SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
REPOSITORY
An Archive of Contemporary Thought in Sustainable Architecture
Canal Siren, Venice 2000
Restricted Access Information
Published by Seadog Press, PO Box 243, Monterey, CA 93942 E-mail laumana@aloha.net
© 2004 Robert D. Hotten, and Dr. Peter Diprose
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrival system,
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
ISBN 0-9728097-0-8
Sustainable Architecture - 12 Things You Can Do
To Build Effective Low Cost Houses and Cities
© 2000 Robert Hotten
Section I. History, theory
Section II. Ecology, materials, and construction
Section III. Environmental design methods and studios
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Index Lesson 1 - Siting and design Lesson 2 - Shade Lesson 3 - Ventilation Lesson 4 - Earth shelter Siting and design Environmental planning and management allow conservsation of both the environment and developed facilities and long range risk control. Effective site design accomodates methods 1 through 6. For effective passive solar heating, a building should face within 25 degrees of north (in the southern hemisphere), and be well integrated with the landscape and topography of the site. Sustainable design can limit the scale of the building and recognises traditional, vernacular and cultural values and art.
Pedagogical Objective 1: Hypertext visualization of goals
Vernacular architecture: Satisfying cultural needs, using available materials, under local conditions.
Vernacular, and trends through history: Malaysian pole houses; Asian wood frame pagodas; Southwest earth sheltered houses
Derrida; deconstructing and reconstructing futures; sustainable concepts: 1. synergy with nature; 2. bioregional fit; 3. ethical foundation
Architecture Uncanny: Transparency, Post Urbanism (Vidler)
Four aesthetic principles (Wang 2003), Architectural profession equals fatalists (Wang 2003)
Sustainable architecture- meaning (The Cultural Landscape: Meaning in Eco Design), form, function, economy
Sustainable urbanism- elements, patterns, boundaries, energy flow
Section II. Ecology, materials, construction
Pedagogical objective 2: Environmental assessment
Environmentalism- modernist metanarrative, aims universal, means response to individual (local) conditions (Hagan 2003)
Ecology- patch, edge, corridor
Materials- durable. low embodied energy, non-toxic
Five material principles (Wang 2003)
Eight consequences (Wang 2003)
Construction- landscape and architecture (inside and outside, openess and enclosure)
Poetic objective 3: Checklist of environmental design goals
Five reasons: for environmental design: 1. intellectual- operations of nature superior; 2. practical- new generative strategies, new ways of construction, (pyrotechnics/consistency); 3. technical- "radiance", environmental computer software, computer analysis and simulation; 4. economic- lifecycle cost; 5. pedagogical- merge nature/culture. (Hagan 2003)
"Guidelines... keeps us continuallly trapped in what is typically done." (Addington 2003)
"Collaboration... pre-defined outcome subordinates that knowledge to produce the desired solution: e.g., the sustainable building... disciplinary knowledge is problem-based, and not solution-based... " (Addington 2003)
"For what purpose do we heat, cool, or light a building?" (Addington 2003)
LEED rating checklist
Poetic objective 4: Design synthesis
Total Design (Wigley); space is the machine; Venus Flytraps
Monumental Conceptual ( )
Studios: 1.) Visualizing the imaginary place; 2.) The sustainable house;
3.) 3 times landscaping city (3xl); 4. CEC, green design student competition; 5.) The 3rd Millenium City
Sustainable Architecture
Introduction
"Imagine...the day when we will walk a site and simply absorb it. Next we check our computer for the data files about the "vertical layers." On the monitor's screen we sketch a perspective of what we want a site to look like, transformed to its new use. Then the computer lets us walk through our creation so that we can modify it as we go. When we are finally pleased with this "horizontal view" we will request a two-dimensional computer drawing from which someone else can build what we have envisioned." (Wells 1997).
Architecture and building practices today are high cost, fatalistic solutions, that keep us trapped in what is typically done. This is simply because designers, suppliers, and builders, as well as tax, insurance and real estate brokers and banks, i.e., everyone, makes more profit when houses, infrastructures, processes, and components cost more. Alternative ideas and methods exist to design and build effective low cost houses, landscapes and cities.
