design

SUSTAINABLE
ARCHITECTURE
FOR TODAY & TOMORROW
4HE CHANGE IN ATTITUDES HAS NOT JUST BEEN BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE THEIR
LIVES MORE CHALLENGING FOR THEMSELVES 4HE INCREASING GLOBAL AWAKENING TO
THE REAL THREAT POSED BY GLOBAL WARMING THE FRAGILITY OF ENERGY MARKETS
AND THE REALISATION THAT AIMING FOR SUSTAINABILITY CAN BE COST EFFECTIVE
HAVE ALL ADDED MOMENTUM TO THE MOVEMENT 4HE CHALLENGE SET OUT BY
ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO THE WAY IN WHICH WE LIVE IS SEEPING INTO MAINSTREAM
SOCIETY &OR ACTIVISTS AND HUMANITY SHIFTING FROM UNSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
TO SUSTAINABLE kGREENl BUILDINGS CANNOT COME SOON ENOUGH CONSTRUCTION
USES MORE OF THE WORLDlS ENERGY AND RESOURCES THAN ANY OTHER ACTIVITY
k'REENl BUILDINGS ARE ALREADY AN IMPORTANT NICHE MARKET AND BY 
ACCORDING TO -C'RAW (ILL CONSTRUCTION THE WORLDlS kGREENl BUILDING MARKET
WILL REACH  BILLION )N  THIS IS EXPECTED TO MORE THAN DOUBLE TO
 BILLION 4HE INCREASE IN THE SUSTAINABLE MARKET IN THIS REGION IS SET
TO RISE RAPIDLY WITH !BU $HABI AND $UBAI BOTH SET TO INTRODUCE THEIR
OWN COMPULSORY ENVIRONMENTAL BUILDING REGULATIONS EXPECTED TO BE
IMPLEMENTED IN *ANUARY  4HESE TWO BUILDING CODES ADD TO THE
ESTIMATED  GREEN BUILDING CODES IN EXISTENCE GLOBALLY !DDED TO THIS THE
kGREENl CONSTRUCTION SECTOR IS ALSO GROWING DUE TO THE COMMERCIAL VALUE OF
BUILDING GREEN ! REPORT BY 2EAL 0ROPERTY !SSOCIATION OF #ANADA LOOKED
AT BUILDINGS IN .ORTH !MERICA AND THE 5+ AND SHOWED AN EMERGING LINK
BETWEEN GREEN FEATURES AND MARKET VALUE )T IS ACCEPTED NOW THAT BUILDING
SUSTAINABLY MAKES BUSINESS SENSE
k'REENl BUILDINGS ARE NOTHING NEW BUILDINGS THAT AIM AT ENERGY CONSERVATION
SAVING NATURAL RESOURCES AND PRESERVING ENERGY p THE MAIN TENANTS OF
SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE p COULD DESCRIBE THE FUNDAMENTALS OF TRADITIONAL
)SLAMIC ARCHITECTURE AND MANY OTHER FORMS OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN
THE REGION )T HAS ONLY BEEN WITH THE ONSET OF MODERNITY THAT BROUGHT
THOUSANDS OF GLASS AND STEEL TOWERS TO THE REGION WITH NO RELATION TO THE
CONTEXT IN WHICH THEY WERE SITUATED THAT A RETURN TO BUILDINGS THAT RESPECT
THE ENVIRONMENT WAS NEEDED 4HE CONSTRUCTION OF UNSUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
CAN BE SEEN AS AN ABERRATION OF HISTORY AS HUMANS RETURN ONCE AGAIN TO
RESPECT THEIR ENVIRONMENT
)N THIS FEATURE WE COVER THREE BUILDINGS THAT ALL USE THE LANGUAGE OF
SUSTAINABILITY IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION AND PLACE AN EMPHASIS ON CONTEXT &IRST
AND FOREMOST IS THE MULTI AWARD WINNING #HARLES 7 (OSTLER 3TUDENT #ENTER
AT THE !MERICAN 5NIVERSITY OF "EIRUT DESIGNED BY 6INCENT *AMES !SSOCIATES
!RCHITECTS 6*!!  4HEN WE MOVE TO *ORDAN TO LOOK AT THE !QABA 2ESIDENCE
%NERGY %FüCIENCY !2%% PROJECT BY $UTCH ARCHITECT &LORENTINE 6ISSER üNALLY
THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT STATIONS IN !R 2IYADH 3AUDI !RABIA DESIGNED BY #ANADIAN
ARCHITECTS "USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL

96 NOVEMBER’09
Being wasteful is easy; anyone in the world can be inefficient. In the Middle East, with an abundance of oil, the
construction of highly inefficient buildings is almost the norm. Being efficient is difficult; sensitivity, intelligence and
planning are just some of the skills needed. But the beginnings of a change in attitudes have been occurring and
more people in the region are willing to take on this difficult challenge even in the midst of the financial crisis.

