Qi Yan(Dissertation)

DESN40146: Dissertation/Research Project 201516

MArch Architecture Year 2 Module Leader: Dr. Ana Souto Student: Qi Yan (T2208860) Submission Date: 22/03/2016 Word Count: 8013

STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY

I confirm by submitting this work for assessment that I am its sole author, and that all quotations, summaries or

extracts from published sources have been correctly referenced. I confirm that this work, in whole or in part, has not

been previously submitted for any other award at this or any other institution.

Table of Content

Introduction

1

Main body Manifesto

3

Case study Wood Innovation Design Centre

14

Bosco Verticale

25

Design reflection Nottingham Wildlife Trust Centre

34

Conclusion

46

Bibliography

48

Working in the city

Introduction

It is not uncertain that climate change owes itself to the expanding of human activity. The climate change report points out that, at least 60% of climate change is caused by human activities producing carbon emissions (Tackle, 2015, p10). The green gashouse effect, global warming, and urban island heat are the most important negative effects from carbon emissions. 47% of CO2 emission come from buildings (mgd, 2012, p11). Architects should respond to this effect and should also contribute to solving this problem. The type of research that will be used, to demonstrate how to optimize environmental conditions through eco-infrastructure, is different architectural thinking and research method.

During the first part of the research, personal architectural thinking and approach will be discussed. On the basis of literature review and architectural theory to evaluate personal thinking. As an architect, the architecture should involve creating an in-depth relationship between the human, the architecture and

the

social

environment.

This

can

be

done

by

following

the

eco-infrastructure strategy to benefit architecture in different aspects, such as

1

environmental, physical, social and economic.

The second part of the research will be the analysis of case studies. Different case studies will be support different architectural thinking and approach.

Wood Innovation Design Centre shows how low-rise timber structure integrated with mix use building effect the environmental, economic and social aspect. Bosco Verticale shows the importance of eco-infrastructure in the architecture. According to the analysis of different case studies, to find an approach on how to improve the environmental conditions and also benefit the sense of the architectural experience creates a healthier environment for the people who work in the building. The third part of the research will be the design reflection. This part will mainly discuss how architectural theories and case studies will have an impact on the design.

2

Manifesto Optimizing the environmental conditions through the eco infrastructure architecture

Along with economic development and technology innovations, architecture technology has been continuously improving. At the same time, it brings negative effect for human well-being. The greenhouse gases, produced by these developments and innovations, impact CO2 emissions, 47% is from buildings, 33% from transportation, and 19% from industry (mgd, 2012, p11).

Eco infrastructure architecture is going to be the part of the solution because it is a combination of zero carbon material with low carbon energy consumption.

Our daily activities mostly take place and interact with architecture. The relationship between architecture and the human has played a key factor in society. This is because architecture is not an independent individual, and as an architect, one should be mainly concerned about the relationship between the human, the architecture and the social environment. The serious question for an architect is what kind of architecture will be suitable for a sustainable future.

The case for tall wood buildings reports that steel and concrete are the materials with very high energy intensive and large carbon footprint. The building construction contributes to the greenhouse gas emissions, which

3

causes climate change. Steel production represents 3% of world carbon dioxide emissions and concrete production represents over 5% (mgb, 2012, p 11). From an environmental point of view, I think architecture should emphasize on transforming our living environment towards the eco-friendly by promoting and producing the eco-infrastructure strategy into architecture.

Using ecosystem and biodiversity designs to emphasis on enhancing the habitat that improve the environmental conditions and also benefit the sense of the architectural experience creates a healthier environment for the people who work and live in the building. Meanwhile, the use of renewable material wood instead of steel and concrete for the building construction can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and store carbon in our building.

From the physical point of view, I think architects should focus on understanding the physical exploration of architecture, such as how architecture can be practical and functional to address the human spirit, how people will live in their building and how the human body and senses will respond to their space. An architect’s response should be to create a space that can be a satisfying physical experience. I believe building with the following in mind: these, light, material, atmosphere and structure, are the most important aspects of architecture. Comparing to other materials, wood gives the texture of nature, which can improve the special spatiality atmosphere of the building. The use of natural wood in the internal and

4

external of the building provides human delight and human interaction with nature within the building.

To move forward, from the social point of view, as an architect, I believe that architecture effects the quality of our lifestyle and community. Architecture should provide the best experience possible for the users and create a place which can positively effect the society, or make the community more enjoyable.

In the meantime, architecture needs to inspire people, enhance their creativity and encourage people to engage with a building, such as provide health and safety, social and educational environment for the local citizens, and have an effective improvement on people’s social behaviour.

In the economic point view, I think that architecture does not only create an aesthetic advancement of our environment but also can improve the quality of our lifestyle and promote working opportunity for local economic growth. By using sustainable architecture to reduce construction and maintenance cost, this will increase people's support for development.

Following the development of the society, the increase in population, growing demand for environmental resources, human and nature are becoming more contradictive. The concept of sustainable development chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland in the 1980 century (Graham, 2000). More and more people realize

5

that if our behaviour cannot be controlled, the development of our future generations will be affected. Therefore, nowadays most countries in the world have accepted sustainable strategy and had been paid unprecedented attention. Architecture is one of the most important factors that influence the survival and development of human beings. The development of construction industry promotes the economic development rapidly, but also consumes a lot of resources, energy, and causes serious environmental pollution. Therefore, sustainable architecture has largely affected the sustainable development of human society.

