Interiors » BC No. 3: Sustainable Design in Miami

Brickell Harbor – Stage 1

Project Goals

The Brickell Harbor project is located along the inter-coastal waterway of Miami-FL. The unit has its North facade facing the water and the East facade allowing for a partial view of the same. The client communicated that one of her goals was to maximize the views of the water, since this is her vacation home and a place to relax. A second goal for this project was to take advantage of natural lighting to illuminate the unit as much as possible. Another challenge to be addressed is that the client likes to cook while entertaining but the current kitchen plan is isolated from the living spaces, therefore the proposed scheme has to provide a plan with a better visual/physical connection between the kitchen and the living room. Since this condo unit is the client””s vacation home, she expressed a preference for a Zen/Asian design aesthetic with simple geometry and natural materials.

Assembling the Team

For Brickell Harbor, BC3 has assembled a team of architects and interior designers to tackle the interior architecture challenges. The team members working on this project are:

Jason Tapia

Anaclaudia Magalhaes

Patricia S. Borba

Claudia Aravena

Jahmairi Sainz

Concept

Building Center No. 3 starts examining ideas to solve the project””s challenges. The concept of an open kitchen adjacent to the living spaces begins to develop. The proposed kitchen plan would allow the client to cook while also entertaining her family and guests as she desires. As for maximizing natural lighting, the team studies the idea of using a translucent material on some of the walls and doors between the bedroom and living area to allow natural light to penetrate deeper in the interior spaces. The project””s Interior Designer Jahmairi Sainz and Senior Designer Claudia Aravena, research on materials and finishes that support the clients wishes for a zen and relaxing atmosphere. After the required research, Brickell Harbor begins to further develop its concepts.

-PSB

Sustainable Design in Miami

http://www.bcnumber3.com

BCC Project Manual Win

(source:http://www.skyscrapercity.com)

Building Center No. 3 was hired by Arquitectonica and Arquitectonica Geo to write the specifications for Brickell City Center. The scope of work includes generating the project manuals for the architecture and landscape component of the project. BC3 is working closely together with the above firms in an integrated approach to deliver successful technical specifications.

-PSB

Sustainable Design in Miami

http://www.bcnumber3.com

Prime Air Progress Report- Stage 1

Project Goals

Prime Air project begins its design phase. The team starts researching the site and getting familiar with the client””””s perception of value for the project. Prime Air is a supplier of airplane parts to worldwide clients and specific program requirements get the team doing their homework!

The studies lead the team to conclude on four main design ideas for Prime Air Headquarters:

integrate the three disciplines of architecture, interior design and landscape in the design of the project.
provide a solution to assist the company in the transition of employees having private offices to an open work-space environment.
maximize user groups”””” access to natural light
maintain the original industrial aesthetics in the indoor spaces while also strengthening the Art-Deco cues on the existing facade.

The program component of Prime Air also has challenging goals. The team must keep the extended work area within a 3,000 sq ft footprint so not too much space is taken from the storage area required. Addition of conference and fitness rooms must be addressed as well. Building Center No. 3 starts sketching schemes that comply with the desired goals for Prime Air.

Assembling the Team

BC3 puts together a team of two architects, a landscape architect and an interior designer to develop the design and construction document phases of this project. The team members are:

Jason Tapia AIA, LEED AP, NCARB is a registered architect in Florida and New York. He earned a B. Arch at Cornell University and an M.S. in Architecture Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has been practicing architecture for fifteen years and is a Principal at Building Center No. 3, LLC. Areas of expertise include the design of buildings using life cycle assessment tools, building performance modeling and passive design strategies. He currently resides in Miami, FL.

Anaclaudia Magalhaes is a landscape designer who completed her studies at Florida International University. She earned her Associates in Arts in the discipline of architecture at Miami Dade College. She is originally from Brazil but has resided in Miami, FL for the past 10 years. Her academic work focus includes investigating context-driven concept solutions fostering community and environment. She currently works at Building Center No.3.

Patricia S. Borba earned a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Florida International University. She is working on her professional Bachelor of Architecture as well as a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University. Patricia is a designer and trained architect currently at Building Center No. 3. She is originally from Brazil and has lived in South Florida since 2001. Her career focuses on researching and practicing environmentally responsible design while producing high performance buildings.

Yamile Leon is an Interior Designer at Building Center No. 3. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design and minored in Fine Arts at Florida International University. She is currently working on a Master of Arts in Architecture. Her work focuses on meeting the needs of the user through an aesthetic, conceptually-driven design that relates to the exterior environment.

Research-Based Concept

BC3 decides to target the project””s goal of integrating the three disciplines by the creation of a Green Zone that will tie the outside area with the insides spaces of the building. The transition from private office to an open work-space will be eased by using the concept of “neighborhoods” to define a more private zone within an open area. Natural light will be addressed with the positioning of the rooms on the South side of the workspace, leaving the open area facing the facade with the most glazing. Prime Air is now ready to enter phase 2…

-PSB

Sustainable Design in Miami

http://www.bcnumber3.com

Praça da Cultura – Stage 2

Praça da Cultura has now entered schematic design phase. Research of precedence studies and seed inspirational images begin to generate ideas for the development of the project (01-04). The team also studied the native plans of the area and their connection to the local culture which could influence the design of the project. In discussions with the locals it was observed that they lamented the loss of the water body located on the site years ago. The design ideas seek to reconnect the people with the water and give back the sense of nature in the site.

