the school of life

1 P.Westwood//University of Sheffield//School of Architecture

Paul Westwood Technology ReportThe School of Life.

The School of Life


Abstract 4

Introduction

The Travel Crisis 6

Environmental Strategy

Introduction 8

Sheffield City Airport 10

The School of Life Outline Proposals 12

Solar Design and watching the sunset 16

Ventilation Strategy 17

Ground Water Heat Pump 18

Rain water Harvesting 19

Acoustic Design 20

Structural Principles 24

Life Cycle Costing 25

The Cloud Room 26

The Artificial Beach 28 Detail Design 34

Technical Precedents 36

Technical Specialism 37

Service Station 2.0 38

Bibliography 55

Contents

The School of Life


This project is about traveling less but seeing more, it is about how economic and environmental factors appear certain to change our travel habits, and how we ought to respond; It is about holidaying at home.

It explores how the recently abandoned Sheffield City Airport may be reinvented into a holiday destination (of sorts), and why we should expect more than cheap flights to Spain from a strangely beautiful expanse of tarmac lying hidden among the City’s seven hills. Inspiration for the project comes from Des Esseintes and Baudelaire , two of literatures least intrepid but most thought provoking travelers. The Villa of Des Esseintes (from J.K. Huysmans 1884 novel A rebours provides the ideological standpoint for reconsidering the notion of tourism.

‘For a proud but small minority open to poetry of a different sort, there’s at last an ideal travel agency to hand.’ 1

My Client is the ‘School of Life’, a unusual travel agency who dispute the notion that our holidays ought to be about escaping reality, and instead propose that they should serve to enable us to understand the world in which we live. They offer holidays to the neglected corners of the everyday life, such as Holidays up the M1, a Holiday at Heathrow and weekends dedicated to looking at the sky.

This report consists of two parts, the first highlights the general environmental and structural principles that form the foundations of my project, and the second looks in more detail at the nature of the impact the electric car will have on our service station infrastructure.

Abstract

The School of Life

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1. The School of Life Holiday description. www.theschooloflife.com

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Fig 1. Junction 33, M1. PhotomontageFig 2. Artificial beach cubiclesFig 3. Surveying the site from 2000 feet

The School of Life

All paths lead to Rome. Diagram demonstrating the extent of UK and Italy Air Links.


2.Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.’2

On Holiday with Studio 1

The Travel Crisis.‘Aviation’s emissions alone are predicted to exceed the government’s target for the country’s entire output of greenhouse gases in 2050 by around 134%.’ Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.’2

The debate surrounding air travel is increasingly becoming politically, environmentally, economically and morally charged. Currently 45% of European journeys by air are less than 500km, (which equates to the distance from London to the Scottish border) and the UK aviation industry accounts for 13% of all UK Green-house gas emissions. Yet the Industry is not bound by any international treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol, and looks set to not be included in the forthcoming UK climate bill.

Paradoxically the annual British social attitudes survey reveals increasing levels of public concern regarding the environmental damage caused by aviation, with 49% of the people questioned expressing their view that “the price of a plane ticket should reflect the environmental damage that flying causes, even if it makes air travel much more expensive”. 3

In 2008/9 Studio 1 are exploring the relationship(s) between architecture, heritage and tourism. The studio evolved as a direct response to the proposals for a 500ha ‘Ancient Rome’ theme park, to be built on the out-skirts of Rome. The City Administration hopes that the proposed theme park will attract more families as “families contain more people”4 and it is hoped that this may reverse a slight downturn in tourist numbers in recent years. We traveled to Rome in early November, in the guise of both holiday makers and academics.

Tourism is a big business, in 2007 International Tourism receipts were estimated at $850 billion, but the economic crisis and rising oil prices has seen some turbulence in the tourism Industry. Although the World Tourism Organisation still forecast that international tourism will continue to grow, Studio 1 explore how it may be time for us to reconsider the idea of a holiday.

4. Rome City Administration, in Kington, T; The Guardian, Friday 15th August 2008

3.Takeoff time for guilt over Air Travel, The Guardian, 28th Jan 2009

The School of Life


The School of Life

Environmental StrategyOver the past 100 years Airports have developed from primitive grass strips in a farmer’s fields with a dis-used barn used to store aircraft; to the modern self contained cities which we are familiar with today. Today airports are an interconnected global network dedicated to commerce, business, and tourism. Airports are flow machines. ‘They are designed as machines to efficiently process the mass movement of people, equip-ment, things and concepts between land and air’5, and we see little of the airport apart from the inside of the departure lounge. My proposals consider the site as a potential resource, and without the additional strain of being a commercial airport, the proposals can exploit the sites qualities, most notably its size and geography which is unique within the city. The project promotes the notion of holidaying at home, and as such has a firmly sustainable footing.

J.K. Huysman’s novel ‘A Rebours’ was published in 1884 at the height of decadence in Literature. The main character of the book is a misanthropic anti-hero called Duc des Esseintes, who offers an overly pessimistic view on the difference between what we anticipate from a holiday and what happens when we get there. Des Esseintes argues that it is perfectly possible to ‘travel’ without going anywhere, and this form of imagi-nary tourism doesn’t involve any of the disappointments or down sides of conventional travel. There are no queues, no unfamiliar beds, no exposure to the elements. Instead des Esseintes dedicated a room in his villa to travel, the room was furnished with items from around the world, it contained a gigantic sail, (which would provoke thoughts of being on a voyage far out at sea), a jar of sea water (which he could open and smell to experience the exotic smells of the sea), he framed the itineraries of shipping companies, and hung prints of foreign cities on his walls.

