B.science report solaris

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING

& SCIENCE

BUILDING SCIENCE 1 (BLD60803)

PROJECT 1: Case Study

(Identifying innovative passive design strategies)

LOCATION

Solaris, Singapore

PREPARED BY:

Alex Wong 0303228

Chew Wen Lin 1007c10646

Chin Pui Man 0310331

Daniel Yap 0309100

Gan Chin Bong 0313738

Teo Kian Hui 0310165

No

Content

Page

1

Introduction

1

2

Detailed Information

2

3

Appendix

4

4

Climate Data

8

5

Wind Analysis

11

6

Sun Path Case Studies & Psychometric Chart

13

7

Passive Design Features

15

8

Summary

21

9

Reference List

22

TABLE OF CONTENT

SOLARIS is state-of-the-art facility that forms an integral part of the renowned

Fusionnopolis clusters based on the design of Eco-Green mindset with a goal to be

certified BCA GREEN MARK PLATINUM which is the highest green certification

given by the benchmark of Singapore's Sustainable building. It is a 15 story multi-

tenanted structure with has the main function for infocommunicatinons, media,

science, research and clean-tech development at One-North. The overall energy

consumption for this building is the local precedents consumption with the reduction

of 36% which leads to the winning project in JTC competition. In addition, it also

introduces plantation that exceeds by 113% from original area site that is 8,000 m2 of

landscaping.

INTRODUCTION

Project by:

Soilbuild Group Holdings Ltd

Building Address:

Solaris Fusionopolis 2B, One North

Architect:

TR Hamzah Yeang

Gree

Photo scource from: http://www.realwowz.net/2013/01/science-centre.html

Figure 1: Solaris, Singapore

Photo scource from: http://www.spring.gov.sg/AboutUs/CI/Pages/map-solaris.aspx#.U2szSBaZ2gE

Figure 2: Site plan

Detailed Information

n Design Features of the Solaris, Singapore

Green desgin features that can be found in the Solaris building are

I. Spiral Ramp Design

II. Naturally Ventilated Spaces

III. Skylight/ Actuated Smoke Vent Louvers

IV. Rain Harvesting System

V. Climate Responsive Façade System

VI. Planter Box Design on Landscape Spiral Ramp

VII. Roog Gardens and Corner Sky Terraces

Figure 3: Level 2 floor plan

Figure 4: Level 3 Floor plan

APPENDIX

Figure 6: Level 10 floor plan

Figure 5: Level 6 floor plan

Figure 7: Level 17 floor plan

Figure 8: Entrance of Solaris from interior Figure 9: View of interior with skylight

Figure 10: Panaroma view of roof garden

Figure 11: Panaroma view of roof garden

Singapore is located on the southern tip of the Malaysia Peninsula in Southeast Asia,

between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Singapore lies on north of the

Equator near Latitude 1.3667º N and Longitude 103.8º E. Singapore features a hot,

wet climate and tropical rainforests.

Singapore's climate is divided into two different seasons, which are the Northeast

Monsoon, and the Southeast Monsoon season. These two seasons are separated by

two short inter-monsoon periods.

Figure 12: Average Daily Maximum and minimum temperature ºC chart

The minimum temperature in Singapore is ranged 23ºc to 26ºc and maximum

temperature ranged 25ºc to 31ºc throughout the year. From the chart, January and

December are the coolest month throughout the year.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Daily Maximum ºC

Daily Minimum ºC

Climate Data

Figure 13: Average Sunlight and Average Daylight Chart

Singapore receives sunlight throughout the year and it is very rare for Singapore to

have full day of clear skies. Singapore temperatures are varying less than 3ºc

annually.

Figure 14: Relative Humidity (%) Chart

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Daylight (Hours)

Sunlight (Hours)

64

66

68

70

72

74

76

78

80

82

84

Daily Maximum (%)

Daily Minimum (%)

Relative humidity in Singapore is in the range of 70% -82% throughout the year.

Singapore is a country where it has high level of humidity. It differs from 82% in the

morning and falls to 60% in the afternoon, when it is not raining.

