The Contest

In the summer of 2010, the Romania Green Building Council and Biblionet co-organized a contest that proposed improving access to information technology and providing a sustainable renovation of an existing library; typical for a small Romanian community.

In addition to helping a small community create a state of the art library, the contest results would showcase an exemplary sustainable building; environmentally responsible in its design, renovation and operation, and transfer best building practices to the local communities and other libraries around Romania.

The project was named [ecoBiblioteca] SEE A SHORT VIDEO HERE!

Through Biblionet’s network, qualified libraries were invited to participate in the contest. After receiving multiple comprehensive submissions and performing site visits of the shortlisted locations, the project team made its selection.

The public library of Cacica, Suceava county, won the contest for the “green” intervention.

The Cacica Library - Existing situation

The existing public library is situated in the cultural center of Cacica, between the new school and the Basilica Minor, in the close vicinity of the old school of the village (built in 1816), of the Salt Mine and that of the Polish House.

The site is easily accesible from the main road of the town through two small bridges over the Cacica creek, and it houses both (old and new) schools and the library.

Until the start of this project, the studied building , built in 1896, housed a kindergarten and a library. The existing rooms were used more as classrooms than reading spaces, ignoring the spacial requirements of a library. As a consequence of the ecobiblioteca contest, the two classes of the kindergarten were recently moved to the adjacent school, where they benefit from indoor water utilities.

The rigid layout of the interior walls provided little flexibility and adaptability in design and function, and led to the impossibility of serving the immediate and future requirements of the library and the community. The stored book collection of the library contained only printed media (7800 books), and no IT services.

Besides the mentioned functional issues the building suffers from poor quality finishes and shell, lack of utilities, inadequate insulation, poor quality entrance area and lack of disabled persons access. In particular, the asbestos roof tiles and the lack of hot and cold water utilities inside the library have created a significant health risk for the building users and the adjacent primary school.

The library has the conformation of a typical house, with a porch and a main hall which connects the three rooms of the house (the kitchen, the master bedroom and the guests’ room, in this case the classrooms). However, the orientation of the library its different, opposite to the usual one, since the porch is along the North side, not the South one.

The structure of the building is formed by load-bearing brick walls with stone foundation, while the slab is made of wooden beams and earth filling.

Heating is provided by a series of decentralised wood-fired stoves within each room. Water is supplied with water from an on-site well, placed exactly in the front of the library’s access area.

The [ecoBiblioteca] of Cacica - Summary

The project partners will renovate the Cacica library in Suceava County in an exemplary, sustainable manner by significantly improving the design, energy performance, lighting quality, indoor air quality and comfort of the building. The project will encourage use of the library as a community space increasing visits and participation by the citizenry. The project will build awareness of environmentally responsible and energy efficient building and renovation techniques and stimulate the creation of green jobs both locally and nationally.

Objectives

[ecoBiblioteca] will:

●     create not only an aesthetically attractive model of sustainable renovation and energy efficiency in the construction and operation of an exemplary building, but also an architectural statement in the appropriate context;

●     create a strong connection with the existing natural landscape;

●     provide unconventional spaces to encourage reading and accessible green space;

●     upgrade the building to provide more flexible use by a wide variety of users and increase overall user visits. A more flexible space will allow additional activities that can be conducted in the building. This will include both the local community and tourists; generate a more efficient use of the building and promotion for the locality. A special area within the building will be designated to provide tourist information for local attractions (Bucovina, Salt Mine, etc.);

●     promote sustainable principles and solutions that are easy to replicate for other communities. The project will utilize integrated design strategies delivering a project that will result in dramatic reductions in energy costs and improvements in the comfort and well-being of the visitors and library staff;

●     implement a variety of both modern green technologies and historical methods of reducing energy use and negative environmental impact. These include but are not limited to: natural ventilation, solar passive design, green energy, minimization of the technical space, septic tank with natural composting/filtrating system, energy efficient and improved lighting, and repartitioning and opening the building to increase natural daylighting.

We wish to accomplish the above mentioned goals primarily by integrating collaborative solutions between all the design and engineering disciplines.

Integrated design

„An integrated building is a green building.

Integrated design is the overarching theme that governs energy, resources, and environmental quality decisions. [...] More than mainstream design, the integrated design process requires intense balance — and a path of priorities — to produce a successful green building. The process works because there is communication among team members, and because each team designer has a thorough understanding of each teammate ’ s design challenges and responsibilities.

