INSTALACIONES PARA TODOS CAMPUS COMUNITARIO Y COLEGIO
LINSEY GRAFF + BRIAN MORAN + FERNANDO SANTANA + JOSHUA TURNER + ORIANE DALEY + DANIEL DIMILLO
SUSTAINABLE FUTURES 2009
TYPE OF WORK: Site Layout + Landscape Design + Five New Construction Buildings: Red Cross APAPNEM UNED Teacher Apartments Student Dormatories CLIENTS: Santa Elena Colegio APAPNEM UNED Red Cross Santa Elena / Monteverde Community
DESIGN TEAM:
ADVISING FACULTY:
Linsey Graff SUNY @ Buffalo Masters of Architecture
Pamela Harwood College of Architecture and Planning Ball State University
Brian Moran SUNY @ Buffalo Masters of Architecture
Kevin Gaughan Landscape Architect University of Maryland
Fernando Santana SUNY @ Buffalo Masters of Architecture Joshua Turner SUNY @ Buffalo Masters of Architecture Oriane Daley SUNY @ Buffalo Bachelor of Architecture Daniel DiMillo SUNY @ Buffalo Bachelor of Architecture
HOSTED BY THE MONTEVERDE INSTITUTE: Course Coordinator: Annibal Torres Monteverde Institute
SPECIAL THANKS TO: Virginia Santamaria Patricia Jimenez
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
PHYSICAL + SOCIAL CONTEXT.............................page 1 EXISTING CONDITIONS + SITE CONSIDERATIONS..................page 5 EXISTING SITE PLAN..............................................page 7 SITE ANALYSIS.........................................................page 8 BUILDING PROGRAMS...........................................page 10 SITE CRITERIA CONTRACT....................................page 11 INITIAL SITE PROPOSALS......................................page 14 FINAL SITE PROPOSAL...........................................page 17 BUILDING PROPOSALS: RED CROSS....................................................page 19 APAPNEM......................................................page 21 UNED..............................................................page 27 TEACHER APARTMENTS.............................page 31 STUDENT DORMATORIES...........................page 35
PHYSICAL + SOCIAL CONTEXT The site is located within Santa Elena, Puntarenas, Costa Rica and is part of the Monteverde region. Monteverde has a large amount of its land dedicated to rainforest protection and is a main attraction for “ecotourism.” As the Monteverde region rapidly grows as a tourist destination, Santa Elena is becoming the urban center to this generally rural area. Santa Elena’s commercial center is a triangle block filled with restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, grocery stores, the pharmacy and the catholic church. The surrounding area of the triangle includes other community buildings, such as the indoor soccer field, which also is home to the weekly farmer’s market, the post office, the bank, Santa Elena’s high school (colegio,) the clinic (clinica,) the new shopping mall, and many residential neighborhoods. Many organizations and businesses desire to be located in Santa Elena because of the profitability of the busy location.
Page 1
The land that is being studied for this project is located adjacent to two main community entities: the clinica and the colegio. Much of the land in the Monteverde region is steeply sloped, or part of the protected rainforest and is therefore “un-buildable.” However, this land is cleared from its trees and generally flat, and therefore seen as valuable building ground by many community organizations, such as APAPNEM, UNED, and the Red Cross. Flat, un-forested land that is located within the public center of the region; why has no one made a move to begin developing this land? The land is owned by the Santa Elena Colegio and any land grants must be approved by the department of education which is a difficult and lengthy process. The colegio board of directors has also been hesitant on giving away the land because they too have a desire to build teacher’s apartments and student dormitories on the land.
Recently, there has been a decision to give APAPNEM and UNED a portion of the land by the colegio board and is being ultimately decided upon by the board of education. The colegio is also pushing to get approval for dormitories and apartments quickly, and the Red Cross has also expressed interest in using the land. There are five separate community services that need to be placed within this open area in a way that all are distinguished from one another but create a unified site that also relates to its adjacent services, the clinica and the colegio. It must become a community “campus” that will serve the needs of the public and also give back public green space for public use, since there is currently no open park area in the Monteverde region. This site is an important step in creating an organized community center that positively affects the entire region physically and socially.
