Scenario Design of Parametric Shelter for People Interaction

Dividing Space without Dividing People

Rian Nurdiansyah

Department of Architectural Education, Indonesia University of Education

Department of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu

Abstract
Public spaces, offices and commercial facilities always provide shelter as a space for rest. Shelter is a
place or space for people to communicate and interact each other. The duty as an architect is to be able in
design a space or facilities to fulfill necessity of people with a different character and habits. One of the main
difference in the community is evident in the case of smoking. There are less than 6 billion smokers in the
world and the number of each year is always increasing. Parametric shelter is a concept that used as a design
of the shelter to create a space for smokers and non-smokers can share a comfortable place and both can
communicate each other independently. This shelter use air movement and filtering plants to clean the air
pollution caused the smoke of cigarette. The air movement controlled and directed by the shape of parametric
design. This paper is intended to find the solution of shelter design that aim to be the realization of comfortable
space and people can coexist.

Keywords: Space; Parametric; Shelter; Interaction

1. Introduction
Public spaces play a vital role in the social and
economic life of communities. Public spaces allow
people to meet each other whether in planned and
unplanned ways, to interact with others within the
context of the whole community. Visitors and residents
from different parts of the town, including people from
different ethnic and socioeconomic groups and people
of different ages and abilities, can be in the same place
at the same time, allowing people to assess and reassess
the characteristics of space and their own relationship
with it.
Social activities can be defined as an activity that
requires the presence of others (Zhang and Lawson,
2009). This activity can be a casual conversation in the
street, face to face or activity of children playing in a
city park. Handling a creative public space could
support the establishment of social activity among
people who do not know each other before.
Space as the container must be able to provide a
conducive environment for the fulfillment of the terms
of interaction, which gives the opportunity for social
contact and communication. Social interaction can
occur in the form of passive activity as sitting enjoying
the atmosphere or observe the situation and also can
occur actively by talking with others to discuss a topic
or even do activities together.
In public spaces there are many differences in the
character and habits of people or community. One of
the main difference in the community is evident in the
case of smoking. There are less than 6 billion smokers
in the world and the number of each year is always
increasing (WHO, 2016), one important thing that
cannot be evaded is active smokers will not be able to
withstand the desire to smoke for a long time, the best
time to smoke for them when waiting or resting.
Not only for smokers, but this problem also affect to
non-smoker. Adverse effect occurs if the smoke
exhaled by smokers then inhaled by non-smokers.
More or less, a health problem that afflicts active
smokers also affects to non-smokers, even three times
worse. it said to be more severe because of the toxins
in cigarettes that enter the body of smokers around 25%
while 75% of other toxins blown to air which is then
inhaled by non-smokers are at risk. Therefore, non-
smoker is called passive smoking (viva News, 2009).
It became the reason for architect to separate and
design a special space for smoking. Shelter for smoking
becoming a solution that can reduce the negative effects
of cigarette smoke for non-smokers. But the separation
chamber with a special shelter has become a new
problem in the context of interaction in a community.
The problem makes their interaction is reduced.
This paper discusses how to design a shelter as a
facilitation in a public space to facilitate peoples
interaction especially for smokers and non-smokers to
be the realization of comfortable space and both can
coexist.

