Planning Designs for Daylight

By Nicholas Mosher

              Daylighting has been a crucial part of design and it will continue to be a long time from now.  Among other things, it can reduce costs for electricity and heating as well as improve health.  Buildings and houses should capitalize on gathering the most amount of daylight inside.  It is a common thing for buildings to allow in direct sunlight as well because of the cold weather that comes in either parts of the year or for majority of the time.  In a location such as Phoenix, Arizona, the arid climate would not call for direct sunlight to heat the interior space of a building all of the time.  So letting in daylight but not direct sunlight can become a problem when designing around the sun. 

                Capitalizing on letting in daylight can be achieved through very large decisions and smaller ones as well.  On the large scale, strategies should be considered around site selection.  In most cases the architect will not have a say on where the plot of land is located but in those few cases, it is important to analyze the other buildings around it. An example would be where the shadows are being casted throughout the day and year.  After that the orientation of the building is important to study.  By facing the walls and windows the right way, they can let in more light and cast better views as well.  The shaping of the building will help with facing windows the right way and shadows is just as important especially in Phoenix¹.  In the hot sun a shaded place provides the comfort and that is the ideal place where people want to be. 

                On the smaller aspect of designs, obtaining interior daylight can be achieved through a collection of apertures, glazing, shading devices, interior partitions, surface finishes, electric lighting, HVAC systems, and controls¹.  Each one of these can play an important role on letting in and capitalizing on the daylight to make the interiors a more comfortable, warmer and brightened space for people to be in.  Together these can add up to creating the space even more sustainable than just one or two of them alone.  Getting the most of them to work together and fit inside the same building can be challenging.  It is also challenging to still design a building to look aesthetically pleasing with everything mentioned above being a part of it.  That is why the architects, engineers, lighting designers, interior designers and even the curtain wall consultants have to be able to work with and around each other to ultimately provide the client with a beautiful and functional building that can successfully work with and adapt to the sun.  The overall process of finalizing a complex building is a giant circle involving designing, analyzing, integrating, and evaluating¹. 

 

Notes:

1.       Matthew Tanteri. (March 8, 2007). Planning for Daylight. Architecture Lighting Online. http://www.archlighting.com/daylighting/planning-for-daylight.aspx

Wind Towers

By Sufiyanu Momoh

Wind towers are architectural elements rising from homes, used to capture cooler air prevailing at a higher distance from the ground into the interior of the house to cool the house. It is mainly used in residential buildings in the Middle East.

In the United Arab Emirate, almost all the building have air conditioners so the function of the wind towers are no longer needed. These wind towers were essential in times were houses were built out of date palm leaves.  Even though these wind towers are no longer a necessity in most residential houses today, it is considered as a local identity in this area and still used as architecture elements in some buildings.

In a lot of countries around the Middle East these wind towers have been described as wind catchers. It is not known exactly where it was first originated although there has been claims that it was originated in Iran.

These towers traditionally have four openings on four sides with an "X" in the middle which helps channel wind from its prevailing direction down the tower. Air flows down to the interior and acts as an air cooler and flows out through different directions as more air enters from the prevailing wind direction.

In an area without wind, these wind towers function as thermal chimney that uses convection of air heated by passive solar energy. It creates a pressure gradient which allows less dense hot air to travel upwards and escape out the top.  This is also affected by the day-night circle of air, trapping cool air below. The temperature in these area can't drop below the nightly low temperature. This method offered comfortable indoor conditions at zero cost to the environment and the user.

These same techniques for cooling are being used today.  Architecture in the Middle East has matured and changed over time due to its hot climate.

With the advancement of building methods and technologies, these systems have been phased out in favor of mechanical systems consuming large amounts of energy.  Although, this customary method has been developed and applied to up to date equivalents, with substantial success in Europe, where the climate is less susceptible to large warmth variations. The wind towers are designed to match the design of the building, but function in identical way, confining air at high level and delivering to the inhabitants underneath.

