from grey t o g r e e n bringing back the natural environment
Serena Ye
Syracuse University
School of Architecture
Thesis Book Draft
Advisor: Julia Czerniak
November 9th, 2015
.
table of contents
claim
2
project
2
background separation of city and nature separation of building and nature
3
the living facade
5
commercial office building
7
types of vertical greenery green facade living wall
9
case studies
18
types of office spaces
23
design method operation strategy site selection
27
sources
33
claim
The integration of the living façade in a building envelope through performance-based design can improve peoples’ health, the sustainable performance of the building, and restore the environment. It creates a new architectural identity of synthesizing the natural and built environments to influence the form, performance, design, and meaning of a building.
project
This thesis envisions a new building envelope for an office building that integrates the natural environment with the urban context (exterior) and the building environment (interior). A new office building will be designed in relation to the site and urban context, with the main design focus being the building envelope (roof, facade, connection to ground), floor plates, ceilings, and the core. The program is office rental spaces, leaving the interior design of the spaces the renters’ responsibility. The living building envelope will be designed based on the interactive, building, and urban scales. The interactive scale will focus on the living envelope’s effect on the building occupants; the building scale will focus on the living envelope’s effect on the building’s performance; and the urban scale will focus on the living envelope’s effect in the urban context.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Left: Figure 1. “Living Facade Hydroponics”, photo, http://www.flickr.com
2
background
3
separation of city and nature
separation of building and nature
In the premodern times, “human settlements either integrated or co-existed peacefully with nature”1. Examples of this city-nature relationship are apparent in ancient Rome and The Garden Cities of Sir Ebenezer Howard in England. During modernism, the growth in urbanism, fast growing populations, and changes in lifestyle contributed to the destruction of the natural environment. The idea of a home was “a safe place against wild and cruel nature of [the] outside”1. Humans “feared natural disasters, wild uncontrollable animals, and untamed growth of forest and woodland areas”1. Today, we neglect the natural environment due to the focus of “making life more convenient with drive through services and large shopping malls”1. “Nature has been seen as superficial embellishment, as a luxury encountered only in parks and gardens”1 while urban form is seen as a meaningful “essential force that permeates the city”1. However, “disregard of natural processes in the city has been costly, dangerous”1, and leads to problems like congestion and pollution. It also “extends to the quality of life”1 as seen in deteriorating cities like Detroit. Ecosystems provide peoples’ “basic human and social needs”1 because “humans require contact with a biodiverse world to stimulate the development of their emotional, cognitive, and social potential”1. In addition, the biophilia hypothesis suggests that humans have an innate tendency to love nature and other lifelike forms. Therefore, cities need to be an extension of the natural environment. There needs to be a balanced relationship between nature and city.
Buildings today still do not perform as they should. They need to provide thermal comfort for building occupants in a sustainable and energy efficient way. All of these factors are influenced into the building envelope, since it is one of the most crucial and interdisciplinary aspects of a building.
The densifying of cities led to loss of space for green spaces. By integrating the living facade in the building envelope, vertical greenery can be incorporated into buildings without compromising space on the street-level.
____________________________________________________________________________________
By integrating the living facade in the building envelope, a building will perform more sustainably and provide thermal comfort while improving the health and well-being of the building occupants.
1. “Architecture and Urban Ecosystems: From Segregation to Integration”, http://www.thenatureofcities.com /2013/05/26/architecture-and-urban-ecosystems-from-segregation-to-integration/ (accessed 30 Oct. 2015)
green spaces in ancient rome
concept of living facade
The Garden City, England
horizontal green spaces
little green spaces in modern day Detroit
vertical green spaces
the living facade
A living facade is a vertical surface on the building envelope that incorporates vegetation into its structure. It can facilitate environmental and health benefits in the urban, building, and interactive scales.
