Technologies 3: Part A+B // Building Case Study // 2023

BA3 Technologies

Part A+B

Misheel Altan-Erdene CPU[ai]

Climatic context - The building is located in Delft, Netherlands, where the climate is classified as Cfb.

- The average precipitation level is significantly high; even the driest months have a lot of rainfall, hence, water and damp proofing are crucial.

- The climate is warm and temperate, with cool winters and warm summers, therefore, a moderate level of insulation is needed, and a cooling system is not required.

- The prevailing wind is mainly from the South-West.

- The winter days are short, with an average of 3.3 hours of sunshine per day in January, creating the need for artificial lights and a substantial amount of windows.

Secondary Roof Structure

- EPDM sealant layer

- PIR (Polyisocyanurate) thermal insulation

- Vapour barrier

- 18 mm Veneer plywood on a 44/44 mm wood frame

The secondary roof structure is well insulated and protected from the moisture while maintaining its lightweight.

Primary structural frame - 160/80 mm steel RHS (Rectangular Hollow Section)

- 12 mm curved flat steel Z beam

The steel structural frame is responsible for carrying the building load, both dead and live.

Bracing system

- Steel tie rod bracing system, most likely 16mm in diameter

The bracing on the walls and first floor all ensure the building’s stability against any lateral load that may cause axial shortening, torsion, and shear force.

Primary Floor/Ceiling Structure

- 25 mm laminated veneer lumber panel

- 45/360 mm LVL ribs

Secondary Floor Element 1

- 2 mm PVC flooring

- 30 mm gypsum fibre board

- 30 mm cardboard honeycomb with granule fill

The flooring is both dry and lightweight. While providing clean floor aesthetic, the element doesn’t contribute massively to the overal load, which is very effective.

Secondary cladding system 1Ventilation slat - Perforated sheet steel slat - Aluminium frame; 55 mm cavity - 80 mm aluminium panel with thermal insulation Connected to the primary steel structure, which carries its load.

Location + Site

- Cepezed, the architect of the building, purchased the site with former laboratories from the Delft University of Technology in 2012 to transform it into a creative office cluster.

- The site is neighboured by three listed buildings in Dutch Neo-renaissance style; hence, the construction had to be done without disrupting the immediate context.

- The name Building D is derived from the surrounding listed buildings.

- The only non-listed building was in poor condition, so it was demolished and the exact footprint was used for the new building.

- Due to the historical context, the building size and design scope were constrained.

- The adjacent school building blocks most of the direct prevailing wind.

- The building site is located on the SouthEast corner of the cluster, exposing the façade to morning and afternoon sunlight.

However, the proximity of the surrounding buildings still shades the office spaces.

- The site is very close to a beautiful canal but the neighbouring building blocks the Southside view.

- The adjacent car road would cause a minor noise disruption.

Evaluation

Sustainable Land-use and Ecology

+ Prioritizing of site reuse The design was built on the site of a former building that wasn’t occupied due to poor condition.

+ Mixed-use development: The new building along with the refurbished listed buildings accommodates a wide range of creative companies without disrupting the local context.

+ Minimum local pollution from the development: The building design is very lightweight and is fully demountable and reusable. Structural components were prefabricated, and the construction was finished in a short amount of time with no harm to the urban environment.

- The building does not enhance the bio-diversity or contribute to the green spaces, which could have been accomplished with some landscaping element, indoor garden, green roof or green façade.

Sustainable Connectivity and Transport

+ Digital connectivity: The company that is currently occupying the building is a game-developing tech company, which offers an option to work from home, eliminating the need for unnecessary travel.

+ Proximity to public transport The building is 10 minute’s walk away from 4 public transport stations, encouraging the use of public transport rather than private cars. The area has a well-developed cycling infrastructure and is 2 minute’s walk away from a public cycling park.

+ Pedestrian links to social amenities The site is easily accessible from different parts of the city. The proximity to shops, services, public parks, and stations by walk makes it a pleasant work environment for the users.

- The office building has a lack of end-of-journey provisions for active travellers and electric car users. This could be improved with the installation of electric car chargers, dry lockers, and showers.

Sustainable Communities and Social Value

+ Expression of identity and territory: The historical identity of the site is kept uninterrupted while the new office building adds a more modern aesthetic, reflecting the contemporary architectural development of the Dutch city.

+ A place for social interaction The open plan of the office building encourages social interaction and collaboration. The highly transparent envelope connects the inside and outside, enriching street life.

