lyee chong m.arch conceptual design report spring 2014

ARCH582 - SPRING2014PSU SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURELYEE CHONGPROF. TRAVIS BELL

WEATHER RESEARCH STATION

INTRODUCTION

WEATHER PHENOMENON UNDER STUDY

BOX OF WEATHER

VERNACULAR PRECEDENTS

MODERN PRECEDENTS

PROJECT GOALS

PROGRAMMING STUDIES

SITE ANALYSIS & PROGRAM RECONCILIATION

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSAL

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2.0

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9.0

At the forefront of survival, human beings and animals alike confront weather on a daily basis. Shelter is our primal response to protecting ourselves against weather condi-tions and as such, weather constantly dictates and informs our design of buildings. Its challenges are often faced and overcome through the prediction and understanding of patterns as well as our interactions with phenomenons of weather. This weather re-search station will focus on a specific aspect of weather to not only enrich the city with pragmatic knowledge but also poetic insight into precipitation.

Introduction

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The following pages cover the exploration, investigation and illustration of precipitation, the weather pehonenon under study

2.0 WEATHER PHENOMENON UNDER STUDY

Precipitation

In meteorology, precipitation is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. Precipitation occurs in many forms, some of them include drizzle, rain, sleet, snow, graupel and hail.

This project chooses to explore the potential of a scientific research facility that focuses on the most prevelant weather phenomenon in Portland. Portland receives approximately 40 inches of atmospheric precipitation annually or 8 months of rainy weather. The study and research of rain provides a sense of locality, building strong connection to the region while engaging the commu-nity with precipitation as its medium.

The relevence of the research conducted at the institute will not only serve the architectural community but to the city and Pacific Northwest at large.

2.0 WEATHER PHENOMENON UNDER STUDY

2.0 WEATHER PHENOMENON UNDER STUDYNAAB Performance Criteria: A5. Investigative Skills

The following pages cover the exploration, investigation and illustration of precipitation, through the creation and expression of a box of weather

3.0 BOX OF WEATHER

3.0 BOX OF WEATHER

The Box of Weather

In order to preserve and encapsulate the ephemeral nature of precipitation formations, 6 chosen precipitation types encased in resin are captured and displayed in a modifed cigar box.This curated display serves to explain and establish the main design concept for the weather station.

3.0 BOX OF WEATHERNAAB Performance Criteria: A5. Investigative Skills

The following pages contain a curated selection of precedent studies of buildings from around the world designed to respond to specific climate and weather conditions

4.0 PRECEDENTS: HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS

Rumah Panggung

Climate/Weather Condition

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo

Equator

NotesFigure 1: Building elevation Figure 2: Historic Malay houseFIgure 3: Wood frame constructionFigure 4: InteriorFigure 5.1 to 5.3: Climatic design diagram

Design Strategy

Response to Culture

Fig. 5.1

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Fig. 5.3

Low annual and diurnal temperature rangeStrong winds with heavy rainLow velocity windsHigh humidityStrong solar radiation

The traditional Malay house is a timber house built on stilts featuring high ceilings, large windows, an open interior space with minimal partition walls as well as a large overhanging gable roof. The rumah panggung is elevate on stilts to capture higher wind velocities while its high ceiling allows hot air to rise and ventilate allowing colder air to fall and cool the interior. Its roofing provides good insulation and shade against solar exposure while its large windows allow for cross-ventilation. Additionally, glare is also further reduced and controlled by the application of louvers and carved wooden panels. The lightweight construction of the Malay house is well suited to the hot and humid climatic conditions of its environment as it utilizes materials featuring low-thermal capacity and high insulation properties. As timber is plentiful in Southeast Asia, rumah panggungs are mainly built with wood utilizing tongue-in-groove joints as its main con-struction technique. Besides being well adapted to the environment, the house has also evolved a prefabricated building system which can be flexibly retrofitted and extended according to the growing needs of the family.

The rumah panggung is one of the richest components of Malaysia’s cultural heritage. This housing typology is appropriate to local climatic conditions and expresses the way of life of its inhabitants. It is often decorated and highly ornate with carvings that reflect cultural aesthetics and traditions.

