Alex J Gunn Part II Architectural Portfolio [EXTENDED VERSION] 4/4

Daylight Studies

Selected Rooms for Daylight Study on Main Model

24th FloorPenthouse

14th FloorFamily Suite

Daylight Analysis

Direct Sunlight at 12:00

3rd FloorCommunal Facility

NB: Light Well and Ribbon

Elements not shown here.

Large openings provide excellent daylight penetration, even on the shady side of the proposal. The ribbon element has been developed to block direct solar glare, and smart glass provides an additional optional barrier. Large openings are also necessary due to the shape of the form at lower floors, the facade block panels create huge windows sills.

Daylight Analysis

24th FloorPenthouse 14th FloorFamily Suite

Direct Sunlight at 12:00

Daylight Analysis

3rd FloorCommunal Facility

Direct Sunlight at 12:00

At lower floors, reaching a significant depth of penetration becomes a lot more challenging, however this is strongly mitiagted by light wells, allowing even those to be naturally lit.

The Penhouse suites are essentially surrounded by glass, so the only real concern is creating shade, which is done via smart glazing systems.

Solar penetration in the mid section of the building is deep, and most rooms can be naturally lit. Outisde, the ribbon elements give the subjective quality of light a distinct feel.

Solar Gains

Solar Radiation

Number of Hours Exposed to to Sunlight

Whole Year - Front Whole Year - Back

Summer Months - Front Summer Months - Rear

Winter Months - Front Winter Months - Rear

Summer Months - Front Summer Months - Rear U - Value of Typical Wall

Winter Months - Front Winter Months - Rear

Computational Wind Analysis

and Structural Response

Deflected Form (Left)

Cross Bracing is shown in Green

Gravity loads show in blue, simple grid structure creates uniform distribution

Wind force evenly distrubuted.

Lower Storey Wind Load Analysis (Front)

Lower Storey Wind Load Analysis (Right)

Responsive Strategies

Reinforced Junctions (Purple)

Density of External Steel Network in Response to Wind Loads (Red/Orange/Yellow)

Horizontal Deformation

Reinforced junctions + crossbracing (Tensile Elements) prevent lateral deformation

Internal Vertical load Grid (Green)

Mid Storey Wind Load Analysis (Front)

Mid Storey Wind Load Analysis (Right)

Outermost Steel Beams

Black: Primary Supporting Structure for Facade

Upper Storey Wind Load Analysis (Front)

Upper Storey Wind Load Analysis (Right)

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model using Butterly (Grasshopper Addon). Blue arrows represent wind currents unaffected by proposal. Orange represent currents that are altered by the proposal. Black arrows represent wind loads that directly strike the proposal surface.

West side of building shown with approximate wind current and responsive strategies

Plastic Skyscrapers?

• 358m tonnes a year of waste plastic is produced globally

•

8.3b tonnes of waste plastic around world

• Only 9% of current plastic waste is recycled

Life Cycle/EE

Plastic isn’t usually considered as a building material - other than for occasional cladding systems. However there are a growing number of sources suggesting it might actually be a fantastic material to build with... [2] [3] [15]

Admixture

According to sources [1] the average MJ/ Kg - a measure of embodied energy of a material for the plastic bricks/blocks is 3.2.

This compares to 10 for steel, 12.5 for concrete and 2 for wood.

Whilst not the lowest on the list, this does have the benefit of tackling removal of existing waste.

(or lack of...)

There is of course an arguement that plastic is highly toxic by nature to humans. [5] For example, there are claims that PET - polythene terephthalate (maybe the most common of all ‘plastics’ - leaches trace amounts of harmful chemicals into items it contains, However consider that one of plastics most common uses is as a drinking water recepticle, or as a deliberate barrier to keep food protected, so is generally pretty safe. [4]

Since the only real toxicity ‘risk’ is runoff this is mitigated by Silicone layer, which also gives much needed aesthetic benefit unifying the colour of the building’s exterior.

As for the manufacturing process, melting isn’t necessary - fumes are completely avoided using a pressuried steam melting proceedure. Though, if shaping or cutting was required, safe disposal (and hopefully recycling) of the debris created would be necessary.

