Design for Disassembly: The New OEP Building on Parkville by MJYS

Design for Disassembly: The New OEP Building on The University of Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Parkville Campus Environmental Building Studio (EBS) Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning The University of Melbourne First Semester 2020 by Maria Yanez

Contents Task 4: Concept Design

Research: Design for Disassembly

Storyboard: Preliminary Sketches

Task 5: Developed Design Sketches

Task 6: Final Presentation

Appendix: ESD Principle and Precedent

Task 4: Concept Design

Our current linear scenario

Our current linear scenario: Construction Operation - Demolition Construction - Operation - Demolition Despite the fact that our planet Earth has a limited and ﬁnite number of resources, the volume of construction waste generated worldwide every year — according to a report from Transparency Market Research — will nearly double to 2.2. billion tons by the year 2025. The Australian construction industry alone generates 20 million tons of construction waste every year. (Retrieved from: https://theconversation.com/we-create-20m-tons-of-construction-indust tion-industry-waste). Construction waste management has become an urgent issue that we must tackle as architects from the beginning of the design process. Nowadays, “no building can truly be sustainable without also being durable and adaptable.” (Dixon, C. Straight Green: Green Building Rating Systems and Building Durability. June 24, 2008).

we need to reduce this...

Construction

The worst enemy of a building nowadays is its obsolescence, because it leads to demolition, even when buildings still have plenty of remaining service life ahead. This is because in our ever-changing world, one that’s ruled by unpredictable and fragile scenarios — high urbanizations, political instability, new social uprises and demands, climate change, technological transformations and economical crisis, to mention a few — buildings become ob solete before even reaching their material end-of-life. With decades ahead of them, buildings are constantly being demolished and replaced by others, due to changes in use/program, new site policies, social demands or new technological improvements. The construction industry is governed by a linear economy of construct - operate - demolish

and create a circular economy of materials reuse...

Operation

in order to avoid this. Demolition

Designing for Disassembly and Adaptation Praising longevity and resilience Praising forfor Longevity and Resilience: Designing for adaptation and disassembly

We are currently designing permanent, solid buildings as if they will never be taken down. Shifting this construction industry paradigm to one that understands the life of buildings as a feedback loop is one step forward towards understanding that architecture can no longer afford being neutral or ‘less harmful’. Projects have to be capable of being material-resilient and also socially-adaptable to changing scenarios. To be sustainable is to stop designing buildings for landﬁll.

Designing for Disassembly — or DfD — is an environmentally responsible alternative to demolition. It relies on the idea that buildings have to be ﬂexible in their lifecycle but also resilient to a future where the building will no longer be needed.

“The result are more flexible buildings that are easy to repair, refurbish, or reconfigure; buildings that function as material banks; and products and materials that retain value and return to productive use at the end of life.” (Retrieved from C2C website at: https://www.c2ccertified.org/news/article/what-is-design-for-disassembly). “Rather than attempting to predict the future and design permanent structures (...) we are probably better off in acknowledging our inability to make predictions and instead design for easy adaptation and material recovery” (J. O’Connor, Survey on actual service lives for North American buildings, presented at the Woodframe Housing Durability and Disaster Issues, Las Vegas, NV, USA, 2004). In simple words, the idea behind DfD is to conceive the building not as an immovable property, but as a movable and valuable asset for future projects to come. And for this to happen, we must start designing for adaptation and disassembly from the start.

