Cross Section
In recent years, unprecedented wildfires, heat domes, and flooding have highlighted the region’s vulnerability to climate related events. The Systemless Project asks: how do we embed climate resiliency in our architecture, and how do we lead a responsive building practice? We looked to the precedent 2226 Lustenau, designed by Baumschlager Eberle Architekten: an office building in Austria with a high-tech solution to removing mechanical heating, ventilation, and cooling systems, in an effort to reduce the operational carbon of the building. We expand on this idea, by proposing a low-tech systemless building which celebrates the site’s natural climatic phenomenon, and prioritizes reducing embodied carbon.
Incorporating this philosophy with our contextual analysis, we conceptualized a Food Security Hub for students on campus; anchoring the building, as a non-profit bistro, serving food grown, harvested, and prepared on site. Aligned with our low-carbon goals, we decided to retain and celebrate the existing truss system. Other existing materials were cataloged and repurposed throughout the design process, while new material assemblies were designed to accomplish our passive heating and cooling goals.