Norman Foster has completed a Maggie’s Centre for cancer care in his home town of Manchester, featuring a timber-lattice structure, an angular greenhouse and a flower garden (+ slideshow). (more…)
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have selected the top ten sustainable architecture and ecological design projects for 2016.
Now in its 20th year, the COTE Top Ten Awards program honors projects that protect and enhance the environment through an integrated approach to architecture, natural systems, and technology.
A recently released study, entitled Lessons from the Leading Edge, reports that design projects recognized through this program are “outpacing the industry by virtually every standard of performance.”
The 2016 COTE Top Ten Green Projects are:
Biosciences Research Building (BRB); Galway, Ireland / Payette and Reddy Architecture + Urbanism
The design of the BRB embraces the moderate climate of Ireland. By locating low-load spaces along the perimeter of the building, the project is able to take advantage of natural ventilation as the sole conditioning strategy for the majority of the year and is supplemented less than 10% of the year with radiant heating. Due to this approach, 45% of this intensive research building is able to function without mechanical ventilation. This is an extremely simple, yet radical approach and is rarely implemented to even a modest extent in similar laboratories in comparable U.S. climates.
Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL); Pittsburgh / The Design Alliance Architects
The CSL is an education, research and administration facility at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Designed to be the greenest building in the world, it generates all of its own energy and treats all storm and sanitary water captured on-site. The CSL is the first and only building to meet four of the highest green certifications: the Living Building Challenge, LEED Platinum, WELL Building Platinum, and Four-Stars Sustainable SITES. As an integral part of the Phipps visitor experience, the CSL focuses attention on the important intersection between the built and natural environments, demonstrating that human and environmental health are inextricably connected.
Exploratorium at Pier 15; San Francisco / EHDD
The Exploratorium is an interactive science museum that also demonstrates innovation and sustainability in its design and construction. The building takes advantage of the historic pier shed’s natural lighting and the 800-foot-long roof provided room for a 1.3 megawatt photovoltaic array. The water of the bay is used for cooling and heating. Materials were used that are both sustainable and durable enough to withstand a harsh maritime climate. The project is certified LEED Platinum and is close to reaching its goal of being the country’s largest Net Zero energy museum and an industry model for what is possible in contemporary museums.
H-E-B at Mueller; Austin, TX / Lake|Flato Architects, H-E-B Design + Construction, Selser Schaefer Architects
H-E-B at Mueller is an 83,587-square-foot LEED Gold and Austin Energy Green Building 4-Stars retail store and fresh food market, including a pharmacy, café, community meeting room, outdoor gathering spaces, and fuel station. It serves 16 neighborhoods and is located in Mueller, a sustainable, mixed-use urban Austin community. Strategies include a collaborative research, goal-setting and design process; integrated chilled water HVAC and refrigeration systems; the first North American supermarket propane refrigeration system; optimized daylighting; 169 kW roof-top solar array; electric vehicle charging; all LED lighting; and reclaimed water use for landscape irrigation, toilets, and cooling tower make-up water.
Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation; Berkeley, CA / Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects
Founded on the conviction that design can help address some of society’s most pressing challenges, the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation at UC Berkeley is devoted to introducing sustainable design innovation at the core of university life. The project provides a new interdisciplinary hub for students and teachers from across the university who work at the intersection of design and technology. It is designed as both a collaborative, project-based educational space and a symbol to the region of the University’s commitment to sustainable innovation, modelling high-density / low-carbon living and learning by reducing energy use 90% below national baseline.
Rene Cazenave Apartments; San Francisco / Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects and Saida + Sullivan Design Partners, Associated Architect
This supportive housing for formerly chronically homeless individuals replaces a former parking lot and freeway off-ramp with a high density, transit oriented, and healthy living alternative. Filtered ventilation, low emitting materials, ample daylight and views combine to aid the residents, many with mental and physical disabilities. Energy costs for the residents and non-profit owner are minimized by a combination of high efficiency lighting and hydronic heating, a continuously insulated rain-screen building envelope and a roof top solar canopy with both hot water and photovoltaic panels. Water is carefully managed by a vegetated roof, smart irrigation, a courtyard storm water tank and reclaimed water piping.
The Dixon Water Foundation Josey Pavilion; Decatur, TX / Lake|Flato Architects
The Josey Pavilion is a multi-functional education and meeting center that supports the mission of the Dixon Water Foundation to promote healthy watersheds through sustainable land management. Traditionally livestock has caused more harm than good by overgrazing and not allowing native prairies to play their important role in habitat and watershed protection, and carbon sequestration. As a certified Living Building, the Josey Pavilion facilitates a deeper understanding of how grazing livestock as well as the built environment can work to do more good than harm. Just like the Heritage Live Oak that defines the site, the building tempers the climate and enhances visitor experience by shading the sun, blocking the wind, and providing protected views.