Because every design decision produces a cascade of multiple effects, rather than an isolated impact, successful integrated design requires a necessary understanding of the interrelationship of each material, system, and spatial element. [...] It requires all players to think holistically about the project rather than focus solely on an individual part.” (Keeler, Marian, Burke,Bill, Fundamentals of Integrated Design for Sustainable Building, Wiley, 2009, pages 1-4)

Sustainability

Regarding the sustainable approach (what principles should be applied), the project should exceed the guidelines typically found in a LEED Platinum, BREEAM Outstanding, DGNB Gold “to reconcile the built environment with the natural environment, into a civilization that creates greater biodiversity, resilience and opportunities for life with each adaptation and development”. (McLennan, Jason, Brukman, Eden, LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE ™ 2.0, Seattle, 2010, pages 4-7)

Thus ecoBiblioteca applied for the Living Building Challenge certification, in the Renovation typology, in order obtain all petals recognition („Living Building”).

For more information about Living Building Challenge please go to www.ilbi.org.

Photos from the site are available here.

[ecoBiblioteca] & Living Building Challenge Petals

SITE

●      [ecoBiblioteca]’s site is a previously developed one, starting with 1816, and the proposed intervention has as a main objective to improve the existing situation while not enlarging the footprint of the buildings. An immediate advantage of older buildings is that the building already exists; therefore, since there are only minor improvements energy is not necessary to create new building structure and the infrastructure is already in place.

●      In order to meet the “Habitat Exchange”  requirement, we are currently working with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Romania to find a suitable site for conserving and protecting nature.

WATER

●      [ecoBiblioteca] project will contain a smart drainage system that will protect the library from water infiltrations and will reuse captured precipitation for the landscape irrigation, while making use of the existing on site well. Water demand will be reduced using low flow fixtures and composting toilet.

ENERGY

●      We wish to reduce energy demand to the minimum by maximizing daylighting (sunpipes), minimizing heat loss and gain through the building shell (passive house standard). Renewable energy will be obtained using PV panels for electricity and a very efficient heat pump system for heating.

HEALTH

●      The team’s lighting engineer created a natural lighting study along with a lighting proposal that will allow natural light to fill in the rooms through roof mounted sun tunnels.

●      Planning for fire protection, ensuring occupant safety and health, resisting natural hazards, providing security for building occupants and assets were handled with care in all design phases of the project. Although it is not requested by law for this building size, the fire scenario was analysed by team members in order to determine the location of special equipment for safety considerations.

●      During the construction process, safety will be also taken in consideration, with special care for nearby school children, existing vegetation and the underground water.

●      The project encourages natural ventilation (operable windows), supplemented by a mechanical system (ceiling fans) for situations like public events, where a greater number of people will be present.

MATERIALS

●      One of the materials mentioned on the red list is the asbestos and as a consequence, the first step on the site construction will be to remove the existing roof and to replace it with a traditional solution, wooden shingles.

●      All products and materials used in the ecobiblioteca project will be documented through technical specifications and letters to the suppliers for exceptional cases.

●      The total footprint of embodied carbon of the building is influenced by its structure and function, as well as the behaviour of the occupants. A life cycle analysis will determine a more real estimation of the carbon emissions and will allow more site specific measures for their reduction. Through the different proposals, the project will encourage overall market transformations, especially in the supply chain, based on the use of recycled and recyclable products, on the design for deconstruction and on the impact of strategies using renewable energies.

●      [ecoBiblioteca] promotes, in the proposed solution of the project, procurement of building materials from socially and environmentally responsible sources.

●      The team is documenting every single product included in the project, encouraging as much as possible a local Romanian sourcing, compliant with the Living Building Challenge requirements.

●      During site works, special areas for different types of waste will be provided in order to divert these materials (metal, paper and cardboard, brick, wood) from the local landfill.

●      Excavated soil will be reused on site for landscape works.

●      Existing finishes will be carefully deconstructed and locally reused inside the village.

●      During the operation of the library, the building will have recipients for selective garbage collection.

EQUITY
Althought it is not applicable for the “renovation” typology, we decided to follow these imperatives as well.

●      The [ecoBiblioteca] project imagines the library as a community space, with increased visits and participation by the citizenry. The building interior is designed to quickly and efficiently adapt to community’s needs - lecture room, events room, conferences.

●      Furthermore, for a clear understanding of the functional and operational requirements, the librarians were actively involved in the integrated design process. Consequently, the building will provide abundant natural light and low-energy lighting, new, comfortable reading areas near the windows, an audio-visual area, Internet workstations, proper storage space for both the books’ collection, and library personnel.

●      Unconventional reading spaces will be developed to increase use and encourage reading and studying in an enjoyable, productive environment. Innovative methods of storing books more efficiently while facilitating easy access will be implemented. A space will be created to link the traditional library with the opportunities created by using virtual books and laptops. The flexible nature of the space will be utilized to conduct training in topics such as agriculture, agrotourism, and areas identified as beneficial.

