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Draft
Rabeia Alhadi
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Accepted in Partial Fulfilment of the RequirementsFor the Degree of Master of Architecture
AtThe Savannah College of Art and Design
____________________________________________________________________________________________________/__/__Scott Dietz DateCommittee Chair
____________________________________________________________________________________________________/__/__Mohamed Elnahas DateCommittee Member
____________________________________________________________________________________________________/__/__Malcolm Kesson DateCommittee Member
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The Living Skyscraper
Mashrabbia; A Kinetic Envelope Represents Islamic Culture and ImprovesBuilding Energy Performance
A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the ArchitectureIn Partial Fulfilment for the Requirements of
Degree of Architecture
AtThe Savannah College of Art and Design
By
Rabeia M. Alhadi
June/2011
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Dedication
To my father, Mahmoud A. Elfaitory, and my mother, Nabawia A. Eljerjawi,
t o whom I owe everything I have accomplished in my life,
and to my brothers and sisters, for all their love and support.
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Acknowledgements
I would like to express my gratitude to the Libyan Ministry of Education for its financial support, without which this research would never
have been possible. I was fortunate in having Prof. Scott Dietz as my committee chairman at SCAD. I am most grateful to him for encouraging
and advising me throughout my work, as well as for his advice, comments and valuable discussions during the preparation of the final
submission of this thesis. I am also very grateful to Prof. Mohamed Elnahas, my faculty advisor, for his advice and comments on my thesis prior
to submission. My thanks are also due to Prof. Malcolm Kesson, my topic consultant, for his comments and guidance throughout my work on
this thesis. I would also like to extend my gratitude for editorial help rendered by Mrs. Zeba Siddiqui for her valuable and ongoing assistance.
Many thanks also go to the staff of the SCAD Library for their assistance.
Outside the academic arena, my deepest thanks go to my family and in particular my husband, Mohamed A. Elmughrbi. Its various
members never stopped encouraging me to finish this thesis and they continued to bear with me throughout the period of my work because of
my academic interests.
Finally, I thank my Creator for His grace, for having such helpful people around me, and for the privilege of being able to complete this
research.
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Table of Content:
List of Figures
Abstract
Part One:
1.1 Theoretical Context
1.2 Arguable Position
1.3 Design Objective
1.4 Design Strategy
1.5 Expected Outcome
1.6 Active Research& Relevant Resources
1.6.1 Environmental effect on Islamic culture and its
relation to architecture1.6.2 Case Studies
Part Two: Context Analysis
2.1 Digital Context
2.1.1 Introduction
2.1.2 Kinetic Envelope Systems
2.1.3 Parametric Design of BIM
2.1.4 Design parameters for kinetic skins
2.2 Social and Cultural Context of Skyscrapers
2.2.1 History and Technology
2.2.2 Sustainable Skyscrapers
2.3 Context Analysis of Tripoli City, Libya
2.3.1 Background
2.3.2 Brief History
2.3.3 Economy
2.3.4 Demography
2.3.5 The Geology, Soil and Topography
2.4.6 Climate
2.4.7The residential land use change in Tripoli.
2.3.8 Architectural and Urban Fabric of Tripoli, New versus
old
Part Three: Site Analysis
3.1 General Information
3.2 Site Description
3.3 Land-Use Map
3.4 Circulation Map
3.5 Sun Path3.6 Prevailing Wind
3.7 Views from the Site to Its Surroundings
3.8 Views to the Site
3.9 Environment Simulations
3.9.1 Solar Radiation Analysis
3.9.2 Shadow Study
3.9.3 Wind Study
Part Four: Programming
4.1 General Overview of Needs and Desires
4.2 Tripolis Traditional Street Component
4.3 Program Summary
4.4 Program Distribution
4.5 Program precedents
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4.6 Program Quantitative Summary and Proportions
4.7 Conclusion
Part Five:
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Islamic Geometric Patterns
5.3 Types of Islamic Patterns
5.4 The Proposed Mashrabbia Patterns
5.5 Dynamic Mashrabbia Environment Simulations
5.6 Project Schematic Design
Part Six: Design Development
6.1 Dynamic Mashrabbia Pattern Development
6.2 Building Orientation
6.4 Building Design Development
6.5 Dynamic Mashrabbia Evaluation
6.5.1 Solar Radiation Analysis
6.5.2 Building Energy Performance Analysis
6.5.3 Dynamic Mashrabbia Benefits
Part Seven: Design Development7.1 Dynamic Mashrabbia Details
7.1.1 Dynamic Mashrabbia Behaviour during Daytime
7.1.2 Detailed Mashrabbia Design
7.1.3 Dynamic Mashrabbia Effect on Interior Spaces
7.2 Building Skin Layers and Ventilation system
7.3 Design Development
7.4 Conclusion
Bibliography
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1
List of Figures:
Part One:
Fig. 1.1: The old city of Tripoli, Libya
Fig 1.2: Courtyard HouseFig 1.3: Mashrabbia
Fig 1.4: Geometric Patterns of Tessellate Panels
Fig 1.5: Interior rendering of the Court yeard by Foster+ Partners
Fig 1.6: ABI's Strata System
Fig 1.7: Detail of ABI's Strata System
Fig 1.8: Perme System at Aldar Central Market
Fig 1.9: Abu Dhabi Investment Council Headquarters Towers
Fig 1.10, Investment-Council-Headquarters-Towers-Concept-Design
Fig 1.11: Investment-Council-Headquarters-Towers-Ground-Design
Fig 1.13: Faade Layers
Part Two:
Fig. 2.1: The kinetic faade of Arab World Institute, Paris
Fig. 2.2: Arizona State University's Bio-design Institute in Tempe
Fig. 2.3: (GSW) headquarters building
Fig. 2.4: Design parameters for kinetic skins
Fig. 2.6: The BIX electronic skin by Peter CookFig. 2.5: A/B-sampling data from sensors and information portals
Fig. 2.7: Sullivan's Wainwright Building
Fig. 2.8: Sears Tower
Fig. 2.9: Lift: Taipei 101 tower, right: Burg Dubai
Fig. 2.10: Menara Mesiniaga, Kuala Lumpur, 1992, T. R. Hamzah &
Yeang
Figure 2.11: Swiss Reinsurance Headquarters, London, U.K., 2004,
Foster and Partners
Fig.2.12 : The Solaire, Battery Park, New York City, 2003Figure 2.13: Pearl River Tower, Guangzhou, China, 2010
Fig. 2.14: Tripoli citys skyline
Fig. 2.15: Tripoli links between European and African cities
Fig. 2.16: Oil exports from Libya
Fig. 2.17: Temperature and rainfall averages, Tripoli, Libya
Fig. 2.18: Tripoli residential land use between 1960-2005
Fig. 2.19: The main entrance to the Medina, known as Bab Al-Hurriyah
(the Freedom Gate) the earliest fortified wall around the town was built in
the 4th century
Fig. 2.20: Marcus Aurelius arch
Fig. 2.21: Karamanli Palace
Fig. 2.22: Right: The main hall of Gurji mosque, Lift: Islamic Inscriptions
in the mosque
Fig. 2, 23: The Red Castel, Tripoli, Libya
Fig. 2.24: The modern shore of Tripoli reflecting the contrast between the
old and new buildings of the city
Fig. 2.25: The style of high-rise buildings in modern TripoliFig. 2.26: Residential high-rise buildings in modern Tripoli
Fig. 2.27: Commercial and Residential high-rise building in the modern
part of Tripoli
Fig. 2.28: Right, Alfateh tower. Lift: Abulaila tower
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Fig. 2.29:10-story residential building is under construction. (Picture: Sep.
