Precedents for SERC Continues...

SELWYN DISTRICT COUNCIL, NEW ZEELAND, CANTERBURY By ATHFIELD ARCHITECTS


The Selwyn District Councils new headquarters is designed to house up to 142 staff in a sustainably and energy efficient designed building.
Several Greens Engineering features have been included into the design which minimise waste and energy consumption and maximise the use of sustainable materials.
The building features mixed mode ventilation which uses a combination of natural ventilation by means of automatic opening windows and roof lights supplemented by mechanical ventilation using high level fans, all controlled by a high-level building management system.
Heating and cooling are provided by a high efficiency heat pump system that make use of the cold water main to produce hot water, which is circulated around the building to satisfy the heating needs and also provide additional cooling in summer.
Other environmentally friendly features which the building have include solar water heating which provides up to 80 percent of the building's hot water needs and rain water collection from the building's roof which is filtered and piped into storage tanks for toilet flushing and irrigation.

THE CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, CHINA By MARIO CUCINELLA


The Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies, University of Nottingham in Ningbo, China sets the standard for sustainable energy research. Cucinella’s recently opened building’s main purpose is to provide a specialist research laboratory for staff and postgraduate students within the new Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies.

The tower features a research studio / teaching room and resource room, along with offices, meeting rooms and a permanent display space. The exhibition space will offer a platform for communicating the newest developments in sustainable energy and construction technologies, both regionally in China and internationally.
The Centre has been designed to serve as an exemplary building, representing state-of-the-art techniques for environmentally responsible, sustainable construction and energy efficient internal environmental control.

The new building design minimizes its environmental impact by endorsing energy efficiency, creating its own energy from renewable sources, and using locally available materials with low embodied energy wherever possible.
The remaining heating, cooling and ventilation load is expected to be so low that demands for both these and electrical power necessary for computing and lighting will be met from renewable energy sources, this includes a ground source heat pump, solar absorption cooling and photovoltaic panels.

The building make use of day lighting as far as possible, while avoiding glare and solar heat gain. This lower the amount of time for which artificial lighting is required. Photovoltaic systems will be used to supply artificial lighting and small power for office equipment such as computers, fax machines, etc. For the duration of the peak period of sunshine, enough power shall be produced from the PV system to run other equipment such as the lift, the mechanical ventilation and chilled water systems. Extra power not being use, will be stored in batteries.

Precedents for SERC

BP HEAD QUARTERS, SOUTH AFRICA, CAPE TOWN By KRUGER ROOS ARCHITECTS


Their strategy was to express their commitment to a more sustainable office operation and to develop a building that would reflect its brand values
(Green, Progressive, Innovation and performance-driven). The project objectives included the reduction of energy consumption, optimising natural light and passive heat, and conserving water.

The yearly energy consumption goal was set at 115kWh/m2 - 40% less than similar buildings. The building management system, upholding the micro-climate, monitor energy use and savings.

The building used photovoltaic array of68kW, which is used for solar water heaters and this provide 10% of the building’s energy requirements.
The building facades were carefully designed to get the most out of the thermal mass and exterior sun devices, this forms part of the building facade and ensures that natural daylight penetrates the building at the right angle. The insulation of the building, includes double glazing, unusual for African climates, but this enhances the passive-energy design. Passive and natural ventilation was incorporated as part of the air-conditioning system

SOLATUBE Daylighting Systems










I decided to use this daylighting system in my SERC to operate as lights during the day and this will reduce energy consumption and operating costs dramatically. They are high- performance daylighting systems that use advanced optics to significantly improve the way daylight is harnessed.

White model animation

SERC White Model...

Entering the building one moves through existing melkwood trees and fynbos where a series of overhead timber structures create the transition from nature into building.



Tree structures supporting the extended mono pitch roof creates an informal outdoor space where one can sit in groups and chat or just enjoy a beautiful day.


Moving through the courtyard one enters the research collection area where solar trees and wind turbines generate energy.

SERC Sketches

Entrance to the SERC


Courtyard View


Interactive Courtyard

Max 3D Renderings...

Cell C Booth animation on Max3D... and here are the result! :)



The Renderings...

New Sustainable Facade...

[fibre C] is an authentic façade cladding material in line with the current movement towards natural, environmentally friendly , cost effective and sustainable materials.