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EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS
site photo panorama
SITE CONSIDERATIONS WIND
SLOPE
VIEW
There are strong winds whipping in from the northeast. The winds are so strong that the existing tree screens that are meant to block the wind are severely damaged. If this land were to be built on, the wind breaks would have to be enhanced by planting trees in a more dense, triangulated formation. The wind isn’t only a negative features of the site, it can be used to create natural ventilation throughout the new construction buildings.
The site is generally flat, but there is a large bowl-shaped section that is steeply sloped. This portion of the site is basically “un-buildable, ” as far as structures are concerned because of the steep slope, but it can be used to plant rain gardens for on-site storm water management and other agricultural features.
The site offers a view of the forested mountains afar. Preserving this view will constantly remind inhabitants of their surroundings in this ecologically beautiful, but fragile area. The building orientations should harness the viewpoints into the mountains, especially in the residential buildings that are to be built on this site.
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DEFORESTATION
CIRCULATION
COMMUNITY
Since the land was cleared of its original trees, it is seen as a buildable land by the community. However, the community could use this site as an example of respecting the land’s original use and reforest a portion of the land. Using native, and site specific plants in the form of biological corridors will help to bring flora and fauna back to the site and the Santa Elena community.
There is currently a pedestrian sidewalk that runs along the clinic facilities. If the site were to be developed, the sidewalk would have to be extended along its length to ensure that it would be safe for pedestrian traffic. The Monteverde region has not yet appreciated the importance of pedestrian sidewalks, so this site could possibly open the eyes of the community to this major safety issue. Pedestrian sidewalks would need to be separated away from vehicular roadways and easily distinguished between public use and private use.
The colegio should use a portion of the land as green space dedicated for community use, such as a park, garden, or activity areas. This green space should benefit not only the adjacent neighborhoods, but the entire Monteverde region by providing a large gathering spaces for various community events.
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EXISITING SITE PLAN
sidewalk
Page 7
windbreaks
line of deforestation
viewpoint
steep slope
access
SITE ANALYSIS
The site has a large berm that separates the site from the road on a large portion of the perimeter. There are only two spots where road level is even with the level of the site. This makes access into the site difficult in certain spots, and therefore needs to be considered when placing buildings that require vehicular access and circulation. There are many existing paths that lead from the colegio, through the forested area to the site. There is also an existing path that runs along the back edge of the site. These paths could be preserved to physically connect the features of the site with the colegio and the clinic. Paths through forested areas forces users to indulge in the environment, and hopefully gain appreciation. The current road that leads along the site is in the process of being paved for easy access to the site.
site analysis drawing: Amber Weary
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BUILDING PROGRAMS The five buildings that are to be placed on the site fall into two use types: medical and educational. Since the clinica is the main medical center of the community and the colegio is the main educational center of the community, the new buildings will have to relate to their existing use-type counterpart, the clinica and the colegio.
EDUCATIONAL:
STUDENT DORMITORIES
UNED
There are many exchange students that come to the Monteverde region to study at the colegio and currently they stay with host families. The colegio has decided to provide dorms for the groups of students traveling to the area.
UNED, stands for Universidad Estatal A Distancia. It is a higher education, distance learning facility. It is a degree-granting university for adult students, typical ages 17 to 45, that travel to the school for class materials, tutoring sessions, lab instruction and exams.
MEDICAL: TEACHER’S APARTMENTS RED CROSS The Red Cross (Cruz Roja) is the local organization that tends to emergencies. APAPNEM APAPNEM stands for Asociacion Pro Ayuda a las Personas con Necesidades Especiales de Monteverde, Association for persons of Monetverde with special needs. The facility treats community members with physical and mental needs, as well as the elderly.
Apartments are needed for some of the teachers at the Santa Elena Colegio that travel from San Jose to teach for short generally high in the Monteverde region, it is tough to get teachers to come to the colegio because they cannot afford to live in the area, but if the colegio provided housing, more teachers would be willing to come go to the area and give the students the education they deserve.
