Building integrated greenery : Ronald MacDonald charities house

Building integrated greenery Ronald macdonald charities house, nedlands analysis and refinement

CONTENT Building integrated greenery

3

Objectives

5

Ronald MacDonald House Charities analysis

6

RMHC & greenery

7

Precedent building 1: The Greenest of the Green Block/ Pia Ilonen

8

Precedent building 2: GĂŽtes Ruraux/ Edouard Francois & Duncan Lewis

9

Redesign recommendation

10

Group work review

17

Reference

18

Building integrated greenery As the urban fabric and the built environment develops around cities, the green space within the cities and surrounding developing regions are gradually fading. It is crucial to introduce greenery into the built environment as a modern solution for the growing issues arising from urbanization. As greening/gardens were in existence in the early days, communities had various benefits that linked back to greenery and the natural environment. According to Tan and Chi (2017), Building integrated greenery systems advances the provision of greenery beyond the orthodox garden andcourtyard, as the greenery can now be a part of the building such as living walls (green facades) and roof garden.

Greenery while beautiful on its own, also has the potential to embellish the architecture and built environment (Dahanayake and Chow, 2017). Greenery concepts can be taken into a vertical setting where the urban fabric is devouring minimal and scarce open space to support the ecological system and air quality of the city. The greenery has more functional usage than just its aesthetic quality, which differs from common outlooks on the topic.

These concepts around greenery have been widely spread and utilised across the built environment. More recently, society’s perspective on green buildings has improved, which in turn aids people psychologically in terms of mental health and wellbeing.

Benefits of integrating building + greenery

Removal of gaseous pollutants from the surrounding air.

Enhance biodiversity by providing new urban habitants or assists in migration of birds and bees.

Protects roof’s waterproof membrane and the building from solar radiation

Reduces heating and cooling requirement in the building.

Improve HVAC system

Reduce Urban Heat Island effect through evaoptranspiration.

Improve user’s health mentally and physically

Objectives

In this research, the potential arrangement of greenery into Ronald Macdonald House Charities (RMHC) by Gerry Kho Architects will be assessed utilising tools such as Sefaira to ensure a sustainable and suitable proposal for the integration of greenery.

In addition, it will explore the functionality and methodology of integrated greenery such as increasing the ecological function of the green space.

Through the collaboration from the Western greening suburb and the greening plan of Nedlands, it is essential to acknowledge their objectives and plans to help flourish the importance of sustaining flora and fauna, as the site was once a prime hunting grounds for Aboriginals communities and a place of abundant wildlife habitats. This approach will help to address the heritage and social value agenda of Nedlands. Overall, this report seeks to refine the character of Nedlands and improve the living conditions of the city of Nedlands, WA.

JANUARY

Ronald MacDonald House Charities analysis GF

F1

F2

F3

Figure 1

The 3 dimensional model was examined to understand of the daylighting activity in RMHC throughout different seasons (January and July). As shown in figure 1, most of the daylighting parameter concentrated within the central space and east side of the building. During summer season, it is preferred to have heat ventilated away from the building as storing the heat would decrease the thermal comfort of the user.

The proposal is to have greenery around the heated area, this would possible reduce the temperature in the surrounding, providing shade and increase ventilation in the building.

JULY

The daylighting during the winter season (July) are fairly distributed at the east side of the building, most of the area should be ventilated to remove contaminated and aged air in the space as this is a childcare hospital/ stay (mentioned on passive cooling report- assignment 1).

GF

F1

F2

Figure 2

F3

Rooftop garden

RMHC & greenery Existing greenery are found around the courtyard, playground and roof top garden area. Although there was an attempt to cultivate green trail façade (roof top), the plants dried out as they were not maintained properly. The greenery around the building isn’t sufficient to reach optimal thermal performance on different façades of the building, signifying that it requires intervention.