In the book of Big & Green by Gissen (2003), he points out that Frank Lloyd Wright is committed to the integration of architecture and landscape design, his work is essential to consider the function of nature in the building in the early of the 20th century. His work shows the relationship between nature and architecture, reflecting the combination of geometric and biological sources (Gissen, 2003, P81). He uses greenery in public spaces as a method to achieve sustainability, which is reflected in the philosophy of urban growth.

Such as Le Corbusier’s five points towards a new architecture, which states that demand for a roof garden, a roof terrace on the flat roof to adjust the temperature of the building.

In Guattari’s book, Three Ecologies, he claims that we have serious issues that

6

needed to be faced, which is ecological disequilibrium (2008). He pointed out the deterioration of personal and collective lifestyle. He also claimed that reconstruction of social, environment and individual practices should follow the ecosophy strategy, which include mental ecology, social ecology, and environment ecology. His philosophical theory “ecosophy� attempts to create an ecologically sustainable environment strategy for the world. The main solution which improves ecological disequilibrium is to create a sustainable development strategy that suits for each city. We need to change our lifestyle, behaviour, work, and move towards to the sustainable way.

Kim expressed a similar view of suitable strategy in architecture; he states three principles of suitable strategy: economy of resources, life cycle design and human design (Kim, 1998). Each principle can provide an understanding of the impact on the environment in the local and global way of architectural consumption. The economy of resources has applied the reuse and reduction of recycling material in the building. Life cycle design provides a way to analyse the construction process and its impact on the environment. Human design is focused on the relationship between human and natural and how they interact in the architecture (Kim, 1998, P8).

In the economy of resources aspect, an architect should reduce the use of non-renewable material for the building construction. Using renewable material

7

in building construction to create a sustainable environment for human well-being. The three principles of economy recourse are energy conservation, water conservation, and material conservation. The energy consumption of the building includes the heating, cooling, lighting and other facilities equipment.

The building should provide a specific engineering system of low carbon energy consumption. The building needs large amounts of quality water for the purpose of clean, irrigate plants and to flush toilets. The delivery of the water will consume energy use. The water recycles system needs to be included in the building in order to reduce energy consumption. The building material should focus on the construction material waste. The material chosen should be used considering the reduction of maintenance cost.

The life cycle design includes design construction, operation and maintenance, and demolition. The building design, orientation, landscape, construction and material are the way to examine the sustainable design strategy. Though the consideration of those elements in the building design to minimize environmental impacts, reduce the construction cost.

Human design is the most important part of sustainable design; it enhances the relationship between architecture, human, and environment. The architect should conserve natural conditions; reduce the impact of a building on the local ecosystem. Such as existing plants, topography and wildlife (Kim. 1988, P15).

8

The sustainable architecture should respect to the urban environment and city context. It can pleasure human comfort, enhance to reduce stress and create health wellbeing for people whom work and live in the city.

Sustainable design is being frequently used in architectural design nowadays.

Sustainable design is the basic principle of designing physical objects, establishing environment, serving the society, economy and ecological sustainability (McLennan, 2004). It is essential to control the overcrowded energy use and growing urban areas. Eco infrastructure is one of the main element needed to be considered in the 21st century of sustainable building design. The eco-infrastructure has variety of advantage for the urban city.

Using eco-infrastructure as the design principle, can minimize environmental impact, reduce the construction cost, increase employment opportunities and create value, and also creates a healthier environment for the people who work and live in the building.

In the 20th century, a Malaysian architect, Ken Yeang proposed a complex eco-infrastructure strategy of the modern green high-rise building. His design is a high response to the environment conditions of the site and the nature conditions. He has designed a scientific principle of eco-infrastructure relating to the social and to the context.

9

According to the Ken Yeang’s (Hart, 2011) four strands of eco-infrastructure of sustainable architecture is colour coded as follows: •

The “Grey”, the grey eco-infrastructure: (engineering eco-infrastructure: renewable energy system, eco-technology, carbon neutral system).

•

The “Green”, the green eco-infrastructure: (ecological eco-infrastructure: nature’s utilities, biodiversity, balancing, and ecological connectivity).

•

The “Red”, the red eco-infrastructure: human eco-infrastructure: human: enclosures, hardscapes, use of materials, products, lifestyle and regulatory system.

•

The “Blue”, the blue eco-infrastructure: water Eco-Infrastructure: water: sustainable drainage, ‘closing the loop’, rainwater harvesting, and water efficient fixtures.

In Ken Yeang’s project, his response to design a building has various ecology benefits. He includes green roofs, green walls, and sky courts into a single structure to provide a green design. In his project, he usually uses glazed façade with combination of steel structure. However, it has lost aesthetic values of the building.

Wood is a totally renewable material. It is a solution for climate change, which will reduce carbon emissions. It has many advantages for the environment and economy. On the environmental aspect, according to Climate Change report, it

10

stated, “The combined effect of carbon storage and substitution means that 1m³ of wood stores 0.9 t CO2 and substitutes 1.1 t CO2 - a total of 2.0 t CO2.”

