Located in the town of Burnley, known for its rich cotton and textile industry during the industrial revolution, this project attempts to revive the local sustainable fashion cycle by offering tailoring ateliers and spaces for recycling and selling the garments. The woven façade inspired by Shigeru Ban’s Aspen Art Museum (2014) in Aspen USA, represents the natural fibre's intertwining, and physically connects the buildings form to its programme.
The woven façade allows for passive ventilation and solar shading through the hollow centres in the weave pattern
However, there could be an issue of overheating and glare due to the façade wrapping around the south of the building
The constructability and modularity of the façade structure and secondary support systems also need to be designed in a way to ease transport, assembly and, similar to clothing garments, deconstruction at the end of the buildings lifespan
There are many ways to achieve this, leading to the need for a deep technological investigation into this
*section taken for investigation
Designing for deconstruction; Addressing circular economy principles at the design stage can increase the quality and quantity of materials that can be salvaged at the end of the building’s
lifespan Reversible design allows entire buildings to be deconstructed and their components used again to reduce waste and carbon emissions
Deconstruction criteria;
-reuse and recycling potential of key elements and components
-connections between the elements and components -accessibility of elements and components -deconstruction process
passive solar gain
passive ventilation
Climate change is a significant factor in the
events These events can have severe impacts on the energy sector, particularly in terms of energy security, energy generation potential and energy demand By designing the façade as an effective
shading tool to maintain a comfortable internal environment passively, the building’s energy demand and environmental impact can significantly
operable windows
01 Woven dual sided plywood veneer panels with weatherproof finish, 600mm wide, 15mm thick, reinforced with resin, screwed
02 Aluminium support frame, 50x60mm, bolted
Aluminium support brackets attaching to building structure, 50x50mm, bolted
Double-glazing windows
Net Zero Embodied Carbon:
(7) Prioritise use of low embodied carbon and healthy materials (choice of
The dual sided veneer panels will be encased and reinforced with resin in order to seal and form a waterproof and anticorrosive coating of protection
fire retardant and non-toxic resin will be used in order to protect the façade against possible fire exposure Short scaffolding is needed for manual assembly of the façade and also for maintenance in the future A smaller construction site means that the community can get more involved
Modular prefab veneer panels are used to ease construction and allow for accuracy The dimension of these panels will be investigated on page two in order to allow for a quicker assembly time and construction process by possibly using lighter, smaller panels
Dome headed screw connections will be used to join the veneer panels due to their aesthetic look over regular screws, and as a cheaper alternative to welding. It is also free from pointy edges therefore increasing building safety. The construction of the woven façade takes place after the primary structural elements of the building are built. The construction time of the façade would be short as all elements are constructed off-site (aluminium support frame, woven panels). 3050
In order to adhere to &rchitecture’s Deconstruction principles, all elements are bolted to each other instead of the initial welded design to make disassembly at the end of the life cycle easier, and aid a cleaner recycling process
in Processes section*
of
Plywood is preferred over other wood materials because of its common use in the UK, thus reducing transportation costs and carbon footprint. materials covered
The material choice and context of the precedent is similar, aesthetic wooden sun shading façade on aluminium brackets.
