2017 03 ambassade rabat for press en

Belgian Embassy in Rabat, Morocco

Client: FPS Foreign Affairs Contractor: Willemen Groep and Cosimco SA Design architects: A2M sc sprl with Still Architecture & development

How can we impart sense, dignity and sustainable responsibility to a highly symbolic programme like an embassy?

Taking the typical traditional local vernacular form, the riad (a flat primary area with patios), as a basis of composition, and by raising part of the area for the reception, we create an event within the site which will be identifiable by all as a new landmark. The project incorporates fixed vertical sunshades, a time-tested solution to protect against the sun, and meets Passive House, Net Zero Energy and BREEAM excellent standards.

This performance is achieved using simple solutions, based essentially on the treatment of the building envelope, but engineered with pragmatic Belgian know-how in sustainable design.

2017 A2M sc sprl

A2M BXL ChaussĂŠe de Boondael 6, box 13 - 1050 Brussels - BE

A2M NYC 110 East 25th Street - New York, NY 10010 - USA

website www.a2m.be

phone + 32 2 640 51 81

We started from the typical vernacular architecture of the traditional local house, namely the riad (a flat primary area built around a courtyard), for our design, and raised part of the area to accommodate the reception and create a new landmark which everyone can recognise.

The project combines time-tested solutions to protect the building’s users from the sun, namely fixed external, vertical sun

project The new chancery of the Belgian Embassy in Rabat

shades, while also meeting current passive house, zero energy standards. The design received a BREEAM excellent rating (multiple environmental criteria).

This rating was achieved using simple solutions, which were incorporated into the design of the building’s envelope. The solutions are based on Belgian know-how.

The result is a new type of architecture.

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1. Expression of these principles as volumes

2. A neutral creation that is not site-dependent

3. Arrangement of the floor-plan to create patios

4. The corner of the north-eastern façade is raised to highlight the entrance, creating a courtyard, that’s visible above the enclosure.

5. A side entrance on the same level...

6. ... and access to the covered car park.

2017 A2M sc sprl

A2M BXL Chaussée de Boondael 6, box 13 - 1050 Brussels - BE

A2M NYC 110 East 25th Street - New York, NY 10010 - USA

website www.a2m.be

phone + 32 2 640 51 81

The building’s envelope plays a vital role. Like the building itself, it focuses on a diverse set of challenges.

As for the building’s façade, it represents Belgium and the image it wishes to portray. However, it also has to meet specific technical constraints.

Rabat’s climate imposes particular constraints, which underscore the importance of the envelope in a Passive House building design even more.

Moreover, the façade must take security considerations into account.

Beyond the technical requirements, the architectural design adds a subtle structural uniformity to the envelope, thanks to the pattern created by the sunshades in a neutral interpretation of the local architecture.

The façade’s appearance relies entirely on the fall of light on the repeated peripheral pattern of the full-height sunshades.

project The new chancery of the Belgian Embassy in Rabat

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The building’s energy performance affects the comfort of its users and its consumption. Optimisation of the building’s envelope and choice of a specific energy strategy help reduce consumption while maintaining the right standard of comfort. As mentioned in the chapter on the building’s operation, the project meets the Passive House building standard, even exceeding it by compensating for remaining consumption by producing renewable energy. The building’s environmental impact is therefore greatly reduced.

existing plot

hilly topography

Site access is controlled through the landscaped design by incorporating a semi-underground car park

We used PHPP building energy-modelling software for this project. Dynamic simulations were also made in IES VE (Integrated Environmental Solutions, Virtual Environment). Thanks to these simulations, the envelope was optimised by evaluating the impact of insulation, airtightness, solar protection and the solar factor of the glazing.

At a second stage, the analysis was supplemented with studies of technical equipment used. Dynamic simulations also made it possible to evaluate how comfort levels were guaranteed in case of overheating, according to NBN EN 15251, and calculate the renewable energy required to compensate for any consumption.

Natural lighting was an important factor in the design process. Natural lighting helps reduce energy consumption caused by artificial lighting. It also has a positive impact on the occupant’s comfort, regulating the circadian cycle (sleep cycle), affecting employees’ moods, productivity, etc.

At the same time, finding the right compromise between the use of natural lighting, the risk of overheating and thermal loss is equally vital. A naturally well-lit space is not necessarily a space with floor-to-ceiling glazing along the entire façade.

The design must, among other aspects, take into account the risk of glare and the building’s layout for its future users.