urban scale environmental: -”inserts vegetation in the urban context, which is scarce in dense urban areas” - “improves air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and heavy metals, and retaining dust particles” - provides habitat for biodiversity - “reduces solar reflectance” - “reduces urban heat island effect” - “mitigates greenhouse effect” - “minimizes the consumption of tap water” by utilizing “rainwater for irrigation” - “increases air humidity” - “decreases air temperature” - “provide natural cooling” health and well-being for citizens: - provides visual connection to nature
5
Figure 2. The tempertaure of a living facade is cooler than a facade without vegetation “Considerations For Advanced Green Facade Design”, infrared photo, http://www.greenscreen.com
building scale
interactive scale
energy efficiency and sustainability: - “reduces solar reflectance” - “reduces urban heat island effect” - “mitigates greenhouse effect” - “minimizes the consumption of tap water” by utilizing “rainwater for irrigation” - “increases air humidity” - “decreases air temperature” - “provides additional insulation” - “provides natural cooling”
thermal comfort for building occupants: - “increases air humidity” - “decreases air temperature” - “provides additional insulation” - “provides natural cooling” health and well-being (biophilic and therapeutic) for building occupants: - “improves air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and heavy metals, and retaining dust particles” - absorbs sound - provides visual connection to nature _______________________________________________________________ “Green Walls applications in Urban Rehabilitation”, http://www.wseas.us/e-library/conferences/2013/CambridgeUK/ STUPEME/STUPEME-23.pdf (accessed 1 Nov. 2015)
office building environment increase air humidity decrease air temperature improve air quality natural cooling
oxygen carbon dioxide
solar reflectance
sound absorption
urban environment provide vegetation without occupying space on street level
additional insulation
biophilic visual connection with nature
visual connection with nature
habitat for biodiversity in urban environment mitigate green house effect recycle rain water solar reflectance improve air quality visual connection with nature
sound absorption
additional insulation
commercial office building
This thesis will focus on the commercial office building because people spend most of their time working in the office and commercial office buildings represent “one fifth of the U.S. energy consumption”. Office buildings are not performing as they should, which cause workers to develop health problems like stress and sickness. In addition, the lack of sustainability causes the high precentage of energy consumption. Office buildings need to provide sustainability to conserve the environment and thermal comfort and well-being for workers. By integrating the living facade in the office building envelope, the building will perform more sustainably and provide thermal comfort while improving the health and well-being of the office workers.
overglazing/overheating
bad air quality/ventilation
poor thermal insulation
_______________________________________________________________ “Chapter 3: Commercial sector”, http://www.buildingsdatabook.eren.doe.gov/ChapterIntro3.aspx (accessed 30 Oct. 2015) poor sound insulation
7
time used on an average work day for employees
causes of stress (2010)
hours activities
money
7.6 sleeping
1.8 other
70% 66%
family responsibilities
58%
relationships
55%
personal health concerns
52%
housing costs
52%
2.6 leisure and sports
8.6 working and related activities
76%
the economy
1.2 caring for others 1.1 eating and drinking 1.1 household activities
$$$$$$$$$$$$$
work
job stability
49%
health problems affecting family
47%
personal safety
30%
24 total “Time use on an average work day for employed persons ages 25 to 54 with children,” chart, 2014, http://www.thoughtcatalog.com.
U.S. energy consumption
20% other
reasons for early retirement had personal health problem
37%
lost job
27%
had sufficient financial resources
20% commercial buildings
10% of office space, retail space, the 20% and educational facilities “Chapter 3: Commercial Sector,” http://buildingsdatabook.eren.doe.gov/ChapterIntro3.aspx (accessed 30 Oct. 2015)
$$$ $$$
24%
wanted to spend more time with family
16%
wanted to have more fun
13%
needed to look after a loved one
11%
retirees retire...
