UNITED KINGDOM
BRITISH GREEN ARCHITECTURE STUDIO
MEGHAN CRAIG Architecture 554 Summer 2013
MEGHAN CRAIG 313 S. Main Street, Apt. 306 Moscow, ID 83843 USA mcraig@vandals.uidaho.edu +1 +44
(775) 220 5415 07407 171141
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 6
Calendar
7
Abstract
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Green Building Analysis The Scottish Parliament The John Hope Gateway Botanic Garden Sainsbury in North Greenwich Chiswick Park The Crystal Building Eco Hub The Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham Kew Botanic Gardens
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SCOTLAND
N. IRELAND
Architectural Offices and Advocating Businesses RES ARUP AHMM Cullinan Studio
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Design Charette - Cullinan Studio
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Center of Alternative Technology (CAT)
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Cultural Discoveries Trafalgar Square London Mercantile Railway Station Evolution The Royal Parks The Southbank of The Thames Transportation Infrastructure
WALES
ENGLAND
ACADEMIC CALENDAR July/August 2013 Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
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3
4
5
6
Fly to Edinburgh from Belfast International 16:00 Meet group
10:00 Scottish Parliament sketching session 10:30 Parliament Tour Train to Glasgow 16:00 Glasgow School of Art sketching session 16:30 School of Art Tour
9:30 John Hope Gateway sketching session 10:00 John Hope Gateway Tour by Jasper Rea Train to Musselburgh 15:00 Queen Margaret Uni.
10:00 Lecture by Sue Roaf Train to Camelon 15:30 Falkirk Wheel sketching session 16:00 Falkirk Wheel Boat Ride Depart Edinburgh; take night train to London
7:00 Arrive at Euston Station London Program begins. Check into Passfield Hall 16:00 Orientation walk with teaching assistants
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8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
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24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
*Independent study
*Independent study
9:00 Final Group Presentation of Experimental design Workshop 14:00 Depart for London
*Independent study
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10:00 Serpentine Pavilion Site Visit 13:30 St. Paul’s Cathedral sketching session 14:00 St. Paul’s Tour
9:00 Discover London Experience 4 13:00 Visit Sir John Soane’s Museum 15:00 Discover London Experience 5
9:00 Train to Oxford 11:00 Road Eco House Tour 14:00 Keble College Tour 16:00 Oxford Whole House Carbon Reduction project lecture 17:00 Explore Oxford
*Independent study
9:00 Arup Visit 14:00 Discover London Experience 1
11:00 Depart for CAT Euston - Machynlleth 15:30 Tour of campus 16:30 Registration
11:00 Renewable Energy Systems (RES) Tour (in Hertfordshire) 15:00 Discover London Experience 6
10:00 Fabric of London Tour by Richard Lorch 15:00 Cullinan Studio Office Visit 18:00 London Eye 19:30 Charette preparation w/teaching assistants
9:00 Discover London Experience 2 14:00 BedZED sketching session 14:30 BedZED Centre Tour
9:30 Intro to Module & Presentation of Briefs 11:30 Group Preliminary Discussions 14:00 Experimental design Workshop
9:30 Victoria Docks sketching session 10:00 The Crystal Building Tour by Anokhee Shah (Arup) 11:00 The Crystal Exhibits Exploration 16:15 White Collar Factory sketching session 17:00 Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) Office
9:00 Design Charette at Cullinan Studio
10:30 Laban sketching session 11:00 Laban Dance Center Tour 13:30 North Greenwich Tour - Sainsbury - Millennium Village 19:30 Shakespeare’s Globe
9:30 Experimental design Workshop 19:30 Tutorials with teaching assistants
10:00 Eco Hub Tour by Zana Dean (Anne Thorne Architects) 15:00 Discover London Experience 7 19:30 Tutorials with teaching assistants
13:00 Charette Presentation at Arup 18:00 Celebration Dinner
10:30 Chiswick sketching session 11:00 Chiswick Park Tour 15:00 Discover London Experience 3 19:30 Tutorial with teaching assistants
9:30 Experimental design Workshop
8:00 Train to Nottingham 11:00 University of Nottingham visit - tour Creative Energy Homes 13:30 Meeting with course director Benson Lau 15:00 Jubilee Campus Tour
10:30 Kew Botanic Gardens
*Independent study
9:30 Experimental design Workshop
*Independent study
11:00 Check out of Passfield Hall
ABSTRACT: This journal will illustrate in graphic and written form areas of the United Kingdom that incorporate sustainable methods into though and design. The following building examples will be discussed in detail: The Scottish Parliament, The John Hope Gateway Botanic Garden, a Sainsbury’s grocery store, Chiswick Park, The Crystal Building, The Eco Hub, The University of Nottingham - Jubilee Campus, and Kew Botanic Gardens. Architectural offices and sustainable advocating businesses and schools discussed are: Renewable Energy Resources Inc., Arup Engineering, AHMM Architects, Cullinan Studio, and the Center of Alternative Technology located in Wales. In addition to the building tours, and firm lectures, personal discoveries of London will be added. These include, but are not limited to: the extensive transport infrastructure found in the city, a multitude of royal parks, and the south bank of the Thames. These projects will show the United Kingdom, as a country, moving in a positive direction with a healthier more sustainable environment.
