Architect Yuan Ye on "zero-carbon buildings": We are exploring how to build the future

What does a zero-carbon, lightweight, and cozy children's bookstore look like? Walking into the architectural installation "Nikko Book House", we may be able to find the answer.

The architectural work, brought by Yuan Ye, chief architect of China Construction Design and Research Institute, was designed with the concept of "zero-carbon building" and quickly built in the form of "prefabricated", and was quickly completed within 24 hours with "prototype design". Recently, the reporter saw this "Sunshine Book House" in Beijing Jili International Art District, and also learned about the sustainable design concept and "zero-carbon aesthetics" behind the scientific and technological achievements of green buildings.

"The concept of a zero-carbon building is an exploration of how the future will be built"

Reporter: What concepts does "Nikko Book House" convey?

Yuan Ye: First, from the perspective of the building itself, the concept that "Nikko Library" wants to convey is that architecture does not have to pursue "eternity" by itself. This kind of "prefabricated" fast-building building should be designed with how to dismantle it, establish a full life cycle building concept, and achieve zero impact on the environment as much as possible, forming an environmentally friendly construction method. For Nikko Shoya, we do not want to discuss the style of the building itself, but rather to explore how it should be built in the future.

Second, in terms of building materials, the materials used in the "Nikko Book House" can be recycled, including steel pipe scaffolding and plant fiber cardboard. Scaffolding is a powerful, flexible system that is ideal for the construction of modern buildings. We use scaffolding to pay homage to the history of modern architecture. The walls and bookshelves are made of high-strength, fire-resistant and moisture-resistant plant-based cardboard, which is one of the main visual elements of the building. Under the concept of "zero-carbon aesthetics", building materials should be recyclable, even degradable, and show the "beauty" of natural materials.

Thirdly, the "Nikko Bookstore" expresses the ability of buildings to generate energy by making full use of natural resources, not only by taking and consuming energy. In daylight, the building itself is full of sunlight, and the roof of the book house is covered with 9 monocrystalline silicon solar photovoltaic panels for power generation, which can generate at least 20 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day on average, providing clean energy for the building, and storing excess electricity in energy storage batteries to achieve energy self-sufficiency. This book house combines educational places with zero-carbon concepts, and will also guide children to establish environmental awareness in a subtle way.

Reporter: How can buildings better balance functional realization and green "zero carbon"?

Yuan Ye: With the development of architecture and the diversification of life needs, architecture has changed from form following function to form to adapt to the changeability and diversification of functions.

In the context of a "zero-carbon society", the function of the building is no longer fixed, we need to re-understand the function, discover the function, and make the building match different functions as much as possible, and at the same time, the building itself may also trigger new functions, or in other words, the building creates a function. Functions can also be understood as scenarios that need to be redefined.

At present, "Nikko Book House" is version 1.0, and we plan to optimize its construction system and physical performance to adapt to more diverse environments and scenarios.

"Architecture should live in harmony with nature, and it can also bring people closer to each other."

Reporter: How does "Nikko Book House" echo the theme of this design week, "Glow Daily"?

Yuan Ye: "Glow is renewed" means daily improvement, continuous improvement and innovation. With the rapid changes of the times and the diversification of life needs, it is difficult for solidified buildings or spaces to adapt to future needs. Therefore, architecture is not static and needs to be adapted to the real needs of future life. The real goal of creating a "zero-carbon building" is to make the building maximize its energy and social value, and consume the least amount of energy, so as to contribute to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature.

Reporter: How do architecture, design and the culture and art contained in them interact with society?

Yuan Ye: Architecture is a medium for communication between people and nature, and it is also an ideal place to stimulate communication between people.

On the one hand, art is the re-understanding and re-construction of nature, and we can experience the subtle changes of light in the diffuse light environment filtered by the translucent enclosure material used in the "Nikko Library". When the lights are turned on at night, the lit room is like a temple of knowledge, touching people's hearts. On the other hand, as a space for communication between people, good architecture can make people's emotions more harmonious, which is an important social value that architecture can play.

From my point of view, each piece of architecture embodies my own quest to convey a certain spirit through a concise and concise form. I have designed many cultural buildings such as libraries, memorials, museums, etc., and the main idea is to make the building as accessible as possible. If energy can be saved as much as possible during the construction process, and energy can be generated, so that the building has a lasting life, the real social value of a building can be realized.

"AI and zero-carbon buildings are 'natural allies'"

Reporter: What are the current conceptual innovations in China's construction industry?

Yuan Ye: Today, our generation of architects is still in the theoretical framework of modernist architecture, and the innovation of contemporary architecture in terms of modeling aesthetics is not enough to influence the development of the times, but changes are already happening.

In the past one or two decades, Chinese architects have slowly enriched the soil of China's local architectural culture, and are consciously exploring China's own architectural language and development path in their creations, while before learning more from Western design languages and theories. What kind of architecture is the future of Chinese architecture? It's been a long road of discovery, and it's just the beginning.

In my opinion, the architecture of the future will move towards lighter, faster construction, recyclable, more like a living organism, and the architect of the future should design the entire life course of the building. With the rapid development of AI (artificial intelligence) and other technologies, how to truly build the life of buildings requires architects' imagination, social responsibility and resource integration capabilities.

Reporter: With the help of the concept of architecture as a "living body" and new technologies, what will be the characteristics of architecture in the future?

Yuan Ye: To regard architecture as a "living entity", we must consider the "wisdom" that architecture should have. "Zero-carbon buildings" and AI are a pair of natural "allies", but they have not yet been well combined. In order to achieve "zero carbon", buildings should be more sensitive to the environment, and such "sensitivity" must rely on more intelligent equipment to perceive and adapt to the environment. In this regard, AI can help buildings achieve such goals. (Reporter Kong Fanxin Intern Sun Xinwu)