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4.0 PRECEDENTS: HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TRADITIONSNon-Western

NotesFigure 1: Interior detailFigure 2: Exterior towerFIgure 3: Exterior building contextFigure 4: Interior Figure 5.1,5.2: Climatic design diagram

Fig. 5.1

Fig. 5.2

Shish-Khan Windcatcher

Climate/Weather

Middle East - Bahrian, Kuwait, Dubai, Pakistan, Afghanistan

Tropic of Cancer

Design Strategy

Response to Culture

Hot and aridLow velocity windsLong hours of direct sun exposureVery hot days and extremely cold nights

Windcatchers are traditionally constructed out of thick ceramic with high insula-tion values built closely together with high walls to maximize shade at ground level. Windcatchers are usually built with refrigerating features such as water reservoirs and hanging wet towels to effectively takes advantage of evaporative cooling effect of the dry climate. They also feature small windows to minimize glare and direct heat gain from sunlight. Windcatcher designs vary according to specific local climatic conditions mainly dependant on the direction of airflow. Typically they feature from one to eight openings at various heights to direct air into buildings. Windcatchers function by either directing airflow downwards through direct wind entry, ventilating airflow through temperature differences of the environment and interior spaces, or utilize solar heat to exhaust hot air from buildings. In combination with courtyards and domes, the windcatcher is open towards prevailing winds to cool the building interior relying on the velocity of winds for its cooling effect. Windcatchers facing away from prevailing winds take advantage of pressure differentials of to draw air from the interior. The hot air of the environment drawn through an underground canal linked with the windcatcher is cooled by being in contact with cool water vapor and temperature of the earth decreas-ing the structure’s overall temperature. In windless environments, the windcather acts as a solar chimney allowing hot air to travel upwards and escape through its opening while trapping cool air below.

Windcatchers are built with locally found materials such as thick adobe acting as a thermal insulator and resistor to effectively chill interior spaces to comfortable tem-peratures. To keep wind catchers from allowing dust and sand into buildings, they are typically built very high and facing away from the wind.

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NAAB Performance Criteria: A9. Historical Traditions & Global Culture

Traditional Japanese Minka


Asia - Japan

Design Strategy

Response to Culture

Mild to cold wintersHot and humid summersTemperate weather with low diurnal temperature range

The Minka or Kominka is a traditional Japanese single family home built on wooden columns elevated on top of a flat rammed earth or stone foundation. In order to avoid moisture from seeping into the floor of the building, the building is elevated several inches and is laid across horizontal wooden floor beams. This crawl space usually exists underneath the living room, providing natural ventilation from below and cooling in the summer. One defining characteristic of traditional Japanese houses is the large curved roof and deep eaves to protect the house from the hot summer sun. Tradition-ally, Japanese roofs were covered with shingles of woven straw but to reduce potential fire hazards, they are also clad with ceramic tiles. Japanese roofs are sloped instead of flat, allowing rainwater to flow off easily. Partition walls and doors are made of translucent rice paper held together by a lattice of bamboo that slide open to conserve space. These doors or room dividers are translucent to reduce glare from the sun while allowing light to diffuse into interior spaces.

The distinctive feature of a traditional Japanese building is the way in which the house is open to nature. The main materials used are wood, earth, and paper, and the construction spreads out sideways rather than upwards. Another unique feature of Japanese housing is that houses are set to have a limited lifespan and are generally torn down and rebuilt after a few decades.

Subtropic

NotesFigure 1: Exterior Figure 2: ExteriorFIgure 3: Interior space Figure 4: Translucent wall detailFigure 5.1,5.2: Climatic design diagram

Fig. 5.1

Fig. 5.2

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Native American Tipi


North American Great Plains - Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Texas, and Wyoming

Design Strategy

Response to Culture

Unprotected environmentHigh diurnal temperature rangeCold and harsh winters Hot and humid summersHigh wind speeds

A tipi is a conical tent approximately 12 to 25 feet tall and is traditionally made of wooden poles covered by stuffed fabrics or animal skins pegged to the ground. Tipis are built to be durable; Providing warmth and comfort in the winter while staying cool in the heat of summer and dry during heavy rains. As the conservation of heat is essential to living in harsh unprotected climates, a small fire is set in the center of the floor for heat and cooking. The smoke is then exhausted through an adjustable smoke flap of the opening at the top of the tipi. A liner covering the exterior serves as an additional layer of insulation and is usually stuffed with grass in very cold weather conditions. In warmer weather however, the liner is rolled up to allow cooler wind to enter and ventilate the interior space.

Tipi construction vary according to locally available materials. Lodgepole pine is typ-ically used in the Northern and Central plains while red cedar is used in the Southern Plains. Tipis can be deployed and disassembled quickly making them versatile. The adaptability of these nomadic dwellings allow the American Indians to live in various climatic conditions. Tipis are typically left unpainted while painted tipis feature geomet-ric patterns and designs portraying celestial bodies, animals or sacred symbols.

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Temperate

Fig. 5.1

Fig. 5.2

NotesFigure 1: ExteriorFigure 2: Roof flap detailFIgure 3: Tipi frameFigure 4: InteriorFigure 5.1 to 5.2 Climatic design diagram

4.0 PRECEDENTS: HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL TRADITIONSWestern


Scandanavian Log Cabin


North America/Eastern Europe/Scandinavia - United States, Canada, Norway, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden

Design Strategy

Response to Culture

Heavy snow Cold and harsh wintersHigh diurnal temperature range

Log cabins are usually constructed with round hand-worked logs, and were the first homes of pioneer colonists of North America. Log cabins are built from logs laid hori-zontally and interlocked on the ends with carved out notches. Log cabin construction typically utilizes straight and tall coniferous trees such as pine and spruce. Wood as a building material features a relatively high thermal mass and latency serving as a good insulator. It’s ability store heat during the day and gradually releasing it at night along with its abundant availability makes it a superior building material for cold climates. It’s simple construction also contributes to its popularity. A log cabin can be erected from scratch in a few days by a family in any weather or season without the use of mortar or other hardening agents.

