Building Data: Year of Height stories Wi Building Gross Floor Area Building Function Structural Material Green Wall Overview:Case Study 2.10 School of the Arts singapore Local climate Located in an equatorial cimate zone, ‘according to the AF Koppen system, {and classified asa fully humid zone, Singapore has litle temperature and humidity variation between seasons, burt instead experiences consistently high temperatures year-round (see Figure 2.10.1) Relatively stable air ‘temperatures, high average humidity and significant rainfall makes Singapore {an excellent location fox growing plants. The average temperatures range from 23 °Cto 32 °C, with May being the hottest month ofthe yeat.& high relative humidity of near 305 in the morning typically moves to around 60% inthe mid-afternoon. Background ‘The School ofthe Arts, located in Singapore’ downtown, isa specialty high schoo! forthe visual and perform- ing arts The design strategy for this, tage Aaa Temper Pele) “gee 101 Cmte pote Sgepare Innercity school was to create two \isually-connected horizontal strata space for public communication below, and a space for safe, controlled interaction above (se Figure 2.102). ‘This strategy resolves twin objectives: porosity and communication with the publicand the wider ats community fn the one hand, and a secure and safe learning environment for students on the other These two primary building components ate conceived asthe “sackarop' and the”Bank Canvas" “The'Backdrop’ refers to the podium of the project, wich contains a concert hall drama theater, black-box theater and several smal Informal performing spaces, Within this Backdrop, the school ‘communicates with the public real. ‘The high-volume, naturally-ventiated, informal areas between the perfor- ‘mance spaces are designed around a pedestrian short-cut, thereby allowing the public to visually connect with the activities of the school. Additional {rgwe2102- Orel ew abating Dati Seoher tl "The hmitc dase es dered om the Word Meteorologics Onganzaton (WMO). BS ‘woman Coppraton 8) andthe Haul Ocean neater (HORA) Singapore Geographic Position Latitude 1° 22°6 Lngiuse 103"58'= Elevation 9 Temeters above sea vel imate Classification Equatorial fully humid ‘Mean Annual Temperature 275% ‘Average Daytime Temperature ‘during the Hottest Months (pei May, June) fer ‘Average Daytime Temperature ‘during the Coldest Months (November, December, January) > 266°C ‘Annial Average Relative Humidity 29% (hottest months), 2656 | (coldest months) ‘Average Monthly Precipitation 201 miimeters Prevailing Wind Direction > North ‘Average Wind Speed » 4d meters per second Solar Racation 1 Maxim: 837 Wve (@ecember 21) Mirna 737 Whi? ‘Geptembor 21) ‘Annual Average Dally Sunshine > 5G hours aes Schoo te A | 100“= Fiure2105 Ye shovrg the completo the west © program elements, such as amphitheater, have heen establish Under the shade of conserved trees, and are very popular. Architecturally, the Backdrop’ s designed as af sculptural space, which frames the city Views in new and interesting ways, The’Blank Canvas’ set atop th podium, houses the secure school area, ree long, rectangular wings have a secured point of access yet are visually ‘onnected from ll creation spaces, Including many skybridges and tera to the public areas below. The design, perforating the mass of the building with many opervair passageway’ and inking narrow bats with skybrid and terraces (see Figure 2.10.6), has utlized a successful natural venation strategy by directing wind to provide comfort with constant cooling, despite Singapore low ar movement and high-humidity outdoor environment (Guserkell & Schmal 2012) Green Walls Overview ‘The School ofthe Ars consists of three long classroom wing structures (see Figures 2.103 and 2.104) (which the architects cal The Blank Canvas) set atop a concrete podium structure (the Backdrop" containing large program areas such as auditoriums. The northeast comer ofthe podium Isset partially into a hl, Between the classroom wings and carved from a portion ofthe podium, are numerous interpolating plazas bridges, sky sgardens and platforms, some of which support greenery. An irregular, polygo: ral studio wing projec fom the north fagade. The green wall system consists of a precast concrete planter box set along the raling edge of exterior corridors at each flor evel, with an aluminum ‘mesh anchored to the exterior (see Figures 2108 and 2.10) The vines grow from the planters, out through the raling and onto the mesh The precast plantets ate located at each exterior cartier, so that the plants effectively ‘only have to climb a height of 42 meters (one