Zero net energy public library for the San Benito County in Hollister, CA

Andrzej Kaczmarek, Paweł Kirschke

doi:10.37190/arc210112

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the use of elements of sustainable design in public buildings in the context of contemporary architectural design solutions and zero-energy standards for newly designed buildings in California, USA. The paper presents a detailed overview of the main task of the “Architecture at Zero 2020” international architectural competition, organised by the American Institute of Architects California – a design of the San Benito County Public Library in Hollister, CA. The paper also features a detailed analysis of the competition’s outcome, with a specific focus on Andrzej Kaczmarek’s design, which was given the merit award in the competition’s student projects category. The competition resulted in the presentation of the library’s design alternatives, each suited to context-specific environmental and climate determinants and optimised in terms of energy. Andrzej Kaczmarek’s design met these requirements, as demonstrated via calculations performed using eQuest 3–64 software. The design was recognised not only because of its optimised energy balance, but also the excellence with which it satisfied the needs of local citizens and how it reflected a thorough understanding of the site’s place-based character. The library was successfully blended in with its historical context via its simple form that was partially embedded underground. The building was designed to feature an array of advanced engineering solutions intended to secure it against earthquakes and optimise its heat balance, including kinetic façades and retractable glazed roof elements, photovoltaic panels, wind turbines and Pavegen floor surfaces.

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DOI: 10.37190/arc210112

Introduction

The design

by Andrzej Kaczmarek presented in this

paper received a merit award in the “Architecture at Zero

2020” international architectural competition organised

by the American Institute of Architects California

and

PG & E

. This yearly competition is addressed to students

and professional architects who face the same competition

task, but are judged in separate categories. In 2020, the

task was to design a zero net energy public library for the

San Benito County, to be located in Hollister, California,

USA. Two facets of the designs were judged, i.e. the rst

concerned architectural solutions while the second fo-

cused on technical matters and presenting the building’s

* ORCID: 0000-0003-1388-7168. P33 Pracownia Projektowa

Aleksandra Doniec, Wrocław.

** ORCID: 0000-0002-1406-8888. Faculty of Architecture, Wro-

cław University of Science and Technology, pawel.kirschke@pwr.edu.pl

Andrzej Kaczmarek’s module design is also a Master’s thesis proj-

ect prepared under the supervision of dr hab. inż. arch. Paweł Kirschke

Professor PWr (Wrocław University of Science and Techno logy).

AIA California is the largest state association of architects in the

US. It was established in 1944. It has twenty-two local chapters all over

California, which signicantly aects how the design and construction

sector develops in this region [1].

Pacic Gas and Electric Company [2].

energy eectiveness strategies and systems. In the stu-

dents category, the jury

gave three merit awards and one

honourable mention. The professional category had one

honour award and two honourable mentions

Competition history

The “Architecture at Zero” competition has been orga-

nised since 2011 with the intent to pursue innovative ar-

chitectural and technological solutions based on zero-en-

ergy concepts. The ideas, which the state of California

sees as key, were published in California’s Long Term

Energy Eciency Strategic Plan by the California Pub-

lic Utility Commission (CPUC) [4]. It features strategies

that were aimed at ensuring that all new housing was to

consist of zero-energy buildings by 2020, with the same

Jury members: Gregg D. Ander, FAIA (Fellow of the American

Institute of Architects), Marsha Maytum FAIA, LEED AP (Leadership

in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional) – Leddy

Maytum Stacy Architects, Cole Roberts PE, LEED AP – Associate Prin-

cipal | Energy & Resource Sustainability Arup, Paul Torcellini, PhD PE

– Principal Engineer, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Allison

Grace Williams, FAIA – AGWms_studio.

The total awards pool in 2020 was USD25,000. The results of the

competition have been published online at: [3].

