Designing for Sustainability - Biome Design · HASAV Ð High Altitude Solar Adobe Village was a design commission for a completely sustainable and self-sufficient village, to be built

Architectural HarmonicsArchitectural Harmonics Designing for Sustainability: Biome DesignDesigning for Sustainability: Biome Design © © Copyright 2003Copyright 2003

Designing for SustainabilityDesigning for Sustainability

- Biome Design - - Biome Design -



- Biome Design -- Biome Design -

• Biome Design Concepts

• Community Biome Design –

HASAV (High Altitude Solar Adobe Village)

CONTENTS


Biome Design ConceptBiome Design Concept

The Biome Design approach is applicable to

urban, suburban and rural development in any

and all climatic conditions. Starting with a

comprehensive site analysis, then integrating

the building program (including future growth),

a design can be developed to enhance both

the building’s occupants and the surrounding

landscape, as well. This approach can be

very profitable, not only in monetary return but

also for environmental well being.


Biome DesignBiome Design

– Living, self-sufficient ecosystem

– Integration into Natural Order

• Architectural Design (human needs)

• Local Environment / Climate / Resources

• Appropriate Technologies

– Symbiotic balance between our Buildings and

Landscaping with the Natural Environment

– Designing ourselves into the ecosystem


Biome DesignBiome Design

– Considerations

• Climate cycles and weather patterns

• Topography, Geomancy and Feng Shui

• Vegetation – native and supportive

• Natural Resources – on site and regional

• Indigenous Building Materials

• Appropriate Technologies

• Natural Harmonics and Geometry

• Cultural Landscape and Indigenous Wisdom

• Program – building use and projected growth


Community Biome DesignCommunity Biome Design

HASAV – High Altitude Solar Adobe Village was

a design commission for a completely

sustainable and self-sufficient village, to be built

from strictly organic materials, on a site in the

Colorado mountains, at about 8000 foot

elevation.

Biome Design Principals can be adapted to

virtually any scope of building and development


High Altitude Solar Adobe VillageHigh Altitude Solar Adobe Village

(HASAV)(HASAV)

Design concept for a specific site – Crestone, Colorado


HASAVHASAV

– Biome Design integrates village into Ecosystem

– Village community; year round living for 100 people

– Community School and Conference Center

– Design incorporates Natural Harmonic Proportions

– Key Systems:• Building Construction

• Energy Production

• Food Production and Permaculture

• Water Supply and Distribution

• Storm water Management

• Waste Treatment

• Heating, Cooling and Ventilation

• Community Life and Economic Self-sufficiency


Biome Design Biome Design –– Site Analysis Site Analysis

• Topography

• Climate

• Soil Types

• Vegetation

• Wind Direction

• Sun Exposure

• Water flow

• Chi Energy

• Views

• Access


HASAV - Harmonic Proportions:HASAV - Harmonic Proportions:

Village Plan


Building ConstructionBuilding Construction

– Design• Shaped by topography

• Harmonic Proportions

– Materials• Indigenous

• Organic – non toxic

• Regionally available

– Systems• Domes, arches, vaults

• Cast in place roofs


Building ConstructionBuilding Construction


Energy ProductionEnergy Production

– Photovoltaic Electric System

• Primary energy source for entire village

• 32Kw panel array

• Battery storage: 5-7 days backup

• Designed into site as a retaining wall

– Biogas (Methane) System

• Anaerobic Digester -first stage of waste treatment

• Distributed for cooking


Heating, Cooling and VentilationHeating, Cooling and Ventilation

– Passive Solar Design

• South facing windows and glazing

• Heat storage media

• Attached solar greenhouses

– Ventilation

• Heat chimneys

– Cooling in Summer

– Heat distribution in Winter

– Air circulation and ventilation


Water Supply and DistributionWater Supply and Distribution

– On-site well with PV pump

– 65,000 gallon domestic water cistern

– Sand filtration system

– Gravity-fed distribution through village

– Asecia (stream) flows through village


Storm Water ManagementStorm Water Management

– Design catches all storm water• Roof catchment

• Site runoff

– 25,000 gallon village cistern

– 1,000 gallon home cisterns

– Water retension pond

– Uses• Drip irrigation

• Food production

• Landscaping


Energy and Water SystemsEnergy and Water Systems


Food Production and PermacultureFood Production and Permaculture

– 15 acres of agriculture land

– Bio-intensive greenhouse planting beds

– Bio-intensive garden area under fabric screen

– Medicinal herbs

– Edible landscaping

– Aquaculture tanks (edible fish)

– Small livestock (meat, eggs, milk, cheese)


Site Plan

Food Production and PermacultureFood Production and Permaculture

1. Village Complex

2. Resident Parking

3. Solar PV Fence

4. Cultivation Area

5. Indigenous Planting

6. Planted Windbreak

7. Tension Fabric Cultivation

8. Livestock Barn & Greenhouse

9. Water Retention Pond

10. Equestrian / Bicycle Trail

11. Remote Guest Parking

12. Waiting Shelter / Intercom

INDE

X


Waste TreatmentWaste Treatment

– Centralized sanitary drainage system

• Sewage

• Kitchen waste (garbage disposal)

• Agriculture waste (shreader)

– “Living Machine” -Waste water treatment

• Anarobic Digester extracts gas

• Marsh and pond microecosystems assimilates toxins,

pathogens and heavy metals, leaving water potable

• Air lift pumping areates water and feeds fish tanks

• Tank overflow irrigates agricultural plantings

– Recycling Center


Waste TreatmentWaste Treatment


– Community Center• Theater/meeting hall

• Community school /learning center

• Community kitchen/dining

• Library & computer center

• Art gallery

– Village life aseducational model

– Council governance

Community Life and EconomicCommunity Life and Economic

Self-sufficiencySelf-sufficiency


– Conference Center

• Capacity: 250

• Income generation

– Agriculture and

Aquaculture

produce

– Cottage industries

– Optimum land use

Community Life and EconomicCommunity Life and Economic

Self-sufficiencySelf-sufficiency


High Altitude Solar Adobe VillageHigh Altitude Solar Adobe Village

Community Biome DesignCommunity Biome Design



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Documents

Designing for Sustainability - Biome Design · HASAV Ð High Altitude Solar Adobe Village was a design commission for a completely sustainable and self-sufficient village, to be built