Although the idea may seem overtly decadent, it contains some of the essence of what I hope to explore in this project. Today his ideas seem to have become increasingly relevant in regards to how one may ‘travel’ in a more environmentally friendly way.

5. Fuller,G; Aviopolis; Black Dog Publishing, p5

The School of Life

Former Terminal

Hangar

Air Traffic Control

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Length of Sheffield Aero Club current runway (382 x 18m)

Phase OneConstruction of Windfarm is funded by BP, as part of their investment in renewable energy. The Windfarm is constructed with the understanding that an electric car recharge facility will be available to M1 passengers, making the project financially viable for BP.

Phase TwoConstruction of the School of Life will commence once Windfarm has been granted planning permission. The building is built on the existing [but now redundant] taxiway. The Buisness Park will continue to operate fully throughout the Construction process.

‘70 Acre Hill’

Sheffield Business Park

Prevailing wind direction(South West)


Site as ResourceSheffield City Airport

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Total Number of Trips abroad by UK Residents

Total Number of Trips abroad by UK Residents by Air

Total Number of Holidays abroad by UK Residents

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UK in recession

UK in recession

Sheffield City Airport Opens

Sheffield City Airport Closes

6. Minutes from Sheffield City Council meeting, 2008.

On the 21st April 2008, the final plane took off from Sheffield City Airport, and the city of Sheffield regained the title of being the largest city in Europe without its own airport. The limited length of the runway ulti-mately proved to be its downfall, meaning larger planes were unable to operate at full payload and therefore making it impossible to attract budget airlines.

The site had been developed by the Sheffield City Council, formerly a coal mine, but having been an opera-tional airport for only 11 years, there are now plans to extend the adjacent business park onto the runway.

‘The real contribution of the airport, even under the most optimistic future scenario, would be limited to the improvements in perception of the city as having an airport.’ 6

The most vociferous critics to the closure of the airport argue that the decision to build a business park on the existing runway is incredibly short sighted, and is the only suitable site in the whole city for the airport to exist. This topography mean that a whole range of events could be held along the runways 1.2km length.

The following chapter outlines my strategy for considering the site as a resource.

The School of Life

Conference Facilities

The Cloud Room

The Beach

Flying School

Service Station

School of Life OfficesMorning Terrace

Control Tower

Sketch East-West Section


Site as ResourceThe School of Life Outline Proposals

My Client is the School of life, a social enterprise based in London who offer guidance on how to live wisely and well. Of particular interest to me are their range of holidays to the neglected corners of everyday life. My proposal will function as a bespoke Headquarters for this organization. Their interest in the transient places of life, airports, service stations, and hotel rooms has informed my research

Therefore my project proposes the coexistence of two of these types of non-place, the abandoned Sheffield City Airport (reinvigorated by the presence of Sheffield Aero Club), and a new (wind powered, electric car) Service Station on the site. These programs are then enriched by the holiday facilities such as the artificial beach and the cloud room, as well as conference and hotel facilities.

The School of Life

The School of Life

Environmental StrategySolar Design and Watching the Sunset

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The orientation of the building lies directly on the western end of the east-west runway axis. The solar design is simplified by the lack of context, meaning the building will have directly sunlight during the daytime hours and overshadowing issues are not relevant on the airport site. Spaces with the highest levels of habita-tion are located on the south facing façade, and the western façade designed for sitting down and watching the sunset over the peak district, and to heighten the drama of the takeoff of aircraft.

21st July 0700hrs

The Morning Terrace, is located on the tilted roof, to take advan-tage of the morning sun.

21st July 1200hrs

The Offices of the School of Life are located on the south facade, as these spaces will be occupied throughout the day, they benefit from solar gain in the winter months. The glazing is set back behind the structure to avoid overheating in the summer.

21st July 1900hrs

The west facing facade is designed specifically for watching the sunset. Main dining area, and ‘the departure lounge to knowhere’ are located on this facade to maximise the romantic nature of the setting sun.

Watching the sunset

The artificial beach is located on the west facade, the mirror lined walls over an infinite panoramic, and the illusion of being on a de-serted beach. 1:50 Model exploring day lighting towards sunset with a 15 degree opening to offer an uninterrupted view of the sky.


Environmental StrategyVentilation Strategy

The strategy for ensuring the maximum possible use of natural ventilation was to identify the spaces that will be the most heavily serviced (kitchens and the sizeable toilet facilities required) and place them on the edge of the programme. The second move is to create a a full height stair at the centre of the programme, to assist natural ventilation. The cores are also used to service the underground elements of the programme by stack effect..

North-South Section

The Offices of the School of Life are located on the south facade, while heavily serviced compo-nents of the programme (kitchens and toilets) are placed on the North, and separated by main stair and mixing chamber

East West Section

The main stair which runs directly through the east-west section is designed to heighten the drama of aircraft taking to the skies. This also acts to ventilate the main ‘mixing chamber’ of the building by natural means.