Lower courtyard

Precedent 1 The Greenest of the Green Block The Greenest of the Green Block is an apartment building project that prioritises greenery. Since urbanization dominates Finland, it would be a challenge to create large areas of functional green space (Tafi, 2017). However, on the rooftop of this project there are fruit trees and berry bushes, meadow yards, a kitchen garden and a greenhouse.

The places around the roof top are also filled with mosses and turf to soften the walkways, which also provide a different experiential effect on the users (Tafi, 2017).

The architect, engineers and scientists of the Greenest of the Green Block collaborate to sustain the green habitat and survival of plant species. Through scientific experiments and a careful selection of plants, the different consultants reduce the chance of an invasive species that could be detrimental to the ecology of the rooftop garden (Tafi, 2017). Every balcony consists of a private soil bed that the inhabitant can have ownership of. If all users are like minded and look after their gardens, this initiative would encourage community to live a more sustainable lifestyle and promote greenery to the community.

Biodiversity gardens

Berry and fruits yards

Figure 3: Talli architecture and design, Balcony. 2017, Digital Image .

Available from navi.finnisharchitecture (Talli 2017).

Kitchen garden Greenhouse Figure 4: Tafi, The Greenest of the Green Block . 2017, Digital Image.

Available from: The greenest of the green (Tafi 2017).

Precedent 2 Gites Tropes Greenery

The hospitality facilities, GĂŽtes Tropes was built to accommodate travellers that are longing for a natural retreat. The term “Farm holidaysâ€? have become a predilection trend over the last years in France and European countries (Leenhardt, Lambertini and Ciampi, 2007).

The apartment precinct is hidden, blending vegetation of various density and colors into the context that grew along the rigid metal fences manipulating it into a linear delicacy of classic French garden palisades (Leenhardt, Lambertini and Ciampi, 2007).The integration of architectural elements with the surrounding landscape jointly form the tree house and a garden space.

Metal mesh Figure 5: Gites Les Tropes, Le Gites. Digital Image. Available from Gites Les Tropes ( Gites Les Tropes).

Intensive biodiversity nusery

This nusery is focuses on P1 status plant species with in need of care and to flourish the vulnerable native plants.

Double skin green facade

Decrease sunlight heat coming into the building during summer and increase ventlation

Extensive turf garden

Improve the thermal performance around the A/C room through evapotranspiration.

Trellises with low leaf area index

To increase the ventilation in the central space from level 1 to upper courtyard

Case Study - Redesign and Recommendation Strategies

Garden Twining plant

Balcony extension

Double skin facade

Green facade (shaded)

Biodiversity nusery

Turf

Intensive turf garden

retain wainwater and filter particulate and pollutants

Green Rooftop The upper rooftop consist of service and mechanical rooms that run across both blocks. Green turf roofs are categorised as an intensive and extensive system. The advantages of installing green intensive roofs benefit the rainwater collection in retaining rainwater and manage stormwater run-off (Figure 6). It can also benefit the filtration of particulate and pollutants from the rainwater. Hence, intensive roof systems are installed in butterly roofs on both block as seen in figure 13 (refer to Darren’s Roof report). Solar panels are incorporated with the slanted roof to receive sunlight energy for the RMHC (refer to Zoe’s service report details) .

Figure 6

As to the flat roof on Block A adjacent to the butterfly roof, an extensive turf roof is integrated to decrease the temperature of the A/C room. In addition, the installation of a trellis would further reduce the surrounding temperature.

Figure 7

Biodiversity space

block A

block b

Figure 8

Native plants species are valuable to Nedlands and Western Australia as they contribute to the biodiversity of an area. Often times vulnerable species are overlooked due to their microscopic scale. These plants are considered “rare” because there are several threat or underlying issues which make them more vulnerable. Therefore, as an acknowledgment to Nedlands greening plan and Western Australia’s Greenbelt, it is recommended that to sustain the native species it is especially important to be mindful of these highly vulnerable plants.

