1. Designer
Renzo Piano was born in Genoa,
Italy on September 14th, 1937 and
he graduated in 1964 from the
school of Architecture of the
Milan Polytechnic. Some of his
most famous works are the
Kansai International Airport in Osaka Japan, the Pompidou
Museum in France, The New York Times Building, The Jean
Marie Cultural Centre in Tjibaou, Nueva Caledonia, among
others amazing buildings which made him the winner of
several awards including the Prizker Award in 1998.
The Renzo Piano Building Workshop, in collaboration with
local firm Stantec Architecture (formerly Chong Partners),
worked together to create the California Academy of
Sciences, a design that grows out of the institution’s mission,
history, and setting. The
new design unifies the
Academy’s original array of
twelve buildings, which
were built over eight
decades, into a single
modern landmark that
places a visual and intellectual emphasis on the natural world.
2. The university
The California Academy of Sciences is one of the world’s preeminent natural history
museums and is an international leader in scientific research about the natural world.
Founded in 1853 as the first scientific institution in the West, it is the only institution in the
world to house an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and world-class
research and education programs under one roof. This major new initiative builds on the
Academy’s distinguished history and its commitment to advancing scientific literacy,
engaging the public, and documenting and
conserving Earth’s natural resources. Thus, in
Golden Gate Park in San Francisco in the U.S. is built
this fabulous masterpiece. Currently, the institution operates in a number of buildings,
most of which were demolished to be replaced by the new construction. In the words of
Piano, a "modern installation for the exhibition, education, conservation and research
under one roof, according to sustainable design strategies."
3. Design and Sustentable Development
Sustainability is the highlight of this project, for this
reason the Piano’s goal was to create a sense of
transparency and connectedness between the building
and the park through both a careful selection of
materials and a thoughtful arrangement of space. Glass
is used extensively in the exterior walls, allowing visitors
to look through the museum to the surrounding green
space of the park along both the east-west axis and the
north-south axis of the building.
“With the new Academy, we are creating a museum that is visually and functionally linked
to its natural surroundings, metaphorically lifting up a piece of the park and putting a
building underneath,” says architect Renzo Piano. “We are excited to collaborate with the
Academy on a project in which design and mission are so seamlessly integrated. Through
sustainable architecture and innovative design we are adding a vital new element to
Golden Gate Park and expressing the Academy’s dedication to environmental
responsibility.”
These strategies include sustainable design, among other
things, materials from the demolition of the existing building
were completely recycled, recycled steel was used in new
construction, distribution of the green cover was made with
computational modeling for optimum use of natural lighting
according to the agenda of venues, and was designed with
criteria for regulating temperature and passive ventilation.
Probably the most striking element of this new building
environmentally sustainable, is its undulating green roof,
planted with native vegetation. This ceiling, beyond being a
decorative element, allows you to capture rain water, gives thermal insulation to the
building and provides an area of one hectare as ecosystem for hummingbirds and insects
in the area. This roof is surrounded on its perimeter of 60,000 photovoltaic cells for power
generation. The water that was occupying in the building is taken from the sea, with
filtered natural systems and used in the building, to finally be reused for the health
network.
Most of the input energy comes from solar panels on their eaves above and a
remarkable wisdom of Piano was to use native vegetation for the green roof, so to
minimize the consumption of water in irrigation. For the rest, this building consumes
between 30 to 35% less energy than required by law.
Heat and humidity.
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Heat-through slab reduces the need for energy in a 5-10%.
-Implemented with heat recovery systems.
The green-roof generates thermal insulation which makes it unnecessary to resort to air
conditioning systems.
High-efficiency glass were used throughout the building.
-To maintain the museum pieces in the moisture content required using a system of
moisture by reverse osmosis.
Natural light and ventilation.
-90% Of the spaces have natural light and outdoor views.
The line of sky-wave allows ventilation to the central square, which disperses the cool air
into the exhibition spaces.
-The skylights are placed strategically to illuminate the forest reserve and the aquarium.
Automatic windows opens and closes to allow the entry of cold air as the temperature
inside.
Light-sensors that are activated according to the amount of sunlight optimize artificial
light.
Renewable Energy
A perimeter-wing contains 60,000 photovoltaic cells
capable of delivering 213.000kw per year (at least 5%
of total requirements). This prevents a large quantity
of CO2 emissions annually.
-The multi-crystalline cells are the most efficient
market.
Automation in health facilities that allow the filling of
ponds agrees to each use.
Water Consumption
- re-absorption of rainwater:To make the health equipment using reclaimed water from
the city of San Francisco.
The salt-water aquarium will be carried from the Pacific Ocean. For water recycling.
Recycled Building Materials
-About 90% of demolition material was recycled. 9,000 tons of concrete, 12,000 tons of
steel.
-At least 50% of the timber was planted in a sustainable manner and certified by the
Forest Stewardship Council.
-The recycled steel was used by 100% to the building structure.
-The insulation of the walls of the building was based on recycled jeans.
-The concrete has a composition from industrial waste.
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