Figure 15: Wet Days chart

Singapore is located on the equator, thus the country experiences rainfall throughout

the year. As mention in the introduction, Singapore climate is divided into two

seasons, which is;

A) Northeast Monsoon; which happens on the period of December to March. From

the chart, December and January achieved the highest value, which labeled as "wet

phase" while February and March has lower value that is labeled as "dry phase"

B) Southwest Monsoon; which happens on the period of June to September. From the

chart, this period has average number of wet days that usually last for most 2 hours.

17

11

1415 15

13 1314 14

16

1819

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Wet Days

Wet Days

Wind Direction

Percentage (%)

North 18

Northeast 29

East 6

Southeast 5

South 19

Southwest 56

West 10

Northwest 6

Table 1: Wind Direction for year 2013

Month

Wind Force (kph)

January 15.1

February 9.2

March 5.1

April 3.3

May 4.0

June 8.9

July 9.9

August 8.8

September 10.1

October 9.8

November 6.4

December 10.9

Table 2: Wind Force for year 2013

Wind Analysis

Wind Arrow of Singapore

From the wind arrow chart, we can conclude that there is always strong wind

at the direction north-east while weaker wind at the direction south-east. The darker

blue represent longer hours, while lighter blue represent shorter hour.

Sun Path Analysis in the morning on 8th of May

Sun Path Analysis in the afternoon on 8th of May

Sun Path Analysis in the evening on 8th of May

Sun Path Case Studies

Psychrometric Chart of Malaysia (same as Singapore)

From the chart above, we can conclude that to achieve thermal comfort, the

temperature and humidity of the place or area should reach within the yellow box

value showed above. The values inside the box stat that with the range of temperature

from 23 degree Celsius to 27 degree Celsius and the humidity value from 4 to 13 is

the thermal comfort zone. With the present data, a green building should have the

ability to maintain as a thermal comfort zone.

Psychrometric Chart

Throughout this case study, seven (7) passive design features are pointed out from the

Solaris, Singapore. Seven passive designs are:

I. Spiral Ramp Design

The key architecture element would be the undisturbed ecological 1.5km long

perimeter landscape Spiral Ramp and Eco-cell at the basement for fluid movement of

organisms and plants within the building contributing to the overall health of these

ecosystem which will provide an enhancement of biodiversity. With its deep

overhangs and large concentrated of vegetations, represents a key element in

comprehensive strategy for providing the cooling effect in the building facade. This

provides an interactive environment for the worker with the nature while still sustain

the inorganic form of the structure with a more organic mass. In addition, Solaris is

trying to enhance the existing ecosystem instead of replacing them.

Passive Design Features

PhotoSource:http://blog.cpgcorp.com.sg/wpcontent/uploads/2012/03/Solaris_Section.jpg

Figure 17: Section drawing of Solaris

II. Naturally Ventilated Spaces

During the hot days, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is stimulated through the

atrium led to the actuated skylight louver system that allows stacking ventilation

effect. Through the principle of hot air rise and cool air falls, hot air escape from the

top of the roof while cool air are being to pull into the building form the lower floor.

III. Skylight / Actuated Smoke Vent Louvers

Besides allowing the natural light to enter, skylight also serves as another purpose

besides the stacking effect. It is also consider as a fail-safe system. When fire is

detected (via the building's intelligent management system), the skylight louvers will

automatically open and became an exit for the smoke or harmful gas. For safety

reason, the louvers will automatically opened even without power supply. With this

system, smoke control system is being eliminates which leads to saving cost and

power. For extra purposes, it is also a weather shield such as rain by rain detection

sensors and direct sunray.

Figure 18: Skylight view from the interior

Photo Source: http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/solaris/solaris5.jpg

Figure 19: Skylight view from the exterior.

IV. Rainwater Harvesting System

This building is equip rainwater recycling system which rainwater are collected using

siphonic drainage systems then stored beneath the Eco-Cell in the primary holding

tank and a small transfer tank on the roof. This building has an integrated fertigation

system that able to maintain the organic nutrient level in the entire building through

the vegetation cycle from the combined storage that has a capacity of over 400m3.

Photo Source: http://www.greenroofs.com/content/articles/126-SOLARIS-at-Fusionopolis-2B-From-Military-

Base-to-Bioclimatic-Eco-Architecture.htm

Figure 20: The Eco-cell and the Rain Water Harvesting storage at the basement.

