On 13 May, GreenED hosted ‘Creating Nature Connections: Biophilia for Google’. In this session, Parabola Architecture’s co-founders Kevin Burke and Carrie Meinberg Burke, highlighted the goals, insights and regenerative outcomes from the application of a biophilia framework at Google’s headquarters at 1212 Bordeaux in California. Among the project’s numerous awards were recognition as a Kellert Biophilia Design Award 2018 Finalist (ILFI) and Architectural Record’s ‘Good Design is Good Business’ Award 2018.

Biophilia is the concept that humans have an innate desire to connect with nature and natural systems. Even more significant than improving the environmental performance of a building is the ability of biophilia to enhance the life of the occupants, promoting better health, job satisfaction and productivity.

The brief for Google’s first completed ground-up building was for an adaptable high-performance “living lab” workplace, which required using a streamlined design process, to allow decision latency to be reduced in order to meet a very tight schedule and budget. Says Carrie Meinberg Burke, “Biophilia was not an add-on or luxury. It emerged from the team’s decisions on how to spend resources – money, time and physical materials. It wasn’t a checklist approach but rather the idea of infusing sustainability and biophilia into the design.”

View this webinar here.

Realigning Buildings with Nature

On 27 May, the Living Future Collaborative (LFCSA) presented ‘Realigning Buildings with Nature’ sponsored by ecoSolv Technologies, which focussed on the aim of the Living Building Challenge Place Petal to restore a healthy relationship between nature, place and community.

The LBC Place Petal imperatives articulate how to integrate ecology and community into architecture; include the generation of local, fresh and seasonal food; and encourage the creation of communities around pedestrianisation. The first speaker, Marc Sherratt (founder of Marc Sherratt Sustainability Architects and Net Zero Accredited Professional) spoke about the ‘Ecology of Place’. After setting the scene in terms of global ecological scenarios, Sherrat then explained the steps required to achieve the ‘Ecology of Place’ imperative, and explored Johannesburg’s unique social and ecological context through case studies.

Our second speaker Brendon Martens (managing director of Martens Impact Advisory) then spoke about ‘Urban Agriculture in the Inner City: A Case Study of Johannesburg’ – and looked at integrating urban agriculture into the built environment and how this can be done successfully and sustainably. He introduced the Urban Agriculture Initiative (UAI) and its aims of creating a commercial model for urban farming and developing a sustainable food security model; and presented initiatives throughout Johannesburg – highlighting how the UAI aligns with the 2030 National Development Plan (NDP) Impact Areas and UN Sustainable Development Goals.

View this webinar here.

 For more courses on green buildings, sustainable and regenerative design, visit GreenED.

The post Two webinars: Re-connecting our Cities with Nature appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

Steve Brookes, CEO and founder of Balwin Properties explains:

Balwin Properties is a proudly South African residential development company. We pride ourselves on developing affordable, eco-friendly apartments and strive to be national leaders in building green. Our valued clients reap the benefit of this

Over the years we have introduced several innovations to make our developments more energy efficient, helping our customers manage their carbon footprint while reducing the burden of the cost of energy. Now our customers can apply for an ABSA Eco Home Loan, an added benefit of purchasing an EDGE-certified Balwin Properties home.

The Reid lifestyle centre includes business, leisure and sporting amenities such as boardroom facilities; a restaurant, cinema and games room; a children’s play area; and a gym, swimming pool and sports fields.

As a fundamental part of the offering to residents, the lifestyle centre’s focus was on passive design and responding to the development’s unique context. Photo credit RDF Photo for Balwin Properties.

Photo credit RDF Photo for Balwin Properties.

Wetland Rehabilitation

Nomamfengu Mbele, Sustainable Building Consultant at Solid Green Consulting, explains that the siting of the project provided interesting opportunities for the professional team.

The site – to the east of the N3 (Eastern Bypass), south of Marlboro Drive (M60) and north of London Road (M40) in the Linbro Park area – falls outside the Central Business District, and contains a wetland. This challenging location encouraged the team to consider sustainability initiatives which ensure that the development is contributing to its environment – including the development of a watercourse management plan; wetland rehabilitation; and a focus on ensuring minimal light pollution from the lifestyle centre.