The wind tower comprises an interior structure that divides the duct into quadrants, therefore providing a delivery flow irrespective of breeze direction. The residual quadrants are utilized as exhaust chambers for used air just as described above. This method benefits solar-driven internal fans to ensure a consistent stream of ventilated air, and therefore power utilization is zero.

Wind towers have come a long way from what they used to be in the Middle East to this still functioning, cost effective cure to desert heat. they are still being used today, providing a better, more confortable living condition in the arid climate of modern day Iran and the surrounding areas.

Life of a Saluki Architecture Grad Student

By John Svast

Howdy Readers!

Today I want to talk about:

My Computer Crutches

A few weeks ago I was furiously working on my thesis at a speed that sent sparks flying from my keystrokes as I typed and clicked my next masterpiece when all of a sudden my computer shuttered and shutdown.  I went through the steps of an architecture student going through this possible meltdown.

step one… try to turn computer back on again

step two… check my connections and try to turn the computer back on

step three… recheck connections and try to turn computer back on

step four… pick up laptop and inspect with the curiosity of a monkey inspecting a football and try to turn computer back on

step five… panic

...and like that *poof* I had no computer… I sent it to the computer gods ,a.k.a. the computer repair guys in town, and I attempted to live my life as a graduate student with a thesis without a computer.  I was miserable and extraordinarily unproductive.  I tried to read as much as I could to expand my mind on theoretical topics of space, communication, and hegemony.  I attempted to draw glorious diagrams to help explain my complex network of ideas to my grandma.  I attempted to hand draw all of my sections, elevations, site plans, concept sketches, and renderings… I ATTEMPTED all of theses thing.  But what happened?  I froze… I did read a few books, I have a handful of sketches, and I got a big old goose egg of actual building drawings.  You know why?

I needed that computer as my crutch

Last semester I had no issues with this, I had all sorts of hand drawn items at the end of the semester.  But I also had a head full of steam of analysis and cad drawings before I had the confidence to start up my hand drawings.  Hand drawings out of the gate are pretty tough.  I ask myself “you have all these years of experience working on studio work, why didn’t you just start?”

I wish I knew the answer to this...

Well, As of yesterday, I have a shiny new laptop.  

what do I not have?... progress on my thesis.

what is the morale of the story?… learn from Uncle John… Don’t be scared to start without a computer.

Why Did I Decide to Continue My Education at SIU?

By Kayla Fuller

                Time really does fly…. The other day I was thinking back to freshman year when I first moved to Carbondale. I was so excited to experience something new and be hours from home, which I’m sure most of you can relate. Originally I never expected to be homesick but eventually I really began to miss my family and needed to find something to keep me busy.  Southern Illinois University provides students with various opportunities, whether you are extremely outgoing or shy and hesitant, there is something here for you.

                So why did I decide to stay at SIU to continue my education? The professors in the School of Architecture have been extremely beneficial during my education. Many of them are more than willing to assist us with any issues we may encounter. On more than one occasion I have received numerous emails with precedent studies or alternative ideas from a professor.  The relationships that have developed over the years will continue to assist me throughout my career and I hope I can be just as influential for others as my professors have been to me. The diversity of our professors is also beneficial, we all have different learning styles and no matter your strengths or weaknesses there is a faculty member that will be there to assist you.

                During high school I was not very involved, I worked multiple jobs and focused on school. I had a few close friends, but I never would have believed you if you told me I was going to hold leadership positions in organizations on campus or preparing to present part of my thesis research at a national conference.  College has been a time for me to understand myself and realize what I want to achieve. The future of our profession is unknown, during college we may be required to take out loans to afford our education, causing us to develop debt. Everyone plans on finding a job after graduation but this is not always the case. Fortunately for students in the School of Architecture we have many resources to turn to. 