07, 2010)
Fig. 2.30: Hydra Tripoli Tower
Fig. 2.32: The new skyscrapers of Tripoli (some of them are under
construction): dwarfing Boulayla and Alfatah towers.JW.Marriott Hotel (bottom right)
Fig. 2.31: Medina Tower, Tripoli, Libya
Part Three:
Fig. 3.1: The proposed site, Tripoli, Libya, North Africa
Fig.3.2: Zooming further to the site
Fig. 3.3: Tripolis district heights map
Fig. 3.4: Land-use map
Fig. 3.5: Circulation map
Fig. 3.6: Sun path of Tripoli city
Fig. 3.7 Prevailing wind, Tripoli, Libya
Fig. 3.8: Views from the site
Fig. 3.9: Views toward the site
Fig. 3.10: Summer solar radiation study result
Fig. 3.11: Winter solar radiation study result
Fig. 3.12: Summer shadow study result
Fig. 3.13: Winter shadow study resultFig. 3.14: Pressure study result
Fig. 3.15: velocity study result
Part Four:
Fig. 4.1: An example of Tripolis narrow traditional streets
Fig. 4.2: One of Tripolis medina streets
Fig. 4.3: Handicrafts in the old city of Tripoli
Fig. 4.4: Concept diagram
Fig. 4.5: A rendering of Medina TowerFig. 4.6: Some views of Medina Tower
Fig. 4.7: Program proportions
Part Five:
Fig. 5.1: The Root Two proportion systemFig. 5.2: Root Three proportion
system
Fig. 5.3: The Golden Ratio proportion system
Fig. 5.4: Islamic mashrabbias pattern case studies
Fig. 5.5: The various opening stages of Pattern
Fig, 5.6: Pattern I Environment Simulation Result, 20-foot depth space
Fig. 5.7: Pattern I Environment Simulation Result, 30-foot depth space
Fig. 5.7: Pattern II Environment Simulation Result, 20-foot depth space
Fig. 5.8: Pattern III Environment Simulation Result, 30-foot depth space
Fig. 5.9: Pattern III Environment Simulation Result, 20-foot depth space
Fig. 5.10: Pattern I Environment Simulation Result, 30-foot depth space
Fig. 5.11: The site
Fig. 5.12: First floor zoning
Fig. 5.13: Second floor zoning
Fig. 5.14: Section A-A
Fig. 5.15: Building elevations
Fig. 5.16: Perspective
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Fig. 5.17: Perspective
Part Six:
Fig. 6.1: Dynamic mashrabbia pattern ( Maya software)Fig. 6.2: Best building orientation study result, Tripoli, Libya (Ecotect
software
Fig. 6.3: Distributing the dynamic mashrabbia on the towers( Revit
software)
Fig. 6.4: Site plan
Fig. 6.5: Basement floor plan
Fig. 6.6: First floor plan
Fig. 6.7: Second floor plan.
Fig. 6.8: Section A-A
Fig. 6.9: Top: South elevation. Down: West elevation
Fig. 6.10: Top: East elevation. Down: North elevation
Fig. 6.11: Project perspective
Fig. 6.12: Project perspectives
Fig. 6.13: Solar radiation study result (Vasari software)
Fig. 6.14: Building energy analysis result (Vasari software)
Part Seven:Fig. 7.1: Dynamic mashrabbia behaviour during daytime
Fig. 7.2: Dynamic mashrabbia detailed design
Fig. 7.3: Dynamic mashrabbia effact on interior spaces at different
opening stages
Fig. 7.4: Buildings skin layers, left: during moderate climate and at
nights, right: during hot climate.
Fig. 7.5: Building perspective
Fig. 7.6: Site plan
Fig. 7.7: Basement levels planFig. 7.8: First floor plan
Fig. 7.9: Second floor plan
Fig. 7.10: Section A-A
Fig. 7.12: North elevation at about 4:00 pm
Fig. 7.13: West elevation at about 4:00 pm
Fig. 7.14: East elevation at about 10:00 am.
Fig. 7.15: South elevation at about 10:00 am
Fig. 7.16: Building perspective
Fig. 7.17: Building perspective
Fig. 7.19: Close perspective to the dynamic mashrabbia
Fig. 7.17: The sky gardens
Fig. 7.18: The caf
Fig. 7.16: The main entrance of the project and the main courtyard
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4
The Living Skyscraper
Mashrabbia; A Kinetic Envelope Represents Islamic Culture and
Improves Building Energy Performance
Rabeia M. Alhadi
June, 2011
Abstract
During the last couple of decades, Tripoli, like any other
major city has grown exponentially. Nowadays it requires
thousands of new homes per year; a situation that has created a lot
of controversy as urban planners propose skyscrapers and
Tripolians drastically refuse to change their beloved city.
With the growing populations in Tripoli, high-rise buildings are
becoming an important part of the city life. However, the new high-
rise buildings should accommodate the local style of life.
This thesis investigates how the use of new materials,
technologies, and the digital revolution can express the local
culture and make a building harmonizes with its surrounding
environment to take full advantage of the available natural
resources and provide an acceptable climate for its occupants.
The main aim of this design is to create an innovative and next
generation sustainable tower designed specifically for Tripoli city by
taking advantage of cutting-edge technologies while respecting the
traditional way of living that reflects the areas cultural roots.
The approach of this design is to develop a bio-inspired kinetic
envelope system which has the interactive access to the
surrounding environment. This kinetic faade is inspired by the
traditional Islamic mashrabbia and has the ability to responce and
adjust according to the sun movement to minimize undesirable
environmental impacts. A new Parametric Design method in
Building Information Modeling (BIMPD) and computational
simulation is used in this design.
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Part One
Topic Research
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1.1 Introduction (theoretical Context)
Recent years have seen an unprecedented growth in the
construction of tall buildings, with more, and taller, skyscrapers
being constructed than at any other time in history. Certainly on an
international scale, the past several years have been the most
active and dynamic in the history of tall buildings. 1
In particular, cities in developing countries seem to ignore
the local climate, culture and context and instead simply import the
However, too
many tall buildings continue to be designed in one of two
inadequate ways: either as vertical extrusions of an efficient floor
plan, or as iconic pieces of high-rise urban sculpture. In both
cases the only relationship with the urban setting is a visual one,
with the tall building usually dominating. This has led to the
syndrome of tall buildings as isolationist architecture stand-
alone, non-site specific models that are readily transportable
around the cities of the world.
1Anya Kaplan-Seem,As Economy Sank, Skyscrapers Soared Ever Higherhttp://archrecord.construction.com/news/daily/archives/090407skyscrapers.asp
Western model of the air-conditioned, rectilinear glass box. This
pattern of gleaming glass skyscrapers springing up in the tropics,
deserts and other extreme climates has led many to denounce the
tall building as inherently anti-environmental. In short, these tall
buildings are contributing to the degradation of both global (climate
change) and local (cultural) environments.
It does not, however, have to be this way. Tall buildings
have the opportunity to reinvent themselves as a typology for a
sustainable urban future featured centres of life, work and play
with innovative functions, technologies and environments to face
the challenges of the future climate-changed world. This new
typology needs to be inspired not only by environmental issues, but
also by the cultural and vernacular traditions of the location they
are placed in. This is especially important in maintaining the cultural
integrity and continuity of any urban domain, but especially in
developing countries where the embrace of Western models is both
enthusiastic and rapid. In short, tall buildings need to be inspired by
place both culturally and environmentally. This thesis seeks to
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acceptable climate for its occupants. This thesis explores what role
traditional Islamic architecture can play in digital architectural
design of a tall building and discusses how solar control and natural
ventilation systems can be integrated into kinetic facade systems to
minimise the environmental impacts. Sun shading should be
considered as an integral part of fenestration system design that is
adapted into the facade design.The product of this thesis is a
mixed-use skyscraper in Tripoli city, Libya, representing the Islamic
culture and coping with the region hot climate.
1.3 Design Objective
The objective of this project is to design a self-reliant
building that appropriately respects and recognizes its surrounding
site while subtly reflecting Islamic culture. The main aim of this
design is to create an innovative and next generation sustainable
tower designed specifically for Tripoli city by taking advantage of
cutting-edge technologies while respecting the traditional way of
living that reflects the areas cultural roots. In this design, the focus
will be on the skin of the tower, which will introduce a kinetic facade
that minimizes undesirable environmental impacts by integrating
solar control, daylight and natural ventilation systems, and
encompassing a wide range of strategies resulting in an energy
efficient building design. Such facade systems minimize
overheating and excessive solar gain during summer and hot
seasons.
1.4 Design Strategy:
This project proposes a possible solution by creating a
community-like skyscraper that takes Tripolis street life to the sky.
This community offers residents the opportunity to live according to
their traditional life style which incorporates an Islamically-
acceptable level of privacy and desired access to nature. The
design will be generated and moulded by the surrounding
environment, and some of the parameters that will be employed in
distinguishing the building are natural lighting, shade and stable
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conditions in the harsh climate through the design of a dynamic
skin that has the ability to adapt, mutate and adjust according to the
local climate. The approach of this design is to develop a bio-
inspired kinetic envelope system which has the interactive access
to the surrounding environment like solar radiation, daylight, etc. A
new Parametric Design method in Building Information Modeling
(BIMPD) and computational simulation will be used in this design.
The design of this skin will be inspired by the traditional
Islamic architectural element Mashrabbia (a wooden screen with
different patterns used to provide privacy and allow air movement),
and will almost play the same role of Mashrabbia in providing
shade, privacy, and a more comfortable internal environment. It will
also incorporate a photovoltaic panel system in the Mashrabbia to
provide energy self-sufficiency.
The project will be a mixed-use development with housing,
suq (shopping center), public library, gym, parks, a madrassa
(education center) and even a primary health center. It will be
designed according to green building techniques, and aims for
urban sustainability.
