Week 4 : Solar energy?

What is solar energy? It is using a range of ever-evolving technologies such as solar heating, solar thermal energy, solar architecture and artificial photosynthesis by radiant light and heat from the Sun. It is an important source of renewable energy which won't generate any impact to the environment, the large magnitude of solar energy available makes it a highly captivating source of electricity.

"Singapore's Sports Hub marks new dawn for solar industry"

This short article I stumble upon is about the National Stadium able to stay cool due to the energy provided by the hub's massive solar installation. Singapore is a country enjoys relatively sunny skies all year round, the solar sector can absorb massive solar energy  and used to power the stadium's cooling system which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions of at least 367,250 kilograms per year, according to Phoenix Solar.

Solar panels are installed to the stadium's bowl cooling system

 Solar power system able to originate clean, pure energy from the sun, it is affordable and sustainable way to generate electricity. Solar reduces air pollution when generating electricity whereby no greenhouse gasses emission from the solar panels. Carbon dioxide and methane emissions from fossil fuels leading contributors to global warming, decreased the air quality and make an impact to human's health. We have to plan for our future generations and prevent stepping towards mitigating the human impact of climate change. 

As an architecture student, I think that it is important to integrate solar system with buildings. A successful designer not only design a functional and nice appearance building, it has to be sustainable as well. Shading system such as louvers or curtain walls can be the shade of the facade from excessive light, thus it can absorb heat from the sun and create energy supply to the building.

A 3D zig-zag facade of horizontally sliding solar protection elements made of metallic fabric, by Dominique Perrault Architecture, Paris. 

High rise building with solar panels as facade, Germany

In conclusion, the cost of finding and extracting sources will resulting damage to financial infrastructure and environment may not be repairable. Therefore, integrating solar system in a building not only helps to save cost, but it benefits the environment as well. It is the best way to shield against the reality of finite fuel resources.

References:
https://www.svssolutions.com/blog/three-environmental-benefits-solar-energy
http://www.solarcity.com/residential/benefits-of-solar-energy
http://volumatrixgroup.com/?p=2945
http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/1605pjgkd01popto.jpg
http://img.archiexpo.com/images_ae/photo-g/49576-8429479.jpg
http://www.eco-business.com/news/singapores-sports-hub-marks-new-dawn-for-solar-industry/

Week 4: Problems with 3D printed buildings

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory has produced 3D printed structure and vehicle as shown in the image above. Building scale printers work the same as normal 3D printers, depositing thin layers of material over previous layers, until the 3D model form is finished. 3D printer able to create flawless model and the technique's flexibility can produce a diversity structures of plastic, concrete or metal.

3D printed office in Dubai

Saltygloo by Emerging Objects

3D printers used more electricity which dominates environmental impacts. In a mass manufacturing scale, 3D printers have a higher impacts to environment compare with traditional constructing a building. Sometimes 3D printers are eco friendly than those machining processes, due to the replacing of blocks of material by the machines. 

Is 3D printing good for the environment? Will it reduce the waste? Will it transform the ecological impacts of making things? Is 3D printing create more problems than it solves?

1. Reduce the transporting products

Massive materials have to ship back and forth when the raw materials are required to gathered, refined, turned into small parts, assembled into products and brought to the site. It is incredibly complex and create huge environmental footprint. 

3D printing able to reduce the transporting due to the product creation local. It only required transport raw materials, instead of ready made products. 

2. No wasted materials

3D printer is building the products layer upon layer. It only need specific amount of raw material like aluminium, plastic or concrete. The excess material can be melted back to usable block and use it for other structures. 

3. Easier for recycling

Traditional construction will produce huge amount of waste every year. It is complicated in recycling the waste and separating it into the raw materials that is was made from. 3D printed products are made from single raw material which is recycling immensely easier. 

There are pros and cons of 3D printing. We have to find a way to print 3D parts in a better way. Choosing good materials can be important to reduce resource use and waste. It also will reduce the toxicity and energy use as well. If the users use 3D printing wisely, it can reduce run time. Developers, architects, engineers and other consultants may work together to create an eye-catching building by using 3D printing, as long as it is done in a eco friendly way and reduce the environmental impact. 

References:

http://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/21607596576_04842ae0e9_k-970x647-c.jpg
http://architizer.com/blog/3d-printed-buildings-future-or-gimmick/
http://architizer.com/projects/amie-10/
https://sustainabilityworkshop.autodesk.com/blog/environmental-impacts-3d-printing
http://static.gulfnews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1833461!/image/2800929930.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_460346/2800929930.jpg

Week 3 : Insane amount of unused space in world's tallest building

The skyline of a city can be an amazing experience for us by seeing beautiful skyscrapers in a single city. There are many skyscrapers across the world with highly decorative exteriors and interiors. However, recently have published data on the vanity space in skyscrapers, in order to inflate their height by the council of tall buildings and urban environment "CTBUH", a non-profit organisation that monitors world skyscrapers. 