Main Stair Images

Openings in the roof of the main ‘mixing chamber will naturally ventilate the building.

The School of Life

Environmental StrategyGround Water Heat Pump

Heating

During the winter, the cold water in the closed geothermal pipe loop is heated by the temperature of the lake surface. This then passes through the plant room and is used to heat a secondary loop connected to heat pumps within the building.

Cooling

In Summer, the reverse process occurs, whereby hot air in the building is cooled by

the lake and then redistributed in the building.

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Mean Min=1.5

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Mean Min=3.7

Mean Max=15.6

Mean Max=22.1

The main reason for deciding the suitability of a ground water heat pump is as a result of the topography of the site, the reasonably steep 70 acre hill lies adjacent to the runway and contains two storm drains, which are designed to prevent flooding of the runway. This water is currently channelled directly into the sewer system, however I propose to use this water flow to heat the building (and also to provide some of the vast amount of water required for the adjacent golf course). This will create a pleasant habitat in front of the building (see sketch) but will also be utilised to regulate the temperature within the School of Life.

Groundwater heat pumps operate on the principle that the temperature of the ground a few metres below the surface remains a constant 13 degrees Celsius throughout the year. Water at the bottom of the lake is cooler than the air in summer, and warmer than the air in winter, and as a result can be used to assist in creating thermal comfort throughout the year. This system is more cost effective than vertically laid ground source heat pumps, which require deep bore holes to be sunk into the earths surface. Although this horizontally laid system requires as much as ten times the amount of surface area, large scale ground disturbance is ac-ceptable on a site of this size. The Ground water heat pump will be powered by the wind farm and will heat the building through an under floor heating system.

Sheffield Water and Air Tem-peratures.

The diagram above shows the seasonal range of water and air temperatures in Sheffield. Sketch shows how rainwater will be redirected from 70 Acre Hill into a lake, to be used for thermal control of the building but also to be used to water the adjacent Golf course.

Ground Water Heat Pump being lowered to the bottom of a lake


Environmental StrategyRain Water Harvesting

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J F M A M J J A S O N D

Land

Rural Urban

River

95% 5% 30% 70% 5% 95%

Toilet

Shower, bath and basin

Kitchen sink

Washing machine

Dishwasher

Outdoor

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Monthly R

ainfall (mm

)The proposed drainage system acts to slow down the flow of water from land to river, in urban areas as much as 95% of rainfall travels directly into rivers and sewers. Rainfall on the roof is utilised to flush the significant number of toilets required by service station buildings. In a domestic residence, over 25% of the water usage comes from flushing toilets, the equation below calculates the annual collectible rainfall and additionally how many toilets can be flushed with this water.

The Impact of global warming suggests increasing levels of rainfall, I have taken an average value of 80mm per month in the calculation, as the roof is pitched at 16 degrees, the runoff coefficient is assumed to be 0.8. The filter coefficient is assumed to be 0.8.

Annual Collectable rainfall/l

=Average rainfall (mm) x total catchment area(m2)

x Runoff Coefficient x Filter Coefficient

=960x1600x0.8x0.8

=983,040 Litres

Number of Litres required to flush a toilet =4

Number of toilet flushes per day= 673

Tilted Roof

Models and diagrams exploring the nature of the tilted roof

Rainfall

Diagrams representing the pas-sage of water from skies to rivers in urban and rural situations. The extensive tarmac of the runway means the site acts much like the Urban diagram, with large amounts of runoff from the runway.

Rainfall

Diagram representing average rainfall in Sheffield throughout the year. Information from the Met Office.

Domestic Water Use

Diagram representing the average water usage in a typical domestic residence. Source: UK Rainwater Harvesting Association.

The School of Life

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Very Feint

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Moderate

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Deafening

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SubjectiveImpression

Sound Pressure Level, dB

Type of Sound

Jet Engine at 20m

Jet Engine takeoff at 100mRock Group

Pneumatic Chipper

Pop Music Group

Heavy Truck passing byAverage street trafficConversational speech (max)

Active business office

Quiet Living RoomConcert Hall

Rustle of Leaves

Thin Porous Material

Sound Absorbing Materials

Vehicular sound characteristics

Thicker Porous Material/or with Airspace

Thin Porous Material with perforated facing

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B-707Car Jet Engine Lorry Cessna Plane

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Jet Engine at 20m

Jet Engine takeoff at 100mRock Group

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Pop Music Group

Heavy Truck passing byAverage street trafficConversational speech (max)

Active business office

Quiet Living RoomConcert Hall

Rustle of Leaves

Thin Porous Material

Sound Absorbing Materials

Vehicular sound characteristics

Thicker Porous Material/or with Airspace

Thin Porous Material with perforated facing

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B-707Car Jet Engine Lorry Cessna PlaneVehicles

Diagrams representing the com-mon external noise levels from transportation vehicles. Under-standing the frequency is key in suggesting appropriate means of dampening the sound.

Acoustic Thermometer

Demonstrating the differences between the magnitude of sound pressures and the dB level of a Cessna Propeller Airplane.

Acoustic Materials

Sound absorbing characteristics of typical acoustic materials. The diagrams reveal that the porous material with perforated facing is the most suitable absorber for the sound source in question.

