October 2015  Hinrich Ng

 

 

 

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

Living in an Information Age, keeping up with the ever updating technology is vital and it had become one’s typical act on a daily basis with technological devices as the world is becoming more complicated and messy. But, how does architecture respond to it in relation to morpho-ecology? This paper investigates the innovations of the McLaren Technology Centre and the experience it creates between organisms and their environment through the applications of material used and its design in the physical environment. Norman Foster’s architecture is constantly evolving with high-tech innovations including, his McLaren Technology Centre, completed in 2003.

To understand the age of information and the factors that affect one’s life and behaviour around the surroundings, Mathias Humbert’s Technology and Workforce (2007) suggests that the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has completely altered the life, recreation and other means of information and communication of the humanity. As the way of living and activities of humanity are changing massively over this era, the built environment is also changing. Thus, the process formation and the materiality of the built environment should develop and adopt the way the humanity is living upon. Michael Hensel and Achim Menges’s TOWARDS AN INCLUSIVE DISCOURSE ON HETEROGENOUS ARCHITECTURES (2006) defines that Morpho-Ecology (ME) is an architectural approach to correlate morphogenesis, a biological process resulting an organism’s shape, and ecology, the organism and its environment. Thus, the aim of architecture is to “provide opportunities for habitation through specific material and energetic interventions in the physical environment”. The McLaren Technology Centre is an example of morpho-ecology by incorporating innovative biological technologies working together with the building itself to create comfortable environment. Arguments will be carried out regarding the performance and efficiency of the building.

 

 

 

Introduction

 

As any practical discipline, architecture develops on a day-to-day basis since it is expected to serve the best interests of people. It is an indisputable fact that architecture succeeds in that to various extents. The outcomes of any high-scale project become a central object of intensive discussions in a narrow circle of experts as well as in the public masses. Strong controversies usually occur on the basis of discussion of the trends related to the architecture. Currently, most scholars and critics have increased their focus on sustainability issues in architectural design. The major argument, in this case is that architecture and ecology relation can help in sustaining biodiversity and ecosystems. One of the buildings that have shut the mouths of critics and won the appraisal of supporters of sustainability in the area of architecture is The McLaren Technology Centre. Its influence on the environment is has been recognized by various organizations leading to its winning of various awards in many sustainability areas because of its morpho-ecological features. 

Based on this information, the following study provides findings regarding the subject and also gives an account on the most important components of sustainable architecture. Social, economic, and environmental sustainability are discussed in terms of McLaren Technology Centre.  In other words, the paper recognizes that these three pillars of the sustainability are the main metrics of McLaren Technology Centre’s effectiveness and thus discusses the overall efficiency of McLaren Technology while placing more emphasis on the morpho-ecological elements of the work of architecture under discussion.

 

 

Morpho-Ecological Designs

 

Morphology refers to the study of forms. The term is a combination of the word morphe that stemmed from ‘morphe,’ a Greek term for shape or and ecology, which is the scientific study of the relationship that exists between organisms and the environment. This means that morph-ecological designs are those that relate their final forms to the environment[1].

The above definition suits the current development in discipline of architecture at a level. This is mainly because the last decades of the twentieth century beheld the endorsement of morpho-ecological designs as a means of sustainability in the field of architecture all over the world. Architects with morph-ecological designs in their mind had a noble aim of saving the environment although their buildings were not as creative and figurative and most people expected. However, they were able to surpass architects who are interested in masses and forms since the latter are not interested in environmental issues. As a result, architects interested in sustainability were not classified among those that contributed to the losing of harmony of architecture with natural order through the creation of strange buildings forms[2].

In their views, architects who incorporate morphological designs perceive their tasks as a chance to provide chances for habitation via energetic interventions and specific material in the physical environment. By creating a correlation between ecology and morphology, these architects have created a new architectural design framework that is firmly based within a biological paradigm and that is concerned with higher-level performance capacity and functionality[3].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The McLaren Technology Centre and its Relation to Morpho-Ecology

 

McLaren Technology Centre is located in the Working, Surrey a city in England. The building belongs to the McLaren Technology Group and its activities and the company’s operations are headquartered in this building. Before the building was erected, the 50 hectares land where it has been erected was barren after many years of intensive farming. McLaren Technology Group saw no need of damaging the environment further than it was at that time. The organization therefore undertook serious responsibility to come up with a building that was ecologically sustainable, which would not destroy the future but breathe life into it[4]. Since its construction, the building has won various awards in the area of sustainability. For example, in 2010 the Carbon Trust Standard Certification awarded the company for its environmental commitment. The same award was given to the company later in 2014.

