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Objective
We are interested in high degrees of optimization that are achieved through a series of inventions — similar to the inventions and optimizations leading to human flight from early gliders and flying machines to the airplane — where characteristics, shape and use of each element is in a tight interdependent relationship with every other element. Where every element can be enjoyed on its own while at the same time is an essential part of the entire assembly. These inventions toward optimization contribute to the body of usable strategies in architecture, since each assembly is optimized for a very specific set of circumstances. While this high degree of “optimization” is not yet taken seriously as an architectural objective, we believe it will become an objective of future architects because of the growing awareness of our available resources and their uses, eventually making the terms “efficient” and “optimized” common place.
This project develops a series of steps towards optimization through architectural form of a building’s natural ventilation.


 
       
Southern China
Invited competition








Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, air flow in floor plans




Climate
Southern China has a Subtropical climate similar to most of east China, the Southeast of the U.S. and other areas of the world (see map). Hot or warm and humid climate can be expected throughout most of the year.


Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, diagram effectiveness for human comfort

diagram showing that shade and air movement is the most important for human comfort, more than temperature, humidity and clothing (diagram by ARUP)


Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, climate zones diagram
 
  air flow _________________________________south wind ground floor ___ ___north wind ground floor
(scroll over magenta text to see each floor_____south wind bedroom level ___ _north wind bedroom level
_______________________________________south wind roof level ______ __north wind roof level




world map showing tropical, subtropical and moderate climate areas that share the same hot and humid conditions as on this projects location for part or all of the year.


Microclimate
Ocean breezes from the south by day and land breezes from the north by night move over the tree crowns of this site that is nested in the forest.

Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, diagram diurnal sea breeze

diurnal sea breeze


Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, diagram nocturnal land breeze

nocturnal land breeze



Ventilation
The east-west orientation of the building ensures minimized heat gain while giving the best exposure to air movement. The raised roof casts shade on the building, protects the bamboo structure from rain and acts simultaneously as a refined and optimized wind catcher and stack vent. From a functional standpoint, the roof helps draw wind into the building and sucks warm air out from it. The roof shape flares up at the edges and thus increases the amount of wind that is caught, while facilitating air extraction on the opposite side of the building. The internal air-shafts distribute air to all enclosed bedrooms and bathrooms as well to the enclosed and open common areas beneath and around the building. As the wind direction changes during the night (north winds) and day (south winds) the system of air channels is specifically optimized to cool the building in each time period. The absence of ventilating any space in the building during any part of the day was not an option.


Zero carbon building
The building is designed to achieve Zero CO2 emission in collaboration with Arup Engineering.

link to page with zero carbon emission strategies

Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, existing situation with windstill areas
sketch of existing situation with windstill areas



Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, new building bringing breeze into the site

roof of new building scoops up air flow from above the trees and directs it via internal air shafts to the outdoor areas on the site


   
   
Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, section showing windscoop roof and air flow through all spaces of building and site independent of wind direction



  air flow shown in section_____________________south wind at channel north of corridor ___ __north wind channel at south of corridor
(scroll over magenta text to see image change)___south wind at channel south of corridor ___ __north wind channel at north of corridor
Brief
- The client wants to use the hostel as a training center and family retreat for corporate employees, and will also be regularly visited by diverse users such as youth organizations and elderly and disabled people.

- The 24 required bedrooms are all one floor above ground level for better ventilation and security. Common spaces like the restaurant, bar, living room and conference rooms are all on the ground level; thus integrated with the outdoor spaces on the site and the surrounding grounds, including the swimming pool and barbecue areas.

The project is projected to be a showcase for the client’s commitment to the environment and the greenest building in Southern China


Use of the building and its site
24 required bedrooms are all on the floor above the ground floor for better ventilation and security, while common spaces are all on the ground level thus integrated with the outdoor spaces on the site and the surrounding grounds.





Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, bamboo building on site

birds-eye view from NW

Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, elevation
 
birds-eye view from NW



references from book "Vanishing Tradition: Architecture and Carpentry of the Dong Minority of China", Klaus Zwerger, 2006 Orchid Press





Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, model
Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, view from entrance, bamboo building in forest

model view from NW



view of hostel from entrance at NW


Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, model

model view from SE


Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, model

model top view of roof


  Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, view from south, bamboo building in forest



view of hostel from SE


Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, model Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat,outdoor spaces

view from pool


model view through ground floor


Bamboo
This project offers the exciting opportunity to reintroduce bamboo as a viable material for contemporary building. Bamboo was traditionally used in Asia for building two story structures, but has fallen out of favor with the rise of modern industrial materials. Many of bamboo’s properties, however, make it a far more ecological choice, and a pioneering bamboo structure would contribute to the world effort to achieve this type of sustainable building construction. Bamboo is known for its very low embodied energy, as well as for being perhaps the most renewable building material available - it is mature as building material after reaching 3 - 5 years old and it can grow in high density and concentration. Since one of the best types of bamboo for construction is indigenous to Southern China, its availability and ease of transport to the site further contribute to its low embodied energy. Bamboo also has minimal thermal mass, a requirement for sustainable building in tropical and subtropical climates. All the blinds, shutters, finishes and furniture are also made out of bamboo. Beyond its strictly functional uses, bamboo has extraordinary esthetic potential to create dynamic forms, lighting effects and texture.


Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, bamboo references

bamboo material references


Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, bamboo study models

bamboo study models


Glass
Due to the optimized natural ventilation the amount of days when air conditioning is needed have been dramatically reduced. The naturally ventilated building needs to be very permeable while air-conditioned rooms must be sealed. Instead of using extensive glass (a material with high embodied energy), the rooms are sealed with solid bamboo panels fitted with glass windows, which are just large enough to provide sufficient light; thereby dramatically reducing the amount of glass used on the project. (See view of the room showing the glass inserted into one of the foldable panels in the bedroom and in top section of all foldable panels in bathrooms.


Zoka Zola, Breeze Engine, Zero Energy Hostel and Company Retreat, detail plan and section, bamboo building and finishes, windscoop roof, air shafts

     
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Credits:
Design: Zoka Zola
Dorothea Schulz, Cady Chintis, Lin Dai, Gabrielle Kim, Adi Kohn, Sonya Lai, Do Hyung Lee, Morgan Ng, Pei San Ng, Agata Siemionov,
Angela Spadoni, Gyu Young Kim
MEP: Vincent Cheng, Trevor Ng, Mark Richardson of ARUP
Structural: Andrew Mole of ARUP
Cost Estimate: Anderson Chan Man Hong of Rider Levett Bucknall