All posts by Giulio

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

STUDIO NICOLETTI ASSOCIATI – The fleet of Putrajaya

June 1, 2013 Giulio Leave a comment

Putrajaya residential waterfront development

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2008 – 2013
Under construction;

International competition, first prize;

Cityscape Dubai international award 2008;

Cityscape Asia Singapore international award 2009.

Project
Studio Nicoletti Associati and Hijjas Kasturi Associates SDN.

Client
Putrajaya Holdings Ltd., Malaysia

Project area
280.000 sqm

Cost:
184 M€ (million Euros) / $240M U.S.

Overall master plan

The city of Putrajaya, the new administrative capital of Malaysia, a few miles north of Kuala Lumpur, is home to a large planned residential tower complex in Precinct 4.

The key to the overall planning for the waterfront is the relationship to the waterfront or lakefront. While the buildings on the boulevard predominantly reinforce the alignment of the boulevard, the waterfront planning would tie the boulevard back to the waterfront.

The new urban plan places integration with landscaping and view as priorities. It encourages creating “fingers” of developments towards the water and, infused with a park, creating a series of green forecourts.

The urban plan suggests the building orientation and massing provide maximum view toward the water and development across the lake. The massing architecture is broken into smaller components with different heights. This approach will ensure the integration of landscape and building massing. The landscape and public areas will be larger and located in between the building fingers, which will create an interesting “journey” towards the waterfront.

Design concept: The metaphor

The concept for the buildings was inspired by the metaphor of a fleet of eight majestic ‘Sails,’ both light and transparent. The forms are elegant and strong. The iconic image of these eight majestic ‘Sail’ buildings, on the edge between land and water, will be striking. The individual residences will be linked by a low single storey curvilinear podium tying the building forms. Strong structural ribs further reinforces the majestic verticality of the buildings.

The structure is exoskeleton in nature, reminiscent of a boat hull construction arching from one face to another. The connecting arches also give a somewhat modern Islamic expression.

The eight ‘Sail’ buildings have similar shapes but different sizes. The number of the floors varies from 12 to 18, capped by roof gardens with panoramic views around Putrajaya.

Each levels on a ‘Sail’ buildings is configured similar to the deck of a ship. The structural frame is a series of double pillars linked at the summit, similar to the transversal frames of a boat. These double pillars create an ogival shape and they converge on the line of the keel, at the summit.

Each building will be further protected by light brise-soleil skin connected to the vertical pillars, controlling daylight to each flat, giving an overall sense of lightness and transparency to the building form. This brise-soliel would not interfere with the sightlines of the occupants toward the exterior from within each flat. The intention is that, from the inside of each flat, there will be an extraordinary sensation of being completely surrounded by water.

On the whole, the buildings of the new waterfront residential development will look like a series of elegant boats with their sails spread full with wind.

Sustainability strategy

The design of the waterfront residential development has aimed to create a truly sustainable development. Significant measures have been taken to reduce the impact of the development on the local and global environment. This will fundamentally be achieved by ensuring a sustainable design, construction and operation of the buildings.

The approach to sustainability has been to ensure that the development makes efficient use of natural resources and has a greatly reduced environmental impact.

For Precinct 4, Putrajaya, the Italian firm brought sustainable strategies like terraces, sunshades, natural ventilation and integrated green space into the design. The buildings will source from alternative energy and are expected to produce 50 per cent less CO2 emissions than similar residential projects through a combination of passive design, energy efficiency and low or zero carbon energy.

Courtesy of Studio Nicoletti Associati

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, Ideas, Style, Technology, Trends

Aedas – Abu Dhabi Investment Council

June 1, 2013 Giulio Leave a comment

New headquarters Al Bahr Towers

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The design concept for Aedas’ innovative competition-

winning design is derived from an algorithmic composition,

influenced by Islamic principles of design, that has been

supplemented by the application of a dynamic translucent

mashrabiya (type of wooden lattice screen) which opens and closes in response to

the movement of the sun, reducing solar gain on the

building facade by up to 50 per cent. The resulting composition

seeks to create a building which is both culturally and

environmentally responsive, reflecting the aspirations of

the brief while also respecting the emergent Abu Dhabi

2030 Plan. The building completed at the beginning of 2012

is targeting a LEED Silver rating.

BRIEF

The project brief required two 25-story towers to create

an outstanding landmark building that would provide a

contemporary design using modern technology while considering

the region’s architectural heritage together with the status of the

clients’ organization.

The aspirations of the brief were consistent with a number of

other initiatives within Abu Dhabi at that time, namely the recent

publication of the Abu Dhabi 2030 Plan, promotion of the Masdar

initiative on renewable technology, together with the recently

published Estidama (sustainable) standard.

DESIGN CONCEPT

Tower Form

In order to generate the form of the towers, Aedas applied the

principles of geometric composition derived from traditional

Islamic architecture. Geometric composition has been a defining

characteristic of Islamic architecture for centuries, the circle and

rotation reflecting the concept of unification and unity evident in

nature; an important concept in Islam and in the emerging science

of biomimicry.

Following an intense period of analysis, and influenced by

both the client’s brief and also the orientation of the site,

Aedas began to develop the distinctive form of the towers

using parametric design techniques to generate a defining

geometry. Their starting point was two cylindrical towers; a

circle producing the most efficient form in terms of wall to

floor area while also creating the greatest volume with the

least surface area.

The circular plan form was articulated to reduce solar exposure

on the most heavily exposed elevations and, in doing so, began

to generate a natural orientation. The form of the towers was

then sculpted around the core, more narrow at the base and at the

top, but broader around the intermediate floors. The crown of

the tower was cut at an angle to maximize solar gain for roof-

mounted photovoltaics. Sky gardens were introduced in the most

heavily exposed southerly elevation to further reduce solar gain

while providing an amenity space for users.