Diagrams reinterpreted from Cavanaugh, W; Architectural Acoustics, Wiley. 1999. p9,11,19


Acoustic DesignThe Drama of Takeoff

‘Every buildings acoustic considerations can be thought of as a system of sources paths and receivers of sound. Even the most complex problem can be broken down into one or more sources to be studied along with the paths over which the waves will travel to the recipient of the sound.’7

Acoustic considerations for the School of life are based largely around the noise produced by a propeller aircraft. The Hangar for these planes is located directly underneath the second floor of the building. In cer-tain places in the building this noise is embraced but in others it is dampened. The section below shoes the main two spaces in which the sound of the aircraft is to be embraced. In other areas the acoustic treatment I have chosen is a porous material with perforated facing. The diagrams opposite show that this is a suitable treatment for the frequency of sound that is produced from a source of this nature. This treatment is similar to the treatment of the Letzigraben stadium in Zurich (pictured below). This finish is investigated in more detail in the 1:40 sectional detail which comes at the end of this chapter.

Acoustic dampener

Zone in which sounds of the planes are celebrated

Acoustics

Diagram demonstrating the zon-ing of acoustics

7. Cavanaugh, W; Architectural Acoustics; Wiley and Sons, 1999. p9

Precedent

Letzigraben stadium in Zurich (left) and right model showing relationship between plane stor-age and building.

The School of Life


Acoustic PrecedentLetzigrund Stadium, Zurich

Letzigrund stadium in Zurich was designed by Betrix and Consolacio Architects and completed in 2008. The main reason for my interest in this project is the nature of the cantilevered roof. Not only is the roof structur-ally and aesthetically appealing, the roof also acts as a sound dampener, with perforated timber panelling as a facade treatment.

Precedent

4 Girder 1.1/3.4m Steel I beam

5 Roof Planting with Herbs and Sedum

6 160/100mm Steel RHS

7 Purlin 120/160mm

8 50/50mm Robina Lathing Mat, 40mm acoustic mineral wool, between 60/80mm cross laths

12 Inspection Hatch

21 Antenna

Images from Detail magazine 2008, 7/8, pp781-785

The School of Life

Environmental StrategyStructural Principles

The main architectural desire is to create a structure in which the programme tilts to enable plane storage underneath the building. The structure is essentially cantilevered from the two cores to create a 15m over-hang. The main structural works will be carried out by a local steel contractor, with the main floor and walls being constructed from in situ concrete. The building will then be clad in sustainably sourced timber panel-ling, which will be used as acoustic dampener but also to ground the building naturally.

The main structural grid runs in the East-West and North South directions, however a third level is overlaid to add an unexpected surprise upon entering in to the building.

Structural Principles

Sketches demonstrate the re-quired tilting of the programme, and render explores the nature of the structural components which will be cantilevered from the two main cores. It also shows the main structural grids, with the two perpendicular axes, and a third added to add a level of intrigue and surprise.

View from Cessna

Image exploring the nature of the cantilevered facade. The external envelope is timber clad, to es-sentially act as a large acoustic buffer, but give the building a natural and tactile quality.


Environmental StrategyLife Cycle Costing

Sheffield City Airport terminal is now being used as part of the Sheffield Business Park. The adaptability of the terminal in this case is admirable, and the original design of the terminal, as the diagram above dem-onstrates, took into account potential future expansion of the airport. The structural system is essentially modular, meaning an extension of the terminal becomes a relatively simple process, minimal disruption occurs during redevelopment. The design of my scheme will take into account future flexibility, in particular how the School of Life could be transformed into a working commercial airport if the developments in tech-nology meant that planes were able to takeoff on shorter runways.

The Section below demonstrates the outline proposals for how this may work, and my work will explore this in more detail in the forthcoming weeks.

Original Terminal Building

The original terminal was de-signed with careful consideration as to the future expansion of the airport with minimal disruption to the workings of the building.

Future use

Outline sketch exploring how the School of Life could be trans-formed once more into a working domestic/international airport.

LANDSIDE AIRSIDE

DEPARURTURE LOUNGE

CONTROL

SECURITY

HANDLING

HANDLING

The School of Life

Calculation fo the average day lighting factor

DF=Daylight Factor

M=Correlation Factor

W= Total Glazed Area

0 =Angle of visible sky

T=Glass transmission factor

A= Total Room Surface Area

R= Average reflectance of the room surfaces

Formula from CIBSE, Dayligting and Window Design, CIBSE, London, 1999p31

DF=MWOT/A(1-RR)

DF= 0.7 x 25 x 36 x 0.7 / 185 (1-0.25)

=441/ 246

=1.79

Maintenance factor given a relatively high value of 0.7 because the space will be easily ac-cessed from the roof and therefore easily cleaned. Glass transmission factor T= 0.7 for, the

average room reflectance is R=0.5

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Study models exploring extent of Natural sunlight penetration in the cloud room.

Section through cloud room


Natural Day lightingThe Cloud Room

One of the Holidays with the School of Life is dedicated to looking at the clouds, this space will be acousti-cally isolated from the rest of the building. The location of this space on the plan means that there is minimal direct sunlight visible. This is a deliberate move to ensure that watching the clouds is uninterrupted. Images show the location, and initial ideas of what the characteristics of the space may be, and opposite daylight calcualation equations.