 

The feature of the company that makes it sustainable includes the recyclable steel cladding in its internal and external part. The building also has a huge glass façade that is located in the front view of the building. This favors sunlight over other unnatural light sources because the glass facades allow natural lights to light the building and staff restaurants. Sunlight, however, does not reach all areas and in order to supplement this, energy guzzling halogens have been replaced with Led-energy bulbs and metal halide. The bulbs are energy efficient and they save 13,000kWh of electricity annually. The outdoor lighting is also energy efficient and the company works to integrate modern technology in ensuring that their sources of energy are efficient. The company’s large flat floor is also environmental friendly as it is in line with height restrictions. This is because the McLaren Technology Centre is constructed on an in-situ concrete slab so that it is cut into a deep ground of the land, which keeps the height of the buildings below a restricted depth[5]. McLaren Technology Centre is designed for housing more than 18, 000 company’s employees, which is why such a gigantic form was chosen. The building is also divided into multiple segments that belong to specific departments. As a consequence, the access to any department is equal. There is no need to pass throughout all sections in order to enter the last one. 

 

McLaren Technology Centre is complemented by a lake so that this complexity creates an integral circular system. Due to this design, McLaren Technology Centre fits the environment naturally and it is becoming increasingly apparent that McLaren Technology Centre is designed for purposes of environmental sustainability since its architectural solutions address problems of greenhouse effect.

 

The building is also surrounded by 100, 000 specially planted trees and ornamental shrubs. Due to this reason, McLaren Technology Centre creates favorable conditions for growing new trees and in combination with the lake, a new biodiversity is created in the area. The roof of the building is self cleaning and also utilizes a drainage system that is of high-pressure syphonic in order to collect rainwater. The collected water is later used to refill the lake located near the company. The lake located near the building lives in a harmonious interaction and the company compares it to the Chinese Ying-Yang symbol, which is ancient and interacts with one another. The building and the lake seems to live in a tuneful existence as the lake provides the building with an efficient cooling system that regulates the temperature with minimal need for a cooling system. In return, McLaren Technology Centre covers it from excessive solar radiation. The building also has Hydrocarbon interceptors, which help in filtering contaminants located in the water. This is done with the help of nature through large reed beds. The buildings infrastructure also helps in rejuvenating the Greenbelt[6]. The building has also allowed a large natural space that allows the thriving of wildlife and the public in a harmonious existence

 

As mentioned earlier, the company bought the land when it was unproductive. However, the company has with time been able to replace the top soil, which was both unhealthy and unproductive through the planting of trees and shrubs. The company also allowed public access in this area through the laying down of footpaths. Through this act, the area started attracting wildlife although they had disappeared for years. Some of the wildlife that came back includes waterfowls, dragon fly and the related species, exotic orchids, skylarks, kingfishers and grass snakes among others. Today, the building’s architectural ability to recycle wastes has been able to send zero waste to the land[7].

 

 

Similarity of McLaren Technology Centre with Others in This Area

 

McLaren Technology Centre was designed by Norman Foster, a renowned architect of British origin. The designs used in the McLaren Technology Centre have been used by the same architect in his other designs. For example, the Swiss Re Headquarters is crowned using steel and glass. He has also used the same materials in the dome at Reichstag building although the dome is no longer in existence as it was demolished. The use of glass in his designs allows him to choose whether to incorporate colored, transparent or translucent designs. Glass is also used to bring out several themes such as the theme of democracy in the Reichstag building since it allowed visitors to view the cabinet meetings in the building. The ability of glass to make the surface smooth has also made it possible for the named architect to use it in his work. Apart from this, the industrial development has increase large size production of glass panes while its transparency has changed the view of the wall. Technological advancement has also enabled the designer to use glass in his designs since it can be made to bear heavy loads. The architect also uses steel is replacement of iron because under weathering conditions, it does not rust. Steel is also re-usable, recyclable and easy when it comes to welding and cutting. Steel can also adapt in various conditions and comply with various demands of re-erection, dismantling and conversion.

