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 NATURAL
VENTILATION
Natural ventilation is a method of supplying fresh air to a building or room by
means of passive forces, typically by wind speed or differences in pressure
internally and externally.

Project teams typically choose natural ventilation because:

Reduces carbon emissions
Is cheaper to install and operate than full mechanical plant
Requires less maintenance than air conditioning
Changes occupant’s expectations and gives them more control of
their environment, which means that higher internal temperatures
are often accepted in summer
Offers free night cooling, reducing daytime temperatures
JAISALMER
CITY

CASE
STUDIES

MOULMEN
RISE
MBF TOWER
Project: MBF Tower

Year of completion: 1994

Location: Latitude of 5.2° N and Longitude of 100.2° E, Penang,

Malaysia

Climate: 'Tropical warm & humid

Architect: TR Hamzah and Yeang

Site Area: 7482.39 Sq.mt

Prevailing wind direction: from south-west and northeast

Type: Mixed (office & Residential)

Building height: 111.1 meters

Number of storey: 31 (Till six stories building is occupied with

conditioned office, space and rest are naturally ventilated residential

flats)

Structure: Reinforced Concrete

ARCHITECT’S DESIGN IDEAS
Tropical high-rise design ideas
cut outs in the building acting as sky courts
units are separated from the lift core for all-round cross-ventilation
typical open floor plans are designed to be column free and cross ventilated
stepped planters on the facad of the building
units are seaward facing on western edge
BUILT FORM
AND
ORIENTATION
Rectangular form with four blocks in one floor and
exposed column holding the gigantic built structure is
oriented slightly tilted towards north south, facing
towards sea on northeast.
Orientation of each space to prevailing breeze and strong
linkage between leeward and windward sides strengthen
the utilization of the pressure difference to facilitate cross
ventilation.
TYPICAL
RESIDENTIAL
PLAN
The plan is oriented in such way; both
sides i.e. north east and north side
walls of the flat get maximum benefits
from north easterly prevailing wind
and vice versa for south westerly wind.
The width and depth of each flat is at
1:2 ratios. The north east facing flats are
having floor area of 74.4 sq.mt and
southwest facing flats has area of
69sq.m with width and depth aspect
ratio of 1:2 with maximum width of
5.2m.
NATURAL VENTILATION STRATEGY
MBF TOWER, PENANG, MALAYSIA

The main objective of the wind induced natural ventilation

principle was to generate high air changes to achieve comfort
conditions by controlling indoor temperature and airflow rate.
Minimum use of internal partitions and maximum number of
(single, double and three sided) openings in each room facilitate
the wind induced cross ventilation.

Window Openings are placed with respect to windward and

leeward side of the building, which enhance the airflow rate in the
habitable spaces. In this regard, the exposed 'mega structure" is
the first building of its own kind that exploits wind-induced
natural ventilation not only for
the purpose of air-displacement and fresh air supply but also to
create indoor thermal comfort for the residents
SPACE
SEGREGATION
CROSS
VENTILATION
STRATEGY
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
EFFECT OF ORIENTATION
Effect of orientation of the building block with respect to the prevailing wind direction:

Wind data for the top level floor

Building is situated at 250m away from the sea and the northeast wind hits the building front face at an angle of 75°
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
EFFECT OF THE SKY COURT
FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
Due to its form, orientation and location, the effectiveness of wind induced
natural ventilation strategy applied can be highly reliable.

Stepped terrace gardens could enhance the effectiveness of natural

ventilation.

The central core could be utilized as a wind-trapping zone, which can enhance
the indoor airflow rate.
CONCLUSIONS
The building's natural ventilation strategy is
generally successful in relation to its form, orientation
and the prevailing wind directions.
Sky courts enhance the indoor airflow rate
Seashore areas get benefit from the daytime sea
breeze, which maximize speed in the afternoon, and
night-time land breeze, which provides thermal NORTHEAST PRE DOMINANT WIND DIRECTION WITH
RESPECT TO TOWER
comfort of low temperature and higher wind speed.
Insertion of transitional spaces acts like isolated
bungalows.
Orientation of the tower enhances the effectiveness of
wind induced cross ventilation as the tower is having
openings towards the prevailing wind direction.
Oblique wind enhances the indoor airflow rate
When the wind changes direction northeast to
southwest, wind would still hit the southwestern
building blocks at an oblique angle of 75° SOUTHWEST PRE DOMINANT WIND DIRECTION
WITH RESPECT TO TOWER
CONCLUSIONS
The higher air-changes per hour are facilitated
with both vertical and horizontal floor gaps and
slots.

Only two flats have a good sea view and direct

sea breezes out of the four flats in each floor.

Green terrace gardens are maintained, which

might help to cool the tower during afternoon
time.

Each apartment blocks have proper cross

ventilation, but it has the option for air-
conditioning.
MOULMEN
RISE
NOVENA, SINGAPORE

ABOUT :
TYPE: RESIDENTIAL
ARCHITECTS: WOHA ARCHITECTS
CONSTRUCTION: 2001-2003
NO. OF FLOORS: 28

The buildings 48 typical apparetments and 2 penthouse

appartmentsd
The ground floor contains 50m lap swimming pool
cascading over 3 levels, a tropical garden. a small gym and
and underground car parking area for 52 cars
It has 2 appartments per floor, each open on 23 sides
 FACADE
The building is open on three sides and oriented north-south
to optimize its environmental performance. The windows are
well shaded to reduce direct heat into the apartments. Deep
overhangs on the facades