Architectural Strategies of Transforma4on to Modern Housing: Qualita've Parameters for the Analysis of Sustainability in 1960s and 1970s Mul'-‐Story, Prefabricated Concrete Housing in Denmark PhD Disserta+on Defense Terri Peters Aarhus Architecture School Photo Terri Peters Presenta(on Outline 1-‐ The Problem 2-‐ Methods 3-‐ Major ﬁndings 4-‐ Research Contribu+ons 5-‐ Future Work 6-‐ Signiﬁcance Presenta(on Outline 1-‐ The Problem Photo Terri Peters Disserta(on (tle: Architectural Strategies of Transforma'on to Modern Housing: Qualita've Parameters for the Analysis of Sustainability in 1960s and 1970s Mul'-‐Story, Prefabricated Concrete Housing in Denmark Mo(va(on: Sustainable transforma(on of the Modern housing of this kind in Denmark is a major challenge for architects. This housing is generally rela+vely poorly performing and in need of renova+on in terms of its architectural quality, social environment, and building performance. Challenges: These buildings are currently being renovated in large numbers. The renova+on priori+es that are iden+ﬁed by architects and implemented now in rela+on to sustainability will greatly impact the lives of residents, and the quali+es of our built environment, for many years to come. Research Problem: What is the problem? Why is this a problem? How do I know that? Research Problem: What is the problem? This housing needs mul+-‐faceted renova+on in large numbers. These renova+ons present par+cular challenges because of their economic, social, poli+cal and architectural contexts. The goals of sustainable renova+on are unclear. Why is this a problem? It is diﬃcult for architects to conceptualize sustainable renova+on and this is impac+ng the quality of the renova+ons. The sustainable criteria used are too narrow and are not architecturally focused. It is being measured and evaluated in a non-‐holis+c way. Research Problem: How do I know that? The 1990 renova+ons to these buildings were fairly unsuccessful. They were not holis+c (Bech-‐Danielsen 1997) and needed re-‐renova+ng again only a decade later (SBI Reports, published examples of renova+ons) For architects, the goals of sustainable renova+ons are unclear (various deﬁni+ons and few truly architectural perspec+ves), are largely conceptualized in non-‐architectural terms (low energy perspec+ve) and there are poor connec+ons from prac+ce-‐theory. (Some theories can be built upon such as Lacaton Vassal, Mostafavi and Leatherbarrow, Dunham-‐ Jones, Koolhaas.) Research Topic: The PhD inves+gates aspects of sustainable design in architecture rela+ng to the renova+on of the prefabricated, mul+-‐story, concrete housing built in Denmark in the 1960s and 1970s. Research Aim: The research seeks to develop and propose new qualita+ve parameters for guiding sustainable architectural renova+on in these par+cular buildings in this par+cular context. Research Ques(ons: Research ques+ons are posed about this housing rela+ng to sustainable architecture-‐ As architects, what does sustainable currently mean in this par+cular context? what makes housing of this kind architecturally sustainable and are our current parameters really giving us the whole picture? Presenta(on Outline 2-‐ Methods Photo Terri Peters Research Methods Used: Case studies – to test the hypothesis, deﬁne ‘architectural renova+on’ priori+es, for more depth Interviews – to determine the architect´s inten+ons for sustainability and priori+es in the speciﬁc cases Historical studies – the original inten+ons of the housing, history of renova+ons on the site Building visits and site photography– structured by the ﬁndings of the historical research – what aspects are s+ll relevant from the original design/priori+es? Disserta(on Structure: 1-‐Introduc+on 2-‐Background: Sustainable Transforma+on to Modern Housing & Architectural Transforma+on to Modern Housing 3-‐Qualita+ve and Quan+ta+ve Methodology 4-‐Danish Welfare State Modernism and Danish Social Housing in the 1960s 5-‐Approaches to Sustainable Transforma+on 6-‐Architectural Transforma+on to Modern Housing 7-‐Four Case Studies of Sustainable Transforma+ons of Modern Housing 8-‐Discussion Themes 9-‐Conclusions on Sustainable Parameters in Modern Housing Transforma+ons Disserta(on Structure: My research crosses into several poten+ally very large topics rela+ng to Modernism, Housing, Sustainability and Transforma+on. The structure of crea+ng categories and priori+es was a process designed to create a wide framework for analysis. Presenta(on Outline 3-‐ Major Findings Photo Terri Peters Chapter 4 Findings about Modern Housing: Development of themes rela+ng to: -‐Human Scale -‐Building Form and the Spaces Between Buildings -‐Connec+ons to Outdoors and Light -‐Connec+vity of People -‐Modernisa+on Høje Gladsaxe in 1969. (Skriver 1969 p.33) Peer-‐Reviewed Findings Presenta+on: Fit for (Re)Purpose? Changing Aktudes to People and Lifecycle in Sustainable Social Housing in Denmark Terri Peters Housing and Welfare Conference Boundaries/Encounters/