The upgrade to the degraded wetland system, which is directly adjacent to the lifestyle centre, included using the wetlands as an attenuation and water treatment system for stormwater. The lifestyle centre opens towards the wetland area, and the landscape design integrates the swimming pool and restaurant with the wetland area. A nature trail through the wetland is also part of the wetland rehabilitation plan.

The pool and its water fountain are biophilic elements that create both visual and auditory interest. Photo credit RDF Photo for Balwin Properties.

Photo credit RDF Photo for Balwin Properties.

Resource Efficiency

Mbele explains that, as the lifestyle centre is targeting a net-zero carbon rating, its 15kWp photovoltaic solar system will be expected to meet 100% of the building energy’s needs – which is also possible thanks to the array of energy efficiency measures that have been implemented. All enclosed spaces are individually switched, making it easy to light only occupied areas. And zoning does not end at the lighting system – the HVAC units have motion sensors that switch the units off if spaces remain unoccupied for a predetermined time. Balwin is targeting an overall energy consumption of -9kWh/m2/year, far less than the 125kWh/m2/year SANS10400 XA requirement.

Air quality sensors were installed to continuously measure the air quality, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter (dust) and nitrogen dioxide in the centre. This information, together with data on energy and water consumption, is displayed publicly throughout the building as a learning resource, because the behaviour of users is critical to reducing consumption. Circuit level monitoring has also been implemented, which allows for a more specific data collection process from individual circuits to optimise operations and align with net-zero carbon reporting requirements.

The overall water demand of the building has been reduced to 800m³ per annum through the use of water efficient fittings, xeriscape landscaping and a grey water system installed to reuse water used in the laundromat.

As client, contractor and quantity surveyor on the project, Balwin Properties paid attention to the selection of construction materials as well as waste management practices. This includes specifying concrete types which result in a 40% reduction of the quantity of Portland cement, steel products with 90% recycled content, and masonry units with a minimum of 20% perforation. Balwin also committed to 20% of the project contract value being dedicated to products sourced within 400km of the site; and 1% of the project contract’s value comprises recycled/reused materials. An internal waste recycling storage area has also been provided, which allows for occupants to further divert waste away from landfill.

Large overhangs and clerestory windows enable ample natural light without glare. Photo for Balwin Properties.

Indoor Environment

The concept for The Reid was urban living surrounded by natural beauty, and the interior spaces are all aimed at creating a mood of rest and wellbeing through the use of colour, light and texture.

Gabriel Hugo of LYT Architecture says that focus was placed on creating ambient light without glare, that changes over the course of the day as the sun shifts. “This was done using large overhangs, south-facing clerestory windows and rotatable shading screens. The ample natural light thus provided, together with views over the adjacent wetland, provide a strong sense of seasonal and diurnal cycles.”

“Balwin’s Lifestyle Centres are a fundamental part of their offering to residents,” says Verissimo Tavares, Director at VTC Architecture.

From an architectural perspective, the focus was on passive design and responding to the development’s unique context. Natural lighting and ventilation, together with insulation for optimal thermal control, have created a very pleasant interior environment.

Sustainability is also about how the building is used by people, now and into the future. This lifestyle centre building is people-centred and fit-for-purpose, with a scale that is appropriate to this development. I believe that it works well for the residents and will serve its purpose for a long time to come.

The centre’s windows have openable sections and, in spaces where this was not possible, wall vents have been installed to allow fresh air to circulate. In the gym, wall fans have been installed in strategic positions, to push the fresh air through the space.

To enhance the connection to nature, several biophilic features were incorporated. These include the use of natural material such as timber and stonework in the interiors, views over the wetland, and elements that evoke nature – such as the pool and its water fountain which creates both visual and auditory interest. The objective of this connection with natural systems is to heighten both awareness of nature and, hopefully, encourage environmental stewardship of the surrounding ecosystems.