+ Vibrant mixed-use place The building is intended to be reusable in different locations for many functions and the open plan makes it convenient to adapt to other uses than an office space.

- Although the transparency breaks the barrier between inside and outside, it also harms the workers’ safety and privacy if the roller blinds do not completely cover the glazing.

Primary Roof Structure

- 25 mm laminated veneer lumber panel

- 45/360 mm LVL ribs

The flat roof supports itself as well as secondary roof and any other equipment that is placed on it, such as, HVAC system, drainage, and solar panels.

3). Building Fabric + Construction

i. Isometric: Elemental Build-ups & Zones

The primary structure of the building is comprised of prefabricated steel columns and beams and modular laminated veneer lumber floor/ceiling elements with structural ribs. The design follows a cradle-to-cradle principle, which states that the elements should be reused within a closed cycle for as long as possible to comply with the Netherlands’ target of organising all construction activity within closed material cycles by 2050.

Secondary Partition Wall

- 12 mm MDF panel

- 15 mm hanger rod

- 12.5 mm gypsum board

- 75/50/06 mm steel channel inlaid mineral wool insulation

- 12.5 mm gypsum board The lightweight partition wall’s load is distributed to the lvl flooring.

Secondary structure frame

- Steel frame

- Steel stairs with galvanised steel grating (Landing)

Secondary cladding system 2 - Glazing

- Double layer insulating glass

The curtain wall is neatly fitted to the primary structure, which carries its load and distributes to the foundation. There isn’t a separate secondary structure for the glazing, it’s all one piece.

Secondary Floor Element 2 - 60 mm screed

Foundation - 180 mm reinforced concrete raft foundation with deepened edge The foundation uniformly distributes the building load to the ground and receives the reaction force.

load but also decreases the spanning distance of the LVL elements.

Live loads include the people occupying the building, pieces of furniture, and lateral loads such as snow, wind, and rain. The lateral load stability is provided by the bracing system working in both tension and compression. As seen on the diagram, the building structure has three sets of vertical and one horizontal bracing system.

Weather resistant envelope

Thermal envelope

Damp proofing

Vapour barrier

The plan and sections of the building reveal an extremely simple box design concept. The cradleto-cradle principle is manifested in the form of the building. The short distance of each slender column (highlighted in red) creates a relatively small structural grid and makes the open plan possible.

The ventilation slats are fitted following the structural grid. The South-West prevailing wind would enter the building and creates natural ventilation. The steel columns make it possible to install floor-to-ceiling glazing, which fully brightens the open-plan floor.

12 mm curved flat steel Z beam 160/80 mm steel RHS

ii. Construction strategies

In terms of the fabric, there is a large number of steel columns, which function as a primary structural frame and the cladding support system, minimizing the number of materials needed. A large number of glazing ensures the office’s transparency. The modular nature of the wooden flooring makes is easy to mass produce with precision. Every fabric element is prefabricated except for the reinforced concrete foundation, which was poured in situ. The prefabricated modular construction method is quick, clean, and highly accurate. The architects did their best to make the structure as lightweight as possible for the ease of reusing in the future. The steel, glass, and woodwork were all done by local contractors, minimizing the carbon footprint.

The double glazed façade is weather resistant, which is crucial in the humid climate of delft and it also functions as a thermal envelope. Excavation of the site: The former building’s foundation could have been reused, but as a group, we speculated that there was a new foundation.

on the Z beams.

BA3 Technologies Part A: Building Case Study Sheet 2: Energy and Environment

1).

2).

Design Strategies

3).

Overall Massing, Form, Arrangement

- The overall massing of the building is a simple box shape, which works well for solar gain, open office plan, and room arrangement.

- The south façade of the building receives a substantial amount of sunlight, which explains why the working and meeting areas are assigned in the southside.

- It is clear that the architects tried to benefit from the sun exposure by making the west, south, and east facades fully transparent, so that the workers would receive both thermal and light comfort.

- On the other hand, the North façade doesn’t receive enough sun exposure, hence the architects cleverly arranged the service areas in the north and provided a thick insulation wall.

- The insulation wall also protects the servicing pipes and wires

Passive strategies

- Summer sunlight will enter through the glazing and slightly heat up the flooring

- There is no thermal mass so the heat will not be retained for a long time

- Occupying people and the devices, such as computers, laptops, and servers will also heat up the space

- Natural ventilation entering through the slats will cool down the space

Active strategies

- Although it doesn’t get that hot during the summer, when the devices heat up too much and the floors retain excessive amount of heat, the HVAC system will help the office cool down.

