t.h. (presentation)
TRANSCRIPT
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Sustainable Urban Architecture: urban design and community
Professor Tim Heath University of Nottingham
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
‘The Life and Death of Sustainability: long live contextual sensitivism’
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
What is the motivation? The Challenge…
We are now very aware of the causes and consequences of global climate change and the impact upon this of our cities, buildings and their construction:
• buildings and their operations account for over 40 per cent of worldwide carbon emissions;
• all of those involved in the procurement and operation of buildings have a significant role to play in ensuring we design and operate greener more energy efficient buildings.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Climate Change…
For a number of years, the Earth’s temperature has been rising and to limit catastrophic outcomes, the international scientific community has set a challenging goal of no more than a 2o Celsius average temperature rise. To put this into perspective, research has shown that the average temperature in Alaska has risen by 4oC in the last thirty years.
It currently takes 1.3 years for the earth to replenish what we take out of it in 1 year!
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
The Current Impact:
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
WHY SUSTAINABLE CONTEXTUALLY SENSITIVE ARCHITECTURE, URBAN DESIGN &
COMMUNITIES?
In 1900, just 10% of the world’s population lived in cities, today, in little over a hundred
years this has risen to over 50% and is estimated to reach 75% by 2050.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
How Fast Cities are Growing (persons per hour)
Source: Burdett & Sudjic (2011) Living in the Endless City
+10 +30 +50
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
The life of sustainability!
The World Commission on Environment and Development’s (WCED) Bruntland Commission definition of sustainable development in the paper Our Common Future is the most frequently cited definition of the concept: “Sustainable development is the kind of development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
(WCED, 1987) How many of us have quoted this in our lectures, papers, etc.?
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
The life of sustainability! The first known European use of the word sustainability (German: Nachhaltigkeit) occurred in 1713 in the book Sylvicultura Oeconomica by German forester and scientist Hans Carl von Carlowitz. Later, French and English foresters adopted the practice of planting trees as a path to "sustained-yield forestry”. The word “sustainability” was first used in the context of man's future in 1972, in a British book, Blueprint for Survival.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
The Situation…
…the life and death of sustainability!
We regularly hear terms like ‘green’, ‘eco’, ‘energy-efficient’, ‘sustainable’, ‘low-carbon’, and ‘low-energy’, etc.
In many cases, however, the reality is a ‘marketing ploy’ with little substance or evidence to back up the use of these terms.
Hopefully, these terms will soon become redundant and we will just need to use words like “designed” or “planned” to describe buildings, communities or cities that are contextually responsible and have not just a neutral but a positive impact on society and our planet.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Whilst countries, leaders and politicians fight, we need actions that the public can understand.
The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Paris
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Whilst countries, leaders and politicians fight, we need actions that the public can understand.
2016: …UK Brexit; President-elect Donald Trump; China; etc.; etc.; etc.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Whilst the debate and arguments continue, we desperately need 7.4 billion ‘little footsteps’.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
The Situation…
…the life and death of sustainability!
"Think global, act local” attributed to Scots town planner and social activist Patrick Geddes (Cities in Evolution, 1915) The first use of the phrase in an environmental context is disputed. Some say it was coined by David Brower (The Daily Telegraph, 8 Nov. 2000) founder of Friends of the Earth as a slogan when it was founded in 1969.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
The Situation…
…the life and death of sustainability!
Traditionally a top down approach:
International Organisations (1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; Kyoto Protocol 1997;
The Government (politician) The Official (urban planner)
The Developer (investor) The Professional (architect, engineer, etc.)
The Community (user)
Time for a re-think: “Think local, act local, impact global”
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
The Situation…
…the life and death of sustainability!
…long live contextual sensitivism!
(…is this any easier to understand than “sustainability”?)
Contextual: adjective defined as relating to, dependent on (the ‘things’ around us). Sensitivism: to be sensitive (responsive to and aware of).
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
One of the most important dimensions of in practice is understanding the contexts:
• physical; • cultural; • heritage; • social; • economic; • environmental; • microclimate; • infrastructure; • time; • etc.
