Projects

atmos lab

Research and Publications

It´s nice today

Urban thermal comfort: a driver for wellbeing in the city

A contemporary review of Grupo Austral's housing typologies for Argentina's countryside

Sustainability through passive design in A new indigenous university in the rainforest in Colombia

The pleasures of summer and winter in Qualities of inhabiting

Whole-life Carbon in Office Building Design: Lessons from Built Precedents and Design Application

Wladimiro Acosta, pioneer of bioclimatic architecture

Environmental diagnosis of the City of Buenos Aires, sustainable solutions

Validation of Wladimiro Acosta´s Helios System

Influence of design in CO2 emissions of office buildings: 5 pioneering case studies in UK and Swiss

Academic Participations

Wladimiro Acosta and Grupo Austral, towards an environmental architecture

MA "Environmental Architecture"

Buenos Aires: the climate and the city

Lessons from vernacular Architecture at studio A.Verschuere

Urban thermal comfort: a driver for wellbeing in the city

Guest critic at Intermediate & Final Critic at Studio Anne Lacaton

Environmental design for bamboo tropical architecture at Studio Anne Lacaton

Guest critic at MA "Environmental Architecture"

Ladybug Tools and Environmental Design

Guest critic at Studio Anne Lacaton

Atmos Lab today, at postgraduate SED

Guest critic at Sustainable Environmental Design

Whole-life Carbon in Office Building Design

Contemporary review of Regional Plan for Argentina’s countryside by Grupo Austral

Daylighting and Solar Control

Bioclimatic Architecture

New tools for environmental design in Theory of Architecture

Comportamiento ambiental de la unidad doméstica

Validating the lessons from vernacular Spanish houses to sustainable architecture

Contemporary Validation of Wladimiro Acosta´s Helios System

Solar Urbanism and Building Design in Buenos Aires

Exhibitions

Reading the invisible

Climatic Systems

Projects

Order by:

Villa Hegra

Location: Al Ula, Saudi Arabia

Client: RCU, AFAlUla

Architect: Lacaton & Vassal

Year: 2023

Size: 24300 m²

Type: New built

Program: Cultural

Status: Studies in development

Project

The project draws on the traditional organisation of the old town in terms of density and climate intelligence. In the city plot, like in the winter town, the building is compact to prevent too much heat gain or loss, highly protected on the perimeter, and organised around courtyards that bring light and ventilation. On the oasis plot, lighter, spread constructions draw inspiration on the summer city as these benefit from a milder microclimate, the shade of the palms, and humidity of the citrus trees.

In these latitudes, shelter from the strong sun is primordial (solar exposure can increase felt temperature by some 10ºC) to avoid that temperature increases above the air one: the project provides large canopies, slabs extend for 3m or more (cutting down radiation on glazed surfaces by at least 55%), musharabiyas protect from the horizontal rays, palm trees cover outdoor spaces, and in the roofs, a double layer (with a canopy of PVs or simply rocks) creates an air gap that avoids direct contact with the sun. The spaces in-between cool down the air before it reaches inside, progressively controlling the climate. When the weather allows it, large sliding windows remain open, extending the space, to enjoy outdoors. The structure holds concrete to stabilise peak temperatures: during summer, the main levels have natural temperatures 3-8ºC lower than outdoors, which in its turn reduce the need for air conditioning.

Inside the oasis, measured air temperatures are 2-3ºC lower than in the surroundings. The ground floor is always in the shade: palm trees cover the highest layer, whereas citrus and fruit trees are closer to the human height. Humidity is higher, especially in the afternoon, and radiant temperatures are also much lower due to the low surface temperatures of the leaves, which effectively balances air temperature. Felt temperature is all year long 3-8ºC lower than air temperature. The large shaded parvis is a type of space is unique in these climates. As no surface is ever exposed to the sun, radiant temperatures never surpass air temperature. During hot days, the thermal sensation is some 5ºC lower than air temperature and can be up to 10ºC lower than in the street.