Evaluation

Sustainable water cycle

+ Low-flow appliances: As the Netherlands follows building regulations that require low-flow toilets and other appliances to be installed in new construction (European Union’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)), building demountable saves water per every flush.

+ Dry construction: The building construction mainly used dry finishing elements, such as gypsum fibre board, cardboard honeycomb with granule infill, and PVC flooring. The structural elements used minimal concrete, saving a significant amount of water.

+ Leak prevention: To comply with the building regulations on drainage systems, the building uses a siphonic drainage system and the rainwater, grey water, and black water is safely handled via the drainage pipes, ensuring that the building is not damaged by any water leakage.

- Although the building complies with the building regulations of the local context, it could have done better in terms of the water cycle by recycling its grey water and rainwater since it rains quite a lot in Delft.

Good health & Well-being

+ Strong visual connection to outside: As the entirety of the south, west, and east external walls are fully glazed the building is extremely transparent and the interior open plan is well connected to the outside visually. The ventilation slats also connect the interior space with the exterior physically.

+ Appropriate density: As a prototype office, the building provides plenty of space for the two known companies: Triumph studios and 9to5. These companies have approximately 72 workers in total and considering they offer a work-from-home option, the density of the building is quite low making the work environment spacious.

+ Good indoor air quality: All the office floors are passively and actively ventilated via the slats and HVAC systems. The air is well circulated in the open space and the stale air is extracted efficiently.

+ Good indoor daylighting and glare control: The south-facing glazing brings in natural daylight throughout the day and the artificial light provides pleasant interior lighting at night. The manually controlled blinds protect the workers from glare issues.

- Overall, the building is a very nice office that promotes the users’ mental and physical health, but the spaces could use more indoor plants and private rooms.

Net zero operational carbon

+ Efficient mechanical systems: In order to harmonize with the demountable concept, the building uses a small number of HVAC systems that work efficiently, thus saving energy while maintaining indoor quality.

+ Retrofit of existing buildings: It is assumed that the foundation of the former building was partially reused for the new one. By reducing the concrete needed for the foundation, the construction team saved both embodied and operational carbon.

+ Low energy appliances: The office areas use a small number of LED strip lights that are activated via light sensors, hence reducing the energy needed for the artificial lights.

- There is no information on renewable energy generated on-site. It would have helped in terms of operational carbon if they installed some PV panels on the roof, considering how exposed the roof is to the sunlight.

The facade is designed with full glazing to let as much natural light in the space as possible

Winter sun in Delft is low and the daylight duration is significantly less

The facade is designed with full glazing to let as much natural light in the space as possible

The deep penetration of the sun would cause fair bit of glare issues, so the roller blinds are needed at certain times of the day Due to the altitude, the lower floors wouldn’t get as much direct sunlight; the south building will shade it. Because winter daylight hour is few, the artificial light is needed in the morning and evening.

Passive strategies

- Winter sun enters the building much deeper at a lower angle

- The deep penetration will warm up the floor more

- Due to the lack of thermal mass, the heat will not be retained

- The lack of thermal mass is explained by the demountable, lightweight structure of the building and the office typology, where the space would not be occupied for 24 hours

- As said before, the people and the devices will also release heat

- Due to the cool temperature, the natural ventilation will be reduced

Active strategies

- The HVAC system heats up the space with warm circulated air

- The artificial lights will also release small amount of heat

*The study times are selected to match the office hours. The renders show the office area of the 2nd floor

blinds.

Similar to the morning, the roller blinds would still stay down. However, if the sky is overcast, which is very probable in Delft, the space can enjoy the open view without a problem.

Equinox evenings are well lit with no glare. When it’s cloudy outside, the space could use the LED lights during this time.

are not required.

BA3 Technologies Part A: Building Case Study Sheet 3: Detailed Envelope Study

1). Synthesis + Argument

2). Integrated 3D Envelope Study

i. Isometric A

2 mm powder coated aluminium coping The aluminium coping is mailnly used to protect the roof edge from water and weather proof the parapet. The material is chosen for its durability, ease of installation, and finishing aesthetics to match with the overall building design.

Roof edge PIR insulation

The roof edge is susceptible to cold bridging, so the edge is insulated with PIR to avoid losing heat via the roof junction.

Detailed Assembly Building Fabric

- The building demountable has a fully glazed curtain wall system on its South, West, and East side and a well-insulated wall with galvanized corrugated sheet steel on the North side.