1.5 The Expected Outcome
As the fi rst green skyscraper in the city, the project will play
a crucial and irreplaceable role in improving the Libyan way of life
by redefining what we understand as a skyscraper and initiating
new architectural knowledge incorporating a sense of economic,
environmental and cultural responsibility.
The project also will enhance the local neighborhood by
adding additional living space with other commercial and cultural
facilities.
At the same time, the project will propose a possible
solution for coping with hot- climate architecture utilizing advanced
building technologies with vernacular architectural elements. The
resulting system will intelligently provide thermal comfort, natural
energy and reduce energy usage of HVAC system according to
outdoor climate condition, which creates an Acclimated Building.
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The expected long term achievement of this project is an innovative
design approach integrating BIMPD and biomimicry for thermal
comfort and developing building energy efficiency.
1.6 Active Research and Relevant Resources
1.6.1 The Islamic cultural response to high-rise buildings
The brilliant Egyptian architect, Hassan Fathy had explained
very perfectly Old Islamic houses have filigreed windows and
central courts, for example, to admit light without glare, coolness
without air conditioning. The same principles could easily be
incorporated even into high-rise buildings (CNN, 1974).
For generations, Islamic culture has exhibited various
fundamental principles of sustainable ways of living. It is the
intention of this design to revive and utilize these fundamental
principles into the modern design of a contemporary multi-story,
mixed-use tower in Tripoli city. However, the idea of high-rise
buildings brings a new scale into Islamic architecture. Moreover,
high-rise buildings also require the application of new technologies
and expertise in every aspect of the design and construction, and
require a thorough understanding of the life style and culture of the
region in which they are to be located.
1.6.1 Environmental effect on Islamic culture and its
relation to architecture
The heritage of the traditional Arabic architecture has
influenced and developed in response to three main factors: the
regions hot and humid climate, social and religious aspects, and
local availability of building materials. In general, its main features
are simplicity, functionality, durability and suitability for climatic
environments and social life.3
In response to the hot and humid climate, four architectural
elements are visible. First, buildings were constructed close to each
other. This type of high-density structure created narrow alleys,
which were shaded for most of the day. The narrowness of the
3Robert Hillenbrand, Islamic Architecture: form, function, and meaning, 1994.
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alleys caused the wind to increase in velocity as it breezed through,
creating a comfortable pedestrian zone (Fig 1.1).
Fig. 1.1: The old city of Tripoli, Libya
The second element is the courtyard house, in which most
of the rooms, which may have shaded verandas, face inward
toward the courtyard,which was in the center of the house (see Fig
1.2). The existence of the courtyard generates wind movement
inside the house by allowing hot air to ascend, while cooler air to
replaces it from the surrounding rooms. Such courtyards also
reduce cooling loads in the hot climates. At night, cool air comes in
lowering the temperature in the thermally massive courtyard walls
and floor. These elements hold the coolness throughout the hot
day, which represent natural and environmental sustainability (Fig.
1.3).4
Courtyards could be included in a single house or multiple
houses could share the same open space to take advantage of
protected outdoor space. Courtyards may be of different sizes and
accommodate multiple functions. In addition to providing privacy
and stable conditions in the harsh climate, they may function as a
central hall to connect the different rooms of a single house, a
space where extended family, neighbors or guests, gather,
providing a main street for a neighborhood, gathering or common
space for families.
5
In these days, although the location of the courtyard is
more likely to be at the edges of the house, it is still one of the
major characteristics of the Arab house.
4Ibid.5Ibid.
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Fig 1.2: Courtyard House
Wooden screens (mashrabbia), were also widely used in
Arab houses. They allow cool breezes to enter through the wooden
lattices, thereby enabling the entry of air currents, which reduce the
temperature; reflected heat, solar radiation, and the intensity of
traffic noise(see Fig 1.3).6
6Ibid.
Fig 1.3: Mashrabbia
The effect of religion and social interaction on local
architecture can be observed in two ways. Firstly, the Islamic
religious teachings encourage privacy and modesty, and courtyard
houses fulfil this condition by providing an inward-looking house
whose privacy cannot be breached from the street. All the first floor
rooms opened onto the courtyard, while the exterior walls were
mostly solid , apart from some small ventilation openings at a
considerable height, thereby preventing pedestrians from looking
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mathematicians. As these patterns align and diverge, the visual
effect is of sparse geometric patternshexagons, circles, squares,
and trianglesthat blossom into an opaque mesh (see fig 1.4). The
result is a kinetic surface that spans 122 square meters and imbues
the building with the functional capacity to dynamically change its
opacity.8
Fig 1.4: Geometric Patterns of Tessellate Panels
8Adaptive Building Initiative, http://www.adaptivebuildings.com/simons-center.html,accessed on Nov 12, 1010.
Fig 1.4: Geometric Patterns of Tessellate Panels
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Tessellate is controlled using location-based sensory data
to respond to light and weather conditions and fully integrates into
the building management system. For instance, when high levels of
direct light are detected, the metal panels diverge, and their
patterns completely overlap, blocking the suns rays. The sensors
are programmed in a variety of ways to maximize energy efficiency
and savings.9
Faade:
Adaptive Shading Coverage: 124 sq. m.
Materials: Waterjet-cut steinless steel, glass
Dimensions: 5.6m Wide x 6.7m Tall
2- Strata System at City of Justice (AP + TSJ)
Architect:Foster + Partners
Ciudad de Justicia, Madrid, Spain, 2006-2011, Strata
The new Campus of Justice in Madrid is the largest single
site dedicated to law courts in Europe. Following the master plan,
9Ibid.
Foster + Partners has designed two distinctly circular buildings,
Tribunal Superior de Justicia (High Court) see fig 1.5, and
Audiencia Provincial (Appeals Court).
Fig 1.5: Interior rendering of the Court yeard by Foster+ Partners
Both buildings were designed to minimize unwanted solar gain,
while allowing natural daylight inside. As a key part of this
environmental strategy, ABI systems were used to develop a
customized shading scheme. Each building will use ABI's Strata
system; when extended, the system will cover the triangulated roof
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grid. When retracted, their profile will 'disappear' into the structural
profile of the roof (see figs 1.6, 1.7).
During the day, the primary function of the system will be
sun shading. A custom algorithm combining historic solar gain data
with real-time light-level sensing will control the shading units.10
Fig 1.6: ABI's Strata System
AP:- 20,000 sq. feet of shading area
- System Geometry: Hexagonal
- Number of operable units: 257
TSJ:
10Ibid.
- 7,000 sq. feet of shading area
- System Geometry: Parallelogram
- Number of operable units: 115
- Materials: Aluminum, Steel
- Control System: Each unit driven by a servo motor with custom
array control
Fig 1.7: Detail of ABI's Strata System
3- Perme System at Aldar Central Market, Central Market , Abu
Dhabi, UAE , 2006-2010.
Architect:Foster + Partners
Abu Dhabi's historic Central Market has been transformed
into a dynamic new quarter with markets, shops, offices,
apartments and hotels. One of the oldest sites in the city, Central
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Market is a reinterpretation of the traditional marketplace and a new
civic heart for Abu Dhabi. The project comprises a combination of
lower-rise, ecologically sensitive levels of retail roof gardens
forming a new public parkand three towers.
Using the Adaptive Building Initiative's Perme system,
Hoberman Associates developed several exterior shading roofs in
three public squares within the retail complex. The kinetic design
works off an operable grid. In its covered configuration, the shading
roof resembles a traditional coffered Islamic roof. When retracted,
the roof becomes a slender lattice that complements the Foster
team's designs for fixed shading (see fig 1.8).11
- Adaptive Shading Coverage: 3,000 sq. ft.
- Number of operable units: 8
- Materials: Aluminum, Steel
- Control System: Each unit driven by a servo motor with
custom array control
Adaptively Benefits
11Ibid.
- Ventilation and airflow control
- Dust and debris protection
- Reduced solar gain and glare
- Shading control
- Privacy control
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Fig 1.8: Perme System at Aldar Central Market
The following case studies were selected as examples of
skyscrapers whose architects attempted to mediate between the
modern building typology and the local identity.
4- Abu Dhabi Investment Council Headquarters Towers
Architects: Aedas+Arup architects
Height:476 ft (145m), Client:Abu Dhabi Investment Council
Location:Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Site area:11,500sq m
Number of floors: 29 floors
Total ground floor area:Over 32,000sq m
Area of Curtain Wall:67,500m2
Curtain Wall System:Unitized and Stick Curtain Wall
Fig 1.9: Abu Dhabi Investment Council Headquarters Towers
CONCEPT: The design of the towers considers both traditional
Islamic architecture as well as sustainability. It includes and utilises
sustainable techniques, including a state-of-the-art computer
operated shading system. The designers have also striven to fuse
Islamic architecture with the modern design, basing the entire
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structure of the building on a mixture of two-dimensional circles and
three dimensional spheres. The entire structure is designed to
reflect a single geometric theme. "Our concept for the Abu Dhabi
Investment Council headquarters was generated from a
mathematically pre-rationalised form which was in turn derived from
Islamic principles, said Aedas deputy chairman Peter Oborn. Its a
thoroughly modern building rooted in tradition.12(see Fig. 1.10)
Fig 1.10, Investment-Council-Headquarters-Towers-Concept-Design
12Wordpress Theme, Architecture View , http://www.architecture-view.com/2010/10/24/gorgeous-investment-council-headquarters-towers-for-abu-dhabi/,accessed: Nov 20, 2010.
