final visual essay

8/14/2019 Final Visual Essay

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In our modern society we have become too dependent on the use of mechanical systemsto allow for comfortable living and in turn have fed the re for many more eco-logical prob-lems. But in our ancient cultures there are hundreds of structures that use effective climate con-trol without the use of mechanical systems. I believe their success was in their consideration ofthe four elements earth, air, re, and water. Through time they learned to use and protect them-selves from these elements but in our modern day society we have let go of those old principlesand have become dependent on an effective but environmentally costly alternative.

All around our cities we can see examples of buildings that have failed to con-sider thesefour elements in design. Some of the easiest examples are many of our so-cietys commercialbuildings starting with the large commercial warehouses to the many of ce buildings. Thesebuildings have become over reliant on mechanical systems and their pocket books which hasleft simple building design fall to the way side. With this bad standard our buildings have be-come a drain on society. Though with our society now realizing this downfall I think these fourbasic elements are a good place to start when considering an environmental friendly buildingdesign. When using these old and reliable techniques with the advancements of modern build-ing technologies we should be able to quickly change the built worlds energy ef ciency.

To achieve this ef ciency I hope to show the importance of considering the four elementsin design. I will show the unique qualities of each element along with the bene ts of usingthem as a whole. I hope to reintroduce the old and effective techniques along with some of themodern uses of each element. I have also looked into some of the philosophies behind these el-ements and would like to show how these old thoughts should again be considered in the designof a sustainable building. Then as a nal note I will look at how these elements can bring sen-suality and or spirituality into the built world.


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Earth may be understood both as the structural founda-tion and as a source of sustenance, not only for physical life,but also the spirit Chip Sullivan (2002). When using the earthI have found it important that we reconsider its use as a build-ing material. In addition I have found it equally importantto consider the vegetation it supports and how we use it forprotection and as a passive system. I do understand thatwe currently use earth in both these ways already but I feelthat recently we have lacked some creativity and in mostinstances use this element for aesthetics forgetting its func-tional uses.

Earths inherent properties make it an excellent build-ing material. Though already being used in many wayssuch as brick and concrete I feel there is still plenty of newopportunity. Techniques shown in Earth Building (2008)such as rammed earth, cob, or straw bale construction are allunique ways to use the earth as building material. Creativemethods such as these I think are great things to considersince they can be affordable, sustainable, and aestheticallypleasing. Another strong advantage of earthen materials istheir ability to store and slow the transfer of heat, which isreferred to as thermal mass. Lechner (2009) has shown inhis book how using materials with high thermal massingis an excellent way to control night and day temperatureswings in a wide range of climates. Sullivan (2002) alsolooks into how you can take advantage of the effects ofthermal mass on subterranean spaces. He goes on to showhow when combining this cool space with air ows it can ef-fectively cool the rest of the building. There are also mod-ern technologies such as geothermal systems that utilizesthe thermal massing of the earth as a whole. Geothermalis a great option for a more sustainable heating and cool-ing system that uses the earths inherent thermals mass toheat or cool the outdoor air for interior use. Lechner (2009)explains how at a certain depth the earth maintains a steadytemperature so in a geothermal system the air is venteddown to this depth where it will then change to that tem-perature so when it returns

Earth

Building Material

rammed earth hom

rammed earth home


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Another way to look at the earth is in the life it sup-ports. Our history has shown many ways in which peopleused to take advantage of vegetation to cool, shade, andprotect their homes. But in or current society we mainlyuse vegetation as a purely decorative element. But Sulli-van (2002) has shown us some techniques such the boscoesand the pineta that were landscape forms from the time of

the Romans and Greeks. Both of these techniques usedlandscape elements to create microclimates. They gener-ally created large shaded areas that when combined withair ows would bring cool air into the home. But Sullivangoes on to show how vegetation can also be used to protectfrom the cold winter winds or provide seasonal shading tobuilding faces. Including vegetation in the surroundingsite and building can also help in purifying the air and soilof the surrounding site. Another old technique discussed

by lechner (2009) was green roofs, which are nding theirway back into the built world since they can provide a wayto manage storm water, insulate the roof, and provide a green space foryour building. As for modern techniques there has been a new move-ment called Vegitecture. I learned of Vegitecture from Jason KingsLecture where he informed me of this movement that has looked at howto return this element to the built world through components such asgreen roofs, vertical greening, green walls, and much more. Many ofthese techniques in Vegitecture can be used functionally for shading,

insulating, and purifying while also being aesthetically pleasing. As youcan see there are many ways in which we can use vegetation beyonddecorative owers.

