The ANSI Design
Exhibition of QUT Student work
ANSI challenges design conventions

ANSI design concept

The proposed sustainability learning centre will demonstrate a whole new typology of architecture that creates net positive ecological and social impacts. A lightweight, demountable space frame structure supports a ‘green space wall’, composed of double skin modules. These modules create a variety of ecosystem goods and services (‘eco-services’) and environmental control functions. The modules not only heat, cool and ventilate the building, but produce clean energy, air, water and soil. The biospheres and ecosystem services are integrated with the structure itself. Depending on the orientation and other functions, the exterior green space wall would contain:

• Vertical landscapes for water and air purification
  
• Atriums (for solar collection and social functions) that ‘deconstruct’ the exterior
  
• Louvers, blinds and/or pergola structures to support vines and provide shade
  
• Mirrors, light shelves and/or skylights to direct light into the interior
  
• Habitats for small animals (eg frogs, beetles, lizards) that can be viewed from inside
  
• Sail and shade cloths designed for circulating cool air as well as shade
  
• Solar stacks and shower towers integrated into the vertical truss
  
• Bird and possum nests, fish ponds and butterfly breeding areas
  
• Pipes for exterior fountains (cooling and fire prevention) in the vertical truss
  
• Internal Trombe walls (from local construction rubble) for thermal rock storage
  
• Vertical composters and worm farms that are visible to building users
  
• Living machines to treat grey water (and even sewage) in sealed modules
  
• Light weight vertical wind turbines integrated with vertical structural truss
  
• Corridors, external walkways and/or decks in some areas

As well as addressing the problems of typical buildings, this new design concept challenges ‘best practice’ green design in many ways. For example:

1. Reduced externalities v. positive impacts:

Green buildings reduce resource consumption relative to conventional buildings, but still generate negative impacts on the surrounding environment. For example, many so-called ‘green’ double skin buildings only reduce operating energy, yet create dead spaces and increase the urban heat island effect.

ANSI’s green space wall creates an ecological envelope that wraps around and defines a diversity of interior and exterior atriums and courtyard spaces. It will ‘give back’ to nature and remediate the degraded landscape while generating surplus eco-services. Urban cooling can be achieved on very hot days by, for example spray mists from the pipe trusses, fed by rainwater stored on the roof or under the building.

2. Substitution v. natural systems:

Green buildings still create sterile environments that separate humans from nature, and often replace natural systems with high maintenance, mechanical equipment. Most green features are still usually ‘add ons’ and single function. Even some ‘living walls’ only provide a couple of functions, like air and water filtering.

ANSI’s exterior structure would support many functional elements synergistically. In combination, the different modules could generate a wide range of ecological functions and increase the total biodiversity of the site. If the embedded sensors indicate that a module is not performing (given the experimental nature of design for eco-services) it can be easily replaced.

3. Carbon neutrality v. ecosystem integrity:

Green buildings seldom support the ecological health and ecosystem integrity of the surrounding area. Reducing the negative future impacts of what might otherwise have been done is not a net gain. Sometimes, green building ‘claims’ count mere ‘offset’ negative impacts through substitute measures like car pools or green energy payments.

ANSI’s proposed site is adjacent to a major wetland that now provides habitat for migratory species. The project would expand the wetlands and create a buffer between the protected area and the future high-density developments planned for the nearby area. Portions of the buildings would support native landscaping, making the building almost invisible. The landscape will flow through the building.

4. Add on v. Integrated:

Green buildings add on environmental design features, rather than fully integrate natural systems with the structure. Wind generators, solar cells, vertical wetlands and the like can therefore add more to costs. Although reducing operating costs, such structures are often also high in embodied energy, water and waste.

ANSI’s biosphere modules are supported (off the ground) by a structural system that is fully integrated with solar stacks, ventilation ducts and light-weight wind generators. The biosphere modules double as an essential part of the wall, as well as providing biodiversity habitat and eco-service functions. The modules could support, for example, aquaponic food production systems where fish fertilize water for the hydroponic plant system.

5. Permanence v. flexibility:

Green buildings aim for permanence and durability, which cumulatively limit the lifestyle and land use options of future generations. Even green buildings change the local ecology for all time and are, for practical purposes, ‘irreversible’. Nonetheless, they will likely end up as (often toxic) land fill, due to changing social and technological forces.

ANSI’s modular but diverse structure could grow, contract and change over time. This ‘reversible’, adaptable structure could be deconstructed and even moved to another location, if necessary. The interior arrangement and living walls can be altered to accommodate changing exhibitions and education programs. The shape of the exterior footprint could also be modified to meet changing functional requirements over time.

6. Terra-forming v. supporting the landscape:

Green buildings often have concrete slabs that compress the soil (a living thing) and eliminate land area from future eco-productive functions. They sit heavily on the land, replacing native ecosystems. They also rely on floods and fires not occurring during the building’s life span.

ANSI’s vertical triangular trusses that support the green space wall modules do not require concrete footings. The whole structure acts as an autonomous space frame that ‘floats’ over the flood plane. Vertical mass is provided by ‘Trombe’ walls in some modules, that can directly heat, cool and ventilate rooms, as well as stabilize temperature swings. Water is stored in expandable pontoons under the building.

7. Style v. experiential interest:

Green buildings try to follow styles suggested by architectural magazines. The idea of ‘invisibility’ is anathema to many developers as they want to compete on the skyline. But to some extent, they all end up looking alike. There is also little visual interest for building users on the inside (other than views) as the interiors are stationary.

ANSI’s floor plates are narrow, and wrap around internal courtyards. The interior plan is a journey that conveys the idea of ‘many pathways’ to sustainability. As some of the walls themselves are biodiversity habitats and micro-zoos, they create visual interest for building users from both inside and outside. The structure also supports vegetation.

8. Health v. human comfort:

Green buildings confuse the human environment with the ecology. They try to apply uniform rules for noise, air quality, lighting and so on, which create artificial, inflexible and one-size-fits all cubicles. More fundamentally, this approach overlooks the needs of the life support system. Replacing the ecological base with green buildings is an unsustainable, terminal process.

ANSI’s indoor/outdoor spaces create a variety of microclimates and opportunities for individual environmental controls. But it also combines social and ecological functions to optimize the use of space and increase the oxygen and natural light for more productive environments. A garden for living, the structural concept enables the natural landscape to flow through, over and under the buildings.

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