Enablers of DfD Enablers of DfD:

From: Ross, B. Chen, D. Conejos, S. Khademi, A. Enabling Adaptable Buildings (2016) Layering of the Design: The physical and functional separation of elements in the project allows for better maintenance, adaptation, and replacement of components. The idea is to minimize the effect that one layer may have on another layer, by positioning them as separate elements. There are 6 layers (6S) to consider when designing: Stuff, Space Plan, Services, Structure, Skin and Site. (S. Brand, 1995). Accurate Documentation: Documentation must be accurate regarding “as-built” and in-situ conditions. This accuracy can assist future architects in making appropriate decisions in adaptation projects, or when disassembling. It minimizes risk and uncertainty. Simplicity: Simplici within a structural system allows for an easy Simplicity understanding of the building: creates clear load paths, reduces undertainty when adapting or disassembling. Prefer using grids and repeated elements. Prefer larger members because this means fewer conections thus increasing salvageability. Prefer open plan layouts to allow for easier adaptation, reconﬁguration, replacement of interior spaces with reduced or no impact on the st structure and service layers. Commonality and Modularity Prefer a standarization of component sizes and details throughout the building. This will help create adaptation schemes, averts customized construction, plus facilitates universality for future assembly.

inmovable property

movable valuable asset

Appropiate Materials: Are materials high quality? Robust? Easily reusable or recyclable? The durability of materials is critical in components that are intended to outlive a building’s functional life to be used in future projects. Avoid composites such as concrete. They are mostly non-recyclable and unable to disassemble. Mechanical Connections: Util Utilize simple mechanical connections to facilitate removal or addition of components during or at the end of the building lifecycle. Prefer removable connections, standarized and modular. Avoid composite glues and welds. Connections should not deteriorate in time.

Site Vegetation Site Analysis: Vegetation

Creeper plant Deciduous

Crepe Myrtle h = less than 5 mt / Deciduous

Irish Strawberry Tree h = 5 - 10 mt / Evergreen

Crepe Myrtle h = less than 5 mt / Deciduous

London Plane h = 15 - 20 mt / Deciduous

Community Garden Assorted plants and vegetables

Canary Island Date Palm h = 10 - 15 mt / Evergreen

Golden Ash h = 10 -15 mt / Deciduous

Spotted Gum Tree h = 20 - 30 mt / Evergreen

Queensland Box Tree h = 10 - 15 mt / Evergreen

Creeper plant Deciduous

Succulent border h = 0.1 -1 mt / Evergreen

Response to Brief (first version) Response to Brief:

First Floor: Collaborative Study

1 large area for Open Workshops 1 area for Collaborative Labs 3 Recording Rooms Common Space Storage Space Sto Student Toilets Kitchen students

Ground Floor: The face of OEP

Showcase Space (open to public) Event Space + Outdoor Connection Zero Carbon Cafe Lecture Theatre Small Bookshop <NEW! Books Community Garden Compost Area Bike Storage and Repair Kitchen Catering Storage Space Toilets

Second Floor: Seminars and Individual Study

6 Tutorial Rooms (20-25 pax) 2 Seminar Rooms (60 pax) Study Space (large) 6 Breakout Rooms (6 pax) Common Space Student Toilets

Third Floor: Administrative

Reception Director’s office 2 Meeting Rooms 3 Academic Offices (2 pax) 2 Admin Offices (2 pax) Staff Toilets Staff Kitchen Storage Space Common Space OEP Library <NEW!

Over existing building:

Site Response: Strategies Site Response: Strategies

Trees Area A London planes canopy

Rotation: to orient building in the exact north axis, thus maximizing solar energy capturing and sun entry in winter. It also allows the building to get closer to the two main green features of the site.

Green Roof: on existing building

/communit terior: leisure

y/gardening

c events/publi / g n si a c w o rmediate: sh

Inte

Setbacks: Instead of the existing narrow lanes and small sidewalks, the idea is to setback the building to allow higher livability and occupancy of the perimeter.

dy/worksho

inars/stu Interior: sem

Green pavillion Connections: Recognizing the existing building as part of the project by incorporating a green roof. Incorporating a temporary Dfd building (on empty south site) that showcases studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s works and initiatives.

