WIND| URBAN REGENERATION

Lucy Hayes-Stevenson
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The proposal is a mixed-used urban renewal project. It evolved from a material investigation into the properties of local wind conditions, with a particular focus on the use of shelterbelts to mitigate and reduce wind. Initial design investigations into different levels of porosity were studied to see how they affected air flow. Of particular interest, was the contrast between high wind and low wind areas and the affect these have on human perception. These study informed the building concept, which is create a building that operates similar to as a shelterbelt for the city. This is done through: locating the separate buildings on the site in a linear fashion yet oriented to mitigate the predominant winds; shaping each of the buildings to direct wind away from public areas; and selecting materials to allow for a comfortable natural air flow. The site for the proposal is Poplar Lane and the surrounding block. Site connections and circulation through the site formed the basis for the initial massing. The first massing concept left a negative space where there were circulation routes. This was then inverted to allow the built form to occupy the circulation routes and direct wind through the site. Programmatically the intention is to integrate public and private and look at the threshold between these different programs. In order to do this the planning of the buildings is focused on enhancing connections between public and private. The idea of porosity was also incorporated into the thresholds between these spaces with permeable surfaces that allow light, noise and smells to filter through. It is also important to respect the heritage of Poplar Lane; this was done by patterning the rain screen in a manner that was sympathetic to the brick buildings that used to occupy the site.
convention centre

FUTURE CHRISTCHURCH
COURSE THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND ADVISORS

V2

1st Semester 2012 Advanced Design 1 School of Architecture and Planning Camia Young & Jordon Saunders

mixed - use

design school

GROUP SITE

manchestor street

100

200

madras street
300

poplar lane

400

500

total site coverage: 15,000sqm INDIVIDUAL SITE

DESIGN CONCEPT
SYNOPSIS
To mitigate wind at a human scale and create a barrier amongst wind and its greater context.

PROGRAM + WIND SPEED

high
circulation public recreational private recreational

Tourist

resident worker public

bars restauraunts cafes retail

Local

offices

WIND DIRECTION

Student

low

apartments

WIND MITIGATION AIR DISPERSION

Wind has been used as a tool to subconsciously guide the public through the site. Executed by creating areas of high and low pressure. The below images show how the design acts as a protector to its surrounding context, as well as the mitigation of airflow.
cafes offices

sw

restaurants nw

one b/r apartments public recreational private recreational retail

merging spaces

p u b lic

p riv a t e

SHELTERBELT

the appropriate site coverage and height provide efficient wind manipulation. The above images show the reactions of the wind against the forms and how its responds to create shelter.

CIRCULATION

two b/r apartments ne

The circulation through the site came from an urban analysis, and its current context. The site becomes an manipulation of these allowing for wind to be directed and for the connection with the senses to guide. The independent buildings circulation is through two internal cores in which open up to an exposed corridor.

SHELTER

bars three b/r apartments exposed core circulation route allowing for a more permeable structure to have less impact on its environment and to allow for an awareness of the threshold between public and private

to assess the sites reactions and possible mitigations of wind, veils were placed in differing arrangements and tested against the main wind directions.

macro

apartments

APARTMENTS

offices

SITE

CONNECTIVITY

BOUNDARY

WIND FLOW
OFFICES

raising wind level to shelter its immediate context

mitigating wind flow on site

CIRCULATION SPATIAL LAYOUT - BLOCK

patron walks through intermediate threshold via a double layer wind controlling skin. controlled porous wall allows for spaces to merge and the engagement of senses. services, mimicking building form to maintain open plan

commercial

COMMERCIAL

SPATIAL LAYOUT - BUILDING

the spatial layout of the block was done in order to enhance and activate all edges.

Further development into spatial layout came with a focus on a single tower.

bars restaurants cafes retail offices apartments micro

WIND MITIGATION

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

The block was arranged to have a strong active base and incorporate all uses to prolong the use.

PROGRAM - 1:500

the programmatic layout was done in a way in which to connect otherwise unconnected spaces. A porous wall between spaces allows for a porosity between space. Allowing for a merging of spaces and an immediate engagement by its occupants and simultaneously a continuously changing and adaptable environment.

DESIGN INVESTIGATION
shelterbelt PERCEPTION
By bearing a control over wind it allows for the occupants to become engaged and aware of their surroundings. Redirect wind with an optimum level of 50% porosity. Allowing for a protection of land from erosion. This concept has been developed and investigation to relate to a human scale. Impacting and controlling the velocity of wind.

OPTIMUM VENTILATION LEVEL

ENGAGEMENT

VEILS STUDY

Using the three synoptic wind scales of macro, meso and micro along with different forms of rectilinear, curvilinear and angular veils were created in a layered sequence to analyse the winds reaction.

MASS STUDY

A massing study was carried out to observe at a larger scale the reaction of wind on a surface. Here I analysed how the natural movement of wind and its movement from high to low pressures and the impact of open and confined spaces.

CIRCULATION

COMMERCIAL

OFFICE

RESIDENTIAL

LANGUAGE

the massing and veils studies evolved into a language of which I used to manipulate wind in my design, its movement was captured and followed through

RESEARCH
POLLUTION
Definition: the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.

STRUCTURE + MATERIALITY

The faceted form has been constructed from a column and beam structure. This consists of a perimeter beam and slanted columns at each facet. The beams continue to the central core to support a composite metal decking floor system. The materials consist of a high gloss white sheet metal to mimic its changing environment in a rain screen facade system. and a combination of concrete and glazed exterior. These materials are carried through into the interior. The porosity of the rain screen is dictated by the program behind.

COLUMN / BEAM CONNECTION

STRUCTURAL BREAKDOWN
high gloss white sheet metal rhs for fixing perimeter I beam, with fire protective spray supporting strut 600mm cavity
general admittance : domestic chimneys general admittance : coastal pollution general admittance : main pollen production general admittance : industrial zones general admittance : road emissions general admittance : all types

1 2 3 4 5

EMISSIONS POLLUTION SOURCES

Pollution in Christchurch is made up of four sources - domestic, vehicle, background and industrial.

c section suspended ceiling composite metal decking flooring concrete panels

6 7

The different types of pollution can be related to specific areas. The force of the wind carries the pollution to large distances beyond these areas, and can become more potent as it travels and becomes a collective of pollutants. This is largely dependant on the wind direction.

8 9

steel backing 10

POLLUTION AND HEALTH

Levels of pollution are at a higher concentration during the winter months. Post earthquake pollution from domestic sources would have decreased significantly due to the large decrease in chimneys. Therefore vehicle emissions would be the most crucial to health. These can be improved by an increase in public transport and an increase in household insulation. Mortalities and illness occurred with a lag of one day after a highly polluted day.

FOUR PREDOMINANT WIND TYPES

5 4 6 2 10 1000 2000 3000 1

INVERSION LAYER

Normal air dispersion emits the pollutants into the atmosphere. The inversion layer prevents normal air dispersion . When air becomes trapped by Christchurchs typography. It is caused by cooler air at night coming down the valleys and coastal breezes being pushed by the wind beneath the warm inversion layer.

DISPERSION - NATURAL BARRIERS

Christchurchs topography being surrounded by the Southern Alps and the Porthills cause a ponding effect. They act as a barrier and the pollution becomes trapped causing a high concentrated area of pollution.

SECTION

RAINSCREEN SCHEMATIC