The Cloud Room

Cloud Room

Original sketch oh how the cloud room may work. Development of the design now mean the space is double height.

The School of Life


Environmental StrategyThe Artificial Beach

The School of Life

Diagram exploring the mechanics be-hind the conventional swimming pool, most of which is usually hidden.

Diagram exploring how the conventional system (above) can be transformed into a pool which is acceptable to this particular function. Early diagrams show the proposals for the pool to be drained at both the top and bottom , this is developed further in later drawings. Please see Detail section

Diagram demonstrating how the body of water will be divided up into a number of cubicles by polished concrete partitions.


Site as ResourceSwimming Pool Considerations

8. Perkins, H; Swimming Pools, Taylor and Francis, 2000. p177

“Nature has had her day, the time has surely come for the artifice to take her place wherever possible.” Des Esseintes

One of the main spaces which is inspired by Des Esseintes is the artificial beach. The spaces are essentially cubicles, lined with mirrors to recreate the essence of being on an isolated beach. Technical studies have dealt with how the typical services required in a swimming pool can be hidden as much as possible. The spaces are designed to have small amounts of current, but also ripples of waves, created by pressurised air, which also acts to offer a sea breeze. This area is detailed at 1:40 in the following section.

Condensation Control and Heating

‘The Heating of the water and the heating and ventilation of the pool hall and adjacent pool hall are all problems which are invariably resolved by experienced firms of consulting engineers.’8

Condensation is an inherent problem with swimming pool design, and the control of this condensation becomes increasingly difficult with user expectations. To avoid condensation, the air temperature must be kept just 1 degree Celsius above the water temperature. In addition air around swimming pools is very humid and failures can occur. The solution to these problems, and one that is acceptable in this instance is to keep the water reasonably cold, and more like sea temperature, than a conventional pool temperature. In the UK ‘the average temperature of public pools is 26-28 degrees Celsius’ whereas the sea water off the coast of Spain (Briton’s most visited holiday destination in 2006) is 16 degrees.

The spaces are heated by warm air from hidden ducts, and additionally the risk of condensation is reduced by the flow of air onto the water surface and the glazing. This air is also used to create gentle waves and also create the impression of sea breeze.

Typical grouted tile system from a conventional swimming pool. The system is functional, cost effective and the grouted tiles have a hard wearing quality which is beneficial.

Early photomontage exploring how the junction between water and ground should feel, aiming to mimic the pleas-ant sensation of walking on wet sand.

Research into concrete which is rolled with sand, this would have a much more abrasive feel than conventional sand

My final decision was to go with real sand without a top drain, essentially tying to mimic nature as much as possible. A contoured foam mat is placed on top of the water membrane, this is in turn overload with a 200mm covering of sand.

The School of Life

The Artificial BeachMaking Waves

Although the moon’s gravity is what creates the tides, most waves at sea are created by the wind. Rushing air particles exert force on water particles, causing a disturbance in the ocean’s surface, which is then transmitted between particles.

There are several ways in which this wave creation can be replicated, and all that is necessary is to create a periodic disturbance. The method in which I propose to replicate this wave creation is to use an inter-mittent blast of air to the surface. Other ways of doing this could be a paddle wheel or oscillating plunger. Waves are created by exerting a force on the water which then dissipates from the source.

Hi Speed Fan

Exhaust Port

Butterfly Valve

Water

Coastal Breeze

Hydraulic Piston

1:50 study model of proposed wave machine. Image left shows disturbance when air channeled from a fan is applied to the surface of the water. Image right shows the still water. Flow of waves are created by intermit-tent flows of air at pressure onto the water’s surface.

Characteristics of the waves. The size of waves which would be appropriate is an amplitude of approximately 50mm.

Model and diagram showing how the mechanics of the wave machine will work and drainage flows.


The Artificial BeachLighting Studies

‘Scale studies can represent the most flexible and powerful way to evaluate performance of an innovative day lighting system at the design stage.’

Scale models as well as computer simulation have been essential in understanding the characteristics of the space.

The Materiality of the walls of the beach is an impor-tant decision, as not only does it have to provide the required levels of reflectance, but also be able to stand the humid conditions of a swimming pool environment. With all these considerations taken into account, I have proposed that the walls are constructed from polished concrete.

Polished granite tiles Glazing as reflectorPolished Concrete Large frame less mirrors, fixed onto concrete wall from behind

Paul Littlefow, Designing with innovative day lighting.

The School of Life


Site as ResourceDetail Design

The Detail section through part of my scheme brings together many of the topics discussed in this chapter. (The final drawings have been enriched not only the 6th year detail workshop, but also a Studio one detail swap).

The School of Life

In 2001 Road-chef commissioned the architects Wil-son Mason and Partners to ‘evaluate their existing motorway service stations and environmental strate-gies’10. Following this report, the architects wee com-missioned to take these ideas forward on a site in Norton Canes, along the M6 Toll. The first decision was to locate the amenity building further way from the road than they are conventionally cited, and lo-cated within some generous landscaping, which en-courages uses to stroll along the footpaths to van-tage points. Unsurprisingly there are extensive car parks, but the treatment is noteworthy for the light landscaping rather than extensive use of hedges. The approach to internal planning was to create a main dining hall, which is considerably more pleasant than the majority of all services that I have visited, it is naturally lit and ventilated and opens out onto a south facing terrace with rainwater used to create a pond. The zoning of kitchens to the north of the site, makes the plan seem logical, and bins and services are hidden behind a 3.5m slatted timber enclosure.