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GREEN BUILDING ANALYSIS + The Scottish Parliament + The John Hope Gateway Botanic Garden + Sainsbury in North Greenwich + Chiswick Park + The Crystal Building + Eco Hub + The Jubilee Campus in Nottingham + Kew Botanic Gardens
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THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT located in Edinburgh was
opened on October 9th, 2004, by Her Majesty The Queen. The architects, EMBT from Barcelona and their partners RMJM from Scotland, won the competition to design the new building in 1998. The design brief stated that the building was to be of high construction quality, hold civic importance, and show good environmental practices. It was to be secure but accessible to all. Most importantly is was to be a symbol for Scotland, paying tribute to the country’s achievements and also show the country’s future aspirations. I think the building accomplished the requirements. As a finished product all the timber used in the building originates from sustainable sources, the electricity is purchased from renewable sources, and water used in the toilets and used to cool the building is generated from natural springs. The floor in the center of the debating chamber is make of Scottish oak. Visual elements and their meaning can are described in the quick tour sketches to right.
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THE JOHN HOPE GATEWAY
is the main building for the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. The project was completed in 2008 by Cullinan Studio, a London based firm. I was very impressed with this building. Being that we were still in Scotland it was one of the first buildings we toured looking closely at the sustainable methods incorporated into the design. Cullinan Studio incorporated the following strategies into the building: natural day lighting made possible through the large amounts of glass. However, they considered the heat gain that would occur by implementing large overhangs on the east side that wraps around to the south side and vertical fins on the west. There is ample opportunities for natural ventilation to occur though operable windows and doors that the occupants can control. The building has a bio-mass boiler heating the building by a renewable resource, wood chips. There are also three cisterns on site, fifteen meters square of photovoltaics on the roof to heat the hot water tank and a six kilowatt wind mill on the roof. In addition the acoustic panels have leaf cutouts in them and allow for versatility when it comes to lighting events by a lighting track through the middle of the panel. There are many creative elements through the building that I appreciate.
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SAINSBURY’S is the name of a chain grocery store throughout the United
Kingdom. This specific Sainsbury’s, however, is located in North Greenwich. It is by far the most sustainable grocery store I have ever visited. The store is buried into the side of an earth berm, creating thermal mass, in a very aesthetically pleasing way. It is also very well day lit. Daylight is brought into the store by repeated stepped clear story windows and sky tubes. Despite this fact I did notice that the majority of the artificial lights in the store were on, which was unfortunate. Sustainable practices were carried out into the site. A living machine had been put in place behind the store. Waste water is used to irrigate vegetation on site. The bottom right image shows how lush the site is as a result. It would be nice to see more grocery stores and other general everyday locations people go implement sustainable practices. I think it is the best way to educate people in our communities.
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CHISWICK PARK is an office park located on the west side of London, close to
Heathrow Airport, on the district line. Construction of the park began in the late 90’s. Since then, the architecture of the buildings has evolved as the park has progressed. History: 1800 - area was farmland 1850 - fabric dying factory (arsenic used) 1928 - factory bulldozed into ground creating contamination to earth - bus maintenance depot and training center built 1980 - depot demolished (asbestos from roof was folded into the earth) 1990 - Richard Rodger’s is commissioned * Phase 1: 6 buildings and lake (after contaminated soil is removed from site) Since the rejuvenation of the earth on the site Chiswick Park has worked diligently to better its environment for the health and safety of its employees. The site collects rain water runoff to sustain the lake which beautifies the area. They advocate for pedestrian health by keeping cars on the exterior, this creates the safe environment and encourages wildlife to co-habitate. They also advocate strongly for recycling and reusing. Their goal target is 90%, much higher than the legislated target of 30%. The work they have done is impressive.
