GLE 05 JOURNAL
FIRST FIVE YEARS
GLE 05
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GLE 05 JOURNAL
Editorial Rob Dickie robd@greenleafengineers.com Publishing Co-ordinator Stef Palmer stefp@greenleafengineers.com
For GLE GLE05 is distributed solely through the GLE network. The opinions expressed in editorial material do not necessarily represent the views of Green Leaf Engineers Pty Ltd or the GLE Journal. Unless specifically stated, goods or services mentioned in articles are not formally endorsed by the GLE Journal, which does not accept any liability for goods or services featured in this publication.
Green Leaf Engineers Level 3, 15 Malt Street, Brisbane, 4006.
ISSN 1837 8072 (Print)
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The five fingers depict each of our years in business while the open hand symbolises transparency and tolerence. These values we place above all else. The three limbs supporting the hand represent autonomy, mastery and purpose.
genesis green leaf engineers
EDITORIAL PRAGMATIC IDEALISM When I joined Green Leaf in January of 2011, it was the week after South East Queensland's horrendous floods: the notion of a one-in-one-hundred year event was being re-defined and the yearning for innovative, resilient building design was palpable. After a few rigorous rounds of interviews, I was delighted to find myself working within a sphere where practical design details and blue-sky idealism share the same forum. GLE was founded on a sense of needing to move beyond the rigid old-school approaches to engineering. It was clear that treating Ecologically Sustainable Design as a luxurious optional extra wasn't going to solve the problems of the future. We wanted to deepen our engagement with the broader industry while making a contribution to the applied science of building design. We are intent on offering a far-sighted, multidisciplinary approach to engineering and the GLE journal is the manifestation of many robust discourses that envision future best practice. These first years have been a wild ride. Despite the Global Financial Crisis, floods, bushfires and changes in government, Green Leaf has grown from strength to strength. As a practice, our ongoing success has been built on a unique ability to facilitate crossdisciplinary collaboration and deliver innovative, efficient and project-specific sustainable designs. We have continued to broaden our horizons and set up offices as far south as Sydney and north to Port Moresby. We keep our design teams small and intimate while our projects are not restricted by size or location. Green Leaf Engineers currently has projects being delivered in; Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Samoa. The lessons learned on this adventure are worthy of their own publication accompanied with a nice hearty bottle of Shiraz! 'GLE Genesis' the book is currently being compiled in celebration of our first five years. It is shaping up to be a witty and anecdotal record of Green Leaf Engineers' evolution and will delve into our Company Culture, Business model, Projects and Working Methodology. The working file is already laden with exposed Intellectual Property, the great yarns that come from lessons learnt the hard way and sharing the highlights of our adventures. We have had the opportunity to work with some true visionaries to contribute robust, efficient and practical designs to the built environment. We look back with a great sense of achievement and forward to continued steady growth over the next 5 years and beyond. Thank you for being a part of our journey.
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Stef Palmer is the Business Development Manager at Green Leaf Engineers
Stef Palmer [Green Leaf Engineers]
FIRST FIVE YEARS Re:Start, Re:Lifing to a new level
GLE 05
JOURNAL
Re:Start, Re:Lifing to a new level
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Stef Palmer
Todd Crighton
[GREEN LEAF ENGINEERS]
[THE BUCHAN GROUP]
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Empowerment and Resillient Design
Tall Structures as Sustainable Icons
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David Kaunitz
Rob Dickie
[KAUNITZ YEUNG ARCHITECTURE]
[GREEN LEAF ENGINEERS]
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On Innovation and the Unfinished
Adaptive Re-Use Realise the Potential
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Christtos Passos
Graham Legerton
[ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS]
[THOMSON ADSETT]
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Performance, Risk & the Innovation Hero
39 Hunter Street, Sydney
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John Tuxworth
Damian Barker
[B E COLLECTIVE]
[JACKSON TEECE]
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In Modern Society
Resilience and the High Rise of the Future
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James Law
Chris Bosse
[JAMES LAW CYBERTECTURE]
[LAVA]
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RE:START RE:LIFING TO A NEW LEVEL
It is the vibrancy of urban life that significantly defines the heart of a city. The daily migration of business owners, workers, shoppers and tourists is what shapes the civic identity. Within this fabric we are presented with opportunities to manipulate individual pieces to improve the very workings of a city. Challenging preconceptions provides opportunities to explore the re-lifing of materials and technology to create innovative insertions within the built environment. It's natural to measure against the past when attempting to provide a new existence for something that carries a history. We draw on the structure's previous life and then look to the future and how it may contribute to civic quality. But what if the place that needs re-lifing is a devastated city centre? The Christchurch business community embraced the idea of creating a temporary retail precinct for their city following the destruction caused by the February 2011 earthquake. Public participation played an important role in the transformation of Cashel Mall, but few could have predicted the impact to the social fabric of this community. Shipping containers were transformed into the key elements reinventing the shattered Cashel Mall's shops, civic spaces, cafes, landscaping and services. They were arrayed in situ, bringing business, amenity and leisure back to those places that need it most. The project aims to sustain the urban community to the greatest practical extent, and draw the people of Christchurch back into the heart of the city. Eyebrows were certainly raised when the term "shipping container" was used. How could a lifeless steel box carry any hope of fulfilling the expectations of recreating an urban square? The Buchan Group Christchurch's designers– then operating from a family living room following the damage to our own office— set out to demonstrate how these objects could in fact create a framework to reflect the resilience and vibrancy of the city's inhabitants. Without question, The Buchan Group has learned much through this process. We have always been very proud of the Christchurch Art Gallery, and especially the role it played as Civil Defence HQ after the quake, but Re:START's collection of brightly coloured steel boxes holds a unique place as one of the practice's key achievements.