Dalston Area Action Plan, London
Defining “Context”:
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Importance of Research: Sustainable design principles should be established at the outset of the design process and should continue through to the construction and commissioning of the building.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
7 homes designed and constructed with innovation and flexibility to allow testing of methods of construction, energy efficient design and renewable energy systems.
Creative Energy Homes Project, Nottingham, UK
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
The Creative Energy Homes Project showcases innovative energy efficient homes of the future. The project aims to stimulate sustainable design ideas and promote new ways of providing affordable, environmentally sustainable housing that are innovative in their design.
Creative Energy Homes Project, Nottingham, UK
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
BASF house – 3 key design criteria to inform the design process: 1. house had to be energy efficient
and it is designed to achieve an annual heating load of 12.5 kWh/m2;
2. materials had to be affordable and enable a fast construction method requiring low-skilled contractors.
3. house had to be designed so that it could be easily reproduced as a terrace or as a multi-storey solution.
BASF House, Nottingham, UK
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
A lot of the housing stock we will be living in at the middle of the 21st century is already built and was built before we became aware of the need to be more environmentally aware. In 2050, 25 million existing UK homes will still account for between 70 and 90% of the housing stock.
E-ON House (1930s house), Nottingham, UK
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED), London
• UK’s largest mixed use sustainable community.
• Energy: 81% reduction in energy use for heating, 45% reduction in electricity use (compared to local average).
• Transport: 64% reduction in car mileage (compared to national average).
• Water: 58% reduction in water use 72 litres/person/day (compared to local average).
• Waste: 60% waste recycled.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Approach to (Holistic) Design:
1. Analyse the context(s);
2. Understand the user(s);
3. Design to maximise all potential natural resources;
4. Maximise integration of renewable resources;
5. Introduce relevant technologies;
6. Design for flexibility and adaptability;
7. Cradle to cradle approach to materials;
8. Consider construction methods;
9. Prepare building management plan;
10. Undertake life-cycle analysis and post occupancy analysis.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Design Tools + Computer Technologies
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Site Planning
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Thermal Design Strategies
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Ventilation Design
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
DEFINING THE CONTEXTUALLY SENSITIVE COMMUNITY...
‘The symbiotic relationship between humanity and
earth that facilitates social, economical, political,
cultural and environmental prosperity, so that
quality of life, efficiency and fairness is continually
enhanced, whilst simultaneously ensuring all forms
of life and resources on earth may be sustained for
the enjoyment and creativity of future generations.’
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
SO WHAT ARE THE ISSUES EFFECTING CONTEXTUALLY SENSITIVE COMMUNITIES?
…need for an holistic approach!
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
A Sustainable
Community is well
organised and
efficient in terms of
its:
• Governance;
• Transport;
• Services;
• Environmental
factors;
• Equality;
• Economy;
• Housing; and
• Social aspects.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
KEY ISSUES/CHALLENGES OF COMMUNITIES
The 4 requirements of the ‘urban system’ are the resources which provide
the building blocks and potential for different forms of land use, which
become the outputs. For the system to be sustained it requires an efficient
transport/communication network to manage the inputs and outputs. All of
which is powered by energy.
1. Resources
2. Land Use
3. Transport / Communication
4. Energy
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
ANALYSING CONTEXT SENSITIVE URBANISM
Each main input can be broken down into 5 sub-issues:
1. Social
2. Economic
3. Political
4. Environmental
5. Cultural
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
What Criteria can we use to Design and Assess a Contextually Sensitive
Community?
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• An holistic measurement of environmental, social and economic sustainability;
• A framework for collaboration on key masterplan issues.
