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| Beach-facing façade of La Lucciola Restaurant. |
La Lucciola Restaurant in Bali: A perfect example of 100% passive or “no-tech” green architecture
In 2015, my husband and I dined in an amazing standalone Mediterranean restaurant, La Lucciola. Located at Jalan Kayu Ara along Petitenget Beach in Seminyak, Bali, La Lucciola had taken my romantic dining experience to the next level. Its food and services were awesome of course, but what I am more interested to share here is about its architecture.
The
restaurant is the perfect example of a climate-responsive and 100% passive architecture. This type of architecture is coined as “no-tech”
or “low-tech” green architecture. It demonstrates that producing green
architecture without using any latest technology or active systems is not impossible.
It is usually practised in remote locations where sources of materials and
services are rare.
But
La Lucciola is located in a busy district of Seminyak. Yet, it is made of
natural materials, simple and affordable. This wooden structure with a thatched roof is sourced locally and constructed by the local
people. It uses natural forces in a passive way to provide a stable comfortable
environment. Overall, the building requires little maintenance.
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| The restaurant celebrates the local natural elements (wind and light) using local architectural style and local building materials that can easily be built by the local people. |
Before
I explain what passive strategies were adopted in the design of the La Lucciola building,
let me tell you what passive strategies mean. Passive strategies mean designing
a building so that various potentials found in our immediate environment (sun,
wind and light) are utilized creatively to reduce the building’s energy loads
and increase thermal comfort. It also involves designing passive systems that
do not require additional energy to operate.
This
is in contrast to active strategies that encompass and emphasize the engineering
design of mechanical, electrical and electronic systems and technologies for
cooling and lighting.
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| A high roof/ceiling induces a feeling of great space or spaciousness and provides more ventilation and light. |
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| This restaurant's open concept and natural materials make its diners feel one with nature. |
Passive
design strategies in hot-humid climates like Bali allow daylight but keep the heat from entering the building (by maximizing shading), and allow wind to pass
through (maximising natural ventilation). La Lucciola restaurant adopted non-powered
passive design solutions such as:
- shallow plan, open plan
- optimum orientation
- cross-ventilation
- high roof
- open walls
- generous overhangs
- shaded veranda
- surrounding vegetation to shade
By
simply allowing the sea breeze to cross-ventilate the whole dining space and
providing additional air movement using ceiling fans, these strategies seemed
enough to get its diners (who were mostly Western tourists when I was there) to wine and dine for hours while enjoying the breathtaking sea view.
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| Dining while enjoying the breathtaking view of the sea. |
So, does green architecture depend solely on technology?
My answer is definitely
‘no’. Technology is not the solution to everything.
Why do tourists in Bali love tropical buildings with passive cooling (partly or fully)?
Passive
design is a viable option for tropical buildings, which has been
demonstrated in many buildings in Bali. In fact, after visiting Bali five times, I come to realize that Bali has successfully proven that any type
of building can be made open and naturally ventilated, either partly (termed
as ‘mixed-mode’) or fully.
100% naturally ventilated buildings are typically small structures like residential,
cafes, restaurants and shops, regardless of whether they are in the urban or
rural part of Bali. ‘Mixed-mode’ approach, however, is typically
adopted in hotels and resorts, regardless of their size or star rating. What is more
interesting is that Bali has mixed-mode shopping malls (e.g. Kuta Beachwalk
Shopping Centre) and even airport (Ngurah Rai International Airport)!
Even
without much air-conditioning, I realized that these spaces or buildings seem packed with tourists every time I visit Bali.
Why
is that so? Let me put it this way.
Unlike
local residents, many tourists would be happy to try adjusting to the given climate conditions at their chosen holiday destination. It is not true
that the tropical climate is unbearable. It is equally not true that passive
architecture cannot cope with the conditions found in the tropics.
Passive
climate control will not secure constant low temperatures as powered
air-conditioning can do. However, the need for constant temperature which comes
with conditioned air, is at least questionable. Adaptation is much
healthier than desperate efforts to insulate the building and its occupants
from climatic impacts. It is also much healthier and more sustainable.
Another
important, if not rather obvious, observation to be made is that tourists go to
Bali for leisure. They try to break away from their everyday work, life, and environment. What is the point of a vacation if the time
spent in a resort, or a restaurant, is similar to what is left behind?
Part
of the holiday excitement is derived from experiencing the tropics, indeed, the
tropics as they really are, hot, often humid, and sometimes rainy as well. The
provided spaces should make that experience possible at a comfortable
level. These needs could and should be utilised in the building plan and design
to work with the environment rather than against it.
Should architects employ both passive and active strategies?
Yes,
especially for commercial buildings in urban areas where air-conditioning is a
must. However, in green architecture, passive
strategies should be considered first.
Passive
strategies are simpler and cheaper. They greatly reduce the building’s energy
loads and increase thermal comfort. They also add indigenous character and a tropical feel to the building and interior spaces.
The
use of active technologies or mechanical systems can further reduce energy use and increase thermal comfort. Active
technologies should be utilized to increase the effectiveness of passive
systems or to make up for the design shortfalls of passive systems.
When
both are employed, they increase the environmental effects of building
design.
Unfortunately,
many environmental problems associated with modern architecture today arise
when the active design is totally disconnected from the passive approach. Most of
the time, buildings rely on active or mechanical systems and technologies.
The
consequence here is poor efficiency. When passive strategies are not part of
the design process, mechanical systems need to be bigger, more powerful and
more advanced to cool the building efficiently. So these buildings will have
much higher initial investments.
Do you agree? Share
your thoughts in the comments below.
All images are by the author.
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