: 01

: 02

: 04

: 03

Programmatic diagrams are developed to analyze the optimal functions of the proposed site plan. A hybrid study of programmatic zones is then created to establish major functions such as the insertion of a water body as a central element in the project and the creation of recreational spaces for the public (05). The team then starts developing design schemes to express these ideas. Image 06 shows a scheme where the green areas represent a strong physical and visual connection with the Northeast side of the park. The design is expressed through rectilinear motifs that would later dictate the placement of landscape and courtyards. Image 7 takes the more literal interpretation of the water as a central element and emphasizes the central placement of the water body. Circulation happens around the periphery of the site and an athletic center is proposed on the North side. Image 08 is a scheme that expresses the idea of the linkage element concept. This linkage element runs along the park interlinking the programmatic zones. The water in this scheme runs along the edge of the project to attract pedestrians into the square. This water sequence then connects to the main body of water on the Southern area of the site. With so many ideas, the team now needs to develop a hybrid design that addresses the successful strategies of each scheme. To be continued…

(06)

-PSB

Sustainable Design in Miami

http://www.bcnumber3.com

Praça da Cultura – Stage 1

Project Goals

The Praça da Cultura Competition is located in a public square in Alagoas, Brazil. The theme of the competition is open but the sociocultural impact and sustainability are questions that must be considered by the teams. The inclusion or exclusion of urban facilities could be proposed thus determining the future use of the square. The Praça da Cultura project may be LEED certified in the future by the Green Building Council of Brazil and for that reason the project needs to meet the requirements to be certified at the basic level, which requires a minimum of 40 points. The goals of the project were to provide a site plan that took advantage of the spaces views of the location while ascertaining the needs of the end users.

Assembling the Team

BC3 has arranged a team of three architects and a landscape designer who are ready to tackle this competition. One of the architects resides in Brazil and is familiar with the local culture of the site. This international and multidisciplinary group of skilled team members will work together to solve the challenges of this interesting site.

Jason Tapia AIA, LEED AP, NCARB is a registered architect in Florida and New York. He earned a B. Arch at Cornell University and an M.S. in Architecture Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has been practicing architecture for thirteen years and is a Principal at Building Center No. 3, LLC. Areas of expertise include the design of buildings using life cycle assessment tools, building performance modeling and passive design strategies. He currently resides in Miami, FL.

Deborah Buelow LEED AP has eight years of experience practicing architecture New York and Boston. She earned her B.Arch from Iowa State University and an M.S. in Architecture Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a focus on Architecture and Urbanism. Her projects have ranged in scale from furniture to urban design, but her interest lies in making urban space more habitable. She currently resides and is practicing in Boston, MA.

Sergio Augusto Faroni is a registered architect and a civil engineer with a degree from FAAP – Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado – Sao Paulo – Brazil. Sergio is currently working in the city of Sao Paulo and is the principal/owner of Faroni Paisagismo Ltda. He works with landscape and sustainability projects internationally.

Research-Based Concept

Our research of the site revealed the opportunity for the project to serve as a civic as well as a recreational space. The Praça da Cultura project starts to explore the design of spaces that are flexible and unique to the context of the city of Penedo while also enhancing civic pride and possibly becoming a tourist attraction. The concept idea consisted of a linkage element that interconnects the project””s programmatic zones physically and visually. This linkage element also organizes these zones in a ritual path from the North to the South side which are separated by the pedestrian axis. The programmatic zones become expressed by motifs that repeat itself throughout the site. The ideas are rolling and Praça da Cultura will soon start developing its shape.

-PSB

Sustainable Design in Miami

http://www.bcnumber3.com

Sweet & More Project Complete

Building Center No. 3 has completed Sweet & More project and the store has now opened the doors to clientele. Sweet & More is a creamery retail store located in South Beach- FL. BC3 worked closely with the client to meet the their space and aesthetic requirements.

-PSB

Sustainable Design in Miami

http://www.bcnumber3.com

GIC Project Completed

The GIC project has now completed construction phase. BC3 remodeled the interior spaces of GIC condominium unit by using research-based solutions for the space planning strategies. The kitchen was originally enclosed by walls and disconnected from the living spaces (A). The team proposed a scheme that took down two of these walls opening up the kitchen to the living spaces and allowing natural light to flood in the kitchen (B). In this scheme the team also optimized the spatial organization of the kitchen. The microwave was moved into the mixing area (9) and extended the counter along that same wall to allow more countertop space (6) and storage (1). The breakfast table (2) was moved closer to living room where more of the social activities take place. The serving center (3) was maintained where originally desired but the cook center (4) was shifted in order to tighten the “work triangle.” The work triangle is the relationship of the sink to the refrigerator to the cook center. A tightened work triangle creates a more efficient kitchen workflow. The client””s vision for the floor plan flattened the work triangle and extended the distance to the cook center. Lastly, BC3 moved the wine and beverage center to (10) and (11) closer to the dining area that it would serve. This freed up the closet (12) for additional household storage.