Connec+ons. 7-‐8 May 2015. Copenhagen Denmark. Chapter 5 Findings on Sustainable Transforma(on -‐the histories of the buildings, the 1990s renova+ons impact the renova+ons and must be considered -‐social sustainability as a main focus -‐some relevant methods of evalua+ng the renova+ons: Ghemolisten, Renover Prisen, LEED are not holis+c enough Hørgården Åbenrå before and aper 1990s renova+on. Images source: Bech-‐Danielsen and Varming 1997 p.72 Chapter 6 Findings from Architectural Transforma(ons From the Catalogue Study: Strategies of Reuse: 1) Building Recycling 2) Rehabilita+on 3) Energy Renova+on 4) Social Retroﬁkng Urbanplanen Renova+on. Photo Terri Peters Peer Reviewed Findings on Strategies of Reuse Poster Presenta+on: The State of Modern Renova+on in Denmark: Current Architectural Approaches to the Sustainable Transforma+on of Post-‐War Housing Terri Peters In: Architecture & Sustainable Development, 27th Interna+onal Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture. Eds. Magali Bodart; Arnaud Evrard. (Belgium: Presses Universitaires de Louvain, 2011): 655. Chapter 6 Findings from Architectural Transforma(ons From the Catalogue Study: Architectural Parameters speciﬁc to this housing: -‐some architectural concepts are more relevant than others -‐because this is housing these 3 also emphasize the resident experience (due to the funding and tenant democracy) Ellebo Garden Room Architectural Compe++on. Image source: www.NordicInnova+on.org Chapter 6 Findings of the Catalogue Study: Architectural Renova(ons in this context should priori+ze: 1) Improving daylight 2) crea+ng new or enhancing exis+ng spa+al experiences 3) Reconsidering connec+ons to the outdoors Skelagergårdene Renova+on. KAAI. Image source: www.kaai.dk Peer-‐Reviewed Findings Paper: Architectural Approaches to Sustainable Design: Towards an Expanded Deﬁni+on of Sustainability in the Context of Sustainable Building Transforma+on. Terri Peters In: Proceedings of World Sustainable Building Conference, October 28-‐30, Barcelona, Spain 2014 ctural Approaches to Sustainable Design: Towards an
ed Definition of Sustainability in the Context of
able Building Transformation
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Chapter 7 Findings from the Case Studies -‐Social sustainability is the most long term, architectural and powerful aspect of the triad of sustainable categories as economic values change over +me and poli+cal-‐
environmental agendas are diﬃcult to retroﬁt into this par+cular context (p.126-‐127) Par+cular to each case study there were ﬁndings about: how is the renova+on a holis+c transforma+on? How does it address social sustainability? Is it evaluated in a relevant way? Does it take the aktude of sustainable improvement or poten+als? Rela+ve sustainability Findings from Varbergparken Block 15 (7.2.6) Strategy of Reuse: Energy Renova+on Haderslev, Renova+on C.F. Møller 2008-‐2012 -‐overall architectural quality is very high – hierarchy, skylights, open plan kitchens, new balcony/entry, on a strict budget. -‐considering but rejec+ng the exis+ng architecture can work -‐architects aspired to ‘architecture’ not renova+on. -‐ambi+ous ‘energy renova+on’ not realized or evaluated -‐short term economic problems impacted energy ambi+on Varbergparken Renova+on. Photo Terri Peters Findings from Albertslund Syd Canal Quarter (7.3.6) Strategy of Reuse: Building Recycling Albertslund, Renova+on NOVA5 2006-‐2009 -‐not renova+ng interiors, landscaping, lowers holis+c impact -‐environmentally the architect argues the improved insula+on and building performance ‘is not good enough’. -‐very unique aspects -‐ reconﬁgured ground level means bemer connec+ons and new hierarchy -‐ public-‐private, ver+cal -‐the new balconies are not part of the original expression –not holis+c but building recycling Canal Quarter Renova+on. Photo Terri Peters Findings from Urbanplanen (7.4.6) Strategy of Reuse: Social Retroﬁkng Copenhagen, Renova+on JJW 2007-‐2009 -‐Urban U2 Renova+on-‐social and architectural rebranding -‐lack of renova+on to interiors, the patchy