Environment - University (Sustainability in Science Park)

ENVIRONMENT:

UNIVERSITY (SCIENCE PARK)

ARCH2058 Modern Architecture ASSIGNMENT 3: GUIDEBOOK

| Fall 2021

Environment: University (Sustainability in Science Park) Justine Meita Effendi (3035767578) Lam Kaai Yu Kyris (3035740427) Sin Oi Yin Nicole (3035740439)

INTRODUCTION

University Station, formerly known as Ma Liu Shui Station, is situated in the eastern New Territories. Conveniently located near the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and accessible from either University or Shatin Station, the Hong Kong Science Park is a commercial district dedicated to STEM-related research and technological development.

Designed as a ‘park’ with a campus-like atmosphere, there is a common architectural language sustained throughout all 23 buildings. The coherent designs retain similar colour schemes, materials and sustainable design principles - albeit maintaining their own identities. As the city’s center for scientific development, its architecture is the token of modern urban environmental design.

LAKESIDE 1 Hong Kong’s Science Park, a district aiming to foster bright, innovative technology, has developed in phases. As part of the second phase of development completed in 2009, Lakeside 1 is located in the center of HKSTP adjacent to the Central Lake.

Keeping themes of sustainable architecture in mind, Lakeside 1 was integrated with materials designed with quality technology including low-e coated double-glazed windows, photovoltaic cells, and sunshades that prevent penetration of direct sunlight. These serve purposes of energy efficiency as an initiative for green design. With an east view towards the central lake and Tolo Harbour, Lakeside 1 hosts companies that work on developing biomedical and information communications technology.

BUILDING 15W Offering more than 159,000 sq.ft of lettable laboratory space, Building 15W was planned, designed and constructed with sustainability as the key priority. Through the integration of green building design in the elements of material, site, energy use, water use, and indoor environment quality, the building aims to serve as an example of the ‘green culture’ the tenants are encouraged to cultivate.

As one of the five buildings built as part of the newest Phase 3 installation at Science Park, it serves as a hub for the ‘living laboratory’ in scientific and technological development.

GREEN 18 OFFICE BLOCK Green 18 Office Block was the final building developed upon the completion of Phase 2 of Hong Kong Science Park. Its design was headed by Hong Kong-based firm Simon Kwan & Associates, following the theme of “Office in the Park”. This design concept focuses on science and technology while simultaneously cultivating a close relationship with nature.

Its construction acted as the prototype for Phase 3 of the development of Science Park.

The key features of the building are that it is very environmentally friendly and operationally efficient, ensuring a balance between both environmental and human health. Its interiors display cutting-edge green technologies and building practices that serve as precedents for other sustainable buildings in the city, as Hong Kong continues to strive towards achieving a lower carbon footprint in the coming years.

New Towns - Adapting Industrial Materials to a Suburban Environment Justine Meita, Effendi

With the rise of the developing world, architecture and the building industry play a vital role in either contributing to or counteracting the increasing environmental concerns. Modernism in architecture advocates for the awareness of architecture’s connection to the external environment, including a discourse on how the emergence of technological development can respond to the climate through material efficiency and integration of nature within the built environment. Hong Kong Science Park, as a district of technological growth and development, applies to the case of looking at modernism through the lens of environmental sustainability. As a part of its Phase II development, Building 8W, Lakeside 1, shows features of materiality that facilitate a relationship be-

tween the exterior environmental context and interior spaces. In the essay below, the industrial materials used in Lakeside 1 will be discussed, and in turn express the benefits and consequences of the role of technology in assessing the degree of sustainability.

Throughout history, the relationship between usage of materiality and architecture is continuously redefined. While the modernization of Hong Kong Science Park (HKSTP) can be tackled from evident angles of industrialization and development, the abundance of technological advances within Science Park also brings forth environmental impacts and concerns. Looking into the lens of sustainability, and in turn the environment, Rifkind describes modernism as not meaninglessly embracing materiality, but rather an ability to use and shape resources to best sustain both humans and the environment [1]. Due to the shift in scientific developments stemming from the period of Industrial Revolution, new materials present alternatives that recognize energy

conservation and environmental sensitivity.

Completed in 2007 as a part of Phase II development of HKSTP, Lakeside 1 is one example of harnessing various technological advancements as a part of its architecture to suit both the users and the surrounding ecology. The building’s façade comprises of aluminium panelling and building-integrated photovoltaic panels, with double-glazed window units [2]. In conjunction, energy-efficient initiatives are also integrated in various areas throughout the building. Aside from the curtain wall façade, Youngs points out photovoltaic cells that are evidently placed on the rooftop to maximize sunlight, and strategically located on sunshade projections [3].

With an East façade facing the central lake, and sufficient space between buildings to allow sunlight penetration, the power generated from these solar panels is maximized and connected to the local power grid. The double skin formation of the curtain walls acts as insulation from direct heat, and sound from

the Tolo highway located nearby. Furthermore, the double-glazed windows are low-e coated, aiming to reduce heat gain to the interior and “enhance thermal and acoustic performance” [4]. Despite technological initiatives that work with light, heat and sound concerns, it is also vital to understand how the materiality of the building affects the environment within in relation to its functions.

Companies working in Lakeside 1 practice biomedical technology and information communications technology (ICT). Biomedical practices include the usage of laboratories that need proper HVAC control, which accounts for large amounts of electrical consumption and an increase in carbon footprint [5].

With the increasing emphasis on green building in modern architecture, Lakeside 1’s usage of aluminium as its main construction material may be considered sustainable. Aluminum as a lightweight material allows for the construction industry to create safe yet energy-efficient designs. The concept of longevity

is an essential part of a sustainability equation that has to be considered. It encompasses minimizing material cost and waste, and thus considers the emission of greenhouse gases during the breakdown of any material.

Efthymiou et. al justify aluminium structures as ‘sustainable’ in terms of cost-efficiency, waste reduction and energy performance [6].

