Technical portfolio samples

CE7400 TECHNICAL REPORT

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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1.1

Brief

The following report outlines sustainable strategies concerning a proposal for a cultural centre of civic importance in the Bury Park area of Luton, on the site of the existing football stadium which is projected to become vacant by 2020. This will include facilities such as music broadcasting and education, cooking, arts and theatre, and health centre for predominantly young people in the local area; with a sports hall, exhibition space, auditorium, function rooms, market and debating platform for larger public access.

Situated within a tightly knit residential area, the proposal incorporates housing which is sensitive to surrounding forms, explores how a logical gradient is created between the residential and commercial, and how many complex functions can be resolved within a comprehensive morphology.

Luton is home to many ethnic minorities and this proposal, being in the heart of a predominantly South Asian Muslim community, attempts to achieve a level of embeddedness and acceptance within their cultural lifestyle, but become also a site of cultural integration, a place for free expression and speech for all people.

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Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

To explore the potential for architecture as applied anthropology or socio-political activism 2) Exploring a “diasporic architecture” 3) Making the case that political and cultural concerns need to be absorbed into the sustainability debate in order to realise something not just “green” but holistically regenerative.

2)

promoting a positive image of Islam

PERSONAL MISSION

1)

promoting a positive image of Luton

3)

integrating cultures

4)

building a grassroots South Asian British youth culture 5) providing positive exposure to the Bury Park community through various means of communication, modern and otherwise

PROJECT AIMS

1)

1:5000 Connecting Bury Park to the Town Centre, encouraging racial integration 2) 1:2500 Pedestrianisation of Dunstable Road, Bury Park, renewal of street frontages and establishing a consistent architectural language across the street, bringing new sense of pride and welcoming to the area 3) 1:1250 A park/green space, for children to play, but for adults to also demonstrate and debate 4) 1:500 A youth centre with covert agenda to counsel and police against early signs of radicalisation through music teaching and production, with facilities for broadcasting.

5) 1:200 - 1:10 Integrating Islamic Design: A purpose-built temporary structure for Eid-alFitr celebrations

STRATEGIES

1)

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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(CYCD)

Pl Jalabad Jame Masjid (mosque and Islamic cultural education)

Church of the Holy Ghost Luton central mosque

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Red cross Hall (refugee support)

Little Stars Pre-school

Centre for Youth Community & Development (CYCD)

Beech Hill Community Primary School Red cross Hall (refugee support)

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Luton central mosqueOakdale Methodist Church

Jalabad Jame Masjid (mosque and Islamic cultural education) Beech Hill Conservative Club

Post office

Olive tree primary school/ Islamic centre

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Oakdale Methodist Church

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Bury Park Community resource centre

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Busway towards Dunstable

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Boxing gym

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Charity

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Busway towards Luton station

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Bury Park Community resource centre

Football ground

Sports

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Places of Worship

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Education

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1 Olive tree primary school/ Islamic centre

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Boxing gym

Community centres

Beech Hill Conservative Club

Bury educa institu

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Post office

Football ground

Above: Views of existing site Below: Wordcloud of independent businesses operating on Dustable Road High Street

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Beech Hill Community Primary School

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Busway towards Dunstable

Jalabad Jame Masjid (mosque and Islamic cultural education)

Beech Hill Conservative Club

Church

Above: Views of existing site Below: Wordcloud of independent businesses operating on Dustable Road High Street

Little Stars Pre-school

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Olive tree primary school/ Islamic centre

Church of the Holy Ghost 3

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3 Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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Oak Stand tunnel-like entrances between houses

Right: evolution of the masterplan

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GENERATING AN URBAN FORM

Long alleyway traversing West to East - highly antisocial area

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Demolishing existing retail unit on Oak Road allows greater width of access onto site

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Regrading of terrace from Beech Road

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Turnstiles to front entrance and ticketing office

Existing site access

Step 1: Demolish Stadium

Step 2: Establish gridlines

Using lines of existing streetscape to help define new form

Step 3: Create a green belt

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MARKET: NOISY COURTYARD ARTS: ENTRANCE AND YOUTH ATRIUM

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Locating the largest, most commercial and noisiest amenities furthest away from the existing housing, minimising noise disturbance and overlooking. “The best sound insulation is good space planning” .

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COUNSEL: QUIET COURTYARD

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Main stand A505 /H

Slope at Clifton Road approach regraded into site

Step 4: Define volume and main entrance

Establishing a central, axial entrance from Ivy Road

Step 5: Drawing the Kaaba

Drawing the line of the Kaaba, which faces towards the stone of Makkah, effectively bisects the form

Step 6: Carving into form - “cave”/nodal point

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Kaaba line carves an opening into the form with mouth to the West, defining a gradient of public-private. Intersection of the Kaaba line and central axis of site creates a nodal point, also creating division.

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Step 9: Roofs and Follies

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At intersection points of the courtyards, lines are drawn to break the north wall of the cave, to allow for entrance, creating four equally sized blocks

Step 10: “Capping off” the existing housing

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

Four spaces are created by existing streets, to house four functions of the scheme, to varying degrees of privacy, at different respective depths within the cave

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Step 8: Permeating the form

Step 7: Four courtyards

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This creates a new, pedestrianised, residential street to the north of the commercial zone.

New accesses to site

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Brief development

GENERATING AN URBAN FORM

This scheme considers a new story of opportunity for the community, especially for the youth; and therefore focuses especially on the typology of a youth centre.

EX RE IST SI ING DE NT RE IA SI L DE RE NT CO SID IA M EN L M ER TIA CI L/ CO AL M M ER CI AL

Following visits to “The Edge” youth centre, designed by Shepheard Epstein Hunter in Hackney, and a charitable organisation called “The May Project Gardens” in Merton, South London, to speak to youth workers about their experiences, it became evident that youth centres are severely overlooked and underfunded. This led to considering how one might “add-on” facilities to a youth centre open to public use, which would provide income streams for its continued functioning, thereby allowing for a certain economic independence, and reinvent the youth centre typology itself.

This idea of the youth centre almost “held afloat” by such public uses, that the public zones lines of existing streetsthe largest, most Step 2:permeability thatUsing 3: of a youthLocating would have a certain would with the Step security centre, and lednoisiest to amenities cape to help contrast define new form commercial away from the existing Establish gridlines Create a first floor.furthest the idea of “pulling up” the youth centre, having it occupy a zone on the The scheme housing, minimising noise green belt space,disturbance began to consider public amenities such as shops, a theatre and function a sports andhall overlooking. “The best sound insulation is good and gym, a café, and a technology space. space planning” .

ARCHITECTURAL INFLUENCES DUPLEX The duplex, or maisonette, is a synthesis of the flat and the house, allowing for the density of the former and the dignity of the latter. This is a response to an identical kind of tension facing the site. Local councils will be pressured to fill such a site with as many residential units as possible, though the Islamic community that currently lives there, arguably on cultural grounds, would not be comfortable in such type of housing. Families in the local area tend to be larger, and this must be accounted for in the housing typology also, hence why a duplex is apt.