Never before has the community been more keenly aware of the energy and materials embodied in our building stock, and of the need to re-use these resources in the most sustainable way, both now and in their ongoing lives.
The increasing appreciation of architectural heritage as part of a city's culture has seen a surge in the adaptive re-use of significant buildings around the world, and shows little sign of slowing. Re-lifing has revived flagging industrial settings, such as city waterfronts, and transformed grand but disused government buildings into vibrant hotels, retail centres and entertainment venues. The urban fabric into which these buildings are woven is renewed for the next generations, and the personal and public narratives around them are layered into the culture of each place. Never before has the community been more keenly aware of the energy and materials embodied in our building stock, and of the need to re-use these resources in the most sustainable way, both now and in their ongoing lives. Parallel to the re-use of existing structures is the redevelopment of individual sites and precincts. Often the redevelopment centres around the existing use of a place, for example the recent renewal of the train station in the Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct, or the key retail centre Wintergarden Brisbane, which strengthens pedestrian links between the adjacent developments, streets and Mall. On other occasions, redevelopment entails a radical change of use, such as the transformation of the Gold Coast's famous Dolphin Arcade into the two-tower Hilton Surfers Paradise. In this project, the importance of re-establishing the neglected pedestrian link from canal to beach guided the design of the street-level public and retail thoroughfare.
In all cases, redevelopments must respond to the important connections through and around them, both physical and cultural, to contribute to the life of our urban places. Sometimes re-lifing is not restricted to a single building or site. The past year has seen some extraordinary challenges and examples of the design community's contribution to the relifing process in adversity. The floods widely experienced in 2011 prompted a variety of design responses, including emergency recovery designs such as the winning entry in Tesseract's international "Facing the Floods" competition led by one of our own QUT Architecture students, Brendan Woodley, and his fellows Dale Partridge and Daniel Hines. The design proposed a system of low-tech emergency shelters which could be introduced into the safe surrounding areas, then moved in to help re-establish the communities in place, and eventually stored and re-used anywhere in the world. The devastating earthquake that struck Christchurch in February 2011 created the need for adaptive re-use and reconstruction on a huge scale, to inject life and renewed confidence to the CBD and suburbs of the New Zealand city. It is innovations like the Re:START Cashel Mall project that not only re-life the built environment, but re-lift the spirits of the people that inhabit them.
The concept of giving new life and new meaning to the built environment is not new, but is an area that has dramatically grown in importance over the last few decades.