We used Daylight Factor (DF) calculations to assess the impact of various options. The DF is used to calculate illumination provided by daylight on cloudy days. It does not take orientation into account as the DF is assessed on cloudy days.

Without solar protection, the level of illuminance is very high, especially at the front of the room, which could result in significant visual discomfort. The sunshades help reduce the average level of illumination, giving greater light uniformity and a higher standard of comfort for the building’s users.

a small wooded park

2017 A2M sc sprl

A2M BXL Chaussée de Boondael 6, box 13 - 1050 Brussels - BE

A2M NYC 110 East 25th Street - New York, NY 10010 - USA

website www.a2m.be

phone + 32 2 640 51 81

project The new chancery of the Belgian Embassy in Rabat

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Rabat

Superficie hors sol brute RDC & +1 Niveau ‐1 Totaux

Superficie brute

Volume

m² 1480 224 1704

m³ 5341 308 5649

nette 1258 190,4 1448,4

22118 (Valeur calculée IES)

15,27 kWh/m².an

Besoins de chauffe,avec ventilation Besoins de chauffe Besoins ECS COP Conso elec chaud

22 118,00 0,00 3,85 5 744,94

Besoins de froid Besoins froid ESEER Conso elec froid

47,23 kWh/m².an 68 414,00 kWh froid 3,85 Machine frigo 17 769,87 Kwh élec

kWh kWh/m².an kWh Kwh élec

68414 (Valeur calculée IES)

Conso élec ventilation Conso élec ventilation Conso ventilation et auxiliaires IES Panneaux photovoltaïques

Performance annuelle PV Production solaire totale elec

119,042122 202,37 330 24,09 1692 40 760

m² 73 Wc/m² Wc/panneau KWc kwh/KWc validé avec IES kWh élec validé avec IES

Récapitulatif besoins Besoins Chauffage Besoins ECS Besoins de froid

22 118,00 0,00 68 414,00

kWh/an kWh/an kWh/an

Conso Ventilation + pompes Eclairage

8 791,00 8 143,00

kWh elec/an kWh elec/an

Somme tout elec sans pfm Conso Petite force motrice

23 295,00

kWh elec/an

Somme tout elec avec pfm Production Solaire PV Somme tout elec sans pfm avec PV Somme tout elec avec pfm avec PV

2017 A2M sc sprl

40 760,28

kWh elec/an

panneaux BenQ

Conso éclairage Conso éclairage Conso éclairage IES Conso pfm Conso pfm Conso pfm IES

Conso électrique 5 744,94 kWh/an 0,00 kWh/an 17 769,87 kWh/an

7 kWhélec/m².an 8 806,00 Kwh élec 8791 kWh elec

(Valeur calculée IES)

5,75 kWh/m² 8328,3 kWh elec 8143 kWh elec

(Valeur calculée IES)

16 kWh/m² 23174,4 kWh elec 23295 kWh elec

(Valeur calculée IES)

Conso électrique par m² 3,97 kWh/m².an 0,00 kWh/m².an 12,27 kWh/m².an

Energie primaire 9,92 kWhEP/m².an 0,00 kWhEP/m².an 30,67 kWhEP/m².an

8 791,00 8 143,00

kWh/an kWh/an

6,07 5,62

kWh/m².an kWh/m².an

15,17 14,06

40 448,81

kWh/an

27,93

kWh/m².an

69,82

kWhEP/m².an

23 295,00

kWh/an

16,08

kWh/m².an

40,21

kWhEP/m².an

63 743,81

kWh/an

44,01

kWh/m².an

110,02

kWhEP/m².an

‐40 760,28

kWh/an

‐28,14

kWh/m².an

‐70,35

kWhEP/m².an

‐311,47 22 983,53

kWh/an kWh/an

"zéro" 15,87

kWh/m².an kWh/m².an

"zéro" 39,67

kWhEP/m².an kWhEP/m².an

A2M BXL Chaussée de Boondael 6, box 13 - 1050 Brussels - BE

kWhEP/m².an kWhEP/m².an

Passivhaus projects around the world: This project will be the second Passive House project in Africa, and first Zero Energy embassy in the world. source: Passivhaus Institut

A2M NYC 110 East 25th Street - New York, NY 10010 - USA

website www.a2m.be

phone + 32 2 640 51 81

project The new chancery of the Belgian Embassy in Rabat

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2017 A2M sc sprl

A2M BXL Chaussée de Boondael 6, box 13 - 1050 Brussels - BE

A2M NYC 110 East 25th Street - New York, NY 10010 - USA

website www.a2m.be

phone + 32 2 640 51 81