MORE THAN SKIN DEEPBuilding Sustainable Surfaces

Peter WongKevin Franz

School of Architecture, University of North Carolina CharlotteLittle Diversified Architectural Consulting, Charlotte, North Carolina

2 © 2010 Peter Wong. All rights reserved.

Publisher – Lulu®.

This book is printed with the font Optima, designed by Hermann Zapf in 1952.

The work in this publication is made possible with support from the School of Architecture, College of Arts + Architecture at University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

http://coaa.uncc.edu/The-college

Inquires about this publication may be made to Peter Wong, Associate Professor at plwong@uncc.edu.

Cover Image: Desk Work.Opposite Page Image: 1 Bank of America Center, Charlotte.

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Contents

5 More Than Skin Deep – Peter Wong

17 The Entangled Bank – Kevin Franz

25 Team A: Los Angeles, California

63 Team B: Shanghai, China

101 Team C: London, United Kingdom

147 Team D: Charlotte, North Carolina

185 Acknowledgments

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M. Pelz and O. Villa, Kunsthaus Bregenz case study.

5

Peter Wong, Associate ProfessorSchool of Architecture, UNC Charlotte

More Than Skin Deep

Architecture awakens sentiments in man. It is therefore the task of the architect to define exactly the sentiment. The room must evoke a warm feeling, the house must be pleasant to live in. The judicial building must appear as a threatening gesture to secret vice. The bank must say: here your money is secured and well-protected by honest people.1

Lacking expressive skins and representational orna-ment, would the new architecture not be left open to misinterpretation, devoid of recognizable signs, muddled by ambiguous or esoteric form, forfeiting its ability to communicate?

Communication and representation have been key questions in modern architecture for the past 100 years. While religious and civic expressions of architecture still exist, they stand in contrast to an increasing number of private and commercial build-ings that have a stronger hold on our perception of the built environment.

Today, an increase in our expectations on how buildings perform technically, alongside the design-

Beneath the Surface of Skins

We started with coverings. Clothes on the body, wrappings as skin. Seeking to hide rather than re-veal. No bones about it.

Bones were the tradition of the Modern Movement in architecture. The rise of steel, concrete and glass allowed a new look and meaning for buildings. As religious, civic, and aristocratic themes retreated from buildings at the turn of the 20th century, so lost were the ornaments and figural decorations scattered about their surfaces conveying signifi-cance and meaning. Orthodox modernism favored structural expression over skin. Moreover, building form and function took precedent, and the literary model previously employed was replaced with the stories of construction, materials, and the ‘machine aesthetic.’ But could this new outward expression for architecture be as well understood? How clearly would the abstract expression of programmatic form or the sheer transparency and display of uses within communicate building functions and uses, and in turn, a new set of meanings for architecture? Adolf Loos once told us that,

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N. Goss and E. Unruh, John Lewis Department Store case study.

er’s responsibility to provide buildings expressive of life’s performances heightens both the challenges and the possibilities for architects seeking to create buildings that communicate.

New demands for performance-based architec-ture – often associated with sustainable architec-ture or “green building” – adds a new dimension to architecture’s potential for awakening Loos’s “sentiments.” Promoted as an impending issue to

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R. Adams and K. Williams, Sendai Mediatheque case study.

be reckoned with, sustainable architecture gener-ates mutual understanding on how buildings should be in order to offset the negative consequences they have on the environment. In political terms, it is a movement that incites actions and solutions, creating a tight circle of collective meaning built on promotion, media, building standards, and brand-ing. Sustainable architecture is a modern manifesto par excellence, reliant on identifying a crisis, com-ing up with a plan and implementing it. The dialec-

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tical problem of sustainable building is therefore two-fold: 1) how to create buildings that perform responsibly and 2) how to express this ethical mes-sage through building form and material.

The projects presented in this book attempt to ne-gotiate this two-fold thesis. By focusing on building skins and envelopes, we sought to take a deep look into building components that might allow archi-tects to innovate both building performance and building purpose.

Middle Layers of the Design Process

The projects in this volume were completed in the Spring of 2010 as part of an advanced design studio for graduate and undergraduate students in the School of Architecture at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. The studio was structured as a “design development” laboratory, where students moved quickly beyond typical project goals – e.g., small-scale concept, parti, schematic development – to iterative envelope and skin investigations at scales of 1/2” and 3/4”. This allowed the class to measure the soundness of their initial ideas against large-order material, construction, and thermal requirements. This mid-field position anticipated the more definitive phase of construction documenta-tion while holding at a distance the fetish of details.

Wandering through the middle-ground of the design process during the semester specifically allowed: 1) the design of an aesthetic for the exterior skin, 2) an exploration of material possibilities, 3) an under-standing of construction methods and sequences, 4) the research of new and traditional sustainable technologies, 5) a way to reconcile urban condi-tions adjacent to the envelope, 6) strategizing an A. Denton and J. Todd, Torre Agbar casestudy.

9

M. Andrade and S. Jiang, de Young Museum Tower case study.

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Existing Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association (CRRA) building (built in 1969), Charlotte, North Carolina.

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M. Pelz, CRRA, daylight study and shading strategies.

appropriate climatic response, and 7) the interior design of specific habitable opportunities at the building’s perimeter. These were marked as specific goals for the studio.

The semester was sectioned into three parts. The first asked students to engage a series of case study proj-ects. The second project explored lessons afforded by the case studies for the design of a new enclo-sure and skin for an existing office building (exam-ples on this and subsequent pages). The final project revisited similar envelope issues but was based on a large-scale urban block proposal recently com-pleted by Little Diversified Architectural Consulting for a client in Dallas Texas.

Existing Building Re-Skin

The second project of the semester involved a facade retrofit for an existing 5-story concrete frame structure for the Charlotte Regional Realtor® As-sociation (CRRA) in Charlotte, NC. This followed on the heels of the case study assignment (refer to previous pages) where students worked in teams of two to analyze and reconstruct complex enve-lopes from well-known international projects. For these analyses, the students were asked to recreate detailed wall section drawings based on literary and Internet research. In addition, each team physically modeled a partial section of the building that re-vealed internal working components of the skin. The teams also created various details in digital form to capture the minute aspects of construction and the potential sequence of assembly. Some of these case studies also featured sustainable elements (auto-matic louvers, heat absorbing thermal walls, shad-

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R. Adams, CRRA, wall section and photo voltaic enclosure.

ing devices, special material considerations, etc.) which they documented in a comprehensive report. The case study served as a model for their design proposals for the CRRA façade retrofit, with many of the students using their research as a departure point for modifications and additions to the build-ing’s vertical surface.

The CRRA building represented a typical example of architecture from the 1960s that suffers from a lack of adequate thermal protection, inadequate natu-ral light to the interior as well as restricted interior views for its occupants. It was in need of updating based on the requirements of its owner, who found the building’s outward presence unsuited for the Association’s promotion of up-to-date real estate trends in the Charlotte housing market. For an orga-nization dedicated to sustainable living, the existing building sent the wrong message.

The structure of the building did however possess the aesthetic of classic modernism, voicing the pri-orities of its era through straightforward massing and clear methods of construction. In addition, the sur-rounding neighborhood was home to a number of

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L. Li, CRRA, study models of new building screen.

similar buildings erected in the same period. There was a type of honesty and simplicity to the structure that the students found authentic. Therefore they were sensitive to the historical significance of the building and many chose to find continuity with its materials and massing in their design proposals.

Many of the designs sought to remove the brick panels that covered 85 percent of the building to liberate the precast flooring and framing system of the building. The bones of the building served as the superstructure on which more lightweight, energy conserving strategies were situated, in order to permit daylight to penetrate the body of the 70-foot deep building. Most schemes incorporated double skin envelopes to control lighting and ventilation as well as to house photovoltaic technology. Varying façade designs around the building responded to varying solar conditions.

Light, Lightness, and On Being Light

Current interest for lightness in architecture be-came a working strategy for the second assignment.

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A. Dailey, CCRA, wall section and southeast facade retrofitted with solar shading devices.

15Contemporary materials, in particular glass and metal, create larger demands for energy than more traditional materials. At the same time, they allow the designer degrees of flexibility for controlling the environmental effects of the envelope – e.g., through opacity, transparency, and screening. This contradiction is an inherent problem for today’s architectural construction, causing debate among designers interested in green products, and forg-ing different opinions on architecture’s material expression vs. its sustainable features. Moreover, if advances in architectural technology are a part of the equation for environmental responsibility, then research on lessening the impact of technological production must strike a balance between innova-tion and the exploitation of the resources necessary for building. This dilemma is not an easy one to live with. As W. G. Clark has written,

We don’t know why we are here on this Earth. We do know, from the most primitive to the most sophisticated among us, that our pres-ence here is probably harmful, an imposition. That knowledge causes us to want to assuage the fouling and killing aspects of our existence

in order to simply be at some ease with our oc-cupation. We want to belong rather than only use. Sick at killing the cow, yet having to eat, we make rules of propriety and economy gov-erning the slaughter. We must eat the whole cow; we may not kill extra cows; we may nev-er take pleasure in the kill. In a bare existence, economy is necessary for survival. But it is also, in any existence, an ethical act that regrets the taking; imposing itself as a respectful, if insuf-ficient, act of atonement.2

The students accepted this necessary evil in their proposals for the CRRA. Rather than completely cannibalizing the existing structure, some of the proposals reused existing brick and concrete materi-als, recomposing them alongside new, lighter com-ponents to maintain the building’s original character as well as to reduce the need for additional re-sources and energy. Lessons learned in this problem allowed the students to make better-informed deci-sions in the latter part of the course. As they moved on to the Entangled Bank assignment – that required them to site projects in several corners of the globe – they ably adapted these envelope-focused innova-tions to differing cultural climates and environmen-tal conditions.

Notes:1. Adolf Loos, “Architecture (1910),” translated by H. F. Mall-

grave, Midgård, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1987, 55.2. Richard Jensen, Clark and Menefee (New York, Princeton

Architectural Press, 2000), 10.

A. Dailey, CCRA, main facade retrofit.

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Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, Entangled Bank proposal for Dallas, TX, 2009.

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Kevin Franz, AIA, LEED AP, BD+CLittle Diversified Architectural Consulting, Charlotte, NC

The Entangled Bank

It is interesting to contemplate an entangled bank, clothed with many plants of many kinds, with birds singing on the bushes, with various insects flitting about and with worms crawling through the damp earth, and to reflect that these elaborately constructed forms, so differ-ent from each other, and dependent on each other in so complex a manner, have all been produced by laws acting around us.1

In his conclusion to On the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin describes an entangled bank to the reader as an example of a natural cycle of life, each element unknowingly, yet dependent on oth-ers, within a network of coincidental encounters. Metaphorically, a sustainable community comprises an interwoven set of social, economic and environ-mental components, each relying on the framework in which they are bound.