DUPLEX-ABOVE-A-SHOP Creating a new flat-above-a-shop typology, where the private is lifted above the public sphere - a phenomenon which can be observed all over the globe. This will allow for volumes and access walkways to all be accounted for under a continuing pitched roof, thereby fitting within the surrounding built context.

DUPLEX RESIDENTIAL STREET

DUPLEX ABOVE-A-SHOP

MASHRABIYA A veiled dormer window looks out from the home - a trope that is repeated on much larger scale on the broadcasting tower

Commercial vs Residential

BROADCASTING TOWER

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RADIO BROADCAST

RESI RESI CAFE PUBLIC

MUSIC CENTRE GYM PUBLIC CONCOURSE

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Music, sports and Arts are “hook” activities, that which “provide” for the users and draw DEBATE MARKET: them to the centre initially. But the endgame is to introduce important services into their RE NOISY SI DE COURTYARD NT lives: counselling and health check-ups, supplementary education, pathways to housing IA L/ ARTS: CO M or “protects” users. This twofold premise wasENTRANCE and employment, that which “nurtures” also AND M ER COM YOUTH ATRIUM CI A M integrated into the programme, and thus, Lsuch services were provided, and defined a separate ERC AR IAL M A COUNSEL: “quiet courtyard” zone for theirRMoperation.

QUIET COURTYARD

YOUTH ATRIUM

YOUTH CONCOURSE/ ARTS DECK

RESI

The youth centre typology itself could be considered to have a dual function, “provision“ and “protection”, affirmed by the philosophy behind Adam Khan Architect’s extension to the New Horizon Centre for homeless youth in Kings Cross:

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Using the pitched roof as a continuous trope

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1.4

However, even with all these functions, the building was still not likely to fill the vast site, and it was apparent that the scheme would need to integrate housing, not least to respond to the high housing demand on brownfield sites in the area.

Kaaba line carves an opening into the Four spaces are created by Step 6: Step 7: form with mouth to the West, defining a existing streets, to house four itself would need respond to a number of forces: attain a certain density of public-private.

Intersection functions of the scheme, to Carving into formto gradient Four courtyards of the Kaaba linearea and central axis oftypology; have dignity that varying degrees of privacy, at to respond to-high housing demands in the – a flat would “cave”/nodal site creates a nodal point, also different respective depths within appeal to the point local community – itcreating became a certain division.apparent during interviews that flats had the cave

ne of the Kaaba, which s the stone of Makkah, The housing ects the form

MUSIC SPORTS THEATRE BROADCAST

anathema here – a house typology; provide a variation of sizes, particularly larger 4-5 bedroom for culturally-specific extended rather than nuclear families; harmonise with the existing terraced back-to-back roof forms; and follow the grid of existing routes, so that the housing scheme was a natural extension to the street.

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Step 10: “Capping off” the existing housing 14

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This creates a new, pedestrianised, residential street to the north of the commercial zone.

New accesses to site

A logical arrangement of roofs and follies along the Kaabalic waterline.

ENTRANCE AXIS QUIET COURTYARD: STEPWELL/SUBDUCTION/ VALLEY

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

YOUTH ATRIUM: TREE/CYCLOID

NOISY COURTYARD/ MARKET: (F)/(M)OUNTAIN

DEBATING PLATFORM: TREE/HAT

1.6

Vision

Above: Isometric visualisation from north facing south

ISOMETRIC VISUALISATION FROM NORTH FACING SOUTH

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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1.2

Space plan

Left: South isometric view of proposed scheme facing north

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Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

The gymnasium is located on the ground floor to support heavy fitness machines and live loads from high levels of activity within. Similar is considered with the Hackspace – with heavy manufacturing machinery such as jig saws, CNC machines, laser cutters etc. These functions bear similarity insofar as they are community, membership-based access.

The theatre, café and shops are located on the ground floor, closer to the public west side of the building as freely accessible zones. The music school is lifted onto the first floor, as area the cooking classroom and the art rooms, freely accessible from the “Arts Deck” to define a raised, thus more private, space just for members of the youth centre, at the heart of the building. Note that these would require special RFID or keycard access for users.

PROGRAMME

The broadcast centre is raised onto the second floor above the music school as a kind of vantage, or tower, that could look over the town from all sides, again accessible for just the youth centre.

Youth Atrium/ Arts Deck Shops

Art Studio Cookery Classroom

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HACKspace/ Tech Studio

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Debating Platform

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Market Courtyard

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Duplex Lower Floor (Accessible) Upper Floor Lower floor Upper floor Upper Floor Duplex Duplex Lower Floor Upper Floor Upper Floor Duplex

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4b8p 3b6p 2b4p 2b4p 1b2p 2b3p 3b6p 5b9p 3b6p 1b1p 1b1p 3b6p

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Quiet Courtyard

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Public Councourse/ Exhibition Space

Theatre and Independent Cinema

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Community Sports Hall Gymnasium Boxing Gym Supplementary Education Centre Health and Counselling

Commercial building functions

Commercial vs Residential

Radio Broadcast and Recording

Residence types Music School and Practice Rooms

Above: three-dimensional representation of programme of proposed scheme

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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1.8

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Ground floor plan

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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First and second floor plan

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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1.11 Schedule

FINAL SCHEDULE FOR ACCOMMODATION The below table shows a complete survey of all rooms in the complex and floor area in square metres, along with outdoor amenity spaces provided for private residential units. Note the colour scheme which relates to plans shown previously.

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Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

1.12 Occupation

It is necessary to explore times in which various parts of the building are occupied, in order to piece together an intelligent strategy for heating, ventilation, energy provision and insulation.

It is surmised that the theatre would operate for the majority of the time as a cinema, and the back-of-house spaces for the theatre (i.e. dressing rooms, scenery painting and rehearsal) can be rented for private functions etc. As the Bury Park area can be buzzing until late in the evening, such entertainments provided would follow suit.

The sports hall, gym and boxing studio can function throughout the day, though times may be designated to allow exclusive access to women, as is more culturally accepted in predominantly Muslim comminties.

The hackspace, as this is member-owned, may be open much later into the evening, though a curfew may be placed upon operating heavy machinery so as not to disturb surrounding residences.

The supplementary school may operate on weekday evenings and saturday mornings.

Opening times 06:00

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Theatre Sports Hall Gym Boxing Music School Health Centre Art studio Cooking classroom CafĂŠ Shops Broadcast centre Hackspace Supplementary school Debating platform Outdoor market Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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2.1

Main influencing factors

The scheme gives great importance to its courtyards, protecting them from the strongest effects of wind and rain and ambient noise, whilst also preventing the transmission of noise out of these zones to surrounding residencies.

The market courtyard is reasonably protected from south-westerly prevailing winds and cold northerly winds. The quiet courtyard, with its health centre that is separated from the rest of the complex to assert its autonomy and privacy, and to allow better light access into the courtyard itself for vegetation, may suffer from wind-tunnelling, which would need further enquiry through modelling and testing.

The majority of roofs are pitched toward the south which is favourable for deflecting prevailing wind upwards and providing reasonable faรงade area for passive solar capture.

