Monday, August 18, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
'Old Stone House' Visitor Centre
I've reformatted the final video, so it's quite a bit different from the official version submitted for the design presentation. So at last, here is a compressed unofficial promotional video of the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site Proposed Visitor Centre:
The visitor centre is designed to be a LEED building (Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design), the first of its kind in Sault Ste. Marie. The LEED system rewards building design on a points system that rates bulidings as LEED bronze, silver, gold, to platinum. Buildings are rewarded for meeting 'green' qualifications like maximum parking spaces, number of bike racks, percentage of renewable materials, use of local materials, geothermal heating etc. LEED has been a debatable system of evaluation since its formation, but a very good intention. I won't get in to it here.
For Sault Ste. Marie, this is a great step towards cleaner buildings and a more energy-conscious community. The Soo is already moving towards the three primary renewable energy sources: hydro, wind, and soon a solar collection field, but we sorely lack efficient buildings, under a hazy plume of steel-plant emissions. Having these energy sources is the envy of many northern cities, international cities. It would truly be a great transformation for a northern steel town to be a 'green' city. Who knows, maybe it would actually attract people to want to live in the Soo, countering its horrendous youth drain. Maybe our neighbourly glow-in-the-dark Sudburians might move in.
Back to the animation, you enter into the main foyer, with skylight above, providing passive solar heating, enter the 1812 Gallery, a tribute to the history of the War of 1812 in the Sault area. The theatre, across from the gallery seats 50 people. Leaving the theatre, visitors enter the site to visit the Heritage buildings which will have existing displays, bannock baking, activities etc. Re-enter the visitor centre through the gift shop.
There is no green roof, but don't despair. The roof will harvest rainwater and internally service the building. Solar panels on the roof. The building uses as much wood as possible, the most efficient renewable material available.
Would love to hear your comments.
The visitor centre is designed to be a LEED building (Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design), the first of its kind in Sault Ste. Marie. The LEED system rewards building design on a points system that rates bulidings as LEED bronze, silver, gold, to platinum. Buildings are rewarded for meeting 'green' qualifications like maximum parking spaces, number of bike racks, percentage of renewable materials, use of local materials, geothermal heating etc. LEED has been a debatable system of evaluation since its formation, but a very good intention. I won't get in to it here.
For Sault Ste. Marie, this is a great step towards cleaner buildings and a more energy-conscious community. The Soo is already moving towards the three primary renewable energy sources: hydro, wind, and soon a solar collection field, but we sorely lack efficient buildings, under a hazy plume of steel-plant emissions. Having these energy sources is the envy of many northern cities, international cities. It would truly be a great transformation for a northern steel town to be a 'green' city. Who knows, maybe it would actually attract people to want to live in the Soo, countering its horrendous youth drain. Maybe our neighbourly glow-in-the-dark Sudburians might move in.
Back to the animation, you enter into the main foyer, with skylight above, providing passive solar heating, enter the 1812 Gallery, a tribute to the history of the War of 1812 in the Sault area. The theatre, across from the gallery seats 50 people. Leaving the theatre, visitors enter the site to visit the Heritage buildings which will have existing displays, bannock baking, activities etc. Re-enter the visitor centre through the gift shop.
There is no green roof, but don't despair. The roof will harvest rainwater and internally service the building. Solar panels on the roof. The building uses as much wood as possible, the most efficient renewable material available.
Would love to hear your comments.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Architects Win Gold!?
According to a number of sources (mainly trusty old wikipedia, but also the book 'The Forgotten Olympic Art Competition' by Richard Stanton), there used to be an arts category to Olympic competitions up until the middle of the twentieth century. It included literature, music, painting, sculpture, town planning, and architecture! That's right, architecture used to be an Olympic event. Between 1912 and 1948, there were competitions in these artistic categories, with the possibility of winning Olympic gold, silver, and bronze. Imagine that! All of this, the vision of Frenchman Baron Pierre de Coubertin who wanted to combine art and sport, and promote 'athletes' of mind and body. After two cancellations, the Olympics that included de Coubertin's proposal was held in Stockholm in 1912. So, for about 35 years, the competitions were reasonably successful. Eventually a report was made that criticized all the art contestants for being professionals, (and ratings may have been a factor here as well) but in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, the events were derailed.