Lodgepole pine is typically used in the Northern and Central plains while red cedar is used in the Southern Plains. It is moderately lightweight, easily dried, easily worked with tools, and glues well. It is not durable when exposed to conditions favorable for decay fungi, but the sapwood readily takes preservative treatment.

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Temperate

Fig. 5.1

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NotesFigure 1: ExteriorFigure 2: Interior spaceFIgure 3: Joinery detailFigure 4: Construction Figure 5.1,5.2: Joinery detail, Climatic design diagram


Iron Age Roundhouse


Iron Age England - Wessex

Design Strategy

Response to Culture

Heavy snow Cold and harsh wintersHigh diurnal temperature range

The roundhouse is a primitive building type that is a low, circularly planned house featuring a large roof with low walls. Most roundhouses were built from local materials found on site. The wooden walls are typically framed by wood posts and covered with daub made from clay, soil, and straw. The daub is made from equal proportions of cow manure, earth, clay, and straw with water added and mixed into a heavy paste. This coating ensures that the house is air-tight and weatherproofed. The upright structural poles are usually around 4-6 inches thick with their ends charred in a fire and buried about 8-12 inches deep. Charing the wood that will be buried below the ground pro-tects the wood from rotting and structure from collapsing. The roof is constructed from large timbers and densely thatched with straw to trap heat. The main feature of the interior space is the central open-hearth fire that is maintained 24 hours a day to cook food, provide warmth and light. The smoke from the fire that accumulates in the roof space heats the building while allowed to slowly leak out through the tightly knitted thatch.

As the roundhouse does not feature any windows, it relies on the doorway for natu-ral light. The position of the doorway may also have had a religious significance. The wattle and daub composite material is highly used in modern eco-building construction due to its low environmental impact and highly sustainable materials.

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Temperate

Fig. 5.1

Fig. 5.2

NotesFigure 1: ExteriorFigure 2: Roof frame detailFIgure 3: Daub wall detailFigure 4: InteriorFigure 5.1 to 5.2 Climatic design diagram



The following pages contain a curated selection of precedent studies of buildings from around the world designed to respond to specific climate and weather conditions

5.0 PRECEDENTS: CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE

Institut du Monde Arabe - Jean Nouvel


Paris, France

MODERN ARCHITECTURAL RESPONSESBuilding Detail

Design Strategy

Warm and arid climateWarm summers and cold winterRainfall is moderate and steady year roundIntense solar glare in the summerHigh diurnal temperature range

The Institut du Monde Arabe features mechanically controlled facades that control the level of natural lighting drawing inspiration from the traditional lattice work that has been used for centuries in the Middle East to protect the occupants from the sun and provide privacy. The system incorporates several hundred light sensitive diaphragms that regulate the amount of light that is allowed to enter the building. The ocular aper-tures are not only beautiful aesthetically but also functions as an environmental control feature as well through the closing or reducing the aperture sizes. During the various phases of the lens, a shifting geometric pattern is formed and showcased as both light and void. Squares, circles, and octagonal shapes are produced in a fluid motion as light is modulated and filtered through it. Lighting in interior spaces experience dramat-ic changes along with the building’s exterior appearance. As the institute serves to strengthen and educate the public about the Arab culture in France, the mashrabiyya, an archetypal Arabic screen architecture is incorporated in its design. The synthesis of traditional Arabic architectural elements into a modern design allows the building to serve as a beacon for the interaction with Arab culture.

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Temperate

NotesFigure 1: Building contextFigure 2: Interior spaceFIgure 3: Mechanical aperture to human scaleFigure 4: Mechanical aperture detailFigure 5.1 to 5.2: Climatic design diagrams

Fig. 5.1

Fig. 5.2

5.0 PRECEDENTS: CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTUREBuilding Detail

Menara Mesiniaga - Ken Yeang


Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Design Strategy

Hot and humid all year roundLow diurnal temperature rangeHeavy rainfall during Monsoon seasons

The Menara Mesiniaga is a 15 story office tower designed in consideration to local weather conditions and sensitivity to its environment. The building addresses natural ventilation and lighting through the incorporation of recessed terraces to avoid direct and extensive solar glare, shaded windows on the East and West facades, curtain wall glazing on the North and South facades and spiral balconies on the exterior walls with full height sliding doors to interior offices. The facade is designed to tier and spiral with louvers and sunshades placed strategically depending on cardinal and solar orienta-tion. The service core is located on the East to take advantage of natural ventilation and sunlight for its toilets, stairways, and lift lobbies. One of the main features of the build-ing is its use of vertical landscaping throughout the recessed spaces on the building facade. These skycourts starting from the ground level spirals upwards across the face of the building with the use of recessed terraces. The sunroof features a skeletal frame for solar-cells acting as a back-up energy source for the building while a BAS (Building Automation System) is also incorporated as an active intelligent building feature to regulate and store energy generated efficiently.

