Sustainable Architecture

design

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

FOR TODAY & TOMORROW 4HE CHANGE IN ATTITUDES HAS NOT JUST BEEN BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE THEIR LIVES MORE CHALLENGING FOR THEMSELVES 4HE INCREASING GLOBAL AWAKENING TO THE REAL THREAT POSED BY GLOBAL WARMING THE FRAGILITY OF ENERGY MARKETS AND THE REALISATION THAT AIMING FOR SUSTAINABILITY CAN BE COST EFFECTIVE HAVE ALL ADDED MOMENTUM TO THE MOVEMENT 4HE CHALLENGE SET OUT BY ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO THE WAY IN WHICH WE LIVE IS SEEPING INTO MAINSTREAM SOCIETY &OR ACTIVISTS AND HUMANITY SHIFTING FROM UNSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE kGREENl BUILDINGS CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH CONSTRUCTION USES MORE OF THE WORLDlS ENERGY AND RESOURCES THAN ANY OTHER ACTIVITY k'REENl BUILDINGS ARE ALREADY AN IMPORTANT NICHE MARKET AND BY  ACCORDING TO -C'RAW (ILL CONSTRUCTION THE WORLDlS kGREENl BUILDING MARKET WILL REACH  BILLION )N  THIS IS EXPECTED TO MORE THAN DOUBLE TO  BILLION 4HE INCREASE IN THE SUSTAINABLE MARKET IN THIS REGION IS SET TO RISE RAPIDLY WITH !BU $HABI AND $UBAI BOTH SET TO INTRODUCE THEIR OWN COMPULSORY ENVIRONMENTAL BUILDING REGULATIONS EXPECTED TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN *ANUARY  4HESE TWO BUILDING CODES ADD TO THE ESTIMATED  GREEN BUILDING CODES IN EXISTENCE GLOBALLY !DDED TO THIS THE kGREENl CONSTRUCTION SECTOR IS ALSO GROWING DUE TO THE COMMERCIAL VALUE OF BUILDING GREEN ! REPORT BY 2EAL 0ROPERTY !SSOCIATION OF #ANADA LOOKED AT BUILDINGS IN .ORTH !MERICA AND THE 5+ AND SHOWED AN EMERGING LINK BETWEEN GREEN FEATURES AND MARKET VALUE )T IS ACCEPTED NOW THAT BUILDING SUSTAINABLY MAKES BUSINESS SENSE k'REENl BUILDINGS ARE NOTHING NEW BUILDINGS THAT AIM AT ENERGY CONSERVATION SAVING NATURAL RESOURCES AND PRESERVING ENERGY p THE MAIN TENANTS OF SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE p COULD DESCRIBE THE FUNDAMENTALS OF TRADITIONAL )SLAMIC ARCHITECTURE AND MANY OTHER FORMS OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN THE REGION )T HAS ONLY BEEN WITH THE ONSET OF MODERNITY THAT BROUGHT THOUSANDS OF GLASS AND STEEL TOWERS TO THE REGION WITH NO RELATION TO THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THEY WERE SITUATED THAT A RETURN TO BUILDINGS THAT RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT WAS NEEDED 4HE CONSTRUCTION OF UNSUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS CAN BE SEEN AS AN ABERRATION OF HISTORY AS HUMANS RETURN ONCE AGAIN TO RESPECT THEIR ENVIRONMENT )N THIS FEATURE WE COVER THREE BUILDINGS THAT ALL USE THE LANGUAGE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION AND PLACE AN EMPHASIS ON CONTEXT &IRST AND FOREMOST IS THE MULTI AWARD WINNING #HARLES 7 (OSTLER 3TUDENT #ENTER AT THE !MERICAN 5NIVERSITY OF "EIRUT DESIGNED BY 6INCENT *AMES !SSOCIATES !RCHITECTS 6*!!  4HEN WE MOVE TO *ORDAN TO LOOK AT THE !QABA 2ESIDENCE %NERGY %FüCIENCY !2%% PROJECT BY $UTCH ARCHITECT &LORENTINE 6ISSER üNALLY THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT STATIONS IN !R 2IYADH 3AUDI !RABIA DESIGNED BY #ANADIAN ARCHITECTS "USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL 96

NOVEMBER’09

Being wasteful is easy; anyone in the world can be inefficient. In the Middle East, with an abundance of oil, the construction of highly inefficient buildings is almost the norm. Being efficient is difficult; sensitivity, intelligence and planning are just some of the skills needed. But the beginnings of a change in attitudes have been occurring and more people in the region are willing to take on this difficult challenge even in the midst of the financial crisis.