floo), before overlapping with another planting hovizen. The vine-mesh-on-balcony condltton tuns nearly the full length of the south facade, and wraps around into interior courtyards between the wings, comple ‘menting ees and other flora planted in these common assembly areas. Its oniy interrupted wherever the external corridor stops (such asthe end caps tn the east and west facades of each ving, where the sun-shading strat ‘witches to vertical steel in the shadows of the interior courtyards Under the roof deck become too dark to practically supp The green wall system fs part ofa larger strategy, consisting of implementing gardens and conserving existing trees at ground level, and adding sky gardens at height, in dition to making the roof a planted, usable recreational surface The planted rooftop also contributes to shading the top edges ofthe facades of each wing, Trees on the roof act as an umbrella for the bulding, tering sunight and providing protection rom rain while Feraining open to the sides, optimizing Conditions in an overwhelmingly hot and humid climate Plant Species Prior to specification the project’ lang scape consuitant conducted a mock-up experiment with eight dterent species of creepers over a period of five months ‘0 determine which would be most ideal interms of rate of growth, evenness of coverage and pattern of propagation. Of these, the Thunberaia Grandifiora proved be the most effective cesta Schoo | 111ther notable plant species ate Peltophorum Pterocarpum, Hopea Cdorata, Ervatamia Divaricata Xanthostemon Chrysanthus, Brass Actinophyila, Ficus Sp, Angsana, Bodhi. Ficus yrata, Carphalea Kironfron, (Ophiopagon Jaburan, Nephrolepis Exaltata, Phlebedium SPP Asplenium 'Nidus, Monstera Deliciosa, Ficus Purnia, Verona Eliptica, Axonopus Compressus, and Nephrolepis Xiphidiur Caeruleum Faleata Forma Furcans. Irrigation ‘The planter boxes utlize an auto-iriga system. All itigation and rain water pipes are concealed atthe bottom of the precast planters and under the precast kick-up curbs bet ween planters. Maintenance Maintenance of the green facade is Critical. This process includes visual inspection of rigation and crainage systems, pruning, weeding, and replace ‘ment of plants A frequent maintenance schedule has been devised for ensuring the long-standing beauty and survival lof the gieen fagades, green roof, and other landscaping, Figure 2.10.9 shows the use of precast planters located directly off coridors, allowing for easy ‘access tothe plants for maintenance The relatively simple mesh system, with I's proximity to muttple balconied hallways, i intended to support frequent maintenance with minimal interruption of high-trafic areas, Analysis and Conclusions ‘The School ofthe Arts is as successful in ts resolution of programmatic demands of public access against sc as Risin it resolution of incorporating ‘greenery throughout the project. Bot the public and nature are “invited in? and permeate’ the building, but in a 1 | Gee Std Schott ts controlled fashion that benefits the ‘overall functioning of the project, Green fagades have been used as an architectural enhancement for the elevations, and as after for air and noise pollution. They add a sense of security and enclosure to somewhat stark and vertiginous outdoor spaces, gy 10 reduce building feneray consumption and augment ‘overhangs and courtyards as means provide a strat ‘of refuge from intense sunlight and high hurnidity The green facade is applied where itis mostlkely to be seen, exoerienced, and importantly, accessed for maintenance from both sides: the majarity of the meshwork backs up to open coridors where the planter boxes ae located The disadvantage of this strategy isthe same as its advantage children are ‘curious and lke to experiment witha The precast planters are located at each Exterior comidor Classroom exterior corridor, nin so that the plants fleas effectively only have ypc to climb a height of ieee fe 2 4.2 meters (one floor), i 1 before overlapping 1 with another planting horizon. AAR RA l ] ees Plan their environments The ready access of the vines as they pass from the planters Conta the mesh would seer to be an imitation for damage. ‘The conservation of older trees on-site and the inclusion of rooftop plantings ‘add tothe impression thatthe city has aired from this construction much ‘more than thas lost in terms of green space. These moves no doubt have more than superficial benefits; trees at the rooftop likely mitigate the intense sun exposure to Which rooftop divllets ‘are subject, a5 well as shading the top edge of the facades If there ae qualms, tis that the trees planted