On top of this, many plastics, specifically microplastics are actually taken out of the environment where they would otherwise be toxic, giving the idea of using plastic as a building material detoxifying qualities

Structural Strength

The plastic composite has a compressisve strength of approximately 18kN/mm² - with a typical load failiure of between 9 and 17 tonnes. This is compared with an approximate clay brick compressive strength of 2.9N/ mm² and a typical load failiure of 9 tonnes. So plastic is actually able to withstand considerably higher weight loads [6][7]

There is also a point of note that it may be necessary for a rough surface finish to be needed on certain faces of blocks for mortar application, however in this case a slot and clip system will be used to avoid mortar altogether.

When plastic is melted in the manufactuing process, the polymeric chains that make up the plastic are broken down, which is the main reaons additives are needed: creating structural strength.

Material Sample Images (Left to Right):

Plastic Waste ,Plastic Shred, Plastic Brick (Which could easily be a custom block)

Plastic Facade Example (in this case ‘ People’s Pavilion, bureau SLA)

Catalyst (breaks down polymer chains) like Ethylene, Propylene, Benezene etc. Virgin Plastic unavoidable however typically comes from byproduct of petrochemical production.

Although the composite is considered satisfactorily non-combustible, additional retardent can be added.

Combustibility

4% Rubber Powder

1% Catalyst

1% Finisher

8% Virgin Plastic

Example of Relatively Small Transport Carbon Footprint...

Also of note is that the machine used to fabricate the material is highly portable and doesn’t rely on enourmous foundaries.

Steam is used to compress the shred (aggregate) and is then easily pressed into moulds at 270°C. Alternatively, melting also possible.

Blocks can then be shaped using power tools, or another alternative process would be to large scale 3D print.

(or lack of...)

The combustibility of plastics a building material perhaps has a poor reupuation. Here, rather than use on the internal building envelope as insulation (a serious danger), plastic is being used as a facade system Additionally Elysium Sky Village implements a comparmentalised apartment layout with little to no possibility of spread between units.

On top of this, the combustibility of (certain configurations) plastic is overestimated: due to the densely-packed nature of the blocks recommended in this case, it would be very hard for any flame to actually oxidise so a fire would have to be exposed to the plastic for a rather extended period of time for the block to actually catch fire.

Finally, as mentioned in the fire section of this document there will be an external ‘cascading dampening’, or ‘drenching’ system built into the peripheral ribbon elements.

Thermal Properties

Extreme heat or a more likely a concern - UV exposure - could, in the long run, cause the plastic to deform. This is again, largely mitiaged with the thin silicone finishing layer.

Even though not intended in this case as a primary insulation layer, the estimated U-Value is 3.3 W/m²K (at least for a plastic brick with a thickness of 100mm). This is about twice as effective than a typical clay brick, which delivers approximately of 7.6 W/m²K (At a thickness of 100mm), Plastic’s R-Value is estimated at 0.303, once again compared to clay brick’s 0.13. [14]

Extreme cold could also potentially cause the plastic to become brittle [7]though, according to studies this is only likely a concern in arctic climates [6]

Weight / Density

In terms of the sizes of blocks manufacured for use in Elysium Sky Village, it’s possible for blocks measure up to 5x5x5m in volume.

The typical density of the composite plastic recommended is around 0.8-1.6/ cm³ (1.6tonnes/m ³) [6][7] This is compared to 1.9-2.1 for concrete or 1.2-1.4 for masonary bricks. [12]

Therefore, depending on the admixture, for the same volume of plastic material used as masonary counterpart, it would only weigh half as much!

Water

Naturally, water resistance is a strength of plastic as a building material. Typically, masonary clay bricks should not absorb more than 12% of their weight in water. According to one study - plastic bricks (or larger blocks in this case) absorb approximately 0.1% of their weight in water when subjected to exposure tests. Which for all intents and purposes is negligible.

As mentioned in the toxicity section, water runoff from the plastic facade can be mitigated with both a thin silicone sealing layer and the fact HDPE, LDPE and PVC can be used as preferable plastics to PT.

Design Aspects

When it comes to creating ‘exotic shapes’, manufactuing must be considered. Only certain admixtures are 3D-printable, and depending on desirables, one must factor in what’s possible with: melt density, melt mass, and printer nozzle diameter.

If one is to press into special moulds, opposed to a) 3D printing, or b) pressing to simple moulds and hand-finishing similarly to exotic shaped concrete shuttering, one must consider how and from what the mould would be made out of.