Having established an underlying geometry, the team was then

able to erode the elevation in order to generate the structural

and cladding grids. The resulting honeycomb structure performs

well in terms of its seismic response, (due to the number of

vertical elements), well in terms of bracing (due to the number

of diagonal elements), well in terms of redundancy (due to the

number of alternate load paths) and well in terms of wind loading

(by providing an aerodynamic profile).

DYNAMIC MASHRABIYA

At the same time as the form of the towers was being developed,

the team was keen to find a way of protecting the building

from the extremely high levels of solar heat gain which could

be expected. Drawing upon their knowledge of the region’s

vernacular architecture, the practice became intrigued by the

use of mashrabiya. The mashrabiya is a popular form of

wooden lattice screen found in Islamic architecture as a device for

achieving privacy while reducing glare and solar gain.

Aedas have reinterpreted the concept of the mashrabiya at the

Al Bahr towers by developing a series of translucent umbrella-like

components which open and close in response to the movement

of the sun. Each shading device is driven by a linear actuator and

dramatically reduces the amount of solar gain striking the façade.

The dynamic screen avoids the need for heavily tinted glass,

thereby reducing the need for significant artificial lighting while

providing better views for occupants of the building. This is the first

time such a moveable facade has been used at this scale, enabling

a reduction in solar gain of over 50%. The facade will be controlled

via the building management system, creating an intelligent facade

system.

ENERGY FACTS

Some of the benefits provided by the dynamic facade

Lighting and views:

• Reduced glare;

• Improved daylight penetration;

• Less frequent use of internal blinds;

• Less reliance on artificial lighting;

• Improved views for occupants of the building.

Energy Consumption:

• Up to 50% reduction in solar gain;

• Significant reduction in electrical energy consumption;

• Total site CO2 emissions reduction of over 1,750 tonnes per year.

The building, which also incorporates the use of solar thermal

panels for hot water heating, is targeting a LEED Silver rating.

ABOUT AEDAS

Aedas is an international practice working in architecture, interior

design, master planning, landscape, urban design and building

consultancy through 39 offices in Europe, the Middle East, Asia

and the Americas. The group is supported by a research &

development group that has been recognized for its pioneering

work in sustainability, computational design and advanced

modeling. Aedas has a strong commitment to the cities and

communities in which its architects live and work. The practice

was named “International Practice of The Year” by the Architect’s

Journal in May 2010. Some of the key projects Aedas is currently

designing include: The National September 11 Memorial Museum

in New York and Farringdon Station, forming part of Crossrail, in

London. In 2009, Aedas completed the first phase of the Dubai

Metro. Other projects in the region include Cleveland Clinic for

Mubadala.

Web: www.aedas.com

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Trends

ATENASTUDIO – Landscape and Waterscape

June 1, 2013 Giulio Leave a comment

At the heart of Atenastudio’s mixed use building complex in China

Atenastudio, in collaboration with Archmaster studio, has developed a master plan for a new district in Wuxi, China.

The plan would take a 200,000 square-metre buildable zoning lot and design a project based on two key elements – landscape and waterscape.

The master plan program includes five skyscraper buildings, three multi-storey buildings, three courtyard buildings, 56 villas, and a 5-7-star hotel with 350 rooms. The hotel would have 24 floors, and feature shopping, real estate offices, aquatic sports club, daycare, elderly care, a multi-media library, tennis, yacht and squash clubs, plus underground parking.

The north border of this land is along the Taihu Lake Avenue, the east along the Hongqiao Road, the south along the Dingchang River and the west along the Taihu Lake.

The area appears to be of exceptional paesistic value because of the existence of a waterfront west towards Taihu Lake and south towards Dingchang River, both augmented by a view of the mountain chains to the north

Landscape

The ground is not thought of as a flat plate element on which the buildings are simply located. On the contrary, it is used as if it would be a ‘3D solid material’ and shaped both horizontally and vertically.

In this way, force lines – always dynamic – are developed from east to west. Their highest points are on the two hills that enclose the villas, with a view of Taihu Lake.

The movement of these force lines produce in-between spaces, which create the squares system and the whole public spaces.

This movement partially generates the buildings themselves, mainly the five high-rise buildings, the hotel, the facilities and the shopping area. In this way, they assume a plastic and dynamic shape.

Other buildings appear to be ‘on’ the landscape instead; in particular the villas, the courtyard building and the multi-storey buildings. Green is used as a ‘design material:’ Private gardens and roof gardens for the villas, green facades and roof gardens for the courtyard buildings and hanging gardens for the multi-storey buildings.

Tight linear trees add to this integrated landscape system – following and underlining the landscape bands – and represent an integrated project system of essences, mostly consisting of plum trees.

Waterscape

The intention is to emphasize, to the maximum, the presence of water – making it become a diffuse system, introducing it inside the area and in every part of the project, and using it as if it was a ‘3D liquid material.’

Following a model found in Venice, an estuary will be created to the south with an artificial island for open air shows.
There will be a series of buildings which represent the yacht club (thought of as an archipelago), a small lake system, and a timed waterfall (perhaps 10 minutes per hour, mainly in the evening and with scenographic artificial lighting) coming from the top floor of the hotel.

In this way, a perfect fusion between Earth, water and architecture is achieved.

This is based on a design and attention-to-landscape approach which is typically Italian and Mediterranean. It was attained by pursuing a goal guided by reference to the human scale.

The result is a landscape resort community park, respecting the law of humanity and nature.

ATENASTUDIO is a research and a design company based in Rome, working in the fields of

architecture, urbanism, landscape and interior design. The studio was established by Marco

Sardella and Rossana Atena in 2005.

ATENASTUDIO has been strongly involved on international level in several design projects and

competitions with professionalism and thorough knowledge of many aspects conceiving

architecture, advanced technologies, landscape, urbanism and interior design.

