Gerry's Input, Thanks Gerry.

Hi Amr,

Here are some comments about your previous blog (Saturday’s final) yet to be posted:

Beautiful section Amr. Need to look more at the exterior especially now that you are combining orthogonal with the arched structure.! I read again about nanogel which insulates while it is translucent, I think. For now just assume it can be made to work and design the “architecture” part of it.

And a response to your email:

So yes, assume the technology works. I believe any fabric structure could be layered/filled to provide insulation (although this would be opaque), and some areas could be “glazed” or provided with say three or four layers of transluscent/clear material or even some nanogel (highly insulated translucent – recommended). An environmental solution, however, would take into account the opportunities of the climate.

So, just as we do for orthogonal buildings, so also for domes/barrels. That is


Protect the interior from the north (mostly insulated except for views to the exterior and perhaps views of the interior from the highways).
Protect the east and west by orientation (small ends to east and west) - I think you have done that. Also protect from too much solar (lots of opaque area).
Protect the interior from the south (some insulated panels – it is still cold on this side in winter) but also provide generous “glazed” openings for light and for solar. The US Post Office calls for about 2.5% glazing only for day lighting. 5 to 15% might be possible. Above that you need lots of thermal mass to absorb the excess heat of solar – and also large heating systems to heat during night and cloudy periods. (Please note that Werner quotes a code which limits glazing to about 15% total.) 5% sky lighting is very generous so I would not exceed 15% if you can avoid it.
Use the north interior surface of the “dome” to reflect light coming into the south openings (draw sun angles from say 11 degrees (3PM Dec 21) and say 48 degrees (March, Sept. 21) - this will even the lighting and reduce glare inside.


I hope that is helpful – keep your vision in front of you – creating a “new”(?) kind of interior “green” space; green to look at and soft on the eyes which is not extravagant to heat or cool; you do this by creating a free span shell that is tempered using passive solar heating and cooling and natural ventilation and day lighting. It is not a hothouse or greenhouse but a sort of intermediate space that encloses the more controlled spaces of the occupants.

Good designing,

Gerry

The Solution

Thermo Search conclusion and Sustainable Energy Plan

After Consulting FoiltecVector, New York, The Manufacturar of the ETFT and air pillows I learned the attached informations and observations attached below. I applied them on the BAC building with Foiltec kind help.

I reached a conclusion:
Werner thoughts about this material ETFT was right, It protect effectively ONLY the wind, rain and self
cleaning for snow. in addition to quite good temperature isolation but not enough -
4-layer-system (the one I will use) - R-value = 3.9 F0 Btu/h ft2
Its R value all depends on the number of layers I use, the more layers the more it cost. I will use four
layers as suggested by Foiltec, however. Although it provides good isolation,
It only provides the intermediate temperature zone. that is comfortable to walk in and do other activities
that doesn't need staying and focus or work for long hours wearing indoor cloth.
I must start immediately develop what I already started of having the enclosed studio spaces under this
big umbrella, organize them and develop their system of heating and cooling separately to reach the comfort zone of temperature needed for students who work hard in their All-green studio spaces.
Thermo Research Closed. Architecture Restart.

Studio Space Structure Study

1



2


3

Research, Foiltec

The Studio Space structure is composed of steel trusses and cables; a 'skin" system consisting of three layers of teflon foil and air pillows; and envirnomentally focused systems conserving energy and water, The interior includes meditranean trees structures, Interwoven circulation system of the closed separate climate controlled Studio spaces and utilities distribution, Integrated system of envirnomental control. Using Foiltec systems.

Mid-Term Review Presentation

"Section is the right level – not architectural but it is a good balance."_Gerry.

Architecture is not the issue, Rather the New BAC Building is conceived as merely an alive device for organizing a progression of experience that is SO involving that you forget about architecture. Happily, the alive device is only partial successful.

As within the living-working area the visual and spatial framework merged with the building orcestration so that architecture becomes increadibly a part of the student's, visitors and staff total experience. Its surely architecture that establish this spirite and spirit lifting building on the common!

Using architecture as a servant rather than an end in itself, is also consistently rewarding to all involved

Post Intensive 5 Plans

1- Working on creating the ultimate sustainable Building in all aspects Kindly advised by the Critics. Sound, Energy, Architecture solutions for the Studio pieces.
2-Taking the sustainable Design to the next level, Active Bau-Biology and All year round sustainable solutions.
3-Developing the Living-working area concept, enriching it.
4- Involving the plaza, outdoor activity areas more and more to the urban surrounding fabric, and other site elements, so by The Deadline of the project, we come to a conclusion that this building doesn't belong to anywhere on the planet except to this specific site in Boston! and that this site cant sustain without this specific building!
5-Applying what I learned from the intensive, Code applications, Isolations, Climate control, Structure and Landscape more in detail in the BISA Boston Intensive School of Architecture!