From GLE03 Adaptive Refurbishment GLE have worked with the Buchan Group for 5 years, delivering award winning projects like; The Leukeamia Village and Shopping China
Todd Crighton [THE BUCHAN GROUP] GLE 05 | F IRS T F I V E Y E A RS | Page 5
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EMPOWERMENT & RESILIENT DESIGN
In 2007 I found myself in the remote Solomon Islands assessing damage, running building training workshops and planning village reconstruction following a large earthquake and tsunami. It seems an odd place for an architect, particularly one who was fresh from a stint in London working on large retail, transport and residential projects, including the Olympic Village. One rationale is that architects are well placed to map existing vernacular and explain why it failed, plan for reconstruction and in effect plan a sustainable path to recovery that provides resilience for the next inevitable disaster. This is only part of the rationale. Throughout that period, on a Monday morning before I would head out to that week's group of villages I would be in the office early only to find a queue outside the door. Those waiting were eager to each receive an individually designed leaf hut and a timber cutting list to match. After many weeks of assessing local vernacular, conversing with village carpenters and building a little, the standard leaf hut design was born. A mashup of engineering, architecture, local building practices, available materials and disaster mitigation strategies culminating in a simple resilient design. From that moment it has been clear to me that design resilience can only be achieved through empowering the people that use and own buildings. This is as true in our society as it is in the remotest parts of the world. The difference is only in how this manifests itself. This is further seen in a recently completed exemplar classroom building for The Ministry of Education, Republic of Vanuatu supported by AusAID, NZ DFAT and UNICEF. The design was based around a simple timber portal frame that reflected local building practices, vernacular, and international standards. As infill to this, we facilitated the building’ s community customisation through local available materials. For the exemplar,
From that moment it has been clear to me that design resilience can only be achieved through empowering the people that use and own buildings. this was dead coral stone that the community builders carefully placed to the infill walls. Natangkura (leaf) was used for roofing and woven bamboo for window hatches. The resilience of the design need only to be limited to the main structure, which is easier for centralised government to manage. The rest of the building relies on the resilience of the community who are able to use those same local materials to repair any post disaster damage, limiting the reliance on centralised assistance. The result is a design that is seventy percent cheaper than the existing concrete model, using ninety percent local materials.
This approach has the added benefit of putting more donor money into the community through the buying of local materials and paying of labour. This money in turn can be spent on educating children and upgrading housing, supporting a broader resilience. Currently on the drawing board is an indigenous health clinic in the remote desert of Western Australia for Ngaanyatjarra Indigenous Health Service. This project is a great oportunity to fuse our extensive health experience with our comunity development approach. The national health regulations make this a more restrictive medium, however, this makes our approach even more important.
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We have spent much time connecting with the community, drawing in the dirt, and having fun with school kids designing their ideal clinic. This is the community approach that requires time and listening and inevitably provides opportunities for more literal community engagement. The rewards are insights into culture and place that inform the design subtly. One simple example will be the community paving making workshops
we will run later this year. Everyone in the community will have the chance to make a piece of the building, a small gesture but larger than has ever happened before.
context and budget. It effectively proves that community engagement and local building supplies enable resilient design to thrive in Australia, as well as remote parts of the world.
This approach has been used to produce unique, innovative residential, retail, commercial, health and education architecture that avoids a particular aesthetic to ensure projects are tailored to each client,
KAUNITZ YEUNG ARCHITECTURE From GLE04 Resilience GLE have been working in the Pacific Islands and have now delivered over 30 Projects in PNG, Solomon Islands, East Timor, Tonga, Vanuatu and Fiji.
David Kaunitz [KAUNITZ YEUNG ARCHITECTURE]
TALL STRUCTURES AS SUSTAINABLE ICONS
En vogue thinking is that building tall will deliver a greater long term sustainable outcome for a community. You don't have to think much past transport in an urban sprawl model to understand why this makes sense. If avoiding transport is a large part of the argument for building tall, what about the energy consumption in the vertical distribution of food, water, waste, energy and people? In designing the 86 levels of residential for the Damac Heights project in Dubai we used a process of peak lopping to design all of the services. The concept moves commodities slowly up the building and stores energy, water etc locally. The result is a vastly reduced capital cost of core building services. The end user consumption of these commodities was managed by low usage fixtures and fittings, and the ubiquitous tri-generation plant were the energy centres distributed at every 30 floors. The example aside is a direct climate excluder and inevitably requires clever Building Services Design and renewable energy technology to earn the badge of a sustainable icon. There is another way.
U Bora Tower, Dubai Green Leaf Engineers in conjunction with Ramboll Whitbybird.2008 GLE 05 | F IRS T F I V E Y E A RS | Page 9
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The 'silver bullet' is not in the archetypology of the high rise, it lies within the civic obligation that surrounds that building in trying to improve and benefit the world we live in. This attitude of constant improvement will turn, push the high rise development into a better building and result in a far sighted solution to urban sprawl and reduce our energy footprint.