Typically the finish colour is grey, black or a mixture of whatever waste plastic went into the mix. Hence the suggestion for a thin silicone finishing layer, applied once blocks have been fixed in place.

Benefits / Downsides

In conculsion, the benefits are numerable: It’s strong, durable, waterproof, lightweight, easy to mould, recycled and recyclable, if somewhat a fire risk, and (possibily) minimally contaminating to runoff water.

The lack of biodegradation of plastic is well known... Which has its flipsidenamely, very little future mainenance of the facade will be needed.

It’s unfortunately unavoidable that some amount of virgin plastic must be included, this is mitigated by the fact a considerable amount of waste plastic is taken out of the ecosystem

Finally, it’s important not to overshadow the potential time/cost involved with manually finishing the pressed blocks into their final shape.

Section Model

Detial model demonstrating individual panel and how it fixes to primary structure: external facing side.

Steel fixing clamp is attached to the main steel frame that secures the facade blocks. Some of the load is distributed onto the blocks below. Insulation, and sarking can be either prefabricated into the panels, or assembled on site. Fixing pins and thin plastic batons add additional rigidity, and any apparent gaps are finished with a heat-sealed silicone layer that also protects the panels from UV wear and create a pleasing and consistent aesthetic finish.

Parallel Supporting Tension Network Example

Tensioning Spring at Base of Cables Example

Cable Tension Supported Glass

Internal Facing Side

Facade Block Panel System and Ribbon

Note: Due to computing limitations, the blocks are shown cut by 2.5m cubes, however this could easily be significantly reduced.

2.5m

Because the individual stacks follow a degree of regularity, the time and cost associated with adapting and mass manufacturing the blocks can be reduced.

Tension Cable Anchors - The Fiberglass Ribbon Element is constructed in segments which are pulled together using steel cables anchored inside the building.

Approx. 7 Tonnes

Average Crane Max Lift: 18 Tonnes

Photos demonstrate the strength of tension as a primary structural strategy. 1 and 3 show an extremely lightweight material, fiberglass is represented by polystyrene is unable to support it’s own weight. However when, in 2 and 4, a ‘steel cable’, represented by fishing wire, is pulled through, and the blocks become compressed, exotic, free-form shapes become possible.

Sound and Vibration

Rail Noise Hotspots

1/2 UK Population Say Noise Affects Quality of Life

British Standards Decibell Standard Limits:

Airborne Walls: 45 Floor 45 Impact: Walls 62 Floors 62 Therefore must find a way to reduce 59 to 45 using suggested measures. (Impact Db only average estimate)

Transmition Pathways

Purple: Airborne Noise

Green: Structure/Impact Born Noise

Transmition Path Shown. Must protect against both.

For Airborne:

Vibration Dose Value (A Measure of Standard Subjective Amount of Acceptable Vibration) Measured in m/s^1.75

Measures Day (0700-2300) - Limit 0.4 and Night (2300-0700) - Limit 0.26 [19] [20]

Rail and Road Sound Map

Mean Outside Noise @pos A = 52db @posB = 61db @pod C = 49 Sound must be reduced by 4-16Db using suggested measures.

A B

Sound Reduction Measures

Option 1 - Acoustic Dampening Underneath Railway Tracks

Option 2Underneath Building Foundation

Product: GERB NOVODAMP®

Rail use peaks from 0600-2300, however there are certain trains that run all night as this is a city centre station. There is also freight traffic - but this must move slower.

Average VDV for UK Passenger Train = Between 0.3 m/s^1.75 and 0.5 m/ s^1.75, therefore underground reduction measures must reduce by between 0.24 and 0.04m/s^1.75

Key Referential Document: BS6472-1:2008‘Guide to Human Exposure to Vibration in Buildings

Key Specifications: 1.) Foundations of Viaduct must not touch foundations of Proposal.

2.) Foundations must be heavy concrete.

3.) Implement Box-in-Box Room Isolation (added benefit for fire safety)

4.) Windows must be fully sealed, fixed windows

5.) Ventialtion must be mechanical, to keep seal.

