Swansea
Print Workshop @
Kings
Lane Warehouse
now viewing: Kings Lane Warehouse / The New Building / Architect's Proposal / Sustainable Design
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Sustainable Design
MATERIALITY
Our sustainable approach to the renovation of the print workshop dictated that we salvage as much of the original structure as possible. This begins with the retention of the stone shell, and carries on to the re-use of the internal structure, which will be carefully removed and made good. There is an opportunity to use these materials in unusual and expressive ways that signify the overall revitalization of the building, which itself is no longer serving its original purpose, but another instead.
The greatest salvageable material is the timber from the internal beams, joists, and floorboards. The intention is to use this timber as cladding for the roof and upper walls that are part of the new object inserted into the existing shell and extending above it. Using the old beams, joists, and floorboards in this new capacity is like turning the building inside out, a symbol of the process it has undergone. In addition, the rubble from the excavation of the ground floor and the demolition of stone from new openings will be used in gabion baskets to clad the first floor columns. Other re-uses include the creation of internal screens made from the old wrought iron window frames and the use of existing iron from beams joists to form composite trusses in the roof.
Durable, easy to maintain finishes such as metal mesh, concrete, and plywood have been specified throughout the interior. Surfaces will be treated with light tones and colours to maximise light and create surfaces which are clean, uninterrupted, and ideal for displaying art. Objects such as stairs, partitions, screens, guards, benches, etc are treated as furniture placed throughout the space. Their industrial character is meant to achieve a contrast between the precious and delicate re-use of the existing Victorian elements.
Further detail can be seen in the Structural engineers report
- ENERGY CONSUMPTION
- NEW MATERIAL SELECTION
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY
- ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES
- PV POWER
- SOLAR HEATING
- SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
- GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMP
- WATER CONSERVATION
- DRAINAGE EMISSIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
With the available mains energy supplies on site, the use of renewable energy for the Print Workshop cannot be considered on purely capital cost alone. Renewable energy technologies should only be considered in terms of raising the workshop profile and its application limited to planning constraints and funding approval. However the potential for Grant Funding for a PV installation and the opportunity to displace elements of building fabric are likely to favour this option. However PV will still only provide a small fraction of the overall annual energy demand.
For the workshop PV could be incorporated onto the roof. However a full evaluation of the cost benefit would be required when comparing with roof light materials such as polycarbonate.
Solar water heating should be considered for pre-heating the heating and domestic hot water for the toilet and catering facilities.
Ground Source Heat Pumps are becoming more widely used and the cost of the plant is reducing. The main spend is in laying the pipework or drilling the bore holes. The site has limited ground space and it is not intending to carry out any major excavation works as part of this project, which makes the use of a slinky system uneconomic. (Bore holes could be drilled within or adjacent to the building though given the economy of scale it would be many years before the Workshop realised any returns on their capital investment.