Eco Factor: Master plan for Kuwaiti military academy suggests a pattern of sustainable growth.
Designed by SOM the Ali Al Sabah Military Academy meant to provide primary education for cadets preparing to become Kuwaiti military officers, has been planned as a self sustaining city on the outskirts of Kuwait city. The master plan envisages sustainable urban growth with a combination of vernacular design to address the extreme desert climate conditions.
Envisioned as a compact settlement the design imbibes solar shading, wind protection and integrated landscape components to make the city sustainable. Kuwait being one of the hottest places on earth balancing interior temperatures is always a challenge.
To reduce the energy consumption required in cooling the space, the plan makes provision for solar shading, in which perforated canopies projecting from and spanning between the buildings provide shade for all the buildings thereby reducing the heat effect. To protect against powerful wind storms the vegetation belts work along with canopy structure to control sand infiltration apart adding some green to the barren desert. The outdoor spaces and courtyards too follow the natural contours and amalgamate well with the surroundings.
Via: DesignBoom