Andrzej Kaczmarek*, Paweł Kirschke**

Zero net energy public library

for the San Benito County in Hollister, CA

Presentations

Author of the design: Andrzej Kaczmarek

Award: Merit Award in the international architectural competition Architecture at Zero 2020

100 Presentations

applying to all commercial buildings by 2030. The com-

petition is to educate designers and users by familiarising

them with the precepts and systems of sustainable design.

Due to its international character and the participation of

numerous design teams from America, Europe and Asia,

the competition is internationally recognised. The year

2020 was the rst time that a library became the compe-

tition’s main focus. In previous editions, participants had

to design, among other things, a student recreation centre

for the California State University, a complex of students

dormitories for this university, or an education centre for

the Estuary and Ocean Science Center in Tiburon.

Since 2011, the organisers have been conducting re-

search intended to verify the eectiveness of the competi-

tion based on four main criteria such as the engagement of

the nal addressee in the design process, educating com-

petition participants on zero net energy design (ZNE) and

practices, presenting how these practices should evolve

and motivate competitors to include precepts of sustaina-

ble design in actual construction projects. The assessment

team interviewed jurors, participants and competition

ma nagement personnel and performed in-depth analyses.

Furthermore, a review of the literature and online sources

concerning zero net energy design was performed. The con -

clusions conrmed that the competition was rated very

positively by all interested parties and can signi cant 

ly contribute to raising awareness of sustainable design

among designers

Competition task for 2020

The theme of the last edition of the competition was the

design of an energy-optimised public library for the San

Benito county, to be located in Hollister, CA. Its objec-

tive was to create a new building (replacing the existing

one) that would signicantly increase the usable oor area

of the library and provide many new activity opportuni-

ties for local residents. The town of Hollister is located

in central California and is a part of the Monterey Bay

A report on this study is available on the organiser’s website: [5].

Area. The proximity of Silicon Valley means that it is an

attractive place to live. The construction of a new public

library building is much needed by the local community

due to the dynamic development of the region and the lack

of a clearly dened meeting place for local citizens. The

competition task was an urban-planning challenge due to

the building’s highly extensive functional programme,

a low maximum building footprint and the low height of

the surrounding commercial and residential buildings.

Another diculty the participants had to face was the

need to account for the seismic activity at the site.

Over 150 submissions from all over the world entered

the competition. In the professionals category, the design

called The Book Garden by Jensen Architects from San

Francisco was rated the highest

. The jury decided that

it met all the goals of the competition and was an excel-

lent t for a place like Hollister. The architects designed

a building divided into several cascading masses that was

also embedded into the ground up to a height of one storey,

which allowed for a signicant increase of its volume and

creating the required formal character. Due to these meas-

ures, combined with the use of large glazed surfaces and

a timber structural system, a friendly space with a human

scale could be created. Due to an inventive interior layout,

the space of the library was naturally divided into zones.

All these qualities, when combined with greenery, created

an attractive place for gatherings, peace and quiet, as well

as learning and entertainment. In the students category,

merit awards were also given to teams from Ankara

and

Ahmedabad

. The team from Turkey, in its design entitled

To Gather, presented a dynamic form of a building rotated

by 20° relative to the surrounding pre-existing buildings,

This design rm specialises in proenvironmental designs. Their

website states that their main objective is: “to create buildings and envi-

ronments in dialogue with culture and place” [6].

Members: Şükran Yavuz, Gülsu Ulukavak Harputlugil, Timuçin

Harputlugil, Çiğdem Yılman, Yousef Daneshvar Rouyandozagh, Başak

Kalfa, Mete Sezer, Sueda Kabak – Kankaya University, Ankara, Tur key [3].

Members: Amanda Santiago, Abraham Philip, Het Modi, Sejal

Shanbhag, Shubham Solanki, Stuti Goyal, Uma P, Urvi Shah, Vardan

Soi, Rajan Rawal – CEPT University, Ahmedabad, India [3].