Healthy materials were also specified where possible which, Hugo says, is becoming a norm in the industry.

Most construction industry suppliers are conscious of green design so there is quite a wide variety of products available. This dynamic has changed a lot in the last 10 years – sustainability has become a selling point for suppliers.

Interior spaces are all aimed at creating a mood of rest and wellbeing through the use of colour, light and texture. Photo credit LYT Architecture for Balwin Properties

Photo credit LYT Architecture for Balwin Properties.

Knowledge & Innovation

“Growing the knowledge economy is essential in these times of climate- and health-related stresses,” says Marloes Reinink, Director at Solid Green.

In order to respond responsibly to user needs, clients and professionals need up-to-date, quality, accessible data to inform their decision-making processes on new projects. This is why we applaud two of Balwin’s initiatives that allowed us to target Green Star Innovation points for this project – financial transparency and upskilling of the professional team.

Mbele explains that Balwin committed to sharing the financial information related to the design, construction and operation of The Reid Lifestyle Centre with the GBCSA, thus contributing to the body of research regarding assumptions surrounding ‘additional costs’ associated with sustainable developments. The project also committed to providing the contracting and design team with greater knowledge and skills on the entire Green Star certification process through the GSSAAP Online Course, which will also benefit future Balwin projects.

Additional Innovation points were gained by targeting two certifications – both the 6-Star Green Star PEB Design rating and the Net-zero Carbon Level 2 (Operational Emissions) rating. This encouraged the team to rethink their typical development processes to include sustainability initiatives from the outset of the development. In addition, the Residential Density of the estate was increased to over 70du/ha, and motorized transport was discouraged by ensuring that living units are within walkable distance of the Lifestyle Centre with its many amenities; and by designating parking spaces near building entrances for occupants with zero to low carbon-emitting modes of transport.

Balwin’s ambitious targets for The Reid Lifestyle Centre have created a new standard for developments of this nature, by demonstrating that a more responsible way of developing and operating can become business as usual.

Large overhangs and clerestory windows enable ample natural light without glare. Photo credit RDF Photo for Balwin Properties.

Professional Team:

Owner: Balwin Properties
Main Contractor: Balwin Properties
Project Manager: Balwin Properties
Quantity Surveyor: Balwin Properties
Architects: VTC Architecture
Electrical Engineer: RWP Taemane
Electrical Contractor: Romor Electrical Wholesalers
Mechanical Engineer: Airtech Services
Traffic Engineer: Kantey & Templer
Landscaping Consultant: LEAP
Interior Architect: LYT Architecture
Sustainable Building Consultant: Solid Green Consulting

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Fine-tuning the details of the CLT structure and the steel supports and brackets turned into a very involved and complicated process as we kept finding new aspects of the old building that we had to work around. However, we have now placed the orders for the timber beams, CLT slab, steel supports, and performance glazing facade. The wet works on site are proceeding well, so everything should be ready for when all the other elements arrive.

Design concepts have been underway with regards to the layout, look and feel of the new office interior. We have taken the information from our biophilia workshop and how we want to use the new offices spaces, to inform how we use the furniture we already have from the old office, and to decide what we want to add. The ideal would be to reuse as much as possible from the old office with some clever design solutions that will make the space functional, adaptable and ergonomically efficient. Natural lighting, glare, acoustics and multiple workspace options – including sit desks, standing desks and couches – have been identified as the main interior design challenges that we want to address.

In terms of waste management, we have been working with our contractor to ensure that we don’t have materials going to a landfill. All the old fittings – doors, windows, roof tiles, HVAC etc – that had some value have been collected by salvagers so they can be used on other sites. A special effort was also made to capture the gasses from the old HVAC units and not just let them be released into the atmosphere as they are powerful greenhouse gasses. They were removed by the HVAC contractor to be reused elsewhere.