- The roof comprises of EPDM sealant layer, thermal insulation, and veneer plywood ceiling element.

- The roof insulation thickness varies. This is because the insulation was placed to create a slight curve to distribute the rainwater to the drainage system.

- It is clear that the building fabric is done very minimally and simply with absolute minimum materials.

- All the elements of the building fabric are prefabricated and bolted together instead of welding to make it possible to disassemble in the future.

- The junction details show that the building is susceptible to thermal bridging, especially the wall-to-floor junction.

- The glazing U value is 1.10 W/m²K, North wall’s U value is 0.14 W/m²K, which are better than the standard U values of a window and cavity wall.

- The roof’s U value ranges from 0.22 W/m²K to 0.15 W/m²K, showing it has a worse U value than a standard roof of 0.15 to 0.18 W/m²K.

- Although the wall and glazing have sufficient U values, the overall envelope does not reach the Passivhaus energy-efficient building standard.

- It can be concluded that the building wasn’t designed for thermal efficiency in the Delft cool weather. However, considering that it is a prototype office building with occupations from 9 to 5, the thermal conductivity wasn’t a more important priority than the demountability and minimal materials. Additionally, the orientation, form, and massing of the building show that it is not that hard to mechanically heat the building during cold winter days.

Change Over Time

- Following the cradle-to-cradle principle and the fundamentals of circular economy the entire building is completely demountable and reusable in a different location, either fully or partially.

- All the elements are prefabricated and easily transportable for reuse.

- The junction details show that the components are designed to be disassembled for future use.

- On its current site, the envelope protects the building well from sun, wind, and rain. The envelope has resilient and long-lasting materials, such as corrugated steel sheets, steel RHS, and glass.

- In case of any damage, due to the modular and prefabricated nature of the construction elements, the building could be fixed and the elements could be replaced with new ones without complications.

- The open plan and the small form make the building easy to retrofit and construct in various locations.

Aluminium window frame

The aluminium frame is weather resistant, energy efficient, and aesthetically pleasing. It is a durable and lightweight choice for this type of construction. The glazing is directly attached to the steel RHS from the aluminium frame.

Double glazed thermal insulation glazing

The double glazing helps to reduce the heat loss via window. This is an extremely important feature for this building due to the large amount of glazing and transparency. It improves the energy efficiency, sound insulation, air tightness, and user comfort. Double glazing also reduces condensation and works as water and weather proofing.

Ground level

EPDM layer EPDM is used as a moisture barrier to protect the insulation and the foundation from any water damage.

Aluminium coping The ground level coping is used to protect the window frame, foundation edge, and the insulation from ground moisture and water damage.

i. Isometric B

3). Junction Details

i. Wall to Roof Interface

EPDM sealant layer

EPDM is commonly used in flat roof construction to provide waterproofing and prevent any damage. It is flexible, durable, and can withstand weather changes well.

150 mm PIR insulation

2 mm powder coated aluminium coping

The aluminium coping is mainly used to protect the roof edge from water and weather proof the parapet. The material is chosen for its durability, ease of installation, and finishing aesthetics to match with the overall building design.

Roof edge PIR insulation

The roof edge is susceptible to cold bridging, so the edge is insulated with PIR to avoid losing heat via the roof junction.

44/44 mm wood frame Creates the roof cavity and supports the veneer plywood board.

0.75 mm sheet steel

The steel layer protects the mineral wool insulation from condensation and water damage. It also helps the insulation fixing.

200 mm mineral wool insulation

The wall insulation is made out of mineral wool. This was probably chosen due to its sustainability and fire resistance. Aside from having great thermal performance, it provides excellent sound insulation, durability, and moisture resistance.

0.75 mm sheet steel

The steel layer protects the mineral wool insulation from condensation and water damage. It also helps the insulation fixing.

38 mm galvanized corrugated sheet steel

The steel facade weatherproofs the north wall. It is easily bolted to the structure and would be not difficult to undo the fixing.

50/50/6 mm steel channel Supports the partition wall.

2 mm powder coated aluminium coping

Folded sheet aluminium finishing profile

Roller blind

44/44

Siphonic roof drainage

150 mm PIR thermal insulation

Vapour barrier

18 mm veneer plywood

Net Zero Embodied Carbon Emissions

+ Prioritisation of building reuse: The whole concept of the design is to either fully or partially reuse the building somewhere else, therefore it is one of the best examples of reusable architecture.

+ Use of low embodied carbon and healthy materials: The ceiling structure is made out of laminated veneer lumber, a material with significantly less embodied carbon than other popular construction materials like steel or concrete. Wood also absorbs carbon, purifies the air, and provides a natural feel.