Equator

NotesFigure 1: Building contextFigure 2: Sunroof detailFIgure 3: Skycourt detailFigure 4: Tiering Aluminium louversFigure 5.1,5.2: Climatic design diagrams

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5.0 PRECEDENTS: CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTUREGeneral Building Conditions


Pearl River Tower - SOM


Guangzhou City, China

Design Strategy

Warm and humid all year round Subtropical monsoon climateWarm winters, hot summers, little frost and snowLow diurnal temperature rangeIntense solar radiation and exposure

The Pearl River Tower is a 71 story tower that addresses sustainable design through the incorporation of various green technologies and engineering solutions. The tower’s aerodynamic sculpted form directs wind through openings at its 2 mechanical floors featuring turbines that generate energy from high wind velocities. The building also integrates solar panels, a double-skin curtain wall, a chilled ceiling system, under-floor ventilation, and daylight harvesting to contribute to the building’s energy efficiency conservation and generation. In addition to wind turbines and solar collectors and photovoltaic cells, It also features raised floor ventilation along with radiant heating and cooling ceilings. The building’s goals are directed to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions by 45 percent in 2020. As such, the buildings sustainable design features result in a 58% energy usage reduction in comparison to similar stand alone buildings as well as be able to be carbon neutral and distribute electricity back to the surround-ing neighborhood.

Subtropic

NotesFigure 1: Building contextFigure 2: Roof detailFIgure 3: Mechanical roomFigure 4: Turbine detailFigure 5.1 to 5.4: Climatic design diagrams

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Fig. 5.4


Mountain Dwellings - BIG


Copenhagen, Denmark

Design Strategy

Oceanic climate zoneWarm summers and cold winterHigh rainfall from July to SeptemberSnow from December to MarchHigh diurnal temperature range

Mountain Dwellings is a 80 unit apartment complex above a multi-storey car park by Danish architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). As Copenhagen’s topography is flat, the building is tiered and stacked as a sloping hill. Instead of having a separate parking structure or lot for the cars of the tenants, parking is seamlessly integrates into the building. The two programs sharing one material-intensive foundation gives the dense housing project a feeling of safety to the parking garage at all hours. As the parking area is mostly concealed, it preserves the neighborhood’s pedestrian-friendly character. Atop the hillside units, each home enjoys a penthouse view, a private garden and plenty of fresh air and sunlight. The mountain dwellings combine features found in suburban living with urban density by providing roof garden terrace spaces. These roof garden terraces have built in seasonal planters providing shade to units in the summer while allowing natural lighting in the winter. The outdoor planters are carefully positioned to maintain privacy between units and also double as rainwater collectors, storing water for irrigation during the dry season. The north and west facades of the building are covered by perforated aluminum plates in the image of Mount Everest to allow natural light as well as ventilation in the parking spaces.

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Temperate

NotesFigure 1: Building contextFigure 2: Unit with roof garden terrace detailFIgure 3: Mount Everest perforated facadeFigure 4: Parking iteriorFigure 5.1: Climatic design diagrams

Fig. 5.1 5.0 PRECEDENTS: CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTUREGeneral Building Conditions


Green Screen House – Hideo Kumaki


Saitama, Japan

Design Strategy

Mild to cold wintersHot and humid summersTemperate weather with low diurnal temperature range

The Green Screen House located in Saitama, Japan is a modern dream home designed by Hideo Kumaki Architect Office. The main feature of the building is the draped “living wall” that follows the entire curve of the structure along its rear exterior. The lush green blanket grown on a wire mesh scaffolding provides shade while acting as a passive cooling system. The tenant notes that the area underneath the green wall feels 10 degrees cooler than the outdoor climate. Underneath the foliage, a patio dining table is nestled allowing the family to comfortably enjoy meals and gather together in the fresh air. Inside the home, the screen also helps to reduce energy consumption, acting as an organic air-conditioning system between the shading it provides, as well as the ventila-tion that passes through it to the interior living spaces. From the interior, the green wall acts as an engaging element, beautifully sloped while forming distinctive light patterns produced by sunshine peeking through.