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THE CRYSTAL BUILDING is a
mixed use building that is comprised of offices, meeting spaces, an auditorium, a cafe and restaurant, an extensive interactive exhibition, classrooms, and a shop. It is currently one of the world’s greenest buildings; it achieved an outstanding BREEAM accreditation and a Platinum LEED accreditation. As of August 2012 it was the only building worldwide to have achieved both standards. Sustainable services incorporated into the building include: electric car charging points, a blackwater recycling plant, a potable water treatment tank as well as a non-potable water treatment tank, a rainwater storage tank, an energy center with a heat pump and battery storage, a modular cooling system, photovoltaic panels, community gardens, and LED lighting. Something that I found interesting was how the facade design protects the occupants from heat gain, this is accomplished by the tilted angle. It reflects gain in office spaces. Diagrams on page 13 were found in an overview booklet of The Crystal provided by tour guide Anokhee Shah. I appreciate how much space was given to the interactive exhibition space. It was interesting watching the time lapse videos of construction and participating in other activities throughout the space. 14
Building Services Overview:
Optimized Facade:
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THE ECO HUB is located at Lordship Recreation Ground in the
London Borough of Harringey. To get there you would take the Piccadilly tube line or bus to Turnpike Lane and then walk a short distance. It is a straw bale structure that was designed by Anne Thorne Architects for the community. The program accommodates for a restaurant with a full kitchen, a community hall, and two classrooms. During the tour by architectural intern, Zana Dean, we were told that the community was very involved through the entire project, from the design phase to construction of the center. Community members were present on build days. This is positive because it not only gives people in the community something to do, but it gives them ownership of their center and educates them about sustainability in the process. Once the restaurant vendors are finalized I can see this community hub being essential to the area. The day we visited there were children playing in the pool and on the jungle-gym both just a few meters from the hub.
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JUBILEE CAMPUS located in Nottingham is built on a brown
field site. Prior to 1999 when the campus was officially opened the area was contaminated from factories that used to operate on site. Therefor the main feature of the new buildings was that everything would be as sustainable as possible. Today features include the lake, which is an amazing habitat for wildlife. There are also roof gardens on many of the buildings, which helps maintain interior temperatures of the buildings year round, creates additional elevated safe environments for wildlife, as well as multiple rainfall capturing systems. In addition to the roof top gardens there are photovoltaic cells integrated into the atrium roofs, lighting sensors that help reduce energy consumption, and multiple different kinds of shading devices on the interior and exterior of the buildings around campus.
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KEW BOTANIC GARDENS, a royal
botanic garden, was our meeting location for our last group event. To get there we took the London Overground tube line from Euston Station. I thoroughly enjoyed walking around Kew Gardens, going into the different green houses, pavilions, cafes and shops. Specific areas I went to include: The Orangery Restaurant, Climbers and Creepers, Treehouse Towers, Bamboo Garden, Minka House, Sackler Crossing, Xstrata Treetop Walkway, Compost Heat, Waterlilly Pond, Pagoda, Ruined Arch, Temperate House where I walked along the Glasshouse Walkway, Rose Garden, Palm House, and Waterlilly House. Before visiting Climbers and Creepers and Treehouse Towers I was expecting something different. These two locations were play areas for children. Moving onto the Minka House, it was fascinating to see this entire structure put together with out any nails or bolts. The Sackler Crossing heading towards the Xstrata Treetop Walkway was interesting. The railing was made up of vertical slats. There were no horizontal connections. Out of the glass houses the Temperate House was my favourite. I enjoyed going up onto the Glasshouse Walkway and getting a view from the top. My second favourite was the Waterlilly House. Even though it is inside, I liked it more than the Waterlilly Pond. The Palm House was beautiful and lush. I enjoyed walking though it too. This day was extremely special because I had family visiting, so after Kew Gardens I was able to take them around London and show them all my favourite places. 18
Overall map illustrating the places I entered on my visit ( ): A
C
B
D
E
F
G
H
I RIVER
1
Conservation Area
O R ER
5
J THAM
K
L
M
O
P
Q
R
BRENTFORD GATE
Badger Sett
2
N
ES
S T OP
E XP L
Wildlife Observation Centre
Bluebells
Via Kew Green and Ferry Lane – Cars/motorbikes only
Rhododendron Dell
Minka House
O R ER
6
Queen’s Garden
S T OP
E XP L
Bamboo Garden
3
Climbers and Creepers
White Peaks Café & Shop
Stag Beetle Loggery
FE
RR
Y LA NE
Kew Palace & Royal Kitchens
Bluebells Pinetum
Private events
Treehouse Towers Magnolias