(Tackle, 2015, p38). Wood has flexibility for the material performance in the building construction. Wood is also low in weight with high density, and has load-bearing and heat insulation properties with aesthetic value (Tackle, 2015, p60). Fire prevention is the most important aspect in timber structure. Wood burns slowly, steadily and predictably. However, the charred surface performs as a protection layer for the internal structure. On the economy aspect, wood has benefits for the building life cycle, timber structure is low-cost to build and has low maintenance cost (Tackle, 2015, p64). By using wood in building construction, it provides jobs to people and has a huge contribution towards the local economy.

The aesthetics of architecture, in different ways, is the composition. The transparency used was a straight representative of architectural element, space, structure and program in modernism. The Décor and Deconstructivism movement used the geometry of collage to replace of transparency in postmodernism. The current architecture composition is more emphasized and specialized in the building exterior and environmental control, but less force on the relationship between the exterior and interior design (Moussavi, 2006). In the book of Learning from Las Vegas (1977), Venturi and Denise Scott Brown proposed that Décor should replace the modernism transparency, because

11

décor movement contributes to the integration in the construction of urban realm, and is more meaningful for the people. According to the Semper’s theory, the functional and structural requirements of the building belong to the decorative symbols and artistic objects (Semper, 1989).

As architects, the building should involve creating a depth relationship between the entire fabrics of the building with urban community setting. The façade ornaments need provide effective levels of environmental control and aesthetic performance. The building form will follow the design program; the ornament on the façade should have the function that respect to the environmental, culture, social and commercial. The attractive ornament façade stimulate additional investment in the building and also will benefit the surroundings. It not only attracts more people to use and visit the building but also increases economic opportunities in the city.

In my point of the view, sustainable architecture, the entire building program, and form will be following to the four points of the eco-infrastructure principle such as engineering eco-infrastructure, ecological eco-infrastructure, human eco-infrastructure, and water eco-infrastructure. The eco-infrastructure will help make the building extremely energy efficient. The aim of using eco-infrastructure in the design not only for minimizing environmental impact, reduce the construction cost, create value, but also to improve people's

12

awareness of environmental protection, and encourage people toward a more balanced and harmonious development of human habitat and the natural.

On the aesthetic aspect, the building façade investigation, which the full ornament façade will be honest in how they present themselves. The fancy ornament façade is not only for ornamenting the building, it also the part of the building construction. The building façade will reflect the culture and what went on before. It should evoke memories of our lives. The building façade should respond to its program and site. By improvement to the environmental conditions with an emphasis on enhancing biodiversity habitat on the building façade, to benefit the human well-being.

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Case study

Wood innovation Design Centre

In nowadays, steel and concrete are the most common material used for the building construction. However, steel and concrete are the material with very high energy and high greenhouse gas emission in their process. Wood gives the texture of nature; it is connecting us to nature in the building environment.

In addition, wood is the best solution for the greenhouse gas emissions as it has the capacity to store the carbon. One-meter square wood will store one ton of carbon dioxide (MGB, 2012, p26).

Figure 1. External view of Wood Innovation Design Centre

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Figure 2. Shows construction possibility for Wood Innovation Design Centre

The Wood Innovation Design Centre (WIDC) is the tallest timber structure building in North America (Hooper, E, 2015) (Figure 1). The reason for using this project as a case study is because this project has contributed successfully on different aspects. On the environmental aspect, WIDC aims to use renewable sustainable material to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in their construction process. On the economic aspects, it aims to improve the local lumber economy. On the technical aspect, it stands as a new construction possibility for the timber high-rise building (Figure 2). The building design integrates glulam columns beams, CLT floor panels, mass timber products, creating a simply structure that can be easily replicated (MGA, 2016).

My stated thesis is the improvement of the environmental condition through the eco-infrastructure architecture. Using renewable material in the building construction to create a sustainable environment for human well-being is the one approach to the eco-infrastructure strategy.

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The WIDC is located in the University of North British Columbia in Canada.

The project was completed in 2014. The 8-story all timber structure building included mezzanine space (total height 29.5-meter) designed by Michael Green Architecture (ArchDaily, 2015). It sits on a concrete slab and contains 4,850 m2 of office and education space (ArchDaily, 2015). WIDC provides a space for students, researchers, professionals and other people who are interested in wood innovation design. The lower three levels of the building combine with different facilities and are used for the Master of Engineering in the Integrated Wood Design Program. Upper floors are the office spaces, which are used for government and wood organizations (MGA, 2016). This project not only shows the aesthetic value of wood, but also provides a principle for the use of timber structure in mid-rise and high- rise buildings. This project has fully considered the use reusable material for building construction, integrate human with nature and reduce construction process impact in the environment to create an eco-friendly and sustainable strategy.

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Figure 3. Ground floor plan.

Figure 5. Ground floor section.