                Networking is a major influence in your future career, if you know the right people you will have no problem finding a position. The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and Habitat for Humanity are just a few opportunities available to students to start developing a network of connections and gain valuable information about their future career. Another resources that we have here at the School of Architecture is Norm Lach, he has many connections all over the country. If you are more withdrawn and hesitant, don’t let fear hold you back. The worst thing you can do is allow fear to hold you back from your true potential. Get to know your professors and develop a relationship with them. Also, your fellow classmates can aid you. If you are stuck in a rut on a project or so overwhelmed and have no idea what you should do next, throw your ideas at them, they will provide you with ideas you may never have considered before.

                Southern Illinois has so much to offer to the students of SIU, the School of Architecture will provide you with quality education and connections for future opportunities. The area itself is beautiful, you are surrounded by natural parks and many recreational opportunities if you need an escape from class. When you are considering options for your future endeavors, think about what you want to surround yourself in. For those of you choosing where to attend graduate school, remember to make sure you are going to be happy and that you can get the most out of your experience.

Ethically Speaking

By Phil Mevert

            The Architecture profession and its associated fields are very unique compared to other businesses, especially with regards to ethics. With architecture alone there are two organizations, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) each have their own code of ethics.  One of the biggest differences with Architecture versus a typical business is that the clients/customer typically is not the only affected by our final product. Also, the concern is with the health and safety of the client and anyone else who may occupy the designed space(s).  A great example of a test of ethics in the field of Architecture is the Fifty-Nine Story Crisis. While the design of the Citicorp Center in New York City was built to code, a change to the structural connection during construction increased the potential for structural failure of the building during strong winds. This created quite a few ethical dilemmas for the structural engineer who designed the buildings structure.

One of the first ethical issues that arises, and really brought about even more ethical situations, is when a student in engineering calls William LeMessurier who was the structural engineer on the Citicorp Center. The student questioned the design and placement of the columns on the building. Many professionals would question how this could be an ethical issue, in large part because of the arrogance that many have or develop in the profession.  However, based teleological ethics, which deals with the end result of actions, it would be wise to listen to the student and discuss the design with them since they are the future of the profession. This is exactly what LeMessurier did. LeMessure took the time to discuss and explain to the odd placement of the columns on the building, the reasoning behind it and how it does indeed work structurally. Both the AIA and NCARB in their ethics touch on this matter in that professionals with certain knowledge should pass that knowledge on to others for the betterment of the profession.

            After LeMessurier talked with the student, he re-evaluated his design by calculating the diagonal wind loads on the structure with welded connections. An ethical dilemma surfaced on day when LeMessurier referenced the Citicorp Center to solving the structure on a new design. One of LeMessurier’s coworkers informed him that on the Citicorp Center during construction, that the beams and column joints had bolted connections substituted in lieu of welded connections. This substitution was allowed based on the codes that were in place at the time. This new information worried LeMessurier and when he went home that night and ran the calculations with the bolted connections the structure showed a higher percentage of failure in an extremely strong storm with high winds hitting the corners. Since the code only looked at straight on winds the building still met the code requirements with the bolted connections, however, as the design profession has the responsibility of the health and safety of those who occupy the designs. It would be easy to just look past the change in structural connection and say it met code and be done with it, but ethics do not stop with just meeting code requirements. Teleological ethics would suggest that LeMessurier inform the Citicorp executives about the potential failure of the structure. LeMessurier, after contemplating all his options, decided that he should test his theories of the failure and the results that welded connections would yield.  The test confirmed the failure issue as well as the proposed fix to the issue. LeMessurier then took the proper steps to informing Citicorp of the issue and how to fix this. Both the AIA and NCARB have in their ethics documents to do what is best for the client and the community. LeMessurier showed great ethics in his stepping forward to admit his mess-up. 