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Towpath to Kew Pier and boats
Nash Conservatory
Orangery Restaurant
N S VI
Compost Heap
TA
Redwood Grove
O R ER
S T OP
4
Azalea Garden Sackler Crossing
O SY
Weekends/ bank holidays, 9.30am–5.30pm Last entry 5pm
Waterlily Pond
E XP L
E XP L
Joseph Banks Building O R ER
S T OP
4
Queen Charlotte’s Cottage
5 TA
Wollemi pine
CED AR V IS
Ginkgo E X PL
Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway
ORER
2
Palm House
Mediterranean Garden
Evolution House
Secluded Garden
Winter Garden
Rose Garden
Closed for refurbishment
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Kew Bridge Station 0.8 km across Kew Bridge (South West Trains)
Waterlily House
S T OP
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ELIZABETH GATE
Woodland Glade
Princess of Wales Conservatory
Palm House Parterre
Duke’s Garden
Kew Gardens Gallery
Glasshouse walkway Temperate House Closed from August onwards for restoration
Woodland Garden
ISTA
DA V
PAGO
Temple of Bellona
O R ER
1
S T OP
Japanese Gateway
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Glasshouse walkway Marine display
King William’s Temple
E XP L
3
S T OP
E X PL
Aquatic display O RER
Davies Alpine House
Temple of Arethusa
Grass Garden
Victoria Plaza Café & Shop
Berberis Dell
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Aquatic Garden
Marianne North Gallery
KEW Pagoda
Pavilion Restaurant Ruined Arch
10 Richmond Station 1 km (South West Trains, District Line & London Overground)
Kew Gardens Station 0.5 km (District Line & London Overground)
Temple of Aeolus Plant Family Beds
Plants + People Exhibition
Bonsai House, Student Vegetable Plots
Rock Garden
The Gardens cover 132 ha (326 acres). Elizabeth Gate to the Pagoda is approximately 1.6 km (1 mile). metres
LION GATE
0
Free Wi-Fi hotspots
Useful numbers
Wheelchair-access toilet
Kew Explorer route Pathways
First aid or emergency help 020 8332 3333 or the staff at ticket offices
Drinking fountain
Large wheelchair-access facility with hoist and bench
Restaurant
Baby changing facilities
Viewpoint
Seasonal highlights
Shelter
Museums and galleries Children’s activities
500
Bicycle parking
Key attractions
Shop Restaurants, cafés and shops
ROAD
The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art
VICTORIA GATE
Snacks and drinks Wheelchair access ramps
Customer information 020 8332 5655
Grass pathways
Lost property 020 8332 5121
Tree climbing, walking on planted areas and flowerbeds, bikes, ball games, scooters and rollerskates are not permitted
Friends of Kew information 020 8332 3200 Commercial photography is not allowed without Kew’s permission; please call 020 8332 5501 for details.
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ARCHITECTURAL OFFICES & ADVOCATING BUSINESSES + Renewable Energy Systems (RES) + ARUP + Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) + Cullinan Studios
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RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS
head office is operated from Hertfordshire, England. They are one of the world’s leading renewable energy project developers. Since they were established in 1982, about thirty years ago, they have played a critical role in moving the movement of sustainability from the margin to the mainstream in communities across the world. “We balance commercial, environmental and social concerns to achieve positive solutions to the world’s energy problems.” They research and practice the benefits of wind energy, solar energy, biomass energy, and marine energy. One of their specialties is providing advice on renewable energy and carbon reduction for sustainable buildings in the commercial and public sector. Before coming to England I would say I was quite familiar with wind and solar energy, but I appreciate how that knowledge has deepened and how my knowledge has now expanded further into biomass and marine energy. During the presentation I found it interesting to see the time lapse video of the construction of a wind turbine. Recently it is a common occurrence to see wind farms, throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. Renewable resources are important resources to feed off of for our future for many reasons. Global warming is a main concern, as well as the lack of security for the supply. We have to depend on our relationships with different countries to supply our well being. Eighty-four percent of electricity in the UK is generated by fossil fuels. I would like it if in the future I worked for a company like RES. I am very interested in educating about and advocating for renewable resources. 21
ARUP is an internationally recognized firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants, and technical
specialists all offering a broad range of professional services. They have about 11,000 people working for them in ninety-three offices world wide. During our visit we were given four presentations. 1. “Foresight and Innovation at Arup - Exploring the Future of the Built Environment” - Josef Hargrave 2. “Works by Arup Associates” - Nick Birmingham 3. “Rock on top of Another Rock” - Alice Blair 4. “A museum of Daylight - the New Acropolis Museum” - Florence Lam Each of these presentations were interesting and informative. My favorite however was, Rock on top of Another Rock. This might be because I was able go see it relatively easily and physically touch it experiencing it in its entirety.