Revolution Tower, Luanda Green Leaf Engineers in conjunction with Pinzon Lozano & Asociados Arquitectos
Eastgate, Harare Rob Dickie in conjunction with Mick Pearce Architects
One exemplar of incorporating natural elements into multistory design is my first project as a graduate engineer; the Eastgate office block in Harare. The architect - Mick Pearce; through a fascination with termites, has replicated their unique ability to cool their own environment in a building product that pushes the bio-mimicry boundary. With a substantially reduced capital cost and annual energy savings approaching 35%, the building saved $3.5m in the first five years. With all buildings, creating a product that works in a passive state first has to be a more sustainable outcome. Consider the Bahrain World Trade Centre. Its three 29m horizontal wind turbines are designed to produce around 15% of the buildings annual energy consumption. The building is recognised as an icon for its show of sustainable jewellery, the cutting edge design that accelerates wind speeds for the turbines also must add an excessive load to the air-conditioning plant that has to deal with large quantities of the resulting infiltration has been deemed questionable. Regardless, this show of sustainable innovation sparked a new way of thinking by tapping into the unique sustainable opportunities in building tall.
Pushing more people into one tall building provides the unique opportunity to increase a 'better build' per capita. This is not being done through improvements to the current building regulations, it is being done out of the sustainable show that forms part of all modern construction of a large scale. These days it is hard to find an iconic high rise that does not have a developer with some green credentials building it. Zero carbon buildings or even net exporters of energy are viable within low rise structures, perhaps within reach of a 15 story building. Therefore a zero carbon Brisbane before 2026 is a thorn in the argument that tall is sustainable. The reliance on a green infrastructure is of course crucial in delivering this agenda, the question is where to apportion the cost of the 'greenness'. Is it in the development of the solar farm in Windorah or to import hydroelectricity from Wabo in PNG and continue to budget for an infrastructure that cannot keep up with demand? Or, is it perhaps to provide the framework that incentivises the implementation of localised embedded generators within cities to minimise the impact of urbanisation on existing networks?
We are currently working on two energy masterplans, one on the Gold Coast and one in Tripoli, Libya. The Tripoli project will have the more sustainable outcome as there is no framework in place that regulates how infrastructure charges or energy prices are apportioned. This correlates with the Hans Monderman concept - no rules with the right incentive creates a better result than an overregulated system with the wrong incentives. The 'silver bullet' is not in the archetypology of the high rise, it lies within the civic obligation that surrounds that building in trying to improve and benefit the world we live in. This attitude of constant improvement will in turn, push the high rise development into a better building and therefore a far sighted solution to urban sprawl and reduce the energy footprint of construction on a large scale.
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From GLE02: Multi-Story Rob Dickie is the Founding Director of Green Leaf Engineers and has designed several tall structures, including the tallest residential tower in the world.
Rob Dickie[ Green Leaf Engineers] GLE 05 | F IRS T F I V E Y E A RS | Page 11
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ON INNOVATION AND THE UNFINISHED
The Opus, Dubai Green Leaf Engineers in conjunction Zaha Hadid.
Gaudi's work is fundamentally, for lack of a better word fractal, like an organism in the process of constant innovation or regeneration of constant folding and unfolding the pleats of space and imagination in ways that are at the same time provocative, creative, esoteric and mystical. Gaudi doesn't need to justify himself or his obsession to his contemporaries. As a matter of fact his contemporaries often ridiculed his designs; if one can actually use this term to describe this particular process of engaging the material. He feels or actually he knows, albeit instinctively, that in the long term the cosmos functions in a different way.
At a time when his superstar contemporaries, like Le Corbusier, A. Loos, Wagner, W. Gropius, Mies V.d.Rohe and other immortal Architectural giants were actively promoting the innovative modern as the stance against the traditional, the cliche, as the ever new beginning, he sought to explode both new and traditional ideas together by sabotaging them from the inside. The Sagrada Familia; a project that lays the diagram of the Spanish catholic church into full view- to the content of the Client, but also in a clearly sarcastic way to the eyes of the future reader, he postponed the problem of recognition and gains ultimate justification, because his
In examining the architectural innovations of Antonio Gaudi I came to realize that the intent is never to offer a complete building (or project) but to actually put in motion a process of constructing, a process of making that never comes to its end- because it cannot come to its end.
recognition comes almost a century later than his death. By seeking to be the 'one unknown', the one who seeks not to see himself raised on the altar of fame, he becomes quietly present. It would be both appropriate and inappropriate in my view to finish such a project. Appropriate because future generations would have the chance to continue and evolve the work, in that sense the project should not be finished as originally intended. It should rather take on the ideas of the following generations and fuse them in to an eternally evolving project: similar to the act of procreation and death. He is in my view the 'architect par excellence' exactly because of this reason. In not seeking to promote one but by allowing others to complete what he has started he becomes the architect or the initiator or the father of the idea of a project in constant evolution. It would also be inappropriate, on the other hand, for the future generations to complete the Sagrada Familia, exactly because there would be the danger of never achieving the mastery of the master thus running the risk of having a completed but contrived project. The question then becomes, is a project to be finished? In the Epicurean sense, nothing is ever finished or complete. That certainly holds true for the institutions that buildings come to provide shelter and symbolism for. Whether that may be a single family house, a government institution, a religious building or even an event space, a space of public assembly or a civic project, the object can never be complete. That is not only the essence of the project, it is the project.