Technical Precedent; Site Visit‘A Welcome Break’ , Norton Canes Services, M6 Toll

10. ‘Welcome Break’, The Archi-tects’ Journal, 6th May 2004. p36


The site was once a pristine island in the Oslo fjord, but during the 1950s, Fornebu became Oslo’s main in-ternational airport. To enable this to happen, the gla-cial landscape was effectively removed to provide the long flat spaces required for aircraft. However during the 1990s it became apparent that although the site is in relative proximity to the city, the size of the site meant that it was increasingly unable to adapt to the demands of the modern airport, therefore the deci-sion was taken to build another airport 100km away in Gardemon. Given its proximity to the city centre, and the fact that it neighbours an existing residen-tial district, meant that it was an attractive site to provide a residential and business redevelopment. ‘Fortunately there was an overall consensus that the development ought to be carried out in a sustainable and ecologically aware way.’11 Every drop of rainwater that falls on the 200 hectare site, is collected, cleaned through a filtration process and re-used. An artifi-cial lake provides the focus to the development and is connected to the former terminal by a water axis. The lake also acts as a storm water basin to cope with fluctuating rain levels but to also feed a ‘frog lands’ before rejoining the Oslo fjord..

11.Dreiseitl,H, New Waterscapes, Springer, 2005 p69.

Technical Precedent; Site VisitRedevelopment of Airport into Festival Park and Water recycling facility.Fornebu, Oslo, Norway.

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Service Station 1.0

Service Station 2.0


Technical Specialism

Service Station 2.0

35% of all of our carbon emissions are caused by domestic transport, of which 58% of emissions are caused by motor cars. Given that 60% of all journeys by car are less than 25%, there’s no reason why someone using a car for commuting on a regular basis will not be able to charge their car up at home, take it to work”12

The British government have recently announce measures to create electric car cities throughout the UK, which will help meet it’s target of reducing co2 emissions by 26% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. This strategy is focused at the 60% of journeys which are less than 25 miles, and the government has pledged to offer £5,000 incentives to help offset the additional cost of Electric vehicles and in particular the prices of the battery required in such cars. In addition 200 electric cars will be available to trial throughout the UK. As an incentive to car makers, the government will also make £100 million available for research.

The electric car technology has been around for a long time, the first example of this was even invented before the diesel engine. This failure has traditionally been attributed to 3 main factors, firstly the low price of oil, secondly the fact that good quality mass produced and affordable batteries do not exist, and thirdly the lack of infrastructure to support the change. Increasingly, however people are also becom-ing concerned about the environmental impact of the internal combustion engine, and additionally the increasing price of oil . The technology of batteries is also improving, modern lithium ion batteries can store more energy than before, and additionally are now becoming capable of being manufactured in the quantities required for the mass market.

John Loughhead, executive director of the UK Energy Research Centre has criticised the governments proposals arguing that ‘the government has created for itself some very high aspirations in the role that the UK is going to play, but it doesn’t tell you exactly how they are going to do it’

This section proposes how these issues could be dealt with, and how this may affect the role in which ser-vice stations play in the future.

12. Geoff Hoon, Labour’s £5,000 sweetener to launch electric car revolution, in The Guardian, 16th April 2009.

13. , Labour’s £5,000 sweetener to launch electric car revolution, in The Guardian, 16th April 2009.

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Service Station 2.0Wind Power Generation

‘It is estimated that small scale wind generation – together with other forms of micro generation – could provide 30-40% of all the UK’s electricity needs by 2050’

Quiet Revolution

The UK has excellent wind resources, however the location of wind turbines is an important aspect to con-sider and ideally there should be no obstructions between the turbine and the wind direction (usually South West in the UK). The site of 70 acre hill may be seen as the perfect location, not only due to the lack of ob-structions in it’s wind path, but also because there no residential areas in it’s immediate vicinity, meaning the impact of noise will be greatly reduced. Planning permission for Wind Turbines are most commonly refused due to ‘visual impact, noise and vibrations’

I have chosen to use Vertical Axis Wind Turbines(VAWT), which operate better in turbulent conditions than Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines, and as a result can be cited closer together. VAWT can be located three tur-bine widths apart, whereas HAWT ideally need to be located 10 blade widths apart. The Design of the Quiet Revolution QR5, drawn below means that ‘the aerodynamics of the vertical axis design mean that noise and vibration is reduced to near silence’.

1140mm

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Anemometer

Spool Tube

Generator

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Blade GG FF

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Prevailing Wind Direction

Foundation Detail

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1. Mast2. Gusset3. M30 Stud Projection4. M30 Stud Lock5. M30 Nut6. Spring Washer7. Flat Washer8. Mast Seating Washer9. Baseplate10. Mast Seating Pad


Foundation Detail

10m

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Service Station 2.0Electrical Systems

The Wind energy from the turbines has to be harnessed and controlled to make it use able with conventional electricity needs. By its very essence, wind intensity and direction is variable. And to make it use able it must be integrated into existing infrastructure, which means making turbine output compatible with the UK grid.