in the intermediate-evel shy terraces (see Figures 2.10.10 and 2.10.11), while pleasant, do not provide the canopies promised in renderings In reality, they appear equivalent to the types of plantings found in indoor shopping malls the world over. And though the building mass fs skilfully broken down by texture, massing, and 1 Figue2109: Peas parte ote of cri alowng foray cen and mantnance ofthe lat aes Shooter | 113perforation the mitigating effect of climbing plants on concrete at eye level seems to have been passed over when. Iecame tothe p sible ‘that these were omitted because such installations would have been harder to maintain, ith an undulating ground plane below and no means of access from within the building, ‘As demonstrated by the commercial nature of most ofthe buildings chosen 10 | se Std Schott ht as case studies inthis guide few public institutions have invested in green walls tothis level The green facade comple ‘ments the large overhangs and other shading strategies employed on the pbuilding, s well as softening its hard edges. Whatever its uitimate eneray performance, perhaps the greatest value of deploying greenery to the extent seen atthe School ofthe Arts sits potential as an environmental teaching too. Green Coverage Calculations ‘The vettical surfaces ofthe podium and three wings labeled 1,2 and 3 0n the plan from north to south, were tallied separately (see Table 210.1 Podium The podium isa ribbed concrete stu ture perforated by large, high-celinged spaces that provide public ciculation areas Accounting for ts slope into the hill coward the northeast, the podium ‘was broken down as follows: The north elevation of the podium is measured as two rectangles of 13 m height by 59 m wucth and 21 m height and 26 m width, giving a total area of 03x59) + 1313 The east elevation of the podium incorporates a grade change, thus its area can be found by considering i, from top edge to bottom, as rectangles ‘of 104 m wide x 9m high, 69 m wide x2 mhigh, 67 m widex 3 m high, andl 63 m wide x 7m high, The | portion isa triangle of 36 m width and 4 mbeight. Thus the total wall area is (104 x9) + (69% 2) 4 (673) + (63x 71+ (66% 4)72) = 1,788 rv The south elevation ofthe podium measures 85 m wide and 25 m high, for ‘total area of 2,125 m9 ‘The west elevation of the podium is {an regular polygon comprised of rectangles (104% 95) + (102. 1) + (09x ++ 95.5} + (49.5) and a triangle of 34 m width and Sm height (34x 512), fora total of 1.994 rv The total vertical surface area of the podium is therefore (1313+ 1,788 2,125 + 1,994) = 7,220: There sno wall attached to the podium,wing Wing 1, the north classroom wing, iscomprised of two parts in plan, a rectangle and a five-sided, ereguiar trapezoid. The main wing is rectangle of 93 m length, 27 m height and 15 m width. The nerth fagade is interrupted by the wedge-shaped projection of the studio wing, which brings the north facade horizontal dimension to 118 m. The north facade, including floors 5 through 10, 627 m high. Thus the area ‘of the north facade of Wing 11s (118m x27 m)=3,186 mn Wing 1 north elevation is covered In vine-covered panels measuring approximately 4m high | m wide These were tallied, for atotal of 128 panels covering 512 mv. ‘The top edge of Wing Vs north eleva tion (the rooftop, oF floor 11) carries 104 linear meters of planted trees of approximately 4 m height. These were ‘multiplied intoa simplified rectangle, then discounted 80% to account for vatiations in leaf coverage, Thus, (104 x 4)/2 = 208 r?.The total green coverage of Wing I north i therefore (12 + 208) 20 mor about 23 percent of the ‘overall surface area The east and west fagades of Wing 1 ate 27 ry tall and 15m wide, for an area ‘of 405 m’, The east and west faces of Wing 1 support two green walls of 25 m height and 3m width each for 150 m:, oF 37% coverage, The south elevation of Wing | measures 98m long and 27 m high, but is interrupted by the aym/multipurpase volume, which is suspended between wings 1 and 2 from floors 6108, inclusive. The structure measures 341m vide and approximately 15 m tal. “Therefore total surface area of Wing 1 Prior to specification, the project's landscape consultant conducted a mock-up experiment with eight different species of creepers over a period of five months to determine which would be most leal in terms of rate of growth, evenness of coverage and pattern of propagation. south elevation is (93x 27) ~ (34x 15) 2,001 m The south elevation of Wing Tis covered by a strip of greenery 7 m wide and 25 m tal. as well as a second strip 24 m wide and 13 m high. tis so sheltered by trees on the rooftop deck, 