My Experiences in Graduate School Thus Far

Joshua Fowler here,

                I would like to speak just to the general notion of my experiences in graduate school thus far. It has been such a long road it seems, albeit has only been two semesters. I am ultimately glad I made the decision to stay here at Southern Illinois University for graduate school. Although I had the choice between the University of Michigan's Taubman College and here, ultimately it came down to finances. While Michigan wears a prestigious crown in regards of architecture graduate schools and has incredible resources, Southern Illinois University provides a very similar education for a fraction of the price. I can justify this logic now based on the notion that during graduate school I have discovered that my education should be in my own hands, my thesis regards my interests and at this point it almost seems as though the schooling is a formality to the work I am doing. It is because of this I chose to stay a Southern Illinois University, because I see my education in my own hands, and I am lucky enough to have enough faculty here that support what I want to do.

                The only critiques I could possibly give about Southern's graduate architecture school is the limited resources (however I see this as a part of the design process challenge) and that while the program is only about 1.5 years, this quick transition has left little time, in my mind, to fully and completely understand what I wanted to do as a thesis. I do wish I had more time to research what I really wanted to do, but regardless I am happy with the way that my thesis is headed. It has basically transitioned from focusing on computational design as an end and realized it needs to be the means to the  end, and the end is to create a fully functioning responsive skin/wall  that responds  to parameters being established currently. Ultimately I contemplate a new divergence of building wall systems that could and would take in weather data from weather stations, seismic data from seismic data centers, etc pertaining to a variety of environmental conditions, and based on the input data of these national weather stations, the skin/wall would adapt itself for protection primarily in the instance of oncoming natural disasters. For example the skin/wall from a structural standpoint could respond to the earthquake conditions by adjusting its fluidity thereby absorbing the energy and dissipating it. Or in the issue of a Tornado, the skin/wall could respond by adjusting apertures to allow for better interior and exterior pressures as well as adjust itself to mitigate destruction from flying debris. A different skin/wall system could be developed in accordance with the common natural disasters that occur in a given region. These systems could have the potential to also be retrofitted to a pre-existing structure, implemented as a hybrid system with more traditional construction techniques, or function as new stand-alone system. Much like how humans sometimes flinch in order to protect themselves, our structures and built environment could begin to protect itself and therefore the lives of the people within. 

Community Flooding

By Isaac Grayson

The convergence point of three tributaries flowing out of the Allegany Mountains marks the beginning of the Ohio River. The river flows east growing in strength and breath. Fifty percent of the U.S. population resides along is coast and waterways, with this number expected to rise.^[1] In conjunction with this floods are the United States most frequent disaster.^[2] The current strategy for keeping communities safe from the rising waters involves trying to overpower the river through force. With the use of levees and dams to restrict the rivers flow, and flood walls to hold back the waters as they threaten property. This thesis will explore how to develop resilient river communities that more passively address the natural flow, and commonly thought of as aggressive, nature of the river.

            People have always lived/utilized the flood plains. Euro-Americans came to the river valleys and settled in the fertile flood plains with no intentions to move^[3]. These new citizens of the river valley invested in agriculture and later built industrial cities. Bringing this area into the modern age of industrialization brought with it the threat of living with disaster. What is most difficult for river communities to deal with is the balance between being near enough to reap the most benefit from the river but far enough away to avoid the high-water.

            Not all disasters can be avoided. The goal of this thesis is not to create a design solution that is impervious to all forms of disaster, not even a solution that is capable of withstanding all levels of flooding. The goal is to address the issues of flooding that come up multiple time a year, as part of the rivers natural cycle. Engineering design solutions that can be implemented within the current context of Midwest cities, to bring in more nature by encouraging nature to cycle the way it was intended to.

www.courierpress.com/photos/galleries/2011/mar/13/tri-state-flooding/18340/

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[1] Watson, Donald, and Michele Adams. Design for flooding: architecture, landscape, and urban design for resilience to flooding and climate change. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. XX.

[2] Watson, Donald, and Michele Adams. Design for flooding: architecture, landscape, and urban design for resilience to flooding and climate change. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. XV.

[3] Castonguay, Stéphane. "Rivers and Risk in the City: The Urban Floodplain as a Contested Space." In Urban rivers: remaking rivers, cities, and space in Europe and North America. Pittsburgh, Pa.: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2012. 131.