Efficiency of form and system – architectural requirements in the age of ecology

1. Efficiency of form and system – architectural requirements in the age of ecology Michael Haslam Dublin School of Architecture Orna Hanley + tbc 15th February 2013

2. AimTo investigate the impact of passive environmental strategies on built form and facade Objectives: • To define an environmental design methodology for students of architecture and practising architects • Building on a tradition of architecture that encompasses environmental context.

3. AimTo investigate the impact of passive environmental strategies on built form and facade Researching the influence of: Thermal environment and occupation Natural ventilation Day lighting Thermal mass placement Solar orientation On building envelope and volume 3

4. AimTo investigate the impact of passive environmental strategies on built form and facade Drivers: To understand how well passive environmental design can contribute to net zero energy buildings and to test the assumption that this is an appropriate way to achieve zero energy buildings. To deepen understanding of the combination of environmental design and structure for the reinforcement of practice and teaching. To determine the best forms and facades for different building typologies in order to achieve passive environmental efficiencies. 4

5. MethodologyLiterature review Basic text books covering passive environmental strategies in buildings Architecture and climate - Hawkes D The environmental handbook - Feilden Clegg Bradley Environmental design – an introduction for architects and engineers – Thomas R A green vitruvius – ERG/UCD Daylighting in buildings - ERG/UCD Energy manual – Detail, Birkhauser The environments of architecture: environmental design in context - Thomas R The architecture of the well-tempered environment – Banham R Climate and architecture – Dahl T. Biomimicry – Pawson M 5

6. MethodologyLiterature review Selected papers, periodicals, regulations on passive environmental strategies in buildings Solar shading in buildings 1999 BRE Nat Vent in Non-domestic buildigs – 2005 CIBSE applications manual. A guide to energy efficient ventilation 1996 Liddament M. Part L heat loss method for relationship of area to volume and balance of heat loss and gain through a façade. Periodicals: BDP/Arup research/Buro Happold research 2010 – Periodicals: Environmental Building News Beyond Biomimicry - Turner and Soar. Biomimicry in Architecture -Berkebile and McLennan 6

7. MethodologyHistorical investigations Traditionally primary concern was to mitigate the effect of cold, wind and wet of the winter months 18th century buildings bringing architecture into a more precise relationship with climate In 19th century ventilation design was to clean external air – Larkin building; Royal Victoria Hospital; ventilation and heating brought together for first time – Reform Club London. In 20th century move towards highly serviced buildings but both costly and issues of health/SBS. In 21st century what is the most appropriate way to combine architecture and environment to provide affordable (in widest sense) comfort. 7

8. MethodologyDesign investigations Daylight in buildings Geometric optimisation - Daylight is a dynamic variable so building must be considered in terms of its location. Building form: proportion of envelope area in relation to building volume Glazing: define usable daylight potential by way of glazing design. Orientation of glazing Quality of glass Daylighting Systems both static and controllable and according to their position 8

9. MethodologyDesign investigations Natural ventilation in buildings Response to general climate and more particular context of the site Assessing internal heat gains and ventilation requirements Ventilation by wind pressure Ventilation by way of thermal currents Attenuation, filters, double facades Assisted natural ventilation Minimising ventilation heat loss 9

10. MethodologyDesign investigations Thermal mass in buildings The amount of heat a structure can absorb for a given temperature rise Thermal mass positioned to absorb heat during the day and to lose at night Position of thermal mass in relation to ventilation Position of thermal mass in relation to passive solar gains Use of earth as ‘thermal labyrinth’ heat or cool store 10

11. MethodologyDesign investigations Building envelope Aim to maximise its passive capabilities Thermal resistance of the envelope Building geometry: compactness; thermal zoning Passive solar gain strategies Avoiding overheating - reducing heat transfer, reducing incoming solar radiation Proportion of glazing; sunshades; solar gain index: the sum of the heat gains through the glazing related to the floor area of the room 11

12. MethodologyDesign investigations Overcoming barriers Natural ventilation – capital cost and design coordination Client expectations – widening the comfort range Client expectations – building form Dealing with extremes - temperature, noise, glare… 12

13. MethodologyDesign investigations Future strategies Lessons from biomimicry – understanding principles behind form and systems “in nature materials are expensive and shape is cheap” Julian Vincent “the axiom of uniform stress” Claus Mattheck – perfect efficiency. Role of carbon neutral materials and new technologies in form and envelope efficiencies 13

14. MethodologyDesign case study research and evaluation criteria optimisation of daylighting and ventilation optimisation of daylighting and envelope efficiencies optimisation of ventilation and envelope efficiencies optimisation of form and facade 14

15. MethodologyTypology case studies Urban office building Free standing workspace Urban housing Free standing cultural building ??? 15

16. ConclusionsDesign strategies “the environment crisis that emerged in the latter part of the twentieth century points to mechanisation losing command….the environmental impact of a building and in particular the CO2 that it produces depend on its overall design. Natural ventilation and daylighting, which reduce energy consumption, have an important impact on building form and appearance. These in turn are related to the need to control solar gains and the thermal mass of the building.”Thomas R. 16