What follows is a typically sustainable building process that involves these steps:
There are six historical principles (vernacular trends) to improve the energy efficiency and thereby effectiveness and useability of dwellings. They are: 1) siting and design; 2) shade; 3) ventilation; 4) earth shelter, 5) thermal inertia; and 6) air lock entrances. To this list can be added six new techniques of environmental design and planning (technologies, methods of effectiveness, and design synthesis): 7) scale (footprint), insulation, design of future alternatives; 8) on site water collection and waste disposal; 9) solar water heating panels; 10) photovoltaic electricity generation; 11) recycling and use of local materials; and 12) on site growth of food, fuel and building materials. These twelve principles can be combined, as suitable, into synthesized solutions for various locations, users and climates that meet cultural needs with available materials under local conditions. The following begins to describe these methods and technologies and is an outline of twelve things one can do towards the end of poetic and self-sufficient buildings.
12 principles of sustainable architecture and urbanism (natural design)
Historical methods of design with energy efficiency, vernacular architecture
These six principles follow from logical use of the elements: heat from the sun, insulation of earth, cooling of breezes and shade.
Siting For effective passive solar heating, a building should face within 25 degrees of north (in the southern hemisphere), and be well integrated with the landscape and topography of the site. Vernacular Vernacular Architecture "It may be helpful to start from a process-oriented rather than a product-based viewpoint. Vernacular architecture is based on a knowledge of traditional practices and techniques; it is usually self-built (perhaps with help from family, clan or builders in the tribe), and reveals a high regard for craftsmanship and quality. Vernacular structures tend to be easy to learn and understand. They are made of predominsntly local materials. They are ecologically apt, that is theyb fit in well with local climate, flora, fauna and ways of life. Vernaculer buildings are never ssself-conscious; they recede into the environment rather than serving as self-proclaiming design statements. Tehy are human in scale; frequently the process of building is more important than or equally important as the end product. This combination of good ecological fit, human scale, craftsmanship and striving for quality, together with a strong concern for decoration, ornamentation and embellishment, leads to a sensuous frugality that results in true elegance." "Six Explanations- ...vernacular architecture is the result of multiple causation 1. The Methodological Explanation; 2. The Dispersion and Convergence Explanation; 3. The Evolutionary Explanation; 4. The Social-Environmental Explanation; 5. The Cultural Explanation; 6. The Formal Aesthetic Explanation." "As mainstream architecture itself begins to change in response to new ecological challenges, we must collect more information and start on a classification of what we alreadly have to provide a database so that the lessons of the vernacular are accessible to both architects and users. This will be an adventure of discovery to shape the forms of tomorrow through the wisdom of the old." (Papanek 1995) Discovering the Vernacular landscape Environmental planning and management allow conservsation of both the environment and developed facilities and long range risk control. Effective site design accomodates methods 1 through 6. Sustainable design can limit the scale of the building and recognises traditional, vernacular and cultural values and art.
Siting
For effective passive solar heating, a building should face within 25 degrees of north (in the southern hemisphere), and be well integrated with the landscape and topography of the site.
Vernacular
Vernacular Architecture
"It may be helpful to start from a process-oriented rather than a product-based viewpoint. Vernacular architecture is based on a knowledge of traditional practices and techniques; it is usually self-built (perhaps with help from family, clan or builders in the tribe), and reveals a high regard for craftsmanship and quality. Vernacular structures tend to be easy to learn and understand. They are made of predominsntly local materials. They are ecologically apt, that is theyb fit in well with local climate, flora, fauna and ways of life. Vernaculer buildings are never ssself-conscious; they recede into the environment rather than serving as self-proclaiming design statements. Tehy are human in scale; frequently the process of building is more important than or equally important as the end product. This combination of good ecological fit, human scale, craftsmanship and striving for quality, together with a strong concern for decoration, ornamentation and embellishment, leads to a sensuous frugality that results in true elegance."
"Six Explanations- ...vernacular architecture is the result of multiple causation
1. The Methodological Explanation; 2. The Dispersion and Convergence Explanation; 3. The Evolutionary Explanation; 4. The Social-Environmental Explanation; 5. The Cultural Explanation; 6. The Formal Aesthetic Explanation."
