Hana Ghosheh & Griffin Katzenmeier
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Accra, Ghana - Research and Programming
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Rise Up draws inspiration from animal architecture, employing innovative passive systems which allow for a highly tuned,
environmentally responsive architecture in a
location where access to utilities is unreliable. The buildings rely on their height to naturally ventilate by drawing cool air from below ground up through the central atria. A continuous ramp creates multilevel circulation without the use of an elevator, and the irrigated timber structure serves multiple functions as a vegetated, cooling facade, fire protection strategy, and carbon sink. The resulting iconic forms serve as beacons to the community and foster a sense of pride for the academy and the people of Accra.
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Research
Temperature
Sunhours
Precipitation
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Climate
• Accra gets rain year round with a wet season between the fall months of April-June
• The average high temperature of Accra peaks at 90 degrees and is at its lowest in July at 80 degrees.
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Akan 47.5%
Mole-Dagbon 16.6%
Accra Nkan Anthill
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Ewe 13.9%
Accra Etymology
• Accra, the capital of Ghana, has its name derived from the word “nkran”. In the Akan language of the Akan people, “nkran” means ants and is a reference to the numerous ant hill in the grasslands surrounding the capital city.
Termite Mounds
• Termites and their mounds have played an important role
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in the cultural and agricultural norms of Sub-Saharan Africa. The mounds are looked at as passages to the spirit world and the termites cultivated otherwise poor soil. The termites and their mounds also have strong architectural properties. The organization of the colony within the mounds, the ventilation of the mounds and the scale, repetition and the subsequent movement between the mounds are all concepts that can be easily translated into the built environment.
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Nathan Kensinger for Curbed.com
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Urban Conditions • • • • • •
Blackouts are frequent A lot of automobile traffic Emphasis on young entrepreneurs Countless street vendors and open air markets Custom made clothing are is widely available Concrete is a common building material. Rammed earth and wood are used in traditional architecture. Engineered wood is becoming more popular.
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The Falatow Jigiyasio Orphanage
The Falatow Jigiyasio Orphanage in Mali implements an on-site waste water management system that allows waste water to be re-used for gardening. The architects of the orphanage had established a set of key principles while designing: Reduce solar gain, embrace natural ventilation, and improve thermal mass. To this end, hollow “H�-shaped concrete blocks filled with banco (a mixture of mud and grain husks), were used to construct the walls.
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MUD Cafeteria
The MUD Cafeteria is the center of a vocational school in the north of Ghana. It was built in summer 2017 by students of the TU Vienna together with locals from the local community. The design is based on moduales that can be repeated continuously. There are a total of three independent sections that have there own functions.
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Midterm Presentation
Level 1 and 1.5
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3 Nutrition Training 1. Entry Patio 2. Resource Center 3. Lecture Classroom 4. Restroom 5. Cooking Classroom 6. Back of House
Sports Medicine
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1 1. Entry Area 2. Public Changing Room 3. Staff Break Room 4. Staff Changing Room 5. Training & Massage 6. Hydrotherapy 7. Pump Room
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Public Fitness
1. Reception/Directory 2. Lockers 3. Aerobic/Free Weight 4. Multipurpose
Daycare
1. Entry Area 2. Staff Office 3. Staff Break 4. Storage 5. Laundry 6. Nurse 7. Infant Play Room 8. Changing Room 9. Infant Nap Room
Level 2 and 2.5
Nutrition Training 1. Cooking Classroom 2. Back of House
Co-Work Office 1. Open Office Space
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Sports Medicine 1. Flex Training 5 4
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Daycare Room
1. Outdoor Play 2. Younger Toddler Activity 3. Storage 4. Restroom/Changing Room 5. Nap Room
Level 3 and 3.5
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Co-Work Office 1. Small Group Closed Office 2. Conference
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5 Sports Medicine 1. Office 2. Exam Room
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Daycare
1.Outdoor Play 2. Older Toddler Activity Room 3. Storage 4. Restroom/Changing Room 5. Nap Room
Level 4 and 4.5
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Daycare
1. Pre-School Activity Area 2. Restroom 3. After School Activity Area
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Gridshell to Screen Diagram
Gridshell to Ring Beam Diagram
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Atrium Perspective
Ramp Perspective 25
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Fina l Presentation
Design Principles
Culture
Community
In order to design a complex that the people of Accra could relate to and get excited about visiting, we needed to respond to their culture. Our form, materiality and much of our geometry responds to Ghanian culture
Much of our design revolves around the idea of bringing Ghanian’s together to foster national pride and unity. The evocative form draws in visitors and incites interaction. The increase in human traffic will also benefit the surrounding shops and resaurants.