nature of the renova+on and the lack of environmental performance means this will need re-‐renova+ng again. -‐the ‘renew your home’ ini+a+ve is unusual but has some predictable problems with short term economic views, uneven renova+ons, and changing tenants so changing tenant needs. Urbanplanen Renova+on. Photo Terri Peters Findings from Gyldenrisparken (7.5.6) Strategy of Reuse: Rehabilita+on Copenhagen, Renova+on Witraz/Vandkunsten/Wissenberg 2008-‐2012 -‐high architectural quality, builds on quali+es in exis+ng -‐the architects take ‘holis+c’ approach but not low energy -‐the architects think that “we really would have had to compromise with the architecture” to improve the energy or other environmental performances of the building. Gyldenrisparken Renova+on. Photo Terri Peters Chapter 8 Theme areas of the ﬁndings What makes an architectural transforma(on in this context? Discussion of themes from the Case Studies rela+ng to architectural parameters How is this housing sustainable? Discussion of case studies but also reﬂec+ng our new priori+es (rela+ng back to the chapter 4 priori+es for modern housing) Post-‐Ghe[o housing beyond building scale – strategies for social sustainability that involve mixing uses, density and diversity (concepts that came from the Case Studies) Chapter 8 Theme areas of the ﬁndings Reﬂec(ng on Key Challenges in Sustainable Renova(on -‐funding is a major issue for sustainability -‐lack of architectural (and other) evalua+on means no feedback, hard to improve state of the art -‐lack of data about the exis+ng buildings – need new ways of collec+ng data -‐changing housing needs because changing people, who it was designed for is now diﬀerent resident group -‐demonstra+on projects are important –raise standards -‐sustainability wise-‐ renova+on means lower environmental impact and less waste, LEED not a useful sustainability metric when looking at holis+c aside from energy-‐environmental aspects. Chapter 9 Findings –Connec(ng to Research Ques(ons 1) what makes housing of this kind architecturally sustainable and is it giving us the whole picture? a) The main sustainability lies in rela+ve terms comparing to rebuilding -‐ architectural con+nuity, social community con+nuity, environmental reasons of lessened environmental impacts. (Not short term costs) Gyldenrisparken Renova+on. Photo Terri Peters Chapter 9 Findings 1) what makes housing of this kind architecturally sustainable and is it giving us the whole picture? b) Not all sustainable renova+ons are “architectural”. It is not enough to add insula+on or rebrand a facade with new materials. Architectural renova+ons to these buildings must be mul+-‐faceted and oﬀer long las+ng results. Varbergparken Renova+on. Photo Terri Peters Chapter 9 Findings 1) what makes housing of this kind architecturally sustainable and is it giving us the whole picture? c) How a renova+on brief is developed and funded impacts its poten+als for a holis+c approach. The decisions made about what to renovate and why are +ed directly to the social-‐
sustainable poten+als. For example to drive a concept as ’low energy’ is changeable -‐ improved daylight is more robust. Urbanplanen Renova+on. Photo Terri Peters Chapter 9 Findings 1) what makes housing of this kind architecturally sustainable and is it giving us the whole picture? d) A cri+cal study of the history of the building and its renova+ons is important. An understanding of the inten+ons of the original building and that cultural context can lead to a bemer, more long las+ng, architectural renova+on. It can avoid repea+ng mistakes. Gyldenrisparken Renova+on. Photo Terri Peters Chapter 9 Findings 2) what aspects of sustainability are architects addressing in these renova+ons? a) Unlike in new-‐build sustainable housing, thermal performance and energy eﬃciency are not main priori+es in sustainable renova+ons in these buildings. In fact, environmental sustainability is not a priority in these renova+ons at all. Canal Quarter Renova+on. Photo Terri Peters Chapter 9 Theore(cal Implica(ons The theore+cal case for architecturally focused sustainable transforma+ons of this kind of Modern housing in this context therefore needs to be revisited to consider the dynamics of sustainability rela+ng to a) architectural approaches b) priori+es of sustainability c) the original building and history of renova+ons on the site. Gyldenrisparken Renova+on. Photo Terri Peters Presenta(on Outline 4-‐ Research Contribu+ons Photo Terri Peters Chapter 9 New Perspec(ves and Contribu(ons to the