BREEAM Communities Assessment Model
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
BREEAM Communities…
Addresses global challenges through masterplanning:
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
BREEAM Communities Categories
Five Categories and 40 Assessment Issues:
1. Governance
2. Social and Economic Well-being
2.1 Social Wellbeing
2.2 Local Economy
2.3 Environmental Conditions
3. Resources and Energy
4. Land Use and Ecology
5. Transport and Movement
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
BREEAM Communities Assessment
Five Categories and 40 Assessment Issues each with an individual weighting:
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Masthusen (and Bo01), Malmö, Sweden
175 hectare artificial island of Västra Hamnen (Western Harbour) was bought by the Municipality of Malmö in 1996, with the idea of developing an entirely new eco-district.
Västra Hamnen is now a sustainable urban development with the inner city as its model with density and greenness as key words.
Bo01
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Masthusen, Malmö, Sweden
The regeneration of the former industrial area, is an important part of Malmö’s drive for sustainable city development. Over the last 10 years, it has been transformed from a polluted industrial area to an environment-conscious district with homes, businesses and recreational areas - an area for knowledge and sustainable living.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Masthusen, Malmö, Sweden
Malmö University opened its campus in 1998.
European home fair Bo01 was held in 2001.
The Masthusen area will be a central living and working destination.
It will include 700 residential units, 70,000 m2 of offices, and 20,000 m2 of shops and services.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Masthusen, Malmö, Sweden
• Network of narrow streets and lanes designed to provide shelter from the prevailing winds and to reflect the traditional Malmo streets.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Masthusen, Malmö, Sweden The Masthusen development includes the following sustainability attributes:
• mixed-use community providing housing, offices, retail and education facilities;
• range of tenures and
occupational uses, creating vibrancy and supporting existing and new small businesses and restaurants.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Masthusen, Malmö, Sweden
• sustainable building materials;
• strong emphasis on designing the area to be adaptable to the impacts of climate change;
• vehicle-free transport solutions, with extensive fast and safe cycle paths that are well connected to the rest of the City of Malmö.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Masthusen, Malmö, Sweden
• reduced building
energy use;
• strong focus on
urban biodiversity
providing places for
wildlife and
ecologically suitable
habitats.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Masthusen, Malmö, Sweden
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Masthusen, Malmö, Sweden
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Masthusen, Malmö, Sweden
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Masthusen, Malmö, Sweden
“BREEAM Communities provided us with an ideal opportunity to review how we develop sustainable communities in Sweden.”
Anders Nilsson (Architect & BREEAM Assessor)
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Masthusen, Malmö, Sweden
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
British Council/Newton Fund Workshop – University of Nottingham and UII (Dec 2016)
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Why is ‘community’ important? • Communities meet deep human needs for integration, identity, and
mutual support.
• Architects and planners want to reconstruct cities in ways that would revive local communities. Promote social inclusion and local participation.
• Acting responsibly, equitably and participating in community life brings about well-being:
– ‘happiness’, ‘quality of life’, ‘life satisfaction’
– healthy (including physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health).
• Well-being is a “balance of social, economic and environmental health in individual and community life that engenders respect from others and the environment” (Dolan et al. 2006).
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Context Sensitive / Low Carbon Communities
• UK Government Policy defines ‘sustainable’ communities as “places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good services for all.”
• Low-carbon communities are defined as “forms of co-operation and collaboration that aim to reduce the carbon intensity of their members’ lifestyles by providing amenable contexts and mechanisms that encourage behaviour change.”
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• Located in Björkhagen; • 10 minute walk to
subway and local amenities;
• 15 minute journey to city centre;
• adjacent to Nacka nature reserve.
• It is a sustainable community comprising: •44 homes; •placed in five ‘gardens’;
•and a common house.
Low Carbon Community:
Understenshöjden - Stockholm
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Understenshöjden - Stockholm
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• Began in 1989 with an architecture student attending a lecture on ecological living
• Student relayed the story and eventually it attracted significant interest.
• All interested parties created the Ecological Development in Björkhagen association.
• A shortlist of potential residents was created, these residents forming groups.
• Potential residents set up a series of research groups investigating issues such as:
• Health and home (such as materials, community functioning etc.);
• Financing;
• Sustainability (ecological measures, renewable technologies, planning etc);
• In summary, it was a resident driven programme that took a bottom up approach where the client had extensive input.