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Health and Wellness
Sustainability
Our building and site design forces people to walk as opposed to ride. This engages users physically, reflecting the inital purpose of the building type.
The frequent black outs in Accra meant we had to design a building that wasn’t reliant on mechanical systems. The openness of the design allows for air circulation and plenty of natural light
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1. Site Placement • Project located on NE corner of site to maximize human traffic.
2. Four Pods • 35,000 sf program divided into four areas to create repetition and movement.
3. Form • The form is inspired by anthills outside of Accra.
4. Split Levels • A split level layout is used to allow a continuous ramp around the perimeter of the floor platforms.
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5. Structure Geometry • The structure geometry draws inspiration from the traditional Kente cloths and is based of Norman Foster’s Gherkin
6. Structure Material • Wood is chosen as the primary structure to keep with traditional materials, create a carbon sink and because of its fire safety properties.
7. Fenestration • Perforated metal panels patterned to match the Kente cloth spiral each pod. Vines grow on the panels to maximize shade and create an evapotranspiration effect.
8. Cooling Ponds • Reflecting pools are placed below each pod to create an evaporative cooling effect.
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Site Placement The placement of our project was a response to the “community” design principle. By maximizing visitor interaction with our built environment, we maximize visitor interaction with each other.
Site Organization Through our research, we discovered that ant hills are organized around the queen’s chamber. This is where the most activity occurs. Outside of that are the workers chambers and beyond that are storage chambers. We organized our site in a similar manner Low Density - Storage 1. Water Retention 2. Parking Lot 3. Extra Practice Fields
Medium Density - Workers 4. Eco Machine 5. Public Gardens 6. Public Pavilions 7. Training Facilities 8. Player Residence 9. Practice Fields
High Density - Queen 10. Community Agriculture 11. Public Black Top Courts 12. Community Soccer Field 13. Community Sports Medicine Clinic 14. Game Field
Public & Private Our project is located at the North-East corner of the site. This location optimizes human traffic, therefor optimizing use. The north leg is open for public circulation with several points of entry. Although the public has access to the south leg, it’s primary user group is the soccer academy. Public
Private
Mixed
Low Use
Low Use
High Use
High Use
High Use
Site Design Our site makes use of a rolling landscape. The site features sit on elevated “islands” with walking paths between. This makes circulation easy to follow and also creates unique views of our buildings popping up over the “islands”.
Surrounding Context We organized our site to maximize usage according to the existing context. Our public spots are concentrated in the north edge of the site to engage the street market and the neighborhood. Although the southern leg of our site is primarily private, we included several entry points for easy access by both schools
Secondary School
Neighborhood Housing & Retail
Street Market
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School of Business
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4 Pods By splitting our program into 4 pods, we create a central lobby. This centralized entry generates a hub of high human activity leading to increased visitor interaction. It also forces visitors to walk to get to each of the different programs.