The large part of the building, the commercial arm, running along the south perimeter of the site, serves as a sound barrier from the noisy A505 road, whilst providing a billboard-like expanse that heralds the building to those entering the town (in similar fashion to the current football stadium), and is an opportunity for possible advertising.

Sun incidence Prevailing winds deflected

Quiet residential zone

Sound insulating green belt

Solar capture opportunity Noise barrier

Water route/ Kaaba Swale Resi.

Pr. amenity

Resi.

Residential st.

Resi/commercial

Market courtyard

Commercial

Above: section indicating main influencing factors Right: map of influencing factors

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A505 N

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

June sun path September/March sun path December sun path South westerly prevailing winds North easterly cold winds Noisy A505 road Quiet residential zones Sound insulating green belt

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2.2

Shelter

It is important for the scheme to maintain users’ state of comfort whilst travelling from one part to another when the weather is not permitting. Note that this is especially important for users of restricted mobility, for whom travel times are longer.

Thus, 80 percent of the commercial part of the scheme has been designed so that a user can travel from any room to another under shelter, either through internal public arteries or under timber and polycarbonate roofs that over-sail the building’s edge. Ground floor building units on the residentialcommercial arm of the complex incorporate inset entrances, providing respite from the weather before entering. See dashed blue line providing an example of an entirely sheltered route connecting two furthest points of the building.

Users are frequently presented with options as to how they want to reach another part of the building if the weather permits. Note the green dashed line to the diagram opposite. The scheme attempts to engage users with the outdoors as much as possible and provide an exciting spectrum of experiences transitioning from inside to outside. Engaging users with the outdoors is important both psychologically and physiologically, giving them fresh air and sun, boosting immune systems and vitamin D production, and having a constant sense of circadian and seasonal rhythms. Another goal of the scheme is to reinstate the civic function of the public square: when users opt to travel via an outdoor route from one part of the building to another, they are immediately thrust into the goings-on at the market or debating space, encouraging their civic participation.

The scheme has provided enough oversailing roofs to allow for this principle.

Yet if it provided more, along the sports hall and theatre, and connecting the gym to the health centre, it would be 100% sheltered access if budget permits.

Left: possible extension to roof of theatre (see diagram to right)

A large pitched over-sail was considered being provided to the theatre, as indicated in the red dashed line to the diagram opposite, which architecturally, completes the form of the large commercial arm of the building; but this would be structurally expensive, requiring a considerable cantilever, and would cast the north side of the building into further shade.

For the residential part of the scheme, the same polycarbonate roof extensions provide shelter to both front and rear of the properties.

Note that all the extra roof provided is more opportunity for water capture.

G NORTH Note that in the market courtyard, stalls would be providing further shelter in an otherwise vast space, and perennial vegetation along the site perimeter.

Left: example of polycarbonate roof in quiet courtyard

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Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

possible extension to roof of theatre

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Road/ routes into site Public access shelter

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Private access shelter

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Into class room

Service/ business back-of-house shelter Public entrance Private entrance Route through scheme (weather permitting) Route through scheme (weather not permitting)

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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2.3

Landscaping and drainage

DRAINAGE

SURFACES

The site maintains a shallow north-facing slope towards the housing, and a swale is proposed to be dug on contour, parallel to the residential street. This would also be an immediate drainage for roofs of the duplexes and walkways. An array of fruiting hedges, appropriate to a north facing condition with lower light levels, such as sloe and damson, could be planted here to provide a perennial food source and add colour to the street.

All hard surfaces are to be porous and laid with a gravel substrate to ease water infiltration. Driveways and the main residential street pathway are to be of in-situ cast grasscrete, providing porosity of up to 90% that of grassland but with sturdy traction for vehicles. (Grass Concrete Limited, 2018).

PLANTINGS

The market courtyard is designed with a slight fall to the centreline in the manner of “runnels” to make the area where the water is captured imperceptible until the rain falls. The water stream will continue through the arts space into the quiet courtyard, and along runnels through the two vomitory-like entrances between blocks of the resi-commercial arm to collect into this swale.

All amenity boundaries are defined using green infrastructure where possible- where hedges are provided rather than party fences between private gardens of houses. They are also used as a means of separation between building and walkway, for rooms that require greater privacy i.e. counselling.

This residential street is also intended to be pedestrianised, with enough width for a single passing car and pedestrian traffic to either side. Automatic bollards are to be installed at all entrances to the site to ensure that only residents and business-owners onsite, guests and emergency services can enter. Ample parking provision is already provided for visitors to the west of the site, which currently functions as such for the football club.

Areas of gardens will be designated for growing comfrey, particularly of the Bocking 14 variety as it is nitrogen-fixing for the soil, which can be broken down into natural compost and fertilising teas.

GREEN ROOFS

MAINTENANCE

Green roofs are advantageous in boosting biodiversity, sequestering carbon, improving air quality and slowing stormwater runoff. The proposed scheme is particularly large, this means a sizable area of otherwise impervious roof shedding water onto site.

An ongoing landscape maintenance plan is to be proposed for the scheme for 5-10 years following its completion, paid as part of a maintenance sum by business-owners and residents within it. Further permission will be sought from the council to extend this greening down surrounding residential streets which connect the site to Dunstable Road high street, as attractive green arteries.

Deep tap-rooted plantings such as clover, as well as fixing nitrogen levels, can help naturally bind the soil and slow water infiltration.

A green roof, however, can look ostentatious and the scheme intends to be aesthetically conservative in its inception due to its humble urban location. A solution is to “green” its roofscape incrementally through retrofit so that the building morphs slowly. The goal is to have greened 60% of its roofscape within 15 years.

Due to the steep pitched of the residential roofs (35-40 degrees) a Zinco system will have to be installed – a honeycomb of plastic modules that covers the roof area and secures the substrate. These can be an intensive style (see images)

In particular will be a scheme for bulb planting on green verges outside houses twice a year: planting of tulips and daffodils in September and October to bloom the following spring during the month of Ramadan, and planting dahlia and gladiolus that spring to bloom in the summer preceding Eid-al-Adha.

Sedum roofs can be combined with solar PV, as the evapotranspiration on the surface of the roof can help mitigate the panels from overheating.

(ZinCo, 2017)

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Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

Roof area: Rainfall height average: Rainwater volume: (Calctool, 2019)

7351 sqm 651 mm 4875.5 cubm

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Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

a Bike shelter b Childrens play area c Drainage swale d grasscrete shared driveways with

EVCP point e shared retention pond f Kaabalic waterline runnel g Central atrium water collector h Fountain i Stepwell j Perimeter plantings k Screening plantings for private rooms

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3.1

Structural design strategy

FOUNDATIONS Foundations are to minimise the use of concrete where possible, or omit completely. In the case that concrete must be used, pulverised fuel ash, as a biproduct from nearby power station, is to be used as a substitute for cement, substantially reducing embodied energy of the mix. Otherwise, gravel trench strip foundations to be dug with geotextile lining to support all loadbearing structure.