+ Ethical and responsible sourcing: The lvl modules used for this building are supplied by Metsa wood, a Finnish company that specializes in engineered wood. Metsa is dedicated to the ethical sourcing of their wood and sustainable forest management.

+ Minimal construction waste: As the construction elements are prefabricated, the onsite construction is very fast and has significantly less waste due to high accuracy

+ Circular economy: The building can be disassembled and reassembled for future use. The open plan design makes it easy to adapt to other functions.

+ Long life: All the components are designed to withstand the change over time and last long either in their original form or used in a different project.

Sustainable Life Cycle Cost

+ Easy aftercare

+ Reduced energy cost: All the electric lights are energy-saving LED lights. Passive ventilation strategies help to reduce HVAC energy use.

+ Reduced maintenance cost: The modular nature of the design makes the building easy to maintain and renovate.

+ Added value of health and wellbeing: The interior thermal, acoustic and visual comfort makes the building a valuable property for the users.

+ Added value of sustainable outcomes: The commitment to sustainability and circular economy makes it a desirable space.

Thermal insulation The foundation edge insulation is used to eliminate the potential cold bridging in the junction.

15 mm hanger rod Supports the partition wall.

12 mm veneer plywood Finishes the partition wall

6 mm gypsum board

Ground level

Plumbing services

120/70/5 mm steel angle

A1. Pouring the concrete foundation, installing the ground insulation, and fixing the aluminium coping.

A2. Installation of primary steel RHS columns. The columns are bolted to the foundation and the concrete screed is poured on top. The steel Z beams are bolted to the columns and the steel channel is fixed.

A3. The secondary structural element, the lvl panels, is installed as well as the moisture barriers.

A4. Sub floor elements, the pvc finish, honeycomb cardboard, and gypsum fibre board, are installed on the lvl elements.

A5. The roof construction begins, the insulation and EPDM are fitted.

A6. The curtain wall glazing is clipped to the primary structure at the same time as the roof construction. The roof junction coping is done then.

A7. Installation of the service and roller blinds. Then all the furniture is placed for office use.

B1. Pouring the concrete foundation, installing the ground insulation, and finishing the EPDM sealant.

B2. Installation of primary steel RHS columns. The columns are bolted to the foundation and the concrete screed is poured on top. The steel Z beams are bolted to the columns and the steel channel is fixed.

B3. The secondary structural element, the lvl panels, is installed as well as the moisture barriers.

B4. Sub floor elements, the pvc finish, honeycomb cardboard, and gypsum fibre board, are installed on the lvl elements.

B5. The sheet metal along with the mineral wool insulation are fixed and the EPDM sealant is placed.

B6. The corrugated facade is bolted to the building and the roof coping is installed.

B7. The partition walls, interior finishes, and the building services are installed and get ready for use.

Double glazed thermal insulation glazing with clip system directly connecting to steel profile

12 mm curved flat steel beam

160/80 mm steel RHS

ii. Window Opening Details Vertical slat detail Horizontal detail

Aluminium profile grating

Curtain wall profile

2 mm PVC flooring

Double glazed thermal insulation glazing with clip system directly connecting to steel profile

30 mm gypsum fibre board

30 mm cardboard honeycomb with granule infill

Thermal insulation

Thermal insulation

Coated aluminium frame

Aluminium clip

mm rib Wood frame Wood frame

Thermal insulation

Aluminium profile grating

160/80 mm steel RHS

iii. Floor Slab to External Wall Detail

2 mm PVC flooring Roller blind 30 mm cardboard honeycomb with granule infill

mm LVL

30 mm gypsum fibre board

Double glazed thermal insulation glazing with clip system directly connecting to steel profile

iV. External Wall to Ground Slab Detail

Double glazed thermal insulation glazing with clip system directly connecting to steel profile

ii. Envelope Assembly

BA3 Technologies Part B Lecture Commentary

Misheel Altan-Erdene

Lecture 1: Retrofit First Lecture 3: Going Vertical (Advanced Facade Design) Lecture 4: Office Design and Delivery Lecture 5: IDEAhaus Lecture 2: Future Vision for a Healthier Greener City

Date: 30/01/2023

Speaker: Glenn Ombler

Position: Founder & Proprietor Organisation: oi architects

Date: 06/02/2023

Speaker: Kevin P. Flanagan

Position: Founder & Senior Architect

Organisation: Kevin P Flanagan Architects/Masterplanners

Date: 13/02/2023

Speaker: Rhodri Evans

Position: Facade consultant

Organisation: Billings design associates ltd (bda)

Date: 06/03/2023

Speaker: Laura Stafford

Position: Associate

Organisation: 5plus architects

Date: 13/03/2023

Speaker: Ian McHugh

Position: Principal

Organisation: Green Triangle Studio

Following the title, the lecture’s overall theme was retrofit/ adaptive reuse and why we do or don’t retrofit. The theme was extensively discussed around the case study, The Zenith Building by Ombler Iwanowski Architects.