Wood creates a naturally inviting and calm atmosphere, thus attracting Dual sided veneer panels would use less wood than solid timber panels, thus saving costs and creating a more
Corten steel is durable and weatherresistant material which would require less maintenance over time However, it is a difficult metal to work with, thus cutting and bending the panels would be challenging and costly
Aluminium would reflect the sunlight which would make for a good thermal strategy, however the aesthetic look of the aluminium panels creates harsh exterior which counteracts the purpose of the façade creating a serene, inviting atmosphere
intention for
The Langley Academy Foster + Partners Berkshire, UK 2009
Lifespan of materials: Aluminium – up to 80 years Veneer – up to 70 years Aluminium window frames – 45 years Glass (double-glazed) – 15 years In conclusion, all of the materials used are long-
Deconstruction principles
&rchitecture’s
aluminium support brackets extending off wooden cladding weather-resistant wood panels angled and cantilevered to block sunlight aluminium window frames 600 600 2600 2600 horizontal panels vertical panels 7700 solar radiation reflected by woven veneer panels and double-glazing absorption double-glazing reduces heat transfer reradiation reradiation transmission INDOOR OUTDOOR passive ventilation through operable windows wind travel between façade and building structure 01 02 03 04 Manchester School of Architecture | BA Hons Architecture – Technologies 3 – Part C – Technologies Design Project | Damla Tunc (20103403) 7700 600 600 5490
a lengthier assembly time due to weight and size Modularity needs to be explored to ensure building life and safety and allow faster construction 02 03 04-
window wall/curtain wall system will also be
to determine a strategy to use less material and ensure thermal efficiency
03
04
01- Weatherproof finish for the timber might be toxic, need to look into finishes that won’t contaminate the substrate in order to make sure the material is reusable and recyclable after deconstruction Iterations of patterns and dimensions of the timber panels also need to be done to investigate solar shading qualities and ease of assembly/construction Longer and wider panels may lead to
The aluminium support frame is welded which could impact the deconstruction process, iterations need to be done for this (joints etc ) The shape of the support brackets and frame will also need to be investigated, along with a thermal break strategy for the windows to ensure thermal comfort The construction of the
explored
using materials with a long life span and recyclable qualities like aluminium to reduce waste at end of life carbon sequestering materials such as timber to offset emissions locally sourcing materials to create a local circular economy and reduce emissions during transportation
occurrence of extreme weather
solar
reduce
materials) (8) Consider modular off-site construction systems (constructing woven façade in fragments off-site) (9) Detailing to be Long life and robust (choice of materials) Some key points of the RIBA Sustainable Outcomes Guide relevant to this façade investigation are: Net Zero Operational Carbon: (2) Prioritise Fabric First principles for building form and envelope (passive solar and ventilation design through the façade) (4) Provide responsive local controls (operable windows/ventilation gaps) All materials used in the façade need to be of class B-s3 d2 (Class 0 in British Standard) or better in order to meet UK Building Regulations Part B – Fire Safety The woven elements will be prefabricated in modules and assembled on site manually This makes the construction process simpler and safer by using hand operated tools instead of heavy machinery which could lead to accidents The panels could be smaller to make this process easier
dead loads live loads (wind + people) gap between façade and structure might be small, steel brackets could be made longer to allow a bigger pathway for fire to escape easily safe height of opening (800mm) (Part K compliant) maintenance workers on scaffolding connected to worker’s belt, easy access to all levels of the building, less dangerous due to short height of building (11m) bolted corner plate welded separate elements bolted dome headed screw connection
A
lightweight structure, in turn making the bending process easier
2
The air cavity between the toughened glass disable the transmission of heat or cold from indoor and outdoor air, thus increasing insulation in the building.
3 4 Aluminium is preferred over steel due to its corrosion resistant properties hence requiring less maintenance. It is also more cost-effective and lighter in weight, easing construction time and costs. end of life cycle
The wood veneer for the woven façade will be sourced from Burnley where there are several plywood suppliers Aluminium for the support frame and brackets will also be sourced locally, thus reducing transportation emissions Sourcing the facade materials locally would also benefit the local suppliers and community, and boost the local economy
All materials used in the façade are 100% recyclable The resin used to encase and bond the wood veneer panels is manufactured from organic materials thus is biodegradable if standard glue was to be used in this case, the toxicity would make the veneer panels unsuitable for recycling
lasting and fully recyclable, thus adhering to
The
mounting The
prefabricated modules
efficient