Fig. 1. Visualization of the west-south side of the library

(elaborated by A. Kaczmarek)

Il. 1. Wizualizacja: widok biblioteki od strony południowozachodniej

(oprac. A. Kaczmarek)

Fig. 2. Central internal atrium as a public space

(elaborated by A. Kaczmarek)

Il. 2. Centralne atrium wewnętrzne jako przestrzeń publiczna

(oprac. A. Kaczmarek)

Presentations 101

creating highly diverse common spaces. The design’s main

strengths were: allowing people to freely walk underneath

the building using external stairs, a system of internal gal-

leries, light form of the building’s openwork facade and

the skilful design of space for natural ventilation. The de-

sign entitled Meraki by a team from India largely focused

on the landscape of Hollister, the ability to observe it from

the library building and the maximum amount of energy

that could be generated using photovoltaic panels. The

building itself was designed to be suspended above the

terrain, providing access to the museum and auditorium

from groundoor level. This solution enabled the crea-

tion of a green recreational space for residents and an oval

atrium that could aid in ventilation and ensure that natural

light could enter the building’s internal spaces. An addi-

tional honourable mention was given to a multi-person

team from two universities based in San Francisco and

Taiwan

ZNE context

Since 2008, the design of zero net energy buildings

in California has been legally codied by state insti-

tutions, making it no longer a matter of choice for de-

signers, but instead a means of pursuing a specic goal.

This way, California has outlined a certain development

trajectory that is also followed by other countries and

regions. The school library in Atherton by WRNS Stu-

dio

is a very good example of a California building that

meets all the criteria of a zero net energy building. The

library is the centre of a larger campus that also com-

prises a primary school and a high school. The design of

the entire building is highly symbolic and has education-

al signicance for the youth. The values of sustainable

development that are promoted here are communicated

to students not only through books, but primarily via the

surrounding architecture. To achieve this, it became the

primary goal to demonstrate how proper building design

and everyday activities contribute to better environmen-

tal protection and resource management. The building

makes use of numerous eco-friendly solutions such as

maximum access to daylight, the use of locally sourced

materials, natural and displacement ventilation, storm-

water storage, the use of photovoltaic panels and a grey-

water treatment system. The building produces twice as

much energy as it consumes and holds NZEB

and LEED

Platinum certicates

. For over a decade, the promotion

of sustainable architecture has been reected not only in

social services buildings, but also in A-class commercial

oce buildings for which these certicates are obligato-

ry. At present, there is an unprecedented demand for sus-

tainable buildings all over the world, motivated by their

These were: Academy of Art University San Francisco and Chung

Yuan Christian University Taiwan.

Sacred Heart Schools Stevens Net Zero Library: [7].

NetZero Energy Building.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – it is possi-

ble to achieve one of four certication levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver,

Certied.

performance, ecofriendliness and a belief that certied

buildings reach the break-even point quicker than con-

ventional buildings

Design:

Atrial Creep – functional solutions and form

The design by Andrzej Kaczmarek was presented un-

der the title Atrial Creep and was prepared following

the competition’s detailed guidelines. The building’s

programme assumed creating a library equipped with

accompanying functions such as meeting halls, an audi-

torium for an audience of 400 or an oce section. The

library was also designed to feature a seminar zone for

children and adults. The main idea behind the design was

based on the maximum use of natural climate character-

istics while accounting for the seismic activity present at

the site. When designing the development and functional

layout, it became key to thoroughly analyse the needs of

local citizens and the surrounding urban tissue (fabric).

The library building was to be sited in the central part of

Hollister, close to the historical Monterey Street, which

is characterised by a variety and wealth of styles, on the

border of a services complex and single-family housing

complex of varying height. The welldened borders and

the orthogonal street grid typical of American cities en-

hanced the integrity of the district. The block with the

project site comprises formal public administration build-

ings, which determined the suitable form of the building

while also maintaining the friendly character of a city li-

brary. The demographic context proved essential to the

design process. With a population of almost 37,000, Lati-

nos make up 67.4% of Hollister’s citizens, and the aver-

age age is over ve years lower than the national average.