Foresight and Innovation at Arup - Exploring the Future of the Built Environment:
This presentation was based on futuristic ideas addressing everything from urban mobility for Volkswagen, future retail space design for Selfridges, to technology advances. Hargrave’s brought up Moore’s Law basically stating that every year the amount of transistors on a micro chip will double. This interested me. I do not consider myself a particularly tech savvy individual, so it was fascinating realizing just how quickly our world is developing in all aspects.
Works by Arup Associates:
Work presented by Nick Birmingham included the King Abdullah Sports City, Saudi Arabian National Stadium in Jeddah, and the Doha City Tennis Stadium. These projects were very impressive, the graphics were definitely something to aspire to. The Saudi Arabian National Stadium was generated in Grasshopper and Rhino. It is a £1 billion project that is to be completed November 30th, 2013. The Tennis Stadium animation was made in 3DS Max. I was sold on the projects.
A museum of Daylight - the New Acropolis Museum:
During this talk Florence Lam presented the building and discussed the importance of daylight in our buildings and the effects it has on its occupants. A quote she quoted that stuck with me was one by Frank Lloyd Write. He says, “Beautiful buildings are more than scientific. They are true organisms, spiritually, conceived; works of art, using the best technology by inspiration rather than the idiosyncrasies of mere taste or any averaging by the committee mind.” 22
Rock on top of Another Rock:
Arup got this project through a farmer in Wales. The rocks were on his farm and he wanted them removed, but he also wanted something innovative and creative done with them. The project was commissioned by the Serpentine Gallery, located in Hyde Park in the London borough of Kensington. The two major questions addressed by Arup were: 1. How do we know the rocks are structurally sound? And, 2. How do we make sure the sculpture won’t fall over? In order to test these questions, the rocks’ density was tested to verify their integrity and from these figures manageable models were made using a 3D printer. With these models different configurations were made to see which form worked best. The finished sculpture had to have a foundation for the rocks to sit on for safety reasons in the event of ground shifting and due to the likely probability that people visiting the sculpture would want to sit on, push on, and play with the it. Arup also considered wind loads that would act on the sculpture. I initially saw this sculpture during our site visit to the Serpentine Pavilion. I did not think much of it, other than those two rocks must be connected though the center with a steel rod, or a similar connection. It was a very interesting presentation that took us through the process Arup used to create this interesting composition of a Rock on top of Another Rock. The sculpture is a temporary installation. It will be up until March, 2014.
