Sustainable Design
MArch 2 Thesis Design: ‘Roma Burning: Punk Architecture’
This project was inspired by the research for my Thesis Dissertation which focused on the ethics of the Punk subculture. This revealed a strong connection between the subculture and ideas of sustainability, alternative living and a DIY approach to achieving their ideals.
This meant that sustainable living was a key element of the overall design. This meant that ideas of materials with low embodied carbon and reused materials became key from the early stages of design, alongside the use of sustainable technologies that could be easily constructed and installed by unskilled residents, including wind powered generators, rainwater collection and solar shading from both dense existing tree cover and adjustable sun screens. Alongside these were ventilation strategies that were particularly useful in the Roman climate, whilst some heating through solar gain was provided for the winter months.
DIY sustainable energy generation strategies were employed, inspired by the Centre for Alternative Technologies. These would be used both to help support the general energy use of the proposals as well as winter heating requirements. Analysis of solar radiation and the effects of wind across the site created the possibility of deploying these technologies in the optimum locations to operate most efficiently.
The following examples represent personal projects that feature sustainable design ideas.
This includes my technology projects, which featured a strong focus on sustainable strategies, environmental analysis and passive techniques for achieving comfortable conditions both internally and externally.
Also included are my thesis design, design synthesis and BA3 design projects which all incorporated sustainable materials, strategies for providing comfortable conditions, and systems for energy generation.
BA3 Architectural Design: The Linear City
For this project, I was seeking to develop a climate - responsive modular city that could be constructed between global transport nodes, providing a new cityscape with the ability to provide for both the local needs of residents as well as rapid transit to denser urban centres. The linear design was intended to allow for the ability to utilise the surrounding area as a means to grow and harvest food as well as the ability to use a variety of sustainable or renewable technologies. These images are intended to provide examples of a variety of diagrams that offer straightforward explanations of sustainable technologies, functional program, and the arrangement of external space.
MArch 1 Technology Group Work
For this project we were required to design and detail a structure that should achieve comfort conditions and minimal energy usage in a given site. This was to include the structural design, for which we opted for a compromise of lightweight outer skin and a high mass supporting structure to give an optimum balance of solar gain and ventilation options, whilst retaining the ability to store and transfer heat through high thermal mass materials.
I carried out the solar, wind and pressure analysis for each development of the building mass, leading to the development of the final form, compiled the final report and text and designed the diagrams used to explain the design concepts.
MArch 1 Design Synthesis: Somerstown Regeneration
For this project, I explored the opportunities for sustainable energy and heating strategies applicable to affordable housing. This included the application of photovoltaic technologies, MHVR systems and whole-envelope sealing to meet Passivhaus standards. This project also incorporated strategies such as greywater recycling and rainwater collection to aid in reducing wastewater. When used in conjunction with photovoltaic energy generation this provides the benefit of reduced utility costs.