Vegetation

to the building it can provide heating or cooling. Thesenew technologies along with reevaluating the materialsinherent properties are all reasons to consider earth whenbuilding.

above an example ofvegetecture, below asucessfull green roof


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Air and air ows are constantly present but recently oursociety has turned away from natural ventilation in our institu-

tional spaces. Many of our institutional and commercial build-ings have completely sealed their buildings allowing for onlymechanical cooling. But I hope to show the importance of re-turning to natural air ows for both curving energy requirementsand for creating more comfortable spaces and landscapes. Solets start by looking at how we can use passive techniques tocool and protect us from air ows

As I have shown above many of our buildings are be-ing built without operable windows and in turn trapping all thesolar and radiant heat throughout the day. Sul-livan (2002) goes through many old and effectivetechniques such as porches, evaporative cooling,high ceilings, and subterranean cooling. Thesetechniques utilize shade, water, and earths thermalmassing with air to cool spaces with natural energyows. Each of these old techniques is a valid andeffective way of cooling that should always beconsidered to reduce our dependency on mechani-cal systems. Sullivan (2002) also discusses manylandscape elements such as arbors and shadedwalks that are also great ways to use the elementsearth and air to create comfortable spaces. Byusing these landscape elementsyou can create both shelteredareas form the wind along withshaded areas to cool the air andprotect from the sun. Again bysimple considering this elementwe can help protect our builtworld from uncomfortable windtunnels and relearn to use the airfor comfort cooling.

Air

Utilizing Air Flows


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As for energy ef ciency a great way to start wouldbe with operable windows along with many of the tech-niques mention above. These passive methods are triedand true methods through time and should never be for-gotten but instead implemented and redesigned into ourmodern day and age. But our advances in technologyhave shown us a great modern technique to use and col-lect wind power. Windmills have been used for a long

time now but with modern improvements they have prom-ise to be a new sustainable energy source for our society.Though when talking with Bruce Isaak (personal interviewconducted October 10, 2009), who works with MinnkotaPower Industry, we discussed some of the current prob-lems with wind turbines, which were the maintenancecosts that are too high, a life span that is too short, andthe unreliability of the wind. These current problems aredriving up the cost and keeping them from becoming more

than a supplementary source of energy but with each daythere are advancements in this eld that are making themmore and more feasible as an alternate energy source. Ithink this is a great example of technology pairing with anold technique to make possible a new energy source. Thistype of innovation I think can and has been applied to eachof these elements and I hope to encourage this type of cre-ative innovation.

Alternative Energy


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When considering the element re I will be looking athow the sun impacts the built world. Since the sun is an energysource for almost all living things I feel it is important that weas an organism also know how to use and protect ourselvesfrom the sun. I will be using this section to stress the impor-tance of sun as a light source and how it affects the heating of abuilding.

Now that we no longer requirethe sun as a light source we have begunto lose sight of its aesthetic power. Ourmodern day buildings have becomedominated by man made light that hasgiven us a stable lighting throughoutthe building but has lost the power thatnatural lighting can bring. A spacede ned by natural lighting can have amuch more profound effect on a personboth physically and mentally. Lechner(2009) looks at some techniques usedto pull lighting into space such lightselves, sunspaces, cleresto-ries, andsunlights. Using these elements andalways considering natural day lightingcan quickly help to improve your struc-tures lighting variance.

