Giardino verticale - Bristol, Regno Unito
The design team undertook a detailed analysis of the existing context and site in terms of form, symmetry and visual balance.
While comprising a collection of varied architectural style and form, it was acknowledged that the existing Victorian houses had a sense of order and place with a simple palette of materials, colours and composition. It was acknowledged that the proposed extension must sit subservient to the principal composition and retain a sense of visual balance in terms of colour and proportion.
The design team set a simple set of design criteria which could be listed as follow:
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The design should not compete or seek to dominate the existing context.
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The detail of glazing, windows should be clean and unfussy, allowing the existing buildings to retain its place as central com- position.
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The extension should seek to protect neighbours from the risk of overseeing.
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The extension should adopt principles of sustainable architecture.
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Categories
Landscape, Architecture, Interior,
Extension, Loft conversion
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Location
Bristol, UK
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Timeline
2020-
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Size
300 m2
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The proposal boasts significant environmental sustainability credentials, not only from its lo- cation but also due to its architectural design.
The aspiration is to develop a high quality, sustainable design and minimise carbon use.
The site is in a highly sustainable location close to the town centre with excellent pedestrian access to public transport with a number of bus stops only a short walking distance away and Temple Meads train Station nearby. These key transport nodes provide access to rout all over the UK.
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Obviously a key requirement has been to re- furbish a building that will minimise energy use and running costs in the first instance by maximising natural energy resources and during the detailed design stage further consideration will be given to ensure the efficiency of the building envelope is maximised and construction technologies with low embodied energy materials and highly rated green-guide materials are utilised, as well as exploring options for efficient energy services.
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Some of the elements which will need to be considered in detail are as follows:
- High standards of thermal insulation
and air tightness;
- Renewable and Low or Zero Carbon (LZC) energy options such as micor Combined Heat and Power (CHP);
- Energy efficient mechanical and electrical building system;
- Energy efficient light settings through out, both for internal and external light ing;
- A-rated energy efficient white goodes where provided
- High efficiency heating and water systems.
- Water efficiency devices and appliances.
The use of energy can be significantly reduced through maximising natural or renewable energy and by ensuring high performance in the building fabric and systems.
The existing solid wall structure makes it easier to achieve a highly sealed building envelope with simpler junctions and less thermal movement.
Light pollution will be minimised through the
careful design of external lighting, and use of efficient fittings.
A living wall offers numerous benefits. It helps to purify the air, to reduce the ambient temperature, to regulate the temperature and promotes biodiversity in the city. Living walls are part of climate-proof construction.
- The plants in a living wall filter particulate matter from the air and convert CO2 into oxygen.
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- Plant absorb sunlight, 50% is absorbed and 30% reflected; so this helps to produce a cooler environment. For indoor climate this means that 33% less air conditioning is required, which in turn means energy savings. An outdoor living wall also has a positive in influence on the heat-island effect in the city.
- The plants that are included in the living wall promote the habitat of birds, butterflies and insects, especially in the city environment which is mainly concrete and asphalt.
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