The proximity of Silicon Valley also means that median

household income is much higher than the state and na-

tional averages. These elements contributed to designing

a building intended to primarily attract young people with

high expectations concerning the space they are present

in (Figs. 1–3)

The entire process of designing the building began

by adapting the functional programme proposed by the

organisers to the surrounding urban tissue and the pro-

ject site. The rst stage was a building line analysis and

a decision to set back the library massing deeper into the

plot while also increasing the distance between buildings

which brought greater order to the urban layout and im-

proved the composition. The next step was to harmoni-

ously adapt the height of the building to the surrounding

development, which entailed placing one of the library’s

storeys underground, at a depth of 6 m below grade. This

resulted in a building that referenced the surrounding de-

velopment with its scale while also retaining its formal

character. It also introduced an element of surprise, as

users would encounter a much more spacious and open

The certication of services buildings and the phenomenon of

the green premium have been discussed in: [8], [9].

Demographic data for 2018 [10].

102 Presentations

Fig. 4. Axonometry and functional zoning

(elaborated by A. Kaczmarek)

Il. 4. Aksonometria i strefowanie funkcji

(oprac. A. Kaczmarek)

Fig. 3. Design diagrams

and development of

the building concept

(elaborated by A. Kaczmarek)

Il. 3. Schematy pokazujące

rozwój koncepcji budynku

(oprac. A. Kaczmarek)

Presentations 103

Fig. 5. Site plan with development solutions (elaborated by A. Kaczmarek)

Il. 5. Projekt zagospodarowania terenu (oprac. A. Kaczmarek)

interior than they could otherwise expect. Due to the en-

tire area being seismically active, the building was de-

signed to have a suitable structural system and footing

supported by seismic isolators that minimise forces that

act upon its structural system and the risk of damage

Earthquakes and aseismic creep

were also inspirations

for the building’s form, which, through the uid change

of shape, forms an entrance zone and a system of terraces.

One of the key elements of the library are common areas,

tasked with providing local citizens with a pleasant place

to meet and spend their free time in. This was achieved by

two central internal atriums, one above the other, an open

rooftop exhibition pavilion with a terrace, and an am-

phitheatre that connects the entrance zone on the ground

oor with an underground storey with ser vices. The

building has many meeting halls, including an auditori-

um for just short of 400 people. Another important aspect

was the daylighting of internal spaces, which is crucial

in any library. Skylights and glazings in the north-facing

façade were used for this purpose. The remaining façades

have less glazing relative to their overall surface and were

Seismic isolators are made from rubber laminate and a core that

stabilise the building during an earthquake: [11].

Aseismic creep is a surface shift produced by tectonic movement

yet without an earthquake present [12].

designed to feature kinetic façade systems in the form of

computer-controlled panels that automatically regulate

interior daylighting. Materials that reference the history

and resources of central California are another crucial el-

ement of the building’s form. Colonial-mission-era archi-

tecture that was one of the inspirations for the design is

characterised by irregular white plaster [13], which, when

combined with the local cream-coloured Monterey slate

that is colloquially called Carmel Stone, forms a very

simple and pleasing visual combination (Figs. 4, 5).

The designer tried to create a clear and intuitive func-

tional layout. The building is composed of four storeys,

including one storey below grade, interconnected by

two stairwells and three lifts. The main entrance is locat-

ed from the south, in a recessed section that opens and

closes via rotary wall panels. A service entrance and the

building’s delivery section were placed in the northern

side. The main hall provides access to the book circu-

lation service and to a wide set of stairs with seats that

connect the ground oor with level –1. This is the area

that acts as one of the building’s multi-functional meet-

ing spaces, as well as a foyer for a large auditorium and

a smaller meeting hall. Another attraction is the building’s

external amphitheatre, linked with an entrance to the hall

at level –1, which houses a coee shop, passport oce

and an interactive historical museum relocated from the

104 Presentations

The second oor was designed to have a completely open

layout that would house the remaining part of the library

collection and most of the workstations. Due to the use of

a kinetic façade and sawtooth skylights, the entire space

could be illuminated with scattered light that provides ide-

al conditions for studying and working (Fig. 6).