The current tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa has an extensive 800 foot spire that almost one-third of its 2716 foot height. We did not explicitly look at how the vanity space of a skyscrapers affect the environmental footprint. The vanity spaces do hold some mechanical equipment for services, but it is no requirement that uninhabitable spaces be that large. Large percentage of non-occupiable spaces discourse about the sustainability of skyscrapers.Sustainable buildings give a big effect on the environment The excess materials used in vanity spaces cause multiple issues to the environment as well as human's health. 

The image below shows that the top 5 tallest buildings with vanity space in the world. 

  

How the excess materials used affects the environment?

1. Energy use

According to U.S Green Building Council (USGBC), an average of 41% of the world's energy used for constructing a skyscrapers. Huge amount of electricity used on the transportation and construction with responsible for 73% of the country's electricity consumption. 

2. Air pollution

The materials used in building construction have a serious impact on the environment. It produces damaging carbon dioxide emissions to the air by the factories. Materials that are not manufactured locally have to ship from across the country or even from overseas, the transportation of shipping these materials has a considerable impact on air quality. 

3. Embodied energy

Levels of operating energy influenced by the design and materials used in construction. Such energy consumption are influencing global climate change through emissions of greenhouse gases. Embodied energy is increasing in the world based on the trends of using materials such as stainless steel and aluminium. More machines require energy to derived from fossil fuel sources. 

Thus, the conclusion is that most of the highest buildings should not be so high. It should be implementing both height and sustainability of the building. We should increase the efficiency of the buildings and the sites use energy, materials, water and reducing building impacts on the environment and human health over the entire life cycle of the building.

References:

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/feb/03/skyscrapers-vanity-height-graphics-numbers

https://empoweryourknowledgeandhappytrivia.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/top-10-tallest-buildings-in-the-world.jpg

http://bosscontrols.com/buildings-impact-environment/

Week 3 : Congestion problem in urban city

Today i came across an article regarding congestion problem in urban city. The recent plan of the Metro Manila Development AUthority (MMDA) to extend the car ban on EDSA to certain hours five days a week to reduce traffic problem. The prohibition of this new proposal is by the hour a day instead of by the day a week. Although some people renting a condominium or dormitory room near their offices to avoid traffic congestion, but others cannot simply afford that option.

Population has been growing rapidly over the past few years in the world. As the number of populations increases, the number of road users increases, therefore it causes more traffic problem in the world. Traffic congestion can be infuriate and inflict cost on the society which led to car accidents. It also causes air pollutants to the surrounding, which will give an impact on our health and environment.

How to reduce traffic congestion to create a sustainable city?

1. Effective use of public transport

Public transport friendly is designed based on "centers" development. The transit-oriented development has to be near stations and major public transport, such as bus, taxi, train, light rail, etc. with a frequent public transport services that is convenient to the users.  Besides that, the time frames of each public transport can be increase by 8 times per hour to the development of a more efficient, sustainable and economically city. The congestion can be reduce by sharing public transportation. 

2. Promote Cycling

City planner can integrate cycle parking nearby the stations or interchanges to provide convenient to the users when they are going from one place to another destination. Cycling not only solve the congestion problem, it is one of the healthiest exercise as well, thus it can reduce health problem to us. Develop strategic bicycle network is very important by implementing design codes, standards and guidelines, which provide safety to the users. 

3. Autonomous car

Self-driving cars are being developed most particularly in the United States and Europe. The car's computer interprets the information, allowing it to steer the safety around any potential risk on the road. This information allows the car auto brake leading to accident-free motoring.  

4. Ride sharing

Ride sharing is the most basic and simple way of getting in a more environmentally friendly and cost effective way. Community can ride a car to work or school with friends, colleagues and family, instead of buying few cars. Ride sharing can bring reductions in car traffic and reductions in pollutants emitted by vehicles.

Vehicles are very useful and convenient, however it can be misused by the community if preparation of an urban transport plan is not systematic. Therefore, the urban transport planning has to be done through a continuous process by pre-analysis, technical analysis and the post analysis phases.