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Allford Hall Monaghan Morris is a
relatively small firm of about thirty people. It is located in north-east London. However, they are expanding into different areas of their current building. It was very interesting going through their spaces and see what they were changing and why. A lot of their finishes in the office were white. Our host, James Santer, an associate at the firm, said this was because it is simple, clear, and reflects light. With the amount of daylight they get into their office the reflective surface provides another reason not to turn on lights unnecessarily. It was interesting and refreshing to hear that everyone in the firm works through every stage of their respective project, that the same people follow the project through from conception to completion. Doing this, I believe, makes for a better project, because then that Cross ventilation occurring in AHMM’s new central group knows everything there is to about specific details. stairwell, currently being constructed. Santer was an energetic host who was clearly passionate about the work done at AHMM, but also about architecture in general. Once up on their roof top garden he started talking about The Barbican Estate. You can see the three towers behind out group picture in the bottom right corner of this page. Each tower has a name, there is the: Cromwell Tower completed in 1973, the Shakespear Tower completed in 1976, and the Lauderdat Tower completed in 1974. The Barbican Estate was built during the 1960’s and 70’s by architects: Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, after London was destroyed by World War II bombings. It is a residential estate that was built to bring people back into the city to live. The type of architecture the Barbican Estate represents would be brutalist with the extensive use of concrete. Today the buildings are on the National Historic List and are listed as Grade II. Since World War II the area has been transformed into a lively community that incorporates history and culture. 24
Cullinan Studio is a small firm with
their base in Islington, North London. They were established in 1965 under the name Edward Cullinan Architects, their name was changed in 2012. During the presentation given by Alex Abbey and Philip Graham the process Cullinan Studio follow and how that lead to the firms finished projects was discussed. For example they like to use a variety of materials, but one material that is used quite often is timber. Cullinan Studio likes to use timber because they feel it ‘fits into the environment well’ and I would agree. On a zoomed out element Cullinan Studio likes to look at the greater surrounding area of any project they do. This helps them design a building that, again, fits well into its context. They work with many different clients on a variety of projects, including: commercial, cultural, housing, health, primary and secondary educational campus’ as well as universities and also do masterplanning and urban regeneration projects. A project of theirs I was able to see during this semester class was the John Hope Gateway, in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was discussed earlier in this write up. I especially liked the use of natural, renewable materials, the glulam beams, and the energy systems incorporated into the design including the photovoltaics on the roof and the bio-mass boiler used to heat the building.
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DESIGN CHARETTE HOSTED BY: CULLINAN STUDIOS
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Team Blackfriars:
Precedents:
Team members: Meghan Craig Ciera Shaver Tim Christensen Brandon Taylor Brief: The appointed architectural practice may wish to consider: + historic, social, and physical context + innovative use of materials, both new and traditional + the Serpentine Gallery’s cultural mission to present international modern and contemporary art, architecture and educational public programmes to a diverse and international audience + the visitors experience of art, architecture, education, and public programmes within the natural setting of a large green space in central London + a design that does not obscure the Serpentine’s east facade + the windows in the East Gallery overlooking the Serpentine’s lawn may remain open. So visitors to the exhibition will be able to view the Pavilion from inside the gallery
nature
renewable resource
various materials
simple connections
Goal: To design an environmentally conscious pavilion that is influenced by London’s culture, through form and biodegradable tensile fabric end use.
framing views
material mixtures 27
Site: Located in Hyde Park, central London, the Serpentine Pavilion is the location of the annual design competition. Participants allowed to compete are international acclaimed architects who have been recognized for their world wide design have worldwide recognition. The current design, shown in the image on the right, is the finished 2013 pavilion installation by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. Site Analysis: Wind
Circulation
Sun
Process: These diagrams led to the formation of our design
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Approach
Northern Aerial
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CENTER OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY
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THE CENTER OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY, located in Machynlleth, Wales, is a graduate school and visitor center that explores practical sustainable solutions in the lifestyle they promote to their guests. CAT covers all aspects of green living, environmental building, ecosanitation, woodland management, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and organic growing. Renewable systems installed on campus include: photovoltaics, solar thermal, a micro grid, biomass combined heat and power, hydro, air source heat pumps, a community heart main, a range of small to medium wind turbines, two reed bed systems, independent off-mains water supply, and extensive organic gardens. During our stay we slept in what was called an “eco cabin�. There are two Eco Cabins on campus. Each cabin can house 18 individuals. There are 4 dorms with 2 bunk beds in each, and 2 individual bed dorms, 2 full bathrooms, 2 half baths, 1 composting toilet, a common area, and a kitchen. The image on the right shows the eco cabins from the bottom of the hill, looking past one of the gardens. The eco cabins have green roofs and are powered by photovoltaics additional energy can be created by utilizing the biomass, wood stove. We used this twice to heat the water as the sun power was not strong enough to create enough energy for all 18 of us. It was a great experience!