Figure 4. Mezzanine floor plan

Figure 6. Typical office floor plan

This building is a mixed-use building, in a single structure. Double height public area and Lecture Theatre, located on the south side of the site, allows to get the maximum natural sunlight into this area. Demonstration area, mezzanine level and cafĂŠ integrate with external seating area provides more activities for people to use (Figure 3). Academic facilities on the ground floor included research lab, technician office, electrical room and mechanical room are

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located on the north side of the site, because those spaces require less natural sunlight (Figure 4). The roof deck with greenery located on the top of the Lecture Theatre, provides external space for the officers and students to use (Figure 5). The vertical core located in the middle of the building, supports the whole structure stable. Classrooms and university offices are located in the middle of the building. The upper three floors are the rentable office spaces (Figure 6) (ArchDaily, 2015).

According to the spatial and program analysis of the Wood Innovation Design Centre, it claims that the mixed-use building combines multiple functions within the single structure. The mixed-use building was a response to the metropolitan pressure of escalating land values and the constraints of the urban grid. With horizontal movement restricted, the city fabric movement moved skyward. By installing hybrid buildings within the site, it could reduce the pressure for land use. Diversification of uses in mixed-use facilities aids greatly in efficiency. It also benefits to reduce long-term maintenance costs of individual buildings.

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Figure 7. Shows the building façade with shading system

The building façade involves insulated walls, shading system with triple-glazed thermal curtain wall system. These performances are the key part of the whole energy efficiency strategy (Figure 7). The charred cladding installs on the building façade, which increases material durability and protects against insects and has moisture resistance (Canadian Wood Council, 2014, p18).

The system of the façade is designed based on the orientation of the sun.

Maximum glazed wall combined with shading system is designed on the south façade. On the north, charred insulation wall integrated with opaque glazed wall and transparency glazed thermal wall provided to control the northern climate (Michael Green Architecture, 2015, p2). On the east and west, glazed curtain wall and timber-insulated wall protect the low angle of the sun (Figure 7). The most important part to consider for the timber façade, is rainwater. In

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this project, the cedar-clad rain screen wall consisted of insulated structure panels with liquid- silicone air and moisture barrier membrane to protect external faรงade (Canadian Wood Council, 2014, p16).

Figure 8. Structural diagram

The foundation of the building is 400mm to 600mm reinforced concrete slab.

The primary building structure is an innovation combination of glulam columns, beams, mass timber products, and cross-laminated timber structure core with shading faรงade (Figure 8). The advantage of this strategy is that the procedure minimizes total vertical shrinkage and the building frameworks can easily be repeated and expanded (Canadian Wood Council, 2014, p5). The floor system of WIDC consists of two layers of CLT floor panels. The services pipe and acoustical performance layer are in between of the CLT floor panels (Canadian Wood Council, 2014, p5).

Fire safety is the most important part needing to be considered in the timber structure building. WIDC had a fire safety strategy designed for during the

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construction process and use process. For example, 24-hour security provided on the site, “hot work” were minimized during the construction. Fire stopping provided at the joints between CLT panels. Heavy glulam columns beam construction incorporate with CLT floor and mass solid timber panel achieve 45 minutes fire resistance rate (mgb, 2012, p42). Double layers fire access doors were installed into the building façade. Emergency access in the WIDC is provided by double-scissor stairways, CLT walls, and celling and floor covered with the fire-retardant coating to reduce the flame spread (Canadian Wood Council, 2014, p15).

“This building represents an important milestone in the evolution of wood buildings in North America and, to some extent, the world. The project introduces new methods of working with mass timber panels and specifically cross-laminated timber. We designed the project as a repeatable solution and a tool to educate designers, building owners, code authorities, contractors and industry in the opportunities of advanced wood products. We are proud of the leadership B.C. has shown in envisioning the project and in helping us all truly deliver such a significant step in the future of tall wood buildings.” – Michael Green. (MGA, 2015, p6)

MGA reports that the environmental impact of the use wood as construction material includes sustainable and renewable material; avoid greenhouse gas

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emissions; wood is the best material for carbon storage (MGA, 2015, p6). The most important environmental consideration for the WIDC includes rain, thermal comfort and temperature control. The building design combined with rain screen principle and high-quality durable material to protect the wood structure and other moisture-sensitive materials (Canadian Wood Council, 2014, p16). In Michael Green’s report Tall Wood points out that mass timber construction has low environmental impact building with longevity (mgb, 2012, p11). The timber mass panel has efficiently benefited to the building construction, which includes lightweight structure, fire, acoustic performance and structural performance, scale, and material durability.

The timber structure could increase the demand for wood that results to the deforestation. However, the difference between deforestation and sustainable harvest of our forest needs be clarified. The regulations of the suitable harvest forests should be provided by the local government to ensure forests are regenerated. Sustainably managed forests harvested could improve the local economy (mgb, 2012, p26). On the economic aspect effect, the mass timber panels are made by small pieces of the wood glued together to make panels that are enormous. It is a way to encourage people to make money through very fast growth cycles. For example, by fast growing cycles of trees in the deforested areas to improve the local economy. The mass timber panel is an approach to increase forestry diversity, encourage economy and forest

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security of Canada. All the wood products are manufactured in British Columbia, which provide job opportunities for the local people.

WIDC shows the aesthetic, environmental, structural and economic value of timber structure building. From the social aspect, WIDC centre provides opportunities for people who are interested in the wood innovation program and offer research and education activates to manufacture wood products. It enhances creativity and encourages people to take their future engagement with a building.

