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Toronto studio gh3* has completed a fire station clad in gray iron-glazed bricks for the Canadian city of Edmonton.
In Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, architecture studio gh3* made extensive use of black brick to clad a fire station that not only functions effectively during emergencies, but also serves as a welcome public center during quiet times.
gh3* explored the symbolic and functional opportunities of a modern firehouse, with the studio keen to establish the type’s status as a historically trusted civic presence in communities. The large pitched roof and large fire truck doors are familiar motifs in the community, the former a nod to the community’s trusteeship and the latter a more clear reflection of the main purpose of the fire station.
The form of the fire station is also related to its power generation: its roof is designed for solar production, with a photovoltaic array on its south-facing slope, and a roofscape spanning the bay where fire trucks are parked below. This, combined with a geothermal heat pump used to heat the building, helped the fire station achieve LEED Silver certification.
The building is constructed from locally sourced dark gray bricks clad in an open woven structure. The mortar between the bricks is also colored in this way to amplify the overall appearance of the facade, and it is unique to the roofline – the gables are also dark gray to enhance the silhouette shape.architects talked exist Learn more about the design drivers behind the importance of fire stations:
The use of brick as the primary building cladding material was motivated by a number of considerations. Historically, masonry has been used extensively in fire station construction, its mass and strength lending a sense of gravitas to these iconic municipal facilities. Built to last, the sense of permanence and solidity suggested by brick also enhances trust and security. As a purpose-built facility in the newly planned community of Windermere, this sense of reliability and permanence achieved through materiality makes sense. The overall quality of the masonry – largely due to the relatively small size of the brick modules – further enhances the feeling of solidity and uniqueness.
Deploying different brick bonding patterns introduces a datum into the building’s facade that organizes all the holes while also bringing a human scale to the facade. The head height of equipment hatches, access doors and all window openings is set at 2.7 metres. Below this data is a typical operational bonding pattern that is consistent and expected with the diligent, functional nature of the building and site. Building on this baseline, more textural custom patterns bring visual interest and enhance the structure’s aesthetic among its neighbors. In order to maintain the desired effect (one of durability and solidity), the bricks chosen have a solid color throughout.
Unlike the more traditional red bricks, the gray iron glazed bricks used infuse a more industrial aesthetic while still reflecting the long tradition of masonry fire halls. The dynamic nature of the glaze changes hue and intensity depending on the weather and time of day, adding a subtle dynamism to the overall effect of the architecture in the landscape.
By contrast, the interior is all white—at least in the Bay Area. Black automatic bi-fold doors open when required in an emergency, allowing fire engines to exit, revealing a sleek interior with exposed services and polished concrete floors.
While fire trucks and equipment are stored and maintained here, the interior of the fire station is divided into two parts, with a smaller, multi-purpose secondary home space available for firefighters. This part of the building houses employee amenities, including offices, kitchens, break rooms, sleeping areas, and a gym and locker rooms.
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