Design:

Atrial Creep – ZNE solutions and calculations

The zero-energy aspect of the building considerably

aected the form and functional solutions of the library.

By following the triad of sustainable development, i.e.,

economy, ecology and society, which directly carry over

to the utility, durability and beauty of the building

, the

A manner of describing the conditions of sustainable develop-

ment as presented in [15].

Wapple House

. The entire oor is illuminated via sky-

lights above the atrium and a moat that surrounds the

building. The rst oor is divided into two parts. The rst

is an oce space that is to house the library administra-

tion, as well as oce spaces for rent. The second part is

a children’s library and a centre for learning reading and

writing, and a workshop centre. The functional layout is

highly exible due to movable walls and a kinetic atrium

façade. When necessary, it would be possible to cover the

atrium with a sliding membrane roof, which (similarly to

the entire roof) is adapted to collecting stormwater. Users

would also be given access to a spacious west-facing ter-

race, placed above the pavilion for temporary exhibitions.

The small Wapple House that is located on the site, designed

in 1909 by well-known architect Frank Delos Wolfe, was assigned for

relocation. Since 1974, the building has housed the San Benito County

Historical Society. The competition guidelines required that the muse-

um’s contents were to be relocated into the new library [14].

Fig. 6. Floor plans of the library (elaborated by A. Kaczmarek)

Il. 6. Rzuty kondygnacji projektowanej biblioteki (oprac. A. Kaczmarek)

Presentations 105

Fig. 7. Bird’s eye view visualization (elaborated by A. Kaczmarek)

Il. 7. Wizualizacja: widok z lotu ptaka (oprac. A. Kaczmarek)

Fig. 8. Graphic section and air circulation process (elaborated by A. Kaczmarek)

Il. 8. Przekrój graficzny przedstawiający cyrkulację powietrza w obiekcie (oprac. A. Kaczmarek)

designer tried to create a building that would meet the ex-

pectations of local citizens, be selfsucient and would

blend in well with its setting. The analysis of the climate

of this part of California proved key. The warm Mediterra-

nean climate present here requires the massing and façade

structure of the building to be shaped in a proper man-

ner so as to provide good ventilation and shade while also

not being exceedingly fragmented, so as to limit heat loss

during winter. The compact, cubic form proposed in the

design, with an internal atrium tted with a sliding mem-

106 Presentations

Fig. 9. Design diagrams of sustainability solutions in the building (elaborated by A. Kaczmarek)

Il. 9. Schematy rozwiązań zrównoważonych dla projektowanego budynku (oprac. A. Kaczmarek)

Presentations 107

Fig. 10. Analysis of energy consumption and generation (elaborated by A. Kaczmarek)

Il. 10. Analiza energetyczna zysków i strat ciepła (oprac. A. Kaczmarek)

108 Presentations

brane roof, meets all of these criteria, maximising access

to natural light and allowing for the design of additional

open spaces

. Wind direction analysis resulted in optimal

gravitational ventilation solutions. The two-storey atrium

was designed to facilitate natural air circulation, which,

when combined with an automatic window opening sys-

tem, allows for saving a considerable amount of energy

that is required for standard mechanical ventilation. Indoor

temperature is regulated with a ground heat exchanger,

cooling beams in some rooms and a system of heat pumps

that utilise geothermal energy. Furthermore, the use of tri-

pleglazed windows in façades and the elimination of ther-

mal bridges in the building limits the impact of signicant

temperature changes that can happen during the day. An-

other key aspect is stormwater storage. The building was

designed to collect stormwater from the entire roof surface

and store it in an underground tank. A part of it would also

be used to ll up the moat around the building, improving

microclimate and air humidity in the immediate vicinity of

the library via evaporation. This water can also be used in

the building as greywater for watering plants, which play

a key role in shading and improving the quality of public

spaces designed near the building (Figs. 7, 8).

