Ecological Issues Spring '13
This project was created in an online classroom setting, conducted by Professor William Allen. The assignment required each student to choose a local building that relies on natural features to achieve sustainable design practices. The mission was to bring forward a “low profile” building that has yet to be recognized as a great example of architecture. In addition, a second objective was to reference three historic resources that have evolved over time and adapted into the particular building. The building must contain evidences of “old” technology to achieve environmental sustainability.
An exemplary building in the region was the Glass Pavilion in Toledo, Ohio. Designed by firm SANAA, most of the exterior and interior walls of the pavilion are entirely glass. The Glass Pavilion serves two roles, an exhibition museum and glass blowing studio. The building offers sustainable practice standards by utilizing heat recovery coils equipped around the furnace to absorb heat and return it to the radiant heating system within the building cavities. The conditioned air from the gallery spaces returns into the hot shops around the furnace to help cool and maintain room temperatures. The cavity space between the interior and exterior glass walls acts as an insulator for the coldest and hottest months of the season.
These features of the building provide historic lineage to the ideas of minimalist architecture, fire, shelter, and enclosed space. Upon visiting the pavilion, the beautiful forms of glass and enclosed space are apparent. When attending the glass blowing studios, the details about glass furnace became clear and how it is resourceful. Natural observation during site visitation provided depth to the project and helped enrich the statement of how the building achieved sustainable practice while retaining a source of “old” technology.
The Glass Pavilion is single story volume, providing panoramic views and horizontal linkage to inside and outside elements.
The kilns also exhaust warm air and is redistributed throughout the building using an exhaust system.
Typically courtyards are enclosed spaces but the glass provides a new idea in the design approach to welcome the outside elements.
The courtyard provides an important cooling feature. The Glass Pavilion can become overheated due to the kilns and summer heat. This courtyard offers air, light, tranquility, and a beautiful view.
Earliest known courtyards were built in Iran and China around 3000 BC. The design provides historical precedent use of courtyards that include cooking, sleeping, work, playing, containment, and gardening. Here the courtyard is use to accumulate more natural lighting, environmental linkage, and congregation.
Transparency is of greatest importance. The ability to create a space that blurs the lines between interior and exterior achieves harmonious design.
“Keep the home fires burning”
The kilns are the building’s hearth. They provide heat to create glass and warm the spaces within the building.
Kilns generate heat to the boiler system so radiant heating is used throughout the floor slabs and roof.
Glass blowing exhibitions are 3-4 times a day.
A fire containment is an historical lineage to the hearth. A hearth is most utilized for heating the house and cooking. The location of the hearth is typically in the central area of the house.
Inside elements are protected from outside. Natural light is greatest at perimeters of the building.
Glass is used as an insulation barrier for shelter. Interior spaces have a protective glass membrane. Each corridor echoes the sounds of people traveling through the space. Refractions of light naturally fill the space so only small canned lights are needed.
Shelter is an historical lineage to a cave.