Understenshöjden - Stockholm
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• the natural landscape (ecology of the habitat) was to be disturbed as little as possible.
Prerequisite:
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• Great care taken positioning the houses on the site so as to minimise the damage or upheaval of existing trees and plants.
• Paths around the site are permeable, that is they allow water to pass through them:
• cuts down the need for extensive surface drainage commonly associated with pavements;
• maintains the water table whereby water naturally goes to ground;
• surface does not flood or require any special design flow calculations - that is it will not overburden any piped drainage system.
Footprint
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• Wildlife corridors were encouraged… fruit trees and bushes were planted to encourage the integration of wildlife such as elk and reindeer, as well as decreasing exposure to the elements through the reduction of wind impact.
• The ‘site’ is therefore a sanctuary for wildlife amidst human activity.
Integration into existing landscape
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• The 'Common House'. Used as a central community forum for meetings, parties, playroom.
• It has a:
• laundry (minimises number of washing machines / tumble driers purchased...also provides drying facilities and forum for people to meet);
• office;
• large shared kitchen for catering;
• wood-working shop.
Community infrastructure – the ‘Common House’
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• The safe play of children was an integral part of the ethos behind this sustainable community.
• The tree house is overlooked by several houses and provides a strong focus for child play.
Children - Play
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Throughout the project, particular attention was paid to aesthetics:
• Glazing was a top priority with double glazed wooden multi-pane windows adding to the attractiveness and quality of light entering each room
• Light penetration was optimised through careful design of glazing area.
• Ceilings were specified at 2.7m to provide a sense of space and make the space feel lighter.
• No direct solar protection was designed in. Protection is via the deciduous trees within the natural habitat letting sunlight in during winter and omitting it during summer.
Aesthetics
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• Choice of materials was exceptionally important:
• All buildings were timber framed and well insulated using wood cellulose allowing good vapour permeability.
• Cellulose coupled with an adequate ventilation strategy in order to reduce moisture movement through the building fabric.
• Bathrooms are enclosed in brick thus acting as a good humidity barrier and temperature regulator (thermal mass).
Materiality
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• External wood treated with ferrous sulphate-based paint.
• Roofing is traditional terra-cotta tiles.
• Interior paint treatments chosen to ensure minimum environmental.
• Woodwork is treated with linseed oil-based paints.
• Floors are made of fir and coated in either lye and soap or oil. All wet areas are tiled.
• Materials chosen to have minimum impact on the environment.
Materiality
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• Each roof is equipped with 7.5m2 of solar thermal array for supplying hot water.
• The community has several heat sources including:
• district heating
• central furnace (biomass) heating.
• electric heating.
• solar thermal.
Solar thermal
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• Sweden extensively uses district heating to heat homes and other sectors.
• The large-scale housing surrounding the site taps into this.
• Additionally, the construction of these large, multi-unit housing promotes energy efficiency by minimising external skin construction and quantity of building materials.
Surrounding neighbourhood – district heating
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• Large fully enclosed storage area.
• Separated into ‘rooms’ for:
• Recycled elements such as paper, glass, plastics, card.
• Materials that cannot be recycled.
• Reuse / free-cycling – includes toys, books, games etc.
• Organic waste is composted in compost bins situated close to each dwelling.
Recycling / re-use / free-cycling
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
• Car sharing established within community.
• 2 common cars shared on a booking basis.
• Very close to public transport infrastructure that takes residents direct to Stockholm.
Public transportation and car pooling
Understenshöjden - Stockholm
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
Importantly let’s remember to be:
…‘holistic’ in our approach;
…sensitive to our context(s); and
…remember the importance of a ‘bottom-up approach’.
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Environmental Physics & Design Research Group
Energy & Sustainability Research Division
As well as the bigger picture, let’s remember to:
“Think local, act local, impact global”
…little steps can lead to great journeys!
Thank You
Professor Tim Heath