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SITE CRITERIA CONTRACT *BASED ON LEED-NC VERSION 2.1
WEC2: INNOVATIVE WASTEWATER TECHNOLOGIES
SSP1: EROSION + SEDIMENT CONTROL
O O O
O
O O
deal with erosion along road with stops, plantings, and bio swales being especially sensitive to access cuts thru bermed plant ing edge 0% cut and fill on site 30% of site being reforested and planted will significantly reduce erosion and return land to its use before being cultivated
SSC6.2: STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, TREATMENT O O O
reuse rainwater, on site for all toilets with a backup cistern for dry season rainwater catchment system: from roof, to bioswale, to water retention pond or rain gardens use gravity, not pumps to move water
grey water reed bed to treat grey water septic systems for black water use gravity, not pumps to move water
EQC2: VENTILATION EFFECTIVENESS O O O
EAP2: MINIMUM ENERGY PERFORMANCE??
O
O O
O
provide joint use of spaces when possible share buildings to reduce footprints and construction costs
O
MRP1: STORAGE + COLLECTION OF RECYCLABLES
O
O
EQC8.2: DAYLIGHT + VIEWS, VIEWS FOR 90% OF SPACES
O O
provide recycling containers for each build ing program provide composting areas for each of the building programs, possibly sharing be tween buildings provide easily accessible and maintained recycling containers in public park
O O O
WEC1.1: WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING, 50% REDUCTION
MRC5.2: REGIONAL MATERIALS O
O
use rainwater gardens to reduce water runoff through the site + enhance views to for est edge and engage existing terrain
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natural cross ventilation in each room app. 3 Meter high ceilings to push humidity out of the interior location of kitchens + bathrooms should be isolated and naturally ventilated use building orientation to affect positively ventilation avoid creating wind tunnels by placing the buildings to closely use tree screens to protect the buildings from the wind 90+% natural ventilation in all buildingscross circulation and 1:2 theory
O O O
reuse stone that is onsite for foundations, stops, etc. when using cmu, it should be local use 90+% local materials local craft traditions utilized and new skill sets developed
O O
maintain views to mountain-scape, espe cially for apartments and dorms use building orientations to affect positively the maintenance of views provide a view of gardens and forests that will constantly remind inhabitants of sensi tive and important surroundings/environ ment glaze at least 20% of exterior walls less glazing facing the forest to reduce light pollution at night into the forest
*BASED ON SUSTAINABLE SITES INITIATIVE ECOLOG ICAL COMPONENTS Minimize building heating and cooling requirements with vegetation O storm water pond to help with evaporative cooling of buildings O use trees to shade buildings Use appropriate and non invasive plants O all replanting will be 100% native and site specific plants Promote a sense of space with native vegetation O create outdoor meeting areas in the vicinity of each program that function as outdoor meeting/gathering/reflecting areas Preserve and restore native wildlife habitats O leave space for reforestation; and replace all cut trees 1:1, 1:2, type? O 30% of site is forested or planted O increasing the current windscreens to act as biocorridors across the road by ___% O specific types of plants to create habitats for wildlife Preserve existing topography O 0% cut and fill
H U M A N H E A L T H C O M P ON E N T S Provide sustainability awareness and education O use site as a symbol of reforesting and re sisting urge to develop 100% O grow food on site O forest trails and gardens with educational markings of plant life Provide for optimum site accessibility, safety + wayfinding O distinguish between public and private pathways visually O separate between vehicular and pedestrian path/roadways O eliminate/reduce vehicular traffic onsite to promote pedestrian traffic Provide opportunities for outdoor physical activity O provide an outdoor field for use of the dorms/apartments, uned, and/or commu nity O trails for hiking/walking
Provide outdoor spaces for mental restoration O provide an outdoor space for the use of the clinic and apapnem for mental healing Provide outdoor spaces for social interaction and circulation O at least 70% of circulation will be exterior circulation space/meeting areas O create outdoor meeting areas in the vicin ity of each program that function as out door meeting/gathering/reflecting areas Design storm water management features to be a landscape amenity O use either a water retention pond or a rainwater garden as a programmed out door space Design buildings to have a long life and a loose fit O design for longevity of building life and choose materials based on durability O leave potential for building growth- verti cally
Connect site to surrounding resources, amenities and services O show a convincing connection between the clinic and the new medical spaces O show a convincing connection between the programs and the community open space/ park area
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INITIAL PROPOSALS
initial proposal one
initial proposal two
initial proposal one: separates medical from educational use types, creates triangulated wind breaks/biological corridors, rain garden on sloped area initial proposal two: seperates medical from educational use types, large portion of site is reforested, residential buildings are isolated initial proposal three: Separates medical from educational use types, large portion of site is reforested, all educational use types are in one single building initial proposal three
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INITIAL PROPOSALS The previous colegio board decided to give uned 2,000 meters squared and apapnem 1,000 meters squared on the plot of land closest to the clinic. The first site proposal deals with these determined adjacencies and land use as its organizing principle. UNED and APAPNEM are located on the smaller plot of land adjacent to the clinic. The remainder of the site is used for the dormitories, apartments, and the Red Cross. There is shared parking between UNED and the apartments, and a large open park area located behind the Red Cross. In instances of disasters, the Red Cross can use this large open area for victims to gather. Left over space in the larger plot of land can be substantially reforested, or planted into gardens.