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Sub Tropic

NotesFigure 1: ExteriorFigure 2: Roof frame detailFIgure 3: Daub wall detailFigure 4: InteriorFigure 5.1,5.2: Climatic design diagrams

Fig. 5.1

Fig. 5.2


VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre - Perkins+Will


Vancouver, BC

Design Strategy

Moderate oceanic climateModerate drought dry summersRainy from October to MarchDark and cold wintersHigh cloudiness due to mountains blocking sunlight

The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre by Perkins+Will is Canada’s first certified Living Building designed to be LEED Platinum certified featuring various green technol-ogies and annual net-zero energy consumption. The building was strategically situated to avoid destroying the rare trees, shrubs and plants around the site to preserve its natural environment. The Visitor Centre functions off the grid through the use of locally available renewable materials, geothermal boreholes, solar photovoltaics, and solar hot water tubes to achieve its annual net-zero energy status. The building is primarily constructed out of wood with the roof constructed out of glulam post-and-beams sup-porting a green roof. Rainwater is collected on its roof, filtered and used as greywater throughout the building. The blackwater on the other hand, is treated by an on-site bio-reactor and released into a percolation field and garden. The building features a large skylight protruding from the roof landscape, producing an atrium space in the interior with a warm orange glow, reflected by the natural wood. While providing natural light-ing in the building, the oculus assists with natural ventilation by operating as a solar chimney. It also serves as an aluminum heat sink, which converts heat from the sun creating air movement in its interior spaces through convection. The roof garden also replaces the vegetation displaced by the building itself and helps reintegrate vegetation into the architecture. Building materials are carefully chosen according to their carbon footprint, ability to be recycled and as well as their life cycles in order to be considered appropriate and long-lasting components.

NotesFigure 1: Green roof building contextFigure 2: Roof detailFIgure 3: Rmmed earth detailFigure 4: Interior skylight detailFigure 5.1,5.2: Climatic design diagrams

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Temperate

Fig. 5.1

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5.0 PRECEDENTS: CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTUREGeneral Building Conditions


The following pages cover the exploration, investigating and illustrating of project goals related to the weather research station

6.0 PROJECT GOALS

6.0 PROJECT GOALS

1.Research The building will house state-of-the-art technologies in weath-er forecasting as well as serve as a center for innovation and discovery through engaging weather

3. EngageThe building engages the occupants with weather pheonmenas through immersion and exposure

2. SustainableThe building will promote a reduced reliance on external ener-gy sources by utilizing local renewable energy to supplement sustainable building energy and resource supply

4. Poetic and PragmaticThe building will serve not only as a beacon of weather research but also an example of symbiotic architecture dedicated to negotiating with weather

5. InspireThe building will be designed to inspire interest and fascination on discovering weather phenomenas through various interac-tive features in the facility. It will also focus on exposing the public to innovations and insights learned in the facility

6.0 PROJECT GOALSNAAB Performance Criteria: B1. Pre-Design

The following pages cover the preliminary conceptual design process of investigating and illustrating program requirements, spatial allocation and the basis for schematic design

7.0 PROGRAMMING STUDIES

Scheme 1

Research & MuseumThe research and exhibition scheme allows the residents of Portland and the rest of the region to experience the institute. The building will fea-ture various interactive exhibition spaces as well as phenomenological spaces to engage visitors with the phenomenon of precipitation. Acting as Portland’s premiere weather research station, the institute will bolster community interaction through the enrichment of weather knowledge

As an important weather and research station located in South Portland, the institute will focus on gathering and broadcasting the most current weather information. Designed with optimal effi-ciency in mind, the institute will be a private facility that will act as one of the region’s main data pro-duction center with state-of-the-art computer labs, broadcasting studios and laboratories

This programming scheme focuses solely upon private research, reaching various project goals by acting as one of the region’s most rigorous scientif-ic institutions. This option will work in conjunction with scholastic and governmental entities only with organized tours as the only form of publicity and involvement

Scheme 2

Forecast & Broadcast

Scheme 3

Research & Development

7.0 PROGRAMMING STUDIESSchematic Options

Scheme 1

Research & Museum

Public

Area of Focus

Typology

Program Distribution

Gross Floor Area

Scheme 2

Forecast & Broadcast

Public-Private

Scheme 3

Research & Development

Private

48%

21%

6%

30%

34%

17%

10%

38%

22%

16%

26%

35%

39,200 sq. ft.

8,600 sq. ft.Research

12,500 sq. ft. 14,100 sq. ft.

10,300 sq. ft.

Public

3,800 sq. ft. 1,900 sq. ft.

6,400 sq. ft.

Archive 6,400 sq. ft. 6,900 sq. ft.

13,900 sq. ft.Service

13,900 sq. ft. 9,700 sq. ft.

36,600 sq. ft. 32,600 sq. ft.

