Journal One
// Angelique Meza // Week of December 7th //
Goals for the Weeks
❖ Finish initial hand drawn floor plan for 2 and 3 bedrooms
❖ Do a birds-eye view sketch of Level 4 (2 and 3 bedrooms)
❖ Research Lumion landscape features and how to connect with Revit
My Research and What I Learned
LEED
In my LEED research I used the residential multi-family guide v4.1 in order to understand
specific areas and requirements that LEED looks for. During my research of LEED, I communicated
with an architect Sarah Vanderpool from Bonsai Architecture. There are 7 sections of LEED that
each have separate goals and requirements that buildings must gain points in to earn certification.
However, by recommendation of Mrs. Sarah Vanderpool, the last section will not be focused on.
The first section is Location and Transportation. For Sonder, the most important aspects to
focus on in this section would be to place the apartment complex on a brownfield (land/property
that has contaminants) and cleaning up that plot for redevelopment. The second important aspect
is encouraging residents off the complex to choose public transportation, walking, and biking by
providing sidewalk space and placement near public transportation (2).
The second section is Sustainable Sites. One thing that can be implemented into Sonder
includes focusing on heat island reduction through greenery, increasing shading, and green roofs.
This reduction in heat islands helps minimize the impact on microclimates or both plant and human
life (1). In addition, using native grasses and Xeriscaping can help improve the environment around
the complex, but also works well with Colorado’s arid climate (2). Lastly, implementing previous
paving or True Grid can also help minimize environmental impacts from the complex (2l).
Urban green roof example
2
The third section is Water Efficiency of the complex. Some points to focus on in this section
is the use of Xeriscaping and/or a drip irrigation system in order to reduce overall outdoor water
use (2). Inside the complex, LEED uses Energy Star fixtures in order to measure and reduce the
amount of overall water use by residents and the building (1).
Diagram for water meter
The fourth section Energy and Atmosphere. An important concept that we can introduce to
Sonder is the use of Energy meters. These meters will track and measure the overall energy use of
the building to see how efficient it is running, and where improvements can be made. In addition
we can use technology such as Triple pane glass made with argon or a low E coating, to reduce
thermal bridging which can cause loss of heat inside the building. R25 or R30 are also good types of
insulation that can reduce energy use while keeping the inside of the building heated/cool (2).
Example of energy efficient windows
3
The fifth section is Material and Resources. The key focal point in this section is to be
conscious of the materials being used for the building (1). It is important that we buy
environmentally friendly materials that are sustainable resources. Some ideas include fly ash
concrete, paperstone, and sustainably acquired douglas fir (for studs) (2).
The sixth section is Indoor Environmental Quality. This section focuses on how the
materials inside the building affect the residents health (1). It is important to pay attention to find
materials that give off low VOCs (contaminants) such as in the carpets, walls, and foundation (2).
List of common VOCs
Bibliography
1 What is LEED? (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2020, from
https://www.usgbc.org/help/what-leed
2 Sarah Vanderpool
Environmental Structures and Technology
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Many believed that a crucial role in architectural design was the incorporation of light, air,
and sun. Architects such as Le Corubesuir and Jan Duiker, used modernist architectural design
ideas such as open interiors, flat roofs, and access to fresh air to help incorporate ways to promote
health and hygiene. One of the leading drives for the implementation in this style of architectural
modernism was Tuberculosis. The drive for creating mass housing spaces and areas that helped
promote health against disease and illness like Tuberculosis lead to the movement of architectural
modernism (1).
Today a drive from society to stay healthy (both physically and from illness) are driving
factors or the way architects design. Architect Fredrick Law Olmsted believed that access to fresh
air and nature would not only promote the health of people, but also a happier lifestyle. His idea
and design behind Central Park in New York was not only to help people gain access to fresh air,
but provide a type of getaway from the busy environment and large building surroundings a big
city like New York has. Throughout history the spread of diseases like Tuberculosis, Cholera, HIV,
etc. have all promoted movements in architectural design such as modernism and sewer systems
that promote the hygiene and health of the public (2).