earlier
55%
on schedule
38%
later
7%
types of vertical greenery
The two types of vertical greenery are:
the green facade -“created by vines and climbing plants that are rooted in soil or containers, growing upwards or cascading down, and require a structure to maintain their position, develop growth, and survive through seasonal exposures.” -“easily scalable and rely on the adaptable characteristics of a board range of plant species”
the living wall -“Because the roots are growing on the surface, [rather than into the ground], all of the micro-organisms associated with the roots are totally in contact with the air, [which is important] for de-pollution” -provides “benefits of insulation” -loses a lot of water through percolation in the soil with horizontal garden -utilizes water collected from the roof _______________________________________________________________ “Green Wall Pioneer Patrick Blanc: ‘Now Everybody is doing Vertical Gardens’”, http://www.dezeen.com/2014/01/08/ patrick-blanc-herzog-and-de-meuron-perez-art-museum-miami-vertical-gardens/ (accessed 3 Nov. 2015)
9
two-dimensional system green facade three-dimensional system
framed modular boxes
panel system
types of vertical greenery
wire modular cage
perforated modular boxes
hanging pockets living wall tray system
trough planters
slanted modular cell boxes
free-standing system
vegetated mat
the green facade
two-dimensional system
three-dimensional system
-vertical cables -horizontal cables -rods -grids or nets -variety of materials: -rigid 2D system components from materials like steel or wood -flexible 2D system components from materials like cables, rods, cable nets, or woven wire fabrics -systems for assembly and attachment to a building facade or vertical plane -require being held in tension -loading of connectors at the attachment points is a critical factor -design and placement of the connectors is related to the span of the facade and may require specific engineering and structure to ensure performance under increasing loads -cable systems and their attachment components are most often made from stainless steel (durability, strength, expensive) -generally installed in a simple plane and require additional structure to create shapes, turn a corner, or modulate a surface -attachments for cable are shallow in depth and unless there are additional support connection methods, the green facade withh be close to a building surface -vertical two dimensional cable facade can be attached at top and bottom but cannot be used for a cantilevered configuration -rigid 2D system components from materials like steel or wood are dimensionally larger than flexible 2D system components from materials like cables, rods, cable nets, or woven wire fabrics -must consider how the plants inhabit and connect to the facade structure and how the system’s design might influence the plant growth and infill of the facade -vines that use tendrils that can twine or curl around another plant or a component of a facade trellis
-have unique design capabilities compare to two-dimensional systems -consist of panels that have length, width, depth -created specifically to enhance the growth and maintenance of green facade plants -thin gauge steel wire in different ways: -two wire grids held apart by intermittent wires and welded to a perimenter steel frame for strength in mounting (wire grids are either woven or welded at various spacing) -structural panel with an integral truss that does not require a surrounding frame for mounting or strength (modular panel that had reduced material weight and creates some unique opportunities to cover large surfaces without perimeter frames and for creating shapes) (rigid, can span openings, can be mounted vertically, horizontally, or between structural elements as freestanding facades) (connect at the perimeter frame, or when using the truss panel, can alternately be located at the edge or within the panel field) (panel mounting details are available to create variable spacing off of a building surface, creating additional flexibility) (rigid, attachment design does not require resisting the same tension forces as 2D cable systems) (primarily engineered to resist weight loads and wind forces, and in some cases can be designed for limited cantilevers) -vine-type plants require a host to attach to for vertical growth and support, and use a variety of evolutionary characteristics to attach to the host support (some are main-stem twiners, others use tendrils that can twine or curl around another plant or a component of a facade trellis) -aerial root system that is strong to hold the plant to a building without any additional support (ivy or wisteria, can do significant damage to a building facade -leaf hooking that involves the leaf pattern and plant strength hooking partially around a host structure until its growth advances to surround the support elements (bougainvillea) -should take into consideration the growing characteristics of different plant growth habits (vertical or scramble) (aerial root plants in close proximity will migrate to the building and abondon the facade structure) (runners and scramblers require additional maintenance) -advantages: -panel depth that provides additional structure for plant material support and long-term maintenance _______________________________________________________________ “Green Walls applications in Urban Rehabilitation”, http://www.wseas.us/e-library/conferences/2013/CambridgeUK/ STUPEME/STUPEME-23.pdf (accessed 1 Nov. 2015) Right: Figures 3-6. “Considerations For Advanced Green Facade Design”, photo, http://www.greenscreen.com
11
Figure 5. Brackets to keep plants of wall
Figure 3. Two-dimensional system