Photo Source: http://blog.cpgcorp.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Solaris_Render-2.jpg

Figure 21: The perspective view of Solaris.

V. Climatic Responsive Facade System

According to local sun path analysis that sun rise from east in the morning and fall on

the west during evening, sunshade louvers has been designed to screen off direct glare

and heat from the sun yet allow a gentle light to enter to the interior space. This help

to minimize the usage artificial light during daytime. The solar shading also helps to

reduce the heat transfer into the building.

Figure 22: The sun shading device around the building

VI. Planter Box Design on Landscaped Spiral Ramp

The spiral ramp has a minimum width of 3m of landscape. Maintenance of the ramp

is achieved through a parallel pathway that allows for servicing the planters. It is also

design to serve as a linear park that stretches all the way from the ground plane to the

upper roof. The planter boxes on the spiral ramp are being designed to be as shallow

as possible so that the building facade is being kept and reduce its bulkiness. Plants

are being carefully selected based on their roots structure because of the lacking of

deep soil. An elaborate network of drainage trenches and subsoil pipes is to ensure

water is evenly discharge in the 800mm planter boxes even when there is a heavy

downpour. This step is very important as the landscaped ramp is steeply inclined and

rainwater would cascade down at high speed on the surface level if it were not being

absorbed by the soil.

Photo Source: http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/solaris/solaris3.jpg

Figure 23: The plants along the spiral ramp

VII. Roof Gardens and Corner Sky Terraces

This area creates a vertical landscaping which acts as a thermal buffer that provides

events, relaxation and social activities. In addition, it allows an opportunity for

interaction between the people and nature. It is also a good symbol for sky rise

greenery design building because it has a total of 95% of landscape is above ground

level.

Figure 24: Roof garden

By doing so, beam sunlight will not strike into the building directly. Also, energy

required for interior artificial lighting can be gradually reduced.

After some site visits to Sunway Pinnacle Office Tower, we found out that the

building is not fully completed for the wiring and electrician part. Due to that reason,

the building manager, Mr Kurma, can allow us to visit some part of the building.

Although we were limited from some spaces of the building, we still manage to

interview Mr Kurma. From what we were told, the building has a gold standard from

the Green Building for a reason. From the outside of the building, it doesn't look

much of a standout but when you reach the interior and take a closer look, the

building actually has the design and technology to support it as a green building. In

addition, this building is one of the first Green Building in Malaysia from what Mr

Kurma had said. From the visitation paid to the site, we get to know that this building

is a sub-branch from the main building at the side with an addition of Green

Technology apply into it. We were expecting the building to be done by the end of

last year 2013 but when we got there, it is only 95+% complete. Since then, we are

not allow to go up to experience the spaces on top. We suggested that they should

provide more shading effect from the main building to the new building because of

the weather in Malaysia. In addition, the ventilation for air is not as ventilated as we

thought and most of the lighting is not natural lighting but artificial lighting.

Conclusion

1. GuideMeSingapore. (n.d.). GuideMeSingapore. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from

http://www.guidemesingapore.com/relocation/introduction/climate-in-singapore

2. Local Climatology. (n.d.). Local Climatology. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from

http://app2.nea.gov.sg/weather-climate/climate-information

3. SINGAPORE. (n.d.). Singapore Map / Geography of Singapore / Map of

Singapore. Retrieved April 27, 2014, from

http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/sg.htm

4. Robert Pratt, January 2013, Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat, Solaris,

Singapore, (6 May 2014) Retrieved From

http://www.ctbuh.org/TallBuildings/FeaturedTallBuildings/FeaturedTallBuildingArch

ive2012/SolarisSingapore/tabid/3854/language/en-GB/Default.aspx

5. SoilBuild Group Holding LTD, N.D. Solaris, Solaris, (6 May 2014) Retrieved

From

http://www.soilbuild.com/showroom_Solaris.html

6. Ken Yeang, 2 April 2012, U*Reka, IN DETAIL: SOLARIS @ONE-NORTH, (6

May 2014) Retrieved From

http://blog.cpgcorp.com.sg/?p=2118

Reference List