An Urban Example of the Entangled Bank

Little’s project for a sustainable urban block substi-tuted social, environmental and economic constitu-

ents for the organisms within the entangled bank metaphor. The project originated as a competition sponsored by Urban Re:Vision, an organization of architects, community leaders, and business individuals working to generate visionary ideas, in-novations and design solutions different from typical developer-driven project. The competition program asked participants to focus on a single urban block in Dallas, Texas. The goal of Little’s project was to develop a malleable program whose defined components could be modified to rejuvenate other urban communities worldwide.

The research efforts for the project sought to gather and analyze cultural, regional and social elements of the site in order to understand the entangled web of influences in this particular place. This data was broken down into parts – retail, residential, social services, and educational facilities – that were woven into complex relationships that could predict and utilize the interactions necessary to reinforce and renew the urban framework. This investiga-tion of the surrounding context exposed a diverse collection of existing community resources that included elementary schools, transit stops, public

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Programming of the block.

Block section showing sustainable elements.The Entangled Bank site in context with downtown Dallas.

Early sketch depicting future expansion and path to downtown.

19park facilities, open-air food markets and assistance shelters for the homeless. All of these components were situated side by side as a comprehensive web of services.

In conjunction with the social and economic fac-tors, the environmental characteristics played a major role in shaping the renewable ecosystems in-tegrated into the skin of the architecture. Knowledge of wind direction and speeds, annual precipitation, seasonal temperature variations and solar orienta-tion of the site helped determine which types of systems would be best suited for Dallas.

Little’s Proposal

The main programmatic features of Little’s solution for the block included: 1) an emphasis in agri-cultural production and retail services (elevated pastures/vertical farm, organic market, educational laboratories, culinary institute, and food services), 2) multi-family residential programs (both market-rate condominiums, affordable housing, and subsidized SRO units) and 3) wellness facilities and social ser-

vices (daycare, fitness, social consulting).

The block was configured by the dynamic forces between two intersecting street grids in Dallas in conjunction with a solar orientation that would best suit the agricultural requirements of the project. This is demonstrated by the placement of a 33-story resi-dential tower shaped to reflect these two forces. The geometry and features of the tower serve as a formal anchor linking the project to downtown. Behind the vertical garden of the tower are elevated pas-tures, located at every fourth floor. These elevated levels – like Darwin’s diverse model – function as social spaces, productive fields and private leisure areas, creating an ever-changing façade condition throughout the year.

The low-rise portion of the block is organized around a meandering path that ramps upwards from the entrance of the block elevating the occupant both physically and spiritually as they move to the landscaped terraces above. This part of the block incorporates social services, live entertainment, retail, educational and learning facilities as well as additional live/work residential units.

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Street view facing the live/work residential units with vertical farm (33-story tower) beyond.

Alternative configurations for the modular affordable residential units.

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Innovative Technologies

Three sustainable systems make up the building’s skin. A curtain wall glazing system extends from floor to floor providing maximum natural day light-ing and optimum views from within. Copper piping harnesses solar thermal resources of the sun to condition water that is transferred to the mechani-cal systems within each unit. Finally, photovoltaic panels convert sunlight into electrical energy that is distributed to each of the residential units.

Other sustainable features of the project include green roofs, a vertical wind turbine and ventilation system, a gray water recovery system and modular concrete construction for the residential portion of the program.

These sustainable systems would serve as the focus for further development by the students at UNC Charlotte.

Detail of wind turbines at windward edge of tower.

Passive hydronic, heat recovery system at residential facade.Gray water recover system at elevated park level.

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Los Angeles. Shanghai.

London. Charlotte.

A B

DC

23The Collaboration

The Entangled Bank succeeded in providing a framework of elements designed to renew and sustain an urban city block in downtown Dallas. In collaboration with the School of Architecture at UNC Charlotte, Little provided students with the concept and framework of components as a prec-edent for further design development of the project’s sustainable features. The students were divided into teams and presented with four sites, each of which presented cultural and environmental characteristics specifically chosen to test the program itself.

Members from Little, as well as the Entangled Bank team, participated in the teaching and the review of the students’ designs throughout the semester, sharing the knowledge that had been gained dur-ing the original design of the project. In turn, the students provided further design development of Little’s original proposal, seeking to help inform, as well as learn about, new ways of working with these complex systems.

Four different cities with varying climatic zones

were selected to further explore alternative energy-conserving strategies. The collaboration presented a two-fold opportunity: 1) for the students to obtain first hand experience with an actual sustainable project given full professional objectives (e.g., cli-ent requirements, programmatic needs, develop-ment feasibility, presentation needs, etc.), and 2) for professionals to further explore their proposal in terms of detailed sustainable systems, materials and envelope possibilities developed by the students. While the former provided important lessons for students about professional practice, the latter af-forded professionals new perspectives on enhancing the original project’s level of sustainability. Practice allied with research became the important objective of this collaboration.

The projects that follow foreground the opportuni-ties provided by this collaborative “town and gown” approach in an effort to strengthen the relationship between professional practice, university research, and student learning.

Notes:1. Charles R. Darwin, On the Origin of Species (London: John

Murray, 1859), 489.

Students presenting their initial proposals to architects at Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, April 2010.

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ALos Angeles, California

Los Angeles: the land of unabashed advertising. Billboards leave no surface untouched. Do these surfaces have the potential to advertise more than just goods and services? It is commonly agreed that the Los Angeles lifestyle is unique. How can this be represented through building facades?

This project explores three façade concepts in order to collectively represent the lifestyle of Los Angeles. The first concept advertises the work of the residents in the media industry by projecting imagery to the rooftop garden and beyond, while simultaneously collecting solar energy. The second is a breathing screen which advertises a concern with environ-mental consciousness and healthy living. The third concept advertises the cultural history of Hollywood by creating a perspective-dependent iconic image for commuters on the freeway.

None of the façade concepts are “purely sustain-able” – but this can also be said of the Los Angeles lifestyle. Energy and water are collected where they can then be used for the enjoyment of the collector. This is a lifestyle Los Angeles enjoys, and it is one that draws many new residents to the city each year.

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Downtown Media WallLos AngelesTeam: Kelsey Williams, Elizabeth Unruh, Jiang Shuang

Claimed as a multi-cultural society, the majority of American cities, like Los Angeles, have been homelands for those with various racial back-grounds. Such diverse conditions in the American city promises a greater chance for communication, understanding, and collaborating, which is claimed by some to be a distinguishing trait of American city life.

While Los Angeles highways serve as significant factors to facilitating local life, they also perform a dramatic function, pointing to the prosperity and fast-paced style of West Coast living. Moreover, this is reflected in the argument that ‘the highway’ provides a truer sense of the city and the mindset of modern American culture.

Found with ease in high traffic areas of Los Ange-les, billboards have created a distinct landscape for its environs, contributing the town’s identity and unique character. The impact of these billboards – which exist as commercial advertisements, public advocating or events announcements – have be-come a crucial part of American highway culture.

Map of county and highway infrastructure.

A

27Plan of Los Angeles (downtown).

Figure/ground diagram of site.Aerial view of district with site located.

Analysis of neighboring building uses.

28

Aerial view of site.

29While known worldwide for the entertainment industry that thrives in Los Angeles, its economic landscape is just as broad as other major cities. Tourism/hospitality is actually the largest industry in the city, followed by professional services and then entertainment. The downtown region, the location of our site, is home to the financial core, convention district, and the city’s major performance venues. Hotels are the primary employers and the cultural mix combines financiers, theatergoers and up-and-coming artists.

Not long ago life in downtown L.A. was abandoned with the departure of the last commuter at 5pm, but a resurgence over the last several years is creat-ing a fuller sense of life with new residents living in the core. This housing is pricey though, and has been marketed primarily to a class of people that own several residences. Our project proposes the creation of apartments that appeal to a variety of socioeconomic classes, thus enabling the hotel employee or struggling artist to take up residence in the currently exclusive neighborhood of Downtown LA. Imagine that, being able to live near where you work in Los Angeles!

Site panorama.

Map of downtown and neighboring districts.

30Street Car to Motor Vehicle.

Union Station.

31In September of 1781, L.A was officially founded. In the early 1900s the rail lines moved in. The city’s rails were comprehensive rivaling even New York City for the most mileage. In 1939 the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal (Union Station) opened creating a landmark for the rail lines. Street cars became the dominant mode of transportation until WWII. At the end of WWII the private automobile replaced street cars. Today, freeways are a defining characteristic of the city.

The weather of the Los Angeles basin is character-ized by a Mediterranean climate. The Los Angeles basin receives ample sunshine, with 320 sunny days and 40 rainy days on average per year. The Santa Ana winds are strong, extremely dry shore winds that sweep through Southern California. These winds are remembered most for the hot dry weather (often the hottest of the year) they bring in the fall. Good natural ventilation, window overhangs, and operable sunshades can reduce or eliminate air conditioning. Sunny wind-protected outdoor spaces can extend living areas in cool weather.

Natural ventilation.

Wind chart.

32

Diagram of block plan.

A B1

CB2

Typical tower plan diagram (residential).

33When designing the mass of the block we looked at a precedent that worked with a folded form. The folded form allowed the roof to become a dynamic outdoor public space. We took the idea of this public space and incorporated it into our building. Instead of a folded volume we have regular volumes covered by folded exterior skins. Keeping the vol-umes regular allowed freedom for the development of different types of detached skins with varying geometries.

Our program contains three main elements. We divided the super structure into three parts in reflec-tion to this. Each part contains a base that rises up into a tower. A ring of program and circulation sur-rounds the three towers to unify them.

The mass of our project involves the uses of both interior space and exterior. This mass allows the negative space (exterior) to be transformed into outdoor rooms.

View from Disney Hall.

Site and block massing.

Background case studies.

34

Entrance.

35One of the main industries of Los Angeles is the arts. We brought this into our project through the educational component. The three main educational units are performing arts (orange), fashion design (blue), and craft (purple). We have also incorporated the healthy lifestyle of Los Angeles by including a wholistic medicine facility, spa, and vegan friendly restaurant (pink ring). The large space between the craft and fashion design schools will contain an open air market for organic foods.

The towers mostly contain our residential units. There are four types ranging from a studio apart-ment to a two story condo. The two media walls take the ideas of advertisement and media of Los Angeles and represent them in a sustainable and modern manner.

Views afforded when traveling Hwy 101.

Program massing.

36

Media ScreensCOMPONENT A.1Kelsey Williams

Embedded in the culture of Los Angeles is the paradox of consumer vs. convervationist. People conserve energy only to immediately use it preserv-ing nothing. ‘Mediatecture’ is the terminology for the new digital technology being used in the media, especially in Los Angeles. By combining these two concepts we have developed a screen that is ap-plied to the southern facades.

Each of the two screen will display work and performances from the educational facilities in the complex. One will be specific to rooftop viewing by the people local to the block. The other is oriented so it can be seen from the greater downtown area.

The screen is made of two parts, LED and photovol-taic panels. The PV panels are fixed in their loca-tion. The angle at which the two components meet mimic the original idea of a folded surface. The orientation of the panels are what determines the specific viewing points. At these points the panel reads as a single display screen.