Trees Area B Spotted Gum Tree

Concept Design Drawings Concept Design Drawings:

existing spotted gum tree

solar panels in roof deciduous creeper plant

upper ventilation

existing london plane trees

modular timber structure

green roof on top of existing bdg.

showcasing/events/public

upper ventilation

seminars/study/workshops summer sun

upper ventilation

winter sun

B C

Ventilation Strategy: through main void

Mass Study: Modular assembly shapes A,B,C

Passive Energy Strategy: winter/summer north facade

Research: Design for Disassembly

Notes on Design for Disassembly

Inspirations for DfD Key words: modular, grid, assembly, disassembly, square, rectangle, components, timber construction, pre-fabricated, furniture, movable, resilient, adaptable, flexible.

Some of these inspirations were retrieved from Villalon, T. on <http://tomasvillalon.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2017-11-15T09:21:00-08:00&max-results=500&start=5&by-date=false>

Design for Disassembly Precedents DfD Precedent Inspiration:

BIP Computers building by architect Alberto Mozó Santiago, Chile. This three-story ofﬁce building was designed to be disassembled. The structure is made from cross laminated timber — standard market size 90mm x 3420mm — and screwed connections. It can be easily dismantled and rebuilt elsewhere if necessary — or its materials resold and reused — thus avoiding demolition. In the word of Alberto Mozó: “The design (...) tries to enhance this new resilient condition and puts value in a new sustainable architecture (...) something which I personally call transitivity.” Östermalm Östermalm’s Temporary Market Hall by Tengbom Architects Stockholm, Sweden. A market hall that was built as a temporary space while the old market hall was being renovated. It is an example of a successfully executed DfD, because it was actually designed so that it became easy to take down and reuse somewhere else. The project responds to a modular grid mounting system that enables easy dismantling with the possibility for future reuse of its components. Every structural connection was concieved as a standarized solution, and few timber elements were used. Beams are laminated veneer lumber while columns are cross laminated timber. Chile Pavilion at ExpoMilan 2015 by Undurraga Devés Ital Milan, Italy. In the words of the architects: “We designed the Pavilion (...) with the knowledge that the world fair will only last for six months and then the building should be dismantled to restore the site to its original condition. With that in our minds, in order to do a more sustainable project, we decided that the pavilion had to be rebuilt in a new place to extend its lifecycle. Therefore we designed a wooden structure that could be easily assembled, disassembled transported and reassembled in a new location disassembled, back in Chile.” The building has been currenty re-built and is now a cultural center in the south of Chile. It can potentially be relocated or its materials reused for a new project.

Precedents for Interior Flexibility

Substrate Factory Ayase by Aki Hamada in Kanagawa, Japan.

Standford Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s d.School in California, USA.

An small office building located in Kanagawa, Japan, that puts high emphasis open plan spaces that release the floor plan from vertical obstacles. The project is an innovative approach to how users utilize office spaces, and the need for these spaces to respond to changing activities and different scenarios throughout the day. This is done through a series of light-weight movable panels that are user-manipulated. The truss system above allows for columns to be located in the perimeter of the building, so the project is also very resilient to future changes in its interior distribution.

The Design School of Standford University in California incorporated a new learning approach through collaborative labs that contain a series of movable and rotatable whiteboards and panels, to promote free flow of ideas. Essentially it is one large room, framed by a truss system, that allows teams of students and teachers to create enclosed studios, open crits or any other space appropriate to the activity undertaken, shifting from intimate to open.

Storyboard: Preliminary Sketches

Preliminary sketches of adaptable work spaces and collaborative labs.

North facade greenery from inside

Transitional spaces

Access through stairs at Ground Floor level

Main access atrium

View of north facade

Sketch iterations

Task 5: Developed Design Sketches

Approaching the building from the north

Main Atrium on First Floor

Adaptable workshop spaces

Task 6: Final Presentation

The New OEP Building: A DfD ‘Seed project’ Design for Disassembly is a viable and environmentally conscious approach that us, architects, must start incorporating into new projects to come. The aim of this design is to become a ‘seed project’ showcasing DfD principles as well as ESD initiatives, in order to promote today’s importance of designing resilient and flexible buildings that can adapt to changing scenarios and eventually be disassembled and serve as material banks for future designs. Let us stop designing buildings for landfill.

