needed. The design has to be such that it accommodates natural ventilation given the climatic condition but at the same time maintain proper noise levels. So here a mixture of passive design strategies through spatial design and specialised acoustic materials should be used for the best acoustic design.
. QUILTED SOUND SCREEN.
SUSPENDED ACOUSTICAL BAFFLES
WOOD SLAT CEILING
LAY-IN ACOUSTICAL CEILING TILE
ACOUSTICAL PERFORATED-METAL DECK.
Pierce College Library courtyard
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
OPEN-CELL ACOUSTICAL FOAM
Acoustics for Libraries. 2002, by Charles M. Salter, P.E
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Acoustics Design
Surry Hills Library Louvres
INFERENCES Hot And Humid Climate has some restrictions regarding acoustics because of the need to increase size of openings to accommodate natural ventilation. The law of mass for acoustic isolation does not help here. The principle of acoustic absorption for noise propagation reduction in the inward of the built environment becomes an alternative. Noise attenuators can be used in the built environment to help with noise reduction. Chicanes, Plenums, Louvres can be used to help with the acoustical design. Using antespaces such as verandas, balconies and courtyards can help in acoustic design which does not mess up the micro climate aspect of the design.
Pierce College Library courtyard
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
The Hive Balconies
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
Noise Control and Natural Ventilation in Dweeelings in Humid Hot Climates, J.Slama, A.M.Pereira Da Silva, Centro de Tecnologia, Sala G210, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
LITERATURE STUDY Acoustics Design
Universal Design Barrier free Design specifically for learning spaces to maintain an environment of equity The city of Nagercoil has a large number of 15% of people who have various disabilities from physical to mental. Of that, 10.5 % people have physical disabilities which especially required specially designed building components. It is our concern as designers to make sure the built environment is accommodative to all kinds of people, especially people with disabilities who need barrier free access.
https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s38fe0093bb30d6f8c31474bd0764e6ac0/uploads/2018/04/2018041626.pdf
REFERENCES
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
Planning Barrier Free Libraries, US Department of Education, Library of Congress, Washington
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Universal Design
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Universal Design
PRINCIPLE ONE: EQUITABLE USE The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities. GUIDELINES: Provide the same means of use for all users: identical whenever possible; equivalent when not. Avoid segregating or stigmatizing any users. Make provisions for privacy, security, and safety equally available to all users. Make the design appealing to all users. PRINCIPLE TWO: FLEXIBILITY IN USE The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. GUIDELINES: Provide choice in methods of use. Accommodate right- or left-handed access and use. Facilitate the user's accuracy and precision. Provide adaptability to the user's pace.
PRINCIPLE FIVE: TOLERANCE FOR ERROR The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions. GUIDELINES: Arrange elements to minimize hazards and errors: most used elements, most accessible; hazardous elements eliminated, isolated, or shielded. Provide warnings of hazards and errors. Provide fail safe features. Discourage unconscious action in tasks that require vigilance. PRINCIPLE SIX: LOW PHYSICAL EFFORT The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
PRINCIPLE THREE: SIMPLE AND INTUITIVE USE Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user's experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level. GUIDELINES: Eliminate unnecessary complexity. Be consistent with user expectations and intuition. Accommodate a wide range of literacy and language skills. Arrange information consistent with its importance. Provide effective prompting and feedback during and after task completion. PRINCIPLE FOUR: PERCEPTIBLE INFORMATION The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user's sensory abilities. GUIDELINES: Use different modes (pictorial, verbal, tactile) for redundant presentation of essential information. Maximize "legibility" of essential information.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
Differentiate elements in ways that can be described (i.e., make it easy to give instructions or directions). Provide compatibility with a variety of techniques or devices used by people with sensory limitations.
GUIDELINES: Allow user to maintain a neutral body position. Use reasonable operating forces. Minimize repetitive actions. Minimize sustained physical effort. PRINCIPLE SEVEN: SIZE AND SPACE FOR APPROACH AND USE Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user's body size, posture, or mobility. GUIDELINES: Provide a clear line of sight to important elements for any seated or standing user. Make reach to all components comfortable for any seated or standing user. Accommodate variations in hand and grip size. Provide adequate space for the use of assistive devices or personal assistance.