First, an aluminium façade is inexpensive for a long-term approach. While it may be more expensive than steel initially, the material is resistant to corrosion and thus requires less maintenance cost in the longer run. In addition, aluminium has a low waste impact. Its low melting point allows any waste products to be completely recycled with comparatively low energy, while still retaining the metal’s initial properties. Its measure of energy performance comes hand in hand with user comfort, as aluminium facades work well as solar reflectors with its high reflectivity property, and can thus acts as good thermal buffers. Comparable to steel and concrete – modern construction materials, Efthymiou

et. al presents the physical qualities of aluminium, yet it is also imperative to understand the significance of the material with regards to how it shapes the environment.

With the influence of science bringing about the proliferation of technology, the definition of sustainability may, however, also be challenged. Much of modernism take on the use of technology and form an inherent bias against the damage that such practices can cause to the environment [7].

With the ideology of ‘controlling’ nature, the modern movement has placed emphasis on technology as solutions to past issues. This provides us with a non-singular definition of the sustainability index of a building. On one hand, new materials of double-glazing and insulation form parts of the sustainability equation; it allows buildings to be clad with materials that work with the environment from a technological point of view. As a measure of sustainability, buildings strive to obtain internationally recognized certif-

icates such as LEED and BREEAM, systems which are designed to rate the sustainability index of buildings through scientific means.

Given the energy-saving incentives taken as listed earlier, buildings in HKSTP boasted Hong Kong’s first Platinum building rating as a LEED certified sustainable district in 2009.

On the other hand, there are also buildings built from natural materials that have withstood time. Taking traditional Greek buildings as an example, such stone houses are not clad in technologically advanced materials for insulation. Rather, it was built with knowledge of its surrounding climatic conditions, along with proper orientation towards the sun and cross-ventilation throughout the building. Considering the need for simple maintenance over long periods of time, such villages can still be found standing well after hundreds of years. This factor of longevity in relation to material is yet to be considered, and “with LEED and BREEAM’s straightforward checklist, the idea of sustainability in ar-

chitecture is reduced to pure technology such as solar panels and HVAC” [8]. By condensing sustainable architecture into checklists, the sustainability of architecture today has become subject to intense reductionism [9]. Instead of pursuing tools that lead to conspicuous consumption, falling back to age-old ideas work just as well in defining sustainability.

To understand sustainability at its core, the need for sustainable architecture dates back to the OPEC oil crisis in 1973. The age of Industrial Revolution marked a turning point in escalating development and innovations, but it also increased destruction to the environment. The abundance of materials, along with the advancing technology, snowballed to a rapid urban development [10]. As a result, the oil crisis in 1973 set off a widespread awareness of the limited number of natural resources available. With this shift in global perspective, a High-Tech movement led by architectural firms then formed a new approach towards sustainability and

saving energy [11]. In our present day, as the creation of technologically-advanced materials intertwine with sustainability at the surface, not many seek to understand the background or consequences of these marketed solutions. With the large usage of technology, the path of development gravitates towards the depletion of resources. Conflicting arguments can be found when it is possible to create sustainable architecture with hightech materials, but the building expense and future maintenance costs require substantial money. As Yalman argues, the “immense effort, time and money [needed to] transform an inherently unsustainable structure into sustainable architecture [...] is nothing more than sugar-coating the materialization of capitalism in the form of architecture” [12].

Modernism’s response to environmental issues may be seen as a beneficial development with unintended consequences. While fragments of its approach towards sustainable architecture tackle climatic responsiveness,

and integration of green spaces into urban areas [13], as seen in Hong Kong Science Park, it also hosts a long-term destructive practice of resource-intensive materials. In the case of Lakeside 1, to build advancing technophilic architecture requires more than just technological commodities. It requires a thorough assessment of balancing the expenditure necessary to build, and the running cost and consequence of maintaining such materials.

However, an ideology to be considered is that sustainability and architecture do not simply exist in vacuum [14], and are instead shaped by societal, political and economic history and context. There are degrees of sustainability that need further examination to form a holistic, sustainable architectural praxis.

Notes 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

Daniel Rifkind. “Reviewing Modernism Through the Lens of Sustainability.” In Lessons from Modernism Environmental design Strategies in Architecture 1925-1970, ed. Kevin Bone. (The Monacelli Press, 2014), 17.

Tim Youngs.

“Hong Kong Science Park, Buildings 4a, 4b and 5; Technology Centre.”

Building Journal (2003): 10.

Tim Youngs.

“Hong Kong Science Park, Buildings 4a, 4b and 5; Technology Centre.”

Building Journal (2003): 11.

Tim Youngs.

“Hong Kong Science Park, Buildings 4a, 4b and 5; Technology Centre.”

Building Journal (2003): 11.

Daniel Rifkind. “Reviewing Modernism Through the Lens of Sustainability.” In Lessons from Modernism Environmental design Strategies in Architecture 1925-1970, ed. Kevin Bone. (The Monacelli Press, 2014), 20. Öget N. Cöcen, Evangelos Efthymiou, Sergio R. Ermolli, “Sustainable Aluminium Systems.” Sustainability 2, no. 9 (2010): 3103. https://doi.org/10.3390/su2093100 Daniel Rifkind. “Reviewing Modernism Through the Lens of Sustainability.” In Lessons from Modernism Environmental design Strategies in Architecture 1925-1970, ed. Kevin Bone. (The Monacelli Press, 2014), 18.

Onur Lami Yalman. “Ideology of Sustainable Architecture: A Critique.” (PhD diss., Middle East Technical University, 2019), 35.

Onur Lami Yalman. “Ideology of Sustainable Architecture: A Critique.”

(PhD diss., Middle East Technical University, 2019), 6.

Onur Lami Yalman. “Ideology of Sustainable Architecture: A Critique.”