34 m long by 4 m high, with a 50% discount for variations of leaf area coverage (34x-4 = 136)/2) = 68 m' Thus (7x 25)-+ (24x 13) + 68 = $55 mv ‘or 2866 ofthe south elevation of wing 1, Is covered by greenery. The total wall surface area or Wing 1 1sG.186 + 2x 405) + 2,001) = 5.997 1, and itis covered by approximately 1575 m’ of greenery fora coverage of 260, Wing 2 Wing 22 rectangle, measuring 108 m Jong, 15 m wide and 27 m high. ts north facade measures 108 m long and 27 mbigh, but is interrupted by the ‘gym/mult-purpese volume, which s 1 Figre21012 Ft foray tracefacing wet eten wigs a2 9 Pa nha aes Schoener | 115suspended between Wings floots 6 through 9, 34 meters wide and erefore is surface ay this volume, tc (108 x 27 ~ 4x 15) = 2406 mr 15 meters high + the north facade in ne strip is 27 m high 25 m wide the other is 13 m bigh two locations 24 m wide, The north facade capped by trees covering 24 linear meters at 4 meters height. Discounted 50% fo! varlations in leaf area coverage, twee coverage amounts to (24%) /2) = 48 my Green coverage of Wing 2, north facade is therefore (27x 25) + (13x24) + 2) = 1935 mor about 4384 of the total fagade, he east and west facades of Wing tical tothe ny each with 150 m overage of Wing 1, ors green ne south facade oft wand 27m rupted by volumes, containing the library an fet, which stretch across the void 10 Wing 3 The library volume is 5 m high by 10 m wide and the theater v is 10 rmhigh and 35 m wide. Therefore the area of the south facade of Wing 24s (108 27) -(5x 10)~ (10x36) = 2506 m Green strips rectangles of approximately 25 m high and.43 m wide, and 13m h er Wing 2' south fag nby 161m wide, There fas a line atop the facade of 16 meters) h and about 4 meters height 096 taken fr le Mer a discount of vatiations in leaf area coverage, the total ttee coverage amounts to (6 x 4)/2) = 32m. The foal green coverage of Wing south is therefore (253% 43) + (13x 16) 32 = 1,315 mor about 52% ofthe facade The total vertical surface area of Wing 2's therefore 5,722 rm, covered by 2,650 m’ of areenery, or about 46% o available surface area Wing 3 The nerth elevation of Wing 3 is 27 m high and 99 m long and is interrupted by two volumes, containing the library and alecture theater that span the void toward Wing 2. The area covered by these volumes is (5m high x 13 m 165 mand (13 m high x 27 m total north elevation wall surface is (2 99) 65 351 =2257 m valls cover twa segment 25m high and 7 m wide, the other 3.m high and 16 m wie ‘overhang the edge of Wing 35 north elevation for about 52 linear meters and rise to a height oF 4m, Discounting mounts o (52% 4)/2)= 104 for variations in leaf the total tee coverage The total green coverage for Wing 3 x7)# (13x16 ofthe north is therefor ( +104 =487 m’,or surf The east and west elevations of Wing 3 are identical to the ather two wing supporting green strips totaling 150 rm cross fagades of 405 m’ each, for 37% en coverage on each side The ato passes the fifth t ah 10th measures 99 m long a fora total surface atea of 2673 m’, and is covered along itsentie length and width by 312 panels of dimensions 4m tall by 1 m wide, fora total of 1,248 rv“ual | GreenWallCoverge | Tre Coverge | Total ren — | Prcnige of ‘ei _| wt ws ovens | Geen Coeage eum Heth 1h ° om om o Weg Sth em © @ ss 2 ‘eg 2Narh 205 0 a ass = ‘Wea 2Souh 2508 ass = 11s ES Yea Nor 2257 Es] 7 © 2 Weg St 2673 a8 ee ver 2 Itisoverhung by 93 inearmetersof = 6,448 mor about 269 of the trees of about 4 m height. Discounting building’: vertieal surface area. 50% for variations in leaf area coverage, the total tree coverage amountsto (92 Project Team 4/2) = 186 Thus the total green coverage on Wing 3 south s (1248+ Developer: Ministry of Communications, 186) = 1,834 mor about 5496 ofthe and information total facade area, Architect: WOHA Green Wall Designer: WOHA The total vertical surface area of Wing Green Wall Manufacturer: Tiong Aik Bis therefore (2,257 + (2.405) + Construction Pte. Ltd. 2,673) = 5,740 m:, with 2.221 ry? of Plant Supplier: Hock Po Leng ‘green coverage, oF about 39% of the Landscape & Construction Pte, Lt, facade. Landscape Architect: Cicada Pte td ‘Structural Engineer: WorleyParsons ‘Total building coverage Pre, Ltd [MEP Engineer: Lincolne Scott No ‘Totaling all facades of the podium and Pte. Ld. three wings is (7,220 + 5997+ 5,722 Main Contractor: Tiong Alk +5,740) = 24,679 mv. Green coverage Construction Pte. Ld. comprises (0+ 1,575 +2/050+2,221) Other Consultants: AUP Consultants alarance further aang ook: ental asc 911) aH Sete et rn Spo tat esse con ret tasting lab fom stop separ Sronpeschocte rs es oy 01, est Schoener | 117