4HE #HARLES 7 (OSTLER 3TUDENT #ENTER

Photography, Paul Crosby 97

NOVEMBER’09

design

THE CHARLES W. HOSTLER STUDENT CENTER Winner of the Architecture of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2009 Honor Award 4HE #HARLES 7 (OSTLER 3TUDENT #ENTER IS A BUILDING THAT GIVES FULL UTILIZATION TO THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS WITH REGARDS TO ARCHITECTURE OF SUN LIGHT AND AIR 4HE 3TUDENT #ENTER IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE JOINT UP THINKING THAT SUSTAINABLE DESIGN HAS AT THE HEART OF ITS IDEOLOGY WHERE ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES FEED INTO EACH OTHER AND WASTE IS KEPT TO AN ABSOLUTE MINIMUM 4HE SUNlS HEAT IS CAPTURED THROUGH SOLAR PANELS TO HEAT THE SWIMMING POOL AND SHOWERS THE SUNlS LIGHT IS FULLY UTILIZED WITHOUT ALLOWING IN TOO MUCH OF ITS HEAT THE WATER FROM THE SHOWERS ARE RECYCLED FOR IRRIGATION AND FOR ČUSHING TOILETS

6INCENT *AMES !SSOCIATES !RCHITECTS 6*!! WAS CHOSEN FROM AMONG  SUBMISSIONS IN A COMPETITION THAT LASTED A TOTAL OF FOUR MONTHS 4HE PROPOSED 3TUDENT #ENTER BY 6*!! THAT WON THE COMPETITION DID SO ON THE BASIS OF ITS SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS (OWEVER WHAT REALLY MADE 6*!!lS DESIGN STAND OUT FROM THE REST WAS THE COMPANYlS PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE SURROUNDINGS AND ALTHOUGH COMING OBVIOUSLY FROM A -ODERN -OVEMENT ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE ITS FUSION OF TRADITIONAL ,EVANTINE ARCHITECTURAL STYLES 4HE 3TUDENT #ENTER IS A ČUID AND CONüDENT SUSTAINABLE DESIGN THAT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY RECOGNISED BY THE !MERICAN )NSTITUTE OF !RCHITECTS !)! AS ONE OF THE %NVIRONMENTAL 4OP 4EN 'REEN 0ROJECTS FOR  &URTHER TO THIS 6*!! ALSO WON THE !)! )NSTITUTE (ONOR !WARD FOR  FOR THE 3TUDENT #ENTER -ANY OTHER AWARDS ALSO FOLLOWED FOR THE 3TUDENT #ENTER AND 6*!! 4HE AWARD FOR THE 3TUDENT #ENTER WAS GIVEN BY THE !)! FOR ITS NON HIERARCHICAL SYNTHESIS OF ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE TO CREATE A SET OF RICHLY VARIED AND ENVIRONMENTALLY DIVERSE SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER AT ALL HOURS 4HE !)! STATED THAT THE BUILDING PROVIDES A MODEL FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIVE DESIGN THAT MEETS THE SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE CAMPUS AND THE LARGER REGION 4HE MOST FASCINATING ASPECT OF THE 3TUDENT #ENTER IS THE WAY THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT SHAPED THE DESIGN AND NOT AS IS SO MUCH THE CASE THE DESIGN SHAPING THE ENVIRONMENT )NSTEAD OF FOLLOWING THE GIVEN CONCEPT FOR THE 3TUDENT #ENTER THAT CALLED FOR A SINGLE LARGE BUILDING 6*!! PROPOSED A CLUSTER OF üVE SEPARATE BUT INTERLINKED UNITS %ACH OF THESE UNITS WOULD HAVE ITS OWN FUNCTION A SWIMMING POOL GYMNASIUM SQUASH COURT CAFÀ AND AUDITORIUM 4HE PLAN PROPOSED BY 6*!! LITERALLY INTEGRATED THE OUTSIDE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THEIR BUILDING SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGING THE USUAL INTERNALEXTERNAL RELATIONSHIP OF BUILDINGS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT )N ESTABLISHING THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BUILDING AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT 6*!! HAVE FULLY UTILIZED THE EXTERNAL ELEMENTS !S THE BUILDINGS ARE A CLUSTER OF üVE THE SPACES BETWEEN THEM HAVE BEEN DESIGNED SO THAT THEY mREDISTRIBUTE AIR ACTIVITY AND SHADE TO FORM A CONTINUOUS üELD OF HABITABLE SPACE AND A VARIETY OF MICROCLIMATES n THE OUTLINE FOR THE PROJECT STATES 4HE BUILDINGS ARE ORIENTATED NORTHWARD INSTEAD OF TRADITIONALLY PLACING THEM ALONG AN EAST WEST AXIS 4HIS ENABLES THE BUILDING TO HELP SHADE EXTERIOR COURTYARDS REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF SOUTHERN EXPOSURE AND 98