7.0 PROGRAMMING STUDIESSchematic Spatial Requirements

NAAB Performance Criteria: B1. Pre-Design

Scheme 1Research & Museum

7.0 PROGRAMMING STUDIESOverall Programming Breakdown

Scheme 2Forecast & Broadcast




Scheme 3Research & Development

Scheme 1Research & MuseumThe configuration of the weather research station and educational facility will serve to expose the public to scientific studies focusing on the weather phenomenon of humidity and precipitation. The program pairing provides an opportunity to bridge the gap between the public education and private research by incorporating them in a unified building

7.0 PROGRAMMING STUDIESPreferred Program Choice


The following pages cover the preliminary site analysis process of investigating and illustrating the relationships between design conditions, site influences and program consideration

8.0 SITE ANALYSIS & PROGRAM RECONCILIATION

Macadam district is one of the fastest growing dis-tricts in Portland. Public and private investments have generated growth through enchanced public amenities and stretegic urban renewal. 4 sites were chosen and through the process of site selection, 1 prefered site is chosen and elaborated for development and conceptu-al design.

Macadam District

8.0 SITE ANALYSIS & PROGRAM RECONCILIATIONSite Selection

South Mill End

North Willamette

Sellwood Bridgehead

Sellwood Beach North

1

2

3

4

4913 SW Landing Dr

SE Oaks Park Way

8240 SW Macadam Ave

7720 SW Macadam Ave

1

2

3

4

8.0 SITE ANALYSIS & PROGRAM RECONCILIATIONSite Selection


Storefront Commercial (CS)Greenway Overlay Zone (d, g) (33.440, 33.550)Public Recreational Trails - Greenway Trail (33.272)

Floor Area Ratio (FAR) 3:1 (33.550.200) Floor Area Ratio (FAR) 3:1 (33.550.200)Maximum Height: 45’ (33.550.210) Maximum Height: 45’ (33.550.210)

River Setback: 25’ (33.440.210 Fig. 440-2) River Setback: 50’-200’ if slope is greater than 20% (33.440.210 Fig. 440-2)

Future Streetcar: 30’ from centerline of building (33.550.220 B1) 17’ from centerline of parking (33.550.220 B1)

Facade Dependant River Setback: 5’-14’(33.550.220.A Fig. 550-1) Facade Dependant River Setback: 5’-14’(33.550.220.A Fig. 550-1)

Max Building Coverage: 75% of site area (33.550.230) Max Building Coverage: 75% of site area (33.550.230)Max Building Length: 200’ (33.550.240) Max Building Length: 200’ (33.550.240)Max Building Length: 100’ uninterupted when street is adjacent (33.550.240)

Max Building Length: 100’ uninterupted when street is adjacent (33.550.240)

Zoning Classification

Building Envelope

130’

120’ 110’

230’

70’

95’

170’

240’

130’

125’

0.35 Acres

0.95 Acres

15,500 sq. ft.

41,690 sq. ft.

290’

275’

275’

350’

1.07 Acres46,600 Sq. Ft.

General Commercial (CG) Greenway Water Quality (33.440)Design Overlay - Macadam Plan District (33.550)Scenic Resources (33.480)Public Recreation Trails - Greenway Trails (33.272)


Building Envelope

South Mill End

Site 2Site 1

7720 SW Macadam AveNorth WIllamette

4640 SW Macadam Ave

8.0 SITE ANALYSIS & PROGRAM RECONCILIATIONRegulatory Conditions

Floor Area Ratio (FAR) 3:1 (33.440.200)Maximum Height: 45’ (33.550.210)

River Setback: 50’-200’ if slope is greater than 20% (33.440.210 Fig. 440-2)Max. Garage Entrance Setback: 18’ (33.130.250.E)

Facade Dependant River Setback: 5’-14’(33.550.220.A Fig. 550-1)

Max Building Coverage: 75% of site area (33.550.230)

Min Building Coverage: 50% of site area (33.130.220)

Max Building Length: 200’ (33.550.240)Max Building Length: 100’ uninterrupted when street is adjacent (33.550.240)

Commercial Storefront (CS)Greenway Water Quality (33.440)Greenway Recreational (33.440)Public Recreation Trails - Greenway Trails (33.272)


Building Envelope

400’

180’

375’

210’

1.58 Acres68,825 sq. ft.

Sellwood Bridgehead8240 SW Macadam Ave

320’

310’

280’

565’

320’

5.41 Acres235,660 sq. ft.

Sellwood Beach NorthSE Oaks Park Way

Residential Farming (RF)Greenway Overlay Zone (q, g)

Floor Area Ratio (FAR) 3:1 Maximum Height: 30’Max. Front Building Setback: 20’

Max. Rear Building Setback: 10’Max. Side Building Setback: 10’

Max. Garage Entrance Setback: 18’Building Coverage: 85% of site areaMin. Lot Area: 52,000 sfMax. Lot Area: 151,000 sfMin. Lot Width: 60’Min. Lot Depth: 60’Min. Outdoor Area: 250 sfMin. Outdoor Dimension: 12’ x 12’


Building Envelope

Site 4Site 3

8.0 SITE ANALYSIS & PROGRAM RECONCILIATIONRegulatory Conditions


South Mill End

Site 2

Site Section

Site PlanSite 1

7720 SW Macadam AveNorth WIllamette

4640 SW Macadam Ave

The current condition of the site found is leveled with remnants of the previous building’s footprint in the form of tiles and concrete foundation found on site. The fenced- in abandoned site features a parking lot directly across from it and is located in a quiet and isolated residential neighborhood.