(PhD diss., Middle East Technical University, 2019), 7.

Onur Lami Yalman. “Ideology of Sustainable Architecture: A Critique.” (PhD diss., Middle East Technical University, 2019), 23.

Onur Lami Yalman. “Ideology of Sustainable Architecture: A Critique.”

(PhD diss., Middle East Technical University, 2019), v.

Daniel Rifkind. “Reviewing Modernism Through the Lens of Sustainability.” In Lessons from Modernism Environmental design Strategies in Architecture 1925-1970, ed. Kevin Bone. (The Monacelli Press, 2014), 22.

Onur Lami Yalman. “Ideology of Sustainable Architecture: A Critique.”

(PhD diss., Middle East Technical University, 2019), 6.

Bibliography 1.

2.

3.

4.

Cöcen, Öget N., Efthymiou, Evangelos, Ermolli, Sergio R. “Sustainable Aluminium Systems.” Sustainability 2, no. 9 (2010): 3100-3109. https://doi.org/10.3390/ su2093100 Rifkind, Daniel. “Reviewing Modernism Through the Lens of Sustainability.” In Lessons from Modernism Environmental design Strategies in Architecture 1925-1970, edited by Kevin Bone, 17-27. The Monacelli Press, 2014.

Yalman, Onur Lami. “Ideology of Sustainable Architecture: A Critique.” PhD diss., Middle East Technical University, 2019.

Youngs, Tim. “Hong Kong Science Park, Buildings 4a, 4b and 5; Technology Centre.” Building Journal (2003): 1-16.

The Brise-Soleil as an Emblem of Environmental Architecture’s Past, Present and Future Kaai Yu Kyris, Lam

An ‘incubator for technology and innovation’, the Hong Kong Science Park was developed as a showcase of advanced green technologies. [1] An example of such a building is Building 15W of Phase III – a commercial laboratory space completed in 2014, boasting integrated sustainable building features such as an insulated solid west façade, solar hot water systems, ultra-efficient AC systems etc. [2] One such feature that is visibly used throughout most Science Park buildings is the sun-shading device, or the brise-soleil, that line the glass facades. [3] The brise-soleil, in its moderation of sunlight and temperature, indicates a conversation between the external and internal environments of a site. In this essay, the critical role of the brise-soleil in the development of modern ar-

chitecture will be analysed with reference to the past, present and future. From European residential buildings to Asian commercial buildings, the brise-soleil will be presented as (i) a symbol of the turn from functionalist to humanist design principles, (ii) a medium for the integration of the scientific method in architecture, and ultimately, (iii) a reflection of the synchronic demands of modernism.

The origin of the French term, ‘brisesoleil’ is derived from Le Corbusier’s recognition of the existing vernacular solar-moderation systems in Brazil, and his subsequent development and popularization of sun-shading devices. [4] Arguably catalysed by the colonial mission of ‘civility’ in the construction of architecture in colonised tropical regions, the call for the vernacular in solving issues of environment pervades the modern architectural discourse. Recognition of the significance of vernacularism has projected modern culture as not a search for ‘style’, but as that ‘best described by the work of those anonymous

people, notably, engineers, who don’t try to invent a new aesthetic’. [5] Instead, ‘a natural relationship of modern society and architecture’ is cultivated by the ‘domestic’ and ‘functional’ rather than that of monument. [6] This presentation of the organic process of responding to social, political, and economic environments, as opposed to the explicit imposition of stylized design, denotes the shift from purism to functionalism to the humanist.

Moving towards people-centric architecture meant design for moderation of external forces such as temperature, light, and weather for the purpose of optimal interior comfort with consideration of the user’s health and socio-economic capabilities. Le Corbusier coined the term brise-soleil in his “loss of faith in the manifest destiny of the machine age” and consequent turn to the vernacular. [7] Characterized in his Immeuble Clarte apartment complex built in Geneva from 1930-1932, “balconies, external blinds, retractable awnings, and interior shutters

blocked and modulated solar incidence” as “low cost, user intensive, and formally dynamic sun-shading devices’’. [8] Serving to moderate interior climates, this is a formal development of the ‘overhangs and other methods in folk or ‘so-called’ primitive architectures’.9 According to Passanti, the brisesoleil as a vernacular device signifies the ‘delicate insertion of architectural methods into the new responsibilities of the economic, industrial, and environmental management of the post-colonial south’, which he refers to as “new inputs”’. [10] Such ‘new inputs’ have an inherent humanist nature, which exemplify the growing “general concern with ventilation, light and air, and other health-related issues that framed the theories and practices of the early modern movement.”. [11]

The general concern for health naturally indicates the involvement of the natural sciences in aiding and informing environmentally conscious architecture. Reyner Banham dissects the necessary, but challenging inte-

gration of the scientifically derived climatology knowledge within architectural design by indicating a binary between the two ‘operational trajectories’ - with reference to the ‘mental state of the architects’. [12] In this, he refers to (i) the professional architect’s acceptance of building climatology as a part of the architectural profession, rather than an ‘other’ and (ii) the creation of successful “fit environments for human activities”. By introducing architectural features such as the brise-soleil to be used for interdisciplinary discourse, a growingly holistic development of such building technologies can occur.

The use of the scientific method in environmental architecture is exemplified by Victor and Aladar Olgyay’s scientific light-analysis process in their study of ‘Bioclimatic Regionalisms’. [13] In anticipation of designing a ‘single building for all nations and climates’, the Olgyay’s method “involved analysing sun charts to identify potential “overheated” and “under heated” periods; testing site-orientation

against sunlight modelling systems; determining the contextual “sky-vault” conditions of existing shading elements; and calibrating it all to determine an appropriate “sun-mask” shape which correlated to a specific shading device strategy.” [14] Their bioclimatic charts developed in the 1950s were the first to show the connection between “temperature and relative humidity in order to define a comfort zone.” [15]. This series of formal tests, data analysis and production of conclusory results suggests a pivotal moment in the implementation of the scientific method by architects within climatically sensitive modern architecture. This comprehensive developmental strategy suggests the globalisation of the environmental discourse through elevating moderated vernacular devices to transcend singular climatical use. The unification of formal scientific processes and the informal vernacular knowledge produces a shared and inclusive transnational understanding of modern architecture – a condition we now know is necessary to combat our climate issues.

