Soka-Bau Green Roof Case Study - SCHL

More documents

Recommendations

Info

2 Design Description General The project’s primary goal was to create optimal environmental conditions (for example, climate, lighting, energy) for the building occupants. The architect and landscape architects thoroughly analysed the site and the potential effects of sun, shade, wind and other climatic variables on the building. The analysis led to special design solutions that used planting structure to attain optimal conditions for natural light and ventilation, solar shading and passive air conditioning. The site includes both extensive- and intensive-green roof elements. Figure 2 shows the main building components of Soka-Bau (labelled A–D). The backbone of the new building is a ground-level concourse (A), on which are perched four overhanging office blocks (B). East of the concourse is an underground parking structure and to the west, several underground cisterns. The large building to the south (C), with enclosed courtyards is the renovated former administrative building. The small building (D) at the southern-most end of the site is a kindergarten. Extensive green roofs Figure 2: Schematic site plan Extensive-green roofs cover the upper levels of the office blocks (B), as well as the renovated building (C) and the kindergarten (D). They are not accessible to the public and cannot be seen by the building occupants. These green roofs serve ecological functions, such as retaining stormwater and fostering urban biodiversity. Like all green roofs, they also help to extend the life of the waterproof membrane by providing protection from UV radiation, temperature extremes and mechanical damage.
The design consists of gentle furrows placed diagonally to the building. The substrate is 10 cm (4 in.) deep in the valleys and 15 cm (6 in.) deep at the ridges. The valleys are planted with sedum and other low-growing plants. The ridges support slightly larger plants, such as iris, wildflowers, grasses and aromatic herbs. A total of 15,000 bulbs were added between the plants and several moss species established themselves voluntarily. A weather station on one upper roof measures climate variables, including rainfall and wind speed. A central computer stores and analyses data, and the rainfall data automatically controls the irrigation system. In high winds, the light louvres on the building facades are automatically stabilized. Intensive green roofs The boxwood bands, courtyards and terraces are all intensive green roofs and were detailed as shown below. Intensive green roofs employ deeper growing plants, which support larger root systems. Boxwood bands Figure 3: Schematic section—elevation Curvilinear bands of boxwood are located atop the connecting concourse between the office blocks. This area is prone to air turbulence and the swirling boxwood hedges reduce the effects of the turbulence. The spiralling pattern punctuated with roses is the designer’s representation of turbulence and appears like arabesque filigree when viewed from the offices above. The idea was conceived when the landscape architect collaborated with a specialist from Great Britain, who tested the building and the plant structures in the wind channel. The preliminary architectural design proposed curved corners for the office blocks, which would have effectively reduced the wind channel, but cost constraints forced shelving of the design. As Figure 6 shows, from the air Soka-Bau is distinguished from surrounding buildings by the imaginative plant patterns on its roofs. 3
Page 1: i nnovative buildings Soka-Bau Gree
Page 5 and 6: Other types of greening Groves and
Page 7 and 8: Irrigation All the roofs have drain
Page 9 and 10: components had to be completely rem

Soka-Bau Green Roof Case Study - SCHL

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?