Figure 9. The Stadthaus Apartment Building

Timber structure is not commonly use in the world. The Stadthaus apartment building is another example of multi-storey timber building (Figure 9). The project shows the possibility of low-rise timer structures in UK. The Stadthaus

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apartment building is located in Hoxton, London. It is designed by Waugh Thistleton Architects, completed in 2009. The nine-storey building is the tallest modern timber structure building in the world before 2009. The nine-storey building is constructed entirely in timber; load bearing walls, floor slabs and a vertical core (Techniker, 2010, p1).

Environmental factor is the most important aspect we need to consider as an architect. Wood is a solution for this problem. It can transform our living environment towards the eco-friendly. This project aims to use cross-laminated products from an environmental point of view and try to design a low-rise timber structure accepted in the UK rather than use concrete, steel and masonry (Techniker, 2010, p2). Five key elements have been considered and resolved in this building, which include fire, robustness, strength, movement and acoustic. The entire timber structure is the way to reduce the carbon emission during the process and finished building.

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Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest)

Figure 10. Bosco Verticale

The four principle of eco-infrastructure of sustainable architecture include engineering

eco-infrastructure,

ecological

eco-infrastructure,

human

eco-infrastructure and water eco-infrastructure. The vertical forest is the best example for eco-infrastructure architecture. Using renewable energy system, rainwater harvesting, grey water recycle, enhance biodiversity and promote greenery on the faรงade and create a sustainable lifestyle for use, are the main approach to environmental sustainability.

The vertical forest is a sustainable high-rise residential building in Milan, Italy (Figure 10). The project completed in 2014. It designed by Stefano Boeri Architect. It is a new model for the green skyscraper that contributes to the reforestation in the urban city. By the regeneration of the environment and the

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increase

in

urban

biodiversity

without

expanding

the

city

territory

(Stefanoboeriarchitetti, 2016). The vertical forest consists of two residential towers of 26 floors 110-meter height and 18 floors 76-meter height. The building faรงade covered by 900 trees up to 3, 6, 9-meter height and over 2000 plants which the position towards the orientation of the sun. All the trees and plants located in the containers of the each external cantilevered terraces, are accessed by each flat (Stefanoboeriarchitetti, 2016).

Figure 11. Ground floor plan.

Figure 12. External cantilevered terraces

Figure 13. The green faรงade will be change by season.

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The two residential towers are linked by a public space. The vertical core is in the middle of the plan and surrounded by each apartment. Each external green terrace combined with the public green area on the ground floor, create individual and public green space of the residences (Figure 11). It creates a social playground for the residences. The cantilevered terraces are directly access from each apartment; it represents as a private garden for each apartment and also provides green-filtered view to the city (Arup, 2015, p11) (Figure 12). The greenery selected by different species. The colour of the plants will be changed by seasons and years (Figure 13).

Figure 14. Environmental diagram

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Stefano Boeri points out that the green faรงade of the building is not only for the ornament, but also represents the idea of bringing biodiversity into the city, such as trees, plants, shrubs, flowers and small animals (Stefanoboeriarchitetti, 2016). The extension of the green terraces provides habitats for different species. It also has several benefits to the urban environmental and microclimate; such as it reduces pollutions from noise and aborts dust, carbon sequestration, temperate mitigation, and balances the humidity (Figure 14).

The reason for using this project as a case study, since the Bosco Verticale creates a biological habitat to regenerate the urban city. From analysis, this project is to understand the benefit of ecosystem designs, structural performance, environmental performance and irrigation system.

The structural design of Vertical forest is a combination of reinforced concrete column with post-tensioned reinforced concrete floor. This structure strategy allows limited dimensions for the structure elements with the maximum span of the cantilever and load (Arup, 2015, p7).

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Figure 15. External terraces. Figure 16. Plant container

The structural stability of plants and irrigation system are the most importance aspects needed to be considered in this project. The plant containers of the building are located on the edge of the external terraces (Figure 15). The structural stability of the plants has been designed through examination of different botanical species and their geometry; wind climate evaluation. Three restraining devices have been designed after analysis which includes the trees roots connecting to a steel mesh embedded in the soil; the medium and large size trees have safety cables to avoid the trees falling if the trunk breaks (Figure 16); the large trees located in the most exposed area to the wind are fixed within a safety steel cage to avoid overturn under the windstorms (Arup, 2015, p13).

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Figure 17. Irrigation diagram

The irrigation system of Bosco Verticale consists of four elements: the principal of network tower; the water group control system in each container; the widespread distribution element in the plant container; the humidity control system (Giacomello, 2015, p17). The principal network is the basic distribution network which brings underground water to the terrace. The water storage tank is located in the basement of each tower, and the distribution of the water is through the different groups of the pumps (Figure 17). The facade irrigation system is the lack of insulation against the low temperatures. However, the irrigation system will automatically empty the pipes when the temperature reaches to 0°C (Giacomello, 2015, p17). Each container has individual control group system which can individually open and close irrigation flow. The drip line is the downstream irrigation distribution system for each container. Each

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container has two humidity sensors to control the humidity of the plants. The record date is used to control the irrigation system, which can avoid the water loss (Giacomello, 2015, p17). Irrigation tank, storage tank, computerized central monitoring, water intake, excess water combine with the municipal sewage and energy centre to create a whole recycled system of water distribution network for irrigation.