Use: Commercial office use, as well as facilities for a full-service
restaurant, caf, a fully configured auditorium for up to 150 people,
a multi-use conference space, and prayer rooms for the buildings
estimated 2,000 office workers.13
Fig 1.11: Investment-Council-Headquarters-Towers-Ground-Design
13 Ibid.
http://www.architecture-view.com/2010/10/24/gorgeous-investment-council-headquarters-towers-for-abu-dhabi/http://www.architecture-view.com/2010/10/24/gorgeous-investment-council-headquarters-towers-for-abu-dhabi/http://www.architecture-view.com/2010/10/24/gorgeous-investment-council-headquarters-towers-for-abu-dhabi/http://www.architecture-view.com/2010/10/24/gorgeous-investment-council-headquarters-towers-for-abu-dhabi/http://www.architecture-view.com/2010/10/24/gorgeous-investment-council-headquarters-towers-for-abu-dhabi/8/9/2019 Alhadi_Rabeia_The+Living+Skyscraper_Architecture_Spring2011%5B1%5D (1)
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DETAILS
Fig 1.13: Faade Layers
Both towers are covered from top to bottom with a dynamic
mashrabbia screen, which opens and closes in response to the
position of the sun (see Fig. 1.9). The mashrabbia comprises over
1,000 translucent moving elements on each tower and is controlled
by specially designed computer software. It will reduce solar gain
by an estimated 20%, and provide 80% to 90% of the shading on
the building.14
The mashrabiya is made of a translucent fabric mesh
(PFTE), providing occupants closed. The honeycomb design is not
only practical in terms of shading, but is also very resilient and
difficult to damage.
15
These sustainable initiatives will lead to an estimated 20%
reduction in electricity consumption, due to a reduced in the need
for air conditioning and lighting, a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions
and a 15% in cooling plant capital cost.
16
14Ibid.15Ibid.16
Bridgette Meinhold, Inhabitat, Solar-Powered Crystalline Towers Unveiled for AbuDhabi,http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-crystalline-towers-unveiled-for-abu-dhabi/abu-dhabi-investment-council-headquarters-towers-13/?extend=1,accessed: Nov 20,2010.
http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-crystalline-towers-unveiled-for-abu-dhabi/abu-dhabi-investment-council-headquarters-towers-13/?extend=1http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-crystalline-towers-unveiled-for-abu-dhabi/abu-dhabi-investment-council-headquarters-towers-13/?extend=1http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-crystalline-towers-unveiled-for-abu-dhabi/abu-dhabi-investment-council-headquarters-towers-13/?extend=1http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-crystalline-towers-unveiled-for-abu-dhabi/abu-dhabi-investment-council-headquarters-towers-13/?extend=1http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-crystalline-towers-unveiled-for-abu-dhabi/abu-dhabi-investment-council-headquarters-towers-13/?extend=1http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-crystalline-towers-unveiled-for-abu-dhabi/abu-dhabi-investment-council-headquarters-towers-13/?extend=18/9/2019 Alhadi_Rabeia_The+Living+Skyscraper_Architecture_Spring2011%5B1%5D (1)
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Part Two
Context Analysis
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2.1 Digital Context:
2.1.1 Introduction
How to make buildings acclimate to the climate has been
the challenge of architecture for Thermal comfort. Reducing the
outdoor high temperature differences is still the significance of
building energy efficiency. In particular, there are many locations
with great daily or seasonal variation in climatic temperature. The
temperature can swing around 40 C degrees from winter to
summer and around 10 C degrees from night to day17
17
Z. Xie, H.-X. Cao, Asy mmet ric Changes in Max imum and Minim um Temp eratu re inBeijing, Theor. Appl. Climatol. 1996, vol. 55, pp. 151-156
. Currently,
the common strategies for addressing this wide temperature range
of climate are the HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air-conditioning)
systems. Much energy of HVAC system is needed in these
locations for indoor thermal comfort. There are lots of studies
focusing on the high-tech or high-efficient HVAC system to save
energy. However, we believe the fundamental point is the building
design rather than external treatment like the HAVC system. That is
why many design standards and handbooks are used for
recommending building orientation, materials and other design
strategies for reducing the energy usages of HVAC systems. Since
this thesis suggests design of a bio-inspired dynamic envelope
system responding to solar radiation and local climate conditions,
and in order to explore the envelope system, this research reviews
important literatures related to biomimetic design in architecture
and kinetic/interactive building envelope applications.
2.1.2 Kinetic Envelope Systems
The optical and thermophysical properties of building
envelopes are one of the most important design parameters
affecting indoor thermal comfort and energy conservation18
18
Gul Koc Zerrin Yilmaz, Building form for cold climatic zones related to buildingenvelope from heating energy conservation point of view , Energy and Buildings,2003, vol. 35, pp. 383388.
.
Regarding the interactive or kinetic envelope, it belongs to the
issue of kinetic architecture that initially was first demonstrated by
the literature Kinetic Architecture wrote by William Zuk and Roger
H. Clark in 1970. It shows a systematic knowledge about kinetic
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architecture, also proposed a combination between natural
organisms and buildings19. Building envelopes tend to be smarter
with more moving parts, and the main trend driven by kinetic
envelopes is sustainability and indoor comfort20. Also, some
practices and research consistently justify that interactive
envelopes can offer promising energy savings and indoor comfort
212223
There are many examples among which the following ones are
worth mentioning. Consider, for instance, eye adaptation that the
pupil controlling the amount of light entering the eyes
.
24
19William Zuk, Roger H. Clark, Kinetic Architecture. New York: 1970
. This was
contributed to design camera shutters and then inspired an
interesting faade of Jean Nouvels design, Arab World Institute in
Paris (Fig.2.1). The kinetic envelopes will control the amount of
20Sullivan, C. C., RobotBuildings. Pursuing the Interactive Envelope, ArchitecturalRecord, 0003858X, 194: Issue 421
Thanos Tzempelikos, Integration of Dynamic Facades with other BuildingSystems, Automated Buildings Magazine, 2007, May.22
Sullivan, C. C.23Thanos Tzempelikos24
Carlos Ernesto Ochoa, Isaac Guedi Capeluto, Strategic decisionmaking forintelligent buildings: Comparative impact of p assive design strategies and activefeatures in a hot climate, Building and Environment, 2008, pp.18291839.
incident sunlight according to the outside daylight illumination
conditions. In the result, the indoor lighting environment will be
balanced and save the electrical lighting energy.
Fig 2.1: The kinetic faade of Arab World Institute, Paris
Another example involves automated shades which have the
attributes of highly transparent and relatively unarticulated building
enclosures. At Arizona State University's Bio-design Institute in
Tempe (Fig 2.2), researchers used interior aluminum louvers
controlled continuously by photocells and sun-tracking embedded
computation instead of the large expanse of window walls at Gould
Evans and Lord Aeck Sargent Architecture. A manual override
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accessible through occupants' computers allows personal
adjustments to be made25.
Fig 2.2: Arizona State University's Bio-design Institute in Tempe
In addition, the envelope systems of the Gemeinntzige
Siedlungsund Wohnungsbaugesellschaft (GSW) headquarters
building(Fig. 2.3), designed by Sauerbruch & Hutton Architects,
demonstrate the views that the envelopes of buildings may like the
skins of living organisms to breathe, change form, and adapt to
variations in climate26
25Sullivan, C. C.
. Its kinetic envelop systems offer the
naturally ventilation for 70 percent of the year, and provide
26Michael Wiggington, Jude Harris, Breathing in Berlin, Architecture Week 2003, 0903, pp.
E1.1.
extremely good daylight to the office floors through shading
systems and much reduce the need for electrical lighting.
Fig 2.3: (GSW) headquarters building
Current intelligent kinetic systems arise from the
isomorphic convergence of three key elements: mechanical
engineering, embedded computation and responsive architecture.