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DAYLIGHTING MODULE: Team Members: Meghan Craig Carly Overton Ben Ferry Kelsey Paul Assignment: Chose an existing or hypothetical room and study the daylighting scheme in the space. Record the existing conditions and conduct tests to improve the day lighting factor. Terminology: Candela - basic unit, international standard candle Luminous Intensity (I) - js the power of a light source, or illuminated surface, to emit light in a particular direction (unit - candela, cd) Luminous Flux (F) - is the rate of flow of light energy (unit - lumen, lm) Illuminance (E) - is the density of luminous flux reaching a surface (unit - lux, lx) Luminance (L) - is a measure of the ability of an area of light source, or reflecting surface, to produce the sensation of brightness (unit - candelas/m2) Daylight Factor - is the ratio of illuminance (Ei) at a point inside a room compared to the illuminance (Eo) of the unobstructed sky outside DF = E in / E out x 100 (Lecture notes from Alison Pooley 7.17.13)
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Goal: To learn about the different ways light affects spaces. Strategies: My team and I decided to focus on the “old shop� located just off of the main courtyard. The space is currently used as a show room for final thesis projects. It is an extremely dark space, so we wanted to bring daylight into the shop, resulting in more guests entering the space to look at the students work, and reducing the amount of energy used to power the artificial lights. Strategies tested through model building and data collection were: 1. reducing the amount of mullions in the front, only light emitting, side of the room, 2. replacing, existing but covered, skylights on the northern side of the room, 3. to add high horizontal strip glazing. 1. 2. 3.
Conclusion: Of the three strategies tested we found that two provided satisfactory results. Option three did not make enough of a difference to the lighting scheme. To solve this, the window could be made bigger, but this change was not initially made because pin-up boards need to be along the interior of the south wall. This week was an extremely fun learning experience
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DISCOVERY EXPERIENCES + Trafalgar Square + London Mercantile + Railway Station Evolution + The Royal Parks + The South Bank of the Thames + Transportation Infrastructure
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TRAFALGAR SQUARE is a perfect spot to people watch. People watching is one of my favourite things to do when I am relaxed and have the time to do it. My first visit to Trafalgar Square was perfect! I came through Charring Cross Station and arrived at the square around 11:00am, sat at a booth basking in the sun with my cup of tea and people watched. I think because Trafalgar Square is a tourist attraction it adds to the enjoyment of people watching. It is a space where there many talented street performers, artists, comedians and story tellers. Trafalgar Square itself is a great cultural site, but there are also others in close proximity to it. On one end of the Square there is the National Gallery, and just to the right of that is St. Martin-inthe-Fields Church. And, then just a short walk you have the National Portrait Gallery, and a little further would be St. James Park. What is great about the museums around Trafalgar Square is that they are free to enter. Living in Rome for two months in 2012 I often frequented Piazzas’. It’s hard not to. Tragalgar Square brought back fond memories. 35
LONDON MERCANTILE on Oxford Street is very overwhelming. I am convinced there is everything most people could ever want and more in duplicates. Characteristics of Oxford Street: - Wide sidewalks - Extensive transportation options: tube, bus, bike, rickshaw - Wide variety of people: tourist, resident, rich, poor - Side streets/alleys leading to plazas: St. Christopher’s Square - Large retail stores to small fresh fruit stands I thoroughly enjoyed walking around Oxford Street with my bag of fresh cherries, bought for £3.00, taking pictures and observing the hustle and bustle on one of London’s major roads. We walked all the way down until we hit Hyde Park, at which point we kept going!
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RAILWAY STATION EVOLUTION was
an interesting topic to discover. I found them to be stressful locations. They are always extremely busy places filled with confusion. Anytime I went into a station the first thing I would do was make sure all my bags were with me and secure, had my ticket, and head straight for the announcement board. I would scope out the general locations of the platform numbers so that when my trains platform was announced I would make it on in time. Most of the stations I visited were very well day lit. Euston Station was the only one that had poor natural daylighting in the main space. The main space and the platforms were also very separated from each other.
London Paddington Station
St. Pancras Station
Euston Station
Waterloo Station
Victoria Station
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THE ROYAL PARKS are all very unique in
Hyde Park:
Out of the four royal parks I visited, Hyde, Regents, Green, and St. James, I enjoyed St. James Park the most. I liked it because it felt like just the right size. The body of water through the center is carried trough most of the park, allowing it to be enjoyed by all. There is a lot of shade, a restaurant, clean public toilets, and many interesting people walking through speaking different languages. During one visit I heard at least five different languages. It seems to be a park that people predominantly choose to walk through on their way to somewhere else.
large open spaces
their own way, from size and activities held to landscaping form. Generally speaking they all have a form of food and entertainment, so I have divided them up labeling specific items I felt were unique and enjoyed about each of them.