Aluminium support frame prefabricated off-site and brought to site as tubes ready for assembly These will now be bolted rather than welded to ease deconstruction 1 2 3 4 All structural components are built initially (i e concrete foundation, steel structure, columns etc ) (2 months) Prefabricated window panels are attached via scaffolding and telehandler to create a window wall (1 week) Aluminium support frame is bolted into place via L-brackets (1 week) Veneer panel modules are assembled on-site via screw joints onto the aluminium frame (2 weeks) Due to most of the construction being completed off-site, no heavy machinery is needed on-site, thus reducing cost of labour and machinery and allowing a more accurate assembly A lorry is used to transport the materials and modular woven panels to the site A forklift is used to move the materials around the site and ease the construction of the façade A telehandler might also be needed to lift the modular panels to the first and second floors PPE is used by the construction workers to ensure their safety during assembly A drill is used to bolt the aluminium frame together A riveting gun could be used to rivet the aluminium frame, however using normal screws could reduce the amount of tools needed onsite Low-rise scaffolding is used to lift materials up and assemble the façade from the outside By testing the constructability and the modularity of the woven panels, a greater understanding of the resulting climatic impact of the façade will be understood Further iterating the design is expected to produce a more sustainable and efficient system, allowing for less environmental damage and faster assembly time 200mm 150mm
The veneer panels are cut to size and encased with resin before being bent into shape and assembled into modules to be transported to site
aluminium frame windows are prepared and transported to site for easy
is to make the process as efficient and time and cost
as possible
To test the constructability of the façade, options for the curtain walling system, which the façade attaches onto, was explored In order to create a fluid connection between the indoors and outdoors, a seamless view to the outside must be created, thus the columns must be strategically designed
Test 2 1 shows a physical model experimentation on the window to column connection In this instance, a 120mm steel I-beam was used Plywood sheets are used to encase the steel beam in order to insulate the junction and act as a thermal break, and the column is wrapped in a render finish The aluminium brackets would need to go through the render and timber encasing to reach and join the steel I-beam
A window wall system is more naturally fire retardant as the exterior wall is broken up by the floor slab of every floor, providing fire stopping The separation of the window wall units creates an airtight space which reduces energy loss and noise transfer Through diagramming the different prototypes of window options, a window wall system was decided to be the most successful
Test 2 2 follows up from the previous experiment and moves the frame closer to the edge of the slab This creates a curtain wall effect which is experimented and concluded as unsuccessful in the window placements section The hollow aluminium frame would use less material then the timber encased steel beam and require less assembly time, therefore the chosen placement could be adapted to a hollow frame construction
After testing the constructability of each element, an improved design for the
and
was formed
support
wrapped in timber and insulation, finished with render, 120x120mm
Tests on the dimensions of the woven panels were done to investigate their effect on daylighting As the purpose of the woven façade is mainly visual appeal and solar shading, both elevational and daylighting studies were done to evaluate the success of each test Test 5 1 looks very visually appealing and adds a sense of depth with the intricacy of the weave pattern The small and narrow panels would also ease the assembly process on site, however the dense pattern might lengthen the construction offsite In conclusion, after testing the shadows, test 5 1 will be iterated with larger hollows to investigate constructability and climate
Test 5 2 shows a weave pattern that is more legible and at a similar scale to the users (indicated on the elevation drawing), making the assembly and construction process easier and safer Transportation of the assembled modular panels would also be easier given the smaller dimensions Due to its success in the daylighting analysis and constructability, the size of the hollows in test 5 2 (400mm) will be combined with the visually appealing test 5 1 (200mm) in order to create a façade which is effective with regards to aesthetics, climatic response, constructability and building & life safety
Test 5 3 is the original dimensions of the façade, tested in order to evaluate its daylighting visualisation below Regarding visual appeal and constructability, although the panels maintain their pattern legibility, they begin to lose their depth and start to look more flat rather than the desired woven design The large panel width also might require a larger transportation vehicle and result in a lengthier assembly time due to the weight of the modules The hollow centres of the weave is 600x600m which is a large surface area that could put the interior at risk of overheating due to direct southern sunlight
Test 5 4 is the least successful of all the tests As the panels get bigger, the depth of the woven pattern is lost and is replaced with large strips of veneer creating an almost completely flat surface Although the actual creation of the weave could be easier in the factory due to the limited number of panels, the width would make it difficult to bend and put into shape Transportation and assembly would also be difficult as the modules would be larger than the workers and would thus possibly require a crane to mount up The large hollow centres of the weave would make the façade inefficient at acting as a solar shading device
