welcome to mies and peas!

your nonstop source of everything science of architecture, including information for the ARE, LEED, and PE exams.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

MIES - Contain It



Container architecture is really recycling at its best.  Napper Architects, based out of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, is highly innovative in this regard.  Using containers from shipping yards, they've found a resourceful way to design LEED accredited buildings.   Needless to say, they've earned many credits in the Innovation portion of LEED.


This 3 story building utilises 37 recycled shipping containers that are to be adapted and reconditioned to create an innovative building solution. The development will provide approximately 10,000 square feet of office space that will be unique to the region. Aimed at sustainable enterprise businesses the modular building itself is incredibly sustainable in that the majority of the structure is recycled, the re-used shipping containers having already transported goods around the world for 20 years.


As can be seen in the light model, the building will be transparent/open in places from above, allowing a natural passive heating and cooling system to take place.  Also of note is how sunscreens block out a majority of these spaces, where light enters.  The facilities designed by Napper are innovative but also resourceful.  LEED recognized Napper's willingness to counter the albedo affect by the placement of these brise soleils.  





All things considered, this may not win design of the year anytime soon, but it does show a willingness to be resourceful.  As driven as star designers may be to avoid this kind of utilization, it's impossible not to respond favorably to this kind of clever wit in architecture.  It really is a smart solution.

No comments:

Post a Comment