Final media wall model incorporating PVs and LEDs.

Preliminary media wall sketch model.

37

Building section at media wall and bridge condition (B2).

Diagram demonstrating the two media wall viewing angles.

bridge connection [scale 1/2” = 1’]

38 The screens are anchored to the surface of the tow-ers creating bridging elements which connect the towers together. Given the social concept of these screens, outdoor public space is created in the areas behind each screen.

Each screen incorporates PV and LED components but have different viewing audiences. The smaller screen is oriented toward the neighborhood theatre plaza adjacent to the east tower. The downtown projection screen, displaying images to the city, is higher and larger in scale. Panel locations on city-side facades.

39

Bay Elevation (corresponding with wall section to right). Wall section (B1).

0 5 10 15 20 FT

south facade [scale 1/2” = 1’]

photovoltaic panel

LED panel

steel bracket

maintainance catwalk

steel tube

steel bldg structural column

concrete

18” sleepers

�nish �oor

steel girder

steel wide �ange

drop ceiling

bolt connection

private balcony

40

Section model of media wall.

41Each media screen is an independent system from the rest of the building facade. The two different panel types are positioned using a bracket to fix their location. The brackets are then tied back to a catwalk system for maintenance. Cross-bracing pro-vides the lateral support for the system. This portion of the screen projects off of the building, attached at the ends to the “breathing screen.” A catwalk is braced by the main column structure of the tower for access.

The space between the private balconies and the catwalk create a transitional space from the air pol-lutants of the city in order to alter the micro-climate of the outdoor balconies. Given the translucency of both the PV and LED panels, light will penetrate these exterior spaces. This provides the opportunity for soft light to show a record of time as the it passes across the facade creating variation and pattern dur-ing the day. At night, the LEDs illuminate the space making an engaging social atmosphere that reflects lifestyle of Los Angeles.

Detail panel orientation.

Detail system structure.

42

The Media screens are used to project information to the city, to draw individuals to the complex, and to support the local neighborhood theater function of the project. The screens create a connection for locals in the art community as well as provide a larger service to the community. They also invoke a specific atmosphere to the residents living in the units behind them. They are part of the social char-acter of the complex both exterior and interior.

View from city.

View from outdoor theatre.

43

Interstitial space.

44

Breathing ScreenCOMPONENT A.2Elizabeth Unruh

The design of the southern façade is quite ambi-tious in its attempt to “advertise” the environmen-tally conscious lifestyle of Los Angeles. Through a double-skin façade, an interior living screen and outdoor living spaces, it creates a naturally venti-lated greenhouse with many potential benefits. The temperate climate in Los Angeles makes the city ideally suited for energy-saving natural ventilation. With dry and cool incoming air, the use of plant life to create a warm and humid environment between the skins encourages displacement through a three-story stack.

SOM’s Living Wall study revealed that as air passes through a field of plant life, the root rhizomes ab-sorb a substantial amount of toxic material resulting in 200-300% cleaner air. With freeways in close proximity to the site, and smog a constant presence in the city’s atmosphere, the integration of a breath-ing screen between the skins of the façade creates healthier outdoor spaces by purifying the air as it flows through the cavity.

The challenges for this design became how to design a façade that reads as a whole, to encourage community among the residents, and to design a breathing screen that increases biophilia.

Precedent for Breathing Screen - SOM’s Living Wall.

45

Single Floor Wall Section (Scale: 1/4” = 1’-0”).

Strategies for ventilation and location of sustainable components.

MODERATE TEMP. - SOLAR RADIATION - DRY AIR - SMOG - LACK OF BIOPHILIA -

- NATURAL VENTILATION

- SHADE FROMSCREEN

- PLANT-INDUCEDHUMIDITY

- AIR PURIFICATION THROUGH PLANTS

- VIEW OF LIVING THINGS

46

The southern façade of each tower is divided into three-story blocks (left) which allow for fire-safe stack ventilation and present unique opportuni-ties for residential community. Each block has one breathing screen that runs continuously from top to bottom. To encourage residents to experience the planted side of the screen, enjoy an unhindered view, and travel effortlessly between the three floors, four openings are created in each scheme. One of these openings is detailed in the bay eleva-tion and partial wall section (right).

Residents have the option of relaxing on their pri-vate patios, descending the steps to the public path in order to visit their neighbors, or passing through the breathing screen to experience a new view and traverse the entire length of the façade. With this last option, the screen not only serves as an advertise-ment of the lifestyle that exists behind it, but also plays the role of a backdrop to the actual life itself when the residents choose to emerge from within. If you watch patiently, you might even catch one of the inhabitants momentarily remove their most personal protective layer – their sunglasses.

Exploration of building elevation. Partial Floor Plan (Scale: 1/8” = 1’-0”).

47

Bay Elevation (Scale: 1/8” = 1’-0”). Partial Wall Section (Scale: 1/8” = 1’-0”).

48Elephant ear leaf.

Rendering of Terra Cotta screen.

Detail of Leaf Scheme screen.Grasshopper (parametric) model & element for leaf screen.

The design of two schemes for the breathing screen resulted from studies of certain non-flowering and flowering plants, chosen for their effectiveness in air purification. The first design, the Leaf Scheme, represents the pattern of nutrient travel in the leaf of an elephant ear plant.

In this double-layer screen, the plants are contained within rectangular-shaped pots that are passed through the corresponding holes in the screen (see rendering, right). As the water passes through the prominent vertical members, it is distributed to the plants through the secondary members.

After the scheme was designed in Rhinoceros and applied on a flat surface, one of the units was mod-eled in Grasshopper (a parametric modeling plug-in for Rhinoceros). By changing parameters through the Grasshopper model, the unit can be stretched horizontally or vertically to cover complex surfaces, and the holes in the component can be enlarged or shrunk to accommodate different views and plant life, respectively.

49

Wall section model with Leaf Scheme screen.Natural ventilation through wall.

Screen shadow on patio.

View from patio through screen.

50 The second design, the Petal Scheme, represents the anatomies of two types of air-purifying flowers. In a hibiscus flower the pistil and stamen grow directly out of splayed petals, represented in the promi-nent unit of the screen design. In a fuchsia flower, however, the petals are set-back and the pistil and stamen grow from a secondary cup of petals. This is represented through the inversion of the prominent unit in the design.

Only a single layer, this screen holds flowering plants in the “pots” created by the petals on the southern side. Since this planted side faces away from the residents and toward the sun, the screen was designed to be equally effective in increasing biophilia when viewed from both sides. The non-planted side facing the patios displays a similar pri-mary unit in both original and inverted form, thus revealing the anatomy of both hibiscus and fuchsia flowers.

An alternative for both schemes of the screen is terra cotta. Its porous texture allows for the dispersion of water, and the process of slip-casting enables it to be used in 3-D designs. A small section of this petal scheme was prototyped in order to convey the spatial and tactile nature of the design.

Initial sketches of screen motif.

Rendering of terra cotta screen.

Hibiscus Flower.

Detail of planted side of petal screen.

Fuchsia Flower.

51

3-D printed model of petal screen.

Detail of residential side of petal screen. View from Patio looking up.

52

BillboardCOMPONENT A.3Shuang Jiang

Highway:Instead of the typical facade for the north side of the building, the three residential towers are fitted with signage for passers-by traveling Hwy 101 and the Santa Monica Highway.

MediaCulture:The images advertised on these surfaces represent the cultural roots tied to LA’s entertainment and suburban traditions. Panels holding these images will be changed or altered depending on the city’s media trends and fashions.

Precedent examples for the folded strategy of the billboard wall.North billboards facades oriented to 101 and Santa Monica Hwy.

53

Billboard:As a counterpoint to the high-tech media screens at the southern faces of the building, the north expo-sure annotates the media culture of Los Angeles via a static set of creases and folds displayed to speed-ing traffic of the freeways.

Program:The residents of the towers populate this wall as they keep pace with cars, moving to their individual units.

Concepts:Outside --- Images of Hollywood, and LA in gen-eral, are exhibited as poster displays. Classic or newly-released Hollywood blockbusters face travel-ers in route to beach or mountain. Also can be seen are the human activities behind this folded facade, but at a scale that is dwarfed by the large images of celebrity heroes. Inside --- Residents moving to their units can pause and peak through the eyes of these giant starlets. They wander inside the billboard via the corridor enjoying the exhibition on both sides.

Skin --- The triangulated folds of the billboard, the tetrahedre extend beyond the facade, provide an opportunity for views of the traffic and mountains beyond. Incidental light and shadow change as time passes throughout the day. This is afforded by the perforated metal panels, which also hold the main images of the billboard. As opposed to expressing structure on these folded surfaces, mixed popular imagery is displayed.

Step 1: original image

Step 2: convert the image into black and white

Step 3: invert the black and white

Step 4: pixel pattern translated into an alternating grid of protruding and depressed embossings, stamped at different depths.

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Los Angeles’s love affair with the sign.

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Building section through billboard wall, showing the relationship between exterior walkway and unit interiors.

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Diagrams of the billboard screen and sequence of construction.

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Model photo in detail.

Views of the billboard walls as seen from Hwy 101 and the Santa Monica Freeway.

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Study models of the folded north facing walls.

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BShanghai, China

Our initial premise for the masterplan of this sus-tainable block, and the subsequent envelope design strategies, was that of the Lilong housing type. Shanghai is a city that is rich in culture & communi-ty in part due to these Lilong communities and how they foster interaction through proximity and layout. The city is beginning to lose some of this typological richness at the street plane due to constant popula-tion growth, which forces new construction of high rise structures up and away from the street.

It was our intention to bring back this formal and social structure to the city by not only reinventing appropriate street conditions, but by also design-ing residences above the ground plane that foster and promote community among neighbors through visual and physical means. The image of Lilong liv-ing at the right therefore served as the start for the development of this project.

64

Yangpu District RenewalShanghai, ChinaTeam: Riann Adams, Mimi Andrade, Ryan Trimble

The project site is located in the Yangpu district of Shanghai, just a few blocks from the Hangpu River. Shanghai is a densely populated, steadily growing metropolitan hub whose architecture is changing and adapting just as fast as its population. With an ever-changing built landscape to contend with, Shanghai needs a site responsive proposal and also a culturally responsive one that will be able to adapt with the city as it continues to grow.

Our group looked first at the pedestrian/vehicular patterns within the vicinity of the site and took note of the various raised highways and meandering canals. This created an opportunity for juxtaposition within the city that directly impacts how buildings are accessed and viewed. We also took a close look at the surrounding transportation hubs and local at-tractions in order to come up with a strong proces-sion through the block similar to the Lilong typolo-gy. These site studies also uncovered the possibilities of the Lilong housing type in this particular district. As a result of these initial site studies, we started with producing schematic programmatic layouts that would directly respond to the above mentioned site conditions.

Satellite view of Shanghai region.

B

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Vehicular Circulation

Vehicular infrastructure.

