Net-Zero Luna Ecological Resort
from Net-Zero 1st Design Studio guided by Profs. Fleming, Sherman, and Vyas.
The Luna resort The Luna resort is situated in Eastwick — a vibrant community in Southwest Philadelphia in Pennsylvania state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It lies in the climate zone 4A, Humid continental with hot, muggy summers and moderately cold winters. The concept of the reserve is to develop portions of the property in ways that benefit the community and the city, as well as ensure the ecological health of the site for years to come. The vision presented for Luna resort is an integrated combination of hospitality and sustainable resort management that connects guests with nature within a surrounding urban environment. With the compact building form, passive heating, and cooling from the sunspace, and daylight harvesting from the solar light tubes, the building energy needs are lowered. Further, the earth tubes buried 3m below ground level precondition the temperature of the incoming air before it enters the building, thus reducing the energy required to heat or cool the building. The EUI is brought down to 22.5 kBTU/sq. ft/year with the selected orientation from design explorer, high-performance envelope, and custom radiant panels. The building-integrated photovoltaics and PV roof at the parking leads to the Net positive building. The resort is projected as a teaching tool that would be displayed on the photography wall (Level 1). On a site scale, it would focus on offsetting carbon emissions by the fruit forest (one acre of fruit trees would cancel 144 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per acre over 20 years). Further, the retention ponds with the connecting axis to the fruit trees would be an exhibit for water conservation in the future. On a building scale, the advantages of low-tech earth tube technology, reed bed wastewater treatment system, and self-sustaining restaurant (food from the vertical garden) would be highlighted.
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Kajal Patil
MS Sustainable Design Being an international student, staying in different country on my own with new friends and new 'EVERYTHING' has shaped me over last 20 months. The journey so far has taught me to ask for help whenever required and offer help whenever possible. I'm not sure what more should I answer on this. Maybe, if required, I can answer more questions later on email. |
The project is a twenty room immersive ecological resort with spa and retreat, restaurant and farming area. Each guest suite provides the visual treat of lush-green surroundings and a perfect getaway for all age groups under one roof. This project blends a minimal environmental building footprint, with hospitality and sustainable design considerations. The goal is to create minimal physical and environmental footprint on surroundings while consolidating hospitality and sustainable practices to stimulate the local community socially, economically and intellectually. Reflecting on four perspectives, i.e Performative, Ecological, Equitable and Experiential design, this project is a holistic approach towards reaching a Net-Zero Energy Project. Achieving Building Energy Unit Intensity (EUI) of 32 kBTU/SF/Yr before photovoltaic (PV) panels, the resort building reaches 0 kBTU/SF/Yr after rooftop PV design.
The resort satisfies 90% Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) in regularly occupied spaces annually where 90% of floor area is within 30 feet of operable windows and workstations has view to outdoors. 90% of site area is covered with native vegetation while 100% of rainwater and storm-water is recycled on-site. Rainwater collected is reused for flushing purposes, while storm-water is directed towards constructed wetland and pond using natural slope and this water is reused for farming purposes.
The resort satisfies 90% Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) in regularly occupied spaces annually where 90% of floor area is within 30 feet of operable windows and workstations has view to outdoors. 90% of site area is covered with native vegetation while 100% of rainwater and storm-water is recycled on-site. Rainwater collected is reused for flushing purposes, while storm-water is directed towards constructed wetland and pond using natural slope and this water is reused for farming purposes.
"Today, being an aspiring sustainable designer, every project I work on, be it academic or professional, the fact that I hold power to shape a place, community, people and society's mental paradigm inspires me everyday." - Kajal Patil
What is your design process?
Like a normal architect, I sit with my pencils and tracing sheets to brainstorm my ideas. But when I'm overloaded with ideas and confused, I go to my bed keeping a small sketch pad on side table. I call this sketch pad as 'Dream Your Design'. I close my eyes and start visualizing the given site in real and start relating to the characters in my life using those spaces. Once I also visualized Scooby-Doo cartoon characters in my kindergarten project which gave me fun ideas to include in the design program. I feel this practice really helps me take some critical decisions and think holistically. |
This proposed Luna Resort focuses on improving the site’s ecology and biodiversity. The improved connection between nature and humanity will provide a feeling of warmth and connect guests with nature.
This design solution was a result of historical research in combination with synthesizing a variety of design options that would best fit within the project’s context. "The places that I visit and wish to visit are what always inspires me." - Shrita Bhagwat |