Five key moves to allow DfD:

The Client

Site Strategies

1. Rotation

2. Setbacks

3. Connections

To orient the building in the exact north axis, to maximize solar energy capturing and heat gain in winter. It also allows the building to get closer to the two main green features on site (London Planes at north east, Spotted Gum tree at south west)

Instead of the existing narrow lanes and small sidewalks, the idea is to setback the building to allow higher livability and occupancy of the perimeter.

Recognizing the potential of existing building 161 (north) and incorporating it as part of the project. Plus, incorporating a temporary DfD activism pavillion (on empty south site).

Location Plan

Layering: Pavement

Layering: Core and services

Layering: Enclosed spaces at Ground level

Layering: First layer of structure

Layering: First Floor

Layering: Second layer of structure + canopy

Layering: Second floor + connections

Layering: Third layer of structure

Activism Pavilion: To create a sense of belonging, it will be designed as a collaboration between OEP and architecture students, following a sustainable and innovative approach.

Existing Building 161: Incorporating it as part of the project, by transforming its roof in the new OEP Community garden.

Layering: Third floor

Layering: Fourth layer of structure

Layering: Fourth floor

Layering: Roof structure

Layering: CLT Columns

Layering: Envelope

Layering: Roofing

Section AA

Stack ventilation through Atriums

Active Cooling: Water Cooled Chiller and Cooling Towers

Active Heating: Boiler, Fan Coil Units and Heat Recovery System

Section BB

Modularity of Components and Connections

Details of DfD Modular Connections

ESD initiatives: Rain water harvesting from roof

ESD initiatives: Increasing biodiversity through permaculture

ESD initiatives: Active energy capturing

ESD initiatives: Facade strategies South Facade: An aleatory system of pre-fab hempcrete panels to maximize insulation on south faรงade thus avoiding heat loss.

East and West Facades Vertical fins at an angle, to mediate morning and afternoon sun entry. They open up slightly to the south to allow light entry but avoiding direct sunlight.

North Facade: First Layer: Fully glazed (double-glazed windows for maximum thermal performance). Second Layer: Horizontal timber fins block sun entry in summer and allow solar gain in winter. 66

ESD initiatives: Shading in summer

ESD initiatives: Passive heating in winter

ESD initiatives: Passive cooling in summer through Night Purge

Materials Palette

Approaching the new OEP Building from the north.

Main access at Ground Floor level.

Main Atrium on the First Floor.

Collaborative workshops as flexible spaces.

Seminar rooms on Second and Third levels adaptable to smaller tutorial rooms.

Community Garden on the rooftop of existing building 161.

Collaborative Labs overlooking at the Main Atrium below.

Appendix: ESD Principle and Precedent

Social Sustainability “The architecture was award winning — but the lifestyle? There’s more going on at local cemeteries.” 1 When architects tackle the issue of sustainability, priority is usally given to environmental approaches, mainly regarding low carbon emissions and the use of renewable resources. The social dimension of sustainability is the least tangible and measurable aspect of ESD, and in consequence, it is hard to implement in an architectural project.2 However, there is a current trend in our field that promotes positive social outcomes through architecture, specially when it comes to public spaces.3

So, what does it take for an architectural project to be socially sustainable? And what are the benefits of promoting social sustainability? As Young Foundation Report “Design for Social Sustainability” states,4 social connection between human beings is crucial to wellbeing. According to Angelique Edmonds, human beings are essentially social creatures who rely on communication, interactions and shared experiences. Design-led public engagement is fundamental to cultivating a sense of belonging and sense of community.5 This is particularly important for architecture since there is a strong connection between the quality of the built environment and the livability that it creates to its users and residents. According to the mentioned report, wellbeing is much higher in areas where residents take part in the decisions that affect their community and their immediate surroundings. Plus, quality of life also increases when people know and constantly relate with their neighbours. Thus, our responsibility as architects is to contribute to the delivery of spaces that perform well; that is, that allow the necessary conditions within which our social lives can be sustained and enhanced.6