Design Methodology & technological strategy

Originally designed as a post office, The Zenith Building was adapted into a speculative office building in 2007; currently accommodating a Corporate Headquarters. The three main reasons for retrofitting (climate, building heritage, and economy) were successfully implemented in this project. Firstly, a massive amount of carbon emission was prevented simply by not demolishing and building new, which resonates with the atelier CPU theme of Net Zero carbon. The building’s structure was fully assessed by the engineer to add the 3-floor extension and ensure the property’s future resilience. Pali Raducci foundation was inserted from the inside and the concrete shaft (sheer wall) was strengthened. The existing heavy brickwork envelope was fully removed and replaced with ventilating aluminium rain screen cladding with added insulation, brise soleil, and aluminium/timber frame windows for improved thermal performance, structural stability, weather, and fire resistance. The HVAC system was also updated with cooling units, fan convector, and mechanical ventilation.

Responsibilities

The project’s existing building belonged in a conservation area with numerous listed buildings, so the architect had to work around the Manchester city council’s Listing and Conservation Areas systems. Although not enforced, the use of Portland stone was inspired by the adjacent listed buildings as well as being favoured for its low processing, hence low embodied carbon. Architects carry responsibility for keeping the building heritage and despite Glenn admitting that he regrets how the architectural style was disrupted and the same type of buildings are becoming obsolete, I think they have done a great job preserving the original aesthetic. For inclusivity in buildings, the only female toilet in the core is moved and replaced with non-gendered washrooms, which I respect a lot. For thermal performance responsibilities, the architect opted for a composite timber/aluminium window instead of a steel frame window, preventing thermal bridging. Building regulations, such as accessibility, fire safety, and comfort were considered in the design. In particular, the architect added a smoke shaft and enclosure to the fire stairs for fire safety. Lastly, there was a responsibility to comply with the BCO guidance to achieve ‘Grade A’ status in the client’s respect. The client-centred design and the ensuring of the building performance, safety, and sustainability is something to learn from and implement.

Compliance

The key consideration is the building regulations, to make sure the building is safely occupiable. Prioritizing the UN sustainable development goals and RIBA sustainable outcomes is essential. In this case study, the architect also had to follow the guidelines of BCO and BREAAM. Moreover, the project complied with the Manchester City Council’s planning policy during the planning application process. To conclude, the project which satisfies the client and follows the legislation documents, was the result of the collaboration and hard work of the architects, engineers, and consultants.

The second lecture of the series was delivered by Kevin P. Flanagan on the topic of the impacts of the built environment on the climate, ways to build healthier and greener cities, and a variety of high-rise timber structures.

Design Methodology & Technological Strategy

The lecture started with a presentation video of the Edge in Amsterdam, a smart and sustainable office building powered by digital technology. The building employed numerous innovative design solutions such as a naturally lit open atrium, a hot desking work system, and a general form that benefits from sun exposure. The freedom of the atrium and its consequent feeling of happiness, advanced use of technology, and user-centred design harmonize with the CPU atelier theme and my design agenda.

The second part of the lecture was even more interesting as Kevin introduced the Oakwood Timber Tower Series. The majority of tower designs are hypothetical for now, but the idea of high-rise timber structures represents greener, smarter, and healthier cities. By building higher with timber, we are essentially reducing land space, CO2 emission, and the embodied carbon of the building. There are many health benefits of exposed timber, including improved air quality, a sense of being outdoors, calmness, and reduced stress. Although have always been a pro-timber architecture student, the lecture truly convinced me again how amazing timber is for construction.

