Thursday, 14 May 2015

Week 11 submission: Draft Project Analysis for Assignment 3.2

Botswana Innovation Hub 

SHoP Architects


In SHoP’s work, Botswana Innovation Hub, the structures’ intention to uphold its sustainable architecture is established whilst nature is unified in an interrelated composition represented by its organic form. It is through the interrelationship between nature and architecture that allows such processes – such as morphogenesis - to increase the range of inspirations available to designers, like SHoP, who find it in their intention to enhance future change and growth. With particular focus on constructing in phases by following a process, it enables maximum collaboration amongst architects, engineers and builders, thus, eliminating the gap, and “the features of architectural representation that make space for the mystery, the obfuscation and the mendacity, that has for at least a century now separated those who draw from those who build”. This unique process maximises accuracy in such innovative design techniques, such as the “Energy Blanket” [1] roofscape, which freely, “overhangs passively to shade the building’s interior volumes, while mechanisms collect and re-use water, and both passive and active photovoltaic systems harness solar energy” [2]. The roof sweeping over each slender structure on site, often referred to as the "green roof", is of iconic nature whilst it remains aesthetic yet functional with its photovoltaics which collects the sun's energy. Also, a roof garden filled with indigenous species which collect rainwater for reuse will allow the structure to blend seamlessly with the surrounding environment.

Above: Development of the basket weave pattern.
Below: Pattern projected onto interior of the buildings auditorium where it also will serve as an acoustic baffle. 

Further design innovations were constructed in order to compliment the structures’ organic based form with the inclusion of a developed basket-weave pattern inspired by the craft traditional to Africa. This central texture had the ability to be, “propagated across a variety of surfaces” [3]. With such versatility, it enables SHoP to enhance the already organic structure with various cultural elements to add to overall aesthetics as well as functional aspects in relation to reducing acoustic baffles within the auditorium. 



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