Requirements for connecting to the National Grid are strict and the turbines must meet specific standards. In addition the wind turbines have to shut down whenever the wind speed is either too high or too low. The turbines measure wind speed using an anemometer housed at the top of the turbine. The anemometer allows the turbine to rotate once the wind reaches the desired speed. The generator creates the electricity, which is carried to the control system where it is converted into a suitable form for the grid. When the turbines do not generate sufficient energy to cover local usage, the shortfall is drawn from the grid. Similarly when the output exceeds local usage, excess is transferred to the grid. However it is most efficient to use the elec-tricity locally rather than exporting it to the grid, as the electricity is not purchased for as high a price as a customer pays.

ROC Meter

EV charging The Grid

Mains Isolator

Local Distribution Meter

Control computer

Generator drive and grid invertor

3 phase & neutral 415 AC supply

Client’s distrubution board

qr5 VAWT

Generator

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The School of Life

The Grid

SurplusDNO Approved Export meter

Local Distribution Meter

Demand

Demand

OFGEM

Issue of ROCs

electricity suppliers

Intermediary Trading company

Export Benefits£/Kwh

EV charging


Service Station 2.0Wind Turbines and Aeroplanes

The Ministry of Defence, Civil Aviation Authority and airport operators have expressed concerns that wind turbines may impact upon their safety systems. Airports have radar which are used to safely control, the movement takeoff and landing of aircraft. The main systems are: Instrument Landing Systems [ILS]; Distance Measuring Equipment [DME], Primary Surveillance Radar [PSR] and Doppler Radio Direction Finder [DRDF]. Airports do not all use the same equipment, nor is the quality of the equipment consistent at all airport sites.

One of the major reasons that Sheffield City Airport originally struggled to attract airlines was the fact that the airport did not have a radar. These radar are essential for large commercial passenger airlines, however the type of aircraft used by the Sheffield Aero Club do not require radar, and therefore the wind warm will have no effect on safety.

Typical aircraft radar systems

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Service Station 2.0View from 70 Acre Hill overlooking the Airport

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Design Power Curve - DC electrical power

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Power curve for the turbines I have chosen for my proposals


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Aerodynamic power curve - as verified by NRC Wind Tunnel Test

Design Power Curve - DC electrical power

Field measured DC power out at 20 second averages

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Wind GenerationPredicting Energy Output

The Average Wind speed on 70 Acre Hill is calculated to be 4.8m/s at ground level, which increases to 6m/s 25m above ground level. (Wind speed calculations available at www.berr.gov.uk). This however does not take into account the fact topography and buildings can cause increases in wind speed. These calculations are based on the average wind speed data available from www.berr.gov.uk.

Amount of energy produced per year by a single qr5 turbine= 6,000 to 10,000kwh (Kilowatt Hours)

(This is enough energy to supply the electrical needs of a 15-20 person office.)

Total energy production on proposed wind warm per year= 9,000 x 500 =4,500,000 kwh

Total energy required to fully charge the battery of an electric car= 9.66 Kwh

Total number of full charges Wind farm is capable of producing in a year = 470,000

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56,705Vehicles per Day


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1. M1 [Northbound travelling up the page]

2. Sheffield Parkway

3.Sheffield Airport Site

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The School of Life

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S Leicester Forest East Service Station

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Average Daily Commute

The Range of the existing Cars means that the daily commute is easily acheivable. Road side charging points allow the car to charge for the average of 22 hours per day in which it is not being used

Long Distance Journeys

For longing distance journeys, existing petrol station infrastructure will be replaced by Swap stations, wherby the deplted battery is replaced by a fully charged one in less than two minutes

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S


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Range 50 MilesTop Speed 40mphCost £14, 175

Mycar

Range 60 MilesTop Speed 40mphCost £9,995

G-Wiz L-ion


BMW Mini E

Range 150 MilesTop Speed 95mphCost $850 a month lease

Smart fortwo ED

Range 70 MilesTop Speed 60mphCost Not on sale in UK

01_Average Daily Commute

The M1

01_Car Enters switch station. Car and battery are identified.

02_Robotic arm removes empty battery

03_Depleted battery recharged, fully charged battery inserted.

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02_Long Distance Journey


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Rugby

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East Mids Airport

Leicester

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Birmingham

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LondonN

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S London Gateway Service Station

Average Daily Commute

The Range of the existing Cars means that the daily commute is easily acheivable. Road side charging points allow the car to charge for the average of 22 hours per day in which it is not being used

Long Distance Journeys

For longing distance journeys, existing petrol station infrastructure will be replaced by Swap stations, wherby the deplted battery is replaced by a fully charged one in less than two minutes


S Northampton Service Station


S Tibshelf Service Station

S Toddington Service Station

S Trowell Service Station

S Watford Gap Service Station

Woolley Edge Service Station

0 50Miles

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The School of Life

56,705

56,705

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13,616

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London

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S

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S

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Aixam Mega City


Mycar

Range 60 MilesTop Speed 40mphCost £9,995

G-Wiz L-ion


BMW Mini E

Range 150 MilesTop Speed 95mphCost $850 a month lease

Smart fortwo ED

Range 70 MilesTop Speed 60mphCost Not on sale in UK

01_Average Daily Commute

The M1

01_Car Enters switch station. Car and battery are identified.