ATENASTUDIO follows an environmentally sustainable design approach in all projects at both the urban and architectural scale. Within this design approach, sustainability and bioclimatic research are not seen as independent disciplines but as an integral part of the design process that leads to an environmentally responsible solution. Local environmental and ecological conditions are considered as fundamental factors within the design process and implemented as strategies for the development of a characteristic urban identity.

Website: www.atenastudio.it

Architecture, Green Energy, HVAC, Sustainability, Technology

The Remington Centre: Canada’s Largest Geothermal Retail Destination

June 1, 2013 Giulio Leave a comment

Recent years have seen many major shopping centres in the GTA undergo significant revitalization initiatives, but few developers have decided to completely rebuild. Building from the ground up affords the developer the opportunity to utilize the latest technologies and environmental practices and implement green standards at each step of development. It is from this foundation that The Remington Group embarked on developing Canada’s newest retail destination

When The Remington Group decided to build one of the most innovative, Asian-inspired shopping centres in Canada, The Remington Centre, they started with that commitment to sustainability. They turned to Kohn Partnership Architects to plan and design the 800,000 square foot shopping destination.

Sean Lawrence, a partner at Kohn Partnership Architects, started from a foundation of passive design. Combining fundamental building principles such as the orientation of the shopping centre combined with selecting materials to deliver comfort and usability while minimizing carbon load, his goal is to design the greenest shopping centre in the country.

The innovative, state-of-the art design of The Remington Centre is situated to take advantage of the site’s surroundings to utilize the maximum amount of natural light, including bright retail suites and light-filled hallways. To encourage enjoyment of the outdoor space, The Remington Centre features a 6-acre tree-lined public plaza complete with a spectacular water fountain that converts into an ice rink during the winter months. Ensuring that sustainability is a consideration in all building elements, even the rink helps improve the efficiency of the building. By recovering the thermal energy made during the refrigeration process, the rink is a prime candidate for waste heat recovery and will be used for snow melting at the entrance of the centre as well as heating the building.

When it came to determining the most efficient energy model for the centre, Lawrence turned to engineers MCW Consultants Ltd.

In order to help evaluate and quantify the energy efficiency of various design options, MCW developed a 3D hour-by-hour dynamic full building simulation. Weighing energy consumption, costs, environmental impact, and then running a financial payback model, they determined a hybrid approach – including a geoexhange system with high-efficiency peaking boilers and fluid coolers – was the best solution for The Remington Centre.

A closed loop geoexhange system will meet the centre’s heating and cooling requirements for makeup air and for all the retail suites. The geoexhange system, which will be implemented by Groundheat Systems International Inc., includes a field of 284 boreholes on a grid of 15-20 feet. Each hole is 500 feet deep and the entire system utilizes over 80 km of underground tubing. The geoechange system is combined with an In-slab hydronic radiant heating system with high-efficiency condensing boilers for all common areas. The Remington Centre will be one of the largest commercial geothermal projects in North America.

“While the equipment being used will ensure The Remington Centre maximizes its efficiency and minimizes its footprint, it is all tried and true,” says Brian Tysoe, Associate and National Manager of Energy Modelling Services from MCW. “This is all commercial equipment from major manufacturers. We are truly maximizing the available technology.”

The centre will also employ an energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system. An ERV system supplies continuous fresh air from outside to the Centre. The heat recovery core of the unit transfers a portion of heat in the stale exhaust air to the incoming fresh air from outside before being distributed throughout the centre.

“The impact of implementing these systems is significant,” said Lawrence. “Net energy reductions include a 40% reduction in consumption and 25% reduction in cost.”

“ The geothermal design removes 2,500 tons of CO₂ from the environment annually – which is equivalent to removing 500 cars from the road and saving 900 hectares of rainforest per year.”

To further reduce the need for air conditioning, energy consumption, and emissions of greenhouse gases and urban air pollutants, The Remington Centre has a white roof. White roofs reflect up to 90 percent of sunlight compared to the 20% reflected by dark roofs. The centre’s white roof does not absorb heat and contributes greatly to its energy efficiency. Additionally, the roof extends slightly outward. These subtle roof extension help shade direct sunlight while still encouraging natural light, thus reducing the extra load on air conditioning.

The retail centre marks the first phase of development. As part of the second phase two condominium towers will be built above a six-storey podium, which will incorporate a green roof. Green roofs have numerous social and environmental benefits and can contribute positively to issues surrounding climate change, flooding, biodiversity and declining green space in urban areas. Having condominiums as part of the development will also encourage the development of a community in the area – a place where residents can shop, dine, live and play.

To accommodate visitors who will travel to the centre, transportation and congestion issues are also a key consideration in creating a sustainable development. In order to minimize the parking layout and to create a welcoming forecourt with useable outdoor space, a multi-level parking complex is situated at the back of the mall. A new underground access off Steeles Avenue to parking bays will improve traffic flow and provide easy access for visitors. Additionally, public transit is easily accessible, and includes a skywalk directly to GO Transit as well as onsite TTC, York Region Transit Terminals and VIVA transit.

With a focus on developing a sustainable community, The Remington Centre’s design incorporates safety and security concerns. Essential to security in shopping centres is the integration of indoor and outdoor space, as well as the promotion of other activities such as dining and entertainment – all of which provide opportunities for natural surveillance through activity support. The Remington Centre will incorporate these considerations, including passive design and lighting considerations, which will help ensure there are no unsafe spaces within the centre.

“Another design consideration is safety for birds”, says Lawrence. It is estimated that 1 to 10 birds die per building, per year, particularly during the migration periods. The Remington Centre’s site lighting and window glazing have been designed to ensure better conditions for birds by minimizing these collisions.

The Remington Centre construction begins in May 2014 with the initial phase, which includes all elements of the 800,000 square foot retail centre. For more information, visit remingtoncentre.ca. For more information the architect and engineer, please visit kohnarchitects.com and mcw.com.