Dedicated to scientific and technological advancement, it comes to no surprise that the brise-soleil devices used in Hong Kong Science Park’s buildings were designed using a similar strategy. In Building 15W, “advanced thermal model simulations were carried out to detail the design of appropriate windows opening, shading device and the natural ventilation capacity of the building so as to achieve optimum performance.”. [16] Both “macro” and “micro-climate simulations’ ‘ were used in the design of brise-soleil devices. According to HKGBC BEAM Plus, the building consists of “an ultra-high-performance façade that is uncommon in the commercial buildings in Hong Kong” as “Dynamic Thermal Analysis and daylight simulation was used to fine tune the façade design to achieve the optimal balance between heat rejection and daylight provision.”. [17] These sun-shading technologies serve as a reflection of the ‘digital revolution’ and the computer as a form-generating tool, symbolizing the

sustained relevance of the “subsidiary repertoire of building climatology” in intelligent architecture. [18] According to Banham, “the scientific (and the ensuing technological) leap was the one which enabled the ever-growing formal freedom of architecture”. [19]

The solar-tracking louvres used in Building 15W can be seen as a 21st century response to a shift in modernism’s consideration of social function in climate-conscious design. [20] In his analysis of the brise soleil as a classical element of tropical modernism, Michael Laar evaluated the effectiveness of the structural system of the Ministério da Educação e Cultura (MEC) building. [21] Illumination values, sun paths and their according comfort ranges were measured in Rio De Janeiro using Radiance as a simulation tool with the intention of proving “the relevance of a relatively old technique…for contemporaneous energy efficient architecture”. [22] The ‘micro-climate’ was also assessed with variations in horizontal brise-soleil positions, in which

Laar concludes that despite its efficacy in reducing artificial lighting and moderating internal temperatures, “the building user’s active participation in the adaptation of the building devices is almost impossible to achieve”. He goes on to assert that such mobile devices already struggle to be manually operated in domestic realms, and to expect it to be done in an office space would be pointless.

The solution proposed is for the installation of automated brise-soleil devices in the workplace setting. [23] Hence, on a macro-scale, it can be argued that Science Park’s automated sun shading devices serve as a holistic representation of the continued development of climate knowledge, architecture and technology from past structures in the moderation of climate for (i) ethical energy consumption, (ii) cost-effective and (iii) user-friendly designs.

Another human-centric design feature of Science Park is it’s designation of a commercial district as a ‘park’ to facilitate social interaction within the public and private

spheres. So far, the role of science and technology in creating healthy, environmentally conscious and cost-effective architecture has been thoroughly discussed and developed in the modern architectural discourse. However, modern architecture must continue to respond to evolving contemporary needs. With mental health and wellbeing gaining exposure and concern in global discussions, social movements advocating for a working culture of interaction, collaboration and employee protection have emerged. In architecture, this calls for a shift away from the traditional compartmentalized ‘cubby’ machine system used in many local commercial centres.

The psychological effects of brise-soleil and moderated light in the workplace has been wrongfully excluded in office design, with a lack of solid scientific foundation in understanding the role of light in facilitating social interaction. [24] The effect of lighting on atmosphere and emotion is experienced in entertainment settings, highlighting the fact that preference for light levels naturally vary

that preference for light levels naturally vary in contexts with different functions. Aside from the existing scientific, environmental, and technological advancements, climatically conscious architecture should concern macro and micro scale emotional, and consequently social experiences in reference to natural lighting to keep up with modern demands.

In the case of Hong Kong Science Park, the brise-soleil serves as a symbol of the integration of the natural sciences with architecture. In accordance with the essence of modern architecture, the brise-soleil devices used in Building 15W serves it’s technological function as a cultivation of innovation, as well as the demands for economically and environmentally sustainable design solutions.

The globalisation of modern values is exemplified through the tangible structures which within itself stores a history of vernacularism and its recognition as a critical aspect of professional research. Initially a cost-effective solution to achieving hygienic spaces, so-

lar-shading has­­­­ technologically advanced to be a logistically feasible and environmentally sustainable device. In hopes for the future, such technologies may succeed in addressing cultural shifts in commercial realms. With this, the brise-soleil, along with its wider implications for the development of environmental architecture, is solidified as both a historical and future-forward emblem of modernism. lar-shading has­­­­ technologically advanced to be a logistically feasible and environmentally sustainable device. In hopes for the future, such technologies may succeed in addressing cultural shifts in commercial realms. With this, the brise-soleil, along with its wider implications for the development of environmental architecture, is solidified as both a historical and future-forward emblem of modernism.

Notes 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

“Business Incubator for Technology & Innovation Industry.” HKSTP. Accessed December 18, 2021. https://www.hkstp.org/.

“Building 15W Hong Kong Science Park Phase 3.” Building 15W Hong Kong Science Park Phase 3 - Beam Plus Online Exhibition. HKGBC Beam Plus. Accessed December 20, 2021. https://greenbuilding.hkgbc.org.hk/projects/view/43.

French term meaning ‘sun-breaker’. Architectural feature used to reduce heat gain and solar incidence of building through the deflection of sunlight.

Barber, Daniel. A. “Le Corbusier, The Brise-Soleil, and the Socio-Climatic Project of Modern Architecture”, 1929-1963.” Thresholds 40, no. 40 (2012): 21-32 Passanti, Francesco. “The Vernacular, Modernism, and Le Corbusier.” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 56, no. 4 (1997): 438–51. https://doi. org/10.2307/991313.

