Studio 21

ZERO C DATA LOOP

Toby Reed

This studio is available to students enrolled in ABPL90142 Studio C, ABPL90143 Studio D, and ABPL90115 Studio E.  This studio is co-taught with CVEN90047 IE Research Project 2.

Concept

The studio will explore the design of a zero carbon data centre.

The studio will investigate the design and role of data centres in our media soaked society. Our daily habits, rituals and work are all inextricably connected in a feedback loop with the cyberspace of the cloud. But the cloud and the data centre is the little known architectural manifestation of this virtual space which follows us constantly in our daily lives.

We have become so reliant on media, with our broadband width and ever increasing need for data speed, that the physical space to store this information and our virtual social interaction is getting larger and larger and requiring more space and power. The net result is a massive increase in the worlds carbon output due to our insatiable virtual needs.

Brief

Data centre operators Next DC, the clients, will provide the students with a brief and a 57000m2 site. They will also provide practical advice throughout the semester. Aurecon will provide engineering and mechanical input as will Greenbox Architecture.

Importantly students will interrogate the data centre concept from all possible angles to attempt ot discover the best way/s of becoming carbon nuetral. This could also include issues around cross-programming and re-use of waste heat.

Learning Outcomes

The design of a Data Centre building

The design of a hybrid program zone to achieve a zero carbon loop

The investigation into various possible zero carbon loops

Research into the architectural spatial and surface condition in relation to data

Exploration of the morphology of the data centre, including surface and space.

Exploration of architectural cultural issues of data centres.

Readings & References

• Junkspace – Rem Koolhaas
• The Politics of the Envelope – A Zaera-Polo
• Tarzans in the Media Forest – Toyo Ito
• “Image Building” in The Art Architecture Complex - Hal Foster
• The Society of the Spectacle – Guy Debord
• Made In Tokyo - Kaijima, Kuroda, Tsukamoto
• Verb List – Richard Serra

Integrated Design Studio

The project will have a real site in Melbourne, with a real client (Next DC) and consultants (Auracon Group and Greenbox architecture). There will be engineering students in the class researching the issues collaboratively with the studio. It is possible that some of the ideas from the studio could manifest in the final built design.

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If you are interested in taking the Integrated Design Studio this semester, please make yourself familiar with the Plain Language Statement describing the research side of the project.  And please make yourself familiar with the Deed Poll, which you'll be asked to sign, clarifying the position of IP in the project.

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Schedule Mondays 18:15-21:15 in MSD Room 140 and Thursdays 15:15-18:15 in MSD Room 448 | some sessions Thursdays 12:00-15:00 in MSD Room 448

Contact Handbook Key Dates