LIGHT HOUSE
CONCEPT :
The commission for a "sun shelter", as set out in the competition program, suggests a dual purpose. On the one hand, it was intended to provide a quality waiting area for Concordia University students. On the other, it's about using solar energy as a means of raising awareness of contemporary climate issues, and possibly stimulating discussion on the subject. Thus, our approach lies less in the search for energy performance and more in the expression of physical principles within a sensitive and functional architecture. To this end, our research has led us to the stepped lens, as first theorized by Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon (1748) and subsequently put to use by Augustin Fresnel (1819), primarily in the construction of lighthouses. It is thus possible to concentrate light energy towards a precise point (Buffon) or to diffuse, from the focus, a light source of limited intensity over an immensely greater distance than would otherwise be possible (Fresnel). Derivatives of this physical principle are still used today, notably in large-scale power generation (solar towers) and lithography. We see the principle of energy concentration as conveying a "low-tech" vision that can help demystify the concept of solar energy. To this end, the proposed device features a "focus", a translucent sphere displaying accumulated solar energy in real time. Like the Fresnel, the system is reversible: it can concentrate energy from outside to inside (day), and then diffuse it from inside to outside (night), in proportion to the amount of energy accumulated. In this way, the shelter becomes a focal point for the whole area, while providing a convivial local gathering place.
Located at the end of Sherbrooke Street, the site is an important hub of activity in the city's west end. History tells us that even the First Nations coveted this strategic point, conveniently located on the edge of the St-Jacques cliff. In this respect, the installation unfolds vertically and illuminates along the artery, like a beacon in the neighborhood.
PUBLIC CONSULTATION :
Our creative approach is based on a desire to raise awareness and put things into perspective. This is why the user plays such an important role in our design. For this project, we mainly used the technique of passive observation. We studied the usual route of a shuttle user, from S.G.W. to Loyola. We were able to observe the comings and goings of a large number of people and study their behavior. This enabled us to draw some conclusions about the future use of the existing shelter, and led us to question the definition of transit spaces adapted to the needs set out in the competition. During our visits, users were also questioned on the subject of redeveloping the existing shelter. Most of the users questioned were unaware of the con¬test, but their discourse was in a common direction: a project dealing with renewable energies and the environment should not neglect a structure that is still functional. That's why we redesigned the existing structure to optimize its use and create a forecourt for the new facility. We also asked questions about the shelter's intended use, in the context of raising awareness. While many people were keen to see the practicality of a loading device, most felt that the priority of such a project lay in the functionality and significance of the shelter. The idea of creating a striking, thought-provoking work seemed to appeal to the majority.
(Competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
This project has a sculptural quality and is minimal in its intervention. Even the way in which the solar technology is used is symbolic in its approach. It seeks to simply upgrade the existing structure. Minimal intervention is required so it is quite feasible to build. It is conceptually successful but too small to fit the criteria of bus shelter with expanded program in off-peak times and to be able to accommodate the extreme weather conditions.
(From jury report)
8 scanned / 8 viewable
- Presentation Panel
- Perspective
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- Site Plan
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