Based on morphology and biology about tissue systems which
include three basic types- nervous tissue, connective tissue and
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skin tissue, at the architectural counterpoints, the interactive/kinetic
envelope systems can be also arose from the isomorphic
convergence of three key elements: sensor / monitor systems,
embedded computation and kinetic components. Sensor/monitor
systems like the biological nervous tissue are to sense and record
indoor air condition parameters involving pollutants, air flow rate
and etc. Next embedded computation deemed as connective tissue
analyzes the data received from the sensor/monitor systems
through embedded programs given by designers or users, and in
turn the kinetic components related to the skin tissue can adjust
their configurations, shaping or composing according to the
commands from embedded computation. Multiple building tissues
of envelopes are grouped together and carry out a specific
acclimated function for outside and inside air condition signals, and
then form an integral kinetic system, which can be deemed as an
interactive/kinetic building organ27
27Bettig B., J. Shah, Derivation of a standard set of geometric constraints for parametric modelingand data exchange, Computer-Aided Design, 2001, vol.33, pp.17336.
.
2.1.3 Parametric Design of BIM (BIMPD)
Most issues related to parametric design is for exploring,
representing or optimizing geometric shapes rather than capturing
and describing real architectural needs related to environments or
occupants 28 29 30. However, the term BIMPD is a new and
different area and includes 3D knowledge-rich parametric modeling
information from geometry to shape, from materials to
constructions and from occupancy activities to environmental
conditions. Lee and Sacks 31
28
Ibid.
extended BIM to domain knowledge
and explored the ability of an object in BIM to respond to internal or
external stimuli (i.e., change its form in response to changes in its
context) through complex constrains defined by users or
environmental conditions. On the other hand, BIM can utilize
external software to access necessary parameters for building
29B. Bruderlin, D. Roller (Eds.), Geometric Constraint Solving and Applications, Springer,Berlin, Germany:1998.30J.Y. Lee, K. Kim, Geometric reasoning for knowledge-based parametric design usinggraph representation, Computer-Aided Design, 1996, vol. 28, pp. 831 841.31
Ghang Lee a, et al, Specifying parametric building object behaviour (BOB) for abuilding information modeling system, Automation in Construction, 2006, vol.15, pp. 758 776.
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energy performance analysis. Schlueter & Thesseling 32
The BIM-based design with parametric methods presents the
possibility of kinetic building configuration for indoor thermal
comfort according to constraints like the relation between solar
radiation and changes of multilayer envelopes. These
configurational changes will be driven by the biologic conceptual
manipulation of spatial/configurational, physical/behavioral and
material/constructional aspects of design. Also, this process allows
discussions of design ideas and analytical tests combined with
existing computational techniques like EnergyPlus at multiple
points during the design process. The BIMPD method ultimately
results in an iterative design process supporting kinetic
conceptualization, materialization, and construction information.
developed
a prototypical tool DPV integrated into a BIM authoring tool
(Autodesk Revit) enabling the instantaneous energy simulation and
the visual representation of outputs.
32Arno Schlueter, Frank Thesseling, Building information model based energy/exergy
performance assessment in early design stages, Automation in Construction, 2009,vol.18, pp.153163.
2.1.4 Design parameters for kinetic skins
According to Rickey and Dorin in indicating where
design decisions of kinetic skins occur and the range of parameters
that may require consideration. This preliminary outline is intended
to identify the general range of factors to be considered, rather than
the prescription for any particular design approach. A flaw of all
generalist models is that the specificity of each project makes some
aspects redundant. However, as a means to articulate the
ontological shift that occurs when considering kinetic process as an
outcome rather than a design aid, the scope of decisions occur
around three interconnected groups of parameters. As the diagram
below suggests these are:
1- Choice of input or sampling;
2- The manner in which these samples are processed by
the control system;
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directed and bottom-up approaches where parameters are set for
the evolution of behaviour35
On tectonics:
.
What technology is available to implement an interactive
skin? Typically, composition in architectural design is based on a
tectonic approach in which the aesthetic is largely based on
fabrication methods, articulation of joints, and materials. As
evidenced by the Arab Institute faade by Jean Nouvel, this attitude
to engendering aesthetics can be extended to environmental
control systems. Similarly the example of the BIX electronic skin by
Peter Cook et al indicates the tectonic design of electronic displays
can in itself be important (Fig 2.6).
35Ibid.
Fig 2.6: The BIX electronic skin by Peter Cook
The interactive skin can be manifest in either physical or
electronic form and both require detailed design in terms of their
physical appearance as well as their performance. We can make a
broad distinction between passive systems with minimal
mechanics such as the wind walls of artist Ned Kahn (Fig 2.5-E)
and more complex mechanical systems such as the Agesis
Hyposurface (Fig 2.5-F).
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Fig 2.5: A/B-sampling data from sensors and information portals; C/D-visual programming
interface controlling prototype facade (Janssen and Kramer); E-tectonic wind wall (Ned
Kahn); F- agesis hyposurface (Gaulthorpe et al)
In order to evaluate and develop this conceptual model for
the design of kinetic skins, the next stage will be to undertake a
taxonomy of available technology using the sampling / control /
tectonic categories. It is anticipated this will produce a useful
design resource, but also act as a research methodology, flushing
out gaps for the development of new design approaches and
technology36
2.2 Social and Cultural Context of Skyscrapers
.
2.2.1 History and Technology
The term "skyscraper" was first used during the 1880s,
shortly after the first 10 to 20 story buildings were built in the United
States. Combining several innovations: steel structure, elevators,
central heating, electrical plumbing pumps and the telephone,
skyscrapers came to dominate American skylines at the turn of the
century37
36Ibid.
.
37Dirk Stichweh, New York Skyscrapers, Prestel: Munich, Berlin, London, New York, 2009
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across continental Europe for the first half of the twentieth century
(with the notable exceptions of the 26-storey Boerentoren in
Antwerp, Belgium, built in 1932, and the 31-storey Torre Piacentini
in Genoa, Italy, built in 1940). New York City developers competed
among themselves, with successively taller buildings claiming the
title of "world's tallest" in the 1920s and early 1930s, culminating
with the completion of the Chrysler Building in 1930 and the Empire
State Building in 1931, the world's tallest building for forty years.
The first completed World Trade Center tower became the world's
tallest building in 1972 for two years. That changed with the
completion of the Sears Tower (later renamed the Willis Tower) in
Chicago in 1974(Fig. 2.8), which became the world's tallest building
for several decades40
40Ibid
.
Fig 2.8: Sears Tower
From the 1930s onwards, skyscrapers also began to appear
in Latin America and in Asia. Immediately after World War II, the
Soviet Union planned eight massive skyscrapers dubbed "Stalin
Towers" for Moscow; seven of these were eventually built. The rest
of Europe also slowly began to permit skyscrapers, starting with
Madrid, in Spain, during the 1950s. Finally, skyscrapers also began
to be constructed in cities of Africa, the Middle East and Oceania
(mainly Australia) from the late 1950s.
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In the early 1960s structural engineer Fazlur Khan realized
that the rigid steel frame structure that had "dominated tall building
design and construction so long was not the only system fitting for
tall buildings", marking "the beginning of a new era of skyscraper
revolution in terms of multiple structural systems." His central
innovation in skyscraper design and construction was the idea of
the "tube" structural system, including the "framed tube", "trussed
tube", and "bundled tube". These systems allowed far greater
economic efficiency, and also allowed efficient skyscrapers to take
on various shapes, no longer needing to be box-shaped. Over the
next fifteen years, many towers were built by Khan and the
"Second Chicago School", including the massive 442-meter (1,451-
foot) Willis Tower.41
A landmark skyscraper can inspire a boom of new high-rise
projects in its city, as Taipei 101 has done in Taipei since its
opening in 2004 (Fig. 2.9). Large cities currently experiencing
skyscraper building booms include Miami in the United States,
41Ibid
London in the United Kingdom, Shanghai in China, Dubai in the
United Arab Emirates which now the location of the tallest building
in the world, Burj Dubai, about 2000 ft.42(Fig. 2.9).
Fig 2.9: Lift: Taipei 101 tower, right: Burg Dubai
The 21st century is now bringing together, new elements:
smart skin, responsive materials, parametric design in curtain wall
technology, customization and digital fabrication. Tall buildings will
42Ibid
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use smart skins that will respond to changes, environmental and
emotional. Smarter programmable elevators will distribute traffic
more efficiently vertically and travellators will do the same
horizontally, between the lobbies of clustered skyscrapers43
2.2.2 Sustainable Skyscrapers
.
In 1983, the UN established the World Commission on
Environment and Development in an attempt to resolve the
conflicts arising out of the aspirations of the developed and
developing worlds. In 1989 they published Our Common Future or
the Brundtland Report44
43Ibid
, which launched the concept of
sustainable development and was reinforced in 1992 at Earth
Summit in Rio. It called for Development which meets the needs of
the present generation without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable architecture is
environmentally conscious, energy-saving, and utilizes responsive
and renewable materials and systems. Ecological and
44Wced, Our Common Future. World Commission on Environment and Development,
Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. WILLIAMSON, T., RADFORD. A., and BENNETTS,H., (2003).
environmental concerns have expanded beyond the issue of the
consumption of non-renewable energy sources. Sustainability
essentially aims for ecological balance45
High Performance Tall Building:
.