STRUCTURE The building is to use pitched roof construction in its entirety to match with surrounding built context. The residential buildings on the north border and the commercial-residential buildings are to be of traditional carpentry style with kiln dried timber. The commercial part, including the broadcast centre, theatre, music school, gym and sports hall, are of much more considerable span, and thus to be glulam portal frame. The theatre is to have 7m high rammed earth walls to either side, partially supporting the portal frame with a timber ring beam, and birds mouth notches to the rafters. To follow through the building line, rafters could oversail the external wall to provide an outdoor viewing terrace and additional fire escape.

STABILITY The posts of the glulam timber portals are tripled, all flitched into concrete footings, sandwiching doubled rafters between – this gives the individual portal shear strength which allows each to be distributed at 4.4m centres.

The frames are held together with a continuous ridge beam, and timber rails on joist hangers which support the load of the balcony. Affixed to the outside of the portal are SIPs panels and external cladding, which also provide shear bracing. There may be required steel wire x-bracing also.

SKETCH OF ROOF NORTH Above: Sketch of roof CONSTRUCTION construction facing FACING north

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Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

Above: render of roof construction RENDER OF ROOF CONSTRUCTION

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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3.3

Construction section

Cross section of sports hall facing North West

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Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

Viewfinder F: foundation section (not to particular scale)

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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3.4

Modelling studies

Gravel trench foundations to support cavity wall Fly ash concrete footings Galvanised steel shoes Impact wall Glulam portals

Right: sports hall structure

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Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

Parquet flooring Sports battens Sheepswool insulation between joists Jute fabric beween joists Posi-joists open web system suspended floor Posijoists below to support - open web structure allow passing of ventilation underneath Limecrete screed Limecrete and clay aggregate slab Clay aggregate substrate

Right: sports hall floor layers

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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Cedar/ash vertical cladding Horizontal battens SIPs Kalwall translucent insulating panels Battens Glulam portal Brick Impact wall Ply capping Ply reveal panel

Right: sports hall wall layers

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Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

Kalwall translucent insulating panels on upstands Rheinzink standing seam cladding Timber battens SIPs Purlins Glulam portal Clayboard and plaster skim

Right: sports hall roof layers

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

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3.8

Durability assessment

The practical durability assessment focused in particular upon the unfired earth bricks which is intended for all non-loadbearing partition walls in the development. The advantages to unfired earth bricks are considerably lower embodied energy, and greater thermal mass and hydroscopicity meaning serving to better regulate internal temperature and humidity levels.

A considerable disadvantage is lower compressive strength, to the extent that they may not be suitable for loadbearing application. It however could be argued that regular household bricks are way beyond the compressive strength that they need to be, seeming that most structures that they are built from are only 2-3 storeys high.

ARJUN CHOPRA 4th Yr Prof Dip Architecture AEES

1630285 CE7800 Materials Report

STRAW AND COMPOSITE BLOCK MAKING

It was investigated whether it may be possible to use straw in earth bricks, which may have advantages of greater insulation, cheaper production cost and added tensile strength; though Architecture AEES 1630285 CE7800 Materials Report it may bear disadvantages such as lower compressive strength, thermal mass, hygroscopicity, increased flamability and brittleness.

also ength. nder th so ngth. ow it to ould

Finished earth block

Measuring volume of straw

Mixing process

in its alls, shape th h. This its ould it rth to

Baling the straw brick Ramming the composite mix

f both

Earth

Earth Straw 2:1

Earth Straw 1:1

and rial.

Above: Hypotheses of study, stating predicted Closing in on the definition of an benefits of adding straw to earth bricks straw-added CEB is to progress down Right: Storyboard of durability testing process the flow chart, accumulating benefits as

5

54

it goes along. Further benefits of adding straw to CEB are hypothesised at the bottom.

9

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

Earth Straw 1:2

Straw

ARJUN CHOPRA 4th Yr Prof Dip Architecture AEES

1630285 CE7800 Materials Report

ARJUN CHOPRA 4th Yr Prof Dip Architecture AEES

1630285 CE7800 Materials Report

es may have sufficed in order to achieve marked results in comprehensive insight as to how addition of straw affected heat rials Report uremay change. distribution. es have sufficed in order to achieve marked results in comprehensive insight as to how addition of straw affected heat ure change. distribution. king the blocks, it would have been useful to let the earth dry sure ofCHOPRA straw toYrearth weight, then1630285 suchdry ARJUN 4th Prof have Dip by Architecture AEES Materials Report king ratios the blocks, it would been useful torecorded let CE7800 the earth ARJUN Yrearth Prof Dip by Architecture AEESthen 1630285 CE7800 heat Materials n it may have been4thto possible toweight, estimate the specific sure ratios ofCHOPRA straw recorded such Report of of thetocomposite blocks to thus n itconstituent may have elements been possible estimate the specific heat PPENDIX TEXT 6 for A larger and more constant value thermalof conductivity.

This would allow one source of fire was required to simulate the ofcrude constituent elements the composite blocks to thus test properly in order to gainsource conclusive but thisto experiment PPENDIX TEXT 6 A larger and more constant of fireresults, was required simulate the tecrude the thickness of that particular composite material value for thermal conductivity.

This would allow one seemed to suggest all materials were relatively to fire, test properly in orderthat to gain conclusive results, but resistant this experiment o provide an acceptable amount composite of insulation. te the thickness of that particular material though earth more than seemed to suggest that straw. all materials were relatively resistant to fire, o provide an acceptable amount of insulation. though earth more than straw. gain a clear indication of thermal properties, the material hing ock will decrease the fire resistance, oposite bewillinsulated on all sides but the top and bottom to gain adecrease clear indication ofamounts thermal properties, the material block will ideally minimise ock the fire resistance, ebe a uniaxial and minimise lateral losses. block will heat ideally minimise oposite insulated ongradient all sidesamounts but the top and bottom to Thermometer e a uniaxial heat gradient and minimise lateral losses.

Thermometer ally controlled studies exist to measure thermal conductivity,

to “steady-state” and “non-steady state” methods.

The ally controlled measure thermal conductivity, sing a match to seestudies how theyexist wouldto burn, fire “steady-state” outbreak in see aisbuilding constructed sing a match to how they would burn, where there complete equilibrium between the material to and “non-steady state” methods.

The fire outbreak in a building constructed urrounding can take a long to where thereatmosphere is complete (which equilibrium between thetime material wouldthe be highly flammable and(which earth and second is where a temperature is artificially urrounding atmosphere can takegradient a long time to ere disproven, asflammable in fact none of earth the would be highly and Four options exist this which the “guarded hot and the second is within where a temperature gradient is artificially t. The straw brick charred along end of include ere disproven, as in fact none of the o spread throughout thewithin material.

This isbelow here are put above and the material and time is t.utes The plates straw brick charred alongthis the end of include Four options exist which the “guarded hot sespread to fire resistant properties of straw o throughout the material.