Passanti, Francesco. “The Vernacular, Modernism, and Le Corbusier.” 438–51.

Kenneth Frampton, “Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer: Influence and Counterinfluence, 1929-1965,” in Latin American Architecture, 1929-1960: Contemporary Reflections, ed. Carlos Brillembourg, New York: Monacelli Press, (2004): 37.7.

Barber, Daniel. A. “Le Corbusier, The Brise-Soleil, and the Socio-Climatic Project of Modern Architecture”, 25 Barber, Daniel. A. “Le Corbusier, The Brise-Soleil, and the Socio-Climatic Project of Modern Architecture”, 23 Passanti, Francesco. “The Vernacular, Modernism, and Le Corbusier.” 438–51.

Barber, Daniel. A. “Le Corbusier, The Brise-Soleil, and the Socio-Climatic Project of Modern Architecture”, 23 Reyner, Banham. The Architecture of the Well-Tempered Environment, Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1984) Olgyay, Victor, Aladar Olgyay, Donlyn Lyndon, Victor W. Olgyay, John Reynolds, and Ken Yeang. “REGIONAL EVALUATlON.” In Design with Climate: Bioclimatic Approach to Architectural Regionalism - New and Expanded Edition, REV-Revised., 24–31. Princeton University Press, 2015. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvc77kqb.7.

Barber, Daniel. A. “Le Corbusier, The Brise-Soleil, and the Socio-Climatic Project of Modern Architecture”, 29 Santy, Hiroshi Matsumoto, Kazuyo Tsuzuki, and Lusi Susanti. “Bioclimatic Analysis in Pre‐Design Stage of Passive House in Indonesia.” Buildings 7, no. 4 (2017): 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings7010024.

“Building 15W Hong Kong Science Park Phase 3.” Building 15W Hong Kong Science Park Phase 3 - Beam Plus Online Exhibition. HKGBC Beam Plus. Accessed December 20, 2021. https://greenbuilding.hkgbc.org.hk/projects/view/43.

“Building 15W Hong Kong Science Park Phase 3.” Building 15W Hong Kong Science Park Phase 3 - Beam Plus Online Exhibition. HKGBC Beam Plus. Accessed December 20, 2021. https://greenbuilding.hkgbc.org.hk/projects/view/43.

Aleksandrowicz, Or. Dissertation. Architectures Unwanted Child: Building Climatology in Israel 1940-1977. Dissertation, Vienna University of Technology, (2015): 434 https://repositum.tuwien.at/bitstream/20.500.12708/9222/2/Aleksandrowicz%20 Or%20-%202015%20-%20Architectures%20unwanted%20child%20building%20

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

climatology%20in...pdf.

Aleksandrowicz, Or. Dissertation. Architectures Unwanted Child: Building Climatology in Israel 1940-1977. Dissertation, Vienna University of Technology, (2015): 434 Solar Tracking Louvres are automatic solar shading systems that react to changes in weather and solar position to optimise heat flow and solar incidence.

Laar, Michael. Rep. BRISE SOLEIL - CLASSICAL ELEMENTS OF TROPICAL MODERNISM. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: IBPSA, 2001.

Laar, Michael. Rep. BRISE SOLEIL - CLASSICAL ELEMENTS OF TROPICAL MODERNISM. 1321.

Laar, Michael. Rep. BRISE SOLEIL - CLASSICAL ELEMENTS OF TROPICAL MODERNISM. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: IBPSA, 2001. 1327.

Evensen, Ida Moe. “A Study on the Effects of Lighting on Social Interaction.”

Thesis, University College London, 2014.

Bibliography 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

Aleksandrowicz, Or. Dissertation. Architectures Unwanted Child: Building Climatology in Israel 1940-1977. Dissertation, Vienna University of Technology, 2015. https://repositum.tuwien.at/bitstream/20.500.12708/9222/2/Aleksandrowicz%20 Or%20-%202015%20-%20Architectures%20unwanted%20child%20building%20 climatology%20in...pdf.

Barber, Daniel. A. “Le Corbusier, The Brise-Soleil, and the Socio-Climatic Project of Modern Architecture”, 1929-1963.” Thresholds 40, no. 40 (2012): 21-32 “Building 15W Hong Kong Science Park Phase 3.” Building 15W hong kong science park phase 3 - beam plus online exhibition. HKGBC Beam Plus. Accessed December 20, 2021. https://greenbuilding.hkgbc.org.hk/projects/view/43.

“Business Incubator for Technology & Innovation Industry.” HKSTP. Accessed December 22, 2021. https://www.hkstp.org/.

Evensen, Ida Moe. “A Study on the Effects of Lighting on Social Interaction.”

Thesis, University College London, 2014.

Kenneth Frampton, “Le Corbusier and Oscar Niemeyer: Influence and Counterinfluence, 1929-1965,” in Latin American Architecture, 1929-1960: Contemporary Reflections, ed. Carlos Brillembourg, New York: Monacelli Press, (2004) Laar, Michael. Rep. BRISE SOLEIL - CLASSICAL ELEMENTS OF TROPICAL MODERNISM. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: IBPSA, 2001.

Olgyay, Victor, Aladar Olgyay, Donlyn Lyndon, Victor W. Olgyay, John Reynolds, and Ken Yeang. “REGIONAL EVALUATlON.” In Design with Climate: Bioclimatic Approach to Architectural Regionalism - New and Expanded Edition, REV-Revised., 24–31. Princeton University Press, 2015. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvc77kqb.7.

Passanti, Francesco. “The Vernacular, Modernism, and Le Corbusier.” Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 56, no. 4 (1997): 438–51. https://doi. org/10.2307/991313.

