Resource & Environmental Performance – Planet

The design offers a viable solution to the “housing question” – promoting an affordable model for residential development in a dense urban neighborhood. The structure, a wooden construction with a layered metal screen, takes its identity from its immediate surroundings through set-back terraces, the transformation of wrought iron fire escapes into digitally fabricated shading elements, and a commercial space at street level.

The Chrysanthemum Building creates an affordable, sustainable new model for residential development in a dense urban infill site. The project includes ten units (four compact units and six adaptable family units). The building uses a mobile app and social media networks integrated with efficient building systems to create a user culture that supports local sustainable services. The North End of Boston is characterized by it narrow streets and alley ways, its brick buildings and cascading fire escapes, and its social fabric. The Chrysanthemum Building takes its identity from its set-back terraced façade, the transformation of wrought iron fire escapes into a digitally designed and fabricated screen wall, and a commercial space that spills out onto the street reinforcing the neighborhoods street-life. The carved-out rear courtyard underscores the project’s motivation to create spaces that benefit from natural light and promote a state of well-being and permanence.

Read project overview: Chrysanthemum Building: Affordable residential urban infill development

If the trees had the right density, diameter and resistance to horizontal loads, we might reduce the wave’s energy by 40% (empirical evidence of the efficacy of the approach is the island in front of the city, which not only reduced the force of the waves, but also served as a vertical escape route, that saved many). Located behind this first line of defense are facilities that have specific restrictions on the use and layout of ground floor areas. These two interventions are accompanied by an evacuation plan as the third protection element.

The introduction of the mitigation also responded to an existing demand of the community due to flooding from rains that were occurring every year. The retardant lagoon and lamination gap mitigate tidal impact on rising floodwaters while at the same time upgrading obsolete urban standards from 2.2sqm of green space/person to 6.6sqm.

Read project overview: Sustainable post-tsunami reconstruction master plan, Constitución, Chile »

The building, designed to LEED Platinum standards, features rainwater harvesting, photovoltaic power generation, a gray water system, local construction materials, waterless urinals, and many other green systems. The structure is a veritable showcase of modern and emerging concrete technology, featuring CO2-reduced concrete, recycled concrete, and insulating concrete.

Lean design and an innovative climate control system deliver high thermal performance. The ingeniously flexible and adaptable mechanical concept is fully integrated into the architecture, employing geothermal energy, thermal mass, decentralized blower units, waste heat recovery, and flexible multi-mode operation for maximum efficiency and indoor comfort during all seasons.

Read book announcement: The creation of a sustainable building – IUCN Conservation Centre in Gland, Switzerland »