To achieve a zero net energy status, a building must

have not only a minimum yearly energy consumption, but

must also produce it itself. Climate analysis determined

the choice of energy generation system. The general area

of Hollister has an average of 266 sunny days per year

which enables eective use of natural sunlight as an ener-

gy source. The building’s orientation and saw-tooth roof

were not accidental. Photovoltaic systems are the most

common form of energy generation for buildings and are

the most costeective in terms of price, surface require-

ments and performance. Photovoltaic panels located on

the roof account for over 97% of the energy produced by

the building. The entire battery system is oriented south-

wards and was designed to be tted to the roof’s surfaces,

whose slopes were adapted to its needs thereby making it

unnecessary to build specialist support structures and al-

lowing for a simplication of the assembly system

. Due

to employing an attic wall and setting the entire installa-

tion back from the roof edge, the latter would be invisible

from the ground-level. Wind and motion were to be equal-

ly important in the design. Sixty-seven small, vertical

wind turbines with a power output of 2,800 kWh/yr were

designed on the southern facade. The energy produced by

the users when moving around the library would also be

used in the most frequently visited part of the building, the

atrium, where the design features a Pavegen

oor that

Analysis of form conditions relative to the climate and building

use as per [16].

Climate data for 2016 [17].

Detailed information about technical solutions and technologies

provided in: [18].

Pavegen is a global leader in converting human motion into en-

ergy and in supplying data on this subject. Its proprietary installation is

formed from triangular tiles connected to a vibration absorber that can

produce up to 5 W of energy from every step [19].

converts vibrations produced by human movement into

electrical energy (4,500 kWh/yr). In summary, it should

be stated that the sources listed above could be used to

produce 306,616 kWh/a of energy, while the building

would have an energy demand of 292,760 kWh/a, result-

ing in a yearly net energy gain of 4.7%. Of course, energy

demand and production rates would change from month

to month, which is why a greater surplus would be ob-

served during summer, while in winter a decit would be

possible. All calculations and simulations were performed

using eQuest 3-64 software

. The calculations showed

that the building achieved the EUI

level assumed by

the organisers, which was 24 kBTU/sf/yr. The library pre-

sented in this paper reached a value of 22.2 kBTU/sf/yr

(70 kWh/m

/yr), which means an improvement of the ex-

pected energy use intensity by 7.5% (Figs. 9, 10).

Conclusions

Atrial Creep by Andrzej Kaczmarek was recognised

by the competition jury primarily because it demonstrated

an in-depth understanding of local place-based character

and citizen needs. It met all assumptions in a rational and

well-balanced manner while having a modest form. This

is important as many architectural competitions see rec-

ognition being given to designs of buildings that dominate

their surroundings, with amboyant forms that constitute

the so-called architecture of spectacle

. In this case, it

was an attempt at a balanced approach to design and the

problems that accompany it. California is a world leader

in terms of applying the precepts of sustainable develop-

ment and this is a very good trajectory that spreads due

to the wide-ranging training of designers, contractors and

educating all of society. At present, in an era of climate

crisis and plans made by the European Union concerning

a European Green Deal that is to transform Europe into

the world’s rst climateneutral continent

, it is benecial

to popularise sustainable development and zero net energy

buildings in Poland. This requires proper legal regulations

by the central government and municipal nancial incen-

tives, an informed society and years of joint work by scien-

tists and engineers from many elds. However, it is worth

engaging in these eorts to contribute to the prevention

of the destruction of the natural environment and climate

catastrophe

by designing zero net energy buildings that

are also architecturally attractive and comfortable in use.

Translated by

Krzysztof Barnaś

The software is free to download from: [20].

Energy Use Intensity [21].

This phenomenon has been discussed in: [22].

Announced in 2020, the European Green Deal assumes that the

content shall become independent of natural resources and shall achieve

a greenhouse gas emission rate of zero by 2050 [23].

