Energy Efficient Hotel Design

Project idea

The project's goal is to design a hotel in the Ethiopian city of Arba Minch while keeping energy efficiency in mind. The project's objectives are to use passive design solutions to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling, to bring as much natural light into the building as possible to mitigate energy consumption for lighting, and to use on-site recycled water for flashing and greenery to reduce water consumption. Finally, provide a high-quality design that adheres to international design guidelines and standards.

Project description

The city is characterized by the heat island effect due to its location in the Great Rift Valley. The cooling system is the primary concern in this regard. Unfortunately, because the site is at the top of a cliff, we have uplifted concentrated wind, which may provide ample air ventilation. According to GIS data, the area receives between 6 and 6.5 kwh per square metre of solar radiation, showing that it has a significant potential for solar energy generation. To maintain thermal balance, maximal opening and sun shading are utilized.

Technical information

In comparison to the active heating and ventilation system, I employed passive methods to save energy. This is done by directing proper orientation to reduce solar radiation while also facing windward for enhanced wind ventilation. Almost 40% of the indoor spaces are open-plan, similar to an atrium. Nature is brought into the atrium area for a better microclimate effect, enhancing the biophilic character of the space and the quality of the user experience. Because of the desire for optimum spatial and daylighting, the ideal void-to-solid ratio is around 0.6. In order to help the cooling system, spatial separation is employed between high and low heat generating programmes. Because of their outstanding thermal balancing performance, concrete was used for structural parts and HCB was used for partition walls. In the basements, a hybrid heating and cooling system is used.

Documentation

Show PDF 1