Responsibilities

In the case of the Edge, the responsibility of creating a sustainable and comfortable environment for the users is manifested in the overall design. The form of the building maximises sun exposure, thus eliminating the need for mechanical heating and lighting. The integration of technology and the visual aesthetic of the office attracts the workers and provides them with a pleasant workplace. Sustainability measures are taken seriously in timber tower designs as well. Architects carry a great duty of eliminating carbon emissions from buildings since the industry is responsible for more than half of the global CO2 emissions. This duty is clearly displayed in the material choice as engineered mass timber; it has negative carbon emissions, making it million times better than the popular construction materials like steel or concrete that carry heavy embodied carbon. In addition engineered timber has great strength and is lightweight, which makes it perfect for creative design options.

Compliance

As mentioned before, the building regulations must have been the most important regulatory document, especially when building such a high-rise building with timber, fire safety issues should be seriously considered. Planning the application of land use to the local authority is essential as well as the safety assessment of the designers. The Edge has achieved BREEAM outstanding award by Building Research Establishment with a score of 98.3, making it one of the most sustainable office buildings. Other projects are yet to come.

The 3rd discourse lecture focused purely on the building façade and how they are designed, tested, and delivered. It was crucial to study the building façade as a complete system on its own as well as consider its role in the whole building.

Design Methodology & technological strategy

The lecture highlighted the aspect of both going vertical and horizontal with building facades and how the design drivers change based on the type of system, programme requirement, and climatic context vary. With tall buildings, it is highly important to tackle the issues of wind load, impact loads, and lateral movement, such as sway, axial shortening, and edge deflection. One of the case studies shown, 39 storeys high Chapter London Bridge student residences by KPF uses a unitised curtain wall with stack-joint design, which is a common façade solution, but it is obvious that the architects and the facade consultants parametric-looking modular design for a pleasant aesthetic. Aside from the technical role, the facade should carry a visual responsibility as the face of the building. 79m tall Capital Dock in Dublin was clad with pre-fabricated and pre-glazed unitised precast concrete panels, which have cunningly hidden joints. One Crown Place also employs a beautiful pre-fabricated terracotta façade. By using prefabrication, the façade joint accuracy is increased while reducing on-site construction time. While high-rise buildings have a large number of lateral load challenges, low-rise buildings like MECD eliminate it, as well as possibly reducing the cladding area. In this example, the massive project is clad with a combination of glazed/ opaque unitised panels, aluminium fins, stick system facades, and rain-screen cladding. Despite the use of several different materials, the geometry and the colour make the building envelope look harmonic. The most remarkable takeaway from the lecture was the large-scale mock-ups used to test the visual, physical, and practical performance of the facades, which creates to opportunity to fix and change anything before mass production.

Responsibilities

Unlike the previous lecturers, who were all architects, this week’s lecturer was a consultant, so the professional and moral responsibilities differed a little. As consultants, they work on pre-planned buildings, therefore there is more emphasis on finding the optimal solution for the architect’s ideas. Consultants work at the RIBA work stages 4, 5, and 6, so the technical design, manufacturing, and testing of the product are mandatory. They carry a responsibility to provide visually pleasing, acoustically sound, and load-resisting façade without a thermal bridge to maximise the whole building’s performance. As multiple consultants, manufacturers, and architects are working simultaneously on the same large-scale projects, like MECD, the importance of delivering the project on time and effective communication throughout the process is heightened. After the tragedy of the Grenfell tower fire, there are even more demands on the fire safety of building facades. Lastly, just like architects, façade consultants also must contribute to the tackling of climate change and CO2 emissions by choosing the right system, material, and joinery.

Compliance

The regulatory factors that could affect the process of design creation and approval should be taken into account while discussing facades. Land law, development control, building regulations, and health and safety laws are a few of the important regulations that must be taken into account. The local planning authority, the building control body, and the health and safety executive are examples of organisations that participate in the approval process. Facade consultants need to be aware of these regulations and work within their guidelines to ensure that the proposals are approved in a timely and efficient manner.

The fourth lecture in the series drew our attention to office buildings and how we can design them with holistic priorities in mind, such as climate resilience, user comfort, and energy efficiency, for better work culture and environment. Laura Stafford from 5plus Architects delivered the lecture and highlighted three office buildings the practice has previously worked on.