Figure 4. Three-dimensional system
Figure 6. Vine tendril attached
the living wall
panel system “have plants pre-grown into the panels and can be used inside or out, and in any climate”
tray system “is popular for indoor displays. plants are pre-grown off-site and inserted into the wall, which offers a great degree of versatility that can be exploited to cover entire surfaces or designed as living art” Figure 7. “Panel system green wall”, photograph, www.downtownhburg.wordpress.com
freestanding wall is “most commonly used indoors and is most easily changed, either by changing the location or changing the plants”
glass
_______________________________________________________________
modular grass cubes for easy installation
“Green Wall Pioneer Patrick Blanc: ‘Now Everybody is doing Vertical Gardens’”, http://www.dezeen.com/2014/01/08/ patrick-blanc-herzog-and-de-meuron-perez-art-museum-miami-vertical-gardens/ (accessed 3 Nov. 2015)
water irrigation pipes running through facade
13
Figure 8. “Green wall facade assemby detail”, computer model image, www.dddmodel.com
Figure 9. “Tray system green wall”, photograph, www.tournesolsiteworks.com
Figure 11. “Freestanding green wall”, photograph, www.verla.com
versa wall top trim versa wall drip line
building tubular steel frame separates the vegetated surface from the building plastic panel woven material water nutrient drips from irrigation tubes at top edge of the wall
selected plants versa wall base cabinet with removable front cover versa wall drainage pipe versa wall irrigation system
Figure 10. “Green wall”, drawing, www.gsky.com
two felt layers act as a growing medium for the roots plants are inserted between two layers felt gutter along the bottom of the wall catches water that can be recycled
Figure 12. “Living wall”, computer model image, www.treehugger.com
living facade issues
-attracts unwanted pests, insects, and birds -excessive growth -high maintenance -“difficulty with consistent survivability of plant material over large surfaces for an extended period of time” -“costs for producing a living wall are easily three to five times the cost of a green facade installation” -“significant ongoing maintenance and plant replacement operating costs”
_______________________________________________________________ “Considerations For Advanced Green Facade Design”, http://www.greenscreen.com (accessed 1 Nov. 2015)
15
Figure 13. “Green Facade maintenance”, photograph, www.growinggreenguide.org
Figure 14. “Living wall maintenance”, photograph, www.greenroofs.com
case studies projects with vertical greenery that focus on improving thermal performance
18
case studies projects with vertical greenery that focus on improving ventilation
20
case studies projects with vertical greenery that focus on improving sun-shading
22
case studies projects with vertical greenery that focus on building identity
types of office spaces
open office
an open work space for more than ten people, suitable for activities which demand frequent communication or routine activities which need relatively little concentration
touchdown office
an open work space for one person, suitable for short-term activities which require little concentration and low interaction
team space
a semi-enclosed work space for two to eight people; suitable for teamwork which demands frequent internal communication and a medium level of concentration
study booth
an enclosed work space for one person, suitable for short-term activities which demand concentration or confidentiality
team room
an enclosed work space for four to ten people, suitable for teamwork which may be confidential and demands frequent internal communication
work lounge
a lounge-like work space for two to six people, suitable for short-term activities which demand collaboration and/or allow impromptu interaction
shared office
an enclosed work space for two or three people, suitable for semi-concentrated work and collaborative work in small groups
23
cubicle
a semi-enclosed work space for one person, suitable for activities which demand medium concentration and medium interaction
private office
an enclosed work space for one person, suitable for activities which are confidential, demand a lot of concentration or include many small meetings
cellular office -sequential arrangement of one- and multi- person offices along the facade -accessible shared hallway -autonomous, focused work -confidential meetings -status -privacy -individuality -communication with other employees
combination office -combination of standardized one- and multi-person offices for focused work, with significantly reduced floorspace -multi-functional shared area -focused work -communication in the central zone -transparency -standardized configuration -frequent shifts between focused individual work and more communicative project or team work
team office -different office types within one office building or floor -open and transparent -high flexibility -mix of office types -team building and organization -project work -concentration -communication
open office -advantages of several office forms in open-plan application scenarios -efficient use of space -flexibility in open-plan application scenarios -mix of open-plan, group and combination offices -openness and exchange of knowledge -concentration -communications -quality of interaction
evolution of the office
4000 BC
1500
1600
4000BC-800BC First Indoor Workplaces
1560 The Uffizi in Florence, Italy started
These workspaces were sheltered to provide protection throughout all seasons. Examples of such workplaces include: monasteries, city centers, halls of government, and trade spaces (such as blacksmithing and spinning spaces).
