Nowadays, being eco-friendly has become more and more important. The needs of the human beings are continuously increasing with time and technology hasn't been able to solve all the problems faced by society. That is why it is primordial to work in synergy with nature and make the most of our local environment, thus saving as much energy as we can. The design of the shelter must be as smart as possible to ensure an eco-friendly building. So we are going to think about the functions the shelter must satisfy and present our ideas for the shelter design.
Design plays a crucial role in the success of an assignment. Finding the right approach might prove to be the difference between success and failure.
Design plays a crucial role in the success of an assignment. Finding the right approach might prove to be the difference between success and failure.
Different methods to reach one goal
After carrying out a large scale brainstorming session with every group, we stopped brainstorming for a while and made a functional analysis, which should have been the first thing to do. Following the functional analysis, the 'shelter' function was broken down into three main sub-functions,
1. Protection from the environment.
2. Making people feel comfortable inside
3. Integration with the environment.
We then broke down the sub-functions in order to better understand every dimension of the problems we had to solve.
A function tree was created, where the function - 'Protection from the environment' - was divided into branching sub functions.
A function tree was created, where the function - 'Protection from the environment' - was divided into branching sub functions.
Its good to be prepared.
The first thing which came to our mind when we thought of protection was the protection from the environment. This we further divided into the following elementary functions: protection from wind, sun, rain, snow, dust, and hot/cold weather.
All of these features are inseparable from the other topics, like water, energy, etc. For example the protection from excess heat minimizes or even eliminates the costs of air conditioning. Also the protection from the rain is very close to the idea of gathering rainwater; thus we were able to fulfill two goals in one function.
Comfort means being able to provide a convenient, tunable, stimulating, intimate as well as communicating and proper micro-climate conditions.
Comfort means being able to provide a convenient, tunable, stimulating, intimate as well as communicating and proper micro-climate conditions.
Comfort By Design
The inside of the building must be convenient in the sense that it is essential to think about the arrangement of the rooms and the connections between them so as to ease everyday chores and activities. We must also be able to easily change each room purpose and tune it so to adapt it to what we need. Moreover, we don’t want the building to be too cozy but instead stimulate the students to work rather than feel sleepy. That’s why by just visual aids, the interior design must be able to give students the impression that Biology is awesome. This is achieved by the colors and material that will be used as well as by the lighting of the rooms. An interactive and inconstant inside would also motivate students. Proper micro-climate within the structure are also essential to make people feel more welcome and comfortable. For achieving this goal with lesser energy, we looked at the termites super structures for inspiration. The building should also communicate by itself so that the inside is more people friendly and have proper elements to guide them to their destination.
A crucial aspect to making the design unique is the idea of a synergy between nature and technology.
A crucial aspect to making the design unique is the idea of a synergy between nature and technology.
Synergy
We see symbiosis in nature, where different species exchange resources to create a mutually beneficial relationship. This was a vision we dreamt of during the formulation of part of the functional analysis. Most technology not only fails to achieve this but also harms the environment around it. Hence we looked to nature itself to provide solutions to most of our problems. The result of this approach was a building which could integrate itself with the ecosystem around it, therefore using nature to provide for its needs without causing damage to the surrounding ecosystem. A few biomimetic approaches we implemented were:
To create a bio-building we were inspired by one of the best eco-building architecture which have been built in the last few years: the California Academy of Sciences by Renzo Piano.
This project is one of the ten pilot “green building” projects of the San Francisco Department of Environment and collects a lot of eco-friendly processes:
- the structure is completely covered with grass and natural fibers, that will provide a great thermal insulation for the building and also serves as natural habitat for native species of animals and plants;
- the shape of the roof follows a sinous line that allows the natural ventilation in the surrounding environments;
- the spherical windows allow natural light to enter and reflect infrared;
- a ventilation allows cool air from the outside to enter the building and to release the indoor air outside.
The building is in a perfect symbiotic relationship with the enviroment, it established a total collaboration with the nature.
Another building that caught our attention in the Paul Klee Zentrum by Renzo Piano, located in Bern; the shape represents a big wave escaping from the ground, it seems that the ground is rises to host people. The inner curves of those waves inspired us to recover easily rainwater.
To protect the building from the wind and the change of temperature outside, we decided to build the faculty half under the ground. Indeed, the change of temperature is much slower underground than over it. That is why the ground will be all over the building, consituted of coconut fibers, in order to regulate the humidity and the temperature of the building.
Moreover a spherical shape enables the building to not be bothered by the wind and to recover easily the rain at the bottom of the half sphere. That is why we had the idea to round the building with a lake, filled in with the rainwater. With the appropriate choice of biomass, rocks and sand the water of the lake can be purified and recovered by pipes. As a consequence, the rainwater can be used by the students of the building.
To make sure that the sunlight is well-reparted in the building, lots of spherical windows must be put on the half sphere outside. The shape of the window inside the building is rounded, not flat, to ensure a better repartition of the light.
To enhance a well-being feeling, the entrance of the building may be a green house. Moreover, the function of the faculty will be obvious for the people.
Nature has inspired us throughout our history. At some point in our history we deviated from nature and moved on with our own technological ideas. In recent years we have realized that technology by itself is inefficient and is harmful to the environment. Thus, out of this necessity emerged the field of biomimetics. We have used a set of biomimetic principles in our building design to come out with a sustainable and eco-friendly building.