Primary/Secondary axes of influence.

Aerial view of Yangpu district.

Shanghai city skyline from the Pudong financial district.

Analysis of neighboring building uses.

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Aerial view of site.

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The Yangpu District is primarily a residential district, however it lacks a true sense of identity. Our project seeks to bring key components of urban design into a single location to create a new center of activ-ity. There is a noticeable lack of green space in the area. Residents lack necessary spaces to interact, both with one another and with nature. The raised clusters of units in our design help to foster this sense of connectivity by providing ample, layered green space. Some of this space is intended to be planted with local species of vegetation, both to encourage interaction with nature and to assist in purifying the air of the city.

A portion of this space is also intended to offer a place for sports. This outdoor sports area, along with a large recreation facility, will further help the proj-ect to foster a sense of community in the district. The community is supported by abundant residen-tial units designed to be modular and easily erected or updated. The units also are flexible enough to incorporate multiple floors to accommodate larger families or various income levels within the same structure, thus achieving a more sustainable at-mosphere. The ground floor of each building also includes live/work or retail spaces. These spaces are intended to form a interactive streetscape similar to that of the traditional Lilong.

Existing buildings in the Yangpu District.

Diagrams of programmatic spaces(top to bottom): living roofs, retail, residential.

68North Elevation of the block.

Street and block plan.

69Our final master plan for the site depicts a respect for the traditional Lilong housing typology. This ver-nacular morphology was often arranged as rows of units clustered along narrow alleyways that encour-aged social interaction. These alleys spilled out into larger lanes that served as central pedestrian paths and gathering area. In our reinterpretation of the type we sought to maintain the porous nature of the traditional Lilong. This porosity refers not only to the multitude of access points for pedestrians, but also to the building massing itself, which is pulled apart to allow natural forces such as sunlight and wind to easily penetrate the dense urban configuration. The notion of compression and release is created as the alleyways inherently bring people closer together, physically and socially, with a central square and cross axes of lanes allowing for larger community events. The mixed use nature of this project, com-bined with its prominent location within the fabric of the Yangpu District enables it to serve as a focal point for the entire neighborhood. We envision that the site will be not only environmentally sustainable but also strengthen and renew the social and urban character of the Yangpu District.

Cross Section diagram of unit configuration.Traditional Lilong morphology.

Massing Model.

Massing model (view of “lanes” lifted into the air).

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Above:1. Skywell2. Porch3. Main Hall4. Bedroom5. Kitchen

Below:1. Courtyard2. Central Hall3. Bedroom4. Light-well5. Kitchen6. Storage7. Bathroom8. Auxiliary Room

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The Old Shi-ku-men Lilong House

Following the general pattern of row-housing originating in London in the 1850s, the layout and structure of the Lilong is adjusted spatially to the traditional Chinese dwelling models that were pres-ent in south-east China. The basic housing prototype of the Shi-ku-men Lilong took the form of a main two-storied building at the front of the site enclosed by a central courtyard with linked to a one-storied building via a light court. This housing type was ac-cessed from side lanes from the front and back. The front lane allowed formal entry to the house; the rear lane – often called the service lane – was used for preparation of cooking and served as a play area for children. These two lane conditions face each other creating a unique combination of formal and informal activities,

The New Old Shi-ku-men Lilong House

After the collapse of Chinese Empire in 1911, the traditional extended family began to disintegrate. Due to the rapid growth of Shanghai’s population, Lilongs were adapted to suit low income families who could afford and required less space. The Old Shi-ku-men Lilongs were modified into high-density units with smaller courtyards. The houses were mostly comprised of a single Jian, facing a smaller front courtyard. They were composed of two primary parts: a living zone at the front and service area at the back.

5 5

3 4 4 4 4

71Traditional Shanghai Lilong neighborhoods.

Shanghai Growing Vertically

Shanghai today is a vast metropolis of 22 million residents, the largest city in the world’s most popu-lous nation. In a mere three decades its population has nearly doubled, and the city has been physi-cally transformed by the building of modern high-rises and elevated freeways. Formerly a horizontal expanse of dense and sprawling Lilong neighbor-hoods, Shanghai has grown vertically. Nearly 400 high-rises of twenty stories or more were built in the historic Puxi core since 1990, and colossal elevated roads fly over old neighborhoods.

The Yangpu district is rapidly losing the traditional way of life and cultural sense of community that the morphology of the Lilong once embraced. Increas-ingly higher and more dense residential towers, similar to Le Corbusier’s modern concept of “the tower in the park,” are taking over the district of Yangpu to accommodate housing needs in this rapid growing district.

Le Corbusier, Ville Contemporaine, 1922.

Shanghai residential building in the 1970s.

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Diagram illustrating major site circulation/gathering space.

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Analysis of the climate of Shanghai reveals many similarities to the Charlotte region. Its latitude at 31 degrees north of the equator and proximity to the coast give the area a humid sub-tropical classification. With four distinct seasons. Spring and autumn are generally sunny, warm, pleasant, and dry. During the summer the city is subject to 40” of annual rain and is very hot and humid. The humidity is also prevalent in the winter, along with a cold wind from the north. Temperatures can drop below freezing, but snow in the city is rare.

Mithun’s Vertical Farm Building, Romses Architects’ Harvest Tower, and Phipps-Rose-Dattner-Grimshaw’s Via Verde projects all offer a sense of unique sustainability, both socially and environmentally.

April 19, 2006. May 10, 2009.November 10, 2000. January 29, 2004.

The transformation of the city is captured at the scale of our site through multiple satellite images over the past ten years. Analysis of these images shows a neighborhood once rich in small scale residential units that has undergone a drastic transformation. Traditional spaces of interaction have been replaced by western-style highrises oblivious to the needs of the local culture. Our scheme attempts to reintroduce these traditional planning back into the built form of the city and provide a cultural condition and a model more consistent with the history of the city of Shanghai.

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Shanghai Office ComplexCOMPONENT B.1Riann Adams

The office complex portion of the Shanghai block is inspired by the sky gardens created at every third level of the residential blocks. These sky gardens provided the needed green space as well as a place that fosters interaction among neighbors similar to the Lilong precedent for our project. This feature makes its way into the office program as an addi-tional way for providing a diverse set of private to publicly occupied spaces.

Two schematic section diagrams were investigated to test how the exterior skin of the building might be configured. Rather than creating a tight facade of thin surfaces, the depth of the building is open, promoting interaction spatially via its section. The first section features a series of cascading atriums, which ultimately lead to one of the sky gardens that connects commercial with residential sectors of the block. The second section features a cantilevering atrium that leads onto the shared garden. In the final iteration the atrium concept evolved into open air space that would serve as both a visual and physical connection between the street and interior block.

A project featuring sky gardens.

Initial building section diagrams.

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Building Section.

Front Elevation.Butt-glazed mullion system.

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The two cantilevering courtyards are the main feature of the Shanghai Office Complex. While the facade studies of the residential units were more technically driven, the focus of the office wing was to maintain social interaction by creating a public space with the block. The perspective (upper left image) represents the view people would have at the block’s perimeter. It was our intention to make it not only visually open, but also to allow the public spaces beyond to be destination points.

The circulation to each courtyard has been exposed and celebrated on the facade, creating an invitation to passersby. It was also important to create oasis-like spaces for the office workers for use during lunch hours as well as after hours in the evening. The offices are clad in a butt-glazed curtain wall system that allows the extruded courtyards to be perceived beyond.

Plan diagrams illustrating the open courtyards.

Plan view of block.

Perspective of block.

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Bay Elevation. Wall Section.

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The courtyard elements are clad in white metal panels in order to bounce and reflect light through the open air space. The transparent and lightweight skin of the street facade is supported by a hollow-core concrete floor structure.

The circulation ramp facing the main street is cantilevered. The detail section (at right) illustrates how the ramp is connected to the vertical circulation core by cantilevered steel beams. It is also held on the far side by a cable system that connects directly into the roof plane of the courtyard structure. This system allows the extruded ramps to hover on the facade facing the street.

Section through facade.

Ramp Section.

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Site Perspective.

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The physical section model illustrates a portion of one of the courtyard gardens. It is double the height of the office floors and will feature not only garden areas but also restaurant vendors and sitting areas.

Views of section model.

Section Model.

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Garden and office extensions.Front Elevation.

Section Model.

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Air-Water Cleansing FacadeCOMPONENT B.2Mirna Andrade

While investigating the site and region of the project it was ascertained that significant problems related to air and water quality needed to be reconciled. Further research in how to alleviate these problems led to the material titanium dioxide, a commonly used product for hygiene. This material provided the possibility to address both air and water quality issues.

Titanium dioxide is a fog-proof, self cleaning, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, self-cleaning, air and water purifier. The mineral is effective when employed through nanotechnology, functioning via individual atoms and molecular reaction. What makes this filtration possible is through the photocatalytic reac-tion of the material to create an electron exchange when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

Our proposal is to use titanium as a coating incor-porated into a double skin glass screen. Since tita-nium needs water in order to filter the air, contami-nated city or rain water can be collected and moved across this material surface through a series of voids and channels. Once water is filtered it is collected in an underground reservoir and distributed as a gray water resource to residential units.

Image() depicting concept, envelope strategy or precedent.

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Ti02 coating

wall surface

wall surface

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Ti02 coating

wall surface

Ti02 coating

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Ti02 coating

wall surface

RAIN

SUN

smog, bacteria& germs in the air

particles adhere tocoating

Photocatalytic Reaction breaks downthe dirtWater and Air purification

& dirt is washed away

Titanium Dioxide - photocatalytic reaction /air and water filtration.

A typical Shanghai skyline view.

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Early facade studies.

Air Purification

Water Purification

Sketch ideas of water movement through the facade.

84 To the right is an early scheme developed for the air and water cleansing facade. The pattern is a metaphorical representation of gravitational forces required to draw down the water. This movement is controlled and channeled through the double skin in order to leave areas clear for visibility and light penetration. Some of these voids are also left open without glazing in specific areas; such as the sky gardens. The remainder of these openings are sealed with glass. Although, most of the areas are glazed, the double skin is offset from the actual structure of the building to allow air movement and create an open, healthy environment.

The disadvantage of these openings is that it reduces the amount of panels where the water can filtrate. However this configuration allows gravitational forces and the manner in which the panels are oriented to direct the water at increased velocities allowing greater volumes of water to be cleansed. Another drawback of the scheme is that it cre-ates some issues between opaque and transparent surfaces for each floor where the space behind the screen accommodates either a corridor or outdoor patio. All of these issues are later resolved the in final scheme.

additional text and/or images

Facade model.

Study of water flow.

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Physical study model of 1st scheme. Elevation of 1st scheme.

Corridor/Apartment entrance

Corridor/Apartment entrance

Corridor/Apartment entrance

Corridor/Apartment entrance

Corridor/Apartment entrance

Outdoor Patio

Outdoor Patio

Outdoor Patio

Outdoor Patio

Sky Garden

Sky Garden

86Preliminary sketches for facade system.