A 2019 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

(IPCC) demonstrated that all feedback loop parameters that lead to worsen

ing global warming had been rising [24].

Presentations 109

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Abstract

Zero net energy public library for the San Benito County in Hollister, CA

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the use of elements of sustainable design in public buildings in the context of contemporary architec-

tural design solutions and zero-energy standards for newly designed buildings in California, USA. The paper presents a detailed overview of the main

task of the “Architecture at Zero 2020” international architectural competition, organised by the American Institute of Architects California – a design

of the San Benito County Public Library in Hollister, CA. The paper also features a detailed analysis of the competition’s outcome, with a specic

focus on Andrzej Kaczmarek’s design, which was given the merit award in the competition’s student projects category. The competition resulted in

the presentation of the library’s design alternatives, each suited to contextspecic environmental and climate determinants and optimised in terms

of energy. Andrzej Kaczmarek’s design met these requirements, as demonstrated via calculations performed using eQuest 3–64 software. The design

was recognised not only because of its optimised energy balance, but also the excellence with which it satised the needs of local citizens and how

it reected a thorough understanding of the site’s placebased character. The library was successfully blended in with its historical context via its

simple form that was partially embedded underground. The building was designed to feature an array of advanced engineering solutions intended to

secure it against earthquakes and optimise its heat balance, including kinetic façades and retractable glazed roof elements, photovoltaic panels, wind

turbines and Pavegen oor surfaces.

Key words: Zero Net Energy Architecture, public library, San Benito, CA

Streszczenie

Zeroenergetyczna biblioteka publiczna hrabstwa San Benito w Hollister (Kalifornia)

Celem artykułu było ukazanie sposobów wykorzystania elementów projektowania zrównoważonego we współczesnych budynkach użyteczności

publicznej, w kontekście architektonicznych rozwiązań projektowych i standardów zeroenergetycznych przewidzianych dla nowo projektowanych

budynków w Kalifornii. Przedmiotem szczegółowych prac był projekt biblioteki publicznej hrabstwa San Benito w Hollister w Kalifornii, stanowią-

cy zadanie w międzynarodowym konkursie architektonicznym „Architecture at Zero 2020”, organizowanym przez American Institute of Architect

California. W artykule przeanalizowano wyniki tego konkursu, a w szczególności projekt autorstwa Andrzeja Kaczmarka, który zdobył równorzędną

nagrodę w kategorii prac studenckich. Efektem konkursu było uzyskanie alternatywnych rozwiązań biblioteki dopasowanych do uwarunkowań

środowiska naturalnego i klimatu, a przede wszystkim zoptymalizowanych pod względem energetycznym. Projekt Andrzeja Kaczmarka spełnił jego

wymagania, co wykazano, przeprowadzając obliczenia za pomocą programu eQuest 364. Projekt ten został nagrodzony nie tylko za zoptymalizo-

wanie bilansu energetycznego, ale również za znakomite spełnienie potrzeb mieszkańców i zrozumienie charakteru miejsca. Dobre wkomponowanie

biblioteki w historyczne otoczenie uzyskano, nadając budynkowi prostą formę

i zagłębiając go częściowo pod ziemię. W obiekcie zastosowano wiele

zaawansowanych rozwiązań technicznych mających na celu zabezpieczenie budowli przed trzęsieniami ziemi i prowadzących do optymalizacji

bilansu ciepła, w tym: kinetyczne fasady i ruchome oszklone dachy, panele fotowoltaiczne, turbiny wiatrowe i posadzki typu Pavegen.

Słowa kluczowe: architektura zeroenergetyczna, biblioteka publiczna, San Benito, Kalifornia

Swiss Museum of Transport, Lucerne,

(arch. Annette Gigon / Mike Guyer,

Architekten, Zürich,

photo by M. Brzezicki)

Swiss Museum of Transport, Lucerna,

(arch. Annette Gigon / Mike Guyer,

Architekten, Zürich, fot. M. Brzezicki)