Fire

Lighting Aesthetics


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Day lighting can also greatly bene t or hinder our spaces

since natural lighting also delivers a large amount of heat. Butby considering this element in the design process we can eas-ily use the suns heat to our advantage. One of the most im-portant things to consider is the orientation ofthe building. Lechner (2009) has show thatsouthern orientation can make an 80% differ-ence in the ef ciency of a building. Knowinghow the sun path affects our design is step onein considering the element re and sadly one

of the things that is often forgotten. Thoughbeyond just collecting sunlight we can use itwith an already mentioned technique, thermalmassing. Thermal massing can protect us froma hot day as it takes time for the suns energyto transfer through the mass and it also storesheat and radiates it into the building at night.This can be used in cool climates to collect andstore heat in the building during cool wintermonths utilizing the greenhouse effect. This ef-fect can be bene cial in circumstance mentionabove but it can also cause overheating, whichis why we should also be concerned with howto protect our building from the sun. Lechner(2009) shows solar shading to be the best wayto protect a building from the sun and mentionsshading devices such as horizontal overhangs,vertical ns, eggcrate shading, and moveableshading devices. Though as effective as thepassive solar methods are Lechner (2009) alsolooks into the how photovoltaics can help incurving energy cost of the building. Lechner shows that in theright areas photovoltaics or sometimes called solar panels canbe an excellent energy source that is sustainable, nonpolluting,reliable, and at a low cost. By using all of these techniques wecan make re into a friend of the built world rather than theenemy that drives up the energy bill.

Solar Energy

top - solar shadingbottom- photovoltaics


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Again in this day and age our society has lost our concernfor how to use water to our advantage. With the advancementin our society water has been become an over-looked resourcebut by taking another look at this resource we can nd ways totake advantage of our graywater and rain water. Water is alsounique in its ability to both cool and heat space. But lets rstlook at ways of conserving and reusing our waste water andrain water.

When looking at water conservation thereare multiple examples in our old cultures. Sullivan(2002) shows how cultures used cisterns to bothcollect water and slowly deliver it to plants overtime. These same concepts have been reinstatedin modern systems called gray water systems. Ac-cording to Ludwigs website Graywater.net gray-water is any water used in the home other than thatwhich is used in toilets. A graywater system takes this waterand stores it in tank to be used for ourlandscapes. Ludwig (2009) also showsthat gray waters is an excellent way toreduce water usage, ease the strain onpuri cation plants, and help with plantre-growth. These systems can also beused with butter y roofs or just tiedinto gutter systems to collect the annualrain water. This water can then be usedto maintain landscapes without have toexpel energy to have it puri ed.

Water

Conservation


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Water also has many properties that

make it an excellent element for heating andcooling. As we have talked about earlierwater when paired with air or re can allowfor evaporative cooling. It also has very highthermal massing so when paired with the suncan store and radiate heat into your spaces.Lechner (2009) has actually shown that wateris better than the element earth when it comesto thermal massing. Being so you can use

water stored in pipes or bags to store this heat.The bags are generally used on roofs so thatthey can be heated during the day then insu-lated during the night to help reduce night andday temperature swings. While using tubingfor thermal massing or other creative way ofstoring the water such as in wine bottles canbe used to help again maintain temperatureswings but also add an interesting aesthetic

element to the building. Though when con-sidering these systems its important to takeinto account the adverse affects the watercould have if it where to leak or spill into thestructure. But like all things water has its upsand downs though by taking the time to studythis element there is plenty of opportunity forit to further a buildings design.

Heating and Cooling

top - example of evaportive coolingbottom- themal massing water tubes


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When looking into the sustainability of our built worldI think it is important to consider the philosophy of these ele-ments. In the Tao of Architecture Chang (1956) references

some of Lao-tzu thoughts saying that Taoists consider life asa cycle with nonbeing being between life anddeath but with there never being an ending. Ithink this concept is valuable to consider in sus-tainable architecture. As Chang (1956) put itmans creation no matter how durable, is boundto vanish. This is exactly why we should bethinking also of how our buildings will transcendthrough time. How will they breakdown during

their non-being and how can they be reused intheir rebirth. This is but another reason to consid-er some of our simple earthen materials for build-ing because of their ability to be easily brokendown into another material. Beyond sustainabili-ty we can look at how Taoism has informed someof Fingerhuths (2004) observations of sensuality.

Fingerhuth (2004) has done extensive research on mod-

ernisms effect on the city. He let Taoism inform him on someof the faults of modernism which I think he previewed wellwith this statement, All aspect of humankind, not just its ra-tionality, should be considered in urbanism. He goes on toshow that modernism was de ned by thinking but left intuition,feeling, and sense behind. But Taoism stresses that things arede ned by their opposites and without theiropposites they are left without meaning. Hegoes on to show how modern architecture was

lacking because of this unbalance but I feelutilizing the four elements is an excellent wayto return sense and feeling to the built world.Reconsidering these elements when buildingcan help to return the essence of nature into thebuilt world. By doing so I feel this would giveback a buildings sensuality and spirituality.

