Book_ForFlip

architeeccotluorgayl

A NEW SUSTAINABLE METHODOLOGY
FOR LAS VEGAS

applied to

a biomimetic resort





“We must draw our standards from the natural world. We must honor with the
humility of the wise the bounds of that natural world and the mystery which lies

beyond them, admitting that there is something in the order of being which
evidently exceeds all our competence.”1

-Vaclav Havel, president of Czech Republic

architectural ecology

THE NEW SUSTAINABLE METHODOLOGY

A STUDY
OF BIOMIMETICS
AND ITS RELEVANCE
TO ARCHITECTURE
INVESTIGATED THROUGH
APPLICATION TO THE
LAS VEGAS RESORT

ALEXIS CHURCH

5th Year Thesis Project • Studio Stannard • 2015-2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2. PREFACE
14. CONCEPT
22. PRECEDENTS
30. SITE • CONTEXT

40. DEMOGRAPHICS
44. PROJECT
52. CONCEPT

EXPLORATION

64. A BIOMIMETIC
RESORT

preface

2.

TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTIONS
& SUSTAINABILITY

3.

part 1 TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION

WHERE WE’VE BEEN Before looking at where we are going (or where we should go), we
have to understand where it is we’ve been – as a society; regarding
architectural styles and typologies; in relation to nature; and associated
psychological parallels.

In looking first at the various industrial and technological revolutions,
we see society’s continual detachment from nature (beginning ten
thousand years ago wiht the Agricultural Revolution, with our first
shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture).1 Our detachment
developed much further throughout the succeeding technological
advancements of coming years.

With the Financial-Agricultural Revolution of 1600-1740, society
distanced itself even further from its dependence upon the
environment : shifting away from 1st hand agriculture dependency to
agriculture for the masses.2

In later years, the Technical Revolution of 1880-1920 and the
advancement of communications and transportation (ushered in by
the 2nd Industrial Revolution) led to unprecedented movement
of people and ideas - thus migratory living and cross-pollination of
societal developments. 2;3

4.

THE CURRENT REVOLUTION Each former ‘technological revolution’ (as it’ll be called here) led us
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PARALLEL to our most current state. The Information and Telecommunications
Revolution, said to have begun in 1985 and leading up to present
day,1 is subsequently, the revolution farthest removed from our natural
orgins.

The Information Age provides us with an abundance (arguably an
excess) of information, often hyper-accessible. Consequently, with an
infinite amount of information available, we are often falsely led to
believe in our own omniscience, thus leading us to believe in our
autonomy – and the false assertion that we could be free of nature’s
laws (though we may be physically disengaged from it).

Further, our trust in the superfluity of information constitutes our near
complete reliance on technology. It is a dependency on technology
that comes in lieu of what was once a dependency on nature, now
leaving nature as a variable far removed from the modern equation,
coupled with the misconceived perception that nature is controlled.

With a growing dependency on technology (coupled with our false
omniscience), we fall deeper into a state of entitlement. We feel
entitled to comfort, efficiency, dominance. Resultantly, technology has
become an anthropocentric entity, designed for human convenience
and self-indulgence.

5.

part 1 TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION

IN ARCHITECTURE Correspondingly, our built environment has primarily paralleled our
industrial and technological revolutions. Houses have grown in size
“Ask almost any to represent dominance and authority. Buildings emulate imagery
architect to draw up his of machines and factories and industrial advancements.1 Glass
covers skyscrapers like paint, representing our material and structural
or her fantasies for a advancements – despite its innefficiency in thermal control.2 In large
visionary building in the part, architectural developments are self-referential, mirroring the
world of tomorrow, and the consumerism and self-appointed entitlement of our society.
result will invariably look like
a prophetic sketch that Meanwhile, society not only accepts its dependence on technology
might have come from the but views technology as progressive, as the future. Some perceive
“sustainability” as regressive – threatening the achieved comfort level
hand of a of societal advancements and backtracking from the progress that
Russian Constructivist has been made, though this is not the case. Meanwhile, there are
still some Americans who are not empathizing with the consumerist
in 1920.”1 costs (use of fossil fuels, energy, and where the resources come from)
of our current lifestyle and habits.
(Green Architecture)

6.

7.

Society’s first shift from individual food INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
production to large scale food production
1800’s
for the masses

FINANCIAL / AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION

SOCIETAL EVOLUTION

1600’s 1700’s

ARCHITECTURAL EVOLUTION

COLONIAL

FEDERAL

evolution timeline 1;2 OF TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTIONS
AND ARCHITECTURE
8.