Architecture, Building Envelope, Green Energy, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

ONYX SOLAR

April 12, 2013 Giulio Leave a comment

Building Integrated Photovoltaic

“Solar architecture is not about fashion, it’s about survival”

Sir Norman Foster

Buildings are responsible for 40% of global energy consumption and the solutions proposed by this company are heading towards a significant reduction of the energy bill. The solutions developed by Onyx Solar replace conventional building materials for smart photovoltaic materials in ventilated façades and roofs, curtain walls, skylights, walkable floors, etc. The idea is to create building envelopes with photovoltaic properties making it possible to generate clean and free energy from the sun and being also an aesthetic and viable solution.

About Onyx Solar

The solutions developed by Onyx Solar combine active and passive elements. Among the first ones, the in-situ electricity generation is the most important because it can be used for self-consumption or sold to the grid at a previously established price generating significant revenues. Passive elements are related to the design of the building to improve energy efficiency, increasing the insulation and reducing the energy needs of the construction.

The cheapest energy is the energy that is not consumed, therefore is why Onyx offers multifunctional photovoltaic constructive solutions which can be integrated perfectly into any type of building, provide greater both acoustic and thermal insulation and at the same time produce clean, free energy in situ, all thanks to the power of the sun.

Those solutions make the photovoltaic constructive material developed by Onyx the only one allowing the customer to recover the money invested on its acquisition and installation after a certain period of time, providing an outstanding pay-back time. Moreover, integrating photovoltaic into the building you guarantee yourself that the energy price will remain unchanged for the next 30 years, something vital considering the current trend of increasing prices.

CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS

Onyx Solar is a business committed to the development of intelligent, multifunctional constructive solutions for the sustainable integration of solar energy photovoltaic in buildings.

Photovoltaic ventilated Facade

Contemporary architecture is showing an increasing interest in the different materials available for use in ventilated façades and roofs.

Inspired by this rise in interest, Onyx Solar has designed a photovoltaic ventilated façade and roof system, a product with undeniable aesthetic value and unbeatable in terms of heat insulation that generates free electricity from the sun.

The generated electricity can be translated directly to the main supply system, thus being marketed to the large suppliers, or be used for personal consumption (isolated system).

The thermal surrounding methods can result in a 25-40% reduction of the energy consumed by a building.

Depending upon the orientation of the façade, building location, and the photovoltaic technology implemented, the electricity produced by Onyx’s system in just one square metre can vary between 20-40 kW/h per annum; sufficient energy to supply up to 10,000 hours of light from 20W energy saving light bulbs.

In addition to the obvious environmental benefits, in countries where the sale of electricity is regulated and incentive based, through an obligatory subsidy from the electrical companies, one metre squared of ventilated roof can generate a net benefit in its lifetime (25 years) of more than 1000 Euros.

From a financial point of view, depending upon the type of building and its location,ventilated façades and roofs can achieve an Internal Return Rate (IRR) greater than 25% and an outstanding payback time.

Ten Key Advantages of the Ventilated Photovoltaic Facade

Electricity production
Energy saving due to insulation properties (up to 40%)
Greater insulation performance
Elimination of thermal bridges
Thermal inner comfort
Reduction of acoustic pollution
Wall and roof protection
Greater energy yield under low irradiation conditions
Greater energy yield under high temperature conditions

10. Attractive and innovative design

Photovoltaic Skylight

The Skylight system ensure an optimized PV electrical generation adding multifunctional passive bioclimatic properties of thermal inner comfort since most of the UV and infrared radiation from the sun will be harvested by the silicon-based material (solar filter effect). Moreover, the air chamber of the insulating glass guarantees best thermal performance in terms of U and g values.

Photovoltaic Curtain Wall

Nowadays architecture and photovoltaic solar energy can be combined to create a new form of construction.

Curtain walls offer architects a multitude of possibilities for the integration of photovoltaic solar energy into buildings in an efficient and ecological manner.

Photovoltaic curtain wall provides a multifunctional solution where not only clean and free energy is being generated in-situ, but also natural illumination is being provided implementing solar control by filtering effect, avoiding infrared and UV irradiation to the interior (enhancing thermal comfort and avoiding interior aging).

The large variety in form, structure and colour of transparent photovoltaic glass, combined with the aluminum frames, provides a free reign of creativity for architects so they can create designs which unite elegance, efficiency and energy saving.

Photovoltaic Canopy

A photovoltaic canopy constitutes a constructive solution which combines energy generation, solar and adverse climatologic conditions protection.

The energy generated by the system can either feed any building within its surroundings or get connected to the grid, leading in any case to an important economic profit.

The top of the photovoltaic canopy is customized for each project according to the preferred aesthetic value appearance and to its integration within the urban characteristics.

Orientation, slope options, sizes or wind loads are some key variables that should be measured accurately in order to get a correct design for the main structure.

Walkable Photovoltaic Roof

The Walkable Photovoltaic Roof, which is still in research and development stage by Onyx Solar and Butech engineers, is made using a solar PV glass laminated over elevated ceramic roof tiles, resulting in a completely walkable surface.

This PV pavement is a really appealing product for architects as it can be integrated in any project and environment without renouncing design and aestheticism. What’s more, it combines passive elements (avoided CO₂ emissions) with active elements (power generation), greatly reducing the building’s environmental impact.

Currently, a backlit walkable photovoltaic roof is under development.

Building Retrofit Using BIPV

Onyx Solar develops multifunctional solutions that combine aesthetic and photovoltaic technology applied in historical buildings, being a cutting edge technology for buildings retrofits.

Photovoltaic technology improves energy conditions of the buildings, making more efficient all those who were not designed under modern patterns of sustainability and energy efficiency.

This contribution respects building’s original aesthetic concept by using “low visual impact solutions” on all these buildings that represent the artistic and cultural heritage of a city.

