Sustainable Architectures

This post is a little over due but here goes. Having traveled throughout western Canada and Washington this summer, I've come across some great buildings, notable for their sustainable merits. Here are my top 3 favourite from the trip.

#1 The Seattle Public Library

This is the first Rem Koolhaas building I've visited and it certainly didn't disappoint. The design is a postmodern reflection on the library as institution. It aims to redefine the library from an institution exclusively dedicated to books into an information store where all medias, old and new, are equally represented; there is an integration of several mediums of knowledge. It is also contextual to Seattle, a city defined by its role in the "new society". The design has sustainable features based on site specificity, water efficiency, atmospheric considerations, recycled local materials, and indoor ventilation. This blog goes into more detail on the environmental design.

#2 Manitoba Hydro Building

This was a really cool building and probably the highlight of the city for me. I initially learned of the Manitoba Hydro building from the article "In Situ: Site Specificity in Sustainable Architecture" in the spring/summer 2009 edition of Harvard Design Magazine. The article is a backlash against decontextualized architectures, instead presenting examples of how Genius loci - the spirit of a place - provides a starting point to meaningful, independent and site specific architecture. From this standpoint, the potential of the site and surrounding are evaluated in order to consider how local attributes can contribute to sustainable design. In regards to the Hydro Building, KPMB architects were able to capitalize on Winnipeg's seasonal extremes between winter and summer by using passive systems to achieve a 60% energy reduction from the previous suburban Hyrdo headquarters. Site specificity takes into account exposing the buildings south side to natural sunlight and southerly winds, as the partitioned atria act as solar collectors which, in combination with the solar chimney, perpetually purify the air. In terms of sustainable urbanism, site specificity in regards to major bus routes, and corporate participation in the  Transit EcoPass system, has led to a 50% increase in public transportation from 95% car use when the headquarter was formerly suburban. Lastly, the contribution to civic life cannot be overshadowed as the building serves as a landmark which facilitates downtown revitalization. For more information on the building check out KPMB Architects.

#3 Edmonton Art Gallery

Last but not least, I loved visiting the new Edmonton Art Gallery, designed by Randall Stout Architects. The design is meant to reflect Edmonton's extreme weather patterns, and the materials create a dynamic quality that enables the building to adjust throughout the day/season to seasonal weather changes. The building itself is a work of art.