From GLE01: Innovation The Opus above was one of GLE’s very first projects! Working under Ramboll Whitbybird in Dubai, This project is now finally in construction after the GFC Hiatus.
Christtos Passos [Zaha Hadid Architects] GLE 05 | F IRS T F I V E Y E A RS | Page 13
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ADAPTIVE RE-USE: REALISING THE POTENTIAL
Unfortunately, many buildings are removed irrationally where fantastic opportunities for re-lifing exist. I distinctly recall a University Director of Estates remark, 'the most sustainable building is a building that you do not have to build'. This thought provoking comment was made in the context of new developments becoming too focussed on 'eco bling' rather than the challenges and sustainability benefits of enhancing and retaining existing buildings. This point highlights the need for considered and visionary ideas which maximise the residual value of existing buildings and contribute to the transformation of university campuses. Established universities usually have an abundance of existing buildings that are often underutilised, constrained by negative perceptions or struggling to meet evolving pedagogical, technological, social and growth demands. As such, university buildings are frequently subjected to the refurb or rebuild debate. Unfortunately, many buildings are removed irrationally where fantastic opportunities for re-lifing exist. 'Integrated extensions' epitomize the merits of a hybrid approach and often provide greater value than an internal refurbishment or complete rebuild, particularly in times where there is a financial imperative to maximise what we have. Executed correctly, integrated extensions utilise embodied energy benefits and can have a radical impact, not just on the adjoining building's longevity, comfort, perception and utilisation but also on the sustainability and branding of a university's estate. They can resolve shortfalls and embrace qualities of an existing building that can contribute so much to the creation of a place. GLE 05 | F IRS T F I V E Y E A RS | Page 15
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Replacing eco-bling with deliverable, sustainable outcomes can provide real returns.
I have recently been fortunate enough to work on the Griffith University Gold Coast Library (G11) Extension and Gumurrii Centre project, a culturally significant project and distinctive learning hub within the $320M Griffith University Gold Coast campus redevelopment program. The outline brief for the project included the intent to extend and re-life the existing L-shaped building with a two storey structure to the west and a five storey structure to the east. Our variant response provided a unified three storey building to the west effectively protecting and cloaking the existing building. Re-lifing the existing library asset in a triangulated form has many benefits which include; less disruption during construction, shorter travel distances, less vertical circulation and lower contractor overheads. Conversely, this offers more horizontal connectivity, passive surveillance, increased opportunities for student engagement and the convenience of access to a wider support service. The resultant linear building form transforms the identity and presence of the building, generating an appropriate urban design response and landmark presence on University Drive. The existing building site and resultant developable area outside of this footprint also greatly informed the unique geometric qualities of the proposed spaces. As such, the distinctive shard will assist campus way finding and serve as a meeting point. An additional building entry will further activate the existing interior collaborative zone by improving access and spatial utilisation. On the upper levels, the interface between existing and proposed is minimised to two bridge connections. The new offset building line and minimal contact between new and existing structure and fabric ensures that more of the budget is spent on the student experience. From a pragmatic and cost perspective this assists speed of construction, maintenance, fire separation, acoustic control, greatly simplifies interfaces and avoids unnecessary roof modifications. The extended collection is simply expanded above by relocating existing offices into new space, which in turn will serve as future adaptive space. There is more to the building than smart planning. A creative design process identified opportunities for program shift and explored how the relived building could have wider campus appeal. Unique environments with varying degrees of permeability such as the learning 'aviary', conversion of the former VC terrace and a sky lounge are seen as integral components of the library experience.