Since these plants are more susceptible to threats and require extra care and resources to ensure they are well maintained, from a financial perspective they are more costly. The proposed plan was to set up a nursery in the roof top to protect the sensitive developing plants with ample sunlight that run from East to West. Block A section (shown on the diagram to the left) would be a space for P2, P3 and P4 status plant species with the habitat to be more resistant to the surrounding compared to Species that are under P1 status. P1 plants would be under intensive care in Block B sourcing fresh water from the Septic tank (refer Darren’s roof document for detailed description). There are two3,000 litre septic tank on both sides which could provide for the nativeplants bed on two ends.Lower courtyard would possibly be P3 and P4 native species as they can be a learning platform for the children and community to get informed on native species. All soil bed would consist of a 200mm substrate depth for a better thermal insulation and storm water management. Railing would be included across the perimeter of the floor for the safety of the community.

Septic tank Skylight

P1:Known form one or a few (generally <5 population) which are under immediate threat P2: not under immediate threat (generally <5 population) P3: several population, not under immediate threat P4:adequately surveyed and whlist being rare (CALM Flora List, 2001)

Threatened Flora

Declared by CALMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S threatened (declared rare) flora database, Declared rare and priority flora list and Western Australian Herbarium Speciman database for declared rare and priority flora (DRPF).

Acacia Bethamii - P2

Dodonaea Hackettiana - P4

Broad drainage channels in areas of open mallee over low shrubs soils are sand overlying loams and clays (Department of Environment and Conservation Species and Communities Branch (SCB), 2008).

Habitat: Well drained soils , requires good sunlight exposure, tolerate dry conditions and resistable to frost.

Native to Western Australia Flowering Period: July- October

Figure 9

Native to Western Australia Flowering Period: July, August, September, October

Figure 10

Beyeria Cygnorum - P3

Hibbertia Spicata - P3

Flowering Period: July- August

Flowering Period: July- October Most likely to be pollinated by native beetles that are the common pollinator s of native ginuinea flower species.

Figure 12

Figure 11

Eucalyptus x mundijongensis - P1

Picris Compacta- P1

Habitat: Well drained area, most likely found in limestone soils near a river can be on cliff and within gully.

Habitat: Sprout on loam and limestone soil close to the riverbank.

Highly vulnerable

Figure 13

Habitat: Lived in yellow sandy clay soil in open woodland, low health on limestone ridges and yellow sandplain with Eucalyptus beardiana and Banksia sceptrum (Department of Environment and Conservation, 2008).

Threats: Invasive weeds, trampling, browsing or gazing from animals , disturbance and changes of the surrounding (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2008).

Declare rare flora

Figure 14

Figure 9: M. Pieroni, Acacia Bethamii. 2018, Digital Image. Available from: World Wide Wattle(M. Pieroni 2018).

Figure 10: M. Moir, Female Flowers and Seed Case. 2018, Digital Image. Available from: Royal Botanic Gardens Board (M. Moir 2018).

Figure 11: GRM Dashorst, Line Drawing (subsp. recondita). 2019, Digital Image. Available from: Royal Botanic Gardens Board (Dashorst 2019).

Figure 12: Mayfield, E, Flora of the Otway Plain and Ranges. 2006, Digital Image. Available from: Enid Mayfield (Mayfield 2006).

Figure 13: Arizona State University Herbarium, Eucalyptus mundijongensis. 1994, Digital Image. Available from: Intermountain (Arizona State University Herbarium 1994).

Figure 14: Herbarium Catalogue Specimens, Picris Compacta. 1841, Digital Image. Available from: Plants of the World Online (Herbarium Catalogue Specimens 1841).

rth No Figure 15

Extension Balcony The proposal of decreasing the north direct sunlight and daylighting during summer and winter is to install additional of 2m x 2m private balcony on the Block A wing, the idea was inspired by The Greenest of the Green Block in precedent 1. The balcony can possible act as a awning for the level below and trellis wall that span from 1st to 3rd level and are equipped with the addition of hanging down leaf on the balcony for the user to have ownership on the plants.

As seen in figure 15, the result in Seifeira does tremendously change the heat and daylighting getting into the internal space.