Cafe Prep 400 sf
Restrooms Free Weights 450 sf 180 sf x2
Cross Fit Training 710 sf
Quiet Office Space 650 sf x2
Level 1
Level 4
Restrooms 1000 sf
Collab. Office Space 650 sf
Private Offices 150 sf x4
Level 2
Conf. Room 240 sf
Viewing
Mul�purpose Room 1250 sf
Aerobic 710 sf
Locker Rooms 400 sf x2
Cafe Lobby 580 sf
Level 3
Conf. Room 240 sf
Co-Work
Level 2
Priv. Offic 115 sf
Fitness
Cafe Counter 150 sf
Cafe
Community Outreach
Level 1
Viewing Decks 750 sf
Level 3
P.T. Wait Area 430 sf
Staff Changing 250 sf x2
Lecture Class 260 sf x2
Classroom Kitchen 690 sf
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Back of House 270 sf
Back of House 270 sf
Classroom Kitchen 690 sf
Classroom Kitchen 690 sf
Younger Toddler Ac�vity Room 630 sf
Shared Ac�vity Room 650 sf
Older Toddler Ac�vity Room 630 sf
Storage 200 sf
Level 3 Older Toddler Nap Room 450 sf
Changing Room 200 sf
Storage 210 sf
Storage 200 sf
Infant Nap 540 sf
Younger Toddler Nap 540 sf
Level 2
Back of House 270 sf
Cooking
Resource Center 1130 sf
Restrooms 100 sf x2
Resource
Community Nutri�on Training
Level 1
Changing Room 250 sf
Infant Ac�vity 675 sf
Sick Room 200 sf
Staff Break 500 sf
Exam Room 100 sf each
Level 2
Nurse 220 sf
A�er School
Laundry 150 sf
Preschool
Confrence 220 sf
Older Toddler
Storage 220 sf
Younger Toddler
Recep�on 220 sf
Infant
Private Office 80 sf
Admin
Community Daycare
Level 1
Exam Wait Room 630 sf
Physician Office 200 sf
Hydrotherapy 675 sf
Physician Office 200 sf
Pump Room 650 sf
Exam Room 100 sf each
Physician Office 200 sf
Exam
Changing Room 530 sf x2
Changing Room 260 sf
Prep
Training Room 690 sf
Flex Training 2400 sf
Staff Break 260 sf
Recovery
Community Sports Medicine
Exam Room 100 sf each
Training
Viewing Decks 750 sf
A�er School 800 sf
Pre School 950 sf
Restroom 80 sf
Restroom 80 sf
Program Response Our program is divided into four categories: Community outreach, community sports medicine, community daycare and community nutrition training. Each program category is organized in a linear fashion with similar program elements grouped together. This organization makes it easy for visitors to find where they’re going. The linear organization also creates elongated paths of travel, encouraging walking and promoting general health and wellness.
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Form The evocative form of our building is also inspired by the anthills found outside of Accra. We intend to use this towering form to draw in visitors. The tower also facilitates natural ventilation and fire suppression in our buildings.
Ventilation Anthills have a ventilation system unlike anything else found in the animal kingdom. The seemingly monolithic towers are actually very porous, allowing air to cool the tops of the towers. The towers also have a central chimney that exhausts the air from the subterranean chambers. Ant colonies also include a cellar that retains moisture. As the moisture evaporates the colony is cooled.
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Scale and Iconography The anthills found outside of Accra are a memorable form protruding from an otherwise flat landscape. The form, as well as the repetition of the form across the country side creates an iconic imagery. In order to draw as many visitors and users into our project as possible, we used a similar iconic form repeated throughout the site.
Repetition and Movement The inspiration to split our program up were the ant hills found outside Accra. The repetition and spacing of the anthills dictate movement between them. In our project, the four different programs are separated to create paths of travel and pockets of activity between each pod. 43
Lycee Schorge Secondary School
This school is located in a region in Burkina Faso, that has a similar climate as Accra. We were able to employ similar features as the school. This included a stack ventilation effect, shaded circulation and materiality.
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The Eastgate Center
The Eastgate Center in Harare, Zimbabwe employs a passive ventilation system that mimics the system of the termite mounds in Zimbabwe. The building’s construction materials have a high thermal capacity, which enables it to store and release heat gained from the surrounding environment. This process is facilitated by fans that operate on a cycle timed to enhance heat storage during the warm daytime and heat release during the cool nighttime.
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Our fire safety system and natural ventilation are directly inspired by the anthill ventilation. The porous exterior gridshell allows air to move freely t
Water from the cooling ponds are pumped to the top of the atrium and out over the facade. In cases of fire, a deluge system comes into effect. Large am 46
through the space dissipating smoke. The central atria draws air and smoke up through it and exhausts it out of the top.
mounts of water are pumped and sprayed up through the atria and down the exterior suppressing fires. 47
Split Level
Because of the frequent blackouts in Accra, we avoided using elevators in our project. In response, we used a series of split level platforms connected by an exterior ramp and interior stairs. This engages users physically and engages the health and wellness design principle.