LEARNING AVIARY & QUIET ROOM The learning aviary was inspired by the librarian's reference to an aviary during the site tour. This term led us to consider creation of a space which is a hive of activity and that explores the sense of openness and enclosure between the new and existing buildings. Whilst the existing building is flanked by a green space to the west this space has low utilisation due to the harshness of the western sun. Raising the extension above the ground plane and cantilevering the building to the north are both significant moves in achieving an additional 1000sq.m external student space and the essential permeability that encourages use. The new building mass frames and protects experimental pedagogical areas and landscape settings of variable scale. Most importantly, the space increases the likelihood of serendipitous student interactions. Open in part to the sky, the space will also have passive benefits of natural light, ventilation and an ever changing sky. Conversely, an enclosed glazed quiet room provides all weather enjoyment of the aviary. This room converts the former VC terrace into a contemporary glass pavilion. Access is provided via the existing building preserving the quiet, special nature of this space and providing access via engagement with the extended collection floor. SKY LOUNGE In collaboration with our architectural partners for this project, Kevin O'Brien Architects, the cultural response seeks to unite the extended building with the wider land. The Gumurrii Centre maximises outreach and inclusion for indigenous students with a street presence, light volumetric interior and external connection to the distant hinterland range and Tamborine Mountain. The sky lounge in particular will enable enjoyment of panoramic hinterland views and the capability of staging events. The facade design also allows views in and out of the building on University Drive. In many ways, the existing introverted building will become extroverted with visible activity.
The benefits of this approach are considerable. Formal space will complement the existing informal settings. The extension will increase collaboration, outreach and choice. External settings will contrast with internal spaces. Students will have more places to meet, greet, debate, concentrate and study. Unique additional program spaces extend value for money through reduced reliance on air conditioned space, less vertical separation, minimal interface costs, less campus disruption and shorter travel distances. A formerly solid existing building will be transformed by a permeable solution that will enrich the student experience, promote inclusiveness and extend cultural associations with the land. This outcome has been achieved through an exemplary commitment to a design and consultation process, all within an extremely tight time frame and on budget. The team has the required drive, trust, listening skills, experience, passion and collective desire to revitalise the building whilst prioritising the student experience. Replacing eco-bling with deliverable, sustainable outcomes can provide real returns. Often decisions are made on high level cost comparison of new build versus refurbishment without conception of a redevelopment vision. G11 was under construction at the time of woriting and will soon realise the potential of transforming an existing asset into a long-life component of the campus.
From GLE03 Adaptive Re-Use GLE worked with Thompson Adsett on the Griffith University Library project. We have delivered several award winning projects over the last 5 years, working on a total of 8 Projects
Graham Legerton [THOMSON ADSETT]
PERFORMANCE, RISK.... AND THE INNOVATION HERO? In 2004 The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering, undertook a major research project, which culminated late 2009. According to an article published in the ACEA National Outlook (Summer 2010) the study cost $425,000. The outcome of this 5-year exercise was the timely release of a 64- page report entitled Professional Performance Innovation and Risk in Australian Engineering Practice (PPIR), and a 9-point PPIR Protocol.
Significant industry players sponsored this exercise, including Leighton, Blue Scope Steel and Arup. Whilst the Protocol is sound and definitely a useful tool with reference to all those involved in the production, buying, selling and use of engineering services and products, the Protocol essentially highlights what would likely be deemed as current best-practice. The Warren Centre press release of October 2009 indicates that the report comprehensively reviews Innovation; however there is little evidence to suggest that much of the project resource was dedicated to this topic. The Warren Centre itself is but one of many Australian not-for-profit industry-linked ventures accessing significant government & private funding for desk-top research. If innovation is not meaningfully associated with the nature of the Institute, or the essence of the Protocol, should "innovation" belong in the title of the report, or as part of the trade-marked PPIR acronym?
The frequently referenced Wikipedia suggests that innovation is "...a new way of doing something". This readily malleable reference source could perhaps be modified in the light of the PPIR framework. What the PPIR study does offer however which is innovative (with respect to the Australian market) is a perspective on risk assessment and management - through the proposition of what is called a stylised Hazard & Risk Framework (HARF). The HARF concept promotes a distribution of risk amongst construction industry players, as opposed to the frequently applied top-down commercial delegation of risk. The annual Innovation Hero Award is also a Warren Centre initiative, recognising the "... people who bring great ideas to life, and the role they play in driving economic and social progress." A consistent theme across those awarded this sensational accolade in recent years is that the innovation can be clearly attributed to the "Individual" as opposed to the "Institution". What is also consistent is the 'trial and error' approach inherent with innovation. It is no coincidence that these brave, awarded, souls are also the ones who design the bridge that sways pedestrians precariously above the water, who design earth-bound structures that can only be built prior to the application of gravity, or the stadium to house thousands that will never meet fire-codes maintained by developed countries. These Individuals readily accept the overly simplified uni-dimensional, or inappropriate compartmentalisation of risk (see PPIR report for definitions) evident in today's commercial environment - pre HARF risk paradigm.