"As mainstream architecture itself begins to change in response to new ecological challenges, we must collect more information and start on a classification of what we alreadly have to provide a database so that the lessons of the vernacular are accessible to both architects and users. This will be an adventure of discovery to shape the forms of tomorrow through the wisdom of the old." (Papanek 1995)
Discovering the Vernacular landscape
Environmental planning and management allow conservsation of both the environment and developed facilities and long range risk control. Effective site design accomodates methods 1 through 6.
Sustainable design can limit the scale of the building and recognises traditional, vernacular and cultural values and art.
Site topography, vegetation and awnings are the simplest forms of shading. Technological shading devices for both the exterior and interior of dwellings are available. These were developed by the building industry since most commercial structures suffer from unwanted heat gain.
In the tropics houses are raised and open toward prevailing breezes. Windows, ventilators, and vents ensure air exchange.
Earth shelter design is one method of building a house (passive heating design) that will need no other heating or cooling energy input to remain comfortable year round.
Thermal inertia in the from of an on grade floor slab can be heated by sunlight passing through north (in the southern hemisphere) facing windows. This middle of the day heat gain (passive solar heating) is then retained by the mass of the concrete and warms the house continuously. This heating, with normal insulation and construction, is adequate without any other energy input for most temperate climates.
This principle simply relies on a double door system, where only one is opened at a time, to reduce heat loss or gain as from an open single door.
New principles (technologies and methodologies of effectiveness), environmental design and planning
These six principles follow from recent developments in standards, technology, and design methods. Integrated dwelling systems can be synthesized combining historical principles, modern aesthetics, and new technologies, into artifacts of environmental design.
Aesthetic principles, cultural footprint (Wang 2003) "The most significant determinant of building energy use- size," (Addington, Energy, Body, Building, 2003) What size of dwelling is enough? Conservation of all resources is well served by limiting the size or scale of house design. Many traditional designs are of compact, functional and pleasing forms. Perhaps a standard range from 60 sqm to 120 sqm is enough for most families. Insulation installed in the walls and roof can, with earth shelter or thermal inertia, produce a house that needs no other energy input to heat or cool it.
Aesthetic principles, cultural footprint (Wang 2003)
"The most significant determinant of building energy use- size," (Addington, Energy, Body, Building, 2003)
What size of dwelling is enough? Conservation of all resources is well served by limiting the size or scale of house design. Many traditional designs are of compact, functional and pleasing forms. Perhaps a standard range from 60 sqm to 120 sqm is enough for most families.
Insulation installed in the walls and roof can, with earth shelter or thermal inertia, produce a house that needs no other energy input to heat or cool it.
Catchment water collection is adequate in many tropical and temperate areas. New developments in filters insure freedom from contamination. The Clivis Multrum composting toilet very handily takes care of human waste without water. Most wash water can be directed into grey water systems and used for irrigation.
Catchment water collection is adequate in many tropical and temperate areas. New developments in filters insure freedom from contamination.
The Clivis Multrum composting toilet very handily takes care of human waste without water. Most wash water can be directed into grey water systems and used for irrigation.
There are many types of solar water heating systems ranging from simple pre-water heater boosters (passive heating system) to high technology panels with fuzzy logic controlled heat pump systems (active heating system).
Continuous gains in photovoltaic electricity generation technology and use are making these applications usually more attractive than grid electric power. Two recent developments are the panel with an AC inverter and pushing excess power back into the grid.
Many fine recycled building materials are available. Local materials from river rock to timber are often available. Use of indigenous materials saves on processing, storage, wholesaling and transporting costs.
A significant amount of food for a family can be grown in a small intensive vegetable garden and many fruit trees do well at the homestead scale. Wood for cooking and heating is easy to grow. Weeds and brush can be used for heating or biomass generation. Growing trees for timber requires some planning and special attention. Copicing can fairly easily produce a variety of sticks and poles for use or sale.
A significant amount of food for a family can be grown in a small intensive vegetable garden and many fruit trees do well at the homestead scale.
Wood for cooking and heating is easy to grow. Weeds and brush can be used for heating or biomass generation.
Growing trees for timber requires some planning and special attention. Copicing can fairly easily produce a variety of sticks and poles for use or sale.
Effective livable and sustainable building design works well with an integration of historic principles and new technologies and methods. These are some of the benefits:
Robert D. Hotten, MLA, Architect (laumana@aloha.net)
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