NOVEMBER’09

HEAVY SHADING DEVICES HAVE ALSO BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO BLOCK THE HARSHEST RAYS 0LANTED ROOFS INCREASE THE INSULATION AND SOLAR ROOF PANELS HEAT THE POOL AND SHOWER WATER ,OCALLY MADE 3YRIAN SANDSTONE WAS USED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING AND ALSO THE VEGETATION IS MADE UP OF DROUGHT TOLERANT INDIGENOUS PLANTS 6*!! HAVE BUILT A CLEAR BUT INTRICATE WEB OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL 4HIS COULD BE ARGUED TO BE PART OF THE LOCAL INČUENCES AS THE PRINCIPALS OF VERNACULAR )SLAMIC ARCHITECTURE ARE VERY MUCH A MERGING OF THE INTERNAL AND THE EXTERNAL 4HE VERNACULAR )SLAMIC STYLE OFTEN HAD AN EXTERNAL COURTYARD AS THE CENTRAL ELEMENT OF THE BUILDING THE INTERNAL  4HE UNIMPOSING NATURE OF THE BUILDING COMPLETELY HIDES THE SCALE OF THE SPACES THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED 4HE RESULT IS A BUILDING THAT LOCKS INTO ITS LANDSCAPE 4HIS IS A BUILDING THAT HAS A HORIZONTAL RATHER THAN VERTICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS ENVIRONMENT

)N A CITY GETTING DEVOURED BY VERTICAL BUILDINGS CREATING A CHAOTIC LANDSCAPE OF DEFORMED NAILS THIS BUILDING IS A QUIET STATEMENT OF A MORE PROGRESSIVE WAY OF BEING 6*!! BASED OUT OF -INNEAPOLIS !MERICA BASE THEIR PHILOSOPHY ON WHAT THEY CALL A mPOLYVALENTn APPROACH TO DESIGN 0OLYVALENT A TERM BORROWED FROM #HEMISTRY MEANING HAVING MORE THAN ONE VALENCE WHICH DETERMINES THE NUMBER OF ATOMS OR GROUPS WITH WHICH ANY SINGLE ATOM OR GROUP WILL UNITE CHEMICALLY /R AS 6*!! DEüNES THEIR mPOLYVALENTn ARCHITECTURE A DIVERSE AND ADAPTABLE ARCHITECTURE THAT EMBRACES ECOLOGY CULTURE CONTEXT AND TECHNOLOGY &ORTUNATELY 6*!!lS ARCHITECTURE IS NOT AS NEEDLESSLY COMPLICATED AND OSTENTATIOUS AS THEIR USE OF LANGUAGE )NSTEAD THEIR mCOMPREHENSIVE n OR IF YOU HAVE TO USE JARGON mHOLISTICn APPROACH TO ARCHITECTURE IS A CLEAR ARTICULATION OF INTELLIGIBLE AND HUMAN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN OF THE HIGHEST STANDARD

Photography, Paul Crosby 99

NOVEMBER’09

design

AQABA RESIDENCE ENERGY EFFICIENCY 4HE !QABA 2ESIDENCE %NERGY %FüCIENCY !2%% LOCATED IN THE !QABA REGION OF *ORDAN IS A SMALL SCALE PROJECT WITH AMBITIOUS AIMS 4HE PROJECT WAS FUNDED ALMOST SINGLE HANDILY BY 4ARIQ %MTAIRAH A *ORDANIAN WORKING IN 3WEDEN WHO WANTED TO SHOW THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN !QABA THAT BUILDING SUSTAINABLY CAN BE COST EFFECTIVE 4HIS IS A LESSON WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM

!QABA IS A REGION THAT IS CURRENTLY DOMINATED BY DESERT BUT IS SLATED TO GROW FROM   INHABITANTS TO   4HIS ENORMOUS GROWTH IN POPULATION WILL HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND %MTAIRAH WANTED TO ENCOURAGE THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY TO PUT IN PLACE GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION ,OCAL GOVERNMENT OFüCIALS WERE SCEPTICAL THAT PLACING MORE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION COULD BE DONE WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF ADDED COST %MTAIRAH WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO SHOW THE GOVERNMENT THAT SUSTAINABILITY COULD BE COST EFFECTIVE AND THAT HE COULD STOP LOW AND MEDIUM INCOME FAMILIES SPENDING MONEY ON EXPENSIVE APPLIANCES SUCH AS AIR CONDITIONING WHICH OF COURSE ALSO GREATLY HARMS THE ENVIRONMENT ! SMALL PRIVATE COMPETITION WAS HELD FOR THE !2%% PROJECT AND $UTCH ARCHITECT &LORENTINE 6ISSER WAS SELECTED BECAUSE OF HER DESIGNS AND ATTACHMENT TO COST EFFECTIVENESS AND SIMPLICITY 4HE FUNDAMENTAL GOAL OF THE PROJECT 6ISSER STATED WAS TO BE ABLE TO CREATE mA PASSIVE COOLING STRATEGY THAT PREVENTS HEAT ACCUMULATION IN THE SUMMER AND HEAT LOSS IN THE WINTERn !2%% BEGAN IN  AND WITH THE HELP OF THE 2OYAL *ORDANIAN 3CIENTIüC 3OCIETY AND THE #ENTER FOR THE 3TUDY OF THE "UILT %NVIRONMENT THE üRST ULTRA ENERGY EFüCIENT BUILDING IN *ORDAN WAS ESTABLISHED 4HE DESIGN BY 6ISSER ENSURED THAT THE CONTEXTUAL ENVIRONMENT AND LOCAL PRACTICE WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE 3O IN STARTING THE PROJECT AN ANALYSIS OF SUNSHINE WIND CONDITIONS ON SITE VIEWS AND THE MOST COMMON CONSTRUCTION METHODS USED IN *ORDAN WERE CARRIED OUT 6ISSER BELIEVES AND HAS SHOWN IN !2%% THAT THROUGH ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN ENERGY AND MATERIAL EFüCIENCY CAN BE ACHIEVED m4HE PASSIVE USE OF SOLAR ENERGY IS OPTIMIZED BY THE ORIENTATION AND LAYOUT OF THE HOUSE 3PACES USED FOR BRIEF PERIODS BATHROOMS GARAGE CORRIDOR ARE LOCATED ON THE SOUTH WEST SIDE THE HOTTEST AREA OF THE HOUSE n 6ISSER STATED IN HER DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT /THER METHODS OF TRYING TO KEEP THE BUILDING COOL THROUGH LOW COST SOLUTIONS INCLUDED TAKING THE CEMENT BLOC A COMMONLY USED MATERIAL AND MAKING IT MORE EFüCIENT ! VOLCANIC AGGREGATE WAS MIXED WITH THE CONCRETE AND WAS LOCALLY SOURCED FROM THE -ADABA GOVERNATE SO THAT THE CONCRETE RETAINS MORE HEAT AND THUS ACTING AS ANOTHER LAYER OF INSULATION /THER MORE TECHNICAL BUT SIMPLE TECHNIQUES WERE ALSO USED 100

NOVEMBER’09

(AREE)