Professional planner David Batchelor states that social sustainability encompasses the idea of “creating environments that support societies through changing social needs”.7

Social Sustainability Mastering social sustainability in a project is an extremely complex task. Societies and users are constantly changing and evolving, shifting between different needs, behaviours and activities. According to AIA architect Amy Muir:

Social sustainability can be achieved by designing projects that praise for longevity; that is, that are capable of being resilient against an everchanging social environment and adaptable not only to current but also to future users.8

This can be best exemplified with 2004 project Quinta Monroy by ELEMENTAL architects; an incremental housing development that, through consultation, responded to the need for immediate housing, thus providing a half-a-house of essential services — a core consisting of kitchen, bathroom and shelter — that could then be easily extended by their occupants in the future. 9 Projects that are socially sustainable usually start by incorporating a proper consultation process with the community, consisting of interviews and workshops, in order to fully understand how the space is going to be used and lived by people.10

As Muir states, architects should not only aspire to the highest standards of environmental sustainability, but also engage in design processes that consider the role of the people that will be utilizing the space, since they are the ones who truly bring built spaces to life. In the words of Edmonds: “design-led processes underpin good design outcomes; good design outcomes create quality public realm; quality public realm provides the conditions that support social sustainability and wellbeing.”11 According to Social Life social enterprise, for a project to be socially sustainable it requires further and, most importantly, combined efforts from many other agents: “Social sustainability cannot be prescribed in the same way as standards for environmental sustainability. It requires planners, local agencies and developers to consider and respond to local needs and circumstances.” 12

The difficulty relies in achieveing a project that is both friendly and sustainable with the environment, while also responding to the complex and specific social reality of the program and its users.

Social Sustainability However, when social sustainability is achieved, the result is almost always a positive and virtuous cycle, where the project generates a sense of belonging to the place, thus the people that use the space also help with the maitainance and caring. In the words of Paul Haar: “There is a strong sense of community, a sense of belonging to a place, a sense of ownership, a value for hard work an commitment, it keeps families together(...)13

Many have attempted to provide a succesful recipe for social sustainability. When asking the question: “What makes a great place?”, the nonprofit organization Project for Public Spaces (PPS) understands that there are four key elements that enhance successful public spaces: “(...)

Spaces that are accessible; people are engaged in activities there; the space is comfortable and has a good image; and finally, it is a sociable place: one where people meet each other (...)”.14 Similarly, the Young Foundation has stated that four key elements for social sustaibanility are: “(...) amenities and social infrastructure; social and cultural life; voice and influence; and space to grow.”

The case of Medellin is very illustrative. The city has had a history of poverty and social exclusion. However, in the last two decades, through consultation and thoroughly understanding the problem, authorities, urbanists and architects united to transform the city into a safer and more inclusive place to live. By improving key elements lacking in the city — connectivity and education — Medellin became an example of how socially sustainable projects can improve a community’s wellbeing. And here, architecture has a fundamental role in both being environmentally innovative and also understanding its role as a social agent.16 References