Thisbale: d for both toare reach equilibrium, the “hot method, where here plates put above andisbelow thewire” material and time is ghtly together, there is not enough oxygen se to fire resistant properties of straw bale: actually passed through theoxygen material (which not bewhere dghtly fortogether, both tothere reach equilibrium, the “hot wire”may method, ombustion. is not enough ombustion. with earth masonry due to high density), actually passed through theitsmaterial (which the may“modified not be hot st affected by the fire of all the earth and od”, where thefire wire istheguarded and does not through with earth due to itsand high density), thepass “modified hot because, asbymasonry it the had the straw st affected ofgreatest all earth een layers, allowing forgreatest greater passage because, it had the straw ial at all,asand “laser flash diffusivity”, whereby a lightthrough pulse is od”, where the wire is guarded and does not pass een layers, allowing for greater passage ed of aflash material and thewhereby changeainlight pulse is ial to at the all, surface and “laser diffusivity”, uretoisthe logged on the side.and (Anter Corporation, ed surface of aother material the change in 2017). A maging camera haveside. also(Anter provided a more qualitative ure is logged onwould the other Corporation, 2017). A of heat distribution in the earth block, providing more Lighting bricks - now destroyed from maging camera would have also provided a more qualitative oval previous tensile experiment Lighting bricks - now destroyed from of heatAbove: brick distribution in the block, moreAbove: Bricks set on fire as a qualitative test on flammability weighed in earth mass before andproviding after previous tensile experiment having spent 5 minutes in a water bucket 40 to compare figures on water absoption 40

14

Block placed on stove for 20 mins Block placed on stove for 20 mins

Above: Bricks placed stove for 20surface minutes for Block placed onon insulating then placed on an insulating surface for another 20 mins Block placed insulating surfaceasfor 20 minutes to trackon changes in temperature, a crude measure of thermal capacitance 20 mins

14

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

55

4.1

Ventilation and cooling

The diagram overleaf shows a basic ventilation strategy for the theatre.

The aim is to achieve equilibrium pressure, so the amount of air leaving the room Is equal to that entering it. As it is a complex form with many variables influencing its thermal performance this would be modelled by an engineer using digital fluid dynamics software, who can then advise on volumes of air storage and ducting, and sizes of openings.

The proposed development is to follow a “fabric first“ strategy. By insulating, maintaining airtightness, controlling solar gain, providing thermal mass, and plenty of opportunities for natural ventilation, we can lower dependence on or bypass completely - mechanical means.

This scheme aims to naturally ventilate wherever possible and mechanical means are to be employed only as “industrial vitamins”, as a means to ballast or back up a predominantly natural system, or in small areas where special ventilation control is required (i.e. health consulting rooms, kitchens).

Thus the proposed scheme will aim to provide at least 15 air changes per hour (ACH) throughout the building, 20 in retail environments and workshops, and at least 30 air changes in health and cooking environments.

It is generally recommended that theatres are 10-15 air changes per hour, though the scheme aims to surpass this, delivering 30 cubic metres at peak operating hours.

Natural means of ventilation generally include a combination of: cross ventilation, where openings are created at two sides of a room and air travels across a pressure differential from inside to outside; and buoyancy-driven stack ventilation, which involves introducing cool air at lower level which is warmed by the space and rises up through the building where it is expelled, creating its own pressure differential that perpetuates air replenishment.

These processes can be further enhanced by the introduction of sunoriented glazing, encouraging passive solar gain; heat storage through thermally massive materials; and engineering features such as solar chimneys and underground thermal labyrinths and plenums.

The scheme also seeks to employ heat recovery, filtering and redirecting the warm air expelled from parts of the building into others where it is needed, or preheating fresh incoming air. It is possible, though complicated to achieve this naturally, though will more likely be an MVHR system.

During a performance the theatre will house around 550 people, including those 500 people seated in the stalls and circle, potentially 15 orchestral performers, 3-4 sound and lighting technicians, 2-3 security and management staff, and anything up to 20 people on stage. The area of the room is around 540 square metres, so occupant density is around 1 person per square metre. The ceiling height is around 10 metres, leading to a ventilation rate per person of 3.72 cubic metres per second.

3.72

30 (target) 1

10

60

Rp = Ventilation rate per person per second ACPH = Air changes per Hour D = Occupant density (= 550 persons / 550 sqm) h = height of room

It is preferable to use natural means of ventilation as it has a lower carbon footprint and is generally cheaper to install. But is also aspirational – occupants are empowered as they can readily control their thermal environment (purging spaces by opening windows etc.), and it pushes an understanding of the building sciences forwards, inventing solutions for hitherto unconsidered situations and typologies – the proposed scheme, as it integrates so many functions in one, seeks to become a landmark post-occupancy study. At the heart of this, the scheme will use the latest technologies, installation of a BEMS (Building Energy Management System) to monitor and manage ventilation throughout the building, and provide this post-occupancy data.

Natural ventilation should be considered at the outset of the design process, as orientation and site conditions are important for its success. The site of the proposed scheme is spacious, meaning there should be little urban obstruction to wind flows, but the commercial arm of the building features deep plan rooms (i.e. sports hall and theatre) which may compromise cross ventilation strategies. Air would preferably be drawn from the north side of these buildings or from high level on the south, to avoid both particulate and noise pollution from the busy A505 road.

62

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

The natural ventilation strategy for the theatre is based upon that of Everyman theatre in Liverpool, which is of similar occupancy and dimensions, engineered by Waterman engineers for architects Haworth Tomkins (Pearson, 2015).

Fresh air enters via an inlet louvre through acoustic attenuators and an insulated duct into a large clay plenum just beneath the stage. Clay is chosen as it has a similar thermal resistivity to the earth surrounding, preferable to concrete as it has lower embodied energy. The air, passing through a secondary attenuator, rises through the horseshoe-shaped seating LONGITUDINAL to exhaust through the grilles into the auditorium.

ISOMETRIC VISUALISATION FROM NORTH FACING SOUTH

Here, the air is encouraged to travel along the earth floor, being thermally massive, to reach the rammed earth walls, which have stored heat due to solar gains. It is drawn up in many instances by heat plumes of the occupants (collectively expelling around 50kW in heat gains) and buoyantly rises to the ceiling, where it is heated further by the lighting gantries (around 100 kW). This warmed air is directed into an acoustically insulated exhaust plenum above the stage, from which point it be drawn into the MVHR system and directed to the colder sports hall adjoining when required. Further warm air can be captured by heat expelled by machinery in the control and projection rooms.

From the plenum, air is pulled upwards and expelled from a solar chimney. It may be found during analysis that more chimneys are required to expel heat gains, in which case the plenum will feed a duct that will loop and distribute accordingly.

The rising air creates a pressure difference across a threshold where the internal air pressure matches that outside, known as the neutral plane.

Careful calculation must ensure that this plane sits above areas requiring ventilation.

Measures can be taken to cool the supply air further, the underground plenum for instance could contain stones or gabions, providing further surface area and mass. The clay material may need to be reinforced with cement to ensure its structural efficacy, under pressure from earth and structures above and the water table beneath. It must be barred to prevent entering of mice etc.

Note that the theatre, being a warm roof system like all others in the proposed scheme, has openable ridge lights, that can be set to purge or trickle-ventilate the space if required, either through a manual switch or through the BEMS system.