www.ala.org/asgcla/resources/ universaldesign#:~:text=Principles%20of%20Universal%20Design,for%20adaptation%20or%20specialized%20design.%22
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY
Surveys & Questionnaires Discussions prompted with people about learning hubs, libraries and reading. This helps in understanding what people without design experience or architectural knowledge respond to questions regarding reading and learning spaces. Survey taken over Googleform online in a sample pool of 200 people. Questionnaire spread across one participant of each generation who is an avid reader and user of libraries. Research based survey taken by American Library Association.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Surveys & Questionnaires
INFERENCES From the Anonymous Survey on Reading Habits, Library usage and Learning Hub Awareness, the main inferences are as follows: Most Participants would rather use a physical book than a digital medium book (74.5%). The survey shows that the Learning Hub is a new concept to the participants and they envision it as a community and social space as well as a learning space. When asked about how often they would visit a Library the majority of the feedback was positive denoting a daily to monthly visit and some interesting answers such as “depends on what is offered at the Library” A meagre 7% responded with natural daylighting not been needed for reading in a library, but it still brings up the question of “why not?" instead of “why?”. When asked why the city or town would benefit from a Learning Hub, the answers were mostly related to literacy rates, ease of access and connecting or social space. Coming to need for Library, just as previous research and surveys indicate a majority of participants suggest that it is a space to unwind, be alone, have that ‘me time’, and read ‘peacefully” Incidentally the sample pool has 75% of Gen Z for which reading and using Libraries has to be encouraged and the generation which uses Digital Media more than traditional Print Media
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Surveys & Questionnaires
GenZ
GenY
GenX
Baby Boomer
Silent Generation
Age
24
34
54
63
80
What kinds of libraries have you visited?
School, University, College
Neighbourhood, College, Club
University, Neighbourhood, State, City
University, Neighbourhood, Club, State, City
University, Community, District
Do you prefer print or digital media?
Digital
Why?
The feel of having book in hands.
Ease of use.
Used to reading print.
Easier to read print.
Screens too limiting in digital.
What kind of books do you read?
Fiction
Fiction, Comics
Fiction, Religious
Non-Fiction, Self Help
Self Help, Religious, Educational
Do you use Digital Medium
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
If Yes, then what kind of sources?
Wattpad, Kindle
News Sites, News Apps
Online Bible, News Sites
News Sites
News Sites, Educational Sites
Why do you use libraries?
To read books
To browse books
To read books
To wind down and relax
To study and read
Is natural lighting important for learning spaces?
Yes
Not necessarily
Yes
Yes
Yes
Why/ Why not?
Healthier environment
Artificial Lighting is easier to change and design.
Good for eyesight
Healthy reading and fresh air
How often have you used libraries? (Pre Covid)
Not often.
Often while in other city, younger, not often Now.
Not often
Once a week
Once a week
If given access, how often would you visit one?
Everyday
Once a week
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday
Existing Research Indicates
Gen Z has increased their reading more than any other generation since the start of coronavirus.
The average Millennial (Gen Y) reads 5 books per year and more likely than any other age group to visit public libraries.
Gen X also read news, especially in the online mode
Reads news online
Reads based on published lists and top sellers. Has had the most access to libraries.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Surveys & Questionnaires
According to our survey, 65% of respondents believe that the next generation of libraries should focus more on community and social services — with particular attention on supporting those who don’t have ready internet access or are experiencing homelessness and need a comfortable, secure environment, even if just for a few hours. As a first step, libraries could safely provide social services through teleconsulting. Already, many libraries across the country have social workers on-site to assist in providing much-needed resources, so a shift to virtual consulting could make sense, and actually provide more access to people in need. From a design and administrative perspective, decentralizing the physical library space is a long-term endeavor that will require significant planning for adapting and adding new services. In the near-term, administrators can focus on small-scale, or “hyperlocal” approaches to swiftly launch new service models. In doing so, library leaders could quickly identify the needs of the specific communities or neighborhoods they know so well and cater resources to best meet their needs and make them feel welcomed. Small-scale library services and infrastructure models could also quickly expand access for more people in local communities, compared to renovating or building large, regional libraries. According to our survey, 82% of respondents said that “technology access disparities” was a top priority issue impacting their library. We also know that simply having the latest broadband capabilities or digital tools and resources is not enough. Participants in the discussion regarded technology as a gateway to library resources and information.
Source: By Allison Marshall, Sara Rothholz Weiner DIALOGUE: Design responds to a changing world Genlser Over 200 members within the American Library Association community responded to our survey, noting the top attributes the next generation of public libraries might include.
JBRAC, Environmental Design Thesis Esther Kiruba 19171NB002
SUSTAINABLE LEARNING HUB with special study on Daylighting in Libraries
LITERATURE STUDY Surveys & Questionnaires