4HE #HARLES 7 (OSTLER 3TUDENT #ENTER

Photography, Paul Crosby

97 NOVEMBER’09
design

THE CHARLES W. HOSTLER

STUDENT CENTER
Winner of the Architecture of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2009 Honor Award

4HE #HARLES 7 (OSTLER 3TUDENT #ENTER IS A BUILDING THAT GIVES FULL

UTILIZATION TO THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS WITH REGARDS TO ARCHITECTURE OF
SUN LIGHT AND AIR 4HE 3TUDENT #ENTER IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THE JOINT
UP THINKING THAT SUSTAINABLE DESIGN HAS AT THE HEART OF ITS IDEOLOGY
WHERE ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES FEED INTO EACH OTHER AND WASTE
IS KEPT TO AN ABSOLUTE MINIMUM 4HE SUNlS HEAT IS CAPTURED THROUGH
SOLAR PANELS TO HEAT THE SWIMMING POOL AND SHOWERS THE SUNlS LIGHT IS
FULLY UTILIZED WITHOUT ALLOWING IN TOO MUCH OF ITS HEAT THE WATER FROM
THE SHOWERS ARE RECYCLED FOR IRRIGATION AND FOR ČUSHING TOILETS

6INCENT *AMES !SSOCIATES !RCHITECTS 6*!! WAS CHOSEN FROM AMONG 

SUBMISSIONS IN A COMPETITION THAT LASTED A TOTAL OF FOUR MONTHS 4HE
PROPOSED 3TUDENT #ENTER BY 6*!! THAT WON THE COMPETITION DID SO ON
THE BASIS OF ITS SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS (OWEVER WHAT
REALLY MADE 6*!!lS DESIGN STAND OUT FROM THE REST WAS THE COMPANYlS
PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE SURROUNDINGS AND ALTHOUGH COMING OBVIOUSLY
FROM A -ODERN -OVEMENT ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE ITS FUSION OF TRADITIONAL
,EVANTINE ARCHITECTURAL STYLES 4HE 3TUDENT #ENTER IS A ČUID AND CONüDENT
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN THAT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY RECOGNISED BY THE !MERICAN
)NSTITUTE OF !RCHITECTS !)! AS ONE OF THE %NVIRONMENTAL 4OP 4EN 'REEN
0ROJECTS FOR  &URTHER TO THIS 6*!! ALSO WON THE !)! )NSTITUTE (ONOR
!WARD FOR  FOR THE 3TUDENT #ENTER -ANY OTHER AWARDS ALSO FOLLOWED
FOR THE 3TUDENT #ENTER AND 6*!! 4HE AWARD FOR THE 3TUDENT #ENTER WAS
GIVEN BY THE !)! FOR ITS NON HIERARCHICAL SYNTHESIS OF ARCHITECTURE AND
LANDSCAPE TO CREATE A SET OF RICHLY VARIED AND ENVIRONMENTALLY DIVERSE
SPACES FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER AT ALL HOURS 4HE !)! STATED THAT THE BUILDING
PROVIDES A MODEL FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIVE DESIGN THAT MEETS THE
SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE CAMPUS AND THE LARGER REGION
4HE MOST FASCINATING ASPECT OF THE 3TUDENT #ENTER IS THE WAY THAT THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT SHAPED THE DESIGN AND NOT AS IS SO MUCH THE
CASE THE DESIGN SHAPING THE ENVIRONMENT )NSTEAD OF FOLLOWING THE GIVEN
CONCEPT FOR THE 3TUDENT #ENTER THAT CALLED FOR A SINGLE LARGE BUILDING
6*!! PROPOSED A CLUSTER OF üVE SEPARATE BUT INTERLINKED UNITS %ACH OF
THESE UNITS WOULD HAVE ITS OWN FUNCTION A SWIMMING POOL GYMNASIUM
SQUASH COURT CAFÀ AND AUDITORIUM 4HE PLAN PROPOSED BY 6*!! LITERALLY
INTEGRATED THE OUTSIDE ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THEIR BUILDING SUCCESSFULLY
CHALLENGING THE USUAL INTERNALEXTERNAL RELATIONSHIP OF BUILDINGS AND
THEIR ENVIRONMENT
)N ESTABLISHING THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BUILDING AND ITS ENVIRONMENTAL
CONTEXT 6*!! HAVE FULLY UTILIZED THE EXTERNAL ELEMENTS !S THE BUILDINGS
ARE A CLUSTER OF üVE THE SPACES BETWEEN THEM HAVE BEEN DESIGNED SO THAT
THEY mREDISTRIBUTE AIR ACTIVITY AND SHADE TO FORM A CONTINUOUS üELD OF
HABITABLE SPACE AND A VARIETY OF MICROCLIMATESn THE OUTLINE FOR THE PROJECT
STATES 4HE BUILDINGS ARE ORIENTATED NORTHWARD INSTEAD OF TRADITIONALLY
PLACING THEM ALONG AN EAST WEST AXIS 4HIS ENABLES THE BUILDING TO HELP
SHADE EXTERIOR COURTYARDS REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF SOUTHERN EXPOSURE AND