I guess they would have graded the projects for artistic and technical merit, like in figure-skating for example. Here's an Olympic Gold project in architecture by Jan Wils who designed the 1928 Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam.
Some of the other winning designs are stadiums, pools, circuses for bull-fighting, and sport parks. The closest Olympian to home is John Russell Pope who has designed a number of buildings in Washington D.C. including the Jefferson Memorial and the National Archives as well as the Union Station in Richmond, VA. He won silver for the Payne Whitney Gymnasium at Yale University:
Since the Sydney games, architecture and town planning has advanced as a major help to economic growth, and the image of a nation. Sydney truly set the bar for a modern Olympic game, entertaining the idea of reviving the art events. It revitalized one of the dirtiest brown fields in the world, introduced sustainability to mainstream architecture, and celebrated landscape architecture as a centerpiece.
What an amazing change that would be to include those same categories in Olympic sports today. The games are becoming more and more specialized now, with athletes so focused on one task for four or more years. It seems a little obsessive compulsive (though still awe-inspiring) to do triple axle sow cows for eight years straight. I wonder if athletes who could compete in more than one event, sports and arts, would be revered as another level of Olympian? By now athletes must be considered as professionals so it could be high time to introduce professional artists back in the games! Maybe that's the key to Canada's success at summer games, where our Olympians already need day jobs for lack of government funding -- might as well do art or architecture for coin! And of course, it would take steroids right out of the picture...or would it?
I guess they would have graded the projects for artistic and technical merit, like in figure-skating for example. Here's an Olympic Gold project in architecture by Jan Wils who designed the 1928 Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam.
Some of the other winning designs are stadiums, pools, circuses for bull-fighting, and sport parks. The closest Olympian to home is John Russell Pope who has designed a number of buildings in Washington D.C. including the Jefferson Memorial and the National Archives as well as the Union Station in Richmond, VA. He won silver for the Payne Whitney Gymnasium at Yale University:
Since the Sydney games, architecture and town planning has advanced as a major help to economic growth, and the image of a nation. Sydney truly set the bar for a modern Olympic game, entertaining the idea of reviving the art events. It revitalized one of the dirtiest brown fields in the world, introduced sustainability to mainstream architecture, and celebrated landscape architecture as a centerpiece.
What an amazing change that would be to include those same categories in Olympic sports today. The games are becoming more and more specialized now, with athletes so focused on one task for four or more years. It seems a little obsessive compulsive (though still awe-inspiring) to do triple axle sow cows for eight years straight. I wonder if athletes who could compete in more than one event, sports and arts, would be revered as another level of Olympian? By now athletes must be considered as professionals so it could be high time to introduce professional artists back in the games! Maybe that's the key to Canada's success at summer games, where our Olympians already need day jobs for lack of government funding -- might as well do art or architecture for coin! And of course, it would take steroids right out of the picture...or would it?
Ermatinger Clergue Visitor Centre
Just completed the promotional video for the E-CNHS Visitor Centre. The deadline has shifted a little, so I still don't want to post the video until the formal viewing. In the meantime, here are some still images of the rendered model.
A bit of history of the buildings I've been modeling, from the City of Sault Ste. Marie website:
The Ermatinger•Clergue National Historic Site consists of two of the oldest stone buildings northwest of Toronto surrounded by period gardens. The first building, the Ermatinger Old Stone House, is restored to depict the domestic and professional life of Charles Oakes Ermatinger and other prominent residents and visitors of the House between 1808 and 1870 reflecting the nationally recognized historic aspects of the House. The second building, the Clergue Blockhouse, was relocated to the Site in 1996, and was the home of Francis Hector Clergue from 1894 - 1908.
Within the Ermatinger Old Stone House, staff and volunteers collect, preserve, research, house, exhibit and interpret artifacts that illustrate the 1808 - 1870 time period. The stories steeped in stone are presented through interpretive panels, interactive displays, and period rooms. In the attached Summer Kitchen Interpretive Centre, hands on demonstration and programming depict the daily life of the early 1800’s.
The Clergue Blockhouse is restored to the time when Francis Hector Clergue used the building as his residence and as the hub from which he directed his growing business empire (1894 – 1908). Interpretation of the Blockhouse, its link to the fur trade, the North West Company (1819) and the life of F. H. Clergue are presented through the use of interpretive panels, and interactive displays.