1700
It was built to house the administrative offices of the government when the Palazzo Vecchio became too small. It displays both efficiency and easy public acess. Surveilance of workers and the need for enlarged space due to growth remain issues within the workplace today.
early 1500s The De Medici family develops the first office
These were spaces where clerical workers could gather for better efficiency and supervision. As the clerical workers provided services to the public, gathering in an office made them more accessible.
1780 1760 industrial revolution 1840 1800
machine ag
1760-1840 Manufacturing processes move indoors
The invention of electric candles and light bulbs empowered work to move indoors. It resulted in rooms that could be lit without any windows or relation to time of day. Trade and guild work were the first industries to move indoors, soon after manufacturing followed. The working conditions within these manufacturing buildings were poor. Unhealthy workplaces were the norm due to the lack of personal hygiene. During the late 1800s, the capacity for twenty-four hour workdays were possible. Office spaces at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution were generally separated areas on the factory floor. For surveilance purposes, managers or supervisors usually had offices with a window looking out onto the machine area.
1880s The fi 12 sto
This wa (such a and tec building mid-20 availab and tele
connection with nature
life expectancy technology
manuscript book
uffizi
typical factory floor in the early 1800s
johnson-wax administra
ge
1940
electronic age post world war II
1945
digital age
1980
1900
2000
Early 1900s The Taylorist office was created
It consisted of the serial repetition of desks in open plan areas. It advocated impersonal working conditions, epitomized by standardization and the desire for the economic use of space. Buildings were designed around natural ventilation and were narrow to allow natural light to access the floor plates throughout. Limited structural spans and the fact that vertical transportation was not yet developed also greatly influenced the building typology. It emphasized natural systems for lighting, ventilation, heating, and cooling.
1930s Advancements in electricity enabled lighting of spaces around the clock. Longer work days became the norm.
s rst high-rise buildings (exceeding ories) were constructed
as possible due to developments in materials as steel suitable for high-rise construction) chnolgy (such as elevators and cranes). These gs were rare outside of dense cities until the 0th century. Offices developed in response to le supporting technologies (the typewriter ephone).
1960s and 1970s The Burolandschaft/Office Landscape was created
Late 1990s The Green Building movement started
It cultivated open collaborative spaces. It was developed to break the disconnection of the interior and exterior of the building. Building cores were 1950s Buildings were built without concern for typically distributed across the floor plate to provide uniform services. Alternatively, the building core site or climate influences was located on the periphery to minimize visual and Artificial lighting and ventilation were the rule. physical obstruction within the interior. Subvisions The office remained a dehumanized and isolated and walls were eliminated within this paradigm. The place with no or limited consideration for the workstations evolved from the common rectangular workers. This did not change until the late 1960s. shape to a corner typology. Research conducted at the time indicated that improving social networks enhanced staff morale. 1967 This was found to directly increase movtivation and productivity of employees. Glass office were The Action Office was created introduced to offer continuous visual contact It ultimately aimed to provide higher privacy for within the workplace. individuals. It was intended as an alternative to the open plan concept. It later developed into the cubicle system, maximizing floor area economy, defying the original concept of interconnected spaces that also offer privacy.
Late 1970s to early 1990s Economic Efficiency was enforced
Buildings were predominantly rectangular or square to allow for optimal standardization. A shallower depth from the core to the outer walls was preferred. Due to development in building materials, larger spans were made possible, leading to column-free office spaces. Workplaces were populated by a combination of private offices and cubicles. Offices of partners and managers typically lined the periphery of the building, leaving dark, artificially lit corridors and central areas for other offices and cubicle layouts. Cubicles are often found in endless mazes to optimize economic efficiency.
End of 1800s Maintaining healthy buildings became a priority Aspects such as clean air, navigable stairwalls for wheelchairs and natural lighting (that enabled detail work to be performed indoors) became the focus.
overwork deaths
tion building
typical office floor in the 1940s
jacques tati playtime
2014
action office
Research indicated a relationship between office worker productivity and environmental design. This launched investigations into sustainability and green design principles.