But should we so eagerly look to distribute and dilute risk in engineering? Isn't this in fact contradictory to the concept of the Innovation Hero award - which after all rewards risk-taking by the Individual? Perhaps Thomas Midgely Jnr should be recognised amongst the ranks of Innovation Hero. He brought great ideas to life, drove economic progress, and certainly instigated social progress in the first half of the 1900’ s. Thomas was the innovative engineer who developed leaded petrol for motor-vehicles (to reduce engine noise), and who introduced chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) as a purportedly safe, stable and breathable gas to replace the insidious and dangerous gases used in refrigeration. Midgely died long before the dangerous effect of CFCs on our planet’ s atmosphere became apparent. His final last invention was a piece of palliative equipment for Polio sufferers (another noble endevour)… which actually caused his death by strangulation. . Perhaps the utopian innovation environment is actually one that fosters the opportunity for the Individual to succeed, whilst accepting a significantly high proportion of risk.
From GLE01 Innovation John has pioneered is own brand of innovative engineering at BEC and has been short listed for several Engineering Australia awards. He is a former Director of GLE.
John Tuxworth [BUILT ENVIRONMENT COLLECTIVE] GLE 05 | F IRS T F I V E Y E A RS | Page 17
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39 HUNTER STREET SYDNEY
Conservation of the building involved a complex juggling act to maintain, reveal and enhance the key historic features, whilst updating the interior spaces to suit the demands. of contemporary commercial office tenants.
39 Hunter Street, was built in 1916, for the Perpetual Trustee Company as a beautiful specimen of the prestigious Beaux-Arts style. It has since been listed as a heritage item on the State Heritage Register and the City of Sydney Council's Heritage LEP.
The upgrade achieved a 6-Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia, the first heritage-listed building in Australia to do so. It achieved A-grade office space and, importantly for Kador, the developer, attracted a single tenant taking the whole building on a fifteen-year lease.
Jackson Teece Architecture were commissioned to reposition the building as A Grade quality offices whilst reinstating the buildings heritage qualities. Since its construction, the building has had three 'modernisations' which have left the interior spaces cramped and deprived of natural light. By the early 21st century, with no provision for parking and the voids almost filled in, the building required a significant upgrade to ensure its continued viability.
This project demonstrates the successful improvement in the quality and performance of an existing building and conservation practice in its widest context. It resulted in a building which is now 'future-proof' for the next 25 years and allows for the building to be occupied in various configurations; either a single tenant or several autonomous tenancies.
The new owners are passionate about the long-term viability of their ventures and see no distinction between commercial prudence and sustainable building practice. This philosophy is very much in tune with Jackson Teece's long-held commitment to sustainable design and building.
Conservation of the building involved a complex juggling act to maintain, reveal and enhance the key historic features, whilst updating the interior spaces to suit the demands of contemporary commercial office tenants. A central, full height Atrium was created, acting as both a contemporary design device and a ventilation tool. It is crowned by a contemporary glazed roof and defined by operable glass on all three sides allowing natural light to reach all the upper floors of the work environment. A major artwork by artist Nike Savvas is also soon to be installed, which will give a shimmering cascade of coloured metal strips down in front of the open lift balconies.
From GLE03 Adaptive Re-Use Damian Barker leads the Jackson Teece architectural team as Design Director. Green Leaf Engineers Sydney shares office space with Jackson Teece.
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TAIPEI POP MUSIC CENTRE
THE PAD
AT DUBAI, UAE CLIENT: OMNIYAT DEVELOPERS STATUS: CONSTRUCTION - SUPERSTRUCTURE USE: RESIDENTIAL
High-rise buildings will play a crucial role in the ability of mega-cities to accommodate the growing masses of a converging populous. Copyright c 2011 James Law Cybertecture International Holdings Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
As the World population continues to increase, so too will the trend towards urbanisation and the creation of Mega-cities: having populations in excess of 10 million. In developing nations, exploding populations have resulted in urbanised cities as people migrate, looking for the kind of economic opportunities that large numbers of people offer. Cities of China and India are prime examples. What will these Mega-cities look like? And what is the best form for these cities to take with respect to function and sustainability? There are two ways for a city to grow: outwards (urban sprawl); or upwards (urban density). – and one of these is a lot more sustainable than the other. By considering the practical limitations of urban sprawl, inclusive of energy usage per capita, it becomes apparent that high-rise living is the optimal way to accommodate tens of millions. Let's consider why, and what are some of the factors essential to success.