 

Other designers who have come up with work of architecture similar to Fosters include Zaha Hadid and Santiago Calatrava among others. The latter is a Spanish architect who has come up with environment responsive building similar to those of Foster. His works that are similar to Foster’s in this area include the Milwaukee Art Meseum, which is located in the US and the Atlanta Symphony Center[8]. Another building that utilizes the morphological design used by Foster is the Photography Mesum located in Qatar. Just like McLaren Technology Centre, this building has some smart walls that help in controlling the flow of natural light for usage in the building’s lighting.

 

 

Views on McLaren Technology Centre and the Morph-ecological Designs

 

Many scholars argue that McLaren Technology Centre presents a result of architectural harmony and unity that render an obvious stability visually as well as practically. The building may seem to demonstrate a drastic dislocation between its design and context but McLaren Technology Centre repeats the form of the land, into which it is cut. Along with internal peculiarities of the building, exterior renders a message about high technologies and creativity that are not limited to traditional linear approaches[9]. McLaren Technology Centre attempts to deliver the message that cutting-edge technologies are not placed in any frameworks and can exist in harmony with the environment.[10]

 

In spite of the complexity that is perceived as accidental, McLaren Technology Centre contains a variety of functions. According to Frank Gehry, chance collision in the exterior and interior serve the purpose of providing more space where it is necessary. In such a way, McLaren Technology Centre provides enough space for each department in accordance with their technical functions. Traditional approach to planning the building presupposes symmetric borders for a certain segment so that spacing becomes less flexible[11]. The plan of McLaren Technology Centre suggests that some additional space can be always gained. Obviously, that makes a positive impact on the environment as the building harmonically follows the pattern of the land; equipment, cars, and etc. do not obtain external space around McLaren Technology Centre. Therefore, visually chaotic design of the building pursues the goal to provide more internal space for the Technology Centre.

 

As mentioned earlier, a variety of materials and purposes of their use were involved in the erection of McLaren Technology Centre.  Plain combination of metal, concrete, and glass present an efficient reflector of solar radiation so that the roof and basic walls reflect excessive sunlight while the building is heated sufficiently inside[12]. The expenditures on costs may seem to be not justified, but long term environmental impacts are worth investing in such projects. Apart from this, such a combination of materials relates to modernism and postmodernism, which are focused on rendering messages of high technologies and urbanism. This makes McLaren Technology Centre to redefine this aspect since its environmental perspective correlates with a message of modernity and progress[13]. Technology does not have to necessarily follow complicated patterns and shocking designs. The main purpose of high technologies is to make the life of people less complicated and more comfortable.

 

 On top of being a morphological design, the building design has been hailed as addressing the current social trend since it does not look outdated and average. These features reflect the global striving for uniqueness and modernity so that McLaren Technology Centre is definitely an object for public view. Artistically, such aggressive design complies with the contemporary social processes.

 

The entire century can be marked as a period of extreme violence and aggression which is why magnified and chaotically placed buildings create an environment, in which society keeps itself in a strict discipline[14]. Henceforth, perception of violence as dislocation, disjuncture, and discontinuity is reflected by McLaren Technology Centre. That makes people not to take aggression for granted as there is an excessive portion of that within the community. For this reason, McLaren Technology Centre reflects the context of social processes but does not support it since its technological capacity is aimed at more productive outcomes. The curved form of McLaren Technology Centre does not change the form of the hill’s top so that its environment is not harmed. Furthermore, McLaren Technology Centre utilizes the environment for mutual support. The concrete slab makes the ground more resistant to rains and underground fluids so that trees and plants are not exceedingly flooded. McLaren Technology Centre naturally fits a local biodiversity, especially the area of the lake as the building stimulates the lake’s heating and steam production. The specially planted trees explained earlier not only neutralize the emissions of carbon dioxide but also generate more oxygen because of sufficient internal fluids from the lake.