This would improve roomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thermal comfort during winter season.

Figure 16 shows the rendering of the proposal.

Figure 16

Double skin facade The additional double skin facade can improve the thermal performance of the surrounding and interior through evapotranspiration. According to AIP Conference Proceedings (2017), installing a green facade that sustain through the wall can be harmful to the building in a long term as roots of the plants eventually penetrate into the walls and the moisture from the plants would effect the building. Hence, double skin facade is a suitable choice as it is more well-controlled and mantained. The other options can be referred to wenchiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vertical report as it is a collaborated design.

Team work review The group work collaboration allowed us as an individual to reflect and consider different aspects of the building (vertical, service and roof). As the theme that was assigned to which is building integrated greenery can be able to work with different parts of the building, at the same time, it takes compromises to balance ideas and proposals. In this report, it is evident that greenery can be incorporate to different parts of the building.

There were also clashes, conflicting of ideas as each individuals are working on different topic and the design can differ from one another. Therefore, it would better the options are open, it can be seen throughout the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report that the design are different from the original due to compromising each part of the team. Overall, we learn to discuss well and effectively because built environment is not just about greenery but a compilation of different element.

Image reference Mayfield, E. 2006. “Flora of the Otway Plain and Ranges”. Enid Mayfield. https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/0d0d4ddf-4169 4805-8f1b-a4fd38403ebe#&gid=1&pid=2.

Dashorst GRM. 2019. “Line Drawing (Subsp. Recondita”. Royal Botanic Gardens Board. https://apps.lucidcentral.org/plants_se_nsw/text/entities/hibbertia_hermanniifolia.htm.

Pieroni, M. 2018. “Acacia Bathamii”. World Wide Wattle. https://apps.lucidcentral.org/wattle/text/entities/acacia_benthamii.htm.

Moir, M. 2018. “Female Flower and Seed Case”. Royal Botanical Gardens Board. https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/plants_se_nsw.old_2019_01-11_delme/key/plants_se_nsw/Media/Html/entities/dodonaea_truncatiales.htm.

Arizona State University Herbarium. 1994. “Eucalyptus mundijongensis”. Intermountain. http://intermountainbiota.org/portal/imagelib/imgdetails.php?imgid=21271.

Herbarium Catalogue Specimens. 1841. “Picris Compacta”. Plants of the World Online. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:10533-1#source-HC.

Reference

Ecoscape. 2002. Western Suburbs Greening Plan: Western Suburbs Regional Organisation of Councils. Fremantle, WA: WESROC . www.nedlands.wa.gov.au.

Tan, Puay Yok and Chi Yung Jim. 2017. Greening Cities: Forms and Functions. Singapore: Springer.

Dahanayake, Kalani C. and Chow Cheuk Lun. 2017. “Studying the potential of energy saving through vertical greenery systems: Using EnergyPlus

simulation program” Energy and Buildings 138: 47-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.12.002.

Clapp, Leigh, and Hattie Klotz. 2016. Vertical Garden. London, UK: New Holland Publishers.

Department of Environment and Conservation Species and Communities Branch. 2008. Woolly Wattle (Acacia lanuginophylla):

Recovery Plan. Kensington, WA: Department of Environment and Conservation Species and Communities Branch. https://www.environment.gov.au.

Department of Environment and Conservation. 2008. Short-Petalled Beyeria (Beyeria lepidopetala): Recovery Plan. Geraldton, WA: Department of

Environment and Conservation. https://www.environment.gov.au.

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 2008. Approved Conservation Advice for Eucalyptus argutifolia (Yanchep Mallee).

Cranberra, CA: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/ pubs/24263-conservation-advice.pdf.

Leenhardt, Jacques, Anna Lambertini, Mario Ciampi. 2007, Vertical Garden. London, UK: Thames and Hudson.

AIP Conference Proceedings. 2017. “Thermal Performance of Vertical Greening System of the Building Façade: A Review.” Green Construction and

Engineering Education for Sustainable Future. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5003537.