Conceptual Design - Building Context & Passive Design

The name of this design is Sustainable Built Environment - Learning and Exhibition Center. The design object is an exhibition center, with an area of 30,000 to 35,000 SF. My design goal is to use renewable energy to meet the energy demand of the house as much as possible and achieve the purpose of environmental protection. The design concept is low-carbon, green, economic, and environmental protection. I chose Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, near Searsville Lake, as my project site. Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve is located in San Francisco and is rich in solar and geothermal energy, as San Francisco has a Mediterranean climate, warm in winter and cool in summer. Additionally, Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve is close to the lake on two sides, with high vegetation coverage and large open space. It has beautiful natural terrain and breathtaking views, providing a stunning backdrop for a sustainable built environment learning and exhibition center.

As I said in the previous section, Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and some characteristics of a tropical desert climate; The winter is mild and rainy and has some characteristics of a temperate maritime climate. I used the climate consultant software to get some specific climate data on this area. The solar resources are good, so the photovoltaic system can provide the necessary energy for a fully electrified heating and cooling system. And the average temperature throughout the year hovers not far from the comfort zone, very livable.

I created two different model types. Each conceptual model has a gross floor area of around 31000 ft^2. Also, a total building height of 30 ft, 2 floors, each floor height is 15ft. My insight is that angled exterior walls receive more sunlight. In that case, the energy performance can be better.

My first conceptual massing design was a straight barrel

The exterior wall of my second conceptual massing design has a certain angle of inclination

MODEL 1

The sun path in Jasper Biological Preserve is following:

MODEL 2

The sun path in Jasper Biological Preserve is following:

Based on the solar analysis, I can know that there is nearly equal potential PV energy production and less cumulative isolation of model 2 compared to model 1. However, model 2 has a shorter payback period of 8.5 years. To model 1. However, model 2 has a shorter payback period of 8.5 years. This is in line with practice and model 2 is more conducive to the application of photovoltaic power generation

For model 1

For model 2:

I compared the performance of these conceptual models via Insight. Model 2 performs better and it shows a larger possibility of achieving the Architecture 2030 target and even becoming a net-zero project. Thus, model 2 is the design option I will move forward with.