Kit-of-Parts Structures in an Urban Context: A Green Approach to the Design of Events Buildings

Abstract

As urbanisation and population growth put increasingly more pressure on an already limited supply of urban land, leading to a declining living environment, there is evidence that international expositions, including the Olympic Games, have been part of an inescapable process in the forming of world class cities. On the other hand, many people have pointed out that the waste generated by these mega-events is one of the factors causing urban environmental deterioration. The aim of this research is to investigate and find out whether most of the current permanent mega-event buildings could be replaced with more adaptable systems, which could greatly reduce the wastage of precious natural resources and help solve the problem of under utilisation after large scale events have concluded. Generally, this research adopts a case study approach. Despite most of these instances coming from China, they are criticized and associated with a global perspective. Following the process of observation, comparison and analysis, investigations into major global event sites are conducted. As a potential role model for adaptable non-permanent events buildings the thesis undertakes an extensive study of a particular vernacular temporary exhibition building, the Black Yak Hair Tent (BYHT). This work has involved field visits and examination of historical records, as well as interviewing those currently producing and caring for such tents. Having survived extremely adverse environmental conditions, such as serious earthquakes, some ancient Chinese timber buildings also serve as examples illustrating and contributing to the argument for the feasibility of the kit-of-parts approach to design. In addition, a survey of professionals involved with major exhibitions and of the public was conducted which revealed that people are concerned about short lived events buildings, and are also increasingly in favour of a new type of temporary exhibition building. The case studies in this research do suggest that temporary exhibition buildings are achievable, especially when approached through making use of the reciprocal principles of the whole structure, and that these need to be combined with flexible use of public space in urban environments. It has also been argued that the kit-of-parts approach is the path to achieving these goals, while at the same time ensuring that not all temporary structures will have the same form. Such buildings will thus have a greater chance of being aesthetically acceptable to the users. For best reflecting the conflicts between rapid urbanization and the ecological and environmental impact caused by mega-event buildings, the interactions from the perspectives of city, urban events and event buildings have been selected as points of penetration in this thesis. The conclusions of this research are that the modern method of event building procurement is not sustainable or compatible with today’s urban realities, and that new methods of event building design based on a multidiscipline design approach of Hybridizing Kit-of-parts Structure (HKS) can be developed.