Park Name
Opening Times
Hyde Park
05:00 - 00:00
Richmond Park
07:00 - 21:00
The Regents Park
05:00 - 21:30
Kensington Gardens
06:00 - 20:30
Greenwich Park
06:00 - 21:30
St. James Park
05:00 - 00:00
Bushy Park
Open 24 hours
Green Park
Open 24 hours
Brompton Cemetery
08:00 - 20:00
sculptures
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activities
seclusion
Regents Park:
Green Park:
St. James Park:
shade bench seating available people relaxing
activities
large walkways restaurants
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formal gardens
restaurants
activities
access
signage
THE SOUTHBANK OF THE THAMES is a fun and interactive area of London. There are lots of things to do for people of all ages. Activities on The Southbank: - The London Eye - Tour boat rides - Entertainers: musicians, fire stick throwers, artists, bubble throwers, electrical men - Merry-go-rounds - Restaurants - Street food vendors: fruit and vegetable stands - Theatres: The National Theatre and Shakespear’s Globe Theatre - Museums: The Tate Modern - Pedestrian Bridges: Hungerford and Millennium I enjoyed all the activities I participated in walking along The Southbank including The London Eye, going to Shakespear’s Globe Theatre to watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream, eating at Gourmet Pizza Company, watching all the street performers. But the activity I enjoyed the most was a 50 minute speed boat ride along the Thames given by Rib Tours. We started the tour at Festival Pier traveled east along the river towards Canary Wharf. After passing under Tower Bridge the speed limit is higher allowing the captain to go over 40MPH. On the way back we went down to the Houses of Parliament by Chelsea Bridge. The speed boat ride was on my last day in London. It was perfect! 40
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TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE is a
well developed complex system in London. It consists of taxis, buses, the tube, the railway, bicycles, bicycle rickshaws, bike paths, and pedestrian paths for runners and walkers. In order to use some of these modes of transportation we needed certain forms of travel cards. To be eligible for student discount on the trains I purchased a 16-25 Railcard. This card is for students or individuals between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five. To use the tube or buses you could purchase an Oyster cash card, by daily tickets, or single fares. I purchased an Oyster Card as it is simple and convenient.
Bus:
The bus system is a good reliable system in London. You just have to know which stop to be at, time, and bus number. Each fare is only £1.50 no matter where you are going. You swipe your Oyster once when you get on. Bicycle: Bike fares vary on the length you keep the bike. For twenty-four hours it will cost £2.00 and for seven days it will cost £10.00. Within that time frame you can dock your bike and pick it up later. Tube (Underground): The tube is a time effective way to get around the city. Each stop along the line takes about two minutes to get there. Some lines have fewer stops and are therefore faster, you just have to know which one. I found the tube to be quite expensive, but also worth it. Train: The railway system in London is also very well established. They have national and international train options. Depending on where you are going to will determine the train station you leave from. Of course, as an alternative, you could always choose to walk. In the future, if I live in a big city I do not think I would like to own a car. I understand how they can be handy when moving big items or when you do a big grocery shop. But I feel as though the maintenance keep and storage would not pay off. Especially in a city like London where you have so many alternative transportation options.
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bus stop
tube station
bicycle rental
railway
Visit tfl.gov.uk for transportation inquiries 43
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CONCLUSION: Traveling around the United Kingdom for the past month I have made a lot of unforgettable memories. My journey started once I arrived in London where I got a quick glimpse of the city for two days before heading to Northern Ireland to visit family. After seeing my grandfather, I made my way to Scotland, where the program officially started. After visiting Edinburgh and Glasgow the entire group made our way back to London. London was our base, so we were there for the rest of our journey, except for a short week spent in Machynlleth, Wales at the Center of Alternative Technology. This journal is a compilation of my favourite buildings, firms and activities I visited, that incorporate sustainable methods into thought and design. I hope you have enjoyed reading about my experience at The Scottish Parliament, The John Hope Gateway Botanic Garden, the Sainsbury’s grocery store, Chiswick Park, The Crystal Building, The Eco Hub, The University of Nottingham - Jubilee Campus, and Kew Botanic Gardens, as well as the architectural offices and sustainable centers we visited: Renewable Energy Resources Inc., Arup Engineering, AHMM Architects, Cullinan Studios, and the Center of Alternative Technology. From my experiences this month, I believe the United Kingdom is moving in a positive direction creating healthier communities within their country as a whole. I look forward to returning in the near future.
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