98 NOVEMBER’09
HEAVY SHADING DEVICES HAVE ALSO BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO BLOCK THE HARSHEST )N A CITY GETTING DEVOURED BY VERTICAL BUILDINGS CREATING A CHAOTIC
RAYS 0LANTED ROOFS INCREASE THE INSULATION AND SOLAR ROOF PANELS HEAT LANDSCAPE OF DEFORMED NAILS THIS BUILDING IS A QUIET STATEMENT OF A MORE
THE POOL AND SHOWER WATER ,OCALLY MADE 3YRIAN SANDSTONE WAS USED PROGRESSIVE WAY OF BEING
THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING AND ALSO THE VEGETATION IS MADE UP OF DROUGHT 6*!! BASED OUT OF -INNEAPOLIS !MERICA BASE THEIR PHILOSOPHY ON
TOLERANT INDIGENOUS PLANTS WHAT THEY CALL A mPOLYVALENTn APPROACH TO DESIGN 0OLYVALENT A TERM
6*!! HAVE BUILT A CLEAR BUT INTRICATE WEB OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE BORROWED FROM #HEMISTRY MEANING HAVING MORE THAN ONE VALENCE WHICH
EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL 4HIS COULD BE ARGUED TO BE PART OF THE LOCAL DETERMINES THE NUMBER OF ATOMS OR GROUPS WITH WHICH ANY SINGLE ATOM
INČUENCES AS THE PRINCIPALS OF VERNACULAR )SLAMIC ARCHITECTURE ARE VERY OR GROUP WILL UNITE CHEMICALLY /R AS 6*!! DEüNES THEIR mPOLYVALENTn
MUCH A MERGING OF THE INTERNAL AND THE EXTERNAL 4HE VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE A DIVERSE AND ADAPTABLE ARCHITECTURE THAT EMBRACES ECOLOGY
)SLAMIC STYLE OFTEN HAD AN EXTERNAL COURTYARD AS THE CENTRAL ELEMENT CULTURE CONTEXT AND TECHNOLOGY &ORTUNATELY 6*!!lS ARCHITECTURE IS NOT AS
OF THE BUILDING THE INTERNAL  4HE UNIMPOSING NATURE OF THE BUILDING NEEDLESSLY COMPLICATED AND OSTENTATIOUS AS THEIR USE OF LANGUAGE )NSTEAD
COMPLETELY HIDES THE SCALE OF THE SPACES THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED 4HE THEIR mCOMPREHENSIVEn OR IF YOU HAVE TO USE JARGON mHOLISTICn APPROACH
RESULT IS A BUILDING THAT LOCKS INTO ITS LANDSCAPE 4HIS IS A BUILDING THAT TO ARCHITECTURE IS A CLEAR ARTICULATION OF INTELLIGIBLE AND HUMAN SUSTAINABLE
HAS A HORIZONTAL RATHER THAN VERTICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS ENVIRONMENT DESIGN OF THE HIGHEST STANDARD

Photography, Paul Crosby

99 NOVEMBER’09
design

AQABA RESIDENCE
ENERGY EFFICIENCY (AREE)

4HE !QABA 2ESIDENCE %NERGY %FüCIENCY !2%% LOCATED IN THE !QABA

REGION OF *ORDAN IS A SMALL SCALE PROJECT WITH AMBITIOUS AIMS 4HE
PROJECT WAS FUNDED ALMOST SINGLE HANDILY BY 4ARIQ %MTAIRAH A *ORDANIAN
WORKING IN 3WEDEN WHO WANTED TO SHOW THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN !QABA
THAT BUILDING SUSTAINABLY CAN BE COST EFFECTIVE 4HIS IS A LESSON WE CAN
ALL LEARN FROM