Reyner, Banham. The Architecture of the Well-Tempered Environment, Chicago: University of Chicago Press (1984) Santy, Hiroshi Matsumoto, Kazuyo Tsuzuki, and Lusi Susanti. “Bioclimatic Analysis in Pre‐Design Stage of Passive House in Indonesia.” Buildings 7, no. 4 (2017): 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings7010024.

Conscious Roofing - The Role of Environmental Design Features in Informing Human Health Oi Yin Nicole, Sin

Hong Kong Science Park is a commercial park that fosters the development of green technology enterprises. In 2012, a newly built office block focusing on research and development, Green 18 Office Block, was unveiled, constituting various cutting-edge premises that make use of green building elements [1]. Throughout the twentieth century, pioneering modernist Le Corbusier’s concern with salubrity was shared by his fellow modernist architects, many of whom designed buildings that featured ample day lighting and ventilation alongside a variety of outdoor spaces for leisure purposes [2]. In doing so, the ideology that architecture could sustain human health became widespread, the same principles underpinning many new building designs through the progression of the cen-

tury [3]. In the case of Green 18, the building embraces various sustainable features to enhance work performance and improve human health in the design of its roof, specifically through its atrium and roof gardens.

The atrium of Green 18 Office Block is seven storeys high, creating a large, spacious office environment. While features such as greenery and informal seating are present in the atrium to encourage greater workplace interaction amongst staff members, the high ceiling as a result of the atrium also plays a part in facilitating productivity. Research has shown that a high ceiling contributes to work efficiency, as one’s mental space expands in tandem to their perception of physical space [4]. In a study investigating the impact of ceiling height on cognition, it was revealed that subjects placed in a room ten feet high were quicker to form solutions to creative problems than those who finished identical problems in the same room, but with a hung ceiling at eight feet [5]. Moreover, the high

ceiling is beneficial to physical health as air circulation within the space is improved, increasing the amount of oxygen per employee in the building [6]. As in Le Corbusier’s design principle of ensuring sufficient fresh air within interiors to reduce chances of contagion, attained most frequently through fenestration [7], Green 18 makes use of its high ceiling to achieve the same effect. As efficient ventilation makes it less likely for virus particles to accumulate in the air, the risk of infectious diseases is decreased, which ascertains the physical health of building users [8].

Moreover, the atrium is roofed over with a skylight, allowing daylight to reach the centre of the building. The skylight enables maximum daylight penetration into the largest areas of circulation, which is especially important as building occupants frequent these spaces the most [9]. Much like the high ceiling, the presence of natural daylight in the interior of the building not only enlivens the environment, but positively adds to the

overall working efficiency of the building occupants. A study conducted by Boubekri and colleagues [10] examined the influence of daylight on the productivity of office workers in consideration to factors such as subjective well-being, physical activity and quality of sleep. In the results, it was discovered that workers stationed in offices without windows and thus, daylight, scored poorer in vitality, physical activity and sleep quality compared to their counterparts with windows [11]. The study also indicated that office workers with more exposure to daylight averaged 46 minutes more sleep at night than those with lesser daylight exposure [12]. As the aforementioned factors spur a greater sense of alertness and visual comfort, the decision to incorporate a skylight enhances productivity in the office.

However, one may argue that the atrium may contribute to heat trapping in the building during the summer, creating a greenhouse effect. This would worsen ventilation within the building and make for an un-

pleasant working environment, amplified by Hong Kong’s subtropical climate. While various studies have been conducted over many years, the general consensus is that there must be an ideal temperature range within an office space to optimize performance, seeing as thermal comfort strongly influences work productivity [13]. Occupants who reported complaints of thermal discomfort reported low productivity [14]. In the case of Green 18, the remedy for heat trapping is the use of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a recyclable polymer, instead of glass as a material in the construction of the skylight. Through strategic application of sun shading prints on the surfaces of ETFE cushions, a low thermal transmittance is achieved, thereby improving the indoor thermal environment by reducing excessive solar gain [15]. Additionally, as each ETFE cushion on a roof generally incorporates two or three air chambers, this allows for a much lower heat transfer rate (which has a g-value of 0.71-0.22 including frit) than 6mm monolithic glass (which has a g-value

of 0.95), in turn providing a more comfortable thermal environment within the building [16]. While glass is a common construction material in modernist buildings as it is lightweight and transparent, sustainable alternatives such as ETFE pose as effective solutions to ever-changing environmental needs.

Furthermore, the implementation of the “Green Fingers” programme encourages small-scale urban farming at the garden beds on the roof of Green 18 [17]. In Le Corbusier’s modernist manifesto Five Points of Architecture, he posits that the roof garden is a fundamental method of introducing nature into urban spaces, proposing the transformation of the city into a verdant, vegetated park scattered with buildings as a means of creating a healthy living environment [18]. As in Villa Savoye, where the roof garden compensates for the green area utilised by the footprint of the building [19], the greenery on the roof of Green 18 perhaps serves to recover the green area which the building was

constructed on. As informed by Le Corbusier’s work, green roofs fulfil an environmental purpose, which positively influences worker performance: the greenery reduces heat from the air through the process of evapotranspiration, in turn reducing heat transfer through the building roof [20]. Once again, this increases indoor thermal comfort and lowers the prevalence of stress linked to the prevalence of heat waves, a prominent need considering Hong Kong’s subtropical climate [21].

An investigation into the rooftop garden of University of Technology Sydney in Australia reveals that growing food in garden beds successfully establishes a tight-knit community [22]. The green space is close in proximity to the workplace, allowing for less of a time commitment and thus heightened convenience for social interaction between students and colleagues [23]. Rooftop gardening shapes social cohesion; motivations of the participants primarily involve shared lived experiences, and a growing awareness

of the importance of sustainability [24]. In a reflection of modernist inclinations towards reintroducing nature to the city as a means of recovering what was once lost, the inclusion of a roof garden on Green 18 enhances interpersonal dynamics and fortifies the connection amongst office workers, thereby bringing forth advantages in both the body and psyche [25], which are to be discussed in-depth in the following paragraph.

