professional experience RoGBC 2011-12 “EcoLibrary” (EcoBiblioteca) Sustainable Refurbishment of a 19th Century Building in Cacica, Romania_Living Building Challenge
Landscape Plan_not to scale
Brief: Refurbishment of the 19th century Cacica library in Suceava County in an exemplary, sustainable manner by significantly improving the design, energy performance, lighting quality, indoor air quality and comfort of the building. The ‘EcoLibrary’ project is registered in the Living Building Challenge (http://living-future. org/lbc), a green building certification program that defines ‘the most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment possible today’. Size of project: 150 m² (ground floor only)+50 m² (porch). Site: 1,100 m² Project cost: €250,000 (£210,000) Timeframe: 2010 to date Roles: Designer, Assistant Manager, Designing and updating all of the project’s drawings (building survey, plans, sections, technical details, 3D models and renderings), Checking the solutions proposed by the architect and engineers comply with the LBC specifications, Materials procurement, Updating the project’s LBC documentation, Communication with all of the project’s stakeholders and the public (updates, graphic and oral presentations of the project). More info: http://www.rogbc.org/en/projects/ecobiblioteca Partners:
Project Description and the Living Building Challenge: The Challenge is comprised of seven performance areas, or ‘Petals’: Site, Water, Energy, Health, Materials, Equity and Beauty. Petals are subdivided into a total of twenty Imperatives, each of which focuses on a specific sphere of influence. All Imperatives are mandatory to obtain the certification. SITE: The site had been previously developed, and the proposed intervention will not enlarge the footprint of the existing buildings. WATER: Smart drainage system that will protect the library from water infiltrations and will reuse captured precipitation for the landscape irrigation, while making use of the existing on site well. Water demand will be reduced using low flow fixtures and a composting toilet. ENERGY: The energy demand will be reduced to the minimum by maximizing daylighting (sun pipes), minimizing heat loss and gain through the building shell (“passive house” standard).Renewable thermal energy will be obtained through a very efficient heat pump system. HEALTH: The project encourages natural ventilation (operable windows), supplemented by a mechanical system (ceiling fans) for public events, where a greater number of people will be present. Optimum indoor air quality is assured by the use of materials containing no toxic chemicals. MATERIALS: None of the construction or service elements used in the project can contain any of the following Red List materials or chemicals: Asbestos, Cadmium, Chlorinated Polyethylene and Chlorosulfonated Polyethlene, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs),Chloroprene (Neoprene),Formaldehyde (added), Halogenated Flame Retardants, Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), Lead (added), Mercury, Petrochemical Fertilizers and Pesticides, Phthalates,Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Wood treatments containing Creosote, Arsenic or Pentachlorophenol. All products and materials used in the project are documented through technical specifications and letters to the suppliers for exceptional cases. EQUITY: The design envisages the library as a community space, with increased visits and participation by the citizenry. The building interior is designed to quickly and efficiently adapt to community’s needs - lecture room, events room, conferences. The goal of accessible design is to provide equal use of the built environment for all people – the toilet that can be used by anyone; ramps are integrated into the landscape design. BEAUTY: The team considers local architecture as ‘green architecture’, as it has been developed sustainably and made use of local resources and crafts. Therefore the project proposed a facade that evokes local building traditions but introduces contemporary upgrades in terms of thermal performance.
Construction photo_May 2012
3D Rendering_North_East
Plan_not to scale
Salvaging bricks from derelict building
Building interior walls using salvaged bricks
Salvaging boulders from derelict building
Construction photo_August 2011
3D Rendering_East facade
Construction photo_April 2012
Construction photo_September 2012
South facade_August 2011 East facade detail_September 2012
Adding facade insulation_April 2012
East facade_Construction_August 2011 South facade_cladding construction detail_April 2012
Roof works on North facade_August 2011
Sun pipe_August 2011
Rendering of roof junction
Porch foundation and roof works_August 2011
Completed facade and roof_September 2012