Design Methodology & Technological Strategy

Before introducing the case studies, Laura summarised the fundamentals of building a great office, which made me realize that many factors and professionals contribute to the design aside from architects. Then we moved on to 5plus architects’ principles of good office design and the three projects that brought them to reality. The first case study, First Choice Homes in Oldham, is a corporate HQ for a social housing provider. I enjoyed how the architects analysed the site well and responded to the context with their design by considering the slope, noise, and vibrations. The building is mechanically ventilated and EPC B certified. The most insightful aspect of the building was how the skylight and the atrium brought people together and provided natural light to the workstations. It was a huge improvement from the former office space. The second precedent, Halton Housing, is another office for a housing association. The agenda of the project was to bring the different departments of the organization together, and this was achieved via two wings connected by a central service/circulation spine. The building’s elevated roofs work as a chimney for ventilation, and the glazing is equipped with solar shading devices to avoid heat gain. The last case study, The Hive in Manchester, differs from the previous two buildings by adopting cross-ventilation. For energy efficiency, the building uses solar shading devices, high-performance insulation, thermal mass, and operable windows. The architects approached all the designs with an emphasis on occupier, context, and climate, which is also essential for my own design.

Responsibilities

There are many legal and professional responsibilities that architects have to provide. In designing office buildings, the architect has to create a thermally and visually comfortable working environment as a minimum and also try to advocate for space that brings enthusiasm to work and communicate. The success of this type of office design can be seen in the First Choice Homes building. There have been serious discussions on the impact of the building industry on global CO2 emissions and climate change in the past few decades. This brings us to the responsibility of architects to design environmentally friendly buildings. 5plus architects have carefully designed the office buildings to maximize building performance and minimize both embodied and operational carbon. The use of solar shading devices, considerations of form and massing, and passive strategies are definitely exemplary methods and something I should try to adopt.

Compliance

For the projects, the architects had to comply with UK building regulations and planning applications endorsed by local authorities. This was the first lecture where we discussed the Energy Performance Certificate from Her Majesty’s government. It is a document that is used to assess the building’s energy performance, and all the case study buildings have acquired B or better ratings. The building’s design and construction stages had to comply with RIBA work stages and Standard guidelines of the British Council for Offices. Lastly, as all the sustainably and energy-efficient buildings do, the projects achieved BREEAM Very Good and Excellent ratings.

The final lecture of the discourse series was delivered by Ian McHugh on the topic of climate change, its global effects on people and the built environment, and how residential houses can be designed to adapt to the inevitable future. IDEAhaus by the studio was used as a primary case study in this lecture.

Design Methodology & Technological Strategy

In my opinion, this lecture and the Kevin P Flanagan lecture were the ones that really scientifically dived into the cause and effect of climate change. The presentation started with Ian’s research into global warming at both global and local levels with psychrometric charts, IPCC temperature graphs and other studies. It was alarming to see that even the bestcase scenario will increase global mean temperature; and more concerning to see that the general public isn’t worried about it as much as they should. Ian remarked that the UK housing is not being designed to deal with climate change and IDEAhaus was specifically designed to adapt to the future. IDEAhaus has mass-produced core and additive components to reduce construction waste, have predictable processes, and standardise housing. The industrialized construction method was very efficient and I hope to adopt the technology in the future. The most important aspect of the design is how it is tailored for user comfort and climate resistance. The precast concrete ground floor provides thermal mass and flood resistance, the timber frame is well insulated with hempcrete and hemp fibre, and the roof is used as a green roof/garden for biodiversity and rainwater management. The central volumetric unit contains standardised core elements, the floor plan shows a flexible arrangement, and the South facing roof is pitched to exploit the solar energy. Despite the construction being heavily industrialized, there are many options to modify the outer layer and floor numbers. There is an effective use of natural ventilation, underfloor heating and cooling. The thermal modelling of IDEAhaus shows that the design can create a much cooler interior environment in the future than high spec timber frame Baseline House.

Responsibilities

In designing residential homes, making sure that the interior thermal, ventilation and acoustic comfort are suitable for people to live in is crucial. In the case study, it is apparent that the architect took that responsibility seriously. The overall theme of the lecture was to discuss the climate emergency. It is common to see that buildings are primarily designed for the urban context and the user’s comfort, and climate issues come in later. In contrast, the architects had a professional and moral responsibility to design a home that withstands the inevitable climate change and I think they have succeeded here.

Compliance

The project complies with local planning and UK building regulations. Although it wasn’t mentioned in the lecture, the insulation performance makes it almost Passivhaus standard. I want to note here that the architects worked not only to comply with the regulatory documents but to exceed the minimum requirements for a more resilient future.

Existing building in 2002 Adapted building in modern day

Oakwood timber tower 2 facade structure

Oakwood timber tower 2 solar shading

Chapter London Bridge student residences unitised curtain wall

MECD facade visual mockup

First Choice Homes atrium interior

IDEAhaus exploded axonometric

Chapter London Bridge student residences unitised curtain wall joint

Oakwood timber tower 1 structural principle