Retrofit projects of historical buildings that incorporate photovoltaic skylights, benefit from multifunctional solutions that not only generate electricity on site, but also control visible light entrance, reaching thermal inner comfort and harvesting UV and IR radiation.

Onyx Solar has been chosen partner of the European Commission in recognition for the design of the transparent photovoltaic skylight installed in the new San Antón market in Madrid. Onyx Solar has a multidisciplinary team made up of physicists, engineers and architects who design from their Castile and Leon headquarters, photovoltaic materials that are integrated into buildings throughout the world and help to reduce CO₂ emissions. In addition to this, it has also been acknowledged as the company with most growth potential in Europe, an award given at the European Entrepreneurship Awards.

The company has offices in New York and Shanghai and has recently received the XXI Entrepreneur Award from La Caixa in the “Emprendes” category.

HVAC

Boosting the Energy Efficiency of Canadian Homes

April 12, 2013 Giulio Leave a comment

By Tim Van Seters, Amir Safa and Dr. Alan Fung

Heat pumps are among the most energy efficient technologies for heating and cooling buildings and providing hot water. They function by moving heat from one place to another. Usually the ground or air acts as the source and sink for heat, and since energy from these sources is free, the only energy needed is the electricity required to operate the heat pump and forced air or hydronics distribution systems.

In recent years, improvements in the operation and efficiency of heat pumps have prompted leaders in the residential construction sector to take a second look at these technologies. The first question, of course, is how well they perform in cold Canadian climates. This was what we set out to understand through a one year monitoring program conducted with researchers from Ryerson University. The heat pumps evaluated were installed in two, comprehensively monitored, semi-detached LEED™ platinum demonstration houses owned and operated by Toronto and Region Conservation at the Living City Campus in Vaughan, Ontario.

Although not identical, the two houses, referred to as House A and House B, have similar floor areas, internal volumes, and levels of insulation. House A has a 10.5 kW (3 ton) high efficiency variable capacity air-to-air source heat pump manufactured by Mitsibushi™. It includes a direct expansion coil air handling unit (AHU) and a multi-speed fan to supply warm and cold air for space heating and cooling. The system is coupled with a mini-boiler, which was not needed over the period of study because the ASHP alone was able to supply sufficient heat, even during cold periods down to -22°C.

The main heating and cooling system in House B is a 13.3 kW high efficiency ground source heat pump (GSHP) manufactured by WaterFurnace™. It is coupled with two 152 m (500 ft) horizontal loops in the yard. The installation uses a buffer tank to store water, which is then distributed to an in-floor radiant heating system during the winter, and through the zoned air handler for cooling the house

Data for the study were collected year round and a energy performance model (TRNSYS) was calibrated to simulate energy performance over the entire heating (October 1 to May 21) and cooling seasons (May 22 to September 30) based on climate normals derived from a 30-year historical record of solar irradiance and temperature.

Results of the evaluation showed the heat pumps to have performed very well with heating and cooling efficiencies above both Energuide and manufacturer rated performance (Table 1). During the heating season, both systems had coefficients of performance (COP) above 3, indicating that the systems provided over 3 kWh of output heat for each kWh of energy consumed. During the cooling season, COPs were 5, and Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratios were well above rated performance levels.

These ratings are based on the performance of the heat pump systems without the forced air and hydronics distribution system specific to each house. Overall ‘as installed’ performance declined dramatically when the electricity consumed by the distribution systems was included in the assessment. As shown in Table 1, cooling season COPs for both systems fell by more than 30%. During the heating season, the ASHP system suffered a more significant decline because the air handling unit used with the ASHP consumed much more electricity than the water pump used with the GHSP.

Further investigations showed that the high electricity draw by the distribution systems was caused, in part, by the way in which the units were being operated. Simulating these during the cooling season to operate only when the heat pump and compressors were on caused a reduction in electricity consumption of between 28 and 37%. The difference between ‘stand alone’ and ‘as installed performance’ highlights the importance of understanding the various components that make up the system, including HEPA filters and heat recovery ventilators, and ensuring these are optimally configured to maintain high levels of efficiency and energy performance.

It was surprising that the ASHP performed almost as well as the GHSP given that the ground maintains a much more constant temperature than air. The effect of source temperatures on performance was evident in the COP data. While the GSHP maintained a relatively constant COP of roughly 3 regardless of outdoor temperatures, the COP of the ASHP declined from 4.9 to 1.6 as outdoor temperatures fell from 9 to minus 19˚C during the winter. Below minus 24 ˚C, the ASHP was less efficient than a conventional electric heating system, and a supplementary heat source would be required (Figure 1).

Part of the explanation for the impressive ASHP performance lies in its capacity to vary the speed of the compressor. At temperatures warmer than minus 15˚C, the variable capacity ASHP compressor operated on part load, drawing less than half the electricity (2 – 3 kW) required under full load conditions (6 kW). Only when outdoor temperatures dropped below minus 15˚C did the ASHP compressor switch to full load. Heat pumps that operate on full load only are less efficient because, compared to variable capacity systems, they cycle on and off more, and provide less overall heat output per unit of electricity consumed.

We see this with the GSHP, which only had the capacity to operate at full load, causing the compressor to cycle on and off much more often than the ASHP compressor. During the cooling season test period, for instance, the compressor operated between 1 and 7 hours and cycled on and off up to 25 times a day. Over the same period, the ASHP variable capacity compressor operated between 3 and 11 hours per day and turned on and off only once. This cycling not only reduces energy efficiency, but also wears down the equipment and adversely affects thermal comfort.

Simulations of performance in 5 major cities – Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver -showed that both systems would function well. As expected, however, performance of the ASHP was more sensitive to differences in air temperature. In Montreal and Edmonton, for instance, the ASHP had lower COPs than other cities. These would be further reduced if supplementary heat at the coldest temperatures was included. In Vancouver, the warmer and more even year round temperatures resulted in higher ASHP performance. During the cooling season, the GSHP system slightly outperformed the ASHP in all cities, with COPs ranging between 5.8 and 6.1.

