Inspired creation for a new
world from Solarspace
Lake Ainsworth Sports & Recreation Hall, northern
New South Wales,Australia
The brief from the Australian Government's Department of Tourism, Sport
and Recreation required a multi-purpose recreation hall to be used for
basketball, netball, badminton, volleyball, general recreation and theatrical
performances.
For Allen Jack+Cottier, the challenge was to create a building
that would simultaneously inspire its users, respect its site, work efficiently
in terms of both environment and energy conservation as well as meeting tight
budget constraints.
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Inspired by the famous LondonCrystal
Palace designed by Joseph Paxton in 1851,
the hall is based on the concept of a glass palace. 'Glass palaces provided
wonderful internal light qualities as well as vast spaces and shelter from the
elements in countries with temperate summer climates', said Michael Heenan, the
Allen Jack+Cottier director responsible for the project. 'However, they are not
successful in tropical climates without extensive mechanical cooling and
shading'. The Allen Jack+Cottier's light box design overcame this issue with the
use of custom produced Danpalon Multicell polycarbonate from Solarspace with as
little as 1% heat transfer. The design also allows for a natural ventilation
system using low-level louvres and high-level wind turbines to provide fresh air
and cooling.
Initially clear Danpalon Multicell was proposed for the roof and walls
but Solarspace suggested a custom design of material that varied in terms of its
Light and Solar transfer properties. The Danpalon Heatstop colour was chosen for
its overall efficiencies but additionally the grade of solar transmission was
varied to suit the orientation of the building. The resulting solution was to
use 1% solar transmitting material on the roof, 3.5% solar transmission on the
East and West walls and the standard 18% solar transmissions on the North and
South elevations.
Exhaustive on-site and environmental research, coupled with a lateral
approach to use of materials, proved to be the keys to the Allen Jack+Cottier's
inspired design. Detailed modelling showed that a transparent, insulating
UV-resistant and cost-effective material could be used on a steel frame to add
lightness and resilience to the structure. The thermal performance of the
building is superior to that of a conventional structure with profiled steel
roofing and cladding. There is less heat transfer through the building envelope
and artificial lighting is not required at all during the day.
The design comprises three coloured services pods enclosed in a dramatic
luminescent tube-like box. The main space can be closed off at both ends and
reacts to outside weather conditions through a series of programmed louvres and
roof vents. At night, when the building is transformed into a theatre, the
translucent skin glows like a lantern in the landscape.
For further information please contact Solarspace on 02 9475 2000 or
visit www.solarspace.com.au
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