SCIENTIFIC-TECHNICAL INFORMATION &
REVOLUTION TELECOMMUNICATIONS

TECHNICAL REVOLUTION REVOLUTION

1900’s 2000’s

TODAY

BEAUX ARTS SKYSCRAPER
DEVELOPMENT
POST MODERNISM
MODERNISM
Followed by deconstructivism
With modernism came international style and “blobitecture”
and constructivism, both paralleling the
scientific-technical revolution
simultaneously taking place

9.

part 2 SUSTAINABILITY IN ARCHITECTURE

THE CUSP OF REVOLUTION Nature has an infinite number of secrets and survival methods – many
of which we know nothing about.

However, the first thing we must acknowledge from nature is that
an organism attempting to dominate its environment will eventually
deplete its resources and be self-destructive and self terminating.

Revolutionizing the way we design, the way we build, the way we
conserve, the way we consume, the way we relate and the way we live
is not a recommendation. A revolution is a vital and urgent necessity
to our survival, as well as the survival of our planet.

Society doesn’t have an option. We are on the cusp of our next
technological revolution,1 and it is dire that we direct it towards
restoring the degradation for which we are responsible.

10.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY Not all believe sustainability to be regressive. Rather, sustainability
AS IT EXISTS NOW in architecture (and in general) is becoming increasingly more
mainstream – and, typically, its need is not disputed.1 There are many
movements, studies, and individual heroes progressing its foothold,
and there are a plethora of reasons justifying its legitimacy. From a
resource standpoint, we see the building sector responsible for 47.6
percent of energy consumption in the U.S. while 74.9 percent of all
electricity produced in the U.S. is used to operate our buildings.2 From
a biological standpoint, we understand cooperation with nature is
necessary for the purely selfish motive of survival.3 Additionally, one
could argue for an ethical obligation to leave the earth in a better state
for future generations; while there is also the philosophical question
of “whether we really deserve the luxury of this existence,” especially
when it comes at the cost of nature’s well-being.3

While the need for sustainable architecture is generally well accepted,
the methods for its application (and to what extent and at what
cost) are a bit more polarizing.1 Many current standards merely
provide a checklist for the sake of recognition.4 Other programs like
Architecture 2030 encourage net-zero buildings, which is great for
resource conservation – but is it enough?

At this point in our revolutionary advancements, we feel we have
achieved individuality, autonomy, independence. We are powerful and
we are dominant – especially over our environment. The sustainable
movement may threaten that, depending on its application. The
“New Sustainable Typology” (explored in this thesis research) pushes
sustainability to the next step in its evolution. It challenges our
dominance and autonomy. But it also opens new doors. It opens
doors of relationships and appreciation – to the environment, to our
surroundings and for nature’s intrinsic beauty. Possibly most crucial,
it opens doors of survival. It is only by cooperating with nature’s 3.8
billion years of lessons that we may have an opportunity to survive.

biological revolution

SCIENTIFIC-TECHNICAL INFORMATION &
REVOLUTION TELECOMMUNICATIONS

TECHNICAL REVOLUTION REVOLUTION

BIOLOGICAL REVOLUTION

1900’s 2000’s

TODAY

BEAUX ARTS SKYSCRAPER The “Biological Revolution will be
DEVELOPMENT designed through natural inspiration.
POST MODERNISM It’ll consist of biomimicry, biotechnologies,
and innovative fuel and energy alternatives.
MODERNISM

12.

HOW IT SHOULD BE Thus, we - as co-inhabitants of earth’s ecosystems - must first
and foremost, appreciate nature and understand that we are its
apprentices – rather than attempting to dominate something we
hardly understand. Next, we must learn to coexist for the flourishing
of all parties involved. Lastly, and most applicable to architecture, we
can learn from nature’s time-tested lessons and innovations. We can
learn from its systematic integration, its resource efficiency, its botany
of desire,1 its material innovation, its symbiotic relationships. We can,
and we must.

We are on the cusp of the next technological revolution. If we
understand that technology’s current state doesn’t have to be its
future state, if we allow technology the opportunity to extend far
beyond the self-serving parameters we’ve encaged it in, if we pair
technology with nature’s ingenious secrets, then there is hope. The
next revolution will reconnect us with nature. The next revolution
will spawn from biomimicry, biotechnology, and alternative fuel and
energy systems. The next revolution will be the first technological
revolution to be restorative – to all that was damaged in technology’s
adolescent years.