Recent illnesses such as the COVID-19 pandemic are currently affecting how people
interact with the urban world. However, it will take a long time before we see another shift in
architectural design based on our response to new diseases like COVID. It has seen how open
public spaces like parks, streets, sidewalks, etc have been the most sought structures during this
pandemic, which can show the need to implement nature and availability of it nearby for
communities (2).
In addition, there is sustainable technology that can be used in order to reduce the reliance
of energy costing and unsustainable technology in Sonder. Passive solar energy is the proper
design of a roof and south side to promote the movement and multiplication of sunlight can create
a naturally warmer microclimate without using extra energy or technology. However, in climates
like Colorado where in seasons such as summer, sun can be a very overbearing source and can
cause lots of overheating inside the structure. Thermal Mass is the implementation of high density
materials in design such as concrete, compacted soil, and bricks work well to absorb like from
passive solar energy (so it doesn't get too hot) and then later release it as infrared energy back into
the building when the temperature and sunlight drops. The use of an aluminum layer like a
Tarpaulin in a structure allows the infrared energy to be reelected and become well insulated
within the building. Passive Geothermal uses the concept that underground temperatures tend to
stay stable when climates in areas can fluctuate temperature greatly. By implementing a design
that burrows the east, west, and north walls the temperature can adjust to that of the ground and
protect from cold air. Passive ventilation implements the strategic placement of windows and air
traps can allow for natural passive air flow throughout the building. In a building window
placement on the east and west side can ventilate and prevent overheat. In a greenhouse
windows/air traps on the roof can allow for sunlight availability and ventilation. Compost heating
is a large pile of compost that is insulated with bale, with a long tubing through the pile filled with
water. The water in the tube will become heated and can be transferred to places such as
aquaponic or water tanks (3).
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Also, we want to design a greenhouse or communal garden area for the roof. Sustainable
vegetable gardens do not just pertain to small homes or communities. In urban settings,
community gardens in apartments and larger communal settings has become a popular movement.
These gardens can be great for helping create a community bond/initiative, as well as providing a
healthy and green food source to communities. It is even shown that property value can increase
by 9.5% with community gardens regardless of income. However, it is important to note that
because residents may have busy lives and schedules, it is critical to have an external person or
company hired to maintain the garden so that crops/plants do not become malnourished and the
garden dies out. Even with external help, these gardens provide a way for residents to feel
involved in a community effort and more access to greenery for their health both mentally and
physically (4).
Le Corbusier’s Villa Sovoye
Bibliography
1 Campbell, M. (2005, October). What tuberculosis did for modernism: The influence of a
curative environment on modernist design and architecture. Retrieved December 12, 2020,
from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1251640/
2 Stinson, E., Chakrabarti, V., Sokol, D., & Gray, A. (n.d.). Health and Disease Have Always
Shaped Our Cities. What Will Be the Impact of COVID-19? Retrieved December 12, 2020,
from https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-will-coronavirus-impact-cities
3 Gendron, Francis, et al. The Top 5 Technologies for Creating Self-Sufficient Buildings. 20 Feb.
2015, thegrownetwork.com/the-top-5-technologies-for-creating-self-sufficient-buildings/.
4 sharris2011. “2 Reasons This Urban Multifamily's Vegetable Garden Is Successful.”
Gardeners' Guild SF Bay Area Full Service Landscaping, sharris2011
Https://Www.gardenersguild.com/Wp-Content/Uploads/Gardenersguild-Logo.jpg, 11 Apr.
2019,
www.gardenersguild.com/2-reasons-this-uban-multifamily-community-vegetable-garden-is
-successful.
Architectural Psychology
6
Color
Architects like Le Corbusier define color as being something that is an essential need and desire of
each individual. Le Corbusier sees color as an essential part of building the atmosphere and
character of a room/space. Colors convey energy and life, which when applied can affect people's
mood, perception, and overall emotional state. It's important to create a harmony between natural
colors, such as through reference to Le Corbusier’s Colours of the Architectural Polychromy (2).
