Practice Exercise - Module 3 Isandro

Goal 1: Self cooling/heating through passive design and vernacular architecture

• Measure: temperature reduction in hotter seasons in degrees Fahrenheit/Celsius (on a scale of general comfort/usability), inclusion of local/indigenous designs (more of a binary)
• Targets:
• minimally acceptable value: indoor temperatures 15 degrees cooler Fahrenheit, one significant vernacular design incorporated into the building form and/or facade
• desired / target value: indoor temperatures 30 degrees cooler Fahrenheit, two-three vernacular designs incorporated into building form/facade
• Strategies:
• outer building materials made with inherent thermal values (and locally sourced)
• open wall sections where possible - optimizing prevailing winds/breeze
• high ceilings and windows to release rising heat
• angle of building to optimize natural lighting, shade, and winds
• solar rooftop array (partial), offering shading and reduction in energy needs
• natural local cooling materials - ex. inner wall lime plaster (porous and cooling effect)
• ground tiling in open areas should reflect sunlight

Goal 2: Low carbon build and operations/maintenance

• Measure:  percent of locally sourced material, percent of locally sourced labor, embodied + operational carbon comparison with local counterparts (nearby centers and buildings)
• Targets:
• minimally acceptable value: 80% of building materials locally sourced, 10% reduction of embodied carbon with respect to regional standard
• desired / target value: 40% materials locally sourced, 20% reduction of embodied carbon with respect to regional standard
• Strategies:
• Utilizing local materials with great structural properties: mass timber, bamboo, or even a limestone or local stone with good thermal qualities
• traditional rainwater harvesting spouts
• hiring local craftsmen to construct facades and wall structures
• renewable energy (solar) to enable low energy O&M

Goal 3: Natural lighting and biophilic design qualities

• Measure:  percentage reduction of energy towards lighting (regional standards), percentage of spaces filled with nature
• Targets:
• minimally acceptable value: 100% reduction in energy towards lighting (fully solar powered), 50% of spaces surrounded by or in direct vicinity of plants and greenery
• desired / target value: 100% reduction in energy towards lighting (fully solar powered), 65% of spaces surrounded by or in direct vicinity of plants and greenery
• Strategies:
• green facades - incorporating growing sites into the outer walls and window sills
• public gardens and terraces that can provide passive cooling and community spaces
• daylight studies to optimize building orientation and window positioning
• take inspiration from local architecture to maximize natural sunlight and minimize heat (patterned outer grid facades or structures that block heat and allow light to pass through)