13.

concept

14.

BIOMIMICRY AS A SOLUTION
TO ECOLOGICAL ARCHITECTURE

15.

THESIS STATEMENT

BY MIMICKING
NATURE’S STRATEGIES

A MORE EFFECTIVE
SUSTAINABLE METHODOLOGY

CAN BE EXPLORED

FOR THIS METHODOLOGY
TO MAKE POSITIVE

IMPACT TOWARDS A NEW,
PROGRESSIVE PARADIGM
IT MUST BE SCALABLE AND
CONDITIONALLY APPLICABLE:

THUS INCLUDING
URBAN AND

CONSUMPTION-HEAVY
CONTEXTS.

16.

BIOMIMICRY & ITS APPLICATION By articulating a methodology of how to design architecture inspired
by the sustainable processes and logic utilized by nature, we may
achieve a typology that is exceedingly more sustainable than the
current ‘green architecture’ paradigm.

This approach has come to be known as “biomimicry”. Biomimicry
(or biomimetics) is an innovative approach that seeks sustainable
solutions to complex human challenges by emulating nature’s time-
tested patterns and strategies.1

Biomimicry isn’t a new concept. As early as the 1400’s, innovators
have looked to nature to inspire their designs. Leonardo da Vinci
looked to birds to inspire his flying machine, and the Wright brothers
did the same in the early 1900’s.2

In both its humble years as well as with its more recent emergence
into the mainstream, biomimicry has inspired how we approach
food, healing, material innovation, energy, and economy.

It also has an opportunity to inspire out approach to architecture.
How can architectural systems form closed loops and symbiotic
relationships analogous to those of nature? Can architecture
achieve a comparable level of resource efficiency? How can the built
environment run on a renewable power source economy (especially
solar) as the natural environment has learned to do? How does
architecture extract lessons from nature’s evolved botany of desire?

17.

EXAMPLE OF APPLIED BIOMIMETICS
STRUCTURE • MATERIAL CONSERVATION

Using structural examples from nature (a bird’s skull), Marieka Ratsma and Kostika Spaho
maximize structure using less material in this 3D printed heel. 1

18.

biomimetic principles

9 principles of biomimicy Janine Benyus, author of Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature
by Janine Benyus and one of many pioneers in the studies thereof has outlined some
basic principles of biomimetic design, including the utilization of solar
1. running on sunlight power, form fit to function, curbing excess from within, and tapping
2. using only the energy needed the power of limits.1
3. fitting form to function
4. recycling everything Though not in the field of architecture themselves, pioneers like
5. rewarding cooperation Benyus have encouraged architects to apply biomimetics in their
6. banking on diversity own field. Michael Pawlyn of Exploration Architecture has been a
7. demanding local expertise leader of the studies within the field of architecture. He outlines the
8. curbing excesses from within top three strategies for designing architecture after nature.2
9. tapping the power of limits
Top 3 Strategies for Designing After Nature:

1. Radical Resource Efficiency
2. Closed Loop Systems
3. Solar Powered Economy

19.

EARLY NATURE-INSPIRED ARCHITECTURE

“Biomimicry” has inspired architecture for decades. Antonio Gaudi was inspired by both form and function of nature
when designing La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain (1883).1

20.

biomimetic architecture

AN INTRIGUING TYPOLOGY Though theoretically applicable to any architectural typology, a multi-
use typology is arguably the most advantageous for its inherent
nature as a compilation of diverse functions.

Furthermore, for biomimetics to be revolutionary in the field of
architecture, it must be applicable to even the most urban and
consumption-heavy of contexts.

Thus, one typology intriguing for its challenges, complexities, and
opportunities for exploration, as they relate to biomimetics in
architecture – which will be explored in the coming pages – is the Las
Vegas casino.

The casino embodies a great amount of potential for an ecosystem
inspired design, for its very nature as a collection of coexistence – of
programs, systems, functions, organisms. It has also evolved its own
botany of desire, and it has all the necessary components to serve as
an experiment for creating some of the most complex yet efficient
closed loop systems in the field of architecture.

21.

precedents

22.

