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This work began with reflecting on the building sector's total dependence on indoor microclimate systems to the detriment of the planet's wellbeing. Interior heating, cooling, and ventilation systems presently account for about 15% of all CO2 emissions. With the current rate of global development, it is expected that energy use by building mechanical systems will grow by 80% by 2050. Furthermore, experts predict that the effects of climate change could more than triple the current demand as rising temperatures threaten the comfort and livability of our interior environments.
We were struck by the dire reality of climate change predictions and understood the urgent need to curb the development of inefficient and carbon-intensive buildings.
The theme of this year's London Design Biennale was "resonance". Designers were tasked with comparing the social and physical effects of their work, both positive and negative. They were also challenged with exploring how design may offer solutions to some of our generation's most pressing concerns. At its core, the prompt acknowledged the transformative capability of design to impact culture and communicate across vast divides.
Since the message of the pavilion dealt with sustainability, we were mindful of the material impacts of its physical construction. We avoided carbon-intensive materials like steel or aluminum that would typically be used for ductwork, and instead constructed the ducts using wood wrapped in a gold finish.
The ducts were intentionally elevated just 1.25m off the floor, forcing visitors to duck underneath. In order to maintain the design intent and the commanding visual presence of the installation while accommodating visitors with limited mobility, a hidden door was added. Concealed within the panels, an overhead counterweighted door could open to provide a 2.1m passage, giving access to those unable to physically bend beneath the ducts and doubling as an exit path in case of emergency.
Addressing the theme "resonance" (the idea that everything we design and produce resonates—in this case, environmentally), Revery's DUCkT installation comprised two parallel, oversized air ducts crossing the gallery space, representing a typical mechanical system of dual hot and cold air or supply and return ducts. The exaggerated conduits were finished with a reflective golden coating to draw the viewer in and to induce a sense of awe. We also used this material finish, evocative of wealth and privilege, to invite people to reflect on the notion of cost and value.
DUCkT forced the viewer to compare the objects responsible for our thermal comfort. The initial concept included one of the ducts being cool to the touch, and the other being warm. To help limit the spread of COVID, however, this tactile element was not implemented. Instead, visitors were greeted with an ambient mechanical hum and a soft glow accentuating the massive ducts, each over 2.5m in diameter. Passing through the Somerset House Mezzanine, guests were required to bend beneath the imposing golden cylinders, which embodied the monumental cost of our reliance on artificial heating and cooling. In so doing, the comfort created by these systems was juxtaposed with their inherent cost—their crushing environmental impact.
Our design sought to challenge Canada’s reliance on the mechanical systems that create comfortable interiors across our country’s diverse climate by creating a visceral experience for visitors. In the face of undeniable climate change, our industry must consider: Should we continue to rely on artificial heating and cooling to create comfortable interior microclimates at our planet's expense? Can architecture free itself from its reliance on these costly and destructive systems?
Revery Architecture is an internationally recognized Canadian architecture, planning, and interior design practice. Our name reflects a unique blend of creative reverie and technical precision that is fundamental to our design approach.
Venelin Kokalov is Revery's Principal and longtime Design Lead. His passion for creating inspiring, authentically responsive buildings that encourage connection, improve quality of life, and bring joy is central to the firm's mission of community placemaking and aligning architecture with broader social initiatives.
Our work strives for an authentic sense of place that brings people together. With each project, we look to create lasting positive impact that extends beyond the walls of the building.
Our innovative designs are resilient and transformative. We believe that meaningful sustainability lies at the intersection of environmental, economic, and social realms, and that each must be addressed to deliver a successful and enduring project.