Ultimately, the equipment choice will be largely motivated by cost and energy savings. Based on monitoring data collected in this assessment, the ASHP was found to be more affordable overall. Significant savings are associated with not having to install a ground loop. Also, long term performance of the ASHP is not contingent on ensuring that heating and cooling loads are in balance. If life cycle costs and benefits are considered, the price gap may narrow because the ground loop is a one time cost and the GSHP compressor is subject to fewer mechanical and thermal stresses (since it is indoors) with a longer expected service life. Natural gas furnaces are currently more cost competitive at the residential scale, but as gas prices creep up again, we may see more heat pump systems in city neighbourhoods.

Tim Van Seters manages Toronto and Region Conservation’s Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program. He oversees a team of research scientists and technical experts engaged in scientific evaluations of green energy and clean water technologies. For more Information contact tvanseters@trca.on.ca

Amir Safa and Dr. Alan Fung were the lead researchers from Ryerson University’s Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. Contact Information: alanfung@ryerson.ca

Table 1: ASHP and GSHP Performance. Manufacturer and Energuide ratings apply to ‘stand alone’ system. The ‘as installed’ system includes the electricity consumed by the AHU and hydronics distribution systems

		Manufacturer	EnerGuide	Stand Alone	As Installed		Season
Air Source Heat Pump
Seasonal Coefficient of Performance	2.75		2.05	3.2	2.1		Heating
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio	16		>=14	18	12		Cooling
Seasonal Coefficient of Performance	—		—	5.4	3.5		Cooling
Ground Source Heat Pump
Seasonal Coefficient of Performance		3.0	>=3.3	3.4	3.1	Heating
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio		12.9	>=14.1	20	9	Cooling
Seasonal Coefficient of Performance		—	—	5.8	2.7	Cooling

HVAC

Breaking with tradition

April 12, 2013 Giulio Leave a comment

Quantum Geothermal goes the extra mile to provide quality geothermal solutions for homes

By Greg McMillan

Brian Bates of Quantum Geothermal has never been one to walk away from challenges – in fact, he embraces them.

As owner and founder of a southern Ontario company that provides quality geothermal solutions for homes, he takes pride in making sure each system is designed to the specific needs of customers to insure the best value and performance.

“I particularly enjoy working on custom-designed new build residential projects, where unique architecture may require a more sophisticated heating and cooling solution,” says Bates, P. Eng., who graduated from the University of Waterloo with a B.A.Sc. in mechanical engineering. “These more challenging projects are very satisfying. You have a chance to establish a relationship with the architect, builder and clients. It takes months to complete a project but we can really bring value to the outcome.”
Quantum Geothermal, founded in 2009, has a mandate to be a full-service operation, working in all areas of geothermal. By focusing exclusively on residential geothermal projects – both retrofit and new build projects – the company has developed a competitive skill set and highly efficient business model.

“I reach out to architects and builders,” Bates explains. “I host information seminars and visit architectural firms to meet and discuss ways to optimize the integration of geothermal heating and cooling systems into the project at an early stage in the design process.

”This initiative has allowed Quantum to develop some degree of repeat business with participating firms. Residual income or generating repeat business is a problem with our geothermal business model since the life cycle is very long. With residential installations, particularly, there is virtually no maintenance (or spare parts) required.

”By developing relationships with other stakeholders, however, it helps to address this business issue.”

From day one, Quantum has gone that extra mile.

“A friend of mine who is a custom home builder was looking to expand his use of geothermal heating and cooling systems for some of his projects in the west GTA but had become discouraged by the lack of professionalism and quality of service from some of the geothermal contractors he had approached,” recalls Bates. “From there, a process of investigation and due diligence followed, leading to the conclusion that there was a need and an opportunity. He helped me assemble a team of experienced and well-respected partners.

”Next I spoke to all the reputable equipment suppliers in Ontario to determine which brand of heat pumps Quantum would represent. “
He says this led to Quantum’s designation as an authorized dealer for NextEnergy from Elmira, Ontario. Bates noted that NextEnergy represents the ClimateMaster product line manufactured in the United States and is also expanding its commercial presence by offering both ClimateMaster and Viessmann heat pumps.

With hundreds of successful projects completed and an impressive list of satisfied customers, Quantum’s reputation for cost competitive, quality installations continues to grow. In fact, Quantum has recently received a National Award and has been recognized for its growth and professional commitment. Bates says the company takes an intelligent, honest and personalized approach as it continues to grow the business and expand the use of geothermal heating and cooling systems in southern Ontario.

“The retrofit market has always contributed to our bottom line but the pace is different,” Bates explains. “We get the crew onsite to excavate for a day or two (or drill vertically for a few days) and then spend a day down in the basement replacing the old furnace with a new heat pump. Done … then move on.”

The public, Bates says, has been extremely receptive to Quantum’s product, which has a cost- competitive model and offers a quality solution to a variety of client requirements.

“But there is still an urgent need to continue to advocate for this technology,” Bates says.
“Often the first question I get when we receive a new inquiry is ‘how much will it cost?’

“I understand that, but it misses the mark in terms of thought process. That is like phoning up a car dealership and asking ‘what does a car cost?’
“That is why we developed our own Energy Evaluation survey on our website. People need to understand that there is a process involved that is essential to constructing an energy-efficient and cost-effective geothermal heating and cooling system. There is science and guidelines and regulations and knowledge and client-specific information required.
To that end, Quantum can provide builders with a comprehensive report describing its scope of work, so they know exactly what skills and services are in the mix.
Looking ahead, Bates sees more challenges for Quantum and, again, he relishes the opportunity to confront them head on.

“Generating sales is an ongoing challenge for most small businesses and Quantum is no different,” he says. “Marketing, advocating for geothermal and continuing to reach out to architects and builders will be critical to our continued success.
“But particularly in the construction of new homes, I see geothermal being specified right from the concept and design phase with ever-increasing regularity. This is very encouraging and sustains our belief that our efforts are being recognized.”