The Bosco Verticale has promoted 18,000 square meters of green façade. The contribution of sustainable green façade design in the urban scale includes the reduce of urban heat island effect and air temperature mitigation; improve the air quality of the city; absorption of noise pollution and dust; carbon sequestering; increase biodiversity; improve natural habitats for different species, and improve the aesthetic appeal. In the building scale, the contribution of green façade includes benefiting the health of the users; improve the building energy efficiency; improve the air quality of the building’s internal space; protect the building’s envelope; reduce the noise pollution; shading for cooling and agricultural benefits (Giacomello&Valagussa, 2015, p11).

Breathing Space report is a strategy for the regeneration of open and green space in the city of Nottingham. According to the Breathing Space report, it points out that Nottingham has an ambitious target to reduce 26% citywide

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carbon emission by 2020, by using low or zero carbon materials to produce 20% of the city’s energy and recycling rates increasing to 50% (Parks and open space, 2007, p11). The Nottingham city council also encourage using eco-infrastructure such as rainwater and grey harvesting, green roofs and mechanical ventilation system, and heat extraction on a number of council building to reduce the urban heat island effect. Nottingham is aiming to become a clean, safe, ambition and proud city by 2016 (Parks and open space, 2007, p32). The key approach to support this ambition is to include an increase of green corridors in the city links to improve green infrastructure and the city paths, improve walking and cycling infrastructure; to support city navigation, and make the best use of parks and open spaces accessible (Parks and open space, 2007, p32).

Nottingham City Centre Urban Design Guide points out that the tall building zone in Nottingham is located in the eastern side of the city centre. It starts from Victoria centre to the train station including the Sneinton Market (Nottingham City Centre Urban Design Guide, 2009, p41). The tall building proposal is acceptable in the Sneinton Market and each of the tall buildings should be designed as a landmark tower. The mix-use building will be proposed in the Sneinton Market. The program of the mix-use building has a variety of forms. The thematic program and the disparate program are two typical programs of the mix-use building (Fenton, 1985, p5). The thematic

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program is emphasizing a singleness of function between the various assembled elements, such as a university. The disparate program is emphasizing economic advantage. It can benefit by adding commercial functions. They are all based on the combination and interaction of the programmatic parts (Fenton, 1985, p5).

However, the tall building should not over 25 or 30 storeys (Nottingham City Centre Urban Design Guide, 2009, p41). The design project will be fully considering those approaches to the building structure, space organization, faรงade, and material use.

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Design Reflection

Nottingham Wildlife Trust

Through the learning of Wood Innovation Design Centre and Bosco Verticale, I found the important effects of timber structure and eco-infrastructure in the building design. This project will contribute to improve environmental conditions of Nottingham by prompting eco-infrastructure architecture. The eco-infrastructure approach will include, using wood for the entire building structure, using ecosystem and biodiversity designs to emphasis on enhancing the habitat on the building faรงade; improves the environmental conditions and also benefits the sense of the architectural experience, and creating a healthier environment for the people who work in the building; using sustainable water recycle and irrigation system in the design. The function of the building will follow the city context and local needs.

The project examines the design of a large mixed-use commercial building that makes the background of the city. The building will be designed fully ornamented and eco-friendly, respectful of the context, providing aesthetic quality and improving the local environmental conditions. The aim of this project is to find out how to optimize environmental conditions in Nottingham through

eco-infrastructure

architecture.

This

project

emphasizes

on 34

transforming our living environment towards eco-friendly by promoting and producing sustainability and eco-infrastructure design in a mixed-use commercial building. The site is located in the Sneinton Market of Nottingham.

The Sneinton Market is the most promising redevelopment area in Nottingham.

This underused wasteland will be transformed into a new high-density creative quarter of the city. The whole area will install 11 mixed-use commercial buildings with, offices, galleries, theatres, a library, hotels, a shopping centre, restaurants, bars, and cafĂŠs. By installing high-quality public spaces and mixed-use buildings in this area, it will repair the urban fabric of Nottingham.

The mixed-use commercial building in Sneinton Market will examine the relationship between form, function, technology, urban context and society; establishing a coherent balance with the building. The building is a productive use of building space and energetic to urban areas. The technology and innovation of sustainability are being used in the design of the building.

However, it has numerous of challenges. It can be provided as a model to inspire and refresh Nottingham.

The public square has taken a remarkable role as a lively urban centre for the densely populated Nottingham. The public square will give the stability of the pedestrian flow and also create to provide opportunities for people to escape from dark and dirty city streets. The greatest advantage of the increase in

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public spaces in Nottingham, is the growing number of people who spend time enjoying themselves in the city.

Figure 18. Site plan.

The Nottingham Wildlife Trust Centre (NWTC) is situated in the central of the redevelopment area, adjacent to the large central Public Square and tram stop (see figure 18). It represents a friendly and welcoming entrance of the whole redevelopment area, connecting the train station to Nottingham city centre from the south to the northwest. The new tramline provides a convenient transportation for the workers and users. The 8 storey building contains 9,260 m2 of office and education space, which integrates with the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Organization providing a space for students, researchers, professionals and other people who are interested in protecting wild animals and places, and educate people about protecting nature. The NWTC is not

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only creating a healthier and safer environment but also attract everyday users, passers-by, and tourists.