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TRANSPORTATION The low-density suburban environment of an urban sprawl, in a developed country involves lots of driving. In fact it is highly likely your household will have at least one private vehicle, maybe even one per household member. And you have to drive everywhere because everything is so spread out. You drive to the store to get milk, or a loaf of bread, or, if you're like me, the eggs you forgot when you went to the supermarket in the morning. You drive to work, and you probably even drive to the gym. Compare this scenario to high-density city living. More than 80% of people living in Manhattan travel to work by foot, bicycle or public transport. Expanding suburban sprawl and private car usage is not a sustainable solution to the transportation needs of Megacities. Transportation congestion, and congestion taxation is an obvious sign of this. INFRASTRUCTURE Millions of people living in a high-density condition will not be successful without proper infrastructure in place. Public transportation must be effective. There must be adequate, power, water, drainage and sewage systems. Poor examples of mega-
cities are evident where the population has exploded but investment in infrastructure has not kept pace, with the Governments' short comings glaringly obvious. HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS This is happening and can be seen in the shift towards super-tall high-rise construction from North America to Asia and the Middle East. In North America super-tall buildings are typically offices, whereas in Asia and the Middle East super-tall buildings are more frequently mixed-use and residential towers. Further innovations in the use of high-rises will inevitably follow as the high-rise form evolves to meet the changing needs of society. All of these elements, and likely more, must be executed in synchronization for the Mega-cities of tomorrow to meet the demands of increasing populations. If planned and managed correctly, the manmade environments and artificial landscapes of Mega-cities, may be the most sustainable and environmentally-friendly landscapes that mankind can inhabit.
From GLE02 Multi - Storey Green Leaf Engineers have worked on several projects with Hong Kong based James Law Cybertecture. The Pad is currently under construction in Dubai.
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RESILIENCE AND THE HIGH RISE TOWER OF THE FUTURE I recently visited Chicago, the hometown of the skyscraper. What a great invention at the time. The application of new construction techniques developed over decades, the availability of electricity, of steel, later prestressed concrete, the invention of elevators, air conditioning and the tinted glazed curtain wall facade, meant buildings could now be built in a completely new
manner. They were taller, stronger, quicker to erect, with bigger floor plates that could be lit well into the interior, could operate day and night, and have the same temperature winter and summer. All the "risks" of external environmental factors such as sunshine, rain, humidity, cold and heat as well as noise and pollution, could seemingly be eliminated.
The life span of architecture is at the same time its advantage and its downfall: buildings are built to last forever! The prototype of the (American) city has proliferated across the globe from South America to Europe, from the Middle East to Asia to Australia and is largely unchanged since its inception.
The computer has now replaced most other forms of workplaces. The smart phone creates new genres such as social networking, Twitter, Facebook etc. Not to mention the internet which has replaced telephone lines, fax machines, and telegrams altogether. In short, the way we live and work and communicate has radically transformed: yet the architecture around us is still the same and is widely based on old and tired technology. The challenge of course is it takes at least five years to take a large project from design to construction. In the meantime your telephone was redesigned five times, your computer has been written off twice, and chances are that your job description has been re-written three times. Apart from that, a lot of the buildings from that early generation have been proven to make us physically and mentally sick (sick building syndrome).
One approach, certainly not the only one, is this: the idea of reskining, which LAVA proposed for the Goulburn Street carpark and the UTS tower in Sydney. It involves a new high-tech, lightweight-material to transform these outdated buildings. Like a skin of a snake addresses changing times or a spacesuit suits a new type of environment, the new skin addresses contemporary needs for flexibility, light, air and views as well as new aesthetics. A new skin can react to the environment, to temperature, humidity and air pressure, and can have embedded layers of technology and sustainability, saving water, producing energy and communicating information to occupants inside the building as well as to the outside world.
Building components have to be recyclable, interchangeable, and whenever a new update looms, able to be implemented in real time. At the end of their lifetime, the components get recycled. Interiors have to be light and airy, friendly and comfortable, allow for current activities and adapt for functions that may be required in the future. The building of the future will be like nature itself, like a forest, or a coral reef. Or like a cocoon, the symbol for change and transition from now to the future, the transition from one state to another, from larvae to a butterfly.
In return, the base buildings of the future have to be robust and flexible, technology has to be accessible and interchangeable, services cables and shafts have to be retractable and serviceable.
Our needs have changed and today we want fresh air, access to natural light, an active lifestyle, the flexibility to re-organise our team structure regularly, easy communication within the office, pleasant breakout spaces, natural materials around us and we want to be immersed in nature as much as possible. This is certainly a question that the entire world is asking as evidenced by awards such as the Zerofootprint Re-Skinning Awards or worldwide symposiums about Retrofitting of the City.
From GLE04 Resilience Chris Bosse is a founding Director of LAVA.
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