Areas of the passenger transport system in Masdar City Abu Dhabi,
one of the world’s most sustainable cities, will be illuminated by a
natural daylight environment created using Monodraught Sunpipes. The
unique Sunpipe natural daylight systems were adopted as part of
Masdar City’s Technology Roadmap, a programme that has led to a
number of globally important innovations and the formation of key
technological partnerships to minimise Masdar City’s impact on the
environment. Monodraught’s contribution, an even more sustainable
Sunpipe, was designed especially for this project.
When Masdar was announced four years ago Justin Carter of Edison
Lighting (Middle East) Ltd, Monodraught’s agent in Dubai, realised
that it would be an ideal opportunity for Sunpipe natural daylight
technology and, following an initial approach, Monodraught and
Edison were invited to review conceptual drawings of a natural
daylight installation prepared by architects Foster+Partners. The
daylight delivery system features a glass block arrangement designed
to provide natural light from a ground-level podium walkway directly
above the transport system, into an undercroft below.
Responding to an invitation from Foster+Parters Monodraught proposed
a bespoke Sunpipe design that not only meets the natural daylighting
objectives of the installation, but also complies with the stringent
sustainability requirements of the project. Monodraught managing
director Tony Cull explains: “We knew from the outset that virgin
aluminium was not acceptable for this project. We therefore sourced
recycled material specifically to meet Masdar City’s requirements
without compromising the spectral performance.” He confirms that it
makes the already sustainable Sunpipe even more environmentally
friendly, without affecting its output.
Says Foster+Partners spokesman Ross Palmer: “It was important to
enhance the overall experience for people using the transport
system, and this is achieved with the Sunpipes, which bathe the
space in daylight to create as natural an experience as possible.
Aesthetically we were also interested in the connection between the
undercroft and the spaces above so that people would be aware of the
existence of the underground transport network.”
From the outset Monodraught worked closely with Foster+Partners to
ensure that Sunpipes would create an effective, naturally lit
environment and ensure that the use of artificial light was avoided
as much as possible in the undercroft during daylight hours.
The project features two types of Sunpipe installations, a coffer
design described by Foster+Partners as a ‘giant waffle’ and a simple
flat slab. In both cases the Sunpipe is the same.
For the waffle feature, Sunpipes are fitted within 1.5 metre square
coffers, allowing light from the highly polished Sunpipe tubes to
reflect onto the sides of the concrete coffers. This simulates a
lantern effect which, in the absence of the ceiling diffusers
normally fitted to Sunpipe installations, diffuses the light
entering the undercroft. The combination of direct daylight from the
flat slab and diffused light from the waffle creates a realistic,
naturally lit environment that fulfils the requirements of the
original concept envisaged by the Masdar Institute.
A total of 449 Sunpipes have been installed in the first phase of
the MIST (Masdar Institute of Science and Technology) project, to
deliver natural daylight to the undercroft. Another unique feature
of these Sunpipes is a new reinforced glass dome that replaces the
familiar Diamond dome. The dome can withstand wheel loads of up to
28 tonnes at podium level, where emergency roadways are closed to
pedestrians but provide safe, easy access for fire tenders,
ambulances and maintenance vehicles. The reinforced glass dome is
500mm in diameter and the recycled reflective aluminium tube
diameters are 450mm.
A bespoke ceiling diffuser has also been designed to meet
Foster+Partners aesthetic requirements for the undercroft concept.
It is hoped that the new Sunpipe will be adopted as the standard
throughout Masdar City, as well as other projects in the region.
In addition to the environmental benefits gained by replacing
electric lighting during daylight hours, the special Sunpipes also
significantly reduce the heat gain and solar gain produced by
traditional glazing and skylights, helping to create a more
comfortable environment for passengers.
Justin Carter stresses that Sunpipe manufacture and installation are
also sympathetic to the Masdar City project’s sustainability and
recycling programme on site, which means that all waste materials,
installation consumables such as tapes, packaging, etc., in fact
anything used on site, is channelled into the recycling scheme that
is an integral part of the construction guidelines.
The cost benefit is equally impressive. At least 75% of electricity
costs used for lighting can be saved during daytime where Sunpipes
are used to replace electric lighting during daylight hours. In
addition, considerable environmental and health benefits are
experienced (natural daylight is known to combat SAD) due to the
much improved environment.
Summing up, Monodraught managing director Tony Cull says Monodraught
and Edison are proud to be supplying and installing Sunpipes for
what aims to be one of the world’s most sustainable cities. He says
that lead times and the installation timetable for the bespoke
Sunpipes on the prestigious project were extremely challenging, but
both companies worked hard to meet the demanding schedule, with
Edison fielding a team of six, installing up to twenty Sunpipes per
day.
|
E-mail Monodraught |