 

Although many people seem to support the design of this work of architecture, others are against it. For example, some argue that although McLaren Technology Centre is definitely a new paradigm in architecture, that paradigm hardly fits the usual contexts and environments so that its efficiency can be argued. Mindful of the impacts produced on the environment is rather questionable since many concerned experts perceive the paradigm as strictly destructive because of its rejection of the entire past experience of architecture, without placing new feasible ideas for a contemporary philosophy of architecture[15]. McLaren Technology Centre is therefore seen as purposeful aggression on the human environments and senses. Hence, construction of such building is initially abusive to the environment as it generates anxiety and discomfort. As a consequence, a subject of sustainable architecture is far beyond the terms of discussion because the building does not address basic aspects of comfort and suitability[16].

 

Other critics argue that McLaren Technology Centre design is aimed at scandalizing the brand of McLaren. Placing it in relation to others, pragmatic viewers admit that such designs hardly responds the environment because of its chaotic planning which is why McLaren Technology Centre is a certain mistake of the brand’s owners. In addition, technology does not have to necessarily follow complicated patterns and shocking designs. The main purpose of high technologies is to make the life of people less complicated and more comfortable and McLaren Technology Centre is questioned in relation to this role[17]. Others argue that radical solutions need to be justified by the outcomes so that advantages of McLaren Technology Centre are not explicit to the publicity even though the brand owners claim that the building considers up-to-date green technologies[18].

 

In regard to the subject of traditional practice in the architecture, a certain deviation from standards can be observed in McLaren Technology Centre. The problem is not based on the originality of design and incorporated technologies but on a disregard of past experience. This factor is relatively strong as long as architecture belongs to a sort of disciplines, which make a progress on the basis of the past experience. Thus, denial of previously valued traditions makes McLaren Technology Centre unoriginal. Traditional architecture presupposes buildings to be symmetrical. As long as McLaren Technology Centre does not follow a linear pattern, it does not deliver a message of stability. Absence of equal elements leads to absence of balance in technology, facilities, and storage. For this reason, critics belief that McLaren Technology Centre has to advance in many aspects as its efficiency is redundant. In addition to this, there is an argument that McLaren Technology Centre does not comply with basic logical standards of architecture[19]. The curved form of the building is not typical of technical center as it does not imply a systematized division of space within it. McLaren Technology Centre contains more negations of logical solutions rather than optimized approaches to spacing[20]. This factor is a central concern with respect to applicability of contemporary architecture because even a late modernism includes a distinct compliance with symmetrical interiors[21]. Further, McLaren Technology Centre cannot render sustainability to a meaningful extent. This can be explained by the evidence of its saving capacity. McLaren Technology Centre obtains more space than it could have been which is why a subject of economizing on energy, wastes, and etc. is far from embodiment in the empirical environment[22], [23]. These arguments are sufficient for claiming McLaren Technology Centre to produce negative effects on the environment, but specific morphologic details should be reviewed.

 

 

Conclusion

 

In conclusion, an analysis of MLaren Technology Centre shows that this work of architecture utilizes morpho-ecological design. Due to this aspect, the building contributes to environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Most of perspectives revolve around the exterior design and distinct green solutions of the building. Although this is the case, some critics argue that this work of architect is wanting as it fails to comply with many features of modern design. Others argues that it does not fully comply with sustainability because it does not address the aspect of comfort and suitability, which should be at the center of sustainability.

 

 

 

[1] Gabr, Zeinab Ahmed Elmoghazy Aly Hatem, And Soheir Zaki Hawas. "Sustainability As A Generator Of Creative Architectural Ideas."A Paper presented at the First International Conference on Sustainability and the Future, 2010.

[2] Ibid Gabr and Soheir

[3] Hensel, M., Menges, A. Morpho-Ecologies: Towards a Discourse of Heterogeneous Space in Architecture, editions. London: AA Publications. 2008. (ISBN: 190290253X)

[4] The McLaren Technology Group. Stunning and sustainable: The McLaren Technology Centre. The McLaren Technology Group, 2014.

[5] Ibid The McLaren Technology Group

[6] Deviren, Senem and James Tabb, The Greening of Architecture: A Critical  History and Survey of Contemporary Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design. Burlington: Ashgate Publishing Company, 2013.

