ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
Reducing the urban heat island A number of measures can be taken to reduce the urban heat island effect; most notably the use of trees to increase external shade and encourage a cooler micro-climate. A recent study by ETH Zurich University showed that trees cool the land surface temperature of cities by up to 12 °C. Material and colour choices can also make a tangible difference in heat retention, and reflectivity of rooftops and road surfaces. However, the most vital measure is to add natural infrastructure wherever possible, something we will explore in fuller detail below. With all these challenges comes the opportunity to be proactive about addressing climate change risks and enhancing the resilience of urban health facilities. So, what are some of the short- and long-term solutions that can help?
Resilient design strategies Assessing the main hazards and potential risks early in the planning and design process helps to frame the primary considerations that the project team(s) must address before any work begins on site. It is the only way to ensure that appropriate measures can be incorporated in the best way possible to suit the particular needs of a building, its occupants, and its surroundings. Flexible, responsive heating and cooling solutions can help buildings handle temperature fluctuations, and deliver optimum thermal comfort and safety for occupants. Another key decision is how to leave facilities in the best position to respond fast to climate-related disruptions with minimal impact on clinical operations. Ideally, priority should be given to Passive House design solutions as a way of lowering a building’s carbon footprint. Passive buildings can effectively moderate their own energy use, meaning that during milder conditions, they can eliminate the need for mechanical heating or cooling. Buildings with high-performance insulation make it easier to rely more on natural ventilation, which can be supplemented with the addition of low-carbon solutions such as air source pumps.
Flexibility built in Other factors to bear in mind include designing and constructing the facility’s main infrastructure – such as the pipe network – to be able to be amended and re-sized accordingly to cope with future conditions, and allocating adequate space for future upgrades in various mechanical rooms. The orientation of the building itself – along with the positioning and shading of windows – of course go a long way toward reducing the overall demand for cooling or heating. Subsequently, this means less pressure on the mechanical systems, and enhanced energy efficiency. The greatest
Left: Barnsley’s new The Glass Works Square, where water is used ‘to shape the size of the town’s newest public space’.
Below: Another view of part of Barnsley’s The Glass Works Square, on which Arcadis IBI has worked.
step towards decarbonising a building during extreme weather is to decrease its space heating and cooling demand as much as possible through innovative Passive design strategies. The use of white roofs can reduce the impact of heat even more. For the surrounding landscape, we can capitalise on the natural environment by installing sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) to prevent instances of flooding. By identifying all of the most important design considerations and challenges early in the design phase, it is possible to avoid additional costs down the line. An area growing in popularity is how to incorporate more alternative energy sources by design, such as allocating sufficient space for PV panels to generate energy for heating or cooling. In fact, several UK NHS Trusts are actively exploring investments in new energy technology, including planning how to integrate solar panels to help power their healthcare facilities more efficiently.
Using water and plants to regulate indoor temperatures Urban greening is a fantastic and proven way of mitigating against heat, and should sit at the heart of any thoughtful placemaking or landscape strategy. It is required by many planning authorities, and indeed highlighted by the Greater London Authority in the London Plan as a fundamental part of any new development – with green roofs and walls, tree planting, and sustainable drainage, all contributing to a more appealing, environmentally- friendly, and cooler city. The same elements can be applied to healthcare
buildings through biophilic design and high-quality landscaping. Apart from their well-documented
cooling properties, plants can drive biodiversity, provide shade and shelter from the elements, and lessen heat reflectivity, with the bonus of also helping to reduce the urban heat island effects of a city more widely. Greenery positioned by the entrance or in any outdoor space throughout healthcare buildings improves local air quality considerably, while creating attractive social gathering spaces that promote wellbeing for patients, staff, and visitors.
Pears Maudsley Centre At Arcadis IBI, we are using a combination of these methods at our Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People for the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Here, green- (planted) and blue- (water-retaining) roofs, biodiverse walls, coupled with smarter and more sustainable nature-based drainage systems, will help to create a truly future- proof building that harnesses the power of nature to the utmost to deliver multiple benefits at once. Water features can play a vital role in thermal comfort. For example, during periods of high temperatures, evaporating water has been used for centuries as a natural air-conditioner. There are manifold co-benefits of going ‘green’, or indeed ‘blue’ (water), in our healthcare infrastructure. Studies have demonstrated time and again how access to natural elements can promote better health and wellbeing, as well as offset climate change.
March 2023 Health Estate Journal 41
Northlight Images
Counter Context
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
