Pitlochry - Floating Habitats by Sara Kliczka

Final Presentation

Final Boards

Sara Kliczka, s1343000, Advanced Sustainable Design

CONTENTS

1. Concept

•

Fragmentation - reconnection

•

Lost Spaces - regained spaces

•

Living on Water - tradition/locality

2. Mood Boards 3.

Infrastructure Analysis

4. Ecological Analysis 5.

Simulations and testing

Case study 1

Case study 2

8. Proposal

•

Cafe

•

Cabins

Model, 1:500

•

Fragmentation - reconnection

•

Lost Spaces - regained spaces

•

Living on Water - tradition/locality

The Floating Habitats project creates natural home for animals, plants and people. It is an environmentally friendly, retreat space on floating platforms in Scottish Pitlochry, in its concept deeply rooted in the pursuit for innovative accommodation that would not only please with its scenic beauty but also offer a reconnection with nature in a way similar to the one of traditional style of living on ‘Crannogs’ - set on artificial islets. Its location on the lake is a reflection to the town’s past, prior to the erection of the dam which resulted in flooding and the creation of its artificial loch. The significant gap in its construction is an effort to simulate the position of the river before 1951, on the banks of which, the Old Recreation Park was situated. The idea of creating habitat for both people and animals in such an unusual place as a lake responds to the findings about the fragmentation of the natural tissue in the area. Fragmented areas like forests, being natural environment for hundreds of species is often distorted by creation of roads, growing pollution, noise and now suffers from many vulnerabilities which should be addressed in contemporary architecture and design.

Circulation issues • Animals threaten by the planned dual carriageway • No disable and cycling paths available, some parts of the path are missing or in very bad condition • Fragmented habitats

Circulation amendments • Wildlife corridor above the roads • Board-walk in parameter of the loch and a bridge (no stairs, only ramps for accessibility) • Bridging 2 sides of fragmented habitats

Diagram. River - Loch transformation

Collage created on a photo of Highland Games in 1940sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Pitlochry - site which now is deep under the water of Loch Faskally, called Old Recreation Park

Crannog Excavation, H. Hencken

Bartlett - Crannog battle

CRANNOG

PROPOSAL

• Landscape as a living entity

• Integration of nature within the structure will balance the cabins with the surrounding

• Residences as well as centres of production: Lithic production, fishing, smiths, residences, workshops for glass-making, iron handing, bronze casting

• Workshop area in the cafe so that residents could share their knowledge and history with other occupants as well as boat rental

• Sense of tradition and solidarity over time - ownership, ancestry

• Referring to the tradition of building crannogs is sill strong in Scotland as country’s legacy, building on that lake also aims to regain the lost space

• Few huts housing many people and many professions

• Number of cabins could expand with needs of the town

• Building on top of what collapsed

• Lost land of the Old Recreation Park

FLOATING PLATFORMS/ SYSTEMS

GREEN ROOF - WILD LOOK 18

CABINS IN NATURAL SETTING

INTERIORS DOMINATED BY LOGHT COLOURS AND WOOD

BRIDGING, SIMPLICITY

TREES ON THE ARTIFICIALLY MADE PLATFORMS

ECODUCT/ANIMAL CORRIDORS

CUBE SHAPED CABINS ON WATER

INTERIORS OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD

PUBLIC SPACE ON WATER

NO STAIRS, ONLY RAMPS

ADJUSTABLE LOUVRES

Medellin

Pitlochry

Proposed development of the Loch Faskally will bring new links to a heavily fragmented area, both naturally and socially

Medellin

Raised questions of what is owned. How much of the natural environment can be still habitat for animals ? To what extend both locals and tourists feel the sense of belonging in Pitlochry?

Medellin

Pitlochry

Greatly improved cycling , disabled accessible and animal paths.

Medellin

Pitlochry

Renewable resources use as well as new social links create a proposal with a holistic approach to the interventions in the natural landscape and urban scope of Pitlochry.