[7] Ibid The McLaren Technology Group

[8] Ibid Gabr and Soheir

[9] Kleiner, Fred, Gardner’s Art Through  the Ages: A Global History, Boston: Thomson Higher Edition, 2009.

[10]Ibid The McLaren Technology Group

[11] Mosche Safdie, Mosche Safdie: Volume 1 Mulgrave: The Images Publishing Group Pty Ltd., 2009, 31.

[12] Osman Attmann, Green Architecture, (Columbus: McGraw-Hill Education, 2009), 162.

[13] John F. Pile, A history of interior design (London: Laurence King Publishing, 2005), 428

[15] Wouter H. Slob, Dialogical Rhetoric: An Essay on Truth and Normativity after Postmodernism. New York: Springer Science & Business Media, 2002.

[16] Wright, Frank Lloyd,  Modern Architecture: Being the Kahn Lectures for 1930, Princeton, Princeton University Press, 2008.

[17] Steven A. Moore, Technology and Place: Sustainable Architecture and the Blueprint Farm, (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2001), 87.

[18] Kao, Jimmy, C.M., Sung, Wen-Pei and Ran Chen, Green Building, Materials, and Civil Engineering, New York: CRC Press, 2015.

[19] Friedman, Alice T., American Glamour and the Evolution of Modern Architecture, (Yale, Yale University Press, 2010.

[20] Dangel, Ulrich, Sustainable Architecture in Voralberg: Energy Concepts and Construction Systems, New York: Springer Science & Business Media, 2010.

[21] Al-Kodmany, Kheir, Eco-Towers: Sustainable Cities in The Sky, Boston: WIT Press, 2015.

[22] Chambers, Neil B., Urban Green: Architecture for The Future, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011.

[23] Farrelly, Lorraine, Basics Architecture 02: Construction and Materiality. La Vergne: AVA Publishing SA, 2009.

 

 

 

BIBLIOGRPAHY

 

Al-Kodmany, Kheir,  Eco-Towers: Sustainable Cities in The Sky, Boston: WIT Press, 2015.

 

Attmann, Osman Green Architecture, Columbus: McGraw-Hill Education, 2009.

 

Chambers,  Neil B., Urban Green: Architecture for The Future, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2011.

 

Curl, James Stevens Curl and Susan Wilson, The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.

 

Dangel,  Ulrich Sustainable Architecture in Voralberg: Energy Concepts and Construction Systems, New York: Springer Science & Business Media, 2010.

 

Deviren, Senem and James Tabb, The Greening of Architecture: A Critical  History and Survey of Contemporary Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design. Burlington: Ashgate Publishing Company, 2013.

 

Farrelly, Lorraine,  Basics Architecture 02: Construction and Materiality. La Vergne: AVA Publishing SA, 2009.

 

Friedman, Alice T., American Glamour and the Evolution of Modern Architecture, (Yale, Yale University Press, 2010.

 

Gabr, Zeinab Ahmed Elmoghazy Aly Hatem, And Soheir Zaki Hawas. "Sustainability As A Generator Of Creative Architectural Ideas."A Paper presented at the First International Conference on Sustainability and the Future, 2010.

 

Hensel, M., Menges, A. Morpho-Ecologies: Towards a Discourse of Heterogeneous Space in Architecture, editions. London: AA Publications. 2008. (ISBN: 190290253X)

 

Kao, Jimmy, C.M., Sung, Wen-Pei and Ran Chen, Green Building, Materials, and Civil Engineering, New York: CRC Press, 2015.

 

Kleiner, Fred, Gardner’s Art Through  the Ages: A Global History, Boston: Thomson Higher Edition, 2009.

 

Moore, Steven A. Technology and Place: Sustainable Architecture and the Blueprint Farm. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2001

 

Pile, John F., A history of interior design. London, Laurence King Publishing, 2005.

 

Wouter H. Slob, Dialogical Rhetoric: An Essay om Truth and Normativity after Postmodernism. New York: Springer Science & Business Media, 2002.

 

Wright, Frank Lloyd,  Modern Architecture: Being the Kahn Lectures for 1930, Princeton, Princeton University Press, 2008.