IN CONCEPT • STRUCTURE • ARCHITECTURE
23.

precedents CARDBOARD TO CAVIAR1

CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS The Cardboard to Caviar
Project is a “closed loop” cycle
cardboard horse of processes in which the
recycling bedding cardboard from restaurants
is sent to horse stables for
restaurants watercress wormery equestrian bedding until it is
caviar composting soiled, when it then cycles into
fish wormery compost. The worms
farm larvae are fed to the fish, yielding
production more caviar, which is sold back
to the restaurants - at which
point in time more cardboard
boxes are collected and the
process is reborn.

orchard staff/public vegetable
sewage garden
works willow
coppice
(for biomass)

24.

WILDWOOD BREWERY 1 SUBSTRATE DIGESTER

Wildwood Brewery offers 25.
an example of production
processes that are closed into
a system of zero (or minimized)
waste. Waste water is used to
feed pigs; spent grains can
be used to grow mushrooms;
waste from pigs can be cycled
into biogas; etc.

The concept replicates an
eco-system’s methodology
of closed loop systems and
resource efficiency.

precedents THE BIONIC CAR 1

STRENGTH • STRUCTURE • MATERIAL CONSERVATION by Mercedes-Benz

26. The Bionic Car is designed
after the Ostracion Cubicus
(or box fish), which is known
to be extremely aero-dynamic,
moving using minimal
amounts of energy. It’s able
to withstand high pressures
and can survive collisions
unharmed due to its hexagonal
bone plate skin.

Using Soft Kill Option (SKO)
and computer simulation,
the structure was designed to
reduce material in low load
zones and increase material
and rigidness in high load
zones. The result: increased
stiffness by 40 percent with
a reduction of 30 percent in
weight.

BUTTERFLY CHAIR 1

by Eduardo Garcia Campos

The Butterfly Chair is inspired
by the Mexican “monarca”
butterfly. The insect is known
for its beauty, strength, and
longevity - despite its fragile
appearance.

The design’s continuity coupled
with its structural strategy
allows it to be light yet strong
and durable.

The goal was to replicate and
embody the greatness and
the beauty of the “monarca”
butterfly’s wings. Thus, the
butterfly inspired the structure,
proportions, and aesthetics.

27.

SAHARA FOREST 1

The Sahara Forest Project “is
an environmental solution to
create revegetation & green
jobs through production of
food, water, clean electricity &
biomass.”

Biomimicry: The Namibian
fog beetle inspired the
seawater-cooled greenhouse
design, which was paired with
photovoltaic & concentrated
solar power for maximum
efficiency.

The Solution produced an
excess of fresh water which was
used to produce vegetation
outside of the greenhouse.

The project not only reduced
its impact on the environment,
but was also restorative
by effectively reversing

28. desertification.

precedents
ARCHITECTURAL

1. saltwater

2. mariculture
& algae

3.5 % surface sea
water water
salinity
5-7 % surface sea
water water
salinity
food & cooled crops grown in cooled
biomass 15-20 % humidified air shade tent area
3. saltwater cooled water
salinity crops grown
greenhouses 30 % in greenhouse
water
4. evaporation salinity deep sea sea water pure water
hedges water intake return storage

20m 300m

ratio of greenhouse area to shade tent area
- 1 : 15

revegetation
5. salt ponds

salt

29.

site • context

30.

ANALYSIS • CLIMATE • CONSUMPTION
31.

las vegas, nv

32.

site

33.

the strip TO DOWNTOWN

The potential site sits at the noth end TO UTAH
of S. Las Vegas Blvd.
The site’s integration into “The Strip” STRATOSPHERE
allows for opportunity in future
development to be connected to its SAHARAI-15 RESIDENTIAL
surroundings. It allows the opportunity LAS VEGAS BLVD.
to extend the closed-loop system and CIRCUS CIRCUS SLS CASINO
biomimetic properties beyond the RESORTS WORLD FONTAINE BLEAU
borders of the singularly developed WYNN RESORTS
build-ing, allowing multiple works PROPOSED SITE SANDS AVE.
of architecture to become unified SPRING MOUNTAIN RD. PALAZZO
through symbiotic relationships, THE STRIP
sharing and exchanging resources. TREASURE ISLAND

34. MIRAGE VENETIAN

CAESARS PALACE FLAMINGO

BELLAGIO FLAMINGO RD.
BOARDWALK
MONTE CARLO LAS VEGAS BLVD. TOWN HALL
PARIS
NNEEWW YYOORRKK ALADDIN
MGM GRAND
EXCALIBUR TROPICANA AVE.
LUXOR
TROPICANA
MANDALAY BAY
PARADISE RD.
MCCARREN AIRPORT

TO CALIFORNIA

site • zoning

Zoning 1 : H-1 Height : H-1 1 : 100 ft.
“Limited Resort & Apartment District MUD-1 2 : can exceed 200 ft.