1.1. Shelter for Smoking
The shelters for smoking should consider its safety
and also every property is kept inside. Personal safety
of users of this shelter is paramount and should be
considered in all aspects of design, construction and
maintenance.
1.1.1 Requirement Regarding Smoking Shelters
Gateshead and many other councils in the region
have decided on the following requirement regarding
smoking shelters and enclosed yards :
- Bus Shelter type facilities.
If a smoking facility has any form of obstruction
within 1.5m of an opening or open side, then the area
of that side within 1.5m of the obstruction should
only be counted as "open" if the obstruction does not
materially affect the free flow of air through the
shelter.
- Enclosed yards, courtyards, gardens.
Where any form of roof is provided within an area
bounded by walls, the area enclosed by walls should
normally be deemed to be the premises unless there
is a clear gap of at least 1.5m between the edge of any
part of the roof and at least 50% of the walls.
1.1.2 Safety Considerations
Smoking shelters are likely to materially affect the
external appearance of it shelter and will be deemed to
be operational development. It is therefore likely that it
will need planning permission and it consideration as
following :
- Heath and Safety
Do not use glasses to prevent it from breaking and
causing a hazard.
- Ashtray
All smoking shelters must be provided with metal
(or other fire retardant material) ashtrays suitable for
outdoor use, that is made from unperishable material.
- Heating/Lighting
If provided, the heater must be permanently fixed
radiant heaters positioned so that they can not be
tampered with or pose a burning danger to those
within the shelter. It would be preferable that the
heating levels can be altered (by trained employees
only), so a suitable temperature can be reached
- Fire Extinguishers
It is recommended that at least one two liter water
fire extinguisher should be placed as close as possible
to the nearest door/exit to the main building from the
smoking shelter.
- Visibility and Appearance
Site must be visible to the street scene and how it
relates to the design of the building that it is attached
to and those nearby. Think about the activities and
behavior of the shelters users being seen from other
properties.
- Material/Fabric
Shelter should be made from coated metal to
prevent fire and be weather resistant. Therefore any
raised decking area must be fully enclosed, with
access underneath to ensure any waste can be cleared
regularly.
1.2. Parametric Design as Concept
Nature has always served as inspiration for architects
and designers. Computer technology has given
designers and architects the tools to analyze and
simulate the complexity observed in nature and apply it
to structural building shapes and urban organizational
patterns. In this case parametric as a generative design
which embed mathematical formulas, constraints and
control functions to derive a geometric model from
series of input data through a generative process. The
characteristic of parametric approach is that it produces
more than static geometry, i.e. a model with a collection
of primitive shapes (Fernando et al. 2012).
Generative design is a further subset of modelling
software and indeed may even use additional computer
script or programs, referred to as plug-ins, to
augment 3-D modelling software. Again, personal
criteria may influenced choice here, but the most
commonly used programs are : digital project,
generative components, grasshopper, max script, MEL
script, and processing (Nick Dunn. 2012).
Grasshopper is a graphical algorithm editor tightly
integrated with Rhinos 3-D modeling tools to achieve
new shapes using generative algorithms. Unlike Rhino
Script, Grasshopper requires no knowledge of
programming or scripting, but still allows designers to
build form generators from the simple to the awe-
inspiring (Nick Dunn. 2012).
1.2.1 The Benefits That Can Be Obtained
- Being able to make many alternate forms in a short
time
- Being able to create complex parametric shapes to be
used in ArchiCAD
- Being able to make iterations to process data into the
design parameters
1.3. Air Movement
Air movement is created by uneven heating of the
atmosphere. As the sun heats it, the air expands, rises,
and is replaced by cooler air. The exchange of air
creates a cycle known as the general circulation, the
major wind system of the earth.
Architectural designers with an understanding of air
movement control have an opportunity to create
climatically responsive residential structures. The
utilization of air movement principles and techniques
may contribute to relatively comfortable homes year-
round.
 1.3.1 Primary Principles of Air Movement are some tools and concepts to reach the best result.
Among others are use some kind of plantation, kind of
exhaust fan, use the air movement and use the concept
of parametric design.
Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals,
hundreds of them h armful and about 70 known to cause
cancer. Although cigarette smoke was not targeted in
NASAs investigations into environmental pollution in
(a) (b) (c) closed systems, several toxins present in cigarette
smoke were charted. Its not news that plants use
carbon monoxide, a product of combustion. Other
chemicals produced in secondhand smoke include
benzene, formaldehyde, arsenic and toluene, all toxic.
(d) (e) (f)
2.2.1 Plantation
In the 1970s, NASA researchers identified several
Fig.1. Principe of air movement plants that broke down toxic gases, into harmless
components. We summarize the chart of air-filtering
(a) Positive Pressure Areas: An obstacle, such as a plants from research of NASA and we identified based
house, in the path of air movement will obstruct the on chemical ingredient of cigarette smoke.
airflow and cause it pile up and slow down until it
locates a new path to follow. Be affected area is Table 1. Chart of air-filtering plants
designated as a positive, or high, pressure area.
(b) Negative Pressure Areas: As the airflow
completely surrounds the building, negative
pressure areas, or wind shadows, are created.
(c) Inertia: Air will flow through an opening if another
opening provided and travel within the building is
in the direction as the exterior air movement until
the interior air flow encounters an obstruction.
(d,e) Optimum Airflow: Inlet openings and outlet
openings should be as large as possible in order to
optimize airflow. When the air movement is
perpendicular as it encounters the inlet and outlet
openings in alignment, the airflow will pass
through the building in a narrow stream (a). The
remainder of the interior space will receive no
significant air movement. The result will be
maximum airflow in a minimum area (e).
(f) Maximum Velocity: The maximum velocity of air
movement is obtained when the outlet opening is
larger than the inlet opening.

2. Methods
2.1. Research methods
Research methodology is descriptive analytic
method, the method used to solve problems that occur
at this time through technical collection collation,
Annotation, and analysis of data common to the
specific data. Through this method approach,
researchers intend to apply the concept of smoking
shelter design appertain the scenario in it. (1) Removal rate of formaldehyde
*micrograms/hour, from laboratory study by Dr.
Wolverton, PHD.
2.2. Data and Analysis
The design of the smoking shelter in this case
focused on how to make the setting of the shelter that
could be a solution to reduce the cigarette smoke. There
(2) The scale of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 2.3 Scenario design
2.3.1 Scenario of the Material
Based on the data and the analysis we can design a
shape and space for smoker and non-smoker to create
an interaction.

2.2.2 Exhaust fan

Fans all perform the basic function of moving air
from one space to another. But the great diversity of fan
applications creates the need for manufacturers to
develop many different models. Each model has
benefits for certain applications, providing the most
economical means of performing the air movement
function.
A typical room measuring 10 x 12 with eight-
foot ceilings would require an exhaust fan rated at 200-
300 CFM for one smoker or 900 CFM for four. Exhaust
fans are rated in CFM - Cubic feet per minute.

