TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO LIGHTING & VISUAL COMFORT JOSHUA M. BRIGHT 11619897
Contents
1. Design Context 2. Site Analysis 1 3. Site Analysis 2 4. Plan Analysis 1 5. Plan Analysis 2 6. Section Analysis 1 7. Section Analysis 2 8. Detailing 1 9. Detailing 2 10. Critical Analysis 11. Improvement Strategies 12. Bibliography
Design Context Client
Birimgham City Council
Culture
The Library of Birmingham was designed to combine the idea of archiving and collecting information and books with the social aspects of everyday life. As quoted by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Birmingham, the Library “has been described as the largest public library in the United Kingdom, the largest public cultural space in Europe, and the largest regional library in Europe. 2,414,860 million visitors came to the library in 2014 making it the 10th most popular visitor attraction in the UK”
History
The Library of Birmingham is a relocation project to replace the ‘Birmingham Central Library’ (Located on Chamberlain Square), which was demolished in 2016 after its closure in 2013.
Site Analysis SITE ANALYSIS Location
The site of the ‘Library of Birmingham’ can be on Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham. Spanning 20, 798m2, with an additional 6,804m2 shared with the REP (Repertory Theatre) located to the Southwest side of the building as the site is at a slight angle.
Climate
Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom is in a temperate climate, meaning that the climate surrounding the site has a relatively moderate change, due to it being situated between the tropic and polar regions. This means that the site’s location will very rarely be faced by extremely hot or cold weather conditions.
Surrounding Area
The surrounding Environment of the site is very urban, with hotels, bars, restaurants and expiation center scattered around the exterior of the site, with the conjoining REP (Repertory Theatre), sharing 6,804m2 of floor space.
Landscape
The closest water body to the site is the “Birmingham Canal Old Line” that runs adjacent to the south-western and north-western sides of the building. The closest sources of vegetation to the site are: The “Green” and “Brown” roofs, Centenary Square & The City Centre Gardens. Per http://www.landis.org.uk/soilscapes/ the soil conditions around the Library of Birmingham are “Loamy soils with naturally high groundwater” with a “Loamy” texture. This area has a naturally wet drainage type with a 40% fertility chance.
Sun Position
Due to the design, the south facing main façade of the building will receive the most sunlight at midday, with the sunlight blocked off from the east during the early hours of the day by Baskerville House and the later hours of the night from the west by the REP (Repertory Theatre).
Site Analysis Site Plan
Sun Path Diagrams - 1/12/15 > 1/09/16
Plan Analysis Floor -1 Direct Sunlight - Unobstructed by any object/building
Indirect Sunlight - Reflect by any object/building towards the site
Floor 1
Floor 2
Floor 0
Plan Analysis Floor 3
Floor 5
Floor 4
How we can interpret the lighting via floor plans
As stated in the site analysis “due to the design, the south facing main façade of the building will receive the most sunlight at midday, with the sunlight blocked off from the east during the early hours of the day by Baskerville House and the later hours of the night from the west by the REP (Repertory Theatre).” This is clearly shown in the graphics shown previously as you can see a clear difference between the direct light from the south/west facade compared to the north/east facade. The main reason for this happening is the surround buildings relative to the site. However, you do get some natural light refletcted off near by buildings/objects which will bounce light back into the building. This is called indirect light.
Section Analysis Section view to show natural lighting
Section Analysis
The “Oculus”
The “Oculus” is one of the most important features of the Library of Birmingham as it allows natural light to flow all the way from the roof to the children’s library in the basement of the building. This allows light to be disperesed into areas that can not receive natural light via the windowed facade, adding more natural light, as well as reducing the ammount of synthetic light required from the lights inside of the building, sutting the energy usage and allowing for a greener footprint.
Detailing The Facade
As reported by dezeen.com, “Mecanoo designed the exterior of the building to reference the city’s jewellery quarter, adding a filigree pattern of metal rings over golden, silver and glass facades.�. This has a massive culutral influence regarding the clutural aspects of the building. The facade represents the history of the local area, symbolising the history of the site and the city to visitors and the local people, giving them a gentel reminder of the foundations the city grew upon. This facade acts as Brise Soleil in order to break up natural sunlight as it passes through towards the windows
Critical Analysis Book damage
As stated by William Weston on our “Paper House” blog: “The use of natural light however is not entirely positive as previously mentioned, it can lead to book damage. Excessive exposure to UV light causes Photochemical Degradation of the book pages, the definition of lines and shades of colour ca be lost as individual photons of light destroy the organic paper material gradually over time.”
Use of Artificial Light
The use of Artificial Light within the Library of Birmingham is very impressive as the ammounts of light given out in different spaces matches the levels that are required for maximum productivity, while considering the integrity of the books. The use of the strip LED lighting on the escalator is also another of example of how the designer has used artificial light to influence where visitors move around the building. This is important as it directs people towards views, differing sections (studying/archives) as well as towards the upper workstations and viewing deck. As shown by the image on the right, the LED strips on the escalators influences movement throughout the building by suggestion where to go next. I find this a very interesting photo as when moving throught the building, I found myself subconciously getting onto an escalator to move upwards, when in relaity, I had no idea where I wanted to go.
Improvement Strategies Facade workspace positioning
One of the issues I recognised when working in the Library of Birmingham was the use of workspaces directly infront of the south facing facade, meaaning you are struck directly with quite harsh sunlight. Although there is a blind which you may use, I still feel that the use of work spaces directly infront of a light gaining facade is counter productive as you will have either too much or too little light, meaning you will be distracted from what ever you are supposed to be working on while working at the work stations. This issue is made evidently more difficult by the height of the windows shown in the image on the left.
The children’s library lighting levels
In terms of “Improvement Strategies”, one of the only issues with the design of this building is the lack of natural light into the children’s library. The ideal LUX reading for a children’s working area (classroom) is 300 LUX, where the Library of Birmingham came in at 280. My issue with this reading is that most of the light in this area is artificial, which is much stronger than natural light, meanig it is harsher. In order to improve the children’s library, I feel the designers could have used refelctive materials around the outer “ampitheater” inorder to direct more natural sunlight into the spaces, introducing a much smoother and less harsh lighting level into the space. The Image on the right shows just how low the levels of lighting are in the children’s library
Conclusion Design Considerations
In my opinion, the design consideration of the Birmingham Library confirms to me that it is the flagship project for the midlands, representing the culture and industry of the surrounding area, while maintaining a solid relationship between the natural enviornment. This for me is crucial as it shows that the designer has thought not only about the people using the building, but also the environment surrounding the site, allowing for beautiful open green spaces where people can socialise, as well as giving a habitat for some local wildlife to migrate to. Maintaining a healthy relationship between all aspects of life is clearl crutial in the design of this building.
Technicality
In my opinion, the technicality of the Library of Birmingham is second to none. From the filigree patern facade being used as brise soleil, to the use of Oculeses and Ampitheatres to introduce natrual light into otherwise dull spaces. As well as the use of LED lighting to subconciously guide people in the direct you wish them to walk. The design team of the Library of Birmingham have clearly given consideration to how they can use industrial-esque techniques for structural and mechanical design reasons, while hiding them in their own facade, remenisant of Norman Fosters use of this ideology on Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Headquarters (HSBC Tower). As a great admirer of Norman Fosters work, I applaud the design team for their use of this ideology in the Library of Birmingham, making technology beautiful.
Bibliography Oculus Render - http://www.createdinbirmingham.com/wp-content/uploads/Library-of-Birmingham-Open-Air-Amphitheatre-December-2010.jpg Architects Sketch - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e2/06/ba/e206ba466f5be99245a271829e9225a9.jpg Site Location/setting/surroundings - https://www.google.co.uk/maps?client=safari&rls=en&q=google+maps+library+of+birmingham&oe=UTF-8&gfe_rd=cr&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjT9d2n8fTQAhVLBcAKHfnJ Bs4Q_AUICSgC Floor Plans - http://www.archdaily.com/421970/library-of-birmingham-mecanoo/521f4ca9e8e44ebd90000006-library-of-birmingham-mecanoo-ground-floor-plan Section View - http://www.detail-online.com/fileadmin/_processed_/csm_mecanoo_section_01_14f2b4499a.jpg Interior Rotund Photograph - https://www.dezeen.com/2013/08/29/libraries-are-the-most-important-public-buildings-francine-houben/ Oculus Photograph - http://www.urbanbuildings.net/wp-content/uploaded/Library-of-Birmingham-Rotunda-Skylight.jpg Images not linked within this bibliography are my own photographs taken from a site visit Interior Work Space Image - http://www.libraryofbirmingham.com/ss/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=image%2Fjpeg&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1318276261965&ssbinary=true Children’s Library Image - https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/pictures/2000x2000fit/0/2/9/1349029_4317-065.jpg Image of the facade and shadows - https://www.yatzer.com/sites/default/files/media/slideshow/big3_libraryofbirmingham.jpg Facade Image - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Library_of_Birmingham_Facade_crop.jpg Exterior Garden Photograph - http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v45Sc-8BFpc/U6cVg6HsL8I/AAAAAAAAQe4/mxBw15ExDeQ/s1600/Birmingham+lib+garden.jpg Interior Elavator Render - http://www.createdinbirmingham.com/wp-content/uploads/Library-of-Birmingham-Central-Rotunda-December-2010.jpg Written Information - Group Research conducted by the following; William Weston, Kaitlin Watson, Manjinder Singh, Adam Nuttall, Scott Addison and Joshua Bright (Paper House) http://paperhousegroup.weebly.com/lighting-and-visual-comfort