Distance Peices Setting Blocks Putty Footing DUALSEAL GLASS

BS-EN-ISO-140

Double Glazed 6mm glass with 16mm Argon Airspace

Above, an investigation into the general volume level of the roads surrounding the site was made in April. Using an Iphone Decibellometer App and standing in 3 locations (A,B,C) for 2 hours and taking readings every 10 minutes.

Vibration Dose Value (Standard Subjective Amount of Acceptable Vibration) Measured in m/s^1.75

Measures Day (0700-2300) - Limit 0.4 and Night (2300-0700) - Limit 0.26

Human Hearing Range is 20Hz-20,000Hz

Greenglue Whisper Clips

ROCKWOOL FLEXI® Dual Acoustic and Thermal NonCombustible Insulation

Sounds of Different Frequency are Registered By Humans, Some are more interupting than others.

Glazing must have SRI (sound reduction index of 140) hence ISO-140.

Model with Floorplates shown (100mm Comflor)

Model with only floorplates with concrete core and lightwell channels.

All Structural Components Model

Purple = Peripheral Green = Internal

pile cab, slab and feet. (Depth to be determined by engineer.

Detail Sections 1-2

1. Primary Steel Column 1090x420mm

2. Steel Base Plate w/ 12mm Anchor Bolts

3. 550mm Concrete Slab Bearer

4. Gravel Layer above Hardcore Infill

5. Sand Levelling Layer

6. 175mm Pre-Cast Beam and Block Ground Floor System

7. Thermal ROCKFLOOR® Rockwool Rigid Insulation

8. Damp-Proof-Membrane on Sand Binding

9. 150mm Cast Concrete Layer with Underfloor Heating Network

10. 30mm Accoustic ROCKFLOOR®

11. 40m CEMFLOOR® Screed, Primer, Sealer and Plain Grey Vinyl Flooring

12. Rainwater Gulley and Drainage

13. Variable Thickness Custom Plastic Facade

Facade and Floor Through Beam and Column

14. Air Gap and Sloped Aluminium Flashing with Plastic Shim

15. Damp Proof Course above Sandlayer Supporting 150mm Peripheral Flag Stone

16. 400mm Concrete Pile Cap

17. 1200mm Steel Reinforced Cast Concrete Pile Foundations

18. Farrat Verlimber® Polyurethane Sound/ Vibration Isolation Mat

19. Concrete Bedrock Pile Foot

1. 40m CEMFLOOR® Screed, Primer, Sealer and Plain Grey Vinyl Flooring

2. ComFlor100® Single Single Span and Slab Composite Deck

3. 75mm Tertiary Steel Floor Stringer

4. 230mm Secondary Horizontal Steel Floor Beams

5. Primary Steel I-Beam 1090x420mm,

6. Stiffened Steel Cleat Connection Plate with x4 Steel 50mm Fixing Bolts

7. DPC

8. Polyester Sarking Felt

9. 200mm ROCKWOOL FLEXI® Dual Acoustic and Thermal Non-Combustible Insulation

10. Custom Plastic Batten Supporting Structure

11. 80mm Steel Tubing

12. 40mm Cellulose Insulation, 2 mm Anodised Aluminium sheet metal

13. Custom Steel Facade Block Fixing Clamp

14. 20mm Steel Sheet Section

15. Custom Block to Block Aluminum Fixing Pins

16. 10mm White Silicone Surface Finish and UV Barrier Seal

17. Variable Thickness Custom Plastic Facade

18. Primary Steel Column 1090x420mm

Detail Sections 3-4

1. 40m CEMFLOOR® Screed, Primer, Sealer and Plain Grey Vinyl Flooring

2. ComFlor100® Single Single Span and Slab Composite Deck

3. 75mm Tertiary Steel Floor Stringer

4. 230mm Secondary Horizontal Steel Floor Beams

5. Kingspan Kooltherm® 100mm Structural Soffit

6. Gypsum MFC®

7. 150mm Cable Tray

8. Brass Screw on Pipe Bracket

9. Gypframe® FEA1 Steel Angle

10. Gypframe® MF9 Connecting Clip

11. Gyproc FireLine® 12.5mm

12. Primary Steel I-Beam 1090x420mm

13. 100mm Hollow Steel Window Head

14. 10mm Safety Glass Louvre

15. 40mm Steel Plate

16. Cast-Steel Glass Fixing Clamp

17. 26mm Sheathed Steel Cable

18. 12mm Laminated Safety Glass

19. 6 mm toughened glass with Silcone Gasket

20. 78mm Steel Cylinder and 50mm Plate and Forked Cable Sleeve

21. 150mm Steel Boxed Tube

22. 180mm Steel Tensioning Spring

23. Aluminium Window Sill (External) with Zinc Underlay

1. Kingspan Kooltherm® 100mm Structural Soffit

2. Gypframe® FEA1 Steel Angle

3. Cable Tray and Pipe Bracket (see above)

4. Gypsum MFC (see above)