Preliminary joint and fastening details.

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Final patterning of screen.

Concrete superstructure.

Section through public corridor.

Transparency vs. opacity study of the screen.

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The final facade scheme solves construc-tion issues of the relationship between habitable spaces and the concrete struc-ture. Water moves in various directions in order to delay the cleaning process and to create a system of opaque screens that will provide increased privacy to the corridor floors. The use of glass has been minimized in order to provide more open spaces to the outdoor patios as well as to the sky gardens. This scheme provides an increase in the volume of water, allowing for a better cleaning process and a facade that is more connected to the activities that are occurring in the building.

Additional image.

Gray water recycled for reuse

Section model showing the three top floors.

Water collection at grade

Facade anchored to floor slab

Water channeled through facade

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Model photo in detail.

Plan view of screen connection to slab. Steel plate embedded into slab with adjustment component welded to vertical screen.

Typical north elevation of residential units.

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Sustainable Facade ModulesCOMPONENT B.3Ryan Trimble

Focusing on the southern facing residential facades, this typology is designed to encompass each ele-ment of sustainability. Various modules are to be at-tached to the facade through the informed decision of the tenant. Mass customization is achieved by developing a set of modules that can be personal-ized and updated over time. Each is angled to incor-porate necessary sun orientation as well as provide views to activities below. In an ever-changing city like Shanghai this system attempts to keep develop-ment on the cutting edge.

Precedent: Modularity

From the outset of this project we realized the dynamic building atmosphere in Shanghai. The city is constantly being rebuilt with greater density. Proj-ects such as Kurokawa’s Capsule Tower in Tokyo and other projects of the Metabolist Movement exempli-fy an attempt to allow architecture to respond to this realization. Our project incorporates standard build-ing components to which facade modules can be attached. These modules are individually custom-izable and able to be replaced or renovated with minimal effort. The Capsule Building also affords a dynamic facade while utilizing a very regularized

building module that is attached to a standard struc-tural system. This too is our aim in Shanghai.

Precedent: Social Understanding

Humans have a basic need to interact on various levels. Of concern for us is personal/social interac-tion, which our scheme attempts to capture from traditional Lilong planning. Another interest is to provide indirect visual interaction. This is observed through the phenomenon of “people watching.” SOM’s sky boxes at Willis Tower allow direct inter-action between people and their surroundings. The desire is evident when people press their foreheads against glass. Hence the tilted glass facades of our proposal encourages residents to partake in this type of social interaction.

Kurokawa’s Nakagin Capsule Tower, Tokyo, 1972.

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Residential modules composed on site (above right - alternative configurations).

Diagram of public spaces given the modular configuration of the project.

92 Each residential unit exists within a three-floor clus-ter. These clusters allow the traditional connections between individuals of the Lilong urban develop-ment to be maintained while allowing green space to exist within a vertical layout. The upper and lower floors of each cluster allow for the placement of a chosen module. Residents select from a variety of modules based on their specific needs or aesthet-ic preferences. As such, the aesthetic of the facade is driven by the residents with a constantly changing quilt of modules.

The modules are designed to be replaceable; wheth-er by the next resident or when new technology emerges. Each consists of an independent structure, which is connected at floor levels to the super-structure of the residential units. Within the cast aluminum structural members of the modules are pin locations for connection elements. These con-nectors either support the external glazing – which is laminated with a photovoltaic film on the upper section – or other alternative modules specific to function. There are four basic modules each specific to the needs of Shanghai living, these are: social interaction, green space, solar protection, and solar water heating.

Image, etc.

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Bay Section with modules. Bay Elevation showing individualized use of module types.

94 The Social Module is intended to maximize de-velopment to encourage human interaction. This facade system incorporates the ability not only to promote visual interaction, but also through a folding system with the wall becoming a balcony. This exterior space opens the unit to the surround-ing units, thus promoting social interaction. The opening also allows for natural cross ventilation on pleasant days.

Social Module

Concrete Superstructure

Cast Aluminum Module Structure Member

Air Supply Concealed by Drop Ceiling

Incorporated Lighting

Multi-purpose Connection Member

Renewable Bamboo Flooring

Lower Module Pin Connection

Facade Aluminum Panels

Sky Garden Lighting

Photo voltaic Film Laminated Glass

STANDARD MODULE COMPONENTS

95The Green Module furthers the ability of a resident to personalize their unit facade. This module uses special connections through the structural members to support planters. These planters are ideal to sup-port the growth of herbs used for cooking within the unit or flowers to improve the aesthetics of the unit. Either option brings the city dweller closer to the natural world, linking them to the vision of the sky gardens.

Green Module

Early design investigations.

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Solar Module

The Solar Module is intended to offer another dy-namic aspect to the facade. Not only are the south-ern facades varied through the individual choice of modules, but the operable louvers on this module create a greater sense of movement and personal-ization. These louvers, controlled from within each unit, are intended to supply shade from an abun-dance of sunlight or privacy from neighbors.

Early design sketches for module placement.

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Water Module

The Water Module is unique in that copper pipes replace the photovoltaic film present on each of the other modules. Water from the complex is piped through these conduits in order to absorb heat from exposure to the southern sun. The pipes heat the water as well as provide shade to the unit. This sys-tem preserves energy consumption, a consideration paramount in Shanghai.

Early design sketch for passive water/heat module.

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A modular facade is intended to reflect the qualities inherent in the modern city of Shanghai while being mindful of sustainable and historic qualities. This facade system develops a highly personal experi-ence for both those living at the site as well as those visiting this new district center.

View of site from south-east corner.

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Green Module. Details of the louver system.

Typical joint details for module frame.

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CLondon, United Kingdom

Using the Entangled Bank as premise for the meth-odology wielded in this undertaking brought the group to a realization that our interpretations of its comprehensive approach to design architecture should call into question inherent social, ecologi-cal, economic and geographic location elements as building blocks in the conception of our project in London. In conjuncture with specifically negotiated site responses, given its adjacency to the Thames Barrier Park and Silvertown Public Transit Rail Line, we looked to the Greenhouse as a specific inher-ent sustainable typology already in existence in London. The playful investigation of the greenhouse produced a unifying aspect linking various commu-nity functions from office spaces to market places to residential living spaces. Designing for the London site was also an exercise for remediating the site and developing a sustainable urban environment along the Thames River. These geographical strate-gies would influence the site orientation and the southern edge of the site through investigation of ecology.

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An Ecological Program for LivingSilvertown Barking, LondonTeam: Mark Pelz, Jennifer Todd, Adam Dailey, Iris Ben-Gal

Aerial view of district with site located in yellow.

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103London experiences a temperate maritime climate, giving Londoners an even array of temperatures that produce warm summers, cool winters, with mild precipitation throughout the year. Responding to this climate requires us to look at buildings that can sustain an equilibrium of environments and inves-tigate ways that buildings can benefit as an inte-gral system by the design of the crucial elements of building’s envelope. Accumulating an average yearly rainfall of approximately 23 inches of rain requires us to think about buildings as conservation and reactionary components to minimize consump-tion while maximizing the potential creation of dynamism.

Future and existing river crossing along the Thames.

Site location on the Thames River.

Figure/ground diagram of Silvertown site.

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Aerial view of site.

Thames Barrier Park.Thames Barrier river level controls.

105As we zoom in from the city scale to get a closer view of the site, very notable adjacencies and historical interests start to influence the direction of our project. To the north, the site benefits from the elevated rail line that passes parallel to the border-ing main thoroughfare linking Silvertown to the greater London metro area. To the west, the site is bordered by existing industrial buildings, remnants of Silvertown’s industrial past. To the east, a recent residential complex coupled with the new Thames Barrier Park, provide substantial landmarks that en-able the formation of urban alliances and establish sequential lineage for our project. The condition of our site, as a brownfield, poses special consider-ation. Therefore, our design includes steps for site remediation.

To achieve the most sustainable remediation of the site will require years of regrowth management, so we propose a plan that involves an ecological task force partnered with community councils and residents to accomplish and maintain this new dy-namism on site. Educating the community about the history of the site and processes for its revitalization will hopefully spur innovation, create land value, community identity and inspire new urban develop-ment in the area.

Site panorama.

1917 Silvertown Explosion Monument.

1917 Silvertown Explosion.

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Poster for Beddington Zero Energy Development.

107For developing a sustainable community in a tem-perate maritime climate, it was important for the design team to research and investigate building practices of the region that promote the same qual-ity environment that we are trying to achieve within our Entangled Bank. One particular project that was appropriate for investigation is the Beddington Zero Energy Development.

The Beddington Project is an urban-housing project located a few miles outside of London. It is de-signed with highly efficient residential densities that permit inhabitants to live on a reduced ecological footprint. Among the sustainable strategies included within the Beddington project are: solar heating, natural ventilation, biomass heat and power, water reduction, recycled materials, thermal zoning, exposed thermal mass and private gardens. This project is a precedent for our site in that the Bed-dington project was also developed on a brownfield site. Although there are scale differences, we are able to learn from this housing project regarding both passive and active sustainable strategies that are feasible given the local climate.

Beddington Housing diagrammatic section of ventilation system.

Beddington Housing Project.

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Early massing model.

The urban planning phase was the initial consider-ation of our investigation. We identified the domi-nating features located in close proximity to our site including: the Thames River, the Thames Barrier along with the Thames Barrier Park and the Dock-lands Light Railway. These four elements, as well as the brownfield conditions of the site, would begin to shape our master plan. On the north end of our site, parallel to the light rail, is the tallest structure. It is a mix-use building that is also a transit node resembling a transit station connecting all forms of commuters with the site. The west edge will be the extension of the north tower and will reach towards the water’s edge, allowing a greenhouse to cling to the surface, and hence absorbing maximum day-lighting. This building is also a mix-use structure though not rising as tall as the north tower. On the brownfield level, where the north and west build-ings intersect, lies the memorial of an explosion that marks the brownfield. Along the east side of the site are the residential housing units that are formed as a grid with a scale derived from historic urban customs. These units exist upon the datum that is created by bringing the site up two levels: allowing a light footprint for the brownfield on the first level, automotive parking for the second level, and the primary pedestrian level being the datum.

Lifting project off the brownfield conditions of the site.

New Plaza Datum

Brownfield Remedation

109Initial design alternative.

In the central core of the plan resides the cultural zone and Locavorium. The concept for this zone, (identifiable as the red units in the masterplan to the left), is for all of the public functions to inhabit this zone. It is the area where site grown agriculture is bought and sold, where recreation and repose are achievable, and education is unavoidable. The cultural zone is bisected by the primary axis that is drawn from the diagonal axis situated within the Thames Barrier Park located to the east. The south end of the datum plane overlooks this biodiversity existing on the brownfield flood zone below. And the only structure touching ground on the south end of the site are a few residential units meant for servicing the dock area.

Final master plan.

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Site Plan.