The building program and form will be following to the four points of the eco-infrastructure principle such as engineering eco-infrastructure, ecological eco-infrastructure, human eco-infrastructure, water eco-infrastructure. The eco-infrastructure will help make the building extremely energy efficient. The aim of using eco-infrastructure in the design, not only for minimizing environmental impact, reducing the construction cost, creating value, but also to improve people's awareness of environmental protection and encourage people towards a more balanced and harmonious development of human habitat and nature.

The NWTC is divided by levels in three different functions. The lower three levels of the building combine with different facilities are used for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Organization, which provides a Lecture Theatre, library & archive, classrooms, and cafĂŠ. Upper floors are the office spaces which are used for wildlife trust organization and rental office, and the flexible exhibition space in the middle with a huge external green terrace. A different function of the building is the access from different entrances and exits, which provides a clear circulation for different users.

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Figure 19. Ground floor plan. Figure 20. Public space: Lecture Theatre.

The Wildlife Trust Centre access at the east side of the site, integrates with an external seating area and the public square with the boulevard pedestrian street, to create a welcoming and flexible space for people to use (see figure 19). Lecture Theatre, cafĂŠ, and bar with internal and external seating area establish the ground floor. The external public space integrates with the public square creating an open assessable circulation for the city. The multifunction Lecture Theatre will provide public lectures and events for people who are interested in wildlife protection (see figure 20). The timber arch combined with the wood panel wall and the

floors in the Lecture Theatre create a

comfortable atmosphere for the users.

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Figure 21. Cantilevered terraces.

The exhibition space, a flexible use area, acts as an interface between the public space which is Wildlife Trust Centre and the private office space. The exhibition space access is at the northeast corner, which engages with the public square. The reason to have green terraces in the exhibition area is not only for the increase in green infrastructure in the building but also to allow more natural light into the north side of the building (see figure 21).

The entrance to the office space at the north corner responds to the significant vehicular for the town centre. The big void space in the middle of the building which allows natural sunlight into the building to avoid the use of artificial light in the day, also designs a natural cross ventilation system in the building which benefits to energy efficiency. By increasing the green terrace and the green

39

roof in the building, it can improve the relationship between human and nature.

The position of the cantilevered terraces in the office spaces is towards the orientation of the sun. By increasing greenery in the working spaces, it creates a more natural view to satisfying users.

Figure 22. Faรงade with habitat.

Figure 23. The green faรงade will be change by season.

The building faรงade is aiming to the improvement of environmental conditions, with an emphasis on enhancing the habitat and biodiversity. The building faรงade is covered by 2 to 3-meter height trees and shrub, which are located

40

towards the orientation of the sun. All the trees and shrubs are located in the containers of the cantilevered terraces (see figure 22). The load-bearing façade walls combined with different sized perforations, allows to fill it in with the insect’s hotel (see figure 22). By install insect’s hotel and greenery on the façade, it is an approach to contribute to the reforestation in the urban city and increase urban biodiversity without expanding the city land. The extension of façade wall has been manipulated according to the orientation and angle of the sun. On the upper floors, the façade wall has been extended 2 meters, which is represented as the shading system. However, the extension has been decreasing on the lower floors, which allows maximum natural light into the building. The key performance of the façade includes the insulated wall and shading system with triple-glazed thermal curtain wall system. Those approaches are the key parts of the whole energy efficiency strategy.

Figure 24. Irrigation diagram

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On the green eco-infrastructure aspect, the façade provides habitats for different species, such as bees, butterflies, birds and other insects (see figure 23). The colour of the plants will be changed by seasons and years (see figure 24). By installing greenery with insect habitat on the façade, not only for the ornament, but to also achieve to bring biodiversity back into the city and protect wildlife. According to the report by Living Green City 2015, it demonstrates that 1m² of living wall produces 1.7 kg oxygen, extracts 2.3kg of CO2 and reduces 8dB noise per year (Living Green City, 2015). The advantage of the green façade design in the urban scale includes reducing the urban heat island effect, air temperature mitigation, absorbing noise pollution, and dust; carbon sequestering; increasing biodiversity; improving natural habitats for different species, and improving the aesthetic appeal. In the building scale, the contribution of green façade includes benefiting the health of the users; improving the building energy efficiency; improving the air quality of the building internal space; protecting the building’s envelope; reducing the noise pollution; shading for cooling and agricultural benefits.

On the human eco-infrastructure aspect, the façade pays attention to the relationship between architecture, human, and nature. The façade is aimed to pleasure human comfort, enhance reduced stress and create health wellbeing for people who work in the building. The prefabricated habitat design is to aim to reduce maintenance cost.

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The reason of using wood structure in comparison to steel and concrete, wood can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions during construction process and store carbon in the building. The building structure is entirely made of wood.

Glued laminated timber column and beam structure with mass cross-laminated wall and floor system establish the building structure. Three vertical cores are located on the each corner of the site to support the structure. The NWTC does not only show the aesthetic value of wood but also provide a sustainable strategy of using timber structure in low-rise buildings.