Mineral substances and Glass fibres


The use of high-grade raw materials consisting of purely mineral substances and glass fibres results in optimal product quality. [fibre c] is based on purely organic substances and is 100% recyclable.
Pigments are UV stable and weatherproof.
(CSL-Cladding Solutions,2010)

Johannesburg Stadium

SERC - Design approach

Since the centre should be sustainable and a research centre, I decided to keep it as nature friendly as possible-using natural products and colours that appear in the surroundings. A few presidents are as follows:

Selwyn District Council, New Zeeland - Energy efficient and sustainable building, making use of rocks and timber. The pond in front acts as a Passive cooling strategy

Genesis Centre in Taunton, Somerset has a messianic mission to spread the word on sustainable materials and techniques.

Beach house by Villa & Villa Architects - using shutters for shading

Shell Villa, Japan - Making use of a deck creates a link between human life and nature...

The Tote, Banqueting Hall in Mumbai, India - Tree like structures supporting the roof

Surestart 'Solar Tree', Derbyshire - Steel support structure which branches out like a tree to support 6 individual solar panels.

SERC - The site

The site given to us are on the far western side of NMMU South Campus. At present the site is undeveloped. This site is covered in dense "fynbos" that varies from one metre to two metres in height- The ground composition is of a sea sand base. This is a generally flat site with a slight fall from west to east.

SERC - Sustainable Energy Research Centre

The final project for the semester is to design a sustainable energy research centre and it will serve as a place to collect and analyze research data namely solar, wind and water/rain energy. The building in itself must represent fully sustainable technology and integrate itself visually and physically into its natural surroundings.
This centre will also serve as a lecturing facility for on campus students. The centre must have a exhibition and entrance space big enough to accommodate large groups of school tours and visitors to the centre.
Accommodation list:

Offices, Administration and reception
Computer labs (collection and analysis of data)
Lecture venues (150 seats and 60 seats)
Outdoor lecturing space (informal)
Outdoor research and data collection installations. (solar panels, wind turbines, water tanks)
Parking and access to the building

Cell Phone Booth

A booth for Cell C...
The assignment was to design a cell Phone information booth that could be used on university campuses all over the country. We could choose a service provider of our choice.
The design must consist of 80% Aluminium and a combination of materials and connections must receive special attention.

I chose Cell C because of its bright red colour...according to Jacci Howard Bear, the use of the color red is to grab attention and to get people to take action. One can use red when you don't want to sink into the background (About.com Guide, Red)
Since I want my booth to get attention I think Cell C is the better choice. :)

I want my design to have a modernism feel with clean lines and planes. This is what I came up with...

Gate house for a Game Farm...

Our second assignment for Construction and Detailing were to design a gate house to a game farm of our choice. We had to experiment with local materials namely Gum Poles. Special care had to be taken in designing the connections.
www.trada.co.uk


Final Drawings


Plans, Section and Details

Elevations and 3D Renderings

Screen to Shade...

In construction and Detailing our first assignment was to design a screen that was both functional to give shade on sunny days and to provide security when the owner is away. The design would have to tilt up (pivot at lintel height) to provide shade to the patio. Adults as well as children must be able to operate this screen,

A few things should be kept in mind...
the weight - for easy operation,
the building is at the coast - corrosion is therefor a factor,
and bracing - to give the structure stability!

The concepts:

Design of petting farm
http://www.architecturesdesign.com


Chicken Point Cabin

I decided to use the concept of the chicken point cabin, and came up with this...

3D Interior Rendering

“There are three forms of visual art: Painting is art to look at, sculpture is art you can walk around, and architecture is art you can walk through” -Dan Rice

Sustainable Mobile Market Stall!

The brief:

To design a market stall which is sustainable, light weight, easy to transport, and able to be stored in a locker at the end of the day or in the trunk of a car.

My approach to sustainable design is to keep it straightforward and simplistic - no complicated devices, or cutting edge technology. Using well known technologies common in hiking and camping equipment and to make use of the same mechanism used in mobile 4 arm washing lines.



The market stall must be able to disassemble or fold to the size of 150cm and weigh not more than 12kg. To achieve this goal the absolute minimal amount of materials must be used.



Assembling of the stall:


1 Stall folded to transport to stand position: all components for the assembly inside carry bag.
2 Belts are fastened to legs to give structure stability.


3 The extensions of the canopy are assembled.
4 Insert and open the side poles, fasten the belts to the legs, but do not tighten the belts.



5 Separate the poles to extend the canopy, canopy is then tensioned.
6 Stabilizing the structure by fastening the belts, clip on the baskets with the turn clips.


The stall is now ready to use...

Layouts...