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Some problems with arranging the site in this way were evident right away. Placing the two largest structures on the smaller plot of land creates an unbalanced site. It is weighted toward the clinic and leaves minimal space for circulation and outdoor space beyond the structures. Shared use of facilities is a major section of the site criteria. Scattering use types around the site minimizes the amount of spaces that can be shared. For example, the clinica, Red Cross and APAPNEM have very similar uses. The more facilities they can share, the less footprint area they take up. Since they are scattered, little to no facilities can be shared, so programs are being repeated in each building. The need to organize the site in a more logical way became vital to accomplish our criteria.
The colegio board decided on this land division without thinking of the whole site. After a discussion with the board, a decision was made to abandon these land divisions and holistically plan the site. Realization was made that if the site was going to be successful, nothing could be pre-determined.
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2
UNED APAPNEM RED CROSS APARTMENTS DORMITORIES PARK SPACE
6 1
5 3 4
PROPOSAL ONE Page 16
FINAL PROPOSAL The second proposal uses this concept of grouping similar programs to create two campuses as its organizing principle; medical and educational. The medical programs are located directly adjacent to the clinic and the educational programs are isolated beyond a large forested wind break/biological corridor and utilize pathways to connect to the colegio. Separating the site into two campuses allows for facilities to be shared amongst similar use-types, ensures each structure receives a sufficient amount of space, and presents clear and logical adjacencies on the site. Even though the site is somewhat divided, it reads as a whole, because of the continuous sidewalk, and path systems connecting the entire site, and the similar green spaces on each side of the tree screen.
Medical Campus The Medical Campus consists of UNED, APAPNEM and the nearby clinic. The plot of land is relatively flat. The Red Cross needs to be positioned at the front of the site because the ambulances need direct access to the road in case of emergencies. APAPNEM is located toward the rear of the site and its pool is behind. The pool is to be shared with colegio students in return for APAPNEM’s use of the land. There is a therapeutic/healing garden and a kitchen garden for use of the medical facilities. These gardens create a common green space that connects the buildings, but at the same time creates a buffer between the two buildings for distinction. There is a shared parking and drop off area in the front of the site for use by Red Cross and APAPNEM. Educational Campus The Educational Campus consists of UNED, the teacher’s apartments and the student dormitories.
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UNED specified that they need to have street front property because of their need to market themselves. The apartments and the dormitories are located adjacent to each other with a covered gathering space connecting the two. This plot of land allows for interaction with the public, specifically the adjacent neighborhoods but also the Monteverde region. A good amount of space has been designated as outdoor public use areas, such as gardens, parks, playgrounds, etc. There is a rain garden positioned on a steep slope to slow down water run off on the site and orchards adjacent to that. A belvedere looks out over the sloped planted area and gives users an opportunity to take in the natural environment. There is on site shared parking between UNED and apartments and an access point for deliveries adjacent to the dorms at the far end of the site. There are conveniently many walking paths and connections to get from place to place.
MEDICAL CAMPUS
EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS
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9 5
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2 10
4
3 6
1
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RED CROSS APAPNEM UNED APARTMENTS DORMITORIES
6 PARK SPACE 7 OUTDOOR ACTIVITY SPACE 8 RAIN GARDEN 9 ORCHARD 10 HERBAL/KITCHEN GARDEN
PROPOSAL TWO Page 18
RED CROSS The Red Cross tends to local emergencies in the community. They have the only ambulance service available, which makes this organization invaluable. Placement on Site The Red Cross is located on the medical campus. It is next to the clinic but separated by a tree screen to protect the building from the strong winds from the North. It is directly adjacent to the road for ease of access by the ambulances. Red Cross shares a parking/drop off area with APAPNEM. It also shares a kitchen garden and therapeutic garden as a common gathering area and also a physical buffer between the two programs. A public sidewalk follows the line of the site and is the main pedestiran access from the clinic to the medical campus. Space Use A sheltered parking area within first story of building is large enough to fit three ambulance trucks. This covered parking area doubles as a meeting space when ambulances are parked outside in front. Pedestrian access at the front of the building brings one to a front desk office space. This circulation continues through the building for direct access to therapeutic gardens behind it.
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This first floor is dedicated to emergency use, with access to the infirmary directly behind the sheltered parking area. The second floor provides additional office space, dormitories with shared bathrooms, and kitchen facilities. Just as the parking area below may be used as a meeting space, this large area, or proposed kitchen space, is flexible for other uses.
2nd Floor Plan
1st Floor Plan
It is centrally located upstairs and directly opens up to a balcony which provides a beautiful view of the gardens. The kitchen may also use a part of this garden as its own for growing herbs and other edible plants for cooking. Environmental Issues WATER
Section
The building is designed to sustainably harvest and reuse water. For rain water, rain barrels in the back of the building collect runoff from the roof through a gutter system. The stored water is shortly after used for controlled water of the gardens out back. Grey water left over after sink use may be reused as flushing water. This can be done directly by using an efficient toilet/sink combination unit.
Elevation from road
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APAPNEM Asociacion Pro Ayuda a las Personas con Necesidades Especiales de Monteverde
Client: Patricia JimĂŠnez The organization works with the mentally and physically disabled, and uses manual activities to develop and improve their skills. Currently, APAPNEM bases itself out of the CLINIC, in an area measuring 4 meters x 3 meters. Their activities include lectures, sewing & embroidery, cooking & baking, craft-making, etc. Placement on Site aerial image
The location and orientation of APAPNEM on the site was decided in concert with the Red Cross facility and existing location of the Clinic, to establish a Medical Campus on the North side. It was a goal to make as much shared space as possible on the allotted land, so that the access and parking, as well as the therapeutic healing gardens are shared uses. The surrounding foliage gives APAPNEM adequate protection from the strong Northern winds effecting the site.
Red Cross Site Section
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Aerial Image of Site
RED CROSS &APAPNEM: Establishing a Healthy Relationship This healing garden especially creates the opportunity to establish a healthy relationship between the Clinic, Red Cross, and APAPNEM, whose goals are all based on the betterment and assistance in sustaining human life.
Site Rendering
Planting gardens in between APAPNEM and Red Cross, gives physical separation, but also offers a common area for the two organizations to share. The garden creates a noise buffer, minimizing the ambulance disturbance to APAPNEM users. The garden further provides a therapeutic sanctuary for the APAPNEM patients, and an aesthetic, shared space that all the organizations on the medical campus may access. It becomes a place for overflow during busier times, or the location of an outdoor gathering if weather permits.
APAPNEM Site Section
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Space Use 12
Since one of the constituents for APAPNEM receiving land from the colegio is that students from the colegio would be allowed to use their pool, the therapy Center and pools are placed on the Eastern most end of the site, close to the Colegio property line for easy access for the students.