Figure 2 . Rainfall: Pitlochry / Edinburgh (Metoffice.gov.uk)

Figure 3 . Sunshine hours: Blairgowrie / Edinburgh (Metoffice.gov.uk)

Figure 4 . Max. temp.: Pitlochry / Edinburgh (Metoffice.gov.uk)

Figure 5. Min. temp.: Pitlochry / Edinburgh (Metoffice.gov.uk)

Figure 8 . Brockholes Visitor Centre. (Adam Khan website) Figure 6 . Tourist season in Pitlochry (Traveler.com)

Figure 7 . Wind speed in Pitlochry (Traveler.com)

Research into the climate and characteristics of the location and its

As predicted by UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017 Synthesis

vulnerabilities play a significant role in the development of a successful

Report the water level can change with predictions of draughts and

sustainable design. The project is situated in Pitlochry, in the Perthshire

high winds. In order to maintain the structure on the level of the

region that is characterised by its colder and rainier climate, noticeably

water, the foundations proposed in this project, the ‘pontoon’ will

when compared to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. As shown in the

be made of the concrete filled with foam, similar to the project of

Figure 2 Pitlochry is predicted to have 1,5 times more precipitation, with

Brockholes Visitor Centre in Preston (Figure 8). Is anchored to the

1105.6mm against 704.2mm for Edinburgh. The rainiest days are usually

base of the lake, with loads pressuring only the water. This unique

January and November reaching 190mm. Expected hazards caused

design will allow the Floating Cabin to adjust to the lake’s water level,

by rainfall on the Loch Faskally include landslides, that could increase

so in the case of flooding it would rise with the water and gently

after intense or prolonged rainfall, as well as minor flooding of the loch.

lower itself during drought. In that development; the structure of

The temperatures also vary (Figure 4;5), with bigger fluctuations than

the platform, which supports five buildings as well as an orchard

Edinburgh between maximum and minimum temperature : maximum

(Figure 9,10)

11.9 for Edinburgh / 12.7 degrees locally and minimum 3.4 locally versus

The Floating Cabins is a project, though designed for humans will

5.9 degrees in Edinburgh. Unexpectedly Pitlochry is tends to have

also benefit wildlife by linking two fragmented habitats. This will be

warmer summers than Edinburgh with temperatures 1 degree higher.

located on the linked roofs of the cabins, creating a platform that

The first figure is taken from a radiation graph, which is an important

will act as a vegetated crossing path (Figure 1). The aims of the

information for have designing in this area - with a yearly total 1357

project are to create harmony between the project and the natural

hours of sunshine locally (closest weather station in Blairgowrie) as

resources of this location: use of natural ventilation, daylight, local

opposed to Edinburgh’s 1426 hours (Figure 7).

vegetation and generating renewable energy on site. Serving mostly as individual self-catered cabins this structure’s programme is also designed to support social, physical activities, in both enclosed and semi-enclosed areas. 39

Figure 15. Wind Flow, Autodesk Flow.

Figure 13. Orientation.

Figure 14. Solar gain for orientation 0,20,45. D

The presented methodology, represented graphically in the Flow Chart with the tests and analysis are divided into three main stages:

A successful rotation can maximise free solar energy but also has

Stage 1 - Orientation Analysis

to take into account minimising unpleasant heavy winds. In this

Stage 2 - Shape Analysis

particular project, prevailing winds are coming mostly from South-

Stage 3 - Material and Environmental Analysis

West, and simulations in Autodesk Flow to see the effect of the wind on the structure were needed (Figure 15). The model imported into

Stage 1 - Orientation Analysis

the software was a basic building model on 3D topography of the valley. It is an interesting simulation which shows that the pattern of