A bit of history of the buildings I've been modeling, from the City of Sault Ste. Marie website:
The Ermatinger•Clergue National Historic Site consists of two of the oldest stone buildings northwest of Toronto surrounded by period gardens. The first building, the Ermatinger Old Stone House, is restored to depict the domestic and professional life of Charles Oakes Ermatinger and other prominent residents and visitors of the House between 1808 and 1870 reflecting the nationally recognized historic aspects of the House. The second building, the Clergue Blockhouse, was relocated to the Site in 1996, and was the home of Francis Hector Clergue from 1894 - 1908.
Within the Ermatinger Old Stone House, staff and volunteers collect, preserve, research, house, exhibit and interpret artifacts that illustrate the 1808 - 1870 time period. The stories steeped in stone are presented through interpretive panels, interactive displays, and period rooms. In the attached Summer Kitchen Interpretive Centre, hands on demonstration and programming depict the daily life of the early 1800’s.
The Clergue Blockhouse is restored to the time when Francis Hector Clergue used the building as his residence and as the hub from which he directed his growing business empire (1894 – 1908). Interpretation of the Blockhouse, its link to the fur trade, the North West Company (1819) and the life of F. H. Clergue are presented through the use of interpretive panels, and interactive displays.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Ermatinger Old Stone House Light Study
A short teaser of the 2:25 minute video I just completed for the Ermatinger Old Stone House National Historic Site Proposed Visitor Centre Promotional Package. (Longest title ever, yeesh).
Video rendered in Sketchup, exported into Artlantis.
Video rendered in Sketchup, exported into Artlantis.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Ermatinger Old Stone House
Currently working on a digital rendering of the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site, Sault Ste. Marie, ON. Working with Chris Tossell Architect, I'm composing a video as part of a promotional package. More details to follow (with respect to confidentiality), but here are some process images so far.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Thoughts on Sustainability and Green Things
A distinction: "Green" and "Sustainable". "Green" is a techno-scientific view of architecture popularized for the purpose of a new form of consumption. It is a recent term that emerged out of the affordable production of efficient building systems (e.g. wind turbines, solar panels, LED lights etc). These are objects or components that increase a building's efficiency and output and reduce one's carbon footprint. "Green" has little consideration to historical or human dimensions, compared to the notion of sustainability which is inclusive of so many more factors. A building can be green, but not sustainable.
[Image courtesy of Recyclingsupermarket.com]
Sustainability is an ancient concept. More than energy efficiency, it is a concept of well-being. Sustainability requires human and ecological well-being in tandem as one organism.
A sustainable building is one that goes beyond its energy-efficient trinkets to the holistic perspective of integrating its inhabitants into a happy community which is the basis of a prosperous society. A sustainable building is one that meets energy efficiency by default and surpasses this requirement by contributing to an economic, socio-cultural, and environmentally friendly micro-city that is integrated into a larger network. A sustainable community includes jobs that support a mixed income residency, promotes local culture, uses efficient public transportation, pedestrian friendly streets, promotes local industry, accessible education and historical sensitivity. A sustainable architecture is one that fits into this complex network of relationships that at the very heart of things contributes to building a community that will be happy and respective of its built and ecological environment. A building that is not respected or cared for --green or not-- is energy wasted.
A sustainable building will outlast one generation, have the flexibility to be modified, and reused in other buildings as spoils. Consider the analogy: "If your father's axe blade is broken and you replace it, but then the handle breaks and that is also replaced, is it the same axe?" The history and meaning of the axe is retained even if the physical pieces have expired and been replaced. I believe it is the same axe if this sustainable condition exists. A non-sustainable use of the axe (or building) would be to discard and simply buy a new one, erasing the history of the object in favour of a new consumer product. Rather than being a fixed thing, a sustainable architecture is continually adjusting to meet the social and economic needs of its residents while preserving the environment's ability to support it.
It is increasingly common to see high-profile buildings (e.g. all of the towers listed on one of my previous posts) decked out with all the eco-bells and whistles such as wind-turbines, solar panels etc which are highly photographic and sexy in magazines, but in reality tends to do all the damage of gentrification or modernist tabula rasa, meaning destroying sustainable micro-communities in favour of irrespective development.
Architectural offices that claim they do sustainable design will have a hard time producing a single image of a sustainable building. "Green" architects on the other hand will have a portfolio full of wind turbines and glossy green products.