Exhaust fan cfm rated: Fig.2. Plan and section scenario of shelter design
- 1 smoker - 200-300 cfm
- 2 smokers - 450 cfm
Based on the figure above, no. 1 is an area for
- 3 smokers - 600 cfm
- 4 smokers - 900 cfm smoking and no. 2 is area for non-smoker.

It is common to classify fans in : Description of the material based on the figure above:
- Axial and/or propeller fans (A,C) This part is a wall that use parametric as a design
- Centrifugal (radial) fans approach. Parametric design which used for this
- Mixed flow fans shelter is voronoi, it design has a function to be
- Cross flow fans a wall that give a space for air move enter the
shelter. In addition, this wall use for placement
of filtering plants too.
Table 2. Chart of fans classify

Florists Chrysanthemum

Nephrolepis exaltata

Fig.3. Illustration of voronoi wall and the plantation

 On this part, plantation that use are Florists
Chrysanthemum and Nephrolepis exaltata, these
plants has a big rate on removal formaldehyde,
because formaldehyde is a main problem on
cigarette smoke.
(B) This part function as a buffer between smoker room
and non-smoker room, plantation that use in this
part is mix, peace lily, Chrysanthemum morifolium Mixed flow fans
and Sansevieria trifasciata.

Peace lily Fig.6. Height of exhaust fans placement, number in meter

Chrysanthemum (G) Hanging plants put on top of the buffer plants, it

morifolium function is to reduce the cigarette smoke that flow
to the upper side. The plant that use is English Evy.
Sansevieria
Trifasciata

Fig.4. Filter plants use as a buffer

(D,E) Chair for both of rooms use the same style, rib
structure as a parametric design use and designed
to make the wind flow through the chair and to
give a different sense for smoker and non-smoker.
Fig.7. English Evy
2.3.2 Scenario of the Air Movement
One scenario that can be established based on the
analysis and the principal of air movement we can
design a shelter that use the wind flux to control the air
changing inside between the smoker and non-smoker
room.

Maximum Velocity Optimum Airflow

Fig.5. Rib structure chair design

(F) The exhaust fans placement must be on top of

Positive Pressure Optimum Airflow
smoker, height of the fans depend on the height of
Areas
the shelter.
Fig.8. Scenario of air movement based on principal
air movement and twind direction

Fig.9. Scenario of air movement (wind enter and out)
(A,C)
Fig.10. The gap between the wall for air to move out
Based on the figure above, the gap between the
wall is function as a space for wind flux out from the
shelter.
(B)
Section view on top
Fig.11. Voronoi wall as a space for wind flux
Fig.12. Scenario of the air movement
In this case air move enter to the shelter first through
non-smoker room then to smoker room, the air that
contain cigarette smoke out from the shelter through
the gap that designed. This shelter has four zone based
on the rate of cigarette smoke, by wind flux and exhaust
fans created zone D free from cigarette smoke, this
zone has function as non-smoker room.
Based on proxemics that is the study of human use
of space and the effects that population density has on
behavior, communication, and social interaction. Social
distance rate for interactions among acquaintances :
- Close phase, 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 m)
- Far phase, 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 7 m).
3. Conclusions
To reach the vision needs the integrated and synergy
action to increase social interaction based on character
and different habit that create independent community
and can make off self-space in an open space and live-
able space. In this case, it paper discusses how to design
a shelter as a facilitation in a public space to facilitate
peoples interaction especially for smokers and non-
smokers to be the realization of comfortable space and
both can coexist
There are several points should be considered on
design this kind of the shelter as following :
1. There are 3 kind of the plants that has best perform
to reduce the cigarette smoke.
- Peace lily
- Chrysanthemum morifolium
- Sansevieria Trifasciata
- English Evy
2. Fans that has best perform based on the classify is
Mixed flow fans.
3. For the wall should combine parametric design, one
of which is voronoi as a wall that can give a space to
wind flow enter the shelter.
4. The chairs use rib structure design, multifunction
chair that can give a space to wind flux and give
different experience for both of smoker and non-
smoker.
5. Safety consideration as heath, ashtray, lighting, fire
extinguishers, material, visibility and appearance
should be a main concern.
4. References
1) Boutet, Terry S. (1987) Controlling Air Movement. A
Manual for Architects and Builders, pp. 171-181
2) Dunn, Nick. (2012) Digital Fabrication in Architecture, pp.
49-60
3) Barbry, Cecilia. (2015) Smoking in public places. Vol. 2015,
pp. 1-30
4) Poutvaara, Panu and Siemers, Lars H. R. (2007) Smoking
and Social Interaction. Retrieved from https://pdfs.
semanticscholar.org/9317/285f650ec43cc18e80bbd9f4dc4f
abc3db8a.pdf
5) Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council. (2007) Trafford
Council Smoking Shelter Guidelines. Retrieved from
https://www.trafford. gov.uk /residents/environment/public-
health/docs/smoking-shelter-guidance.pdf
6) United States Department of Agriculture. (2016) USDA
Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Retrieved from http://plant
hardiness. ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
7) Weebly. (2016) Types of Proxemics. Retrieved from http://
proxemics. weebly.com/types-of-proxemics.html