Green design on Mount Holyoke Campus!--New Dorm

Oh no! It's not called New Dorm anymore! It's the JoJo Hall (Joanne V. Creighton Hall)!
As the newest dorm building on campus, this is THE green building on campus! Let's look at some of its green features:


1.Solar thermal roof panels support the hot water system to save energy.
2. Water-use efficiency.use 35% less water than the Massachusetts code allowed.
3. Digital energy control system. Energy usage in different parts of the building can be monitored. Students can compare who used the least amount of energy.
4. Good insulation by using high performance windows. 
5. Using materials with a high recycled content, materials that are low in VOC's (volatile organic compounds emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids.) Many natural materials were used such as bamboo and cork flooring.
6. Big windows allow a lot of natural lighting.


This building received Gold LEED™ certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).  


Something else amazing and interesting about this project:


1. This is a pretty big building, but the architect managed to fit it into the landscape really well. The red break look matches the rest of the campus and responds to its neighbor-- Prett Music Hall.
2. Mixed singles, doubles and suites into the building to fit Mount Holyoke's mix-class year residency situation.

sources:

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/564276/?sc=rsln

http://newyork.construction.com/features/2009/1201_NewResidenceHall.asp

google image search

organic architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright

“So here I stand before you preaching organic architecture: declaring organic architecture to be the modern ideal and the teaching so much needed if we are to see the whole of life, and to now serve the whole of life, holding no ‘traditions’ essential to the great TRADITION. Nor cherishing any preconceived form fixing upon us either past, present or future, but—instead—exalting the simple laws of common sense—or of super-sense if you prefer—determining form by way of the nature of materials...”
— Frank Lloyd Wright, An Organic Architecture, 1939

During my staying in Amherst this summer, I was surprised by how much attention people put into "organic, green, recycle" in this town and the Pineer Valley area. The recycle of beer bottles, the farmer's market every weekend...Many local farmer's stores have signs of "organic food" and they inspired me to think about what exactly is "organic"? and...maybe...Can architecture be organic as well?

As soon as I typed "organic architecture" into google, I found out that Frank Lloyd Wright introduced the word ‘organic’ into his philosophy of architecture as early as 1908. To him, organic architecture is a way in design to integrate nature's principle into the form and function of buildings.

During the whole history of architecture, people constantly use nature as an inspiration of form, decoration or materials. I have just discussed in our modern architecture class that some of the decoration of the Elffel Tower are literally in the shape of plants. However, Wright is saying that: let's use nature more than it's literally meaning, but try to chieve this harmony between human habitation and the natural world. 


Frank Lloyd Wright applied this principle of organic architecture through many of his designs. My favorite one is definately the "falling water".

Falling water is a residence Frank Lloyd Wright designed for the Kaufman family in Pennsylvania.The house sits directly above a waterfall in the woods, surrounded by rocks.

The cantilever form of the house makes it look like the house grew from the nature. The family could go on to the terraces and be exteior and interior at the same time. Local rocks were used as material for some part of the design. Wright allowed a boulder from the site to form the fire place, thus blends rock, fire and water together.

One thing I really liked about the design of falling water is Wright's design details the relationship between the house and the waterfall. He didn't just make it that people could see the waterfall from inside all the time. The waterfall is under the house so people actually have to walk out a few steps to enjoy the full view of it. This small detial makes people appreciate the waterfall much more.

Frank Lloyd Wright's organic architecture principle still influences many designers today. In fact, I believe that intergrating nature and architecture together is the best form of design we ever need in this world!

picture sources:
google image search

floating cities--continued

After looking at all those pictures of floating cities. I drafted my own floating cities:





















    In this world, cities are all floating in the ocean. They have an almost sphere shape and can spin around their axial according to the sun to take the advantage of solar energy. The half above the sea level of cities are buildings, parks and gardens... Between those tall buildings, there are green, in the air gardens connecting each building. Below the sea levels. There are also interesting structures such as under water garden, parks, industries...They give us a chance to use the resources underwater and also enjoy a close relationship between the nature underwater and us.
    To go around the between each city, we could either take the "greenway" above the ocean or there will be underwater tunnel connecting them.
Those cities can each produce their own energy using solar power, wind power and maybe some other new energy power we discover in the future.

    This is just a random imagination ~ 

Floating cities--to be continued...

The sea level is rising every second! Being in Boston so near to the ocean, this news scares me a little bit, are we all going to be underwater sometime in the future??
Apparently, this same idea has scared many architects as well and there has been a lot of interesting designs of floating cities!
Here are some of my favorite ones.

So what should a floating cities be like? I want to design my own floating city sometime! (probably during this week~~)


While researching for pictures for floating city, I also found a fascinating and amazing project by Rael San Fratello Architects -- the floating garden! This moving octopus flies around and clean up the air in different places! What a beautiful idea! Maybe those cute little things can even help planting plants at various places to green the planet

This project shows the value of thinking outside of the box "green architecture". It inspires me to think of environmental friendly designs not just as solar panels, but something totally new!

sources:


http://www.rael-sanfratello.com/?p=866
google image search

Hello Sunshine!

    During my study at Harvard GSD summer program this past summer, I was so glad to hear from many local architects about their designs and projects. My favorite one among them was the Children's School in Stamford, CT designed by MaryAnn Thompson.

    This is a children's school designed by MaryAnn Thompson for about 60 kids.This "one house classroom" attracted me with its beautiful sunshine feature and the big open space.