Cafe
Co-Work
Fitness
Viewing Cafe Prep 400 sf
Level 1
Cafe Lobby 580 sf
Aerobic 710 sf
Level 2
Staff Changing 250 sf x2
Changing Room 530 sf x2
Exam Wait Room 630 sf
Level 2
Level 3
Restrooms 1000 sf
Level 3
Exam Room 100 sf each
Private Offices 150 sf x4
Older Toddler Ac�vity Room 630 sf
Shared Ac�vity Room 650 sf
Level 4
Viewing Decks 750 sf
Restroom 80 sf
Restroom 80 sf
A�er School 800 sf
Exam Room 100 sf each
Viewing Decks 750 sf
Older Toddler Nap Room 450 sf
Pre School 950 sf
Level 3
Exam Room 100 sf each
Collab. Office Space 650 sf
Mul�purpose Room 1250 sf
Level 2
Quiet Office Space 650 sf x2
P.T. Wait Area 430 sf
Training Room 690 sf
Cross Fit Training 710 sf
Locker Rooms 400 sf x2
Restrooms Free Weights 450 sf 180 sf x2
Hydrotherapy 675 sf
Younger Toddler Nap 540 sf
Younger Toddler Ac�vity Room 630 sf
Conf. Room 240 sf
Physician Office 200 sf
Storage 200 sf
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Conf. Room 240 sf
Priv. Offic 115 sf Physician Office 200 sf
Level 1
Flex Training 2400 sf
Pump Room 650 sf
Infant Ac�vity 675 sf
Infant Nap 540 sf
Changing Room 250 sf
Physician Office 200 sf
Changing Room 200 sf
Changing Room 260 sf
Staff Break 260 sf Storage 210 sf
Level 1
Staff Break 500 sf
Storage 200 sf
Nurse 220 sf
Recovery
Younger Toddler
Confrence 220 sf
Training
Infant
A�er School
Storage 220 sf
Exam
Admin
Preschool
Recep�on 220 sf
Prep
Older Toddler
Sick Room 200 sf
Laundry 150 sf
Cafe Counter 150 sf Private Office 80 sf
Community Outreach Community Sports Medicine Community Daycare
Level 3 100 e.
Exam Rooms
200 e.
Physicians OfďŹ ce
Level 2 630
Exam Wait Area
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Staff Break
250 e.
Staff Changing
530 e.
Changing Rooms
430
Physical Therapy Wait Area
690
Training/Taping Room
Level 1 2400
Flex Training
650
Pump Room
675
Hydrotherapy 49
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4” Concrete Ramp
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Wood Studs for ramp support
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4”, 5’x5’ Concrete Landing
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4” Deep Concrete Platform
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30” Deep Edge Steel Truss Beam
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4” Concrete Platform
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2”x4” Wood Joists Spaced 49” O.C.
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30” Deep Middle Steel Truss Beam
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Structure Geometry We used a structural diagrid to generate our “anthill” form. We looked to the Gherkin, a building with a similar form, as inspiration for a structural geometry and noticed that the pattern resembled that of the traditional Kente cloth.
The Gerkin
“The Gherkin” by Norman Foster, is important to our project for two reasons. The first being form. In order to continue the anthill concept, we need to have verticality. The diagrid structure used here is able to effectively distribute lateral and vertical loads and can be used for irregular forms
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Kente Cloth
Kente cloth is a silk cotton fabric that is made of interwoven cloth strips. This cloth is native to Ghana and the Akan tribe. We’ve decided to incorporate this pattern to the structure of out building by using a diagrid pattern.
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Load Path Diagram 1
Vertical forces on the floor plates are transfered laterally to a vertical strut.
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The strut transfers forces vertically to the next node down.
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Forces are concentrated in tension at the nodes. These node forces are transfered down the diagrid
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Photo-voltaic Panel
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8” Wide Steel C-Channel Vertical Strut
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8”x8” Gridshell
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Gridshell-Ring Beam Connection
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Structure Material
Wood is chosen as the primary structure to keep with traditional materials, create a carbon sink and because of its fire safety properties.
Center Pompidou Metz
In order to entice the public to occupy our project, we decided to create an organic form. The Center Pompidou Metz, designed by Shigeru Ban, is an example of the “Bilbao Effect� that uses a timber gridshell to form the structure and building geometry.
