C L I M A T E C H A N G E M U S E U M

My vision for this project is to design a museum space that rises people’s awareness of Climate Change, and invites everyone to come without feeling nervous and overwhelmed, as well as to design an architectural rhythm through the scale of the spaces, circulation, and layout of programs.

I studied the climate conditions on site and incorporated into the design. For example, in summer, the prevailing wind comes from South-West direction while it comes from North-East in winter. Plus, the site is on the water, so it is worth to consider opening up South-West direction for ventilation during summer to reduce cooling loads.

In order to reduce the cooling load, i plan to use the advantage of prevailing wind, especially during summer, which the prevailing wind comes from south west direction, and it is through river.

To reduce the heating load, i tried to block the prevailing wind in winter from north east direction.

So the south west façade of the building has more void while north east façade has more solid, and the summer wind will go through middle atrium space as ventilation.

Climate Change Museum, 3rd Year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxpNmVHkDlY

It is important to preserve the heat inside the room during winter in New York. I design concrete thermal mass as part of the flooring. During the day, the concrete would store the heat produced by the people, the activities, and daylight, and it would release the heat into the air when the temperature is low. People inside the office can close the operable window to reduce the rate of ventilation to keep the heat inside the room. It wouldn’t be a problem because radiant ceiling provides convection in the room to keep the air exchange.

For spring season in New York, it is important to have ventilation. The operable window allows people in the office to get fresh air. Since the window is facing inward of the building, so that there is no need to worry about the glare. The radiant ceiling allows convection to happen inside the office space to cool down the air from people and activities, and it wouldn’t the break the architectural asthetic inside the space.