Application of high technology in urban life
When we appreciate a city for the first time, the first thing we notice is the building, so the impact of building on the city is very important and intuitive. The high-tech building materials, structural modelling, and relationship and connection with the city it uses give people a completely different feeling and reshape the urban space. It represents the historical style and cultural characteristics of local architecture. So I look at the impact of architecture on urban design from the perspective and dimension of urban design.
1. Queens Quay Heat Network Water source heat pump systems
[1]https://www.vitalenergi.co.uk/our-work/queens-quay-heat-network-design/
The system has been refined over the last 30 years, with future-proof energy schemes designed and practised in cities across the UK. “It is the largest scheme of its kind in the UK and will capture heat from the River Clyde to heat local homes and businesses.”[1] Demonstrating the feasibility of a large-scale heat pump project in the UK. It will have a profound impact on the planning and design of urban housing by delivering it to residents through an underground district heating network system, thus revolutionising the way people use domestic energy.
The principle is to use mud and sewage to recover the latent heat energy absorbed by the sea, rivers and lakes. The water source heat pump system has proved itself to be a compelling solution for a wide range of buildings and residential stock. It effectively reduces residential energy costs. The use of a visual app provides easier payment and maintenance. Reduces carbon emissions through the use of innovative water source heat pumps. “The final outlay will be equivalent to the total carbon footprint of over 1240 residents.” [2] Improving the security of supply and ensuring minimum downtime and continuous access to heat for all customers. This has led to the growth and prosperity of surrounding cities and the formation of urban agglomerations. It reflects the UK government’s proactive approach to energy scarcity and its commitment to sustainable development.
- Berlin Cube Use of high-tech materials
The use of high-tech materials on the Berlin Cube façade makes the building a sculpture in the middle of the square and a landmark in the vicinity of Berlin Central Station. Contrary to the traditional concept, it is the product of the most current intelligent building technology in Germany. Its angular, clean and simple façade design fully demonstrates the rigour of the Germans and the strength of the developed European heavy industry. On the one hand, the façade follows the standard cube structure; on the other hand, the unique triangular reliefs on the façade give the building a geometric variation. The use of highly reflective, high-strength composite glass materials, set at special angles to reflect the urban landscape, creates new opportunities for interaction with the city.
The functional use of solar coating on the outer skin of the double façade provides a controlled capture of energy from the heat with a high energy effect. The whole is centred around the ‘barrel’. Internally, there are several detachable self-contained units connected by an internal atrium. “The building is designed to meet the needs of flexible office layouts and to change the structure in the future as required. It invites users to interact with the building through ‘bring-your-own-device’, encouraging daily communication and social activities. With the smart facilities, users can customise and control the following functions: access control, room heating and cooling control, equipment maintenance, energy supply, room and parking reservations, electric car/bike charging, etc.” [3]
[3]https://www.archiposition.com/items/20200517010
Storage of building operation information in large servers. The servers are connected to the various intelligent systems of the Berlin Cube to monitor energy consumption and maximise energy use. Excellence in sustainability, design, digitalisation and comfort, which can be achieved by combining groundbreaking design with user comfort, proves a healthy and efficient workplace.
- Karle Town Centre
Design of large botanical gardens and user perception design of public space
Designed through the overall system architecture. Filtering of solar radiation, thus mitigating temperature changes in the environment. Large green plant spaces are planted and designed with integrated technology to control surface heat gain through thermal buffering, reduce unwanted urban draughts and filter fine dust from the urban air. A large groundwater retention area is created for the irrigation of on-site vegetation and the storage and disposal of grey water.
[4]https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/11717/karle-town-centre
Sustainable urban design and user data analysis become the basis and key to a flexible and healthy environment. “Integrating sensory technologies such as the design of building gates, the use of road monitoring systems, and the analysis of weather, location, and culture by Internet AI into master plans.” [4] Collecting user data and adapting environmental controls to the physical, psychological and social well-being of users makes the built environment more responsive. Maximising passive design techniques so that the built environment makes the most of natural light and prevailing wind feedback to users.
[5]https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/11717/karle-town-centre
Once high technology has been implemented, big data systems can disrupt the logical way cities behave. The technological dimension of the connection allows the citizen to become the performer of the city or even the designer of the environment, interacting in interesting ways through space. The dimensions are, I think, the monolithic buildings, the greenery settings, the transport community systems, etc., such as those that can improve the efficiency of the use of space, those that can provide a better experience in the public shared space, in the open space, in line with the current environment, and those that offer new functions and possibilities for historical and cultural buildings. The ultimate aim of urban design is to find more connections between cities and buildings, and between cities and people, to achieve sustainable development. The most direct medium for this is the architecture of the city.
Reference
[2]https://www.vitalenergi.co.uk/our-work/queens-quay-heat-network-design/
[3]https://www.archiposition.com/items/20200517010331
[4]https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/11717/karle-town-centre
Image references:
[1]https://www.vitalenergi.co.uk/our-work/queens-quay-heat-network-design/
[2]https://www.archiposition.com/items/20200517010331 [3]https://www.archdaily.cn/cn/936059/bo-lin-li-fang-ti-san-jiao-zhe-she-li-mian-bao-guo-xia-de-zhi-neng-jian-zhu-3xn
[4]https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/11717/karle-town-centre
[5]http://senseable.mit.edu/papers/pdf/20120513_Roche_etal_SmartCities_SpatiallyEnabling.pdf