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Traditional Ghanaian Architecture
Vernacular Ghanaian architecture makes use of the regions most abundant resource - wood. Today, more buildings are using wood as the primary building material because of its availability and easy manipulation. The Kali Pavilion (left) and the Inside Out School (right) are two recent projects that make use of wood
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Carbon Properties of Glulam Construction We not only chose to use wood because of its traditional tectonic use, but also because of the carbon sequestering properties of wood and the “avoided emissions� of wood versus concrete or steel.
Fire Safety Properties of Glulam Construction Glulam construction also offers important fire safety measures. If caught on fire, the outside layer of glulam will burn and char. This creates a carbon layer on the outside of the timber, resulting in a heat insulation layer that slows the burn rate of the wood.
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Glass Cap
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Exhaust Vents
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18” Deep Steel C-Channel Ring Beam
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12” Deep Later Beam
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18” Deep Steel I Beam Ring Beam
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Ring Beam - Gridshell Connection
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8”x8” Gridshell
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8” Wide Steel C-Channel Vertical Strut
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Fenestration Perforated metal panels with patterns reflecting the Kente cloth patterns spiral the exterior gridshell. Vines are grown on the panels to create an evapo-transpiration cooling effect. Interior partitions are patterned wood panels.
Climbing Plants in Ghana Our research has revealed two excellent options as growth on our exterior green wall. Yams (left) are a climbing plant popular in Ghanaian agriculture. Caesalpinoideae (right) is a simple leaved legume that grows naturally in Ghanaian forests. The seeds of this legume are used to treat serotin deficiencies, which are linked to depression, migraines and sleeping disorders.
Living Exterior Ventilation Water is pumped up through the atrium in the C-Channel vertical struts. The water is then gravity fed down through the C-Channels on the exterior and to the planters at each landing location. This system waters the vines. The water from the vines evaporates, cooling the air around the pods. This creates a “swamp cooling� effect. 68
Exterior Screening The exterior panels take a similar pattern to the ones found on the Greater Accra Regional Hospital by Perkins and Will (left). The pattern is a cultural response to the traditional Kente cloth. Vines are grown on the screen for shading and an evapotranspiration effect.
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Interior Partitions
For our interior partitions, we again use a triangular pattern as a cultural response to the Kente cloth. The partitions are made of wood to keep with traditional materials and tectonics similar to the Irene Librando and Nadia Peruggi’s Kali Pavilion in Koforidua, Ghana (right).
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Perforated Metal Screen
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8” Wide Steel C-Channel Vertical Strut
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8”x8” Gridshell
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30” Deep Edge Steel Truss Beam
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Planter & Growing Medium for Vines
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Coolings Ponds Ponds that surround each pod create a unique entry and sense of lightness as well as an evaporative cooling effect.
Water Temple Hyogo by Tadao Ando This unique project uses a reflecting pond to cool the interior belows as well as creating a novel entry precession. Both of these ideas were translated into our project. The spiral ramp through our reflecting pools creates a break between public, open air lobby and entry into the contained space.
Museum of Modern Art - Ft. Worth by Tadao Ando Tadao Ando uses a reflection pool in his MOMA - Ft. Worth project as a way to create a sense of lightness and serenity. In order to contrast the large forms of each pod, we used a reflecting pool giving the appearance that the pods are floating.
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Through evaporative cooling, the warm Ghanaian air will be cooled as it flows over the reflecting pools. By placing a glass gap on each pod, a greenhouse effect is enacted. The cool air at the bottom of the pods is drawn up through the atrium to replace the hot air being exhausted at the top. The shape of the pods also allows us to take advantage of the equatorial sun angles. Solar panels are placed on the top of each pod to harvest maximum sunlight.
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8”x8”
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Gridshell-Ring Beam Connection
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30” Deep Steel I Ring Beam
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Roller Support and Platform
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3’ Dia. Concrete Pile
Gridshell-Ring Beam Conne
36” Deep Reinforced Con
4” Con
10” Reinforced Concrete Retaining W
Spread
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� Gridshell
ection
ncrete
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ncrete Slab
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Wall
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