Green Buildings [doc]

Presentation on Green Buildings.

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http://www.ziddu.com/download/19758177/ABSTRACT.doc.html

iQuarter / Cartwright Pickard Architects

This riverside high-rise in Sheffield contrasts beautifully with its 19th century neighbors

The brownfield site, which faces the River Don, was previously used for retail and warehousing.

This mixed use scheme provides residential, retail and office accommodation, revitalising a key riverside site in Sheffield

The scheme, is housed in a landmark 16-storey tower, two five-storey apartment buildings and the converted Grade II listed Castle House. The scheme also includes a new riverside walkway, landscaped public space at the centre of the site, and the restoration of the ‘crucible stack’ – a historically significant listed monument.

The materials palette of high quality brick, glass and zinc claddings was selected for ease of maintenance, longevity, and to contrast with the rich colours of the adjacent nineteenth century listed buildings.

Vancover - Canada

Gate Tower Building

One of the most curious building in Japan is the Gate Tower Building in Osaka, Japan. The 5th, 6th and 7th floors of this 16-story office building is occupied by an express highway - passing right through the building. On the building's floor information board on the ground floor, the tenants for the three floors are listed as the Hanshin Expressway. You can’t alight there tough as the elevator skips from the 4th floor to straight to the 8th.

The Gate Tower Building is actually the result of an unusual compromise between the land owner and the Japanese government. The land has been occupied by a wood and charcoal processing company since the early Meiji period, but the gradual move to other sources of fuel resulted in the deterioration of those company buildings. In 1983, the redevelopment of the area was decided upon, but building permits were refused because the highway was already being planned to be built over this land. The property rights' holders refused to give up, and negotiated with the Hanshin Expressway corporation for approximately 5 years to reach the current solution.

Aside from the intrusive highway, business at the Gate Tower Building is almost normal. The highway does not make contact with the building, and a structure surrounding the highway keeps noise and vibration out.

CAUSES OF FAILURE OF FOUNDATIONS IN BUILDINGS

Causes of Foundation Failure in Buildings

Foundation failure can be attributed to several things. Most commonly foundation failure is caused by the movement of expansive and highly plastic soils beneath different sections of the foundation footings. This movement can be in the form of shrinkage, which causes settlement, or expansion, which causes heave. When dry conditions prevail, soils consistently lose moisture and shrink. When moisture levels are high, soils swell. Regardless of the nature of the movement, it will most likely manifest itself in the form of visible cracks in the foundation walls, exterior brick walls, or interior Sheetrock or plaster walls. Officially, any structure movement is known as differential settlement. 

foundation-failure-causes

In addition to expansive soils, subsurface peat, which has a low bearing capacity and deteriorates over time, can also cause differential settlement. Other soil types such as sand and silt also have lower than required bearing capacities.

Poor drainage from yard run-off and gutter downspouts discharging at the base of the foundation are among other causes. Excess moisture around the foundation can cause the soils to become over-saturated and lose “bearing pressure,” or the strength to support weight. When this happens, structures “settle” or sink into the ground.

If soil and water control problems weren’t bad enough, there is also the issue of transpiration. Transpiration is a fancy word for the process of trees and large plantings absorbing the water from the soils beneath and around your home. During an active season, roots extending beneath and around the footings of the house can remove moisture from the soil, causing it to become desiccated. Again, where expansive soils exist this removal of moisture will cause soil shrinkage and settlement. 

Plumbing leaks are another major contributor to foundation settlement. Inundating the foundation with water from your home’s pipes will cause foundation failure, as would poor drainage on the outside.

Poor construction sometimes causes settlement in homes, but only rarely.

Strange Buildings

1) Dancing House

Here’s a building that should really get your attention when walking pass it. The Dancing House is considered as one of the more real controversial buildings in Prague. The Dancing House was actually designed by a great architect from California, which only proves that he had done some type of hallucinogen while designing it.

2) Robot Building

The Bank of Asia is a very famous building in Bangkok. It was made way back in 1985, and it’s robotic appearance is just a symbol of the modernization of banking. It also has the ability to transform into a mega-robot.

3) Ripley’s Building

If you saw this picture for the first time, you’d probably thought that it was hit by a massive earthquake. But it wasn’t. In true fashion of the Ripley Legacy, it was built to reflect the odd 1812 earthquake that measured 8.0 on the rick. The building has now become one of the most photographed in the world because of it.

4) The Wilson Hall

This somewhat modernize building was actually built between 1971 and 1974. It’s unique design gives the Wilson Hall a great sense of structure, and a prominent landmark for the skyline. The building provides big laboratories, offices, and supports space for over 1500 scientists.

6) Hotel Sofitel

This hotel’s unique design was directly inspired by the traditional temples in Japan. The Tokyo Sofitel has over 72 rooms, and 11 suites with 3 non-smoking floors. And 5 meeting rooms that includes high-tech boardrooms.

7) Upside Downer

Take a journey into the unknown with a building called Wonder Works. It’s central Florida’s only upside down attraction. And an amusement park for your mind, and your stoner friends. This odd building has over 100 wacky interactive exhibits for your entire family to experience.

 Crooked House

You know that your looking at a real building right? The Crooked House was built in 2004 as an addition at a popular shopping center, and is a major tourist attraction in Sopot, Poland.