DESIGN PROBLEMS ADDRESSED
Although the five pavilions represent simple and straight-forward buildings programmatically, they must all nevertheless address certain key, fundamental 'design problems' that involve cultural, technical and practical considerations. Our team has developed an integrated design for all of the five, distinct pavilion sites in order to demonstrate a rigorous, pleasing and truly sustainable design methodology. Each of the five pavilions:
- Facilitate cultural activity and promote accessibility with democratic space.
- Synthesize a variety of City and community-specific programmes and functions, within an ecological, cultural, and economic framework.
- Respects existing 'workaday' site conditions while at the same time, transforming them into more meaningful and engaging year-round environments.
- Provide a rational planning and efficient integration of space.
- Each pavilion espouses a sustainably driven and holistic site response.
- Employ a robust envelope to ensure durability and energy efficiency.
- The Architectural expression is keyed specifically through Critically Regional and restrained dynamic modesty.
- Facilitate the integration of public art.
- Address public engagement and safety.
- Use a regionally appropriate material palette and technical execution.
- Use a universal, modular and expandable system across all sites.
DESIGN RATIONALE
Our team's approach to the pavilions is to conceptually minimize the disruption of landscape by establishing a contiguous elevated green roof as if to displace it from the typography below. This roof form and displacement is anchored with a core set of programme components and extends outward providing shelter for the activities below. It is this core that is common to all sites. As the programmes and sites change, the roof form becomes a common unifying element utilizing vernacular materials and elemental construction.
The pavilion building typology rests within the harmonious engagement of nature and building which is rare in a modern city where the urban realm can overwhelm.
As noted, the primary core pavilion houses all functions that are common to all pavilions. The orientation of the sustainable features responds to each site as required to leverage performance.
Through the use of a common palette of concrete, masonry, metals, glass, and wood, materials are used honestly and have been selected for their resilience. The enclosures are composed of concrete masonry and pre finished corrugated metal to provide a tough envelope, thwart vandalism and provide an extended life-cycle. Wood is used on surfaces where warmth and tactility is required, such as counter-tops bench seats and touchable surfaces.
The steel wide flange columns provide a natural colonnade and gallery space that help transition the appropriate edge of the pavilion to directly address the park functions. They are canted and tapered to simultaneously evoke activity and movement as well as provide a lateral stability in an elegant manner. The material is also suggestive of the many vernacular bridge structures found in the North Saskatchewan River Valley.
Finally, the metal columns support an over-arching displaced landscape that unifies the pavilion core functions with site specific programmed elements as required. The roof lightly connects these ancillary elements through clerestory glazing to allow natural light to permeate the majority of each pavilion.
FUNCTIONAL
The rational interpretation of the pavilions begins with the core programme components of congregation, utility, washrooms and shelter. This core becomes the common denominator and anchor for all five pavilions within each of their context. The fundamental move is to key these functions directly with park activities and culture. The programme then is organically derived by each site and tied together architecturally through a contiguous green roof structure.
CRITICALLY REGIONAL
Critical regionalism can best be described as the applied synthesis of a vernacular cultural fabric using modernist, universal, or rational processes. This includes the use of domestic and relevant materials. The pavilions have a clear and definitive connection to their context; while still universally rationalizing the programme and function across all sites. The architecture results in a dynamic modesty tied to a specific site and context.
MODULAR/TRANSLATABLE
The universality of regionalist principles extends beyond the programme to include the modular construction and the re-use of shipping containers to accommodate infinite variants of site and programme.
The pavilion is a flexible system of repeatable parts that can be adapted to specific programmatic requirements and future re-purposing. The entire building has been proportioned into a 915 mm grid with major structure organized on a 2750mm module & 1220 mm x 2440mm around the dimensions of the shipping containers. The shipping containers are used as storage rooms minimizing the need for new constructed space; and they also function as column and lateral support for lower side of the sheltering roof.
The roof form extends over these repeatable parts to ground these elements as part of the pavilions. This also allows for a rich public engagement and modulation of facades. Finally the scale for the pavilions is designed specifically for a pedestrian and user scale. Engagement within these pavilions allows for a transition from the intimate building scale to the scale of the field or activity.
TECTONIC RESOLUTION
The detailing of these pavilions builds from the clarity of the elements and programme. The forms are resolved and detailed in a pragmatic and efficient manner. The core materials are expressed and differentiated. This is particularly true in the connection of the disparate elements under the contiguous roof. The tectonic alignment of materials, masses at the micro-level, as well as the spatial clarity, and connection to the site are linked uniquely to each pavilion.
SITE LINKAGES
As an extension to the tectonic alignment, each pavilion is tied to the site specifically, through programme, orientation, sustainability, the massing and roof form. Where possible the enhancement of pedestrian and user engagement is paramount. Circulation views and access are maintained and facilitated.