In accordance with the “functionalist to humanist” approach towards modernism, which shifted building design away from purely practical purposes towards one that caters more to human needs, managers and employers began to place heightened emphasis towards well-being at work through a connection to nature [26]. This philosophy is exemplified by the roof garden of Green 18, as it not only cultivates a greener future for businesses, but also results in a positive impact on workers’ physical health [27]. Many case studies have evidenced the benefits of

introducing nature into the office through biophilic design, such as heightened cognitive functions and faster recovery rates from stress. Seeing as stress is the primary cause of cardiovascular illnesses and mental health diseases [28], there is a bigger possibility for the premature onset of these illnesses if it is difficult for office workers to relieve it [29].

This is further evidenced by the results of an experiment by a team at Stanford University, which revealed that taking a walk through nature rather than an urban setting resulted in lesser rates of rumination within the subgenual prefrontal cortex of the brain. A humanist approach to modernist design is particularly pertinent as highly developed countries are affected by mental unwellness more so than others [30], with workers in Hong Kong being amongst the Asia Pacific’s unhappiest.

Seeing as 23% of interviewees from a study in 2018 said that they were dissatisfied with the work-life balance in Hong Kong [31], the rooftop garden could offer a respite from the office amidst a stress-inducing work culture.

In conclusion, the features of the roof of Green 18 Office Block successfully make for an optimal working environment, ascertaining the health and productivity of the building’s occupants. These decisions were informed by the modernist design principles of ensuring ample day lighting and ventilation, alongside a newfound emphasis on green space as a means to a healthy and sustainable future. The elements of Green 18’s roof design are not only a reflection of the values represented by Hong Kong Science Park, a hub for technology and green innovation, but also exemplify its modernist shift from a functionalist to a humanistic approach, revealing an increasing sensitivity to human needs in an ever-evolving environment.

Notes 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

“10th Anniversary: Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation.” Building Journal Hong Kong, June 2011, pp. 33–35.

Rifkind, Daniel. “Reviewing Modernism Through the Lens of Sustainability.” In Lessons from Modernism Environmental design Strategies in Architecture 1925-1970, edited by Kevin Bone, 17-27. The Monacelli Press, 2014.

Rifkind, Daniel. “Reviewing Modernism Through the Lens of Sustainability.” In Lessons from Modernism Environmental design Strategies in Architecture 1925-1970, edited by Kevin Bone, 17-27. The Monacelli Press, 2014.

Height: The Effect of Priming on the Type of Processing That People Use.” Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 34, no. 2, 2007, pp. 174–186., https://doi. org/10.1086/519146.

Meyers-Levy, Joan, and Rui Zhu. “The Influence of Ceiling Height: The Effect of Priming on the Type of Processing That People Use.” Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 34, no. 2, 2007, pp. 174–186., https://doi.org/10.1086/519146.

Brewer, Steven. “The Pros and Cons of High Ceilings, HVAC Edition - Dor-Mar Heating & Air Conditioning.” Dor, 21 Apr. 2020, https://www.dormarhvac.com/ the-pros-and-cons-of-high-ceilings-hvac-edition/.

Brewer, Steven. “The Pros and Cons of High Ceilings, HVAC Edition - Dor-Mar Heating & Air Conditioning.” Dor, 21 Apr. 2020, https://www.dormarhvac.com/ the-pros-and-cons-of-high-ceilings-hvac-edition/.

“10th Anniversary: Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation.” Building Journal Hong Kong, June 2011, pp. 33–35.

Shishegar, N., and M. Boubekri. “Natural Light and Productivity: Analyzing the Impacts of Daylighting on Students’ and Workers’ Health and Alertness.” International Journal of Advances in Chemical Engineering and Biological Sciences, vol. 3, no. 1, 2016, https://doi.org/10.15242/ijacebs.ae0416104.

Shishegar, N., and M. Boubekri. “Natural Light and Productivity: Analyzing the Impacts of Daylighting on Students’ and Workers’ Health and Alertness.” International Journal of Advances in Chemical Engineering and Biological Sciences, vol. 3, no. 1, 2016, https://doi.org/10.15242/ijacebs.ae0416104.

Shishegar, N., and M. Boubekri. “Natural Light and Productivity: Analyzing the Impacts of Daylighting on Students’ and Workers’ Health and Alertness.” International Journal of Advances in Chemical Engineering and Biological Sciences, vol. 3, no. 1, 2016, https://doi.org/10.15242/ijacebs.ae0416104.

Bueno, Ana Maria, et al. “Evaluating the Connection between Thermal Comfort and Productivity in Buildings: A Systematic Literature Review.”

Buildings, vol. 11, no. 6, 2021, p. 244., https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11060244.%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B Bueno, Ana Maria, et al. “Evaluating the Connection between Thermal Comfort and Productivity in Buildings: A Systematic Literature Review.”

Buildings, vol. 11, no. 6, 2021, p. 244., https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11060244.%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B Poirazis, Harris, et al. “Energy Modelling of ETFE Membranes in Building Applications.” Building Simulation, 2009, pp. 696–703.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

Poirazis, Harris, et al. “Energy Modelling of ETFE Membranes in Building Applications.” Building Simulation, 2009, pp. 696–703.

“10th Anniversary: Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation.” Building Journal Hong Kong, June 2011, pp. 33–35.

Rifkind, Daniel. “Reviewing Modernism Through the Lens of Sustainability.” In Lessons from Modernism Environmental design Strategies in Architecture 1925-1970, edited by Kevin Bone, 17-27. The Monacelli Press, 2014.

Tosic, Nikola, et al. “Le Corbusier’s Roof Gardens.” Geoplast, 23 May 2018, https:// www.geoplastglobal.com/en/blog/roof-gardens-modern-trend-already-theorizedby-le-corbusier-its-five-points-towards-new-architecture/ “Using Green Roofs to Reduce Heat Islands.” EPA, United States Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-green-roofs-reduceheat-islands.