Most of the original brickwork is being saved and cleaned so we can reuse it onsite. The old Oregon pine roof timbers will also be cleaned up, inspected and reused. The rubble from the section of the old building that needed to be removed was a little trickier. Most of the smaller waste haulers do not really offer a recycling service and the larger contractors were not interested in our little project. We eventually found a company that would take the rubble and crush it to be used as aggregate in new bricks as long as we delivered the material to them. We also found a few other construction sites near us that needed fill material and where happy to take the rubble off our hands. One waste skip was mistakenly taken to be used as a fill stabilisation at a landfill in the beginning of the process, as the contractor thought that it was an acceptable use. Ironically, the site supervisor, was quite taken with the idea of reusing or recycling materials and has taken to the process wholeheartedly!

We are looking forward to moving into our new home soon. Watch this space for more updates!

The post Our New Office: Chapter 3 appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

Biophilia in Buildings and Public Spaces

Talks around Biophilia demonstrated a common-sense approach to the design of buildings. Biophilic design integrates nature in places where we live, work and learn. Humans have an innate relationship with nature, and science demonstrates that we are happier and perform better if nature is integrated in our built surroundings.

The first session that we attended on this topic discussed how biophilic design can be made more mainstream and which tools are available for designers to encourage adoption. The speakers, all from the Biophilic Design Initiative, also presented the Biophilic Design Map, which is a database for case studies. The second session, Biophilic Urban Acupuncture, explained ways to make public spaces more attractive through biophilic initiatives. A new book was launched, “Creating Biophilic Buildings” by Amanda Sturgeon – an easily readable and beautifully edited book that describes biophilic initiatives in a number of case study buildings.

Living Building Challenge: Biophilic Design Map

Health & Well-being

A session about Fitwel was also very interesting and inspiring. Fitwel is a cost-effective, high performance building certification system developed by the Center for Active Design with the aim of improving user health and well-being in buildings. The Fitwel scorecard includes 55+ design and operational strategies that enhance building environments by addressing a range of health behaviours and risks. The approach is very hands-on and can be applied to existing operations, new buildings, interiors and multi-family residential.

Meeting Net Positive Water

The greatest challenge to the re-use or capture of water is the local regulatory environment regarding water usage. The key question to ask is: Is it legal? And, if not, can it become legal? This involves a little bit of lateral thinking and working with your local building code official to find out how best your project can be accommodated within the existing regulations. There are regulations for almost everything and it just involves finding the right ones that most people never use or don’t know about. Valuable advice in this session included taking into account and providing a buffer for future climate change. (Resources: https://www.collaborativedesign.org, http://weathershift.com)

LEED Courses & Updates

The “Integrative Design Process” is a new LEED credit but not a new concept, and this approach can have major cost benefits for developers. Unfortunately, it is difficult to implement properly when Green Building Consultants are appointed too late in the process. The course offered inspiring alternatives to standard design processes so that teams can work together to create better performing buildings.

The LEED Project Management Course covered the advantages and disadvantages of different submission strategies and the paths that have the highest success rates. Interestingly, it is recommended to submit for Design and As-built ratings separately even though this carries a higher submission fee. Documentation tips and guidance were given to make the audit as easy as possible and give projects the greatest chance of success in achieving ratings. In addition, changes from LEED 2009 to LEED V4 were identified and common misunderstandings and pitfalls explained.

LEED V4 now has a full building Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) as part of the rating systems options. This allows the full carbon footprint of the building and materials to be measured over its lifetime. It is best to perform an LCA very early in the design process and identify the big-ticket items that will have the biggest impact on the project. This also allows teams to experiment with different options before material specifications are finalised. Guidance and further reading on LCA’s can be found at the Embodied Carbon Network website.

The difference between, and application of, LEED-Neighbourhood Development and the EcoDistricts rating tools where discussed and demonstrated with case study projects. LEED-ND is described as a prescriptive top down rating tool while EcoDistricts is rather a set of guidelines with a bottom-up approach. When dealing with both rating systems, it is important to deal with stakeholders on their own terms in order to address their concerns and hopes for their project.

Stay tuned for our first newsletter in 2018, which will explore some of the fascinating case studies from GreenBuild 2017

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