The site is a disused deciduous woodland park planted for butterflies and insects. It was named ‘but-terfly’ for its importance as a habitat for butterflies. The site is currently fenced due to construction and is also heavily covered with trees, featuring a large transmission tower. The site is located close to a car dealership as well as a boat home community.

8.0 SITE ANALYSIS & PROGRAM RECONCILIATIONPhysical Conditions

Sellwood Bridgehead8240 SW Macadam Ave

Sellwood Beach NorthSE Oaks Park Way

Site Section

Site PlanSite 4Site 3

Currently a boat dock, the Sellwood bridgehead site features a tiered topography slowly meandering and sloping down towards the river. Although the site is considerably noisy due to traffic from Mac-adam Ave and the Sellwood bridge, it benefits from its proximity and accessibility. Being right by the Willamette river with no steep slopes or dense forest makes the site superior in view and accessibil-ity.

Located between Sellwood Riverfront Park and Oaks Amusement Park, the site is a dense forest that features a na-ture trail encircling it. The river can be access along 3 dock points in the park but cannot be seen through the thick canopy of trees from SE Oaks Park Way that wraps around the entire site. The middle of the site as well as the South Eastern edge features a transmission tower and small shallow pond respectively.

8.0 SITE ANALYSIS & PROGRAM RECONCILIATIONPhysical Conditions


TITLE 33, PORTLAND PLANNING AND ZONING CODE33.440.210 Development in the Greenway Setback

33.440.210 B. The setback areas.1. Generally. The greenway setback extends from the top of the bank to a point

25 feet landward of the top of the bank, except in the River Water Quality overlay zone.2. River Water Quality overlay zone. The greenway setback in the River WaterQuality zone extends from the top of the bank to a point 50 feet landward of

the top of the bank for sites with less than 25 percent slope, or to a point 200 feet landward for sites with 25 percent or greater slope.

33.440.230 Landscaping33.440.230 B. Landscaping standards. Required greenway landscaping must comply with the standards stated below.

1. A minimum of one tree for every 20 feet of river frontage.2. A minimum of one shrub for every two feet of river frontage.

33.440.345 B. River Quality overlay zone.1c. Stormwater management features, including retention, infiltration, detention, discharges, and outfalls

C. Location and heights.

33.130.270.C1 Fences abutting street lot lines and pedestrian connections. Within 10 feet of

a street lot line or lot line that abuts a pedestrian connection, fences that meetthe following standards are allowed:

a. Fences that are more than 50 percent sight-obscuring may be up to 3-1/2 feet high.b. Fences that are 50 percent or less sight-obscuring may be up to 8 feet high.

2. Fences abutting other lot lines. Fences up to 8 feet high are allowed in required building setbacks along all other lot lines.33.550.220 Building Setbacks

33.550.220A (Table 550-1)Building Setbacks From Lot Lines

2,201 to 2,500 sq. ft. 10 ft.2,501 to 2,800 sq. ft. 11 ft.2,801 to 3,100 sq. ft. 12 ft.3,101 to 3,400 sq. ft. 13 ft.

3,401 or greater 14 ft.

33.550.220B. Future light rail line setback.2. Commercial buildings. Commercial buildings must be set back at least 30 feet

from the centerline of the potential light rail line.

33.550.230 Building CoverageThe maximum building coverage is 75 percent of the site area.

33.550.240 Building LengthA. Length. The maximum length of any building facade is 200 feet.

B. Uninterrupted wall. An exterior wall of a building adjacent to a street may not continue along an uninterrupted plane for more than 100 feet.

An uninterrupted plane is a wall which has no variation in exterior surface along its length. An offsetof less than 3 feet in the plane of a building wall is considered an uninterrupted plane.

8.0 SITE ANALYSIS & PROGRAM RECONCILIATIONDetailed Regulatory Conditions of Preferred Site

Sellwood Bridgehead

Site 3

8240 SW Macadam Ave

8.0 SITE ANALYSIS & PROGRAM RECONCILIATIONEnvironmental Conditions of Preferred Site


8.0 SITE ANALYSIS & PROGRAM RECONCILIATIONIllustrated Detailed Regulatory Conditions of Preferred Site

8.0 SITE ANALYSIS & PROGRAM RECONCILIATIONSite Selection Criteria


9.0 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALThe following pages cover the conceptual design process investigating and illustrating the amalgamation of established project goals, site analysis and programmatic require-ments to create a complete conceptual design proposal

9.1 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALSite Plan

9.1 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALSite Sections

Sellwood Bridge

North Section1/32” = 1’-0”

South Section1/32” = 1’-0”

SW Macadam Ave.Future LightRail Track

Future LightRail Track

Boathouse Dock

Concrete Deck

SW Macadam Ave.

