Decibel Architecture (dB(A), Atelier Ten, Landleaf, and Fabric First worked alongside the client Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) internal design and ESD institutes, to apply the very best innovation and insight to creating the SCGZero+ project.
After two years of preparatory design investigation, the SCGZero+ deep green demonstration building officially broke ground on 6 January 2021 and will be China’s highest rating and first “5Zero” building, Zero carbon, Zero energy, Zero water, Zero waste, and Zero formaldehyde.
Incorporating PassivHaus Design Principles and building on dB(A)’s experience designing Melbourne’s (and the world’s) highest LEED, BREEAM and GreenStar rated building, Pixel, SCGZero+ is set to achieve a new global benchmark and take the title of world’s highest scores in LEED, BREEAM, WELL, China3Star and China Healthy Building.
The consultant team, based in Melbourne and Shanghai, have ensured SCGZero+ is on track to achieving the world’s highest sustainability status and help China, and the world, run the race to reach net zero.
In SCGZero+, dB(A) and SCG’s design is a demonstration of innovative, transferrable technologies that can lead the path to changing and improving the rules upon which sustainable buildings are built. Key to this is the understanding of an integrated network of ecological thinking, not simply reduction of energy and cost, rather the integration of symbiotic systems that nature has perfected over billions of years.
Located in Shanghai, SCGZero+ utilises key approaches to improve embodied energy and operational effectiveness, including prefabricated construction methodologies in Structure and Façade assemblies, embedding robotic fabrication techniques and deploying innovative and experimental materials, in CLT and Cross Laminated Bamboo (CLB).
In addition, the project involved creating timber and bamboo routed and assembled structural framing to PassivHaus rated solar facades and integrated, adaptable and finely tuned assembly of vision and solar units across the building, and incorporating ‘Living Edge’ water systems prototyped and tested in Pixel, rainwater capture and on site biomimicry to ‘close the loop’ on water quality and usage.
Recycled steel was utilised, along with low carbon concrete, Low VOC, and cradle to cradle philosophies on all material supplies and supply chains and flexible and resilient indoor gathering and working spaces. An inclusion of biophilia and indoor greenery and circadian lighting throughout, with water balanced design enabling integration to larger parkland surrounds, to demonstrate and educate about sustainable water practices and integrated on-site elevated running tracks, gymnasiums, dance and yoga studios, childcare and maternity spaces, and significant end of trip facilities.
The inclusion of vegetarian kitchens look to close the loop on food miles, through production on-site in rooftop farms of produce for staff, and the entire management process will be translated into educational and demonstrational technical case studies for improving the systematic procedures in green construction for the future.
SCGZero+ represents a new way of building, of embedding technology and natural symbiosis in everyday thinking. By partnering with the National Development Reform Committee as part of the delivery, design and assessment process, dB(A) and SCG are looking to help change the rules by which buildings in China, and the world, are designed and built.