First tests undertaken in this project were designed to find an angle,

the wind on the valley is very hard to predict. Normally, the strongest

which would provide the most optimal solar gain within a space

wind is blowing towards another high peak, with the bottom area

(Figure 13). The annual daylight calculation was conducted by using

of a valley receiving much gentler flows. However mountain wind is

the Solar Gain from the Apache analysis module. For the purpose

usually very much affected by the topography of terrain and in order

of this test two 150 meters long and 3 meters high rectangular

to understand its patterns and predict the strength the simulation

prism structures, placed across each other were used. Each of the

would need to be more extensive than what has been used in this

boxes had the same 100% window added to the North and South

simulation. Nevertheless the software is demonstrating the mentioned

wall. Three tests according to the three angles of a surface relative

pattern, while also showing the multiple distorted patterns and

to the true south were used as a measuring tool for the orientation

turbulences which take place at the bottom. Another factor, which

strategy. The first angle of 0 degrees show results of 151.13,17%

could be researched in further stages of this project is: the day and

on the west wing and 151.16,17% on the east, while results for 20

night differences in the breeze, with the daytime heating, and night-

degrees and 45 degrees demonstrated slightly bigger swerves in the

time cooling patterns of the mountain wind. As a result of the first

solar gain (Figure 16). However, once these results were shown on

topography tests, it is predicted that the site located at 0 degrees by

an annual solar gain graph, where comparison became possible, the

presenting narrow frontage in the direction of the prevailing wind

preferable conditions could be understood more easily. It appeared

will help in minimising unpleasant wind. Additionally vegetation and

that the solar gain of 0 degrees is allowing more solar gain in winter

trees could be planted on the side of the predicted prevailing winds to

when it is the most needed to keep the space warm, but preventing

provide an extra thermal buffer.

the extensive amount of solar radiation in summer (Figure14). 41

Isometric View, East to West wind simulation

Areas of wind pressure on plan. East is predicted to have much stronger winds

Visual showing the wind movement with the areas of the biggest pressure shown with the smoke

Stage 2 - Shape Analysis

when it is the most required, but lower in hotter summer days (Figure 20). This behaviour can also be understood from the diagram shown with FlucsDL

Cabins:

daylighting analysis, where the cube compared with the other geometries, presents 28% of the solar gain, versus 32% in the cylinder and 40% in the

One of the most crucial analysis at the early stage of the design is the one

cuboid (Figure 18).

which defines a form of a building. In the case of the cabins, where irregular

It is also noteworthy that the comfort tests (figure) show striking results. It is

shapes were not required, simple tests of three basic geometries have been

predicted that between 10:30 and 19:30 in summer, cuboid could get very

tested, with a circle, square and rectangle in the base. The floor area of these

hot, marked with three ‘13’ in comfort index, standing for ‘very hot, danger’

structures were (Figure 17):

and two ‘12’ ‘hot very uncomfortable’. The cylinder would manage with the radiation much better but could get unpleasant from very early morning hours

●

Cube: 64m2, 8000 x 8000 (mm)

till the evening. In the contrary cube had fewer and only ‘11’ warnings for

●

Cylinder: 73m2, r=5000 (mm)

‘warm, unpleasant’ between 11:30 till 18:30. This indicates that although solar

●

Cuboid: 60m2, 12000 x 5000 (mm)

gain is expected to be better in cylinder and cuboid geometry it might result in overheating especially in summer days (Figure 19).

Initial tests were designed to define the preferable shape and to apply this geometry throughout the whole structure (also in case of the café). Three

Café:

tests have been carried out for this purpose: mean radiant temperature,

illumination test, and a comfort test. Similarly to the first model created for

The café as a continuation of the selected shape was designed on a grid in

the orientation analysis, these models still had 100% windows on the South

plan, which reflects similar strategy. Three different spatial arrangements were

and the North wall.

created, each made of ten cubes of the same size as the cabin (W:8000, D:8000,

The tests of the mean radiant temperature for September (randomly chosen

H:3000). As a result, each of the tested structures had the same floor area of

day by the software) show that the highest temperature is expected in the

640 m2 (Figure 21). The only variation was an external wall and opening area

cuboid geometry and the lowest in the cylinder. Cube in this test had higher

assigned which required testing.

mean radiant temperature in winter and lower in summer, which analogously

External Wall Area (m2) / External Opening Area (m2)

to the previous orientation tests means better daylight factor in the period

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1st - 528 / 234

Figure 18. Cabin Solar Radiance Diagram by the author

Figure 21. Cafe Geometry Diagram by the author

Figure 22. Cafe Solar Radience Diagram by the author

Figure 23. Cafe Solar Radience Diagram by the author

Figure 24. Glazing distribution Diagram by the author

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2nd - 336 / 180

●

3rd - 474 / 267

The tests were designed to prove which geometry could potentially have the best performance. The shape of the building plan varied in purpose, with the first option the most dispersed, the second more densely arranged and the third being the longest and narrowest of all of the options. At this stage of the design, function for rooms was assigned, taking into consideration that spaces like toilets and kitchen would not require an extensive amount of glazing and would need to be separated from the open plan zone of the cafe. Glazing in those two cube-shape, separated areas (each 64m2) had only 19% of full height rectangular windows (Figure 22,23). All of the buildings had identical U-values, tested 0 degrees orientation and the same floor area. These were ideal conditions for testing the influence of the surface area to volume (A/V), exposed surface to volume, perimeter over plan and wall/floor ratios which would indicate the compactness of a building (BRE, 2015). In order to achieve the results, IES Building Metrics simulations have been used. The most exposed surface to volume ratio had the first structure with a value of 0.94, the third 0.91 and 0.10 less for the second structure with 0.84 ratio. However the high surface area buildings usually lose heat quicker than those that are more compact and prove not to be suitable for colder climates (Gilbertson, 2015). Another test of the heat loss parameter proves this theory. Based on the space conduction and infiltration

mechanical ventilation. Crucial moment in designing a building for the passive, low carbon emissions is the construction assigned with appropriate U-value results. For both the café and the cabins two different construction types for the external wall were created. One with a traditional timber frame and another with more innovative timber construction called Brettstapel. Both scored U-value within the predicted benchmark for the passivhaus. Timber construction with 300mm insulation as shown in the table had 0.10W/m2K (Figure 31), while Brettstapel with 100mm thick insulation only 0.14W/m2K (Figure 27). In both constructions, similar overall thickness of 486mm has been kept and external timber cladding. This simple test of U-values shows that timber frame construction would not only be more affordable option (Brettstapel is still relatively new and it is less common to use) to build but also achieves better U-value results. Triple glazing achieved slightly different result to the predicted: 0.86W/m2K (Figure 29), but due to low emissive properties will help in retaining heat within the space, which is essential for the buildings with a high proportion of windows (Glass for Europe, 2009). Shading devices for the space will help in overcoming overheating in summer with a system of folding louvered facade panels which could block one light on one façade completely or create awning shade when folded. Passivhaus standards require that temperatures exceeding 25°C should not be occurring more than 10% in a year (BRE, 2015) thus shading and both ventilation types will ensure that the temperature could be controlled by the occupier (Morten, 2015).

losses analysis it shows that the geometry no 1 would lose 0.62W/m 2 °C 47

Figure 19. Comfort Index Diagram by the author

Figure 20. Mean Temperature Diagram by the author

Figure 25. Dissatisfaction table By the author Figure 26. Concept drawings By the author

Figure 28. Concrete Pontoon

Figure 27. Brettstapel external wall

Figure 30. Green Roof

Figure 29. Triple Glazing

Figure 31. Timber External Wall Construction

Preston

Pitlochry

Various tests succeeding the final proposal ensure about sustainable roots of this project. Both the shape and orientation heavily influenced by IES VE simulations

Preston

Pitlochry

Animal and humans habitat balanced on one artificially made structure

Pitlochry

2000mm x 2000m grid of the cube enables much more efficient, simple in construction and deconstruction alternative. It also reflects research about nearby habitats shaped in a grid depending on a degree of fragmentation.

Resources explained _ Cafe

Resources explained _ Cabin

1 cube 8000mm / 8000mm

2620 1000

1000

BEDROOM

1000

3950

857

3898

8000

2588

LIVING ROOM

3857

2588

KITCHEN

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

MEZZANINE

13 53

354 10

Scale 1:100

DETAIL

GREEN ROOF

TREE ‘BASIN’

OPERABLE LOUVRES

GLU-LAM TIMBER FRAME

10 x 8000mm / 8000mm

KITCHEN

RECEPTION/BAR

CAFE WC

ENTRANCE

ORCHARD PLATFORM

CAFE PLAN SCALE 1:200 @ A3 63

Diagram 1. 6 cabins

Diagram 1. 16 cabins

Diagrams showing possible natural development of the proposal, starting with 6 cabins to 16 or more

Diagram 1. 9 cabins

Boat rental. Each structure has also fruit trees designed for the visitors.

343215

The roof is divided into 4 compartments: with deeper and shallower basins depending on the depth needed for the roots of the plant, designed to provide dens and food for the animals. One plant with extensive roots per cabin.

Diagram 1. 16 cabins

59683

1500

3000 8115 12912

Boats should be available for each cabin. Standard skiff boats, 5m long CABIN

CABIN

CAFE

CABIN

Each platform is connected to the boardwalk with an individual bridge with system of adjusting to the level of platforms hinges. KEY: Roof top meadow - habitat for animals Orchard on the bottom level - habitat for visitors

Plan Scale 1:1500 @ A4

Visual 1 - Cabin, sliding door

Visual 2 - Boat rental 67

Visual 3 - Cafe

Visual 4 - Wildlife corridor + DDA paths 69

1:500 model