Water eco-infrastructure is designed in the building. The rainwater harvesting system, grey water recycling, and sustainable drainage have been designing within the building. The rainwater will harvest from the green roof, a vertical distribution through the vertical core to the water tank in the basement. The faรงade irrigation system will be distributed horizontally through the raised floor to each cantilevered terrace (Figure 22). Humidity sensors will be installed in each container to control the humidity of the plants. The irrigation system will be applied to the data record system, which avoids water loss.

Fire safety is the most important need to consider in the timber structure building. The building structure uses prefabricated glulam column and beam, with prefabricated cross-laminated timber floor and wall. The benefit of using a

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prefabricated structure is the minimized “hot work” during the construction.

24-hour security will provide on the site for fire resistance. The emergency access in the building will be covered with fire-retardant coating to reduce the flame spread. The timber column and beam produced/designed in the building are oversized. This is so that during a fire accident, the wood will burn slowly; the charred surface will protect the structure durability, which gives people more time to escape.

NWTC will use local manufactured wood products, which is a way to encourage local lumber economy and offer work opportunities for the local people. Moreover, by using wood as construction material, increases the government’s concerns about deforestation, encouraging forest security of UK.

Offices, Lecture Theatre, café & bar, gallery, and Green Park will be proposed in the wood structure. By installing the building on the site has many advantages, such as, stimulate the diversification of building design, increase urban biodiversity without expanding the city land, reduce traffic to environmental pollution, offer a pedestrian- friendly environment to provide a convenience between life, work, business, and entertainment.

NWTC realized the importance of nature as the impact to our daily life and believe that nature resource is the heart of our society. NWTC will offer places

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and habitats for wildlife and people, influencing other people to protect nature.

NWTC will integrate with local schools and education institutes that educate and inspire people about wildlife and nature. It also provides workshops and an archive for students, researchers, professionals and other people who are interested in environmental protection and conservation. NWTC is a valuable open space for the local community, it achieves to create a living landscape for local communities to secure water resources and influence people on how important nature is in our life and to take action for nature conservation.

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Conclusion

Nowadays, architects integrate different sustainable technology in the design to achieve a high standard sustainable strategy. However, sustainable design is not only the use of sustainable technology but also needs to consider how sustainable technologies incorporate with renewable material and elements of nature to create a strategy suite for the future. The relationship between sustainable architecture, human and nature feature needs to be evaluated.

According to different architectural thinking and research methods, the main objective of this research focuses on how to optimize the environment condition in Nottingham through eco infrastructure.

The approach of this aim is by using ecosystem and biodiversity designs to emphasis on enhancing the habitat on the building faรงade; that improve the environmental conditions and also benefit the sense of the architectural experience, and creates a healthier environment for the people who work in the building. Meanwhile, the use of a renewable material like wood instead of steel and concrete for the building construction can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and store carbon in our building. The use of natural wood in the internal and external of the building provides human delight and human interaction

with

nature

within

the

building.

The

sustainable

water

eco-infrastructure technology such as, rainwater-harvesting system, grey

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water recycling, and sustainable drainage have been designed in the building.

In the meantime, architecture needs to inspire people, enhance their creativity and encourage people to engage with a building, such as provide healthier and safer, social and educational environment for the local citizens, and have an effective improvement on people’s social behavior.

There have many benefits of using those approaches. The building façade integrated with greenery, with insect’s habitat, helps to regenerate the environment and to increase urban biodiversity without expanding the city land.

The green façade combined with timber structure is not only for the environmental aspect but to also create aesthetic value for the building. The low-rise timber structure building is not a common construction method currently. However, this research is focused on material innovation. The building structure is entirely made of wood. Glued laminated timber column and beam structure with mass cross-laminated wall and floor system establish the building structure. The building does not only show the aesthetic value of the wood but also provides a sustainable strategy of using timber structure in low-rise buildings. According to the analysis of different architectural theories and case studies, it is demonstrated that by enhancing eco-infrastructure structure in low-rise timber buildings as a sustainable strategy, could improve the environmental conditions of Nottingham. This approach can be used as a new model for the low-rise timber architecture that contributes to improve the environmental conditions and protect nature conservation.

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List of Figure Figure 1. External view of Wood Innovation Design Centre Figure 2. Shows construction possibility for Wood Innovation Design Centre Figure 3. Ground floor plan Figure 4. Mezzanine Floor Plan Figure 5. Section through ground floor and mezzanine floor Figure 6. Typical office floor plan Figure 7. Shows the building façade with shading system Figure 8. Structural diagram Figure 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8.

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od-innovation-and-design-centre_o [Accessed 20 Feb. 2016].

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Figure 10. Bosco Verticale Figure 11. Ground floor plan Figure 12. External cantilevered terraces Figure 13. The green façade will be change by season.

Figure 14. Environmental diagram Figure 15. External terraces.

Figure 16. Plant container Figure 17. Irrigation diagram.

Figure 10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17.

•

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Figure 18. Site plan.

Figure 19. Ground floor plan.

Figure 20. Public space: Lecture Theatre.

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Figure 21. Cantilevered terraces.

Figure 22. Faรงade with habitat.

Figure 23. The green faรงade will be change by season.

Figure 24. Irrigation diagram Figure 18, 19, 20, 21,22, 23, 24. By author โ ข

Yan, Q (2016).

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