A

B

D

C

111All components were developed through investiga-tion of the greenhouse, a unifying aspect linking various community functions as well as a common approach to the individual development of the building envelope. Research into the functions of a greenhouse, its benefits, as well as other sustain-able elements on site help to promote and sustain the permaculture needed to maintain the brownfield redevelopment.

Component A. Component B.

Component C. Component D.

The four components (A,B,C&D) were divided into two primary categories characterized as high-rise and low-rise buildings. Components A & B focus on high-rise configurations with mixed-use applications to accommodate office, retail, and residential. Com-ponents C & D focus on 2-5 story residential zones comprised of multiple units within a traditional urban grid with the goal of generating multiple variations.

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London Site NorthCOMPONENT C.1Mark Pelz

The tallest structure on the site exists along the northern edge with the north facade running paral-lel along the Docklands Light Railway. Reaching 150’ above the brownfield, the mix-use building is a transit station connecting pedestrian, bicycle, auto, and metro networks of bus and light rail traffic with the site. The primary factors that guided the devel-opment of this design include: designing a structure that would rest gently upon the brownfield surface, a design of an urban node that would connect the ground level with the light railway, internal and external heating strategies, and agricultural connec-tion with the rest of the site.

The urban planning development aspect for this project focused upon urban transition and the space that this transition takes place. The controlling sustainable feature is a design that employs thermal zoning, stacked ventilation, and radiant heating as the primary means of heating, although there are a number of secondary systems.

Docklands light rail at Thames Barrier Park.

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Preliminary building section.

Building section concept.

Elevation investigation.

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Minimizing the building footprint meant lifting the complex and all other buildings on site off the brownfield. Therefore the entire development is sup-ported by a field of columns supporting an elevated series of new ground planes. Immediately above the brownfield site is a carpark and bicycle storage level. Above this level is the main plaza deck which functions as a new ground plane. Vertical circula-tion between these different levels occurs via large holes cut in the slabs, allowing access to a safe route through the brownfield level showing different methods used to remediate the contaminants of the site.

The plaza level is connected at the front of the site with the existing commuter rail platform that activates public entry to the site. This area creates a lively center for commuter traffic, eateries, news-stands, and other retail and commercial functions. The plaza level (as an artificial datum) provides a base upon which all new development takes place while simultaneously recognizing the remediated site below.

Sketch study of remediated site separated from plaza level.

New Plaza Datum

Brownfield Remedation

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Building Elevations.

Floor plan diagrams.

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Heating is of utmost importance for this design and the major components are the vertical stacks that ventilate heated air up through the length of the building. There are three types of vertical stacks included within this building. Solar stacks on the southern facade absorb direct solar gain into an air chamber where air is quickly heated through dark surface materials, then allowed to be pulled into the interior for controlling temperature. The central stack acts as a ventilating chimney for the public space on the bottom levels. The largest stacks, lo-cated towards the north facade in the interior, move heated air and heated radiant pipes from level to level. A secondary function of the large stacks is to bring rainwater from the roof to the water collection cisterns located at the bottom of the stack.

A secondary system is the radiant floor heating. Using solar gain to heat water, both in radiant pipes and in a thermal batch cistern, the water is then cycled through the flooring allowing efficiency in heating.

South Stack.

Interior Stack.

Stack on Roof.

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Stack ventilation system (overall and details).

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The building envelope is altered depending on the orientation of the facade. The North facade using thermal massing materials to insulate the building, reducing heat loss. The east and west facades are a mix of a glass curtain wall and thermal massing. The location of the glass wall dictates where the stair access is for the building. The southern facade is the heat generating facade (right). On this facade, the solar hot water elements are activated.

Office level heating strategies.

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Office level heating strategies axonometric.

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Site Plan.

The Greenhouse WorkplaceCOMPONENT C.2Jennifer Todd

The greenhouse typology has been used in London for centuries; including London’s first multi-func-tional greenhouses, Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace where the Great Exhibition of 1851 was held. By using this typology and applying it as an exterior skin, the intention of the greenhouse is to create social gathering areas for offices to foster business meetings and employee lunch breaks. It encourages a stronger community connection and supports the remediation of the brownfield site by relocating areas of growth.

The building terraces down toward the Thames River with atria located throughout the length of the building. The 40 square foot atrium allows natural light to enter the interior of the building while also providing stack ventilation for air flow. Vertical living walls are placed every twenty feet along the structural grid of the building. These living walls are angled to provide maximum shading on the west façade. Large columns that provide support for the greenhouse canopy extend down the atria. They also act as water catchment devices to collect rainwater from the greenhouse roof.

Joseph Paxton, Crystal Palace, London, 1851.

121West Elevation.

East-West Building Section showing ETFE membrane screen.

122 London’s maritime climate requires conventional heating for a majority of the year. The purpose of the greenhouse is to create a microclimate to heat the interior of the building.

The ETFE membrane is a double layer pillow system that allows 90 percent visual light transmittance and blocks harmful UV rays, making the system ideal for growing plants. The clear plastic cushions act as in-sulation by trapping heat inside the greenhouse. The cushions are inflated with air tubes that pump air into the pillows as necessary. The heat is drawn into the interior space through intake vents and distrib-uted through floor vents in the raised floor plenum. Concrete floor slabs on the greenhouse terrace also contribute to heat collection by acting as thermal mass to collect heat from solar radiation. The datum level is open air space to allow the cooler, exterior air in. The air moves up through the atrium creat-ing negative pressure to pull warm air in from the greenhouse through adjustable vents located at the floor slabs. There are also operable windows in the terraces and atrium spaces to provide cross ventila-tion when it is not necessary to heat the space.

Diagram of greenhouse ventilation.

Herzog and de Meuron, Allianz Arena, Munich, ETFE membrane.

Nicholas Grimshaw, Eden Project, U.K., ETFE membrane.

123

Digital model showing greenhouse screen in relationship to greenhouses and office units.

124

Section Details:

1.10” deep soil for roof garden 2. Filter membrane 3. Drainage board 4. Protective fleeces 5. Waterproof Membrane 6. 2” rigid insulation

7. Polyethylene air tube 8. Double layer ETFE membrane 9. Lightweight aluminum facade brackets 10. Metal maintenance grate 11. Air supply for ETFE membrane 12. Reinforced concrete column 13. Living wall 14. 4” concrete slab for thermal mass 15. Low profile steel frame operable windows 16. L-shaped precast support with steel reinforcing 17. Intake vent to provide heat from greenhouse

18. 4” raised floor with vents at 4’ o.c. 19. 4’ wide pre-cast hollow core concrete slab, 8” thick. 20. 3” diameter ducts run through hollow core slab for heat distribution 21. Pre-cast concrete beam with steel reinforcing 22. Acoustical drop ceiling 23. 1’-6” pre-cast concrete column at 20’ o.c.

A: Roof Garden Detail

B: Greenhouse Detail

C: Wall section w/ materials.

123456

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13

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1819

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125

Wall Section. Partial West Elevation.

A.

B.

C.

126

Views of model.

127

Elevation of west facing greenhouse screen (left), section through office suites (right).

128

Pre-Fabricated RoofscapeCOMPONENT C.3Adam Dailey

Upon the onset of the plans to develop the site in London we were attracted to the Thames River and the endless roles it could play in the rebirth of the site. The dynamics of its moving water had tremen-dous amounts of potential energy that we were eager to tap into, from hydropower to tidal power to an innate source of life for the regrowth of the riverbank along the site’s southern border. However, the most ambitious of the plans involved using the river for its ability to transport tremendous amounts of cargo. The development of the residential units was conceived with the vision that they could be constructed of a kit of parts. The kit of parts would consist of a number of partially pre-fabricated sec-tions that would be shipped to a man-made harbor on-site and then lifted across the site into its own unique place. These partially pre-fabricated sections would be joined to create a module (20’x30’x20’) accommodating a variety of ways to be divided to create several different size residences and those modules could be stacked in a series of combina-tions to complete the residential block. The pro-cess is repeated until the residential housing grid is complete. When construction is complete the cranes and material highways would remain to be repurposed while the harbor would transform into a marina and spur future waterfront activity.

Prefabricated configuration logic.

Construction method and sequence.residential variety

An Ecological Programme for London Living

thames river

ab

cd

e f

unitsa_ 850-1100 sq.ft.

b_ 1000-1400 sq.ft.

c_ 700-900 sq.ft.

d_ 500-700 sq.ft.

e_ 750-1000 sq.ft.

residential variety

An Ecological Programme for London Living

thames river

ab

cd

e f

unitsa_ 850-1100 sq.ft.

b_ 1000-1400 sq.ft.

c_ 700-900 sq.ft.

d_ 500-700 sq.ft.

e_ 750-1000 sq.ft.

Overall massing and spatial configurations of units.

129

Building sections showing typical “linking bridge” between units.

Elevation alternatives afforded by the prefabricated units.

Section Cut

130 One of the apparent qualities of stacking the modules was the left-over spaces on the roof plane which became an important focus of the research to develop this portion of the envelope. Occupation of the roof plane in conjunction with semi-private greenhouses will provide, promote and sustain the permaculture of the residents. The envelope fea-ture is dedicated to the creation of a roofscape that would allow residents to occupy and manage their roof much like a traditional private garden space. However, these roofscapes would contribute to the greater community and environment by allowing residents the ability to use their roofs to grow and cultivate plants according to their preference. This rooftop landscape creates variety and a visually di-verse grid of connected greenscapes that can unify the residents and their effect on community identity.

Site Plan.

131

Plan of roof terraces.Wall Section.

132 The inner construction of the roof structure is rep-resentative of the residential module scheme. Each module is constructed of a rigid steel frame topped with metal decking and a concrete slab. Once in place on the site, the roof will be finished by framing up the parapet walls that are faced with a finished metal panel. The roof would receive a layer of rigid insulation tapered to perimeter scupper outlets located along the open air access corridor between the units. This open corridor is covered by a glass block floor that allows the cavity to be lit by a diffused light during the day. A waterproof mem-brane would moisture seal the unit at roof level. The roof will receive a root barrier, growing mate-rial, drought-resistant planted material and a grid of concrete pavers. The layout of this landscape across the roofs of one, two or three units may vary in size and proportion relative to the ratio of hardscape to planted areas. Shown in Detail 2, the greenhouse walls will be framed between the roof structure and steel members that have been extended beyond the modules. In this particular configuration the greenhouse bridges the roof tops, with the floor of the greenhouse consisting of raised pavers and glass block flooring.

Detail 1(Landscaping).

Detail 2 (greenhouse).

Detail 3 (@ parapet).

133

Section model demonstrating two of the optional roof conditions (planted condition on left and hardscape on right).

134

Diagram of sustainable strategies.

Daylighting

Geothermal

Ventilation

Roofscape Vegetation

Solar ThermalHot Water

Radiance analysis of interior light quality.

135

Component C.3 aspires to take into consideration the many environmental, social and economic is-sues that will influence building in the future. The unitized process of construction and site remedia-tion are all incorporated as viable opportunities to ground these units with context, history and vitality as they provide living quarters, working quarters, garden spaces and locations for communal repose for this development in London.