5. 2.5mm Plaster Skim and White Paint Finish

6. 12.5mm Plasterboard Drywall

7. Vinyl Sealent

8. GreenGlue® Whisper Clips

9. Homasote Soundbaord

10. 100mm x 60mm Timber Batton Stud Wall Frame

11. Steel Stud and Tacks

12. MDF Skirting Board

13. 40m CEMFLOOR® Screed, Primer, Sealer and Plain Grey Vinyl Flooring

14. 230mm Secondary Horizontal Steel Floor Beams

Detail Sections 5-6

1. Acoustic Inner Wall (see above)

2. Mineral Wool Insulation Infill

3. DPC and Polyester Sarking Felt

4. 200mm ROCKWOOL FLEXI® Dual Acoustic and Thermal Non-Combustible Insulation

5. Primary Steel Column 1090x420mm

6. Variable Thickness Custom Plastic Facade

7. Steel Box Lintel

8. Aluminium Door Frame

9. Vufold® External Grey Door (Wood)

10. Glazed Door Panels

11. Aluminium Door Threshold

12. Mineral Wool Insulation Infill

13. Rigid Insulation

14. 225mm: Coarse Aggregate, Soil, Grass

15. Drainage Layer, Waterproof Layer

16. Membrane and Sealant

17. Comfloor (see prev. page)

18. Steel Safety Rail

19. Recycled Plastic Custom Bench

20. Aluminium Fixed Gutter

21. Aluminium Flashing

22. Andonised Aluminium Frame

23. Welted Drip

24. 230mm Horizontal Steel Floor Beams

25. 200x275 Aluminium Boxing

1. 300m Galv. Steel Welded Tube Structure

2. Aluminium Knee Level Barrier to Flora

3. 400/400/50mm Steel Plate

5. Plastic Chip Asphalt Floor Layer

6. 30mm Accoustic ROCKFLOOR®

7. Air Gap

8. Rigid Insulation

9. Harcore Infill

10. 175mm Pre-Cast Beam and Block

Ground Floor System

11. Sand Levelling Layer

12. Reinforced Concrete Foundation Block

13. 550mm Concrete Slab Bearer

14. 400mm Concrete Pile Cap (Extended)

15. 30mm Accoustic ROCKFLOOR®

16. Drainage Layer, Waterproof Layer, Coarse Aggregate, Soil, Substrate

17. Flora, Various - (see spec.)

4. 4x 20mm Steel Fixing Bolts

Construction

Exploded Axonometric of Construction of Room and Facade Section

Ceiling - Comfloor (floor above), stringers and supplementary horiz. beams, insulation, and MFC rigid suspended system

Inner leaf: insulation, sarking, clamp, drywall.

Fixed, cable tension supported glass with Aluminium/Steel frames.

Internal stud wall (within Unit) with wooden doors and doorframes

Structure & Construction

Garden terrace green roof system, wth adjoining panels, safety rail and fixing structure.

Room Construction is follows box-in-box accoustic system and 120 minute fire comparmentalisation. Windows, facade panels and structural steel lengths prefabricated and stored off site. Room section shown top left. Family unit.

Sustainability Part 1

Active sustainable technologies implemented throughout Elysium Sky Village:

• Rainwater Collection

• Carbon Capture Technology

• Smart Glass

• Photovoltaic Systems

• Stack Ventilation

• Electric Vehicle Charging Points

• Ground Source Heat Pump + Underfloor Heating

• Low Embodied Energy Cladding System

• Green Roof System

• External Shading

• Indoor Growing

• Substantial Insulation

Sustainability Part 2

Examples of Passive Sustainable Measures in Specific Section:

Tall F/C heights allow for convection/stack ventilation airflow (blue), though mechanical ventilation is necessary to ensure sound barrier. Yellow shows solar ray paths, through openings, reflected off terraces and down the lightwell and into rooms on lower floors closer to the centre that would otherwise not receive much daylight. The grey arrow shows how the ribbon element can discretely shade sections of sunlight that would otherwise cause excessive glare. Purple shows the specialist acoustic insulation. Strong thermal insulation is shown in orange, with sections of wall offering sub 0.1 U-Values at points. The red shows the underfloor heating network reducing the need for obtrustive radiators and can connect to a ground source heat pump. Finally, in green, is the green roof/garden terraces which are a naturally sustainable choice via oxygenating the environment.