Web: HYPERLINK “http://www.quantumgeothermal.com/” \o “This external link will open in a new window” \t “_blank” http://www.quantumgeothermal.com/

A key part of Quantum Geothermal marketing is done through the HYPERLINK “http://www.quantumgeothermal.com/” company website where there are links to associated government and industry sources. Visitors can also complete Quantum Thermal’s Energy Evaluation survey, or watch a three-minute video for a quick company overview. Geothermal is well-established and will continue to grow as a viable, renewable energy alternative to fossil fuels. Advocacy and education are keys to accelerating the curve.

Architecture, Ideas, Style, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

LAVA – Snowflake Tower

April 12, 2013 Giulio Leave a comment

ARCHITECT
LAVA – Laboratory for Visionary Architecture
Chris Bosse, Tobias Wallisser, Alexander Rieck
www.l-a-v-a.net
Sydney – Stuttgart – Abu Dhabi – Shanghai
NAME OF PROJECT
Snowflake Tower
LOCATION
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Europe, Asia, Middle East
DATE
2007
CLIENT
PNYG|Marasi
STATUS
Feasibility study/concept design
SIZE
GFA 106.550 m2; Height 240m (57-storeys)

DESCRIPTION
Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher presented the design for The
Michael Schumacher World Champion Tower, the first in a series of
seven towers planned worldwide, at Dubai Cityscape in 2008.
Inspired by the geometrical order of a snowflake and the
aerodynamics of a Formula 1 racing car, the tower encapsulates
speed, fluid dynamics, future technology and natural patterns of
organization. Rather than purely mimicking shapes in nature for
their elegance and unpredictability, the architects learned from
nature’s own geometrical orders creating highly efficient structures
and intriguing spaces.
LAVA let the design unfold as a result of the project’s needs:
optimal natural light and air distribution, maximum views, minimal
structure, user comfort and an unrivalled water experience.
The project brings together LAVA’s previous experiences, the
Mercedes-Benz Museum, a brand-owned museum with an
extraordinary spatial concept exploring the latest digital design and
fabrication technologies with the Watercube Beijing, an example of
the highest performance of both the building and the athletes,
creating by a stunning atmosphere developed through the
deliberate morphing of molecular science, architecture and
phenomenology.]

The organisational principle of a minimal surface allowed the
optimisation the facade/floor area ratio and each apartment in the
59 storey luxury tower has unobstructed ocean views.
The lower levels of the tower, traditionally the most difficult and
least attractive area, were reinterpreted as a series of prestigious
wharf apartments, terraced similar to that of cruise ship decks. By
widening the base, the tower is anchored into its surrounding water
basin similar to the surrounding mangroves and nearby canals. The
top sky villas offer 270-degree views opposite the new cultural
district on Saadyiat Island.
The building features an iconic silhouette and a facade characterised
by vertical slots with private balconies. A series of reflective fins
generates vertical dynamic and gives the building a constantly
changing appearance. The fins track the sun, control the solar
shading and dissolve the rationality of the plan into a continuously
evolving building volume.
The facade’s continuous surface enables curvature with a lot of
repetition and the potential for standardization in the building
process. State-of-the-art engineering and innovative materials will
be used to achieve a fully sustainable performance.
For all the giant leaps in technology in recent years, outdated
modernist high-rise towers continue to dominate our cities. The
branded tower will be their successor redressing the ecological
balance. With intelligent systems and skins, it can react to the
external influences such as air-pressure, temperature, humidity,
solar-radiation and pollution. New materials and technology will be
used to create robust, lightweight structure that adapts to and
harmonizes with its surroundings.
Developed as a prototypical building translating brand values into
an iconic architecture, the series of branded towers will be located
at strategically chosen locations around the world.
The basic development principle will be adjusted to every specific
location generating a mix of local and global values. Collaborations
with renowned furniture manufacturers will contribute to a unique
luxurious environment creating a new type of brand experience.
The unique collaboration with Michael Schumacher gave LAVA new
insights. Technology, precision, speed, elegance are paired with
human intuition and extraordinary performance. Similar to the
Formula 1 operation, construction is a team sport with a lot of
highly skilled experts. In this sense the architects take the driver
seat in the process, taking the project to the physical limits of
possibility.

The Tower marks a departure from traditional architectural thinking.
ANIMATION

=related
PRACTICE CREDITS
Concept: PNYG, Dubai
Architecture: LAVA
with Wenzel+Wenzel, Abu Dhabi
PHOTO CREDITS
LAVA

Architecture, Ideas, Sustainability, Technology, Trends

Bionic Tower, Abu Dhabi, UAE

April 12, 2013 Giulio Leave a comment

ARCHITECT
LAVA ‐ Laboratory for Visionary Architecture
Chris Bosse, Tobias Wallisser, Alexander Rieck
www.l‐a‐v‐a.net
Sydney – Stuttgart – Abu Dhabi – Shanghai
NAME OF PROJECT
Bionic Tower, High Rise Concept
LOCATION
Abu Dhabi, UAE
DATE
2007
CLIENT
Client: Confidential
STATUS
Feasibility Stage
SIZE
Height: 240 m

DESCRIPTION
The Bionic Tower embodies tomorrow’s architecture.
The Bionic Tower design moves beyond the superseded modernist concept of extruded
footprint and applied curtain wall to create a fully integrated intelligent façade that
harvests its surrounding environment to create maximum energy efficiency and user
comfort.
Structure and ornament
The Bionic Tower unifies structure, space and architectural expression similar to
naturally occurring systems of organisation.
Learning from nature and advanced computing technology enabled LAVA to conceive
structures of incredible lightness, efficiency and elegance. The intelligence of the
smallest unit results in the intelligence of the overall system.
The intelligence of the overall system