Though it seems to be the solution to our environmental crisis, "Green Architecture" can be as superficial as buildings painted green and are not sustainable from a social perspective. Sustainable architecture is the essential goal.
::Green Skyscraper of Mumbai
::Halifax One of Canada's Most Sustainable Cities
[Image courtesy of Recyclingsupermarket.com]Sustainability is an ancient concept. More than energy efficiency, it is a concept of well-being. Sustainability requires human and ecological well-being in tandem as one organism.
A sustainable building is one that goes beyond its energy-efficient trinkets to the holistic perspective of integrating its inhabitants into a happy community which is the basis of a prosperous society. A sustainable building is one that meets energy efficiency by default and surpasses this requirement by contributing to an economic, socio-cultural, and environmentally friendly micro-city that is integrated into a larger network. A sustainable community includes jobs that support a mixed income residency, promotes local culture, uses efficient public transportation, pedestrian friendly streets, promotes local industry, accessible education and historical sensitivity. A sustainable architecture is one that fits into this complex network of relationships that at the very heart of things contributes to building a community that will be happy and respective of its built and ecological environment. A building that is not respected or cared for --green or not-- is energy wasted.
A sustainable building will outlast one generation, have the flexibility to be modified, and reused in other buildings as spoils. Consider the analogy: "If your father's axe blade is broken and you replace it, but then the handle breaks and that is also replaced, is it the same axe?" The history and meaning of the axe is retained even if the physical pieces have expired and been replaced. I believe it is the same axe if this sustainable condition exists. A non-sustainable use of the axe (or building) would be to discard and simply buy a new one, erasing the history of the object in favour of a new consumer product. Rather than being a fixed thing, a sustainable architecture is continually adjusting to meet the social and economic needs of its residents while preserving the environment's ability to support it.
It is increasingly common to see high-profile buildings (e.g. all of the towers listed on one of my previous posts) decked out with all the eco-bells and whistles such as wind-turbines, solar panels etc which are highly photographic and sexy in magazines, but in reality tends to do all the damage of gentrification or modernist tabula rasa, meaning destroying sustainable micro-communities in favour of irrespective development.
Architectural offices that claim they do sustainable design will have a hard time producing a single image of a sustainable building. "Green" architects on the other hand will have a portfolio full of wind turbines and glossy green products.
Though it seems to be the solution to our environmental crisis, "Green Architecture" can be as superficial as buildings painted green and are not sustainable from a social perspective. Sustainable architecture is the essential goal.
::Green Skyscraper of Mumbai
::Halifax One of Canada's Most Sustainable Cities
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
NORDHAVNEN, COPENHAGEN: THE SUSTAINABLE CITY OF THE FUTURE
A fellow graduate student and I are attempting this design competition as an elective for this term. There is a lot of opportunity to learn about sustainable communities, urban planning, transportation, economics, social development, and issues like globalization, urbanization, and gentrification.
Open international ideas competition
Competition period: 27 May to 26 September 2008
Final date for submission of questions: 4 August 2008
Questions and answers will be uploaded to this website
There is no deadline for registration.
Open international ideas competitionCompetition period: 27 May to 26 September 2008
Final date for submission of questions: 4 August 2008
Questions and answers will be uploaded to this website
There is no deadline for registration.
CPH City and Port Development has launched an open international ideas competition for the Northern Harbour in Copenhagen, a new urban development area with room for 40,000 residents and 40,000 staff in buildings with a total floor area of three to four million square metres.
The vision for this unique site, which features waterfronts on three sides, is to create a dynamic, lively and sustainable city district with diverse, effervescent life and room for a broad mix of residents and enterprises.
The competition is open to everyone, but is in particular aimed at urban planners, architects, landscape architects and traffic planners, who are very welcome to collaborate with experts in special fields, eg sustainability.
Total prize money amounts to DKK 3 million. The jury can select between one and five winners of the competition. If more than one winner is selected, the winners will be invited to negotiations with CPH City and Port Development about adjustments/improvements to their entries so that the assessment panel can select the final winner. If CPH City and Port Development decides to continue work on the basis of the winning entry, such work will be carried out in collaboration with the winning entrant.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Photos from New Brunswick
A slideshow of our trip out east. Watch a much better slideshow by clicking here. At the Picasa website, click on slideshow.
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