21st century Collaborative office spaces started
The humanization of the workplace started and workplaces begun to respond in various degrees to the employee’s needs for child-care, exervise, health care, and relaxation. Technological advancements altered the way that knowledge work could be performed. The shift away from supervision to performance changes the way that workplaces need to operate and what they need to offer. Office spaces for most have become less hierarchical. An increase in social and interactive spaces is becoming the norm. Deep floor plates and large column spans provide continuous spaces that, by extension, maximize interaction between various areas. Atriums and broad, central stairways provide vertically interconnected spaces, linking various floors visually and psychologically. There is a return of the office landscape to maximize the use of the flexible and open floor plate. There is also a shift from purpose-built workplaces to buildings recycled into offices.
mental disorder brain/heart diseases
darling quarter
design method
design a new office building with relation to site and urban context focus on the building envelope design (not interior design): -facade -roof -connection to ground -floor plates -ceilings -core design living facade based on the: -urban scale -building scale -interactive scale utilize Revit for building envelope studies and facade simulations program: -office rental spaces (assuming every rented interior space design is renters’ responsibility)
27
office building
living facade
green roof
living wall
urban context
living facade
green space
garden roof building envelope core floor slabs connection to ground
site selection
San Francisco - small city in terms of space (49 square miles) - dense city surrounded by water (except south part) - no more additional space for expansion - conserving space is crucial _______________________________________________________________ Left: Figure 15. “San Francisco, CA.� Map. Google Earth.
30
North Waterfront North Beach Russian Telegraph Hill Hill Financial District Nob Hill Downtown Tenderloin Van Ness Civic Center
Yerba Buena South Beach
South of Market Mission Bay
Density (people per sq. mile) > 5,000 > 5,000 to 10,000 > 10,000 to 15,000 > 15,000 to 25,000 > 25,000 to 35,000 > 35,000 to 60,000 > 60,000
density high density in Northeast part of San Francisco
vacant spaces unoccupied spaces throughout Northeast part of the city, including green spaces
south beach district a district next to the most dense neighborboods, Downtown and the Financial District, and is an area that is still developing
site a vacant space at the edge of the South Beach and Yerba Buena districts
.
bibliography “Architecture and Urban Ecosystems: From Segregation to Integration”, http://www.thenatureofcities. com/2013/05/26/architecture-and-urban-ecosystems-from-segregation-to-integration/ (accessed 30 Oct. 2015) “Green Walls applications in Urban Rehabilitation”, http://www.wseas.us/e-library/conferences/2013/CambridgeUK/STUPEME/STUPEME-23.pdf (accessed 1 Nov. 2015) “Chapter 3: Commercial sector”, http://www.buildingsdatabook.eren.doe.gov/ChapterIntro3.aspx (accessed 30 Oct. 2015) “Green Wall Pioneer Patrick Blanc: ‘Now Everybody is doing Vertical Gardens’”, http://www.dezeen. com/2014/01/08/patrick-blanc-herzog-and-de-meuron-perez-art-museum-miami-vertical-gardens/ (accessed 3 Nov. 2015) “Considerations For Advanced Green Facade Design”, http://www.greenscreen.com (accessed 1 Nov. 2015)
image sources
Figure 1. “Living Facade Hydroponics”, photo, http://www.flickr.com Figure 2. “Considerations For Advanced Green Facade Design”, infrared photo, http://www.greenscreen.com Figure 3. “Considerations For Advanced Green Facade Design”, photo, http://www.greenscreen.com Figure 4. “Considerations For Advanced Green Facade Design”, photo, http://www.greenscreen.com Figure 5. “Considerations For Advanced Green Facade Design”, photo, http://www.greenscreen.com Figure 6. “Considerations For Advanced Green Facade Design”, photo, http://www.greenscreen.com Figure 7. “Panel system green wall”, photograph, www.downtownhburg.wordpress.com Figure 8. “Green wall facade assemby detail”, computer model image, www.dddmodel.com Figure 9. “Tray system green wall”, photograph, www.tournesolsiteworks.com Figure 10. “Green wall”, drawing, www.gsky.com Figure 11. “Freestanding green wall”, photograph, www.verla.com Figure 12. “Living wall”, computer model image, www.treehugger.com Figure 13. “Green Facade maintenance”, photograph, www.growinggreenguide.org Figure 14. “Living wall maintenance”, photograph, www.greenroofs.com Figure 15. “San Francisco, CA.” Map. Google Earth.
30