Park-Like Living-studying Area Concept

A multi-Layered pneumatic air pillows, Teflon foil adjustable to respond to Boston's winter and summer conditions advancing the evolution of cost effective, Sustainable and energy efficient study-living space.
Substantial energy conservation inherent in the living-studying Truss Mega structure space Concept benefit from daylight and natural conditions that is available for all through out the interior area offering high degree of flexibility in programming and planning the interior space (enclosed separately heated studio spaces inside the intermediate open space).
A life cycle that is much cheaper than comparable spaces.

FAR. 3.0 Foot Area Ratio

"Not knowing yet what the actual allowable density on site is, we can assume a density not uncommon in an urban site. The volumes you will compose on the site will serve as reality check.FAR 3.0. (Floor Area Ratio = Gross Floor Area / Lot Area)The available lot area is 31,400 SF.The maximum Gross Floor Area is 94.200 SF.Assume reasonable building widths (50’ (housing) to 100’ (office)) and floor to floor heights (11’ to 14’) Develop a few different volumes using up all the available SF"_Werner

DWG File being sent to the Cohort by Email.

All best
Amr

Any Comments / Advice for last post, Werner?

Living-Working Green Area Diagram & Program Draft

Boston Intensive School of Architecture

Intensive School
Boston Architectural College
Boston, MA


2 phases Project

A bold initiative is underway, a melding of dualities: Education and Residential, science and art, man and nature, recreation and learning. A conceptual departure is proposed from many familiar building types, to create a new and unprecedented place. The project is in fact a bold departure from the norms of Educational Buildings, schools, Colleges, Studious, Playgrounds, community gathering places, laboratories, museums, offices, hotels, retail. All of these elements and more are being combined in this single place called Boston Intensive School which focuses on the New Intensive methods of learning, based on brain research and accelerating discovery of how people learn intensively in limited time, will be undergoing profound and rapid change during the next decades, utilizing and exploiting the current explosion of information technologies.

After reviewing the 2917.06 SM site, The Client is being advised to have the project Study as Two Phases Proposal shown in the project Program schedule.
The 2nd phase of the project in an anticipation of future expansion and growth.
The Project will have Three Major Building type sectors Educationa, Accomodation "Residential" and Commercial.

The Main Educational Studio space is shared by the Accommodation, Meetings facilities, Admin offices, ,model shop, Student's Forum, Architarium. All of these participating components overlook the city of Boston, take advantage of the BAC Unique Location and fame, The Commercial component will contribute to its costs of construction, maintenance and operation.

Educational & Accommodation areas
Active Bau-Biology Studio space and classrooms.Using the most recent green technology taking the green design to the most healthy ways
using Feng Shui methods.

Student's forum
I am among those who believes that big Ideas have much more chance to happen than smaller ones.
A living room for the Distance students with various Meeting facilities with state of the art
teleconferencing and Multimedia equipments, The goal is to developed Dialogue within the
school campus between the distance students from all over the country. away from the
academic settings and particularly Architecture. Not just the BAC students, the forum also
could attract Students from all Design schools in Greater Boston Area.To interact with BAC
Students for the sake of better Architecture work in Mass Area and perhaps the whole country.
That would have a positive reflection on their learning experience as a team.

Commercial
15% of the gross project building area, the purpose is to satisfy the Student's needs within the campus. and creating a decent income to the client.

Architarium
To become a serious contributor to Public Green Building Awareness, to the Dialogue of Buildings
conservation, to the international Agenda of Sustainable development, Using state of the art design
Technology and multimedia 2d and 4d exhibits of historic and contemporary Architectural Examples, increasing public awareness towards the integrated city,
the integrated environment of restaurants, retail shops, hotels, housing, Churches, offices, open space
and all other buildings, In addition to the income the Architarium would generates for the BAC, which could be devoted to the green Design research.

.

Amr Raafat

7 January 2008

Program Studies in Progress

Rough Program, Idea in progress

Program Sections


Educational
Active Bau-Biology Areas

Accommodation
with a student's forum, the Living room of the cohort.

Commercial
The servant for the other two sections