Environmental awareness extends to both the urban
environment and the context in which a tall building is placed as
well as its interior environment. The issues ofoutdoor microclimate
and indoor air quality as well as the potential toxicity of materials
and chemicals used in building components, systems, and
furnishings are also of concern to the building users. In a broad
sense the term green is often used for a sustainable, which
essentially describes design, construction and maintenance
practices that minimize or eliminate the negative impact of a
building on the environment and on the users. Tall buildings are
massive consumers of energy.They are the dominant elements in
urban architecture due to their scale and purpose, and should be
45NewmanMAN, P. Sustainability and Cities: The Role of Tall Buildings in the New
Global Agenda. Proceedings of the CTBUH Sixth World Congress, Melbourne, Australia,2001, pp. 76-109.
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Faade Technology:Daylighting and shading are usually the key
aspects to faade design for typical green buildings. The faade
covers over 90 to 95 percent of the external building surface area in
a tall building, that is, the roof area is almost insignificant compared
to faade areas. Thus, the energy gain or loss for a tall building
depends very much upon the materiality and technology employed
in the faade treatment50
Combined Heat and Power: A highly efficient technology for
energy saving in densely built-up urban areas is the Combined
Heat and Power (CHP) system. CHP is the simultaneous
production of power, heat and, occasionally, chilled water for air-
conditioning, and is also known as co- or tri-generation. CHP
avoids transmission losses as electricity is generated close to the
point of use.The result of using CHP systems is a cost saving and
reduction of CO2 emissions of over 30 percent with respect to
generation from coal-fired power stations and over 10 percent with
respect to gas fired combined cycle gas turbines. CHP technology
.
50Ibid
can be applied as well to the considerable loads of individual tall
buildings or groups of tall buildings where the electricity load and
annual cooling requirements are similar. A typical distribution of
total energy output from a CHP system is shown in Table 151
.
Table 1: Energy Output Distribution of CHP System
Rainwater harvestingcollects the rain onto roofs, then stores it in
a tank, intended for eventual use. The recycled water is used for
toilets, washing machine and outside tap use. Grey water recycling
is another process in which water from bath, shower, and hand
wash basin is reused. This grey water is more suited to residential
tall buildings in which sufficient amounts are generated regularly for
reuse in toilets, washing machines and outside tap52
.
51Smith, P. P. (2007). Sustainability at the Cutting Edge: Emerging Techniques for
Low Energy Buildings. Elsevier. London, New York et. al52Ibid
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Building Management Systems
Innovative building technologies such as computer-based
smart or intelligent building systems can play a major role in
managing the energy usage. The increasing reliance on computer
technology and automated systems can be directed toward
achieving a sustainable functioning of skyscrapers. The Building
Management System (BMS) is a centralized control system to
manage the operations of the various building systems such as fire
protection, security, communication networks, elevators, HVAC
systems, etc. The environmental data collection and control system
is usually incorporated within the BMS which can also be used to
control more passive features like opening windows and shading
devices. The component of the BMS that deals with energy-related
services is controlled by the Building Energy Management System
(BEMS), also known as the Energy Management and Control
System (EMCS), which may in some circumstances function
autonomously. The control system need not to be located on-site
and the supervision of the system can be centrally for multiple
building complexes or for a number of similar buildings in outlying
areas53
Case Studies
.
A new generation of sustainable tall buildings is
challenging conventional high-rise building practices and setting
trends for future projects incorporating innovations in materials and
intelligent building systems. Menara Mesiniaga: Ken Yeang and T.
R. Hamzah were among the first architects to apply ecological
principles to their bioclimatic skyscrapers. The Menara Mesiniaga
in Subang, Malaysia (Fig. 2.10), designed in 1992, presents an
early model building for the physical translation of ecological
principles into high-rise architecture54
53Ibid
.
54Abel, C. Sky High: Vertical Architecture. Royal Academy ofArts. London, 2003.
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Figure 2.10: Menara Mesiniaga, Kuala Lumpur, 1992, T. R. Hamzah & Yeang.
The fifteen-story tower expresses its technological innovations on
its exterior and uses as little energy as possible in the production
and running of the building. Instead of a continuous facade, the
building open and closes in sections arranged in stages around the
tower. It has an exterior load-bearing structure of steel with
aluminium and glass, and a crowning superstructure for the roof,
planned as a future support for solar cells. The interior and exterior
structure of the tower is planned around climatic considerations and
its orientation toward the daily path of the sun. Deep incisions and
suspended aluminum sunscreens on the south facade ward off the
direct rays of the noon and afternoon sun into the interior55
Swiss Reinsurance Headquarters: Foster and Partners
developed new technological, urban planning, and ecological
design concepts in the Swiss Reinsurance Headquarters building
(see Figure 3) constructed in 2004 in London. The steel spiral
diagrid structure creates an aerodynamic form that provides the
lowest resistance to wind and diminishes demands on the load-
bearing structure, as well as the danger of strong downward winds
in the area around the building. The net-like steel construction of
the load-bearing structure lies directly behind the glass faade and
allows support-free spaces right up to the core. The most
innovative element in the inner structure is the inclusion of
triangular light shafts behind the facade, which spiral upwards over
the whole height of the building. These light and air shafts are
interrupted every six stories by an intermediate floor, to minimize
the development of drafts and noise.
.
55Ibid
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Figure 2.11: Swiss Reinsurance Headquarters, London, U.K., 2004, Fosterand Partners.
The slimming of the buildings profile at its base reduces
reflections, improves transparency, and increase daylight
penetration at ground level. The aerodynamic form of the tower
encourages wind to flow around its face, minimizing wind loads on
the structure and cladding, and enables the use of a more efficient
structure. Natural air movement around the building generates
natural ventilation within the building56
The Solaire: Located at Battery Park in New York City, the Solaire
(see Figure 5) is the first residential high-rise building in the U.S. to
integrate green features in a comprehensive way (Carey, 2006). It
is a 27-story, 293-unit luxury apartment building located on the
Hudson River developed by the Albanese Organization and
designed by Cesar Pelli & Associates. Its sustainable features
include PV panels incorporated into the buildings facade, a planted
roof garden, and fully operational blackwater treatment system. It is
based on guidelines developed by the Battery Park City Authority,
which address five areas of concern: 1) Enhanced indoor air
.
56Foster, N.Modeling the Swiss Re Tower, Architecture Week,www.architectureweek.com,2005.
http://www.architectureweek.com/http://www.architectureweek.com/http://www.architectureweek.com/http://www.architectureweek.com/8/9/2019 Alhadi_Rabeia_The+Living+Skyscraper_Architecture_Spring2011%5B1%5D (1)
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quality; 2) Water conservation and purification; 3) Energy efficiency;
4) Recycling construction waste and the use of recycled building
materials; and 5) Commissioning to ensure building performance57.
Figure 2.12 : The Solaire, Battery Park, New York City, 2003
57Carey, H. L. The Solaire: Green By Design. Battery Park City Authority, New York, 2006.
The Pearl River Tower: The Pearl River Tower (Fig. 2.13) is a
990-foot (300-meter) tall net-zero energy mixed-use building,
Guangzhou, China. Designed by Adrian Smith and Skidmore,
Owings & Merrill, it has a curved glass faade that directs air flow
through narrow openings in the facade that drives large, stainless
steel wind turbines to generate electrical energy. The buildings
aerodynamic shape, was developed in collaboration with Rowan
Williams Davis & Irwin, Inc. of Ontario, Canada using the RWDI-
Skin suite of proprietary analysis tools, including its Virtual wind
simulation modeling (RWDI Group,2007)58.
Figure 2.13: Pearl River Tower, Guangzhou, China, 2010
58Rwdi Group, Promotion brochure, Spring, SLOCOMBE, D.S. ,Environmental Planning:
Ecosystem Science and Ecosystem Approaches for Integrating Environment and Development.
Environmental Management. 17(3), 2007, pp. 283-303.
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2.3Context Analysis of Tripoli City, Libya
2.3.1 Background
Fig. 2.14: Tripoli citys skyline
Tripoli is the largest and the capital city of Libya, North
Africa. It has a good strategic geographical position and a profound
history. Tripoli lies at a latitude of 32 56 north, and a longitude of
13 10 east and is on the south coast of the Mediterranean Sea in a
central position. It forms a vital link between the eastern and
western cities of the Arab world and between European and African
cities 59(see Fig 2.1).