Overlay 2;3 : MUD-1 Height : Setback Ration

“Multi-Use Development Overlay” 3:1 - (Height - Wall) x 3 = Setback

MUD-1 : Urban Occupancy Type(s) :
A-2 : For assembly, gaming areas, etc.
Setbacks : 10 ft. from property line 1 R-2 : Hotel and residential units
25 ft. min. from curb on S. LV Blvd. 4

Unit Density :
H-1 1: 50 units / acre
MUD-1 2 : 100 units / acre (w/ incentives)

site

climate data

OVER HEATED PERIODS N June UNDER HEATED PERIODS N June
00° July 00° May
18 10° 18 10°
16 20° 06 Aug 16 20° 06 April
30° 08 30° 08
W 14 40° Sept W 14 40° March
50° 10 E 50° 10 E
60° 60°
70° 70°
80° 80°

12 12

Oct Feb

Nov Jan
Dec Dec

SS

Las Vegas, NV experiences extreme over-heating during summer months, especially July through September,
and into November. Under-heating periods are from about December through May.

36.

psychrometric chart

80% Relative 40%
60%

The represented psychrometric chart Natural Ventilation Conventional
articulates Las Vegas’s climate, showing dehumidification
its range from 30° weather to 100°+
20%
- over heated during summer months
response : natural ventilation

- low humidity levels in most months
response : evaporative cooling

- under heated during winter months
response : passive solar heating

170B0tu/f1t5200 1300 Comfort Conventional
air conditioning
January Passive
February solar High-mass cooling
with night ventilation
March heating
April High-mass
May cooling
June
July Active solar and Humidification Evaporative
cooling
August conventional heating
Septem- 80 90
F 30 40 50 60 70
ber
October
Novem-

climate data

WEST Maximum 110 RECORD
Wind Speed 100 HIGH
90 DESIGN
EAST 80 HIGH
70 AVG.
10% HOURS 60 HIGH
50 MEAN
All Months 40 AVG.
30 LOW
20 DESIGN
10 LOW
RECORD
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC LOW
COMFORT
ZONE

LEGEND

ANNUAL

The above wind rose diagrams show the range in wind variation.
Wind direction changes month to month but usually comes from the southwest direction.

38.

consumption
WATER • ENERGY
ENERGY USE

and related resources

ENERGY ON THE STRIP THE STRIP ENERGY ON THE STRIP
USES APPRX.
The resorts and other buildings of 1,300 MW OF
“The Strip” are responsible for high ENERGY The Strip is, without a doubt, a high
consumption of energy and water EACH DAY 1 consumer of energy and water.
and resources.
Although casinos have taken steps THE STRIP L .V .
Although casinos have taken initial USES 7 IS 90 %
steps to reduce total consumption, to reduce total consumption, there RELIANT ON RE
there is an opportunity to further PTE3HRECECNITTYO’SF WATER4 FROM ABO
reduce impact through closed- is an opportunity to further reduce WATER LAKE MEAD OF R
loop cycles and systems designed
after biomimetic inspirations. impact through closed-loop cycles YE

and systems d2esigned with biomimic
ideals

39.

demographics

40.

VISITORS
41.

demographics1

VISITORS

Male : 49 % White : 77 % Household income
more than $40,000:
Female : 51 % Asian/American : 10 % 85 %
85 %
Married : 80 % Hispanic/Latino : 8 % 33 %
From West: 19 %
Single : 14 % African American : 4 %
From Califoria :

Foreign :
Employed : 64 % College Diploma : 48 %

Student : 3 % Some College : 37 %

Retired : 20 % 40 yrs or older : 51 %

Unemployed: Average Age: 45.2
3 %

POPULATION:

Las Vegas (2013) 606,762
Visitors (2014) 41,126,512

42.

WHERE VISITORS STAY 1 1ST TIME VISITORS 1 VISITOR ACTIVITES
RETURNING VISITORS 1

OTHER OTHOETRHER OT
24% 27%27%

N OTHOETRHER VACVAATCIOATNION
44%44% 42%42%

STRIP VACVAATCIOATNION
76% 69%69%

GAMGABMLINBLGING 14%14%
4%4%
GAMGBALMINBGLING

The average visitor (of those who go to the strip) goes to

5.7 casinos during their time in Las Vegas 1

43.

project

44.