Customized roof and terrace conditions.

136

Thames Terraced HousingCOMPONENT C.4Iris Z. Ben-Gal

Thames view.

the different structures in this complex is the remedi-ation of the brownfield. The units serve as a personal retreat for individuals who respect tight community living with all the required services. Views and per-sonal comfort are important for each unit, utilizing the terraced morphology with a variety of outdoor balconies and private greenhouses. The buildings are elevated off the ground by supporting columns. This allows for cross ventilation, parking, and space for site remediation.

This final residential complex that border the Thames River is positioned to maximize views and accessibility to the water. London experiences a temperate maritime climate and low annual sun-shine averages. These terraced residential units respond to this climate in several ways. Large aper-tures are provided to ensure ample daylight, even during the winter months. The buildings continue the theme and technology of sustainable methods found elsewhere in this development. The common thread of

137Tadao Ando, Rokko Housing complex.

Section of building viewing west.

Mass of terraced housing adjacent to the Thames River.

138

Unit massing and plan diagram.

Mass and orientation of the terraced units.

139Environmental Principles

Passive Solar Gain

Radiant Under�oor Heating

Photovoltaic Panels

Shading Louvers

Cross Ventilation

Fresh Air Intake

Stack E�ect

Green Roof

Operable Glass Louvers

Environmental and sustainable strategies.

Load bearing-columns provide structural support for the plaza deck and walls, allowing the freedom to subdivide interior spaces. The balconies restore nec-essary outdoor areas and the greenhouses provide space for private gardening.

Each of the residential units are mindful of energy use and as such employ various sustainability strate-gies. Cross ventilation from the river exposure is free to enter vents located at the bottom of the glazing system, directing air through the interior toward the northside four-story atrium.

Glass louvers in the greenhouses allow stack effect ventilation in the atrium while operable fenestration units create cross ventilation. Southern exposure provides direct gain heat for cooler days. Photovol-taic panels store energy and distribute it for heating purposes. Shading louvers, located on eastern and western facades, provide screening from the sun.

Additionally, various types of green roof construc-tion allows customizable sustainable efficiency for the individual housing units.

140

East Elevation.

Reinforced concrete deck with offsets for thermal insulation.

141

Wall section.

Green Roof

Railing connectionto the reinforced concrete

Venting system

Foundation

142

Detail of the flush inside/ outside floor system.

Detail of glass fins supporting glass ceiling.

143

Section Model.

144

Side Elevation.South Elevation.Section Viewing North.

145

Eastern Perspective.

147

DCharlotte, North Carolina

Ideas and techniques related to sustainability are becoming more widespread. Whether to address specific issues of global warming or to make wiser decisions of how to utilize resources to achieve ecological balance, architects must address these new found concerns. The agricultural Slow Foods movement in the U.S. provides a useful model in which to implement such practices. Localizing food sources promotes sustainability in a community by keeping both revenue and employment within the region as well as reducing transportation needs. This offers an alternative to traditional, corporate farming practices and allows for new ways in conceiving ar-chitectural development. This project, in Charlotte, North Carolina, investigates such concepts in order to revitalize an industrial site and neighborhood with the theme of agricultural sustainability.

148

Lockwood’s Green CenterCharlotte, North Carolina (U.S.A.)Team: Nicole Goss, Li Li, Amy Jo Denton

The Carolinas have historically relied on agricul-turally-based economies. This, in part, is due to the extended growing season, permitted by both its subtropical climate and an abundance of annual sunlight and rainfall. Moreover, Charlotte is a city founded on the intersection of north-south and east-west trade routes. Commerce has been historically driven by development, and its tradition as a city of opportunity and growth continues today.

The predominant street pattern of our site is a grid, situated forty-five degrees of north. The site, an ur-ban block between 24th and 26th Streets on North Tryon Street, is surrounded by small-scale industrial buildings with a residential district to the north-west. In close proximity is a connection to the city’s Amtrak depot and freight lines. Future plans for the Tryon corridor include a light rail line servicing the north areas of town.

This area is characteristic of many post-industrial cities, manufacturing plants have been transformed to automobile repair, salvage yards and machine shops. How will this area evolve? Who will live or work here? What are the potential services?

Charlotte, NC.

D

149Location plan.

Diagram of streets and Infrastructure.

Figure-ground diagram of site.

Aerial view of district with site.

Diagram of neighborhood building uses.

150

Aerial view of project proposal.

151Charlotte is a suburban city, its neighborhoods are considered to be one of its assets. Most residents live outside the urban core and commute an aver-age 30 minutes to the city for work. The ethnicity of the metropolitan area is primarily Caucasian with a median income of about $53,000. Charlotte con-tinues to experience a growing population due to people moving from other states and countries into the region. The largest influx in ethnic population is Latino/Hispanic. It has one of the country’s most educated workforces, including an elevated average of those possessing a bachelor’s degree or higher. This is primarily supported by the local community college and universities in the area. A local culinary school (University of Johnson & Wales) has brought a range of restaurants to Charlotte. Aside from the many dining choices, Charlotte is also known for its retail venues and NASCAR. While the metropolitan area has many strengths and a promising future, the neighborhood of Lockwood is not indicative of these typical characteristics.

Known as the Lockwood neighborhood, this area differs from the region in several ways. Most resi-dents have a 15 minute or less commute to work

Site panorama along North Tryon Street.

often using public transportation. The dominate ethnic population of the neighborhood is Afro-American, and the median income is about $24,000 according to 2008 Census data. Most of the resi-dents are native to the area, with the average of the population aging.

Unlike the greater metropolitan region, Lockwood residents have a high school education or, more commonly, do not have a high school diploma. Most employment is in the production or service industries. Residents are renters rather than hom-eowners and experience lower housing costs than other areas of town. There are homeless shelters within a few blocks of the site, along with commu-nity outreach service facilities.

With manufacturing jobs leaving the area, Lock-wood requires a renewed identity on which it can build its future. A sustainable alternative is essential toward maintaining a positive growth strategy. The location on a major trade route and outside the city beltway is ideal for the creation of a community that provides local agriculture and specialized produce.

152Elevation of block as seen from North Tyron Street.

Street Plan of block.

153The nearby arts district of North Davidson (NoDa) is undergoing revitalization. This example creates an incentive for Lockwood to do the same, but in a manner that is integrated with its unique site char-acteristics and population. In order to draw from the promise of this post-industrial area, our proposed design responds by placing retail, commercial and office space at street level where industrial and commercial traffic are the heaviest. Retail would include restaurants, neighborhood shops and a grocery store. Live-work and residential units are proposed on the north and west parts of the block mindful of the neighborhood beyond North Church Street.

The heart of the design is an ‘agriculture core.’ This vertical farm, while staffed by those living within the new residential units of the block, is programed with an education/research horticulture center and weekend market. The products generated would be consumed and/or sold via partnership by the grow-ers. The proposed design creates both an economic model for sustainable production in conjunction to revitalizing the community given specific purpose and program.

Nearby urban features of influence. Diagram of building uses in neighborhood.

Massing of block.

154 The Lockwood Green Center design allows afford-able living cost in the neighborhood in several ways. The agricultural core provides a means for residents to grow their own food and simultaneous-ly sell their produce on-site or to city retailers. This low-cost program also provides for a portion of the residents’ annual income. Additionally, green roves are utilized across the design, serving to increase the square footage for agriculture while simultane-ously moderating heating and cooling costs of the architecture.

The design of the residential units utilizes a local, economically efficient palette of materials. With a local concrete supply facility nearby, a simple con-crete structure is created in a cost effective manner from local providers. The structure is also designed to take advantage of climatic conditions given local heating and cooling efficiencies. Other products such as photovoltaic units, hemp rope, and recycled steel also serve to contribute to the sustainability and affordability goals for the project. Beyond these materials, the design is configured to maximize solar exposure (for growing and living conditions).

Typical unit axonometric.

155

Typical Floor Plan.

Live/Work Unit Plan.

156

Final site massing model.

157strong in terms of providing a new image for the community, but also allowed for the integration of multiple design considerations. By orienting build-ing functions within the block in such a way that they are aligned with existing building functions outside of the site, immediate connections are made to the surrounding area. Moreover, the open nature of the revised core serves to welcome outsiders into the community and educate them on the sustain-able lifestyle offered within the development.

First rendition of the final model.

Given the concept of the ‘agricultural core,’ our team studied a series of alternatives in order to achieve the best possible organization for the block. Specific components took into consideration: connectivity, modularization, surface conditions, activating street life, and finding hybrid program-matic elements. Early versions lacked an effective use of the street and failed to adequately provide for a greater quality of life within the site. However, the final design of the agricultural core was not only

Early diagrammatic model plan. Early diagrammatic model elevation.

158

The Agricultural CoreCOMPONENT D.1Nicole Goss

The ‘agricultural core’ is the jewel of our site and programmatic strategy. It is both the literal and figu-rative center of the complex. Its primary function is to provide a place for concentrated and specialized growing production in the form of a vertical farm.

Given its function, sunlight was a defining fac-tor in essentially every aspect of the design of this structure. In order to maximize the amount of direct sunlight on every floor, the plan was formulated as a forward-facing circle, with the circulation and mechanical services core oriented asymmetrically towards the part of the floor plate receiving the least amount of direct sunlight. Though each floor is typi-cally the same, variations and double-heights occur where necessary in order to accommodate greater growing heights – for example, as required by small fruit trees. Therefore, crops are strategically located on particular floors in accordance with the amount and type of sunlight they require for optimal growth. Produce grown within the agricultural core are those most intrinsic to everyday cooking and eating, including lettuce, carrots, green beans, sweet pota-toes, tomatoes, and more.

N

Diagrammatic building plan (typical floor).

159

Partial diagrammatic building section.

Elevation along North Tryon Street.

160 Despite the long growing season in Charlotte, the use of greenhouses in commercial growing is still necessary for optimal year-round production. Un-derstanding modern greenhouse typology is critical to the design of the building, hence steel frame con-struction and transparent glazing became essential choices for structure and skin materials. In an effort to achieve the somewhat delicate aesthetic associ-ated with a crystaline building, while simultane-ously responding to the existing industrial nature of the site, structural lightweight steel tension members were utilized to cantilever the facade.

Temperature control and ventilation are impor-tant to the design, and therefore a strategic set of moveable panels clad various parts of exterior skin. This enables the opportunity to utilize the temper-ate southern climate when possible as well as to hermetically seal the structure when necessary during the cooler seasons. These panels contain an accordion-like insect netting along their under-side, preserving the environment of the greenhouse within from unwanted pests. Perhaps their greatest feature is the photovoltaic film within the glass, which provides for sustainable energy used for growing operations.

Window detail.

Window panel variations.

161

Bay Elevation. Wall Section.