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Programs: 1. RECEPTION 2. THERAPIST OFFICE 3. KITCHEN / GATHERING AREA 4. CIRCULATION 5. CLASSROOMS 6. STORAGE 7. LOCKER ROOMS 8. PHYSICAL THERAPY ROOM 9. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES 10. PUMP ROOMS 11. CHILDREN’S POOL 12. THERAPEUTIC POOL 13. RESTROOMS
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APAPNEM’s visibility from the road is made clear with an accessible covered walkway and welcoming. The interior programming is divided into three main arteries, which can be traversed by the two parallel corridors that reach out to the rear pools and forest. The Northern wing contains circulation, classrooms (2), and a multi-use meeting / gathering area The Central mass contains lobby & reception, therapist offices and a therapy room, and attached changing rooms The Southern wing contains Lobby bathrooms, and administrative offices
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
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Environmental Issues
SUN : Pool Section The roofs of the administrative offices and the larger pool are equipped with solar hot water panels. These panels harness solar power for the heating of the pool water. These panels must be situated on the roof at the same angle as the location from the equator. Since Costa Rica is located at 10째 north of the equator. The panels are angled at 10째, facing South. Therapeutic pools are ideally kept between 32째C and 35째C, to allow for maximum joint flexibility in the human body. Cool pool water is carried through this system, heated via solar energy, and deposited into the pool at a warmer temperature.
Sun Diagram: Solar Hot Water Panels
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WATER : Storm Water Maintenance Pump rooms are placed closest to the pools, to allow for a minimal amount of piping.
Storm Water Management : Western Elevation
The flat, graded roof of the left main corridor draws water Westward where a gutter system leads the rainwater down aesthetically pleasing rain chains, into cisterns for water retention. This water can be used to supply the building’s toilets with flush water or to irrigate the herbal and flower gardens in front of APAPNEM during the dry season.
WIND : Cross-Ventilation Natural ventilation in the building is done so by using operable windows on all exterior walls. For every one operable window placed on the North side of the building, two are placed on the South side, so that the internal air pressure will pull the breeze through the building masses, producing a cross ventilation cooling effect. Ventilation Diagram
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UNED Universidad Estatal A Distancia UNED is a degree-granting university for adult students (typical ages 17 – 45) that travel to the school for class materials, tutoring sessions, lab instruction (languages and computers) and exams. Many of the students have employment during the day and many also have children, occasionally bringing those children with them to UNED. Professors often travel from a significant distance outside Santa Elena to the university centers to teach classes, provide tutoring and proctor examinations. These professors can share facilities with the Colegio and can use the apartments during their short stays. Course materials for the distance learning programs must be stored on site for the students. UNED has several full-time employees that need office space for general administrative functions and private matters, a kitchen for the preparation of food, a space for eating and breaks and a videoconferencing room for group meetings with UNED staff elsewhere in Costa Rica. Restrooms for the full-time employees, students and professors must be accessible to persons that require the assistance of wheel chairs or other similar devices. Two large classrooms with an operable divider are required for classes. Additional spatial requirements are a language laboratory, computer lab and a library.
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Accessibility Access to the building is achieved through the use of covered public and private sidewalks; a private driveway leads first to a service parking space and to staff parking lots. This driveway is shared with the apartments. A public drive in front of the building serves as a drop-off or short-term parking for students. The main entrance to the building is located close to the drop-off area. Persons confined to wheelchairs or that rely on other similar devices can access all areas of the first floor (two wheelchair accessible bathrooms provided) and can access the second floor using the wheelchair ramp located at the rear of the building. The building is linked to all adjacent spaces by paths. Space Use : First Floor Lobby – contains coat racks for students, waiting area, reception desk to interact with UNED staff Administration – ample work space, two private offices, kitchenette/break room, storage room with direct exterior access, connection to exterior picnic area Classrooms – include space for 40 students and desks and one teacher with a large desk, divided by an operable divider. Bathrooms – include two restrooms (damas & caballeros) that are wheelchair accessible, four total Exterior spaces – covered picnic area, playground and playing field Space Use : Second Floor Library and study lounge Language Lab – contains 35 semi-private study consoles Videoconference Room Computer Lab
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Environmental Issues SUN : Daylighting Every room has ample windows with two exceptions: storage room has no windows to protect materials from damaging UV-rays, videoconference room has only two windows with shades. Second floor rooms have strategic sky light panels to allow indirect lighting (videoconference room has no sky lights): over circulation spaces, in between book stacks, overhead in computer lab to reduce glare and in the stairwell. Passive day-lighting utilized to reduce the need of electric lighting. WATER
Five locations that generate wastewater (four bathrooms and the employee kitchen sink) Grey water collected and treated in reed bed located in the rear of the building adjacent to the picnic area. Black water collected and sent to septic tank beneath wheelchair ramp, septic leach field located in playing field Stormwater runoff from building collected in a system of gutters and sent to subterranean storage tank, excess runoff will be sent to rain garden atop cistern Driveways and sidewalks paved with semi-permeable or permeable surfaces.