18

-

SECTION AA FACING NORTH-EAST

SCALE 1:100

Solar chimney

Exhaust air plenum

Positive pressure

Control room

Neutral plane

+

Hot air redirected

Heat from lighting gantry

Technicians Booth Machinery heat loads redirected/ expelled

Negative pressure

-

Heat from

Expelled through

occupants

grilles below seats

Stage Projection room

THEATRE Clay plenum with gabions

Insulated air inlet

Orchestral pit

Acoustic attenuators

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

63

4.6

Insulation strategy and U-values

A good insulation strategy is important for the efficient function of the building, lowering carbon footprint and heating costs. Heat losses though external walls and roofs supposedly account for more than 70% of heat losses in existing buildings. This must be considered at the beginning of the design: at early space planning stages of this scheme, external walls and roof thicknesses were drawn at 500mm, and internal partition walls at 200mm, to ensure there would be enough space in various rooms whilst accounting for these requirements.

Eb

Eb

Ea

A BC D

Approved document part L stipulates U values (in Wm-2K-1) of 0.25 for roofs, 0.35 for walls and floors, 2.2 for windows. It includes in its appendix values that are 15% better than that required to meet baseline building regulations of 0.15 for roofs, 0.23 for walls and 0.20 for floors, which the scheme shall use for its minimum insulation standards. Ideally, the proposed scheme will aim for Passivhaus, which is a value of an unbroken 0.13 Wm-2K-1 throughout its building envelope, with 0.7 for windows, and every effort must be taken to minimise thermal bridging.

F

A B C D

G

Ea

H

Eb F G H I J

Material xdim Internal Solid block parquetry 1000 Rubber adhesive 26 Timber sports batten 26 Timber batten (doubled to accnt for posi joist) 75 Sheepswool insulation between (doubled to accnt for posi joist) Sheepswool insulation 1000 Timber batten 75 Ventilated air gap 1000 Timber batten 75 Lime screed: lime component 1000

K L

Lime screed: aggregate component Limecrete slab: lime component

M N O

Limecrete slab: aggregate component Clay aggregate External

Ea

I J K L M

ydim x x x x

x x x x x

1000 1000 1000 1000 1000

1 3 3

Bridged layers R Fraction (perc) R Value Value 100 0.17 0.17 0.14 100 2.94 2.94 0.17 7.8 0.85 0.22310269 0.14 7.8 9.8 0.227353573

3

0.14

22.5

x x x x

1 3 1 3 1

0.038 0.038 0.14 0.21 0.14 0.15

77.5 100 22.5 100 22.5 100

5.7 3.914 10.5 21.63 10.5 15

6.817599317 3.914 0.269403464 21.63 0.269403464 15

zdim

1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000

The project takes as its dictum “if you do it, do it right”, ensuring that insulation is selected appropriately depending on circumstance, petroleum based and high EC products – though efficient – are avoided whenever possible, and that the highest quality workmanship is maintained throughout construction. Architects should work closely with building services engineers for this scheme to maximise the possibility for recycling residual heat within the thermal envelope of the building through MVHR systems.

x

x x x x x

no.

21 x 5 x 70 x x

150 150 103 75 103 75 100

x

K-Value

21 (see below)

x 1000 1000 x

x 1000 1000 x

x 50 75 x

1 1

0.1 0.15

100 100

5 11.25

5 11.25

x 1000 1000 x

x 1000 1000 x

x 225 500 x

1 1

0.1 0.1

100 100 100

2.5 5 0.04

2.5 5 0.04

R upper 1 thro Ea R upper 2 thro Eb

N

R upper total

O

Above: U value calculation for floor of sports hall

70

Total U-value for floor: 0.087 Wm-2K-1 < 0.13 Wm-2K-1 (target)

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

8.943326319 7.413326319 15.4202135

R lower

7.525086251

R total

11.47264988

Total u value

0.087163821

A B

C A D EB G FC

B C D E F G H I J K L M N O

Standing seam seamroof zinc roof Standing seam zinc roofzinc B Standing Bay clips Bay- clips gap - gap BayCclips - gap TimberTimber decking decking Timber D decking Battens Battens E Battens Vapour controlVapour layer controlcontrol layer layer F Vapour SIP outer SIP layer outerOSB layer OSB SIPGouter layer OSB SIP polyurethane SIP core polyurethane core core SIPHpolyurethane SIP inner SIP innerOS layer OS SIPI inner layer OSlayer TimberTimber purlinspurlins Timber purlins J TimberTimber battens battens Timber K battens Clay board Clay board Clay L board Clay plaster Clay plaster Clay Mplaster portalelement portal frame frame element element Glulam portal Glulam frame N Glulam Internal O InternalInternal

A B C D E F G

A B C D E F G

MaterialMaterial Material External A External External Strip B timber Stripoverlap timber Strip timber overlapoverlap C Vertical Vertical strip timber Vertical stripcladding timber strip timber cladding cladding Timber D counterbattens TimberTimber counterbattens counterbattens Timber E battens TimberTimber battens battens SIPFOuter SIPOSB Outer SIP OSB Outer OSB SIPGPolyurethane SIP Polyurethane SIP core Polyurethane core core

I J K L M

I J K L M

SIPI inner SIP OSB inner SIPOSB inner OSB Timber J battens TimberTimber battens battens Timber K counterbattens TimberTimber counterbattens counterbattens Clayboard L Clayboard Clayboard Clay Mplaster Clay plaster Clay plaster

N

N Internal N InternalInternal

D E F G H H I J K L M IN JO

M

N

O

Above: U value calculation for roof of sports hall (section drawn horizontally rather than at pitch)

MaterialMaterial Material A External A External External

xdim

xdim xdim ydim ydim ydim zdim 1000 1000 1000 1000 x x 1000x 1000 1000 100 1000 40 1000 1000 1000 1000 50 20 1000 1000 200

x 1000 100 x 1000 x 40 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 50 x 20 x 1000 x 1000 x 200 x

x 1000 100x 1000x 40x 1000x 1000x 1000x 1000x 50x 20x 1000x 1000x 200x

x 1000 100 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x

x 1000 100 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x

x 1000 100x 1000x 1000x 1000x 1000x 1000x 1000x 1000x 1000x 1000x 1000x 1000x

zdim zdim x 28 x4 21 x 40 x x2 12 x 22 x 12 x 50 x 20 x 25 x 15 x 700 x

x 28 4 x x 21 x 40 x 2 x 12 x 22 x 12 x 50 x 20 x 25 x 15 x 700

x x x x x x x x x x x x x

no.

28 4 21 40 2 12 22 12 50 20 25 15 700

BridgedBridged layersBridged Rlayers layers R R Value Value Value no.K-Value no. K-Value Fraction K-Value Fraction R-Value Fraction R-Value R-Value 0.04 0.04 0 100 100 100 0.04 0.04 0.04

x x x x x x x x x x x x x

1 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 1 2

1113 3113 1 0.12 2 0.12 1 0.16 1 0.098 1 0.028 1 0.098 2 0.072 3 0.072 1 0.14 1 0.75 2 0.072

K L xdim

xdim xdim ydim ydim ydim zdim zdim zdim no.