Tao of Building


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Annotated BibliographyChang, A.T. (1956). The Tao of Architecture. New Jersey, Princeton: University Press.

Chang discussed the relation of architecture with the philosophy of Taoism. He went

through many of the strong points of taoism and discussed how to use that philosophy in re-lation with architecture and living. When relating this to the four elements I plan to relate totao phi-losophy of life being a cycle from birth to death to non-being and back again to birth.This is a great way to think about how we use materials and how the four element can workback into each other or back down to themselves when used as building materials.

Fingerhuth, C. (2004). Learning from China The Tao of the City, Boston, MA:Birkhauser.

The author discusses different aspects of a city along with history and how they affectour perceptions of the city. When looking at history he framed it in architectural movementswhat changes they brought to the city and pointed out what we can learn from these changes.Though I was personally interested in his deeper look at chinese philosophy and the city. Helooked at how using the teachings of tao and following feng shui we can break free of themodern era and return to spaces that invoke thinking, intuition, sense, and feeling. I hope toshow the importance of the four elements in invoking sense, and feeling.

Sullivan, C. (2002). Garden and Climate, New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies

This book has a great overview of prior methods used to implement the four elementin architecture and landscape architecture. It starting block for me in understanding the rootsof how to use these elements to bene t space. It also provide excellent case studies and ex-amples of each individual technique. I plan to use this book to look at the basic methods ofusing the four elements. It has also been a great help in informing me of the many possibili-ties of each element along with excellent examples of where and how the method was used.

Slessor, C. (2004). Building with the elements. Architectural Review, v. 216 (n. 1291, p. 54-

55) Retrieved October 5, 2009 fromEBSCO databases - Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals

This article looked at how we should address the four elements in architecture. Theylooked at how they may be used as symbols along with ways in which we can protect our-selves from and utilize these elements. I personally liked this article because it was close towhat I plan on writing about so it was interesting to see what they found to be important. Italso brought to my attention a useful way of looking at the elements which was we mustrediscover our imme-morial, intuitive relationship with the elements.


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Lechner, N. (2009). Heating, Cooling, Lighting Sustainable Design Methods forArchitect,Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons

This book has been an excellent source of sustainable methods of the architecturaldesign. The book is mainly about passive systems of architectural design and way in whichto implement them into design. I have personally found it useful in nding speci cs on themethods of using these elements in design. It has also helped inform me on some of themore modern technologies of the sustainable design.

Earth Building (2009). retrieved October 7, 2009, from Waitakere city council of cialwebsite: http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/abtcit/ec/bldsus/pdf/materials/earthbuilding.pdf

Earth Building is a paper covering know technique of using the earth as a buildingmate-rial. It explain the advantages of using the earth as a material along with the ways inwhich each style of earth construction should be used. This was extremely informational forme and was a quick way for me to learn about the multiple ways of working earth. I alsoenjoyed many of the pictures that should how far you could take this material along with theway it could effect the feel of a space. It was a great source and helped further my under-standing of this element.

Ludwig,A. (2009) Graywater information central. Retrieved October 24, 2009, fromLudwigs website: http://www.graywater.net/

This site was a great place to learn about graywater system advantages and disadvan-tages. He has a large amount of information posted about these systems along with links,Q&A, and much more. It was a great place for me to learn more about this systems so that Icould ac-curately speak on the subject. The source again was useful to forward my knowl-edge on this system so that I could relay it in my paper.

King, Jason. Vegitecture. ALA autumn lecture series. Fargo, North Dakota. 16 Oct, 2009.

Jason Kings lecture covered the movement of Vegitecture in architecture and land-scape architecture. He covered some of the main focuses of the movement along with waysof implementing them. He also discussed a number of case studies some of which he hadwork with himself. His lecture help better inform me on this movement and some of its ide-als. It also was great to discovery more ways to use the earth along with ways of implementthem into de-sign. The lecture was an excellent source of information for my design careerand this paper.

Annotated Bibliography

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