Page 19 - September 2015 Digital Construction Opportunities

COVER STORY regeneration, and promoting the use of important for sustainability. access to critical transportation functions. renewable resources (solar energy, wind Facade and Opening Technology: Day Te insertion of new public open spaces, energy, biomass energy). lighting and shading are usually the key the addition of varieties of public use, and 5. Flexibility and Adaptability- A high- aspects to façade design for typical green the connection to public circulation routes rise building needs to respect its users buildings. Te façade covers over 90 to 95 into tall structures can allow city life to and meet their needs now, and in the per cent of the external building surface area fow efectively through otherwise dense future. in a high-rise building. Tus, the energy gain environments. Te ultimate efciency of 6. Toxicity- A high-rise building needs to or loss for a high-rise building depends very such high-rise building projects comes with create a healthy indoor environment. much upon the materiality and technology the connection to transport networks and 7. Response to Site and Surrounding- employed in the façade treatment. even adjacency to major transport hubs. A high-rise building needs to use Orientation and Walls: Skyscrapers are Degree of porosity can also naturally lend a minimum amount of land, and strongly infuenced by external temperature, a measure of human scale, mitigating some integrate well with the adjacent built especially sunlight. Building orientation of the psychological challenges of occupying environment. hence is widely important for energy mega scale buildings. Te aesthetic efect 8. Comprehensiveness- A high-rise survival. of unmitigated mega-masses can otherwise building needs to demonstrate a Harvesting Wind Energy: Wind is a become a deterrent to the happy acceptance holistic approach to address the renewable energy source which can be of dense living. Porosity becomes a natural interdependency of the building and advantageously tapped at higher altitudes. enabler of efcient density. the environment The energy resource can be potentially In conclusion the design principles should used at high-rises where the speed of wind be the starting point for a new vernacular for KEY STRATEGIES FOR TALL GREEN is considerably large. tall rise buildings – a language concerned BUILDINGS– A wind turbine can be installed at the body with creating – Harnessing Solar Energy: Technologies or high altitudes of skyscrapers to generate • Interesting tall building forms, beyond related to solar energy harnessing, conversion and produce the necessary power for the the glass box. and distribution are divided into active and building. • Tall buildings that are rooted both passive methods, based on their application Urban Connect: As the skyscraper matures physically and environmentally into and use type. into a building type, its role in actively specifcs of place. Structure and Material Preferences: At connecting to, and reinforcing, major • Tall buildings that are responsive to the frst sight it is hard to relate sustainability threads of urban fabric become increasingly environmental challenges of tomorrow to the structure of a high-rise building. important. Te creation of public spaces – that are future ready However, steel and reinforced concrete inside of, and adjacent to high-rise buildings • Tall buildings that cater for more buildings are typically the materials of allows for signifcant additions to the public open, communal, recreational spaces choice. In addition, the core provides realm, facilitating better connections pushing social sustainability on an structural stability and its positioning is between varied uses, providing needed urban scale. u sEPTEMBER 2015|construction opportunities 19