Spiegel Online, describing City Nord, Hamburg (2010) Moberg, M. Widén, I. (2016). Integrating Social Sustainability within the design of a building: A case study of five projects at an architectural firm. Sweden: Chalmers University of Technology. 3/8/10 Muir, A. (2018). Social Sustainability is at the Heart of Good Public Architecture. Retrieved from https://www.thefifthestate.com.au/columns/spinifex/ social-sustainability-is-at-the-heart-of-good-public-architecture/ 4/15 Caistor-Arendar, L. Bacon, N. Woodcraft, S. Hackett, T. (2011). Design for Social Sustainability: A framework for creating thriving new communities. United Kingdom: Social Life. 5/6/11 Edmonds, A. (2013). Rethinking the idea of Sustainability: the “how” of Human Experience. Retrieved from https://architectureau.com/articles/rethinking-the-idea-of-sustainability/ 7 Batchelor, D. (2017). Creating Social Sustainability. Retrieved from https://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/creating-social-sustainability/ 9 Aravena, A. Arteaga, G. Cerda, J. Oddó, V. Torres, D. (2018) ELEMENTAL. Santiago: Phaidon. 12 Social Life, Who we are. Rtrieved from: http://www.social-life.co/page/who-we-are/ 13 Interview with architect Paul Haar, regarding the importance of community consultation in aboriginal housing projects. Interview undertaken on March 2019. 14 What makes a Succesful Place? Retrieved from: https://www.pps.org/article/grplacefeat 16 Medellin’s Transformation: Towards a More Equitable, Innovative and Participatory Urban Society 1 2

Images: A Community Consultation. Retrieved from https://www.theglasshouse.org.uk/?event=i-want-that-one-does-community-consultation-produce-good-design B/C Bargoonga Nganjin Library. Retrieved from https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/attractions/bargoonga-nganjin-north-fitzroy-library D Quinta Monroy. Retrieved from https://www.archdaily.com/10775/quinta-monroy-elemental?ad_medium=widget&ad_name=recommendation E/F The Venny. Retrieved from https://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/article/1509019/sustainable-communities-sustainable-buildings G Paul Haar’s personal Archive, provided after interview, March 2019. H/I City of Medellin. Retrieved from https://blog.iese.edu/cities-challenges-and-management/2018/10/26/medellin-a-story-of-transformation/ G What makes a Succesful Place? Retrieved from: https://www.pps.org/article/grplacefeat

Precedent: Children’s Bicentennial Park The Children’s Bicentennial Park was designed by chilean architecture firm ELEMENTAL. Located in the capital city of Santiago de Chile, and opened to public in 2012, this project is an example of a public space that promotes social sustainability among the key aspects of its design.

The Children’s Bicentennial Park is essentially a socially sustainable project: it produces a positive social outcome by enhancing social interactions, responding to real community demands for qualitative public space and, thus, improving the wellbeing of many chilean families that now rely on this design in order to achieve a better quality of life. In the words of architect Alejandro Aravena, the design of the project originated through understanding Santiago’s huge lack of qualitative public space. Early stages of the project involved community consultation and workshops. The result became highly valued by the neighbours and the local community. A proof of this is that the park is being constantly enjoyed by families all year round. Plus, the park requires little maintainance since most of the species planted on site are native and xerophyte. The steep terrain of the site began as a complication but ended up being the solution to the design: “When you build a slide, under normal conditions, you need to incorporate a ladder, and the act of climbing the slide can be very dangerous for a kid. Whereas on a hillside, that act of sliding always occur at 30cm off the ground. Actually, we had such a large hillside that we ended up calling it the “Cascade of slides” (Alejandro Aravena, 2012). Apart from the set of 70 slides covering the majority of the hillside, the park also incorporates “Tree Houses” which act as horizontal docks overlooking at the surrounding tree foliage. “The park also has a 300m fence” Aravena explains, “which we also transformed into a game”. By adding a width to the fence, children can experience a fun ondulating system of ramps and slides. Other features of the park include a water park, a resting and picnic area, a circular swings sector and an small open air amphitheatre to hold public performances for kids.

Images retrieved from: https://www.archdaily.com/461315/children-s-bicentebnnial-park-elemental?ad_medium=gallery Videos retrieved from https://www.architectureplayer.com/clips/parque-dela-infancia and https://vimeo.com/53815088

The end. Thank you for reading.