!QABA IS A REGION THAT IS CURRENTLY DOMINATED BY DESERT BUT IS SLATED

TO GROW FROM  INHABITANTS TO  4HIS ENORMOUS GROWTH IN
POPULATION WILL HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND
%MTAIRAH WANTED TO ENCOURAGE THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY TO PUT IN PLACE
GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION ,OCAL GOVERNMENT OFüCIALS WERE
SCEPTICAL THAT PLACING MORE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION COULD BE DONE
WITHOUT THE BURDEN OF ADDED COST %MTAIRAH WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO
SHOW THE GOVERNMENT THAT SUSTAINABILITY COULD BE COST EFFECTIVE AND
THAT HE COULD STOP LOW AND MEDIUM INCOME FAMILIES SPENDING MONEY
ON EXPENSIVE APPLIANCES SUCH AS AIR CONDITIONING WHICH OF COURSE ALSO
GREATLY HARMS THE ENVIRONMENT
! SMALL PRIVATE COMPETITION WAS HELD FOR THE !2%% PROJECT AND $UTCH
ARCHITECT &LORENTINE 6ISSER WAS SELECTED BECAUSE OF HER DESIGNS AND
ATTACHMENT TO COST EFFECTIVENESS AND SIMPLICITY 4HE FUNDAMENTAL GOAL OF
THE PROJECT 6ISSER STATED WAS TO BE ABLE TO CREATE mA PASSIVE COOLING
STRATEGY THAT PREVENTS HEAT ACCUMULATION IN THE SUMMER AND HEAT LOSS IN
THE WINTERn !2%% BEGAN IN  AND WITH THE HELP OF THE 2OYAL *ORDANIAN
3CIENTIüC 3OCIETY AND THE #ENTER FOR THE 3TUDY OF THE "UILT %NVIRONMENT
THE üRST ULTRA ENERGY EFüCIENT BUILDING IN *ORDAN WAS ESTABLISHED 4HE
DESIGN BY 6ISSER ENSURED THAT THE CONTEXTUAL ENVIRONMENT AND LOCAL
PRACTICE WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE 3O IN STARTING THE
PROJECT AN ANALYSIS OF SUNSHINE WIND CONDITIONS ON SITE VIEWS AND THE
MOST COMMON CONSTRUCTION METHODS USED IN *ORDAN WERE CARRIED OUT
6ISSER BELIEVES AND HAS SHOWN IN !2%% THAT THROUGH ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
ENERGY AND MATERIAL EFüCIENCY CAN BE ACHIEVED m4HE PASSIVE USE OF SOLAR
ENERGY IS OPTIMIZED BY THE ORIENTATION AND LAYOUT OF THE HOUSE 3PACES USED
FOR BRIEF PERIODS BATHROOMS GARAGE CORRIDOR ARE LOCATED ON THE SOUTH
WEST SIDE THE HOTTEST AREA OF THE HOUSEn 6ISSER STATED IN HER DESCRIPTION
OF THE PROJECT /THER METHODS OF TRYING TO KEEP THE BUILDING COOL THROUGH
LOW COST SOLUTIONS INCLUDED TAKING THE CEMENT BLOC A COMMONLY USED
MATERIAL AND MAKING IT MORE EFüCIENT ! VOLCANIC AGGREGATE WAS MIXED
WITH THE CONCRETE AND WAS LOCALLY SOURCED FROM THE -ADABA GOVERNATE
SO THAT THE CONCRETE RETAINS MORE HEAT AND THUS ACTING AS ANOTHER LAYER
OF INSULATION /THER MORE TECHNICAL BUT SIMPLE TECHNIQUES WERE ALSO USED