1000 1000 1000 19 19 19x x 1000x 1000 x x 1000x x x 117 117 117x 1000 1000 19 19 19x x x x 1000x x x 117 117 117x 1000 1000 19 19 19x x x x 1000x x x 117 117 117x 1000 1000 19 19 19x x x x 1000x x x 117 117 117x 1000 1000 19 19 19x x x x 1000x x x 1000 1000 1000 12 12 12x x 1000x 1000 x x 1000x x x 1000 1000 1000 219 219 219x x 1000x 1000 x x 1000x x x 1000 50 25 1000 1000

x x 1000 1000 50 50x x 25 25x x 1000 x 1000x 1000 x 1000x

x 1000 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x

x 1000 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x 1000 x

x 1000 1000x 1000x 1000x 1000x

Total U-value for roof: 0.13 Wm-2K-1 = 0.13 Wm-2K-1 (target)

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

x 12 50 x 20 x 25 x 10 x

x 12 50 x 20 x 25 x 10 x

x 12 50x 20x 25x 10x

1 1131001130.00024779 100 100 0.00024779 0.00024779 0.000247788 0.0002477 0.000247788 3 113 31133.5398E-05 3 3.5398E-05 3 3.5398E-05 0.001173545 0.0011735 0.001173545 1 0.12100 0.12 100 0.175 100 0.175 0.175 0.175 0.175 0.1 2 0.12 80.120.33333333 8 0.33333333 8 0.33333333 0.216405606 0.2164056 0.216405606 1 0.16100 0.16 1000.0125 100 0.01250.0125 0.0125 0.01250.01 10.098100 0.0980.12244898 100 100 0.12244898 0.12244898 0.12244898 0.122448 0.12244898 10.028100 0.0280.78571429 100 100 0.78571429 0.78571429 0.785714286 0.7857142 0.785714286 10.098100 0.0980.12244898 100 100 0.12244898 0.12244898 0.12244898 0.122448 0.12244898 20.072 10 0.0720.69444444 10 0.69444444 10 0.69444444 0.225748194 0.2257481 0.225748194 30.072 0.072 6 0.27777778 6 0.27777778 0.213120078 0.2131200 6 0.27777778 0.213120078 1 0.14100 0.140.17857143 100 100 0.17857143 0.17857143 0.178571429 0.1785714 0.178571429 1 0.75100 0.75 100 0.02 100 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.

20.072 40 0.0729.72222222 40 9.72222222 40 9.72222222 0.345031546 0.3450315 0.345031546 100 100 100 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0 R-Total R-TotalR-Total 7.675231289 7.675231289 7.6752312 U ValueU Value U Value 0.130289233 0.130289233 0.1302892

BridgedBridged layersBridged Rlayers layers R R Fraction R-Value Value Value Value no.K-Value no. K-Value K-Value Fraction Fraction R-Value R-Value 0.04 0.04 0.

100 100 0.04 100 0.04 0.04 x 0.12 92.079 0.12 92.079 0.15833333 92.079 0.15833333 0.15833333 0.161480289 0.161480289 0.1614802 7.87 7.87 7.87 0.12 x 0.12 92.079 0.12 92.079 0.15833333 92.079 0.15833333 0.15833333 0.161480289 0.161480289 0.1614802 7.87 7.87 7.87 0.12 x 0.12 3 0.12 35.1 0.120.15833333 35.1 35.1 0.15833333 0.15833333 0.188419074 0.188419074 0.1884190 3 x3 0.12 3 0.12 35.1 0.120.15833333 35.1 35.1 0.15833333 0.15833333 0.188419074 0.188419074 0.1884190 3 x3 0.098 0.0980.12244898 0.12244898 0.12244898 0.12244898 0.12244898 0.122448 1 10.098100 100 100 x1 0.028 0.0287.82142857 7.82142857 7.82142857 7.821428571 7.821428571 7.8214285 1 10.028100 100 100 x1 x

1 x3 x3 x1 x1

0.098 1 0.12 3 0.12 3 0.14 1 0.75 1

0.0980.12244898 0.12244898 0.12244898 0.12244898 0.12244898 0.122448 10.098100 100 100 0.12 0.12 0.41666667 0.41666667 0.41666667 0.226879862 0.226879862 0.2268798 3 15 15 15 0.205983325 0.205983325 0.2059833 3 0.127.50.120.16666667 7.5 0.16666667 7.5 0.16666667 0.17857143 0.17857143 0.178571429 0.178571429 0.1785714 1 0.141000.140.17857143 100 100 0.01333333 0.01333333 0.013333333 0.013333333 0.0133333 1 0.751000.750.01333333 100 100 100

100

0.13 100

0.13 0.13

0.13

0.13 0.

R-Total R-TotalR-Total 9.560893207 9.560893207 9.5608932 U ValueU Value U Value 0.104592738 0.104592738 0.1045927

71

5.2

Indoor air quality and ventilation

A government POST note on indoor air quality in 2010 remarks that we have not devoted enough research and attention to the potential effects of indoor air pollution, that is, in comparison to external environments. As humans are in closer confinement and air is contained, risk of being affected by airborne pollutants is higher.

The table to the right indicates the various pollutants and consequent effects on user health. The document states that “…children and people with respiratory and cardiovascular illness are thought to be at highest risk of health problems from indoor air pollutants” (POST, 2010, p.1) As this scheme is primarily a space for children, and incorporating a health centre, these advisories must be seriously considered.

The scheme aims to maintain particulate CO2 below 1,000 ppm (lower than the target 1,500 ppm as specified by UK building standards) and maintain a minimum of 3 air changes per hour (ACH) throughout (higher than the suggested 2.5 ACH). Humidity levels are to be monitored and kept below 50 percent to reduce change of developing bacterial mould.

A demand-controlled ventilation system (DCV) is to be installed to maintain CO2 levels and can adjust accordingly. This operates in tandem with the intelligent building management system, sending instruction to the MVHR to increase ventilation rates in those areas where levels are not satisfied.

The POST document also references that whilst high airtightness and insulation is a virtue for thermal efficiency, it can be a trap for radiative pollutants such as Radon, created by the fission of small degrees of uranium in the bedrock below the building – a potent contributor to lung cancer.

This is advised to be kept below 100 Bq-3 (Bequerels) according to the International Commission for Radiological Protection.

It is necessary to enforce an ongoing building maintenance strategy, that includes the fabric, services systems such as MVHR, internal finishes, air monitoring, and occupant health check-ups, at least on a quarterly basis.

Furthermore, powerful extractors are required in the kitchens to capture cooking particulates i.e. airborne super-heated oil particles from stir-frying etc, and kitchen staff uniforms are to be regularly laundered to prevent combustible oils accruing on garments. All appliances are to have monitors installed within homes and commercial parts of the scheme for emissions.

Outdoor air quality must be maintained throughout the site as this is the “fresh air” that is merely assumed in building regulations that is going to replenish internal conditions. Pollution can be mitigated through planting vegetation and living walls etc. but also reducing traffic, pedestrianizing the residential street for example. Smoking will unequivocally be banned on site.