Fig 2.15: Tripoli links between European and African cities
2.3.2 Brief History
Tripolis history reflects the history of the country. It has
known ups and downs but its historical architectural monuments
are a testimony to the great Libyan civilisation. Tripoli was founded
59Temehu, Tripoli: The Bride of The Mediterranean,www.temehu.com/Cities_sites/Tripoli.htm
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by the Phoenicians in the first half of the first millennium B.C. under
the name of Oea. Among the Greeks Oea, together with the
colonies of Sabratha and Leptis Magna, was called Tripolis (in
Greek, three cities), a name that was retained for Oea. In 105
B.C., it was conquered by the Romans. In the fifth century A.D., it
was conquered by the Vandals, and during the sixth and seventh
centuries it was part of the Byzantine Empire. In the seventh
century it became part of the Arab Caliphate. From 1551 to 1911,
Tripoli was part of the Ottoman Empire. In October 1911, the city
was captured by the Italian Army, which remained there until 1943,
when British troops took over. Until Libyas declaration of
independence (1951), Tripoli was one of the centers of the national
liberation struggle. It was a capital of the Kingdom of Libya from
December 1951 until Sept. 1, 1969, when it became the capital of
the Libyan Arab Republic60
60Ibid.
.
2.3.3Economy
Tripoli is the countrys principal commercial, industrial, and
financial center. It is a port, and it is a highway junction. The city
has an international airport. About 75 percent of Libyas industrial
enterprises are concentrated in Tripoli. The Libyan economy
depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which
contribute about 95% of export earnings, about one-quarter of
GDP, and 60% of public sector wages. Libyan oil and gas licensing
rounds continue to draw high international interest; the National Oil
Company set a goal of nearly doubling oil production to 3 million
bbl/day by 201561
GDP: $74.72 billion (2010est.)
.
GDP growth rate: 8.5%
Industries: petroleum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles,handicrafts, cement
Agriculture: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables,peanuts, soybeans; cattle.
61About Libya,http://www.lipoexpo.com/1st/libya.html,accessed on Des. 12, 2010
http://www.lipoexpo.com/1st/libya.htmlhttp://www.lipoexpo.com/1st/libya.htmlhttp://www.lipoexpo.com/1st/libya.htmlhttp://www.lipoexpo.com/1st/libya.html8/9/2019 Alhadi_Rabeia_The+Living+Skyscraper_Architecture_Spring2011%5B1%5D (1)
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Exports:crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas62
Fig 2.16: Oil exports from Libya
2.3.4 Demography: The Tripoli metropolitan area (district area)
has a population of 1,682,000 (Feb, 2010 est.) 63
62Ibid
.
2.3.5 The Geology, Soil and Topography
Geology: Tripolis land consists different layers, the most important
one is the sand rock which is on the top. Its allows rain water to
drain and gather under the ground and creates wells64
Soil: The soil of Tripoli is suitable for agriculture
.65
Topography: The city of Tripoli rises 49 feet above sea level and
mostly flat
.
66
2.4.6 Climate:Tripoli gets under the influence of the subtropical zone.
The climate of Tripoli is Mediterranean with hot dry summers, cool
winters and some modest rainfall. Weather can be variable,
influenced by the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea which
moderates daily temperature ranges.The percentage of humidity is
between 53%-72% and it is higher in the summer. The temperature
in Tripoli is between 8 -18 Celsius in the winter, and sometimes
becomes 46 Celsius in the summer.Rainfall in Libya is pretty low.
.
63True Knowledge, Tripolis population in 2010,http://www.trueknowledge.com/q/tripoli's_population_in_2010,accessed on December 14,2010.64Ibid65
Ibid66Hosam Bsimam, The Old City of Tripoli: (Tripoli, 2006).
http://www.trueknowledge.com/q/tripoli's_population_in_2010http://www.trueknowledge.com/q/tripoli's_population_in_2010http://www.trueknowledge.com/q/tripoli's_population_in_20108/9/2019 Alhadi_Rabeia_The+Living+Skyscraper_Architecture_Spring2011%5B1%5D (1)
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Much of the rain occurs in winters. The average annual
precipitation is less than 100 mm67.
Table 2: Weather average conditions of Tripoli, Libya
The following bar chart shows the years average weather
condition readings covering rain, average maximum daily
temperature and average minimum temperature for Tripoli, Libya.68
67
Ibid68BBC Weather, http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.shtml?tt=TT00033
Fig 2.17: Temperature and rainfall averages, Tripoli, Libya
2.4.7 The residential land use change in Tripoli.
The residential area in the city of Tripoli had been on
increase between 1969 and 2005. In 1969 the residential land use
was at 1,126.8 hectares or 7.6% of the total city area. This figure
climbed in 1980 to 4,573.3 hectare or 30.8% of the total area, and
to 6,783.3 hectares or 45.7% in 2005
69
69
GEOGRAFIA Online, Malaysian Journal of Society and Space 4 (71 - 84) 2008,Changes in residential land-use of Tripoli city, Libya: 1969-2005
.
http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/geografia/images/upload/7.2008-osama%20kh%20ali-english-1.pdf
http://pkukmweb.ukm.my/geografia/images/upload/7.2008-osama%20kh%20ali-english-1.pdfhttp://pkukmweb.ukm.my/geografia/images/upload/7.2008-osama%20kh%20ali-english-1.pdfhttp://pkukmweb.ukm.my/geografia/images/upload/7.2008-osama%20kh%20ali-english-1.pdfhttp://pkukmweb.ukm.my/geografia/images/upload/7.2008-osama%20kh%20ali-english-1.pdfhttp://pkukmweb.ukm.my/geografia/images/upload/7.2008-osama%20kh%20ali-english-1.pdf8/9/2019 Alhadi_Rabeia_The+Living+Skyscraper_Architecture_Spring2011%5B1%5D (1)
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Fig 2.18: Tripoli residential land use between 1960-2005
2.3.8 Architectural and Urban Fabric of Tripoli, New versus old
Al-Madina (The Old City of Tripoli)
The northwesternpart of Tripoli is the Old City, or Madina,
which was rebuilt during the second half of the 16th century. It is
located on a rocky cape and is walled on two sides. (See Fig. 2.6)
In the south and southeast is the New City, with public and
commercial buildings, as well as residences.
Fig. 2.19: The main entrance to the Medina, known as Bab Al-Hurriyah (the Freedom Gate)the earliest fortified wall around the town was built in the 4th century.
The Madina or the historic city of Tripoli, now occupies the
site of ancient Oea which was built by the Phoenicians in the
seventh century BC. In 46 BC Tripoli was captured by the Romans
who developed the city and built many temples, markets and public
baths surrounded by residential buildings. The Ottoman presence
that followed lasted until 1911, and most of the existing mosques
and public buildings were constructed during this period. Suburbs
began to spring up outside the walls at the end of the 19th century.
The ramparts were damaged during the Italian presence and when
it was bombed during the Second World War. The old city of Tripoli
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was designed along the lines of other Arab cities. Its narrow streets
are often covered and vaulted to shore up the walls of adjoining
houses70
The Islamic walled city or Madina possesses important
environmental and aesthetic characteristics. In the Madina both
resident and visitor alike can experience and enjoy the city's most
significant architectural values, its design, style, building materials,
skilled workmanship, beauty and uniqueness. A variety of buildings
and other features of the Madina serve to remind people about the
past, providing insight into the culture and history of previous
generations. These features show the different activities of people
who lived and worked in the Madina many centuries ago. In
addition to its distinctive architectural values, the Madina has a high
spiritual and symbolic significance based upon its history. Sense of
place and continuity through time are well expressed. The Madina
still hosts many special, long-standing cultural events and
.
70The World Heritage Center, UNESCO,http://portal.unesco.org/culture/es/file_download.php/3e14cf4c9202cf4efa37a11a6e2135a0Newsletter+no9.htm,accessed on December 13, 2010
celebrations throughout the year which also link people with their
heritage.
The unique space design in the Islamic Madina cannot be
found in other medieval or historic cities. The space is well defined
and organized with attention to privacy and community, its ancient
designers recognizing its inhabitants' cultural and social needs.
These values make the city worthy of being conserved and
promoted for today's use71
Marcus Aurelius Arch
. Among Tripolis ancient architectural
landmarks are the Marcus Aurelius triumphal arch (A.D. 163164),
the Karamanli Palace (1736), the Gurgi Mosque (1833), and the
Castle, or Citadel (first centuries A.D.; rebuilt in the 14th, 16th, and
20th centuries).