By parametric modelling of the ‘behavioural logic’ the system has been constantly
optimized throughout the design process to create a ‘whole’ that is greater than the sum
of its parts. Instead of an array of individual elements the building behaves like an
organism or ecosystem. Just as nature envisions organic regeneration, so the design
proposes a natural system of organic structure and organization.
The design proposes a naturally occurring system of structural organization that generates
a building embodying efficiencies found within natural structures and architectures. The
building acts as a system, with a skin that controls air pressure, temperature, humidity, air
pollution and solar radiation.
The proposed facade is an intelligent automation of surface to address pragmatic issues
such as ventilation, solar access and water collection.
No building skin today approaches the performance of the biological world. The
traditional curtain wall is passive, lacking the power to adjust to the fluctuating external
environment. It should be able to intervene actively in the buildings struggle to maintain
its internal stability.
New materials and technologies enable an adaptability, responsiveness, environmental
awareness and strength not seen in conventional architectural design.
Architecture has to perform as an ecosystem within the organic tissue of the city.
Architecture of the future is not about the shape but about the intelligence of the system.
PRACTICE CREDITS
LAVA – Chris Bosse, Tobias Wallisser, Alexander Rieck

Ideas

Knowing What Counts

April 12, 2013 Giulio Leave a comment

By Dave de Sylva

Every day an article is written which we may read; a news item reported and delivered to our electronic gadgets, or a television program watched that rightfully draws our attention to the problems of global climate change and our inevitable need to think more sustainably. Whether this movement’s origin is academic, social or government driven, the basis for it can be traced back to early scientific measurements of our climate, from analyses of our living patterns and habits to the earth’s movement. Since the very beginning of an interaction between science and measurement, we have grown increasingly aware of our collective footprint.

This measurement based research continues to demonstrate growing problems with weather, energy demand, food production, ocean deterioration and survivability of our ecosystem as a whole. At the basis of these problems is energy itself, its’ consumption, and our reliance on all that is produced from yesterday’s resources using yesterday’s technology. From a society that considers itself forward, we use less than 1% of 1% of what energy falls upon this earth every year, and yet what we use is almost exclusively sourced by antiquated technologies and means, in spite of many advancements we continue to develop. Old plants and animals dead for hundreds of thousands of years trapped in some of the most difficult places remain the beacons of interest, subject to herculean efforts to bring their fruits into our lives, as we burn them then cast their remnants and refuse aside, the consequences of these actions which we continue to ignore, relying on distant optimism almost as though we will find another atmosphere, a better technology, a cleaner ocean, another world.

Then we have the advocates, those upon whom we rely to guide us forward, the institutors of change, the promulgators of hope. These may be the pioneers who craft clever buildings that reach tall into our skies, towers decorated with elaborate furnishings. These are the architects and engineers who have advanced intricate systems featuring new ideas for old objectives. I say old objectives, as we really don’t wish to live thousands of feet up in the air nor underground. Traditional yet antiquated needs which may continue to increase if for no other reason than the tradition of a once sustainable lifestyle, regardless of a world population, which now stretches beyond 7 billion people.

It is the continued practice of these billions of people which guarantees the need for change. Imperatively so, the solution for the world as a whole requires and insists that alternate building systems must be achievable on this scale. As an example, a closely related problem facing the world is an inability to produce sufficient food for its’ masses, yet will not be solved by newer and better recipes for lobster or beef wellington. Most eat corn and wheat. Refining the standards of the upper echelons does nothing to address the growing and gaping hole that our burgeoning population will inflict on our natural resources.

Similarly the pressing need for sustainable building will not be satiated by elaborate architecture festooned with floating gardens and tagged with billion dollar budgets. The obvious conclusion to our immediate dilemma, must be that sustainable must also mean attainable. After all, what good is a solution if it has no real application other than to prove the academic veracity of a concept? What purpose is there served by highlighting new systems that have no chance of implementation by anyone other than governments?

Equally so, is the dissuading affect such intricate designs have on the building community. (Do you mean to say the distractions?)They serve to ensure than building green means building in the red. Little review is necessary by the average builder to see that “in the sky” ideas should be ignored if survival is at stake. (This really doesn’t read clearly) Conversely, the development industry, upon whom the real solutions rely, would (should?) take the lead if the new technology were cost effective and accepted by the market. As an example, a new system building unit that sells for the same as the old, but costs less to operate is the recipe for the future. Making the average person the target of your market is not only noteworthy, but good business. To advance ideas which can only be afforded by 1% of 1% of the population means that you are only that fraction successful, but building a real solution for all, solves the larger problem. Now everyone is on the same page. I think this paragraph is trying to speak towards the intentions of the development community and how they’re maligned for the purpose of turning over quick revenue. And I think you mean to say that the end result should be aesthetically pleasing and sustainable housing that can be affordable. Beyond that, you’ve lost me.

At the day’s conclusion, the decision to implement sustainable practices is rewarded not just through acceptance, but upon the realization that the problem is solved or being solved. No matter how many adjectives and shades of green a proponent uses, the test of success is as important as the ideas themselves. The measure of success becomes as significant as the issue itself.

Dave de Sylva is a member of the Professional Engineers of Ontario, a graduate of the University of Toronto in Civil Engineering – 1973, and an owner of DelRidge Homes Limited, GreenLife Energy Inc., Kenborough Contracting and Leed Wall Building Systems. GreenLife Energy owns and operates on site solar and remote wind energy systems and research facilities in articulated solar and concentrated wind energy. Together with DelRidge they implement these ideas in the construction of net zero energy residential and office condominiums in the 4-6 storey category from 30,000 sf. to 225,000 sf. in size and trademarked as “GreenLife” buildings.

All posts by Giulio

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LAVA – Snowflake Tower

Bionic Tower, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Knowing What Counts

Ontario's premier magazine for sustainable building and architecture

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