NAAB Performance Criteria: B6. Comprehensive Design

Building Concept

The building will be displaying the weathering of various materials and their exposure to atmospheric precipitation on its facade as well as interior spaces. Inspired by the scientif-ic rain gauge and jewel box, the box-like structure features concrete retaining walls as well as vertical wooden louvers to protect from glare. The glass curtain wall system maximizes view of the river while its inner courtyard allows the visitors and scientists to be immersed in the phenomenon of precipi-tation.

9.2 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALBuilding Development Studies

Concrete Retaining Wall

Glass Curtain Wall

Vertical Wooden Louver Facade

Open Atrium

Structural Stability and thermal mass

Unobstructed view of river and natural lighting

Protects south side from solar glare

immersion in rain and weatherallow deeper penetration of light into interior spaces

9.2 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALBuilding Development Studies


9.3 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALFormal Ordering Systems

Formal Ordering Systems

The building’s centrally planned layout draws inspiration from the precipitation cubes found in the box of weather. The building is divided in 2 parts with circulation spaces around the core as well as between the separate spaces. This order allows the building to be modular and efficient in its programmatic layout while allowing site forces to flow and guide the form of the building.

9.3 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALFormal Ordering Systems

NAAB Performance Criteria: A8. Ordering System Skills

9.4 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALFloor Plans

North-South SectionScale: 1/8” = 1’-0”

9.5 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALBuilding Sections

East-West SectionScale: 1/8” = 1’-0”

9.5 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALBuilding Sections


9.6 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALBuilding Exterior

South ElevationScale: 1/8” = 1’-0”

9.6 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALBuilding Exterior

Sellwood Bridge Perspectives


9.7 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALStructural Planning

Structrural Grid and System

The building features a concrete column grid with shear walls wrapping around the Western side of the building. It’s concrete columns act together with two-way flat plate floor slabs to carry compressive loads, be non-combustible and resist lateral forces. This ensures structural stability as well as seismic resistance to form a unified vertical and horizontal structural system.

9.8 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALVertical Movement, Life Safety and Egress

80’

NAAB Performance Criteria: B5. Life Safety


Egress Stairs

Life safety in the building is accommodated by two egress stairs on both sides as well as the central open stairway in the middle of the building. Egress stairs are within limitations of dead end corridors to provide unobstructed emergency escape routes. The diagonal distance of the building stretches approxi-mately 120’, while egress stair distances only stretch 80’.


NAAB Performance Criteria: B5. Life Safety

Sustainability Strategies

The placement of the building on site 3 is dictated by the existing site conditions, geography, and natural alternative energy sources. The cafe, exhibition spaces, laboratories and offices are designed to coordinate with Northern and Southern lighting in order to reduce indoor lighting and ventilation energy consumption. The building features a Western core to serves as it’s thermal mass and vertical wooden louvers to reduce solar glare. Lastly, the building also features bioswale landscaping in its internal courtyard space as well as around the surrounding site to reduce the heat island effect and mitigate combined sewer overflow to the Willamette river.

Passive ventilation strategy diagram

Cool AirCool Air

Warm AirWarm Air

9.9 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALBuilding Systems Planning

9.9 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALBuilding Systems Planning

Builiding Service Core

The West service core houses essential building services such as elevators, emergency egress stair, as well as the wiring distribution site for electricity, fire protection, communications sys-tems, and plumbing lines

NAAB Performance Criteria: B6. Comprehensive DesignNAAB Performance Criteria: B6. Comprehensive Design

Two Way Flat Plate Floor

Curtain Wall

Slab on GradeBioswale

Parapet Roof

Steel Suspension Walkway SystemExterior Glazing

Wooden Louver SystemConcrete Wall

Building enclosure planning provides differ-ent materials and systems to be used on the various sides of the building system. Enclo-sures on the North, South and East side of the building will focus on maximizing solar gain while limiting and reducing solar glare.

9.10 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALBuilding Enclosure Planning

Wood Corten Steel Concrete Glass

Material Palette

Material choices were made based on their unique reactions to humidity and precipitation. In order to accentuate the nature of the research station, these selected materials serve to inform and re-mind the visitors and researchers alike about the ephemeral qualities and effects of precipitation.

9.10 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PROPOSALBuilding Enclosure Planning

NAAB Performance Criteria: B6. Comprehensive DesignNAAB Performance Criteria: B6. Comprehensive Design

lyee chong m.arch conceptual design report spring 2014

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