ﬁeld This is a complex topic with many related literature areas. Open these disciplines -‐ sustainability research, architecture, Modern theory-‐ research the issues of this PhD separately. I have found that it is necessary to take an interdisciplinary approach. Chapter 9 New Perspec(ves and Contribu(ons to the ﬁeld Aper years of poor-‐quality renova+ons in the 1990s, there is an increasing concern for high quality, long-‐las+ng renova+ons to this housing and this is reﬂected in new literature, reports, policies and funding mechanisms. My research builds on this area of research and argues it is important to consider the history of renova(ons to the site and the original architectural design. Chapter 9 New Perspec(ves and Contribu(ons to the ﬁeld There is an increased emphasis on sustainable renova+ons that improve social environments. For example there is more renova+on funding for buildings on the Ghemolisten. My work builds on this and extends and highlights the argument that social environment and architectural quali(es are linked. Chapter 9 New Perspec(ves and Contribu(ons to the ﬁeld Renova+ons that only address a few aspects of a building, for example only energy or only costs, will become outdated more quickly. It is problema+c to keep rebuilding every 15 years as needs and regula+ons change. My work highlights the importance of a holis(c approach. Presenta(on Outline 5-‐ Future Work Photo Terri Peters 5-‐Further Work in this Area -‐Connec+ng research to prac+ce -‐Further conceptualizing sustainable renova+on in architectural ways -‐Inves+ga+ng a speciﬁc interna+onal context and seeing how aspects might be applied to this topic but this becomes another study altogether 5-‐Further Work in this Area -‐Comparing architectural design process in renova+on vs new build in rela+on to ‘low energy’ housing -‐co-‐wrimen with Julian Weyer of C.F. Møller -‐paper accepted for PHN, August 2015 Copenhagen, 20-21 August 2015
7. Passivhus Norden | Sustainable Cities and Buildings
Brings practitioners and researchers together
Architectural Design for Low Energy Housing - Experiences From
Two Recent Affordable Housing Projects in Denmark
SUMMARY
In Denmark, environmental performance, in particular designing to exceed minimum energy standards
5-‐Further Work in this Area -‐Inves+ga+ng in more detail one architectural theme – scale -‐Amempt to further conceptualize sustainable renova+on in an architectural way -‐paper submimed for PLEA conference in September 2015 A Comparison of Socially Sustainable Renova'ons to Danish 1960s and 1970s Housing Estates: Architectural Strategies for Improving the Experience of Scale !
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A"Comparison"of"Socially"Sustainable"Renovations"to"Danish"Post:War"Housing"Estates:"
Architectural"Strategies"for"Improving"the"Experience"of"Scale"
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The!renovation!of!post/war!social!housing!in!Denmark!is!an!urgent!economic,!social,!and!political!
concern.!It!is!also!a!key!opportunity!for!architects!to!simultaneously!improve!the!lives!of!the!many!
residents!who!live!in!this!housing,!enhance!the!appearance!of!these!buildings!in!the!public!realm,!
and!keep!viable!this!important!part!of!Denmark´s!housing!heritage.!The!housing!considered!in!this!
5-‐Further Work in this Area -‐Inves+ga+ng a speciﬁc interna+onal context and seeing how aspects might be applied to this topic. This would be a new study rather than an extension of this one. Presenta(on Outline 6-‐ Signiﬁcance Photo Terri Peters Signiﬁcance and Importance of this work -‐creates transferrable, speciﬁc and organized knowledge in this ﬁeld. The research developed concepts and ﬁndings that can be applied by architects in similar renova+ons. (Research Design-‐ Chapter 3) -‐highlights the importance of these buildings in the Danish housing heritage. (Chapter 4) -‐engages with very large important areas –Modernism, housing, sustainability, and building transforma+on from an architectural perspec+ve Signiﬁcance and Importance of this work -‐inves+gates these renova+ons in mul+ple ways, through structured building visits that look at key aspects inside and outside the housing, and through interviews with the renova+on architects. (Chapter 7) -‐considers the history of renova+ons to these buildings as a poten+al source of inspira+on about future renova+ons. -‐begins to conceptualize sustainable renova+on in architectural terms -‐Connects current architectural prac+ce (transforma+ons) to relevant theory (literature)