    One thing unique about this school is that there is no walls between the classrooms. The bookshelves define the pathways and different usage of spaces. I was stunned by how the space itself can affect the feelings children get when they are in the space. Teachers said that kids tent to keep themselves really quiet within the space because the high ceiling, open space and sun speak to the kids. 

    Sunshine is merged into the classroom extremely well from the "glass walls" and skylight.All children like sunshine, and parents are concerned a lot of times that children don't get enough sunshine during the day. When children don't enjoy enough sunshine, they get impatient and sullen. However, this children's school barely needs electric light during the day because the architecture itself let enough sunlight get into the room for reading and activities. In fact, during Mary's presentation at Harvard, an middle-aged woman stood up and asked "Can you build something like this for my office? I want the sunshine too!"

    The children's school is also one of the first LEED certificate school in CT. It has a passive solar design with cross ventilation. Natural and regional materials were also used to keep the design sustainable.

     When I think of this children's school, I think of words like "sunshine" and "happiness". This just seems like a perfect environment for kids and for school. It's amazing how a piece of architect can affect the exterior and interior feelings of a design and link the site and nature to the architecture itself.  

sources:

http://www.maryannthompson.com/

from The Philosophy of Architecture to Architecture 2030

    I am taking a course called the philosophy of art this semester and we just read about Plato's viewpoint on poetry. He thought that poetry only gives people pleasure, but is not beneficial to the society, therefore, should not have a place in the world. He explained that poetry encourages and magnifies the flow out of emotions, when in fact,those emotions should be kept inside individuals.
    I found Plato's opinions on the art form--poetry extremely interesting. How can we define "good art" and "bad art"? What does art do to us and the society as a whole?
    Those in class discussions encouraged me to think about architecture as a form of art.
    Wikipedia defines "architecture" as The art and science of designing and erecting buildings and other physical structures. I've always found architecture from different times and regions interesting because they reflect history, philosophy and culture. However, if I think along Plato's way, why is architecture beneficial to the society？ Yes we all need a shelter to avoid rain and keep us warm, but why is the art of architecture more than just a shelter? What is a good architecture?
   To me, a good architecture can truly benefit the world by creating a harmony relationship between the structure and nature. With the growth of the population on earth and the improvement of our technology, more and more skyscrapers raised up during the 20th century. Steel and glass boxes office buildings became the love of cities because they are cheap and easy to build. At the same time, problems like the "heat island effect" are causing more people's attention. We are here on earth as a part of the nature, so why are we destroying our land?! Thus, energy efficient and environmental friendly houses start to catch people's attention and become the architecture of today.
    Recently, a website/project caught my attention: architecture 2030
    According to researches on the website of architecture 2030, buildings consume a lot of energies, are the largest contributor to the climate change and the health of economy is tied to the buildings. In order to slow the growth rate of green house gases(GHG), architecture 2030 issued The 2030 Challenge asking the global architecture and building community to adopt the following targets:

• All new buildings, developments and major renovations shall be designed to meet a fossil fuel, GHG-emitting, energy consumption performance standard of 60% of the regional (or country) average for that building type.
• At a minimum, an equal amount of existing building area shall be renovated annually to meet a fossil fuel, GHG-emitting, energy consumption performance standard of 60% of the regional (or country) average for that building type.
• The fossil fuel reduction standard for all new buildings and major renovations shall be increased to:
• 70% in 2015
• 80% in 2020
• 90% in 2025
• Carbon-neutral in 2030 (using no fossil fuel GHG emitting energy to operate).

    The next question is : How are we going to achieve our goals. And that's us--today and tomorrow's architects' job.

9/13/2010 Building a better city forest!

I saw this project CAAC / Paredes Pino  on Archdaily today. I really liked the overall design. It is quite interesting and unique. However,I feel like this landscape project could be more "green" and could work better for the community.
Here is the project:

This design is by Paredes Pino - Fernando G. Pino, Manuel G. de Paredes  and it is located in Islas Sisargas c/v Formentera c/v Cies, Cordoba, Spain. 

Things I like about it:

It functions as a gathering space for people and provide shade, light, as well as the opportunity to get on top of the "umbrellas", which seems to be fun.

Things I do not like about it:

Those "umbrellas" indeed look like a bunch of cheap plastic giant mushrooms. I do not like the colors, because they make me feel anxious thinking about being at the site. If the architects' intention was to build a city forest for the people to gather, I think they failed to connect the place to nature.

In my opinion, a gathering place that people would enjoy always needs to connect with the nature. Those giant mushrooms block the natural scene and are not enjoyable. 

If I were the designer, here are a few things I would like to do:

1. Add trees, grass, flowers to the site. Maybe plants could grow onto those umbrellas, or even fruits. Maybe some of the umbrellas could be made into green houses for special plants.

2. I want to keep some of the umbrellas (reduce the number) and the idea that people can get onto the top of some of them. Maybe some of the top of the umbrellas could function as solar panels to generate energy for the site or even for the surroundings. 

3. Right now, under those umbrellas all seems to be the same color. I'm wondering if that could change to help with the design and the functionality of the landscape.

4. From the google map, this place seems like between a lot of buildings. It would be a perfect "forest garden" for people during most of the time and a nice market place when it needed to be. I like gathering places, they were my favorite as a kid. I want to even add more different functions and fun to the space by maybe making one of the "umbrellas" a fountain with water coming down from the top (kids will love it). Maybe one of the other "umbrella" could be a newspaper stand for the parents to read newspapers.

In a word, I like this unique design and I think it could be pushed to connect more with the nature, work as an energy generator and more fun functions could be add to it!

source:

http://www.archdaily.com/76944/caac-paredes-pino/