For this project I was fictitiously hired by LA Museum of History and Science to redesign their retail space and cafe to be more sustainable. I began the project by doing a field study of the surrounding area to determine what factors are most important and affecting the building as a whole currently.
I discovered that fine particle air pollution was a gloating environmental issue in LA and is an element that needs immediate attention for the city to lead a healthy lifestyle. So, my main natural factor for the project is fine particle air pollution. Where to begin for such a vast subject was difficult but with some sleuthing I stumbled upon exactly what particle pollution is, why it's around, what makes it worse, how to contain it, how to clean it, what the main substances are and so on. The more I read the more infuriated I became that a major city like LA wasn't actively trying to avoid creating more pollution. We are literally killing not only our environment, which we rely on for our sustainability, but we are poisoning ourselves and our children and refuse to do anything about it. Cities in Europe are beginning to install pollution sensors in street lamps and stoplights to reroute people when the pollution build up passes an acceptable level. Wearable gadgets are becoming available, one called Tzoa, which tracks the pollution levels you are immersed in. The idea being that by everyone wearing a tracker, before you head out to walk to work, you can avoid high levels of air particles which drastically effect your health. Since fine particle air pollution is so many things, I left like basing a project design on a broad subject was similar to reaching into Mary Poppin's bag where nothing is related. I needed a more concrete subject. Through my intensive research I discovered not only what fine particle air pollution is but what it reacts to. From the dozen elements which are found in particle pollution nitrogen dioxide (NO2 or NOX) and a hydrocarbon (HC), specifically benzene (the most common HC) were the most reactive of the particles. Both of these elements can morph from a gas into a particle simply by coming into contact with heat or moisture. That's terrifying! Benzene especially reeks havoc on your body over time. It causes drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, skin irritation, eye irritation, and if inhaled at high levels can make you pass out. There has been reproductive defects associated with high levels of exposure; increased incidence of leukemia. Needless to stress more, this chemical changes your life, negatively. It's found in solvants for fats, waxes, resins, oils, inks, paints, plastics, and rubber; in the extraction of oils from seeds and nuts; and in photogravure printing. Also used in the manufacture of detergents, explosives, pharmaceuticals, and dyestuffs. It's also found in emissions from burning coal and oil, motor vehicle exhaust, and evaporation from gasoline service stations. So hold your breath next time you fill up your gas tank. As if these side effects of exposure weren't enough... NOX or NO2 is way worst. Family of highly reactive gases. These gases form when fuel is burned at high temperatures, and come principally from motor vehicle exhaust and stationary sources such as electric utilities and industrial boilers. Becomes air pollution with heavy traffic and energy production also known as smog. Also, in-vehicle concentrations can be 2-3 times higher than measured at nearby area-wide monitors. NOx react with ammonia, moisture, and other compounds to form small particles. These small particles penetrate deeply into sensitive parts of the lungs and can cause or worsen respiratory disease, such as emphysema and bronchitis, and can aggravate existing heart disease. Also, NOx increases ozone and particle matter with a chemical reaction. Seems normal enough.... but what if you learned NOX is used in the medical field.... NOX is also known as laughing gas. Surgeries using NOX have more complications NOX eats your body's supply of vitamin B12 It effects DNA production and the experimental and epidemiological evidences that N2O causes undesirable reproductive outcomes. Depletes bone marrow. Many anesthesiologists believe that the potential dangers of N2O are so great that it should no longer be used at all for routine clinical anesthesia. So, do you want to go walk around the city now knowing all of this information? No. You absolutely should not. So how is this new design of the LA Museum of History and Science going to be less bad to the environment? I've always liked a challenge, and for this design I'm not focusing on being "less bad" but rather, how can we be GOOD to nature, and work in conjunction with her to create a new sustainable lifestyle.
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AuthorAs a student at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle WA I entertain a variety of factors while designing space. Archives
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