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WIND
HEAT + NOISE
Central hallways on 1st & 2nd floor provide circulation corridors for natural ventilation, exterior windows semi-operable, interior windows on 1st floor classrooms and 2nd floor labs allow for additional interior air circulation, stairwell serves uses the principle of stack ventilation (as warm air rises to the highest point of a building then being removed as cooler breezes pass through the stack).
Solar gain from the high sun angle is mitigated by a layer of insulation in between the planes of the double roof. This double roof plane and layer of insulation will also help to reduce the volume of the noise created by the rain falling against the roof.
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TEACHER APARTMENTS A major problem the Santa Elena Colegio is currently having is convincing teachers from San Jose to come to Monteverde and teach at the Santa Elena Colegio. Teachers are hesitant to visit Monteverde because of the high cost of living in the region. The colegio has asked for four apartments that will be inhabited by professors for periods of up to three months. Placement on Site The apartments are located within the medical campus and adjacent to the student dormitories and UNED. The form of the building is directly derived from its location on the site. The form mimics the angles of its neighboring buildings to create a “U� shape with a central courtyard. Each side is parallel to the facades of UNED and the dormitories through a 30 degree curve to match the road. The apartments are located directly next to the student dormitories and share a common covered gathering space. This adjacency allows for shared use of facilities between there two residential complexes such a as laundry, and dining areas. The building also shares its parking with UNED on the other side. Surrounding the building is a raised deck that looks out to the rain garden and forest beyond. In the front of the building, in the courtyard, there is a space for personalized gardens for each apartment.
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Space Use The apartments are organized spatially with the bedrooms and living rooms around the outer perimeter of the U shaped building; this allows these spaces to receive more privacy while creating a view into the forest. Public areas such as the kitchen and the entrance face the courtyard. All four apartments are located on the first floor for easy access, one unit is ADA compliant. This has been done by allocating one and a half meters to the hallways, including appliances that are easy to access from a wheel chair, and including an ADA friendly bathroom. Structure Because of the nature of the site, mixture of different structures will have to be employed in the design. The front of the building will be slab on grade, while the back part will be structurally supported by pillars due of the steep slope in the land. Creating a pier foundation will minimize the impact the building has on the land.
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Environmental Issues
SUN : Daylighting The bedrooms have a Frosted glass curtain wall to invite as much daylight as possible into the room while remaining private. WATER Water collection from the roof via its extensive overhangs direct it into an underground cistern will be then used as needed in the house. Solar water tubes on the roof directly above the bathrooms will provide hot water for the occupants needs while reducing power consumption. HEATING SYSTEMS Thermal walls along the perimeter of the complex not only help regulate the internal temperature of the apartments, this is due to their composition of ten centimeter of concrete on the interior five centimeter of Styrofoam board insulation and five centimeters of concrete on the exterior for a total of twenty centimeters. This causes the wall to absorb daytime heat and release it at night. This happens once the interior temperature falls below the wall temperature causing the concrete to release the heat back into the house. It also has minimal maintenance, long life, acts as a sound barrier, protects against moisture and most importantly saves energy.
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WIND : Natural Ventilation Operable windows are transparent to allow a clear view of the outside. The windows on the perimeter of the building are twice the size of the windows on the courtyard to create the needed pressure to allow force the air to circulate. To increase this circulation, the wall that divides the kitchen and living room will have a large opening. This is further pushed by having only the walls in the bathroom and bedroom connected to the roof. An operable skylight helps with the stack air effect allowing the warm air to be released through the roof when opened, cool air comes in through the lower windows while the warm air leaves through the top.
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SANTA ELENA COLEGIO DORMITORIES The building contains 3 programs: dorms for 16 students, housing for 2 chaperones, and a common area including kitchen, dining and laundry facilities. Placement on Site The dormitories are accessible from the sidewalk through the parking area to the south and from the open-air, shared community space immediately to the north. There is also access to the colegio trail in the rear of the building which provides the visiting students with a pleasant walk to school through the rain garden. Direct access from the sidewalk has been avoided in an attempt to maintain privacy of the living areas. The handicap-accessible, lower-level community space is shared between the students and faculty and the laundry facilities can further be shared with the neighboring faculty apartments.
Space Use The building footprint is additionally minimized by housing the students in 4 narrow quads which achieve spaciousness in section rather than in plan. Each quad is equipped with a compact bathroom designed to allow 3 students to access it simultaneously as they rush to prepare for school. Dormitory Plans, Elevation, Section
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A tiled, wet-area reserved for coats and shoes is located immediately beyond the entrance. The floor material then changes to wooden floor boards to demarcate the living area and then changes once again back to tile to define the bathroom and cater to its moisture. The main living area is subdivided into 4 personal zones allowing each student to feel as though they have their own space while living closely with others. Each zone contains a desk with drawers, a bed and a dresser. The dresser for bottom-bunk students is 3 roll-out drawers located under the bed. The central circulation is clearly defined but quickly blends into additional personal space when not used. The chaperones provide supervision and separate the boys and girls. Only one chaperone is needed so if occupancy permits it, a more suitable arrangement would be to have a chaperone move to a more comfortable vacant neighboring apartment. This ensures that both buildings get the most use possible. Using a common room module enables flexibility for the variable number of students and chaperones occupying the building at any given time. An empty chaperone room can be easily adapted to a lounge area equipped with a small kitchenette or to an additional double or quad as the need arises.
Room Layouts
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Structure The building footprint is reduced by lifting it above the ground with pier foundations, which touch the ground lightly and enable the native grass, plants, and topography to stay intact and undisturbed. Since the building is a wooden-frame structure, lifting it reduces moisture problems which lead to rotting. Another advantage is that some of the wind can be diverted underneath the building and used for passive cooling.
Environmental Issues SUN : Daylighting Clerestories, variations in the roof plan and translucent roof panels permit ample daylight to penetrate the deep rooms. Programming of the interior spaces align with the sun angles throughout the day. The low, easterly morning rays shine through the back facade into the bathroom as the students prepare for their day and continue to shine into the dining area as they eat their breakfast. Later in the evening, after the students return from school, the sun shines through the west facade illuminating their desks as they attend to their work or brightens the laundry areas as they wash their clothes. Additionally, the sunlight strikes the centrally located doublewythe CMU block wall adjacent to the bunk beds throughout the entire day. Elevation and Section Diagrams
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This thermal mass collects the heat and retains it into the night hours when it finally releases it into the sleeping area. This additional warmth acts as a passive heating system to offset the cooler Monteverde nights. Likewise, throughout the night the mass loses its surplus heat until it finally settles to the lower temperature which in turn will slowly cool the area during the hotter afternoon of the following day. WATER All of the rainwater run-off from the substantial roof is collected in below-ground cisterns located behind the building (highlighted blue in the diagram to the left) and can be used for irrigating the landscaping. A large reed bed is situated on the slope behind the building (highlighted green) and is to be used for grey water treatment. A septic tank and leech field (highlighted yellow) covers the open land between the front of the building and the sidewalk. Another sustainable feature is a combination of solar panels and solar hot water heaters located directly above the showers of each room. The pump which moves the water through the pipes of the solar water heater can be powered entirely by the solar panel bringing the net energy of the entire system to 0. WIND : Ventilation Wind is effectively channeled through the building using cross and stack ventilation strategies. Undulations in the back facade catch the prevailing winds while vents and operable windows direct it to move throughout the space. Room Programming and Roof Plan
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