Ted Givens and Rugel Chiriboga from the Durham and DC offices submitted the above entry boards in the Evolo '08 - Skyscraper Architectural Competition this week. 'eVolo is an international organization dedicated to the development of new architectural ideas. It is a forum of discussion towards excellence in design for the XXI Century.' eVolo
As part of our on-going research and emphasize in a holistic approach to design that incorporates sustainable design strategies into all of our projects, we teamed up to pursue the exploration of sustainable ideas in high rise mixed use residential design.
Our theoretical project is based in Jurong East, Singapore. The site benifits from its adjacency to a mass transit line station and beautiful natural lake amenity. It is located between the Chinese garden and a heavy industrial district. Culture, sustainability, and innovation particular to climatic influences in the region were primary drivers for our concept development. We gained inspiration from the Wah Kim orchid, the national flower that pulls water directly from the air. There is inherent beauty in its form, and efficiency in the manner by which the orchid draws sustenance from its environment. This flower became a wonderful source of inspiration in continuing to develop a sustainable strategy for our mixed-use hotel and residential towers.
Our intent is to marry site specific sustainablity strategies with a new interpretation of the vibrant clutter found in the traditional Malay village, and the streamlined efficency of modern Singapore. We seek an organic expression that will provide a stark contrast to the existing architectural landscape. Our heavy use of gardens both in the landscape and in the towers provides a point of departure in a sea of brutalist housing blocks adjacent to our site.
The sustainability strategy for the towers is locally referential and provides for an environmentally inspired cooling and ventilation approach. The tower placements capitalize on the prevailing north winds to provide thru ventilation into the bldg.. The roofs of the modular pod units for the residences utilize a water-reclamation system to capture rainwater, purify it, and use it for cooling and gray water use. Energy for the system is generated by the bldg. integratede photovoltaic cells in the double skin glass facade on the west Facade. Some of the pods have a green roof to assist with cooling and terraces for the residents use. The configuration of the pods also provide shading for the south facades and create dynamic exterior and interior sky gardens capitalizing on climatic influences.
Our intent in to continue to develop these ideas with continuing research and turn this into a viable, real project.
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