Above: diagram on pollutants in the home (POST, 2010, p.2) Below: common pollutants and health impacts (POST, 2010, p.1)

84

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

5.3

Acoustics

Storage spaces to rear of shops function as sound buffers to proposed residential street to the north

70-79 db 65-69 dB 60-64 dB 55-59 dB Sound insulation strategies through planning

PLAY

RE

SI

Structural sound insulation required

Sound insulation required to ceilings and north perimeter of buildings on resi-commercial arm from the proposed residential street

ST

DEBATE

SHOPS Noisy classrooms, hackspace and boxing gym sound insulated from quiet courtyard

60 dB

THEATRE MARKET CAFE

70 -79 dB

SPORT EXHIBITION

HACK 75 dB QUIET CLASS COURT YARD HEALTH

Right: noise map of proposed scheme

Theatre space is sound insulated from the noisy sports hall by placing all their service spaces, backstage and storage respectively, into a buffer zone

Gradient created from noisy to quiet spaces using building planning

Noisy A505 road at 76 dB

Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

Sound insulation provided to counselling spaces for privacy and discretion

Quiet courtyard and residential streets at 60 dB

85

6.2

Artificial lighting

As the building will frequently be used outside daylight hours, and in many settings lightings must be controlled (i.e. sports hall and theatre) there is a need for an artificial daylighting strategy. All fittings are to be LED, which are photosensitive to adjust to optimum conditions and have movement sensors – switching off automatically when occupants have left the room. All lighting use is logged in the building management system, which can then estimate which areas have the highest lighting energy demand. Light colour will also be adjustable, from warmer yellow hues to bluish-white to imitate daylight.

Note that all of these features can be manually overridden – it is important for occupants feel control over their environment.

According to Sport England guidance, “..the creation of an appropriate visual environment is a fundamental requirement in sports design and the effective integration of the artificial lighting system should be considered as a standard part of a modern sports facility.” (Sport England, 2012, p.1).

Though the proposed scheme aims to allow ample daylighting for sports activities, artificial lighting will need to supplement this as it is used beyond daylight hours, and the nature of incident daylight may not be enough, nor controlled to create uniformity or prevent glare.

As the sports hall has primarily been designed for badminton, the lighting will be optimised for such. Being one of the fastest sports, with frequent lookingupward, if glare and lighting can be managed for this purpose, it should be permissible for all others. Badminton England suggest the ideal height for badminton lighting is 5 m high, though as permanent fixtures would obstruct many other sports: British Standards EN 12193:2007 requires minimum 9 metres of clear height (Sport England, 2012, p.12). The solution is to make the lighting grid retractable on pulleys. See diagrams below and overleaf.

3 luminaires on either side of court

3m max

5m

Above: cross section of sports hall lighting

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Arjun Chopra, u1630285, Centre for Alternative Technology, Architecture Prof.Dip. AEES, CE7400 Technical Report

No illuminance in 7.5m zone

1.35 m 1.35 m (min.1m) (min.1m)

nging Room

SPORTS HALL

Above: longitudinal section of sports hall lighting

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Peak power if 100% of available south facing roof space is used:

= area * efficiency / 100

= 61.8 sq m * 18 percent (standard) / 100

= 11.124 kWp

100% available area used: energy output is 300 - 1300 kWh monthly and 11000 kWh hours annually. As av. energy consumption per household in the UK is 4000 kWh, this can only supply 3 homes. (PVGIS, 2019) Peak power if 50% of available south facing roof space is used (other 50% used for solar hot water collectors):

= 30.9 sq m * 18 percent (standard) / 100

= 5.562 kWp

50% available area used: energy output is 200 - 650 kWh monthly and 5490 kWh hours annually. Therefore can only supply 1-2 homes (PVGIS, 2019) (PVGIS, 2019)

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6.4

Water

SEWAGE

GREY WATER

RAIN WATER / SURFACE DISCHARGE

There have been recent breakthroughs with ecological sewage systems which can be decentralised and localised including constructed reedbed systems, biogas, and dry systems.

Greywater is a relatively clean waste water from baths, sinks, kitchen appliances etc. that should not be exempted from reuse. It is predicted to be around 50-80% of household waste water, and if recycled appropriately, could save nearly 70 litres per person per day in a regular household.

Please refer to landscape strategy.

Reedbed systems are effectively reconstructed wetland ecosystems. An example is the 23 year old system at Findhorn Ecovillage in Scotland which collects effluent in a series of septic tanks that encourage an anaerobic process, then gravity fed into a greenhouse which firstly kills the anaerobic bacteria and converts to an aerobic process, separates off biomass, and is then passed though aquatic plants which denitrify the water and absorb heavy metals, to be fed finally into a constructed wetland where larger organisms can be found (snails, frogs etc.) where it is safe enough to discharge. The proposed site is in too dense an urban environment and does not allow enough space to cater for this option.

A biogas digester converts organic waste without the presence of oxygen into methane which can be tapped directly for cooking gas etc. and compressed for use in motor vehicles. It creates a wastewater that can also be used as fertiliser. On a smaller scale, a septic tank could be provided per household. Neither of these options seem viable as they generate a lot of smell, which is a disservice to the neighbourhood.

A third option is to adopt a dry system: faeces and urine are separated in toilets from the outset and stored separately. Faeces is combined with a substrate such as woodchip or sawdust to absorb moisture whilst urine remains sterile. The now-dry faeces can be collected from the toilet and deposited into a cordoned-off composting bin, to which carbon and nitrogen rich materials can be frequently added (i.e. activated charcoal and comfrey respectively) and turned every fortnight to compost aerobically. The urine can be combined with earth sods and added back into the compost.

After 2 years this compost can be used for mulching around trees etc or transported safely to farmlands for profit. This is currently practiced at â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Inkpotâ&#x20AC;? permaculture farm in Lincolnshire.

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Around available areas in the site, lined gravel sumps will be dug which will capture greywater from homes etc. The gravel serves to increase surface area for microbial activity. The water will drain into a perforated pipe through a charcoal and sand filter, then pumped around the site to irrigate growing areas. There will be a hierarchy of water management: greywater from showers, washbasins, washing machines etc. will be redirected to a sump, filtered out of solids and used for flushing toilets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with low flush mechanisms installed. All washbasins to have motion sensors installed.

Rainwater is to be captured and harvested wherever possible, but also safely discharged through appropriate storm water management infrastructure. As discussed in the landscape strategy, 60 percent of the roofs will aim to be greened in the next fifteen years which will contribute to the slowing of runoff.

Note also the verdant swale along the south of the residential street for this purpose. The trees also serve to intercept rainwater and released back into the atmosphere by evapotranspiration.

Considering the total roof area of 7351 sq m and annual rainfall average of 615mm, the building could potentially capture 4875.5 cubic metres (4875500 litres) of water, or 4063 industrial bulk containers!

If the total building had 300 inhabitants at any one time, and each person required 5 litres of water per day, the water demand would be 2977.341 cubic metres or 2977341litres per year, which is only 61 percent of the total rain reaching the roof.

Nevertheless, the proposed scheme aims to install at least 15 underground rainwater tanks, as an ongoing initiative, at 7.5 cubic metres (7500 L) apiece, which can then be directed towards greywater use, or even boiled and filtered at small scale for human consumption.

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