162 For the sake of cost efficiency, the curvilinear effect of the facade is not, in fact, curved. Rather, the fa-cade is constructed of rectilinear segments, faceted in relation to one another to lend the appearance of a semi-circular form. Each segment is made of two window panels, which can range from full open to completely sealed.

Determining how the panels should be organized involved several diagrammatic studies of the glazing that considered important climactic factors of the site. These factors include wind, which is impera-tive to effective cross-ventilation within the core, and sunlight, which requires proper distribution between the plants and photovoltaic panels. A third study was also carried out, combining the effects of the first two.

After careful consideration, it was found that the combined study seemed less climatically respon-sive as a whole. Separate cross-ventilation was not as essential to productivity as was the appropriate rationing of direct sunlight. Thus, the sunlight facade study was found to be the most effective and was implemented as the design strategy for layout of the glazed panels.

Sunlight facade study.

Cross-ventilation facade study.

Facade study of combined panel elements.

163

The glasshouse with site elements removed.

164

Detail of louver connections.

Detail of the ventilation and screen condition.

165

Detailed views of the digital model show window patterning and detail, while a north-side elevation illustrates the concrete clad ventilation/egress core and envelope variations.

A section model was created to further illustrate how the operable window elements might appear and to investigate connections between materials and structure (opposite page).

Section model.

Facade skin.

View of cooling tower and facade skin.

166

Affordable Housing EmbraceCOMPONENT D.2Li Li

The affordable housing part of the project utilizes a low tech strategy instead of complex technologies to achieve the purpose of sustainability. This part of the block employs inexpensive material and methods to achieve a dynamic facade. Hemp rope is used for the main outer facade with straw/brick as infill for the walls. Structural concrete serves as the super-structure.

The outer and inner ring of this affordable housing employ different strategies. The outer ring is mainly for shading and protecting the people from the view and noise from the nearby neighborhood, while the inner ring is designed to be more active and socially participating.

The angle of the outer-ring’s enclosure will change from south to north with various parts opened by the residents themselves. (See details on pages which follow.)

The inner ring will have habitable boxes projecting into the main courtyard. In addition, it is planned as a green facade, with vegetation placed to provide shade from southern exposures.

Affordable/low-tech materials: hemp rope and straw brick.

Close outer ring / Active inner ring

Sustainable & affordable housing materials.

Perspective view of the outer ring facade from interior.

Perspective view of the corridor inside the inner ring facade.

167

Perspective section of the typical unit.

Elevation of the street view.

168

Partial facade of the outer ring.

The outer ring’s facade has several features:

1.) The main material used is the hemp rope, which is flexible and can be moved under ten-sion.

2.) From south to north, the shading panels change angle to modify sunlight and views, as shown in the lower diagram on the opposite page.

3.) Given the life of residents in the building, an opportunity to change the angle of the panels is part of the design. The result is a facade that is more flexible allowing the users a means to customize openings according to daylight, privacy, and views.

The movable mechanism.

Detail model of the outer facade.

169

Elevation of the outer facade ring (flattened) to show movable hemp surface.

S N

S

N

Detail of the outer ring’s facade.

170

The facade of the inner ring features the following:

1.) This is the green facade facing the agriculture core. In part it would be built of steel netting for plants to grow and creep.

2.) To make the facade and the courtyard more lively and a good place for interaction, there are several rooms (or “habitable boxes”) that can be used as public meeting places.

3.) The corridor would be lower than the living space to give the residents needed privacy to the entry of their units.

Section of the inner ring’s facade.

View of the inner facade showing gather areas and green wall.

Elements of the inner facade.

171

Section of the outer ring’s facade. Elevation of the outer ring’s facade.

172

173

Physical model of the outer ring’s facade.

174

Lockwood’s Live WorkCOMPONENT D.3Amy Jo Denton

The neighborhood’s entrepreneurial potential for this part of the project is brought forward with a proposal for live-work townhome units. These units range in size and provide alternative floor plans depending on the type of live-work required by the resident. The design of the units and façades were inspired by several precedent studies. The Nem-ausus project by Jean Nouvel is located within an industrial setting similar to the Lockwood neighbor-hood. This project uses materials in keeping with its setting while maintaining a unique sense of place. Railcar doors that span two stories are utilized to not only create cross ventilation through the house, but to also maintain a sense of space within the modular schema. Marlon Blackwell’s Moore Honey House is a dynamic building for the production of honey. The façade of this example allows for materials to be displayed and changed. Le Cor-busier’s Unite d’Habitation in Marseille is a heroic example of concrete construction with a clear sense of modularity. Each of these projects is an important reference. Likewise, the live-work units utilize inex-pensive on-site concrete casting and one-way solid slabs with bearing walls. Other aspects of the design echo similar characteristics as described in detail on the following pages.

Jean Nouvel, Nemausus, Nimes, France.

Marlon Blackwell, Moore Honey House, Cashiers, NC.

Le Corbusier, Unite d’Habitation, Marseille, France.

175

South-West Building Section.

Site Section - Live Work highlighted.

176

Unit A is the first of two live-work townhome alternatives. The design accommodates residents who require working space as part of the living unit. The first two floors of the dwelling are dedicated to the work or production areas for private business. Artists, therapists, and small retailers would use the first floor for servicing customers from the street, while the second floor is open for either additional business activities or domestic affairs. This second floor loft is equipped with a full kitchen. The third level is reserved strictly for private living areas.

The unit presents itself to the street via pivoting doors used to attract customers and announce the business. These doors include removable shelves that allow the resident to configure the facade as appropriate for their business. The shelves are con-structed of perforated steel and slide onto the door by a channel and lock system. These shelves are also utilized on the second floor. The third floor in-cludes a large living area and a sun room. Materials for the façade include a steel glazing system with operable windows at each floor level.

Plan - Level 1 Unit A.

Plan - Level 2 Unit A.

Plan - Level 3 Unit A.

177

Unit A Section. Unit A Elevation.

178

While the design of the unit is meant to enhance resident/user activities, the design of the façade provides physical comfort and efficient energy us-age. The pivoting doors not only engage activity on the street, but also allow cross ventilation through the depth of the unit. The second floor’s awning and hopper system further draws air through the space allowing warmth to flow out and cooler air to flow into the space. These operable doors and win-dows allow the user to adjust them as the weather dictates. The outer façade of the third floor acts as a rainscreen while the inner façade acts as a thermal barrier. The loggia or sun room between these two facades includes a light shelf so that reflected day-light is extended into living areas. The outer façade of the sun room has operable windows to allow air circulation. This air flow into the interior of the unit is controlled by the inner facade apertures. The steel glazing system includes double glazing for thermal protection. Section Detail - Unit A Pivot Display Door.

Plan Detail - Unit A Pivot Display Door.Model Photo - Unit A Street Level.

179

Building Section - Unit A Facade.

180

Unit B is the second live-work townhome. This unit is for residents who work primarily from a home office. The office is situated as a loft work space, while the primary living area is on the first floor of the unit. These residents, like those in Unit A, also have operable doors and windows as a key component of the design. Unlike Unit A, Unit B has a skylight that vents to the exterior. Additionally, Unit B residents have living (planted) wall systems integrated into the facade. A green roof is acces-sible to all live-work residents from an exterior stair and elevator system. This design feature not only contributes to the energy efficiency of the building, but also provides a means for residents to grow their own produce. The photovoltaic panels at the build-ings parapet not only provide shade to the walk way below, but also produce energy for the building.

Plan - Level 1 Unit B.

Plan - Level 2 Unit B.

181

Unit B Section. Unit B Elevation.

182

Building Section - Unit B Facade.

183Similar to Unit A, Unit B has an outer façade made of a steel glazing system, including operable doors and windows. The inner façade is a unique three panel system with multiple uses. Each panel pivots to allow the user to screen the outer façade as appropriate for climatic and social conditions. The panel is comprised of steel tubing and steel corrugated sheets that allow the user to insulate the cavity with green/planted growing materials. A tube and pump system for humidification runs inside the steel tubing so that water is circulated repeatedly through the system. Not only does the user have the benefit of growing plants, but the plants create a biowall for air filtration. As the sun heats the air at the steel corrugated-sheeting, the air rises flowing through the plants. These plants filter the air and also provides a comfortable micro-climate. This small ecosystem helps to circulate and improved air quality throughout the home while also providing shade. Warm air is allowed to escape through a second floor window and ventilated sunlight when warm weather is predominate.

Plan Detail - Unit B Living Wall.

Section Detail - Unit B Living Wall.

Model Photo - Unit B Interior looking outward.

184

185

Acknowledgements

Final presentation of design work, May 3, 2010.

The work presented in this book was produced in the Spring of 2010 by graduate and undergraduate students in the School of Architecture at UNC Char-lotte. The course was designed as a collaboration between the School and Little Diversified Architec-tural Consulting in Charlotte, NC.

The are many people to thank for the work pre-sented in this book. In particular we are grateful for the three on-site building visits we made as part of the studio. Dan Gottleib offered us intriguing story about the history and construction of the new build-ing by Thomas Phifer and Partners at the NC Mu-seum of Art. John Starr of LAS in Atlanta prepared for us a wonderful presentation and tour of Renzo Piano’s Woodruff Addition to the High Museum. Ra-chel Meyers, and her colleague Greg Zirkle, walked us through the construction and discussed the sus-tainable features of the new One Bank of America Center in Charlotte by Perkins + Will. Without their generous wisdom about construction our work would not have been as knowledgeable.

It was through Little’s willingness to partner with UNC Charlotte that allowed this design-research

186

187

Students engaged in field study visits and review presentations.

studio to occur. Appreciation is extended to the en-tire Entangled Bank Project Team, and in particular, John Komisin, Chief Operating Officer at Little. Their professional guidance and knowledge throughout the semester was invaluable.

Sincere gratitude goes to Chris Jarrett, the Director of the School of Architecture and Lee Gray, Associ-ate Dean of the CoA+A, for their support during the initial planning of this studio. Without their leader-ship this course would not have been a success.

Most important to recognize are the students who braved this course – entrusting us to explore unchar-tered territory with them. They endured countless hours of desk critiques as well as subtle and not so subtle promptings to make this document a reality.

A word of appreciation should also go to Pamela Grundy for her careful editing of this volume.

In the end,we hope the projects presented here inspires a bit more appreciation for architecture and its potential as an innovative, progressive discipline.

- Peter Wong and Kevin Franz, June 2010

Graduate Students: Riann Adams Iris Ben-Gal Amy Jo Denton Shuang Jiang Li Li Jennifer Todd Elizabeth Unruh

Undergraduate Students Mimi Andrade Adam Dailey Nicole Goss Mark Pelz Ryan Trimble Omar Villa Kelsey Williams

Semester Critics: Brad Bartholomew, Little Diversified Michael Coates, Little Diversified Ashley Disher Spinks, Little Diversified Stacey Franz, Little Diversified John Komisin, Little Diversified Rachel Meyers, Perkins + Will

Field Study Hosts: Dan Gottleib, NC Museum of Art John Starr, Lord, Aeck & Sargent