SITE SPECIFIC RESPONSES
With skating, and cross country skiing in the winter and the opportunity for bike storage in the summer, Victoria Park is the consummate Canadian pavilion-in-the-park. The snow clearing for the ice rink provides an opportunity to engage with the pavilion, and it becomes integral to the massing. The building becomes a barrier to the elements, and the interstitial space between functions under the green roof becomes a gracious entryway to the rink and adjacent activities. Finally the building and arcade sets the pavilion as a stadium, allowing spectators to connect with ice and shelter.
DESCRIPTION OF DESIGN SOLUTION
Sustainability
LEED Sliver standards can readily be achieved with the current design, however, it is hoped that for no additional capital cost, a holistic sustainable approach can push the pavilion's ecological profile further and minimize their ecological footprint. The use of these pavilions is transitory and intermittent at times, while at other times it is intense and continual. The sustainable approach must accommodate the nature of this use and allow the pavilions to live and breathe 'naturally' and with less mechanized and energy intensive means.
The pavilion core, is the sustainable heart for all the facilities, responding to each site directly by its' orientation, solar access, shelter, and ventilation.
Features
Storm Water Rate and Quantity Control
The combination of the Green roof and Cistern collection will allow the pavilions to have a holistic water management system. Beyond minimizing run-off and reducing the rate, the water that is collected, can be used specifically as irrigation for landscaping and grey water within the washrooms, precluding the need for any potable water in the pavilions.
Energy
With a combination of a stout envelope, 65% -35% wall-to-glazing ratios, low emissivity double glazed windows, natural ventilation, solar hot water systems, and photo-voltaic panels; the pavilions can supplement their energy requirements to a great degree.
Additionally, the central chimney in the core of each pavilion rises as a mass that promotes natural stack effect and ventilation through the active functions on the chimney. That is, the ventilation of warm air at the top portion of the stack allows operable windows at grade to promote fresh air intake. This chimney frames the solar water array and the photo-voltaic panels, to provide supplementary energy. These can be tied to the building management system (BMS) to regulate the ventilation in summer and winter months at the top of the stack.
Given the nature of their occupancy, the pavilions should allow for a more passive means to heating ventilating and cooling. Depending on pavilion events, spaces can be tempered rather than heated to a mid-rise office standard. Finally the BMS can be programmed to accommodate a "low" or "no" occupancy scenario.
Materials
The use of regional and vernacular materials is not only a necessity for an ecological standpoint but from a cultural/historic context. Each material is expressed honestly in the architecture. The material must be harvested locally, and "of" the place. Additionally, the materials selected are durable.
The pavilions will use the steel with a high recycled content, FSC wood and low VOC composite wood products, & high fly-ash concrete.
One of the most salient recycling features is the adaptive savage and re-use of shipping containers/vessels for use within the modular form and under the contiguous roof.
The materials are durable and timeless; and used in a cost effective & repetitive manner that respects their proportions and natural structural capabilities. This also creates a dynamic modesty through subtle rotation of columns (lateral bracing) and orienting building components to the sun.
Public Art
The building acts as a canvas. The colonnade and long facades that supports the displaced landscape provides a natural gallery space to integrate public art. This transitional zone between the functional pavilion and the park activities, allows for art installations of various media such as painting, sculpture, lighting systems, murals, and mosaic tile.
EDMONTON DESIGN COMMITTEE PRINCIPLES
Urbanism
The pavilion defines the boundaries of, celebrates the function, and integrates itself naturally into the existing site. It is both a stadium and a gateway to the ice surface.
Design Excellence
The design strength and ethic for all the pavilion designs rests in the regional and contextual responses using a restrained repertoire of Architectural elements. These are, the roof, the core, the unitized spaces below, and the gallery.
Scale, Connections
All pavilions strive to maintain and strengthen urban connections, pedestrian linkages, and to transition the user for the human scale to the field scale through the unified, and modular roof structure.
Context
Although each pavilion uses similar Architectural elements, each differ in its response on many levels including massing, sitting, orientation of core, and linkages.
Technical Design Solutions
As per the discussion on sustainability, the quality of the envelope must be high to leverage any sustainable design principles. The envelope itself is composed of a pressure equalized rain-screen cladding with high insulation value along with high quality thermally broken window frames and double glazed low emissivity glass.
As described above, the roof itself is a non-accessible extensive green roof complete with a light weight engineered soil and site specific sedum selection. The lightweight green roof allows for a structure that utilizes an open web steel joist with composite metal decking. In addition to storm water management control, the roof provides a reduced heat island effect, & some additional summer time insulation to keep the spaces below cool. The overhang allows for substantial protection from the elements while still maintain solar access and ventilation. The roof blocks high summer-time sun while allowing day light in winter months.
Finally, as a public building, the materiality must be made to withstand extended public use. This also allows for less intensive ongoing maintenance costs as well as an extended life-cycle.
Capital Cost
Given efficient modular construction, the minimization of circulation and tight programming, the passive mechanical and electrical approach, and the judicious use of durable materials in their raw and natural state, it is anticipated that the pavilions as designed will meet the current capital cost budget outlined in the RFP. Additionally, it is anticipated that any type of up-front sustainable investment would be recouped on a life-cycle basis.
(From competitor's text)
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