SUCH AS INSULATING ALL PARTS OF THE STRUCTURE THAT WOULD LET HEAT LEAK IN OR OUT REINFORCED CONCRETE COLUMNS AND ČOOR SLABS &URTHER TO THIS BASIC INSULATION TECHNIQUES SUCH AS DOUBLE GLAZING AND NATURAL VENTILATION WERE ALSO USED !MONG THE HIGH TECH SOLUTIONS BEYOND THE REACH OF THE AVERAGE *ORDANIAN WAS A SOLAR COOLING SYSTEM THAT WAS INSTALLED WITH THE HELP OF A GRANT FROM THE %UROPEAN #OMMISSION m4HIS SOLAR COOLING SYSTEM USES HOT WATER FROM SOLAR PANELS AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR AN ABSORPTION CHILLER THAT PRODUCES CHILLED WATER TO COOL THE SPACEaTHE SUN HEATS THE WATER NEEDED TO RUN THE COOLING SYSTEM n EXPLAINED 6ISSER IN !RCHINED 4HIS IS THE üRST TIME SUCH A SYSTEM HAS BEEN USED IN *ORDAN AND ALTHOUGH IT IS AN EXPENSIVE TECHNOLOGY AT THE MOMENT IT IS HOPED FUTURE COSTS WILL BE LOWER AS THE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPS 4HE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT IN A DRY REGION IS OF COURSE HOW THE WATER IS TREATED !LL THE GRAY WATER FROM THE SINKS AND SHOWERS IS DIRECTLY REUSED FOR THE GARDEN WHILE THE GARDEN IS PLANTED WITH DROUGHT TOLERANT VARIETIES OF PLANTS

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SUCH A SYSTEM HAS BEEN USED FUTURE COSTS WILL BE LOWER AS THE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPS

Photography, Joseph Zakarian 101

NOVEMBER’09

design

AIR RIYAHD LIGHT RAILWAY STATIONS 4HE LOVE OF CARS IN THE REGION IS WELL KNOWN AND 3AUDI !RABIA IS NO EXCEPTION 4HE CHALLENGE IN TRYING TO CHANGE THE CAR CULTURE IS IMMENSE 4HE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO START BY BUILDING A ,IGHT 2AILWAY 3YSTEM IN 2IYADH 4HIS SYSTEM WILL CONSIST OF TWO LINES THAT WILL CONNECT THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT WITH THE SUBURBS OF !R 2IYADH 4HE #ANADIAN ARCHITECTURAL üRM "USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED TO DESIGN FOR THE !R 2IYADH $EVELOPMENT THREE PROTOTYPE STATIONS )F ACCEPTED A TOTAL OF  STATIONS WILL BE BUILT OVER THE NEXT üVE YEARS

)N THE PUNISHING HEAT OF 3AUDI !RABIA THERE IS NO WAY OF AVOIDING THE USE OF AIR CONDITIONING .O AMOUNT OF CROSS VENTILATION OR CARE IN THE POSITIONING OF THE BUILDING IN RELATION TO THE SUN IS ABLE TO OVERCOME THE SEARING DAILY TEMPERATURES IN A COUNTRY WITH THE LARGEST MASS OF SAND ON THE PLANET (OWEVER "USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL HAVE DONE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT PROTECTION FROM THIS HEAT IS AS SUSTAINABLE AS POSSIBLE 4O DO THIS "USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL ARE PROPOSING CREATING WHAT COULD BE ONE OF THE LARGEST INSTALLATIONS OF 0HOTOVOLTAIC 06 PANELS IN THE WORLD 3TEEL WEBS THAT SUPPORT THE TRANSLUCENT GLASS OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE STATIONS WILL HAVE INTEGRATED WITHIN 06 PANELS 4HESE 06 PANELS WILL NOT ONLY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE  PERCENT OF THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS FOR THE STATIONS INCLUDING THE POWER HUNGRY AIR CONDITIONING UNITS BUT WILL ALSO PRODUCE SURPLUS ELECTRICITY 4HE HIGHLY AMBITIOUS STATIONS BY "USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL WOULD TURN THESE STATIONS INTO MINI POWER STATIONS AS THEY COULD POTENTIALLY PROVIDE FOUR TIMES THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY NEEDED TO RUN THEM "USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL STATE THAT EACH OF THE  PROPOSED STATIONS WILL BE UNIQUE IN THEIR DESIGN AS EVERY ONE OF THEM IS SHAPED ON THE BASIS OF GAINING THE OPTIMAL ORIENTATION AND SUN SHADING STRATEGIES 4HE CONTEXT IS LEADING THE DESIGN 4HE ENVIRONMENT HAS ALSO SHAPED THE BUILDING THROUGH ITS AESTHETIC DESIGN "USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL HAVE CREATED A GEOMETRIC PATTERN THAT IS A RESULT OF THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN THE 06 PANELS AND THE PATTERNED GLASS STRUCTURE

Deen Sharp 102

NOVEMBER’09

Photography, Busby Perkins

BUSBY PERKINS + WILL ARE PROPOSING CREATING ONE OF THE LARGEST PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) PANELS IN THE WORLD

s + Will

103

NOVEMBER’09