References:

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Opinion&title=regulate-this-prohibit-that-how-bureaucrats-worsen-traffic-congestion&id=142093 

https://www.academia.edu/30234038/Autonomous_car

http://www.geographynotes.com/articles/8-helpful-steps-for-solving-the-problems-of-urban-transport/179

http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/119733/20100602-1451/Public_Transport_Inquiry_Final_Report.pdf

Week 2 : Interconnection between greenery and high rise

Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency of energy used, water, and materials. It can reduce the impacts on human health and the environment for the entire life cycle of a building. National Library in Singapore redefined green architecture of the current society, it integrated the interconnection between architecture, sustainability and society seamlessly. In May 2005, the National Library Building was awarded the Green Mark Platinum award by the Building & Construction Authority. It creates an environment friendly building which has demonstrated a balanced integration of passive and active approach. Garden terraces able to reduce air pollution and green house gas emissions by lowering the air conditioning demand. Most of the spaces are naturally ventilated or cooled by the 14 garden terraces, equals to nearly 70,000 square feet of planted areas.

National Library, Singapore

Image Source : https://www.bca.gov.sg/Awards/BestBuildableDesign/bda0612.html

The National Library building was designed as an innovation architecture, which incorporated bio climatic design techniques, advanced mechanical and electrical engineering. National Library building is operating in an energy efficient way by having several innovative green features. Thus, it is more sustainable environment compare to other non-green feature building. The building uses the bio climatic vegetation and landscaping to enhance the interior thermal environment. 

Ventilation from the vegetation is one of the most fundamental components in the building. They provide a climatic relationship between the exterior and interior in the form of sun shading and provide a nice view of the exterior. 

The vegetation act as a sun shading to the building.

In addition, when there is sufficient natural light to illuminate the interior spaces, a lighting control system which detected by the light sensors will turn off the lighting. Singapore is a tropical climate country which is hot and humid throughout the years. Therefore, the architect of the National Library building, Ken Yeang, was trying to lower the local ambient temperature by utilizing the extensive landscaping, sky terraces and roof gardens. There are 14 landscaped gardens in the building and it contained 120 species of tropical plants. As a result, these green spaces help to increase the energy efficiency and it created more comfortable and cooling environment to the users.

Louvre sky court reduced direct sunlight into the building.

In conclusion, I think architects should virtually conceive the idea of green from inception to conception, while developers can take the opportunity to promote green building and marketing purposes. The intentions between the architects and developers must be clear in order to contribute to wider urbanity as well as the environment. The passive design features and materials used from construction to complete are important to improve the ecological balance between built and natural environment. 

References:

http://www.architectureweek.com/2011/1026/environment_2-2.html

http://www.archute.com/2016/01/02/national-library-in-singapore-by-ken-yeang-an-effort-towards-sustainability-in-the-tropics/

Week 2 : Bamboo

This is a journal entry that strongly relatable towards my Design Studio 1. It is a bamboo pavilion architectural competition "CAMBOO" for building trust international at Phonm Penh. The competition challenges designers to innovative design proposal for a landmark pavilion structure made from bamboo.

This got me wondered, why can't bamboo be considered as an innovative modern material, along with steel, glass, concrete etc? The aim is to encourage a wider appreciation of bamboo as a building material,  in developing countries like cambodia and vietnam. For example Panyaden School in Thailand by Boris Zeisser and Maartje Lammers architects that explore a holistic education that integrated Buddhist principles and green awareness.

 Entire school is built from local earth and local bamboo to withstand the elements

The design is inspired by the elements found in nature - birds or leaves

Bamboo is used for the structure and shaped an ode to nature's beauty

WHY BAMBOO? 

Bamboo is one of nature's most sustainable resources. It is renewable and able to avoid future deforestation due to the capability of rapid growth. There are approximately 1500 species of bamboo can be found in Asia, Australia and North and South America. Bamboo can be easily grown under various climate conditions, especially tropical climate. Bamboo is an ideal material for seismic resistant constructions because of the capacity to absorb heat during the day and dissipates warmth at night. As a sustainable building, it is taken into consideration when the building able to minimize unwanted solar heat gain.

The benefits of using bamboo as a building material:

- Hollow poles create lightweight bamboo which is easy to transport and required a shorter period to construct.
- Bamboo is very durable and strong. It has better tensile strength compare with other materials, it makes bamboo an earthquake resistant material.
- The rapid growth cycle and ease in planting make bamboo as an affordable material.

As an architecture student, one must understand the importance of sustainability when designing a building. Sustainable future is based on the issues that are linked to one another, the climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions and the increasing costs of energy and water. Architects able to promote sustainability through practices to preserve natural resources and provide a better environment for future generations.

References:

http://www.softschools.com/facts/plants/bamboo_facts/563/

http://inhabitat.com/rammed-earth-and-bamboo-cultural-center-keeps-naturally-cool-in-senegal/

http://www.dearchitect.nl/projecten/panyaden-school-in-chiang-mai-thailand