(A) Existing Plan

(B) Proposed Plan

-PSB

Sustainable Design in Miami

http://www.bcnumber3.com

Prime Air Win!

www.heico.com/PrimeAir-PrimeAirEurope

Building Center No 3 wins Prime Air project! Prime Air is a supplier of quality aircraft parts to the worldwide commercial, regional and corporate aircraft aftermarket. BC3 is now designing the company””””s headquarters located in Miami-Fl. The scope of work includes redesigning the entire interior floor plan, some exterior alterations and an addition of a landscape component. The program will include office spaces, conference rooms, a fitness room, an outdoor patio, and a warehouse storage area. This project is up and running by a team of two architects, an interior designer and a landscape architect.

-PSB

Sustainable Design in Miami

http://www.bcnumber3.com

Completed BHC Drawings

Building Center No 3 has now completed, signed and sealed the drawings for BHC project. This condominium unit””””s interior spaces were completely relocated and redesigned to the clients lifestyle. The client expressed a desire for a serene Asian theme which dictated our choice of a neutral color scheme and materials selection. The client disliked the original kitchen location since she enjoys being closer to her family while she prepares the family””””s meals. The kitchen was relocated to the West wall of the living room where she can have an open view and closer connection to the entertainment spaces. The original kitchen space was used to give the family an informal dinning area. BC3 was able to take advantage of solar orientation by adding glass to the guest bedroom wall to bring natural light to the living room. The client wanted to have more views of the ocean and for that reason all the views were directed to water. The balcony faces North and East and the master bedroom faces East having a front view of the water edge.The master bedroom vanity was also separated from other bathroom activities allowing the client to have a defined space for grooming. The project will now begin construction phase and within two months it will ready for move in!

-PSB

Sustainable Design in Miami

http://www.bcnumber3.com

Sustainable by Necessity – Stage 3

SBN has reached full development (01-02). We have designed a 1,281 sq ft home that addresses affordability and sustainability while also providing the infrastructure for incremental growth over time (03). One way affordability is addressed in SBN is the concept of incremental growth. Though a family may have limited means today, the proposal provides the necessary structure to expand the home and add an income producing unit on the flat roof of the master bedroom suite. The LGW (Living Green Walls) can be transformed to support the roof of a future carport. By creating two wings of the home, the proposal seeks to highlight the importance of the dining room and open kitchen as the heart of the home. The bedrooms private nature contrasts with that of the other more public spaces. The dining space mediates and provides the bridge at the axial shift that occurs in plan (04). The designed site plan provides seating areas on the North and South sides and rainwater harvesting tanks along the East and West facades (05).

Saving energy over the operating phase of the home requires an airtight envelope, good insulation in the roof and walls, quality windows and exterior shading to reduce solar heat gain. The building envelope is comprised of the exterior shading in the form of the living green wall (LGW), insulated glass units, structural insulated panels (SIPs) R-22, and a white standing seam metal roof with R-30 insulation as required by code (06). On the South side of the home 24 inch overhangs are provided together with the LGWs to shade both the windows and walls. Inside SBN, the choice of flooring materials speaks to the different zones of the project. The public zone is treated with resilient flooring. Carpet was chosen as the flooring option for the private zones (07). The color of the interior walls followed the same concept. The public spaces are represented by three different colors that also make reference to the landscape (08).

Smaller homes use less material and less energy. As mentioned, the proposal is sized at 1281sf. The total estimated cost construction cost is $129K (10).The savings in size allows more money for exterior improvements and the hybrid HVAC system. Affordability needs to shift away from a simple consideration of upfront costs towards life cycle costs. Regular maintenance homes have a potential life cycle of over 60 years. A family considering an affordable sustainable home should also consider monthly expenses that a well-designed home can reduce compared to a conventional home. Examples in this proposal are:

1) energy use

2) water conservation

Both are elements that contribute significantly to monthly expenses and both are costs that over time will only increase. This proposal reduces the carbon and water footprint of the home (11) but requires additional upfront costs that can be recovered over the life cycle of the home. When the savings, annually, is capitalized, the initial investment is further justified. ATHENA was used to calculate carbon equivalents and Energy Plus to calculate energy performance. Given the humidity in all three regions, natural air ventilation is ineffective. Instead the proposal uses a hybrid system (12):

1) dehumidifier

2) 220 sf of hot water collector coils

3) fan coil unit

4) heat pump.

The system yields a 40% annual energy savings over a conventional split unit system used in isolation. This allows the hybrid system to achieve a higher Coefficient of Performance (COP). Annual kWH for the proposal are 11,000 kWH, with peak cooling at 4000 kWH. SBN has now attempted to redefine affordable and sustainable housing in 21^st century Florida.

-PSB

Sustainable Design in Miami

http://www.bcnumber3.com