Just a short article summarizing how our building design is inspired from the snakes temperature control strategy
Just a short article summarizing how our building design is inspired from the snakes temperature control strategy
snakes den
Snakes are reptiles which means that they are literally cold-blooded and need to find a way of surviving during the winter. What they do in order to meet this objective is just getting under the ground level by staying inside a den.
How does this helps them ?
The cave effect.
The cave effect corresponds to the physical phenomenum also used by the french to conserve wine in wine caves and by plants to allow their seeds to germinate. The physical characteristics of the ground decrease the temperature variations and also change its phase as we go beneath it. It's even possible to manage to reach phase opposition with the outside temperature in a certain depth, which allows you to have summer temperature conditions inside a cave or den while it's winter outside. This is why our building is partially built underground and why we have a grass roof. This way we can control the temperature inside the building and consume less electricity for warming and cooling it, which corresponds to the most energy consuming activities in every european building.
Explanations about our design of the education facilities in a bio-based engineering faculty building
Explanations about our design of the education facilities in a bio-based engineering faculty building
Honeycomb bees
Everybody knows that bees are really smart and well organized insects. This is why it is really common to use it as an inspiration source in the biomimicry design field, as it is the case for the education facilities of our faculty building.
The Waste/Food group came up with the idea of building class room with recycled cardboard and we kind of liked the idea. But as the material quantities are uncertain for this kind of task, it was important for us to come up with a smart material efficient design. And that's where the honeycomb comes.
By designing cardboard made modular rooms on wheels or rails we believe it is possible to create stimulating and tunable education facilities. Every class room and aula should be made out of those modular rooms which can be connected to each other and move.
Thanks to a nano structure, the droplets of water cannot wet on the leaves of the lotus. As a consequence, the droplets of water just rolls onto the leaves recovering the dirt.
The scientists have mimic this structure in order to keep walls and windows clean.
In the case of our building design, this lotus structure must recover at least the glass roofs. So the building will not need any cleaning: it will save energy.
How the pitcher plants inspired us for more efficient pipes...
How the pitcher plants inspired us for more efficient pipes...
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The pitcher plants have their internal surfaces recovered by a slippery liquid. This liquid prevent the insects from climbing out of the plant.
This Slippery Liquid Infused Porous Surface can be used on the internal surfaces of the pipes. As a consequence, the tubes will be self-cleaning and will transport the fluids more easily.
This installation is a great place to chill before/after school and it is also contributing to the water collecting system.
This installation is a great place to chill before/after school and it is also contributing to the water collecting system.
The nature-inspired part of the installation is the shading unit, which is adjustable. According to the user's wish, it can provide shadow or allow the sun to shine on the seating area and when it it rainy, it also provides shelter from water. The shading plane can be turned around an axis manually to reach the wished state. This design provides solution for those who like to lie in the sun and those who prefer chilling in the shadows.
The tiling around the unit in the middle is contributing to the effective water collecting and leads the rainwater to the drains around the chilling spot.
Water is everywhere if you know how to obtain it efficiently
Water is everywhere if you know how to obtain it efficiently
Bromelia based design
The bromelia plant has a unique design which enables it to obtain water on its leaves through condensation of moisture in air. This way even through times of extreme drought, this plant has a continuous supply of water. We were inspired by this ability of bromelia and tried to use it in designing the tower of our building to provide a constant supply of fresh water even during dry seasons.
Yes! even something as simple as a pinecone can inspire you
Yes! even something as simple as a pinecone can inspire you
pinecone
Pinecones have an interesting ability to open and close a set of tiny pores in their body based on the temperature and humidity around them. This enables them to perspire during the summer and stay insulated during cold days. We implemented this amazing ability in our building design so that the building itself can breathe during hot days and insulate itself during cold days without requiring any external energy input.
Our design had to evolve in order to accommodate the needs of the different groups. Just like evolution in nature, we were finally able to come up with a sustainable, eco-friendly and functional design, thanks to the various inputs from the different groups.
The idea was to design a living building and YUPTA enabled us to do so.
The idea was to design a living building and YUPTA enabled us to do so.
YUPTA
We designed the entire shelter with the main idea that it should not be just a building but be a source of inspiration and creativity to the students and faculty alike. Our YUPTA analysis resulted in the following scores to the different aspects:
You/Not you = 9
Communion :
People should feel more comfortable to get to know each other
Engagement:
Only with a good level of engagement can ideas be shared and this is what leads to great breakthroughs in science.
Reputation:
The building itself must create a good reputation to the faculty
Role:
The structure by itself has an important role
Here/Not here = 8
Body sense:
The building should make u feel like u belong
Emotional space:
Without emotions, something can't be called living.
Environmental impact:
When you're in the building you should feel more closer to the environment
Situated agency:
The structure should be able to transform the landscape around it
Do/Not Do 8
Tuning:
Adaptability is important to be sustainable
Reciprocity:
Give back to the environment
Negotiation:
It should communicate with the people inside and outside
Quality of deeds:
The most important part of a sustainable building
Now/Not now 7
Duration of the engagement:
The building should make the person stay longer
Integrating rhythm:
It should be able to integrate itself with the ideas of the people in it.
Synchronizing performance:
2 heads are better than one
Making moments to signify:
Gives something you can think about later in life
Using this analysis we have come up with a design which will stimulate people to stay and work and will also inspire a lot of people to join the Bio faculty.
James Shirley,
Laure,
Rákos,
Rommel