“Using Green Roofs to Reduce Heat Islands.” EPA, United States Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-green-roofs-reduceheat-islands.

Ghosh, Sumita, and Sara Wilkinson. “Roles of a Roof Top Garden in Enhancing Social Participation and Urban Regeneration in Sydney CBD.” RICS Cobra 2015, 2015, pp. 4–11.

Ghosh, Sumita, and Sara Wilkinson. “Roles of a Roof Top Garden in Enhancing Social Participation and Urban Regeneration in Sydney CBD.” RICS Cobra 2015, 2015, pp. 4–11.

Ghosh, Sumita, and Sara Wilkinson. “Roles of a Roof Top Garden in Enhancing Social Participation and Urban Regeneration in Sydney CBD.” RICS Cobra 2015, 2015, pp. 4–11.

Jennings, Viniece, and Omoshalewa Bamkole. “The Relationship between Social Cohesion and Urban Green Space: An Avenue for Health Promotion.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 16, no. 3, 2019, p. 452., https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030452.

“The Economics of Biophilia: Introduction.” PRISM, 27 Feb. 2018, https://prismpub.com/introduction-economics-biophilia/.

“The Economics of Biophilia: Introduction.” PRISM, 27 Feb. 2018, https://prismpub.com/introduction-economics-biophilia/.

World Health Organization (2008). Depression. Programmes and Projects. Mental Health. Web. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016). At a glance 2016: Heart disease and stroke: Preventing the nation’s leading killers. National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Cdc.gov. Web. World Health Organization (2008). Depression. Programmes and Projects. Mental Health. Web. “A Fifth of Employees Are Unhappy with Their Jobs.” Hong Kong Business, 2018, https://hongkongbusiness.hk/hr-education/news/fifth-employees-are-unhappytheir-jobs.

“A Fifth of Employees Are Unhappy with Their Jobs.” Hong Kong Business, 2018, https://hongkongbusiness.hk/hr-education/news/fifth-employees-are-unhappytheir-jobs.

Bibliography 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

Bratman, G., Hamilton, J. P., Hahn, K., Daily, G. & Gross, J. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1510459112.

Brewer, Steven. “The Pros and Cons of High Ceilings, HVAC Edition - Dor-Mar Heating & Air Conditioning.” Dor, 21 Apr. 2020, https://www.dormarhvac.com/ the-pros-and-cons-of-high-ceilings-hvac-edition/.

Bueno, Ana Maria, et al. “Evaluating the Connection between Thermal Comfort and Productivity in Buildings: A Systematic Literature Review.”

Buildings, vol. 11, no. 6, 2021, p. 244., https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11060244.%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016). At a glance 2016: Heart disease and stroke: Preventing the nation’s leading killers. National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Cdc.gov. Web. Ghosh, Sumita, and Sara Wilkinson. “Roles of a Roof Top Garden in Enhancing Social Participation and Urban Regeneration in Sydney CBD.” RICS Cobra 2015, 2015, pp. 4–11.

Jennings, Viniece, and Omoshalewa Bamkole. “The Relationship between Social Cohesion and Urban Green Space: An Avenue for Health Promotion.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 16, no. 3, 2019, p. 452., https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16030452.

Meyers-Levy, Joan, and Rui Zhu. “The Influence of Ceiling Height: The Effect of Priming on the Type of Processing That People Use.” Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 34, no. 2, 2007, pp. 174–186., https://doi.org/10.1086/519146.

Poirazis, Harris, et al. “Energy Modelling of ETFE Membranes in Building Applications.” Building Simulation, 2009, pp. 696–703.

Rifkind, Daniel. “Reviewing Modernism Through the Lens of Sustainability.” In Lessons from Modernism Environmental design Strategies in Architecture 1925-1970, edited by Kevin Bone, 17-27. The Monacelli Press, 2014.

Shishegar, N., and M. Boubekri. “Natural Light and Productivity: Analyzing the Impacts of Daylighting on Students’ and Workers’ Health and Alertness.” International Journal of Advances in Chemical Engineering and Biological Sciences, vol. 3, no. 1, 2016, https://doi.org/10.15242/ijacebs.ae0416104.

Tosic, Nikola, et al. “Le Corbusier’s Roof Gardens.” Geoplast, 23 May 2018, https:// www.geoplastglobal.com/en/blog/roof-gardens-modern-trend-already-theorizedby-le-corbusier-its-five-points-towards-new-architecture/ World Health Organization (2008). Depression. Programmes and Projects. Mental Health. Web. “A Fifth of Employees Are Unhappy with Their Jobs.” Hong Kong Business, 2018, https://hongkongbusiness.hk/hr-education/news/fifth-employees-are-unhappytheir-jobs.

“The Economics of Biophilia: Introduction.” PRISM, 27 Feb. 2018, https://prismpub.com/introduction-economics-biophilia/.

“Using Green Roofs to Reduce Heat Islands.” EPA, United States Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-green-roofs-reduce-

16.

heat-islands.

“10th Anniversary: Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation.” Building Journal Hong Kong, June 2011, pp. 33–35.

The Modern Architecture Guidebook Hong Kong’s built environment represents a unique site of inquiry in the global history of the Modern Movement. The Modern Architecture guidebook series draw from an inter-disciplinary toolkit of knowledge, references, and field studies to understand the processes at work in the built environment. Each walking tour in the series begins with one of the 98 MTR stations in Hong Kong as the meeting point.

First opened in 1979, this modernist infrastructure has produced a city rationalized around transportoriented development. Organized around key themes (industrialization, colonization, environment, internationalization, migration, decolonization, counterculture, and globalization), the guidebooks present a critical yet open perspective towards the implications of large-scale modernist schemes on the environment and community.

© ARCH2058 Eunice Seng 2021