02_Robotic arm removes empty battery

03_Depleted battery recharged, fully charged battery inserted.

04. System checks and departure.

02_Long Distance Journey

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1

2

3

Batteries not included

Recent proposals by the company called ‘better place’ propose a division between the ownership of an electric car and the battery ownership. The proposal is in some ways similar to mobile phone contracts, whereby the price of the handset is subsidised by the agreement of a contract. In a similar way better place intend to subsidise the price of electric car by essentially renting the battery as a consumable. There are two main components to this scheme. Firstly, the battery is charged whenever you stop (cars are typically driven for 2 hours and parked for 22 hours), and secondly for long distance journeys, depleted batteries are swapped at battery exchange stations. This process separates ownership of the car from ownership of the battery, and makes the potential of electric cars become a reality. My final proposals will incorporate these technologies into the service station architecture.

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Technology Research

Arnold R; Working with Concrete; Taunton 2003.Cavanaugh, W; Architectural Acoustics; Wiley and Sons, 1999 Ching, F; Building Construction Illustated, Wiley, 2008Dreiseitl,H, New Waterscapes, Springer, 2005Emberson, T; Airport Interiors, Design For Business, John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2006Eliasson, O. The Weather Project, Tate Pub-lishing, 2003 Gordon, A; Naked Airport; University of Chicago Press, 2004Hau, E; Wind Turbines, Springer, 2005Larminie, J; Electric Vehicle Technology Explained, Wiley 2003.Perkins, H; Swimming Pools, Taylor and Francis, 2000. p177Pitts, A, Planning and Design Strategies for Sustainability and Profit, Architectural Press, 2004Sage, R, The Architecture of Light, Conceptnine, 2008Wayne Place,J; Architectural Structures, Wiley, 2007

Journals

Architects’ Journal, A Welcome Break, 6th May 2004.Building, ‘Coming into Land’ May 27th 2008.Building, ‘Cost Model, Swimming Pools’, 2006, Issue 08Detail Magazine, 2008, 7/8

WebLinks

BERR, www.berr.gov.ukBetter Place; www.betterplace.comBREEAM www.breeam.orgDanish Wind Industry Ass; www.windpower.org/en/core.htmQuiet Revolution www.quietrevolution.co.uk/Ted Talks www.ted.com

General Research

Anderson,C; The Long Tail, Random House, 2006Auge, M; Non-Places, Verso, 1995Barnes,J; England, England, Cape, 1998Baudelaire, C; Le Voyage, Greville Press, 1991Baudelaire, C; Selected Poems, Penguin, 2005Botton, A; The Art of Travel, Penguin, 2003Botton, A; The Architecture of Happiness, Penguin, 2006Brandolini, S; Rome: New Architecture, Skira,2008Canniffe, E; The Politics of the Piazza, Ashgate, 2008Calvino, I ;Invisible Cities, trans. William Weaver, Picador, 1974Chappel, D & Willis, A; The Architect in Practice, 9th Ed, Blackwell Publishing, 2005Cook, Thomas; Wintersun, November 2009- April 2010De Maistre, Xavier,, A Journey around my bedroom, Green Integer, 2009Electa, Mercati Di Traiano Guide, Commune di Roma, 2008Fuller, G; Aviopolis, A book about Airports, Black Dog, 2006Graves,M; Roma Interrotta, Architectural Design Profile 20, Vol. 49, No. 3-4 1979Harman, K, You are Here; Princeton Architectural Press, 2003Huysmans, JK; Against Nature (A Rebours), Penguin 2003Lawrence, D, Always a welcome: the glove compartment history of the motorway service area, Between Books, 1999Leadbetter, C; We-Think, Profile ooks, 2008Lowenthal, D; The Past is a Foreign Country, Cambridge 2005Paxman, J; The English, Penguin 2007Rykwert ,J; The Seduction of Place: The City in the Twenty First Century and Beyond, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2000Sandra R. Joshel et al (eds.) Imperial Projections: Ancient Rome in Modern Popular Culture, Arethusa,2001.Sennett, R, The Culture of New Capitalism, Yale 2006Sorkin, M; Variations on a Theme Park: The New American City and the End of Public Space, Hill and Wang, 1992Wallpaper City Guides, Rome 2009, PhaidonWilde O, A Picture of Dorian Gray, Bantam lassics, 1982

Bibliography

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Wave Machine Exhaust Port

Strengthened Glass

Warm Water Inlet

Water Proof 200W Light

Beach Sand

Hardened Foam Base

Warm Water Duct

Wave Machine Air Duct

Water Skimmer Drain

Ventilation Gap

Mirrorred Wall

Air Traffic Control Desk

Prefabricated Overhead Track

0.000m

+6.700m

+8.000m

+11.400m

+16.500m

AA BB

16°

Metal Capping

In-situ concrete roofwith steel reinforcement

Sedum Roof

Grass

Waterproof Membrane

250mm Insulation

Strengthened Glazing

Glass fixing and sealant

100mm InsulationAcoustic dampener

Insitu concrete floor slab

Metal Capping

Timber Cladding

Toughened glass hand rail fixed to floor slab

Auditorium

AcousticTimber Panelling

50x50mm Timber Baton

I Beam

Floodlight

Acoustic panelling support

Timber Cladding

Timber Decking withbalcony drainage below

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