INSIDE OUTSIDE
Manchester School of Architecture | BA Hons Architecture – Technologies 3 – Part C – Technologies Design Project | Damla Tunc (20103403)
200mm
1200
INSIDE
INSIDE OUTSIDE
construction cost and time Option 1 2 was chosen to go forward with as it not only generates smaller modules which make it easier to construct and assemble,
also frees up space in the interior by pushing the boundary of the window to the perimeter of the building This results in less wasted space inside, and a more interactive, closer view of the woven façade outside 1.1 1.2 1.3
OUTSIDE 1200
1200 Iterations of the window placement were done to determine the most successful construction strategy The design currently utilises 1 1 with the windows spanning between the non-structural columns Both tests 1 1 and 1 2 are window wall instead of curtain wall as seen on test 1 3 Although the curtain wall would make the views more seamless by continuing the glass over the side of the floor slab, prefabrication of such units could be more costly due to their size The curtain wall system would also need a crane to assemble as the modules would be larger, thus increasing
but
polyamide strip as thermal break thermally insulated interior due to airtight window frame and window wall system INSIDE OUTSIDE INSIDE OUTSIDE cold bridging due to poor insulation around window frame resulting in heat transfer and energy loss
one to continue with regarding building & life safety and constructability
All
principles
hat section,
aluminium support brackets
connect
building structure square section support frame, aluminium, welded steel -beam
Upon testing window/curtain wall options physically and digitally, the construction of the support frame which attaches onto the woven façade and window was explored to understand the best suited strategy
the options adhere to deconstruction
by having bolted joints, making end of life disassembly easier The c-section frame was chosen as the most successful as it uses less material than the square section and top
and also has a flat surface for the
to attach onto and
the frame to the
material
80x120mm aluminium hollow frame with a polyamide strip 28mm double glazing with air cavity 50x50mm c section aluminium support frame, bolted with L plates 15mm veneer panels
onto aluminium support frame 50x50mm square section aluminium support brackets, bolted onto support frame and building structure thermal break pad between support bracket and building structure 400mm 600mm 800mm
façade
structure
window structure
Window wall is used instead of curtain wall to enforce further fire safety A thermal break strategy has been achieved through a polyamide strip running down the window frame and a thermal break pad between the support brackets and steel building structure The support frame has been changed from a welded square section to a bolted c section to reduce
usage and ease future disassembly
screwed
The heating and cooling gains/losses remain consistent throughout all tests however it should be noted that full accuracy of materials and qualities cannot be achieved through Sefaira Through visualisation, results show that the small panels with more hollows let in more sunlight than larger hollows such as test 5 4 all results taken on a cloudy sky setting during noon at equinox to get accurate results considering Burnley’s weather The 400mm hollows evidently create a more diffused daylighting pattern and result in a more even lighting distribution as seen on the ground floor plan The data shows that it is mostly overlit due to the façade facing south, which results in losses in cooling Additional sun shading will be investigated successful size of hollows, further solar shading on south elevation will be explored to allow user control of thermal comfort Testing of the original façade shows that the size of the woven panels matter not only in terms of aesthetics but also in terms of solar shading and daylighting strategies, and both must be considered equally Although test 5 3’s daylighting analysis yielded similar results to 5 2 aesthetically 5 2 was more effective light coming in from south elevation illuminates the entire interior through glass internal walls and double height space The larger 800mm hollows do not generate more direct daylight In contrary, the wider panels act more as a shading device and prevent light from entering This is unsuccessful as it cannot be controlled by the users and Burnley’s cloudy climate would make the building benefit from any extra daylight entering concentrated spots of light can be seen instead of diffused like in other tests, could be impractical for the buildings tailoring ateliers – shadow analysis on tests 5 1-5 4 were conducted to experiment and determine the scale of the weave panels that would create the most aesthetically pleasing façade whilst producing effective shadow patterns inside the building In order to create a user friendly design, the shadows must enhance the space and create a serene environment The 200mm panels have the delicacy which the other tests lack and more dispersed lighting, therefore the 200mm panels will be taken forward and tested with 400mm hollows which produced successful daylighting in test 5 2 produces well-lit spaces but is not operable to adjust to other climates 200 400 The angled louvre iteration blocks the direct sunlight creating an undesirable, mostly underlit environment that isn’t operable by the users Test 7 3 shows the chosen