100 NOVEMBER’09
SUCH AS INSULATING ALL PARTS OF THE STRUCTURE THAT WOULD LET HEAT LEAK IN OR THIS IS THE
OUT REINFORCED CONCRETE COLUMNS AND ČOOR SLABS &URTHER TO THIS BASIC
INSULATION TECHNIQUES SUCH AS DOUBLE GLAZING AND NATURAL VENTILATION
FIRST TIME
WERE ALSO USED !MONG THE HIGH TECH SOLUTIONS BEYOND THE REACH OF THE SUCH A
AVERAGE *ORDANIAN WAS A SOLAR COOLING SYSTEM THAT WAS INSTALLED WITH THE
HELP OF A GRANT FROM THE %UROPEAN #OMMISSION m4HIS SOLAR COOLING SYSTEM SYSTEM HAS
USES HOT WATER FROM SOLAR PANELS AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR AN ABSORPTION BEEN USED
CHILLER THAT PRODUCES CHILLED WATER TO COOL THE SPACEaTHE SUN HEATS THE
WATER NEEDED TO RUN THE COOLING SYSTEMn EXPLAINED 6ISSER IN !RCHINED FUTURE COSTS
4HIS IS THE üRST TIME SUCH A SYSTEM HAS BEEN USED IN *ORDAN AND ALTHOUGH WILL BE
IT IS AN EXPENSIVE TECHNOLOGY AT THE MOMENT IT IS HOPED FUTURE COSTS WILL
BE LOWER AS THE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPS 4HE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT IN A DRY LOWER AS THE
REGION IS OF COURSE HOW THE WATER IS TREATED !LL THE GRAY WATER FROM THE
SINKS AND SHOWERS IS DIRECTLY REUSED FOR THE GARDEN WHILE THE GARDEN IS
TECHNOLOGY
PLANTED WITH DROUGHT TOLERANT VARIETIES OF PLANTS DEVELOPS

Photography, Joseph Zakarian

101 NOVEMBER’09
design

AIR RIYAHD
LIGHT RAILWAY STATIONS

4HE LOVE OF CARS IN THE REGION IS WELL KNOWN AND 3AUDI !RABIA IS NO
EXCEPTION 4HE CHALLENGE IN TRYING TO CHANGE THE CAR CULTURE IS IMMENSE
4HE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO START BY BUILDING A ,IGHT 2AILWAY 3YSTEM
IN 2IYADH 4HIS SYSTEM WILL CONSIST OF TWO LINES THAT WILL CONNECT THE
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT WITH THE SUBURBS OF !R 2IYADH 4HE #ANADIAN
ARCHITECTURAL üRM "USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED TO DESIGN
FOR THE !R 2IYADH $EVELOPMENT THREE PROTOTYPE STATIONS )F ACCEPTED A
TOTAL OF  STATIONS WILL BE BUILT OVER THE NEXT üVE YEARS

)N THE PUNISHING HEAT OF 3AUDI !RABIA THERE IS NO WAY OF AVOIDING THE

USE OF AIR CONDITIONING .O AMOUNT OF CROSS VENTILATION OR CARE IN THE
POSITIONING OF THE BUILDING IN RELATION TO THE SUN IS ABLE TO OVERCOME THE
SEARING DAILY TEMPERATURES IN A COUNTRY WITH THE LARGEST MASS OF SAND ON
THE PLANET (OWEVER "USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL HAVE DONE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
TO ENSURE THAT PROTECTION FROM THIS HEAT IS AS SUSTAINABLE AS POSSIBLE 4O DO
THIS "USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL ARE PROPOSING CREATING WHAT COULD BE ONE OF THE
LARGEST INSTALLATIONS OF 0HOTOVOLTAIC 06 PANELS IN THE WORLD 3TEEL WEBS
THAT SUPPORT THE TRANSLUCENT GLASS OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE STATIONS WILL
HAVE INTEGRATED WITHIN 06 PANELS 4HESE 06 PANELS WILL NOT ONLY BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE  PERCENT OF THE OPERATIONAL NEEDS FOR THE STATIONS INCLUDING
THE POWER HUNGRY AIR CONDITIONING UNITS BUT WILL ALSO PRODUCE SURPLUS
ELECTRICITY 4HE HIGHLY AMBITIOUS STATIONS BY "USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL WOULD Photography, Busby Perkins
TURN THESE STATIONS INTO MINI POWER STATIONS AS THEY COULD POTENTIALLY
PROVIDE FOUR TIMES THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY NEEDED TO RUN THEM

"USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL STATE THAT EACH OF THE  PROPOSED STATIONS WILL BE
UNIQUE IN THEIR DESIGN AS EVERY ONE OF THEM IS SHAPED ON THE BASIS OF
GAINING THE OPTIMAL ORIENTATION AND SUN SHADING STRATEGIES 4HE CONTEXT IS
LEADING THE DESIGN 4HE ENVIRONMENT HAS ALSO SHAPED THE BUILDING THROUGH
ITS AESTHETIC DESIGN "USBY 0ERKINS  7ILL HAVE CREATED A GEOMETRIC PATTERN
THAT IS A RESULT OF THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN THE 06 PANELS AND THE PATTERNED
GLASS STRUCTURE

Deen Sharp

102 NOVEMBER’09
 BUSBY
PERKINS + WILL
ARE PROPOSING
CREATING ONE
OF THE LARGEST
PHOTOVOLTAIC
(PV) PANELS IN
THE WORLD

s + Will

103 NOVEMBER’09