This document provides an overview of the Alaterva luxury hotel design project. It introduces the design team and gives details on the project overview, including the clients' requirements, creative process, and design solution. It provides information on the site analysis and climate responsive design of the hotel, which is designed to be the first Passivhaus hotel in Scotland. Structural analysis and fire protection details are also summarized. The design incorporates sustainable and innovative features to minimize emissions and waste while respecting the natural surroundings.
3. PROJECT OVERVIEW
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Clients' requirements
High quality, adventurous,
world-class architecture
Minimal emissions in
construction and
operation
Minimize waste
Value for Money/Whole
life costing
Creative process
Passivhaus design
Inspiration from
sustainable hotels i.e.,
One Central Park
Site visit
Flight path
Trees block ocean
view
Marshland
Design development
Respect to the
ancient coastal
surroundings
Design Solution
First Passivhaus
Hotel in Scotland
Climate responsive
design
4. INTRODUCING ALATERVA
‘Fort on the River’
Inspires
environmental
connectivity and
evokes relaxation
‘ ‘ Sq Meters
Large focus on
sustainable and
innovative design
‘ ‘ million-pound
construction
project
Collaboration of
contemporary,
traditional and
natural features
‘The UK’s first passivhaus hotel’
5. SITE ANALYSIS
• Urban layout includes no immediate
adjacent buildings, housing
development to around the North
perimeter and undeveloped
greenspace
• No unusual ground problems
• Potential buried agricultural waste
• Temperate climatic conditions
• Building oriented with South-facing
facade
• Average temperature range of 5
degrees Celsius in Winter and Summer
15 degrees
• North westerly winds reaching speeds
of up to 20kmph
• Extreme hourly daylight variations from
6-17 hours seasonally
• Access from the main road
6. Goudy Old Style
CLIMATE
RESPONSIVE
DESIGN
• Suns path maximizes heat gains and
daylight with orientation
• National natural elements used in
the interior
• Thermal performance increased
through airtightness of building
envelope
• ‘TwinSkin’ bespoke designed
intelligent façade
• Ecological zone integrating
sustainable urban drainage systems
• Natural ventilation implemented
through stack ventilation methods
• Daylight maximised through
skylights and glass façade
• Solar PV array installed on the roof
WEST ELEVATION
N A T U R A L
V E N T I L A T I O N
' T W I N S K I N '
F A C A D E E C O L O G I C A
L C O R R I D O R
Image not to scale
S O L A R
P A N E L S
8. FIR E PR OTEC TION
Building meets fire
regulations BS 9999
Management of fire
detection,
notification and
active systems
through BMS
CCTV and
safeguarding
services present 24
hours a day
Fire doors and
compartmentation
around the perimeter
of the forum.
Open forum has
multiple fire exits.
Building accessible
around the perimeter
for fire fighting
Editor's Notes
How have we thought about them, how have they been implemented into design
As a joint project by two world-leading universities in Research and Development, the Robotarium was commissioned to be the UKS leading innovation Hub for the practical application of robotics.
Covering 3716 square meters, the Robotarium is situated on newly developed green space on the Heriot-Watt university campus,
Construction was completed in 2022 at a cost of 22.4 million . The design is largely focused on inspiring innovation and ideation where a balance of industrial, modern, natural and digital features work in harmony to achieve this
. Sustainability and climate responsive design are at the forefront of the design strategy, where design issues have been addressed with environmental collaboration in mind.4
Paying respects to the surround architecture
Quite a few new developments
Scope to play with modern and classic features
As the robotarium is the initial development of a phased construction on green-space, the adjacent urban development is minimal to the Robotarium. Despite this, with Heriot-Watt university located on the opposite side of Boundary Road North, buses stop in front the site making the Robotarium very accessible to the public and workers. It is also a great argument for commuters to use greener methods of travel with buses from four different routes stopping at the site. Alternatively, the development offers 40 car park spaces to those commuting by car.
According to meteorological data, Scotland is considered temperate climatically. Despite this, the region of Edinburgh experiences large variances in temperature and daylight hours. During the winter months, temperatures can drop below freezing, so maintaining a thermally comfortable environment for inhabitants is important. Additionally, North-Westerly winds can average speeds of 20kmph, so stability of the structure is important to minimize damage associated with wind loads. With extreme variation in daylight hours from summer to winter, where only 6 hours can be experienced in the month of December, the winter sun must be maximized through the orientation of the building which boasts a south-facing façade.
The Robotarium’s approach to climate responsive design has created a space that holistically supports human activities by working with natural elements to achieve greater connection to our environment.
Orientation is of high importance here to ensure that the suns path is utilized to maximize heat gains from the daylight hours which are minimal throughout the winter months. With a fabric first approach to the building's envelope, increased airtightness and thermal performance reduce the demand for mechanical energy use.
Stack ventilation methods, as detailed on the elevation, utilizes the fresh air and minimizes air stagnate.
The glass façade, which creates a presence on campus, has been oriented to maximize solar gains with twin skin technology, providing winter solar heat and recycling warm air. The use of natural elements such as timber and natural planting bring the outside in, embracing nature and generating well-being through this connectivity to the environment. Photovoltaic solar panel array has been installed on the roof to further reduce reliance on outside energy sources, making this an incredibly efficient design choice.
When considering the noise generated by testing robotics, visual alarms are highly important to alert workers in case of fire emergency. The steps of the open forum could be considered a fire hazard if fire safety measures are not followed correctly as congestion here could form.
Therefore, the Robotarium’s fire safety management plan is a highly important accompaniment to the building design. As the building is built for purpose i.e., testing robotics, there is less of a fire risk to occupants than a hotel for example where inhabitants are not asleep during the night. However, as seen in the Ocado warehouse fire, the risks associated with experimentation, electrics and robotics must be understood . Audio alarms as implemented throughout the building provide an extra level of detection to make occupants aware of danger which is safeguarded 24 hours a day by estate personnel. With flammable materials such as timber dominating the forum, sprinkler systems are highly advantageous should a fire break out in this space. Around the perimeter of the auditorium, all rooms follow compartmentation regulations which ensure fire does not spread quickly throughout the Robotarium.
