CULTURAL CENTRE Heriot Watt University - Dubai
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT PROPOSED SITE FOUNDATION STRUCTURE FLOORING WALLS, STAIRS, BEAMS CLADDING, CIRCULATION ROOFING LANDSCAPING CONCLUSION REFERENCES
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ABSTRACT The following project showcases the design of a cultural center. The design has been made taking into consideration the client’s image of a high-tech structure as well as sustainability. The design of the structure has been kept modern and aesthetically appealing. All the structural elements in this design have been chosen to provide stability to the building and ease of construction. Even the materials used in the construction process will be able to perform under a variety of loadings, stresses and environmental conditions. A cultural center is a place which promotes culture and art. It will serve as a place for social interaction and entertainment. Since this cultural center is in Dubai - UAE, it will showcase diverse cultures. The floor plans have been designed in a way so that maximum area is occupied and the environment for the people working there is lively, rather than depressing. Cultural Center Design
This design of the cultural center has lots of services like a library, theatres, coffee shops, training centers, workshops, restaurants, exhibition galleries, ATM services, pharmacy, supermarket, conference and meeting rooms, banquet halls, prayer room. The basements of both the buildings have been utilized for parking. The access to the building is convenient.
DESKTOP SURVEY OF THE PROPOSED SITE •VEGETATION - Since tall trees are not growing in the vicinity, the foundation for the building will be easily constructed. •SUN AND WIND DIRECTION - The wind is oriented from the north-west direction over the site. The sun direction is from east to west over the site.
Cultural center site area
•SITE HISTORY - There has been no previous construction or development on the site chosen for the cultural center. It is free of any contaminants.
SITE FOR THE CULTURAL CENTRE •The site that has been chosen for the construction of the cultural center is a level site. Taking sustainability into consideration, the building site will be developed to restore and enhance the natural eco-system. The design of the cultural center building will optimize site utilization, work well within existing natural system, and minimize environmental damage. •Due to the presence of loose sand in the area, the presumed allowable bearing value of this sand is less than 100 kN/m^2. The width of the foundation would not be less than 1m. •The site for the cultural center is in the Umm Suqeim 3 Area, opposite Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. It is bordered by the Al Suqeim and Al Wasl roads. It is a rectangular plot. It will be easily accessible due to three access roads. The total area of the two buildings is 10,800 sq. meters. The length of each of the buildings is 60m, width is 45m and the height is 12m.
Umm Suqeim 3 Area - Dubai
FOUNDATION •Raft foundation is a type of Shallow foundation and it distributes building loads over a wider area of ground. It is generally located not far below the surface of site and is less costly. •Raft Foundation is especially useful when the soil has a low bearing capacity. It is a thick concrete slab reinforced with steel. Steel bars are placed in concrete which resists compression as well as bending. The reinforcement increases the strength of the foundation. It supports heavy structural loads. •Loose sandy soil in the area generates the need for a good stable foundation. Also this increases cost of construction. Raft foundation has been chosen for the cultural center building because the two-storied building stretches over a wider area and the sand in the construction site has a low bearing capacity. One of the advantages of this kind of foundation is that, if settlement occurs, the building will move as a whole unit. Differential movement would be prevented, and hence, the building will retain its integrity. •The cultural center building has a basement, due to which the excavation will be large, and a considerable amount of soil will be removed and stockpiled. Since the basement is below the ground it must withstand the vertical loads of the building as well as the horizontal pressure of the soil. In such a case, the structure acts as a retaining wall. The foundation walls provide support to the superstructure and hold the basement within them.
Thick concrete slab reinforced with steel
STRUCTURE •The cultural center building will be a composite steel framed structure with vertical columns, wherein the roof, the floor slabs and the beams transfer the loads to the columns, which in turn carry the loads to the foundation and finally to the ground. The composite steel frame structure increases strength of the building, contributes to its aesthetics and is environmentally sustainable. •A framed structure has been chosen in order to have large uninterrupted floor spaces and to provide large floor to ceiling heights. The composite frame of the building will make efficient use of materials, save time, cost and is a sustainable option. The composite frame will be made up of a combination of two compounds; a matrix (concrete) and reinforcement (steel). The matrix surrounds the reinforcement material. Steel and concrete frames can carry heavier loads than most of the other types of frames. •The cultural center consists of a basement and two floors (G+1). The design of the cultural center consists of two similar buildings, in respect of their structure, and organization. The cultural center is a low-rise, long span building with relatively modest loading. This is the main reason for having a shallow foundation. The use of natural light, greenery and healing landscape guarantee high level of indoor air quality and create a pleasant environment.
FLOORING •The framed structure of the cultural center building will accommodate a flat slab system, which is built quickly. It simplifies the installation of services due to the uninterrupted service zones beneath it. In addition, it has no restrictions on the positioning of partitions. Post tensioning of flat slabs provides longer and thinner slabs, with less reinforcement, and hence offers labor advantages. Post tensioning means that the concrete is being compressed and the steel is being tensioned. The height of the building and cladding area is considerably reduced, by using this slab system. •Sometimes flat slabs are directly supported on columns without any beams. In a flat slab system, the false ceiling area can be minimized, it requires minimal site coordination and incorporates a simple formwork. It is fire resistant and has low vibration characteristics.
Ground floor construction: •Suspended Ground Floor: They are constructed over a void with support from the walls. This kind of flooring is required in places where the soil is of low bearing capacity. •In the cultural center, suspended ground floor will be laid, due to the presence of the basement. It will be made up of concrete due to its robustness, quick and easy installation, and it does not require the need of highly skilled labor. Flat slab system
WALLS Non-load-bearing Walls: They don’t carry any significant loads of their own and require a structural frame as support. They can be temporarily erected, are cost and time effective. The cultural center building consists of non-load-bearing partition walls. The partition walls in the cultural center will be made up of reinforced concrete. Reinforced concrete has been chosen since it is sustainable and is strong enough to resist loads that act on the structure.
STAIRS String stairs have been built in the cultural center. This kind of stairs are supported by strings from either side of the stairs. These are easy to construct and do not occupy a lot of space.
BEAMS The columns and beams made up of reinforced concrete have adequate fire resistance. The building’s framework is made up of reinforced concrete since all the load must be supported by it as well as the curtain wall is installed and supported on it.
CLADDING •The cladding of the cultural center building will comprise of large expanses of photovoltaic glass and LED panels. The photovoltaic glass façade will allow power generation with an efficiency up to 12%. It has a low Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (about 0.14). Keeping acoustics in mind, the cladding will be soundproof. Though expensive, it is easy to install and promotes the right amount of day lighting without the need for shades and acts as a thermal barrier and reduces the need for artificial cooling. As a result, it will provide illumination and a connection to the external environment. The photovoltaic glass façade will light up the entire building in the dark and showcase it as a prominent structure of the city center. The façade of the cultural center will display the cultures of different places. •A curtain wall façade of photovoltaic glass and stainless steel will be incorporated in the design of the cultural center, since it is lightweight and airtight. Stainless steel is used because it is aesthetically appealing, does not corrode and is 100% recyclable.
Photovoltaic glass façade
CIRCULATION The circulation routes in the cultural center building have been planned quite well and with enough circulation routes. There are two elevators, two stairways and two escalators in each of the two buildings. The horizontal circulation includes wide corridors and some open spaces as well. All the vertical circulation routes are easily accessible from any part of the building and well connected with the horizontal circulation routes.
ROOFING Flat Roofs are generally economical to build and can be extended over large buildings. An important feature in the design of flat roofs is the provision of adequate insulation. Pitched Roofs have restricted application due to the limited spans. The finished materials used on a pitched roof are easily visible which adds on to the aesthetics of the structure.
The cultural center will have a flat as well as a pitched roofing system. One of the reasons for having a flat roof is that the rainfall in this area is less. The roof will be divided into two levels, the lower flat level accounting for a Green Roof, and the higher pitched level will be utilized for the installation of solar glass panels. The pitched roof will have a low slope. The extensive green roofing will protect and insulate the roof, whereas the solar glass panels will help in energy conservation. Wood which is an organic material will be used to provide the partial shelter to the green roof of the building. It is a renewable material and tends to have reduced emissions of CO2. Wood cleans the air which will make the roof garden a preferred place for people to spend their leisure time.
Solar glass panels will harvest solar energy for artificial lighting, water heating, cooling and many other purposes. In addition, they will provide shade and hence curtail the cost of expensive shading systems. This kind of roofing is also resistant to wind loads.
Extensive green roofs are made for smaller applications and require low maintenance. Green roofs, though have an expensive initial investment, protect the roof membrane from the ultraviolent radiation damage, which extends the life of the roof. The green roof will absorb the rainwater and filter pollutants.
LANDSCAPING: Some area of the plot is vacant, which will be utilized for leisure purposes by the visitors of the cultural center. The landscaping will include lot of greenery and the gazebos will be covered by a roof made up of colorful flowers. An artificial water body is also designed to add a soothing appeal to the cultural center. A continuous musical fountain will be a part of this water body. This creates life in the building all day long. Another vacant area in the site has been utilized for a podium, which will hold open concerts and shows during favorable climates.
CONCLUSION •This cultural center has been planned and designed keeping all the necessary requirements in mind. The site chosen for construction is a perfect place to conduct such an activity and the ground composition in the area has been thoroughly assessed beforehand. Depending on the soil conditions, foundation and other structural elements of the building have been selected. Due to the hot and humid climate prevalent in the area, all the material guidelines have been followed and insulation and acoustics have been properly managed throughout the building.
•The design of the cultural center is simple but at the same time complements the surrounding structures. The design is sustainable and energy efficient as well. The building structure consists of various elements which have been briefly discussed in this report to give the client a clear picture of everything. All the structural elements will work in coordination to maintain the stability of the structure. The landscaping which includes an artificial water body, a few sitting spaces and a concert area, has been incorporated into the plan to create a blend of culture in the interior and exterior of the building.
•All the functional spaces have been given enough area depending on the activity to be performed there. The spaces have been planned to create the most efficient design and provide comfort to the users of the building.
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