iteration with internal operable blinds so the user is in control of the thermal environment, being able to create a mostly well lit environment Although it isn’t accurate due to sefaira’s lack of external factors, this iteration produces a lower energy use intensity and thus lower energy bills daylighting and energy analysis done to determine the best supporting shading strategy for the chosen iteration, the woven façade alone creates a mostly overlit environment but Burnley’s cloudy weather would not realistically produce this outcome Due to the panels being of larger width (600mm), the initial design would have needed a larger lorry for transportation and possibly a telehandler in order to lift and assemble the façade modules onto the building structure By reducing the panel width and putting a greater distance between them, the modules are lighter in weight and thus ease transportation to and around the site The lighter modules would also allow the workers to assemble quicker and safer than dealing with larger panels, which would shorten on-site construction time and reduce costs
aluminium supporting structure being bolted
of welded
construction time
safety risks Whilst welding
two experienced welders
current machines
a clean weld, a
to complete
a
drill The constructability of the window wall system is made easier by using less and smaller materials on the columns/frames The aluminium frames are prefabricated and brought to site, making the assembly process simpler and more accurate The aluminium support frame is brought to site as fragments and assembled manually via bolted Lbrackets, reducing the need for expensive equipment and thus reducing construction time and cost The c-section shape is also beneficial at saving materials and also for transportation as they can be slotted into each other to be more compact
smaller width of the veneer
environmental
The
instead
reduces
and eliminates
would require
with electric
to achieve
bolted plate is much safer
and would only need
manual
The
panels along with the larger distance between them make the construction process of the weave easier The narrower panels would also mean less material used, thus reducing
impact and costs
The 9mm plywood panel is encased within 2mm wood veneer panels The three layers combined create a wind-resistant façade which is thick enough for durability, yet thin enough to bend in the desired woven shape
The panels are reinforced and bonded with Crystic resin of Class 0 standard to form a fire and weather resistant coating which is also non-toxic for future recyclability A final gelcoat is used for further weather protection
(2)Prioritise Fabric First principles for building form and envelope (optimising solar gain through provision of efficient openings and shading in the woven façade, maximising air tightness through thermal break plates)
(4)Provide responsive local controls (operable windows, operable blinds for users to adjust to preferred interior atmosphere)
(4)Prioritise low embodied carbon and healthy materials (using wood veneer for the façade to absorb and store carbon dioxide, using aluminium for the support frame, most environmentally friendly metal)
(8)Consider modular off-site construction systems (Optimising the façade design to create smaller modules of pre-fabricated woven panels to reduce construction and assembly time)
(1)Provide spaces with strong visual connection to outside (Improving the woven façade panel sizes to create larger openings and provide more direct contact with the outside)
(5)Design spaces with good indoor daylighting, lighting and glare control (Testing facade patterns with Sefaira daylighting analysis to determine the best strategy for indoor daylighting)
(3)Measure energy costs (Optimising façade pattern through testing energy usage with Sefaira software, adjusting shading strategies to determine most efficient daylighting system which ensures reduced dependency on mechanical systems)
The façade design has been technologically advanced through iterative testing on page two
For example, testing elements such as the window to column connection resulted in a window wall system being preferred over curtain wall due to heightened fire safety and smaller modules of window panes that can be prefabricated and assembled on site Daylighting analysis with iterated veneer panel widths was also conducted and the width which produced the best daylighting was chosen to advance
The panel widths changed from being 600mm to 200mm This reduced weight and material allows for a thinner, lighter aluminium support frame, thus ensuring a safer construction and assembly environment and resulting in reduced transportation costs 100mm natural fibre wool insulation
The use of a woven façade with openings demonstrates a strategic approach to accomplishing sustainable design goals After testing daylighting and shadows on the second page, the new façade design has larger openings which reduces material usage and weight, resulting in less strain put on the aluminium support frame
The climate Sefaira analysis showed that despite having larger openings on the panel patterns with wider panels, daylighting was more efficient in iterations where the panel widths were narrow and a large number of small openings were present, thus the new façade design was changed to implement these findings Such experiments on page two ensured that the new façade design performed significantly better than the previous in constructability, climate and building & life safety
