Book - School of Science and Technology

84 The building in summerFigure 3.9 Computer plot of sun shadingExceptions to this general statement, now tending to represent the rule, arise of coursewhere an industrial process such as the assembly of microcomponents, etc., requires closecontrol of temperature, humidity and airborne contaminants. Since requirements of thisnature are usually accompanied by demands for a high and constant level of illumination,the logical outcome is the provision of an enclosed environment with full air-conditioning.In contrast to a deep plan arrangement designed for office use, as shown to the left ofFigure 3.10, a not atypical high-rise building might be planned as on the right of the samediagram. For equal floor area overall and assuming reasonable proportions, length towidth, the deep plan would have four storeys and the tower block twenty. In terms ofexposure, the tall building would present 50% more surface to wind, rain, frost and sun atthe perimeter but the need for artificial lighting in the core of the deep plan buildingwould most probably lead to a requirement there for cooling throughout the year.Once the size and character of an office building are such that use of natural ventilation,a simple heating system and natural lighting during daylight hours are inappropriate,the ground rules have changed and there is no absolute ideal for building shape. Thisis not to say that, for a given site and a given accommodation brief, a detailed analysiscannot produce positive advice as to the building form which will allow optimum systemdesign and minimum recurrent cost to be examined. But rather that no more thanCourtDeep planSlab towerCoreCorridorsFigure 3.10 Arrangement of deep plan and tall building having the same area