The J. Craig Venter Institute; San Diego / ZGF Architects LLP
This not-for-profit research institute, dedicated to the advancement of the science of genomics, was in need of a permanent West Coast home. Their commitment to environmental stewardship led to challenging the architects to design a net-zero energy laboratory building, the first in the U.S. The result is a LEED-Platinum certified, 44,607-square-foot building comprised of a wet laboratory wing and an office / dry laboratory wing surrounding a central courtyard, all above a partially below-grade parking structure for 112 cars. The holistic approach to the design revolved around energy performance, water conservation, and sustainable materials.
University of Wyoming – Visual Arts Facility; Laramie, WY / Hacker Architects and Malone Belton Able PC
The Visual Arts Facility (VAF) consolidates the fine arts program from its scattered locations throughout the campus. The building provides a teaching and learning environment that is both state-of-the-art in occupational safety and in its concern for discharge of pollutants from building. The roof area is fitted with one of the largest solar evacuated tube installations in the U.S. Heat flows from the evacuated tubes to support the hydronic radiant floors, domestic hot water, and pretreat outside air for ventilation. The building was oriented and shaped through a process of studying the sun’s interaction with interior spaces, simultaneously distributing reflected light while eliminating solar gain.
West Branch of the Berkeley Public Library; Berkeley, CA / Harley Ellis Devereaux
The new 9,500-square-foot West Branch of the Berkeley Public Library is the first certified Living Building Challenge zero net energy public library in California. The building’s energy footprint was minimized through integrated strategies for daylighting (the building is 97% daylit), natural ventilation and a high performance building envelope. An innovative wind chimney provides cross-ventilation while protecting the library interior from street noise. Renewable energy on site includes photovoltaic panels and solar thermal panels for radiant heating and cooling and domestic hot water. The library exceeds the 2030 Challenge and complies with Berkeley’s recently-enacted Climate Action Plan.
News, project descriptions, and images via the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Shigeru Ban has travelled to Ecuador to help with disaster relief, following a major earthquake that has caused the death of over 650 people. (more…)
Renewed Classic Eichler is a residential project designed by Klopf Architecture in 2015. It is located in Sunnyvale, California, USA. Renewed Classic Eichler by Klopf Architecture: “Klopf Architecture, Growsgreen Landscape Design, and Flegel’s Construction partnered to bring this mid-century atrium Eichler home up to 21st century standards. One owner’s mother grew up in an Eichler, which gave them a deeper appreciation for the style of the home (that same mother..
Cubo and jaja, together with VBM, Schul Landscape, Søren Jensen Engineers, and Professor Mogens Morgen of The Aarhus School of Architecture, have been selected to renew the medieval Nyborg Castle. The 15th century castle is located on the Danish island of Funen and is where Denmark’s first constitution was signed in 1282.
The restoration and additions will include a new exhibition wing and visitor center, in addition to bridges for visitors to approach the castle on its original axis and towards an existing library. The proposed wing will be situated perpendicular to the existing royal wing and will serve as the new main entrance. Both the royal wing and the historic watchtower will be restored.
Six international teams were selected in May 2015 to submit entries for the competition and a shortlist of three teams was announced five months later. The winning design was selected by a jury who stated that the proposed design was “a convincing and site specific architectural statement and atmosphere that emphasizes the history of the castle and its new function as a museum.”
The castle is expected to be reopened to the public in late 2019.
It’s World Stationery Day! We’ve pencilled in designs for unusual writing accessories, including a pen for architectural drawing by Shigeru Ban and a desk tidy set that resembles a still-life painting. See more stationery »
From the architect. Two years after the completion of the Primary School, there was demand from more than 260 children from Gando and the surrounding region to attend the school. It quickly became apparent that an extension was badly needed to service the educational needs of these students. With overwhelming support from surrounding villages, this School Extension was built using local labor and materials.
As the Primary School was built in close conjunction with Gando community members, the building became an important identifying landmark in the region. Since the material quality and architectural expression of the building became such a strong symbol for the Gando community itself, the new extension was designed with the same principles and methods. Similarly to the Primary School, the School Extension was also built with hand-made compressed stabilized earth blocks. The ventilation strategy of pulling the hot tin roof away from the inner perforated ceiling was also used.
Unlike the Primary School, however, the ceiling of the Extension was designed as a singular vault. Rather than leaving reveals between the ceiling surface and beam elements, the monumental vault was constructed with gaps within the weave of the brick pattern of the ceiling. This ‘breathing’ surface draws cool air from the windows into the interior space and allows hot air to escape through the ventilations, all while remaining shaded and protected from damaging rains by the overhanging roof.
The School Extension was completed in 2008 and now supports an additional 120 students. The Gando School Library is currently under construction and is sited directly adjacent to the School Extension. The Library is scheduled to be ready for occupancy in 2015.
A wooden structure and hand-built joinery are left exposed throughout the interior of this compact house in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, by architecture studio Hitotomori (+ slideshow). (more…)
Casa T is a project completed by Studio Arquitectos in 2015. The home is located in Tulum, Mexico. Casa T by Studio Arquitectos: “Casa T is a private residence composed of three vacational studios in the city of Tulum, Quintana Roo. The client, a New York fashion designer, desired a space integrated in a Caribbean paradise with many textures, color emphasis and adaptation to the tropical framework. The design process..