Compartmentalisation

Insulation is non-flammable.

Routes / Distances

Additional internal fire doors for where corridor distances exceed 15m

Two seperate, covered stairways as per regulations.

Internal wall construction creates absolute minimum of 120m burn time between units.

Longest corridor distnace 28m (Regulations permit <30m with two covered routes)

Any occupied space above 7m requires two separate exit routes.

Sprinklers Safety Measures

Pump and cyllinders reside in plant rooms on ground floor, 15th floor and 25th floor, where it can access the backup power system.

Separate vertical system connects at centre of building core. This is where the valve, pressure gauge and inlet/outlet flow systems reside on each floor.

Sprinkler pipes are 20mm CPVC.

Outlets are concealed ceiling mounted steel pendant sprinkler heads.

The suppressing gas blend is held at 200-300 bar pressure.

Sprinklers operate strictly on heat detection system. Instead of water, sprinklers expel Inergen – tradename of Nitrogen/Argon/Carbon Dioxide blend. This is an intert (non-toxic) gas which prevents fires getting oxygen, putting them out. Once benefit of this is avoiding damage to electronics in the case of a fire.

FD120’s used for front doors to flats

FD60’s used for to extend corridor safety and for flats with large floor areas

Escapes to roof terraces protect occupants from smoke. Fires can be fought and then escape out the building can be completed. This creates many escape routes (exact number varies per floor)minimum two needed

Siren alarms at indicated points. Emergency lighting at Indicated Points. Fire extinguishers at indicated points.

Escape route widths no less than 2m (minimum required is 1.5m)

18th FloorPlan showing all measures included.

Designated fire lift (red square).

Vertical gas pipe system for sprinklers.

Cascading dampeners on facade (water) and external sprinklers on ribbon element. Non-flammable anti-frost pipework and solution advised.

Only single exit possible on upper floors just to space limitations. However there are significantly fewer occupants and distance to the exit is significantly reduced. Several mitigating measures described.

Ground floor assembly points/ fire engine parking locations (close to Dock Feeder Canal)

Key Fire Prevention Measures:

• Nitrogen Diffusers

• Windows - fixed, cavity closers, fire resistant, non shatter

• Non-flammable Insulation

• Plant Room Isolation

• Incumescent Paint on Exposed Steel and Concrete

• Reasonable Proximity away from other Buildings

• Fire Engine Access and Sources of Nearby Water

• Fire retardant chemicals added to plastic facade material admixture

• External sprinkler system with several pump locations with two power sources located througout building

• Rooms of higher fire risk such as indoor farm, includes additional sprinklers and exhiguishers

• tall ceilings (approx 4.5m) reduce risk of smoke inhalation

• Compartmentalisation reduces risk from unit to unit spread or internal to external spread

• Cascading Dampeners/ Drenching system on facade

Escape: <30m w 2 covered routes

Per Flat: <9m to main entry per room <15m between doors in corridors

• Easy access points throughout building. with designated fire lift.

• Emergency lighting system, with siren alarms, smoke and heat detectors and manual overide switches.

Potentially helicopter escapes routes if necessary, but primarily ‘safe from smoke’ fire escape terraces

Entrance Theoretically tall enough for fire engine to enter directly.

Fire Fighting Lift

Plant room, where retardent gas cyllinders are kept and pump for water based external spinklers.

Mechanical and Electrical

Underfloor Heating Hot Water Soil Recycling Power Water Vents

Small Hollow Dots = Heated Towel Rail

Plumbing

Cross Sections

Showing Various Systems

Water Supply and Soil Pipe and SVP (Dashed)

Mechanical Ventilation

Reflected Ceiling Plan (without MFC)

Electrical Installations