Multi-Family Sustainable Design
Residential Architecture Made for Green Living
Green messages in the media focus on single family homes, but single family units–even the ones that generate most of their own power–do nothing to address urban sprawl. Multi-unit residential design is the answer for many cities faced with increasing urban density and reducing non-renewable energy use.
Foreign Office Architects (FOA) is an international architectural practice based in London, U.K. Poon McKenzie Architects (PMA) is an architectural firm in Calgary, Alberta, and an Ingenium Group Company. These firms demonstrate how to incorporate sustainable design into residential development.
Address Local Context and Orientation
In La Carabanchel, a 93 unit project for social housing in Madrid, FOA addressed the local context and environment by designing unique solar shades. Controlling sunlight, especially in a hot climate, is crucial to the comfort of inhabitants. The housing block had to be oriented east-west, the least favourable orientation from the perspective of light and heat control. Bamboo shutters on the building's exterior give residents control over the amount of light entering their units. From the outside, with the shutters pulled closed, the building has a Latin feeling.
Proximity to Existing Infrastructure
At Riverside Quays, a 683 unit residential complex of ten buildings on a former industrial site near the inner city of Calgary, PMA has produced a design that capitalizes on the neighbourhood’s existing amenities and infrastructure. Residents can walk to natural and cultural attractions, and public transit routes connect the site to Calgary’s business and industrial sectors.
Design Mixed-use Buildings
Single use buildings, such as offices or residences, result in daily energy peaks and valleys. A more efficient way to design is to create mixed-use buildings, combining residences with office and/or retail facilities. This evens out peak energy demand, optimizes use of the building’s mechanical systems and means buildings do not sit empty for a good part of every day.
FOA’s design for high-rise living in Kuala Lumpur offers retail and offices at lower levels, and residences higher up. Operable windows in the residences take advantage of cooling breezes, present at higher elevations even in hot climates.
In Gateway Midtown in Calgary, PMA has produced a mixed-use building for urban living. The building incorporates condominium units with same-floor offices and conference rooms, and access to an in-building fitness facility, rooftop landscaped patio and owners' lounges.
Design for Future Change
The design of La Carabanchel uses the sustainable design concept of loose fit, long life. The floor plate is long and narrow, and fully glazed on both long facades. Access to the units is through a series of concrete cores with elevator shafts, scattered the length of the building. There is nothing structural inside each unit; the interior could be demolished and completely changed without changing the exterior envelope of the building.
Incorporate Alternative Energy Systems
For Gateway South Centre, a 500 unit multi-family project in Calgary, PMA incorporated solar and geothermal energy for heating and cooling the building. Solar thermal collectors on the roof provide hot water to each suite. These collectors also provide supplementary heat to the building’s heat loop system, which involved 330, 70 metre deep boreholes, with vertical heat pumps in each suite. The hybrid system enhanced the developer’s marketing edge and will reduce long-term homeowner utility costs.
Sustainability with Multi-unit Residential Design
The future of sustainable residential design lies in denser urban development. Features to look for include sensitivity to site context, adaptability, and alternative energy systems. Even social housing can be attractive if well designed from a sustainable perspective.
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