The arch is dating back to 163-164 AD, and its served as
entrance to the city. It was the only one of Oea. The arch contains
71Temehu, Tripoli: The Bride of The Mediterranean,www.temehu.com/Cities_sites/Tripoli.htm,accessed on Dec. 13,2010.
http://portal.unesco.org/culture/es/file_download.php/3e14cf4c9202cf4efa37a11a6e2135a0Newsletter+no9.htmhttp://portal.unesco.org/culture/es/file_download.php/3e14cf4c9202cf4efa37a11a6e2135a0Newsletter+no9.htmhttp://portal.unesco.org/culture/es/file_download.php/3e14cf4c9202cf4efa37a11a6e2135a0Newsletter+no9.htmhttp://portal.unesco.org/culture/es/file_download.php/3e14cf4c9202cf4efa37a11a6e2135a0Newsletter+no9.htmhttp://www.temehu.com/Cities_sites/Tripoli.htmhttp://www.temehu.com/Cities_sites/Tripoli.htmhttp://www.temehu.com/Cities_sites/Tripoli.htmhttp://portal.unesco.org/culture/es/file_download.php/3e14cf4c9202cf4efa37a11a6e2135a0Newsletter+no9.htmhttp://portal.unesco.org/culture/es/file_download.php/3e14cf4c9202cf4efa37a11a6e2135a0Newsletter+no9.htm8/9/2019 Alhadi_Rabeia_The+Living+Skyscraper_Architecture_Spring2011%5B1%5D (1)
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fine decorations, showing Apollo and Minerva. Now-empty niches
contained statues of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus72
.
Fig 2.20: Marcus Aurelius arch
Karamanli Palace
Karamanli palace is dating back to the early 19th century,
built by Yusuf Karamanli. Some rooms on the 1st floor have been
turned into exhibits with dolls acting out everyday life. The
Karamanli family ruled Tripoli through most of 18th and half way
through the 19th century. With their fall, the house became
72Liberty International, Libya, Tripoli,www.liberty-international.org/libya/excursions-tripolitania/,accessed on Dec. 13, 2010.
consulate for the Italian state of Tuscany. The house was restored
during the early 1990s and became known as Tripoli Historical
Exhibition73.
Fig 2.21: Karamanli Palace,
Gurji Mosque:
The mosque of Gurji is Located west of Marcus Aurelius' , it
was built by Mustapha Gorji in 1834 AD, who was the head of the
port. The building includes a school and a tomb (or a grave) of the
founder. The project completed the maintenance and restoration of
73Ibid
http://www.liberty-international.org/libya/excursions-tripolitania/http://www.liberty-international.org/libya/excursions-tripolitania/http://www.liberty-international.org/libya/excursions-tripolitania/http://www.liberty-international.org/libya/excursions-tripolitania/http://www.liberty-international.org/libya/excursions-tripolitania/http://www.liberty-international.org/libya/excursions-tripolitania/8/9/2019 Alhadi_Rabeia_The+Living+Skyscraper_Architecture_Spring2011%5B1%5D (1)
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this architectural group in the year 1994. The building is considered
one of the best examples of Islamic stone carvings and floral motifs
in the capital74(Fig. 2.22).
Fig 2.22: Right: The main hall of Gurji mosque, Lift: Islamic Inscriptions in the mosque
The Red Castel:
The castle of Tripoli, known as Assai al-Hamra or the Red
Castle, has been the fortress of many lords of this region through
the centuries. It was briefly the stronghold of Christian knights in
the 16th century, only to be expelled by Muslim pirates. It is
74Ibid
assumed that the first fortress was built in the 7th century, to
protect against the Muslim Arab invasion of Libya.
Fig 2, 23: The Red Castel, Tripoli, Libya
At least until the 17th century, it appears that all sides of the
fortress were surrounded by water. Much of the present structure
dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries, the plan is distinctly
Ottoman and includes a mosque, harem and numerous courtyards.
Additions by each ruling group in Tripoli give the building an
eclectic but beautiful style (Fig 2.23). The castel is today used by
the Jamahiriya Museum75
Modern Tripoli
.
In the face of rapid economic development, population
growth, people's increasing needs and changing lifestyles, large
75Ibid
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concrete buildings and busy streets dominate the new part of the
city. The old city is nearby (Fig. 2.24, 2.25), but these roads and
structures have a distinctly modern feel. Buildings are popping up
at a furious rate, in an effort to draw investors and demonstrate
Libya's success as an independent, self-sufficient nation.
Fig. 2.24: The modern shore of Tripoli reflecting the contrast between the old and new
buildings of the city
Fig. 2.25: The style of high-rise buildings in modern Tripoli
The modern city of Tripoli has been heavily influenced by
the global city type. Dominant urban features include commercial
city centers, multistory residential buildings, large shopping malls,
wide boulevards, an extensive network of highways, and sprawling
new suburbs. However, the residential concrete and glass boxes
that have been built in the modern part of the city dont
accommodate the local life style, inconsequence, nobody likes to
live in these undesired boxes, and people who occupy these blocks
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are either immigrants or needy people, who cannot afford their own
houses because of the high land cost. This kind of unintended
ignorance of the city context and the local culture leads the city to
lose its unique identity.
Fig. 2.26: Residential high-rise buildings in modern Tripoli
Fig2.27: Commercial and Residential high-rise building in the modern part of Tripoli
The most notable pieces of contemporary architecture in
modern Tripoli can be found on Tripoli's waterfront in the
northwestren part of the city, close to the port and the old
madina. Alfateh tower, a 26-floor office building was built in
1998, and it is one of the most famous towers in the city.
Alfateh tower was the tallest building in the city until 2010,
when the tower of Abulaila was built as a 34 - floor investment
tower.
Fig. 2.28: Right, Alfateh tower. Lift: Abulaila tower
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Projects in progress:
The following are some pictures that show some of Tripolis
ongoing high-rise buildings style, most of these projects are still under
construction, and they are representing the new generation of Tripolis
architecture. Most of these buildings continue to be designed as vertical
extrusions of an efficient floor plan and some of the modern ones are
iconic pieces of high-rise urban sculptures, and no one of them is
inspired by place, culture, or environment.
Fig. 2.29:10-story residential building is under construction. (Picture: Sep. 07, 2010)
Hydra Tripoli Tower
Location: Tripoli
Use: mixed-use tower includes: retail, hospitality, and offices76
Number of floors: 45 floors
.
Status: Under construction
Fig. 2.30: Hydra Tripoli Tower
Medina Tower high rise development in Tripoli
Location: Tripoli/Libya
76Walid El-Tigi / Yasser Fathy, Hydra Properties unveils Tripoli Towers in Libya,
zawea.com, Zawya,http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20081124090455/Hydra%20Properties%20unveils%20Tripoli%20Towers%20in%20Libya,accessed: Des 04, 2010
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Use: Mixed-use includes apartments, a health club, offices, retail
space, conference and food and beverage facilities77
Site area: 12,500 square metres
Status: under construction
.
Number of floors: 40 floors
Fig. 2.31: Medina Tower, Tripoli, Libya
77Sidell Gibson Architects, Medina Towers, Tripoli,http://www.sidellgibson.co.uk/projects/hotels-and-overseas/medina-towers-tripoli.php,accessed on Des. 10, 2010.
New proposed skyscrapers on the sea front of the city
Fig. 2.32: The new skyscrapers of Tripoli (some of them are under construction): dwarfing
Boulayla and Alfatah towers.JW.Marriott Hotel (bottom right)
http://www.sidellgibson.co.uk/projects/hotels-and-overseas/medina-towers-tripoli.phphttp://www.sidellgibson.co.uk/projects/hotels-and-overseas/medina-towers-tripoli.phphttp://www.sidellgibson.co.uk/projects/hotels-and-overseas/medina-towers-tripoli.php8/9/2019 Alhadi_Rabeia_The+Living+Skyscraper_Architecture_Spring2011%5B1%5D (1)
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view of Tripoli's waterfront afforded by the site is an additional
incentive for the choice of the site.
The tower will be constructed in Tripolis central business
district a short walks distance from the city's main square, as well
as the Gold Market. It will be 10 minutes away from Matiga Airport,
20 minutes away from the international airport, and within walking
distance of public transportation to all the citys localities.
Fig3.2: Zooming further to the site
The selected site is placed in the high-rise building district in
the current land-use map of the city of Tripoli (Fig. 3.3).78 At
present, the site is under excavation in preparation for the
construction of the new tower (Fig 3.7).
Fig 3.3: Tripolis district heights map
78Tripoli City Centres Urban and Architectural Charter, Tripoli urban fabricmap,http://www.iau-idf.fr/index.php?id=615&etude=717,accessed on Jan 10,2011.
http://www.iau-idf.fr/index.php?id=615&etude=717http://www.iau-idf.fr/index.php?id=615&etude=717http://www.iau-idf.fr/index.php?id=615&etude=717http://www.iau-idf.fr/index.php?id=615&etude=7178/9/2019 Alhadi_Rabeia_The+Living+Skyscraper_Architecture_Spring2011%5B1%5D (1)
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3.3 Land-Use map
Since the site is located in Tripolis central business
district, diverse land uses, such as commercial, residential,
manufacturing, religious, and public gardens, are found in its
vicinity. The elevations of these buildings ar
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