Leon a Dutch architect also describes how color and light create a complex interaction
between us and materials, surfaces, form, and structure which can be affected by the overall flow,
change, and overlapping of color and light. It is crucial to create a combination of light and color
that will create a harmonious area that (in our case) which gives off a calm and peaceful energy
flow, so as to not create chaotic or overly busy schemes that can create negative moods (1).
Space
It's important to realize that we should create harmony between the human body and our physical
environment. Architects like Le Coubisuer tried to combine ideals of past historical studies of
measurement like the Golden Ration and DaVinci with the modern day metric system. He found it
important to note in architecture how societies use of standard measurements can be confining
and sometimes limit the spaces we design and create. That's why it's important to find a balance
between the individual and local to general standards. One way he did this is by creating a
measurement system that has greatly affected Architecture known as Le Modulor, which
implements the idea of bringing together local and general standard measurements through the
disproportionate figure of a body which serves as a measurement guide (3).
There have also been studies how people’s moods and overall mental health can decline
when they are confined in small spaces. Fitts explains how the modern movement to move to small
construction spaces and houses can often become problematic, especially when it comes to
residential/living spaces for families. As the number of people living under one roof increases, it
can often cause problems in the overall emotional environment if there is not enough space to
accommodate for everyday activities and the people themselves. Fitts also explains how research
shows that these tiny spaces can often feel suffocating if the people do not have access to nature
or an adequate view. However, it's important to keep in mind that location and culture can also
affect what is perceived as crowded and small, it depends on the pre mind-set individuals have
grown up and experienced in the local environment (4).
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Examples of Le Corbusier’s colors and appliaction to architecture
Bibliography
1 Farbe, Farbe Und Licht, Farbwahrnehmung, Farbdesign, Farbtrends, Farbpsychologie, Color, Colour,
leoncolor.com/Farbe,_Farbe_und_Licht,_Farbwahrnehmung,_Farbdesign,_Farbtrends,_Farbpsyc
hologie,_color,_colour.html.
2 “The Colour Moods of the Architectural Polychromy.” By Le Corbusier,
www.lescouleurs.ch/en/journal/posts/the-colour-moods-of-the-architectural-polychromy/.
3 Arellano, Mónica. “On the Dislocation of the Body in Architecture: Le Corbusier's Modulor.”
ArchDaily, ArchDaily, 27 Sept. 2018,
www.archdaily.com/902597/on-the-dislocation-of-the-body-in-architecture-le-corbusiers-mo
dulor.
4 Fitts 05.31.2016, Alexis Sobel, et al. “The Psychology of Living in Small Spaces.” Undark
Magazine, 20 Dec. 2019, undark.org/2016/05/31/psychology-living-small-spaces/.
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Accomplishments
● Found expert advisors and support advisors
● Completed initial project proposal presentation
● Finished 3 research reports for LEED, environmental structures and technology, and
architectural psychology.
● Completed basic format and filled in information for website
● Completed initial concept sketches of complex and bedrooms
● Completed hand drawn floor plans of 2 bedrooms, 3 bedrooms, and birds-eye view of level
4
Reflection on Goals and Timeline
9
I am very happy with where Ally and I have gotten so far. We were able to finish our
respective floor plans and sketches in time for a meeting with our advisors. During this
meeting we realized that we may need to spend more time doing more concept design and
play around with the floorplans before starting to put our complex into Revit. This means we
may need to push back another week or two for this, meaning we wouldnt start Revit until
after winter break (January). Since we have allotted a long time to the physical model and
preparation for our final presentation, pushing back does not seem like it will impede
progress drastically. I have started looking into a program recommended by Alexander named
Lumion that works well to create virtual landscapes and is compatible with Revit. Even though
our initial timeline got pushed back from the 19th Ally and I have been able to reorganize and
map out the timing of each phase so that we are still on track to completing what we have
planned.