Dome headed steel screw with colour coded cap Steel L bracket Steel bolt 50x50mm aluminium C section frame 42x42mm aluminium square section 4mm low E-insulating glass pane Polyamide strip to act as a thermal break between indoor and outdoor 20mm cavity filled with Argon gas Aluminium rectangular hollow window frame 2mm wood veneer panel Crystic fire retardant nontoxic resin 5046PA (class 0 British standard) Protective gelcoat 9mm plywood strip, bonded with resin The plywood strip is encased dual sided with the veneer panel and resin and gelcoat 1400mm Manchester School of Architecture | BA Hons Architecture – Technologies 3 – Part C – Technologies Design Project | Damla Tunc (20103403) 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 01 One prefabricated module of the veneer panels, 1400mm by 1400mm, joined with dome headed screw with colour coded cap 02 Woven pine wood veneer panels with Crystic Fire Retardant Resin 5046PA and gelcoat, 200mm wide, 13mm thick, screwed 03 Vertical aluminium C-section frame, 50x50mm, 3600mm length 04 Horizontal aluminium C-section frame, 50x50mm, 2350mm length, bolted L plate 05 Aluminium support bracket, 42x42mm, bolted to C-section frame via L plate, bolted to steel building structure via thermal break pads 06 Double glazing windows, 4mm low E-insulating pane, 20mm air cavity, 4mm low E-insulating pane 07 Aluminium hollow window-wall
08 Steel I-beam structure with service
08 200mm 320mm 200mm 2450mm 1200mm 45x45mm steel L plate, galvanised 50x50mm C section aluminium frame 230mm steel beam 42x42mm aluminium square section bracket Galvanised steel screws Armatherm thermal break plate Aluminium window frames with thermal break polyamide strip
frame, 120x80mm
void, 300mm
400mm
10mm cement render
The woven panels are attached to each other and to the aluminium C- section frame with dome headed steel screws with beige colour coded caps, giving the illusion of an uninterrupted frame Module sizes are now smaller and can be assembled by one person manually, thus increasing on-site safety Through iterating additional sun shading elements to adhere to Net Zero Operational Carbon principles, operable blinds were added to allow users to change their atmosphere to suit the climate, without having permanent elements such as louvres that cannot be operated The main building structure is erected Prefabricated window panes are assembled Aluminium support brackets are bolted to steel structure Aluminium support frame bolted to brackets via L plates Individual woven panel modules attached to support frame via screws Woven panel modules attached to each other with colour coded dome capped screws The interplay of the woven panels’ intricate shadows and their ability to reduce heat and solar gains work together harmoniously The improved 200mm panel width with 400mm openings creates efficient daylighting in the interior spaces with interesting shadows The chosen 1:5 detail study is located on the south of the building; thus, it gets sunlight for most hours of the day The tailoring ateliers will benefit from the natural daylight through the openings creating a bright and energizing environment than enhances mood, increases productivity and provides a sense of well
The
blinds will ensure that the spaces don’t overheat, and daylighting can be adjusted by users to reduce glare The woven façade is designed to create visual harmony with the textile programme of the building and act as a solar shading strategy The weave pattern creates an overlap of panels which provide shading, alongside openings to provide natural ventilation and sunlight access Through iterating and testing the initial design using drawings, digital software and physical models, a technologically advanced façade is created The modularity of the façade is developed, and issues such as excessive materials, timeconsuming construction and impractical de-constructability is solved The aim of this technological investigation was to explore the most efficient daylighting strategy, and discover different construction methods to make the construction, transportation and assembly more sustainable and less time consuming In order to adhere to ‘deconstruction’ position, the following principles were achieved through testing; -Modular construction of woven panels allowing for efficient transport -Prefabricated window panels easily deconstructed and transported -Standardised screw connection details for efficient construction -Minimised building parts and materials -Simplified construction process -Aluminium window wall system is easier and faster to install than previous I-beam columnto-window connection -Prefabrication of the window panels allow faster assembly on site -C-section aluminium frame uses less material than square section and weighs less, easier to transport to site and easier to handle when assembling -Bolt connections instead of welding allows faster construction and easy disassembly -Advanced design has smaller panel modules, easier to construct and bend -Improved design has larger gap between woven façade and building structure, allowing for wider space for fire to escape quicker -Lighter materials and smaller modules make construction on site safer for workers, less risks of injury -Window wall system reduces spread of fire between floors -Prefabrication of elements ensure quality and precision, less risk of injury or faulty construction -New façade pattern allows in more daylight whilst expanding views to outdoors -Operable blinds and operable glazing allows users to adjust interior atmosphere and climate -Polyamide strip in window frames act as thermal break for thermally efficient interiors -Thermal break pad on aluminium support bracket to reduce cold bridging -Non-toxic, locally sourced and recyclable materials used throughout sustainable façade
finish
being
operable