●      The goal of accessible design is to provide equal use of the built environment for all people. Although it was not a requirement from a building permit point of view, we considered that it would be best if the library should meet the needs of people with disabilities. Besides a systems of ramps integrated within the landscape design which will provide comfortable access inside the site, we proposed to create a bathroom that will be easy to use by any person.

●      The project will create a strong connection with the near existing built environment (the school, the

Catholic church), coupled with the surrounding natural landscape. Ecobiblioteca team includes not only an experienced landscape designer, but also an urban planner, in its effort to integrate the library’s site into Cacica’s masterplan, currently under development. As a result, the project will provide existing outdoor spaces with functions that meet the needs of the nearby school and basilica.

BEAUTY

●      Preserving and understanding our nation's heritage is essential.

●      We consider local architecture green architecture, since it was developed during centuries for a certain geographical area, taking into account local climate and having in mind local materials. Following this logic the team proposed a facade that evokes local traditional building facades but with a contemporary approach. The same logic was applied for the interior design decisions where local furniture pieces are going to be refurbished and integrated into the library space alongside with comfortable, state of the art, green furniture.

●      Once the building will start the operation phase, a booklet will be provided to users and visitors, explaining the (de)construction and the renovation process, as well as the maintenance requirements. Also, a couple of info panels will be displayed on the north facade and, a few times a year,an “open days” event will be organized, in order to facilitate direct contact with a Living Building.

MILESTONES AND DESCRIPTIONS

1. PRE-DESIGN - COMPLETED

1.1 STUDY - November 2010 - COMPLETED

1.2 SCHEMATIC APPROACH - November 2010 - COMPLETED

1.3 INTEGRATED DESIGN SESSION - November 2010 - COMPLETED

1.4 PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL - February 2011 - COMPLETED

1.5 INTEGRATED DESIGN SESSION - February 2011 - COMPLETED

1.6 INTEGRATED DESIGN SESSION - February 2011 - COMPLETED

2. DESIGN - IN PROGRESS PHASE 1

2.1 BUILDING PERMIT - "DTAC"- March - June 2011 - in progress

2.2 BUILDING PERMITS - May - June 2011 - in progress

2.3 INTEGRATED DESIGN SESSION - April 2011 - COMPLETED

2.4 INTEGRATED DESIGN SESSION - May 2011 - COMPLETED

2.5 TECHNICAL PROJECT - PT - 1 - June 2011 - COMPLETED

2.6 INTEGRATED DESIGN SESSION - June 2011 - COMPLETED

2.7 TECHNICAL PROJECT - PT - 2 - July 2011 - in progress

2.8 INTEGRATED DESIGN SESSION - June 2011 - COMPLETED

3. CONSTRUCTION - late June 2011 - May 2012 - in progress

4. COMMISSIONING AND REOPENING - May 2012

5. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE - starting with May 2012

6.INTERIOR DESIGN AND LANDSCAPING - PHASE 2

6.1.INTERIOR DESIGN - concept - in progress

6.2.INTERIOR DESIGN WORKSHOP - December 2011

6.3.LANDSCAPING - concept - COMPLETED

6.4.LANDSCAPING - planting - April 2012

Promotion

The intention of the project is for [ecoBiblioteca] to be promoted nationally via a joint strategy of the Romania Green Building Council and Biblionet.

●      The Romania Green Building Council will use the building as a teaching tool in their educational program;

●      Biblionet will utilize its own network to effectively promote the project to member libraries;

●      The local authorities will assist with promotion and will consider adding it to the tourist plan for Bucovina as a sustainability project. Additional presentations will be offered to building visitors, area school children, university students and other local communities through an integrated display within the library;

●      An [ecoBiblioteca] brochure will be designed for the library, presenting the story of the project and naming the contributors;

●      Each project partner will be authorized to display the [ecoBibloteca] logo to indicate their involvement;

●      Information about building systems for pedagogical purpose will be provided trough access to building systems during “open days”and through strategically placed truth windows;

●      Workshops for university students and interested professionals will be organized during construction phase, providing them with the opportunity to observe, learn, and contribute to the project;

●      Advertising, media campaign, packaging, events, publicity, and collaterals - visibility and exposure.

The initial project is intended to encourage more partners to support and join future projects and also to include buildings beyond libraries (schools, offices, etc.).

How to get involved?

If you want to know more about this exciting sustainable construction project please contact:

Luiza HANC

[ecoBiblioteca] Project Specialist

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Timea PAAL

Living Building Challenge Ambassador

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Steven BORNCAMP

President of the Romania Green Building Council

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The latest information package for [ecoBiblioetca] is available for download here.

Project partners: