CHAPTER 4: SUSTAINABILITY AS A MEANS FOR RESPONSIVE DESIGN
5.3 EL HUMEDAL (THE WETLAND)
5.3.4 Theoretical underpinning and design considerations
El Humedal was selected as a precedent for its immaculate display of sustainable technological innovation. While phenomenology and place theory is evident in the facility's design, the focus will primarily be on sustainable development.
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• Phenomenology
The site sits in a lush, biodiverse context. To align with the natural setting, the architecture of the research facility merges with its surrounding environment.
Vast open corridors act as social spaces that encourage a direct connection with the natural environment. According to TAAR co- founder Carlos Ruiz, porches serve as a unifying element between rooms that ‘force’ people to generate a bond with the exterior space (Block, 2018).
Similarly, large windows in laboratories and workspaces open the interior room to the external environment. This creates an immersive design experience that enables the user to exist within nature.
The use of natural raw materials significantly influences the phenomenological experience of the design. Local materials f or finishes and fixtures, such as timber and stone, are applied to create a sensory journey. The use of local materials with exposed tectonics demonstrates a built form that is authentically bound to its place.
• Place and Materiality
The facility is a reflection of a place-based design that considers local cultures. The architects of the research centre had stated that the inspiration for the design had come from the Mazahuas people's architecture, who is a pre-Hispanic culture living in Valle de Bravo.
Figure 33: Large windows in research spaces to promote productivity. Source (Gamo, Figure 32: Open corridors enabling as social spaces. Source (Gamo, 2013).
Figure 34: Fixtures and textures imitating natural elements. Source (Gamo, 2013).
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The use of two fundamental principles from the Mazahuas people has been employed for El Humedal. These include wooden pitched roofs for rainwater harvesting, stone walls, and soil bricks to produce thermal mass (El Humedal / TAAR / Taller de Arquitectura de Alto Rendimiento, 2018). However, more contemporary elements drawn from local architecture such as colonial-era patio houses and Mexican plazas were applied for the research units' layout.
The use of responsive architecture can be seen through the stilts and steel beam constructions over the wetland pools and natural land. Many materials are raw, local, or recycled, thus harmless to the environment (El Humedal / TAAR / Taller de Arquitectura de Alto Rendimiento, 2018). Examples of recycled materials are the indoor and outdoor decking, made using plastic fashioned from 100 percent recycled materials.
Local materials such as oak wood and pine were used for the structure's mainframes and roofs.
Similarly, bricks used for walls were made from local volcanic soil, while volcanic rock and terrazzo were used to create flooring and work surfaces.
Figure 35: Wooden roofs adapted from the Mazahuas people. Source (Gamo, 2013).
Figure 36: Roof water harvesting and collection pit. Source (Gamo, 2013).36
Figure 37: Local materiality displayed through architecture. Source (Gamo, 2013).
Figure 38: Stilt foundation to avoid flooding. Source (Gamo, 2013).
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• Sustainability
According to the TAAR, the project is a development that is conscious of the consumed and produced resources. El Humedal was conceived under the no-waste and net-zero principles, which means the structure makes 100% of the resources it needs to operate. Similarly, stemming from the no waste concept, the project intends to generate valuable resources from waste products.
"The common waste conception is flawed because it's perceived as something that we don't want; the challenge was to think of it as a valuable resource. All of this implies a new way of living, understanding our evolutionary potential with nature." (Block, 2018: para.10)
5.3.4.1 Sustainable strategies:
The projects use of innovation and sustainable design is displayed through the following features:
- Recycled & Salvaged Materials: The use of recycled materials further aids the zero-waste concept. Materials are locally sourced or obtained directly from the site. This reduces costs and minimizes impact on people or the environment.
- Bioclimatic Design: Passive design strategies are utilized for cooling and natural daylighting.
These design principles, in turn, lower energy reliance and thereby cost efficiency. The utilization of local materials further maximizes the heating and cooling effects of the built form to ensure thermal comfort during hot and cold months.
- Sewage Water Treatment and Compost Toilets: Blackwater and sewerage are transported through biologically powered treatment plants that simultaneously generate compost from a combination of human feces and pruning's from the forest.
- Rainwater Harvesting: There is a total of 130,000 liters of rainwater harvested for internal use within the building. The water is treated, stored, or used for irrigation purposes.
- Photovoltaic Panels: The use of photovoltaic panels generates all the electricity needed for the building to operate. This strategy removes dependence on non-renewable sources of energy, protecting the environment but also securing economic sustainability. The building also makes use of LED lighting, the more environmentally sensitive alternative, where necessary.
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- Thermosolar Water Heating: Thermos-solar panels are installed to generate additional energy to warm water as required. There are also smart low consumption showers within the research facility to minimize water usage.
- Constructed Wetlands: The structure is built on and around the constructed wetland. These wetlands are used as water purification systems. Simultaneously, these constructed wetlands or aqua gardens help create habitats for surrounding wildlife. The wetlands also help with passive cooling through evaporative cooling techniques.
- Permaculture & Edible Forest Landscape: El Humedal features an edible forest and an organic orchard, which is used for research purposes as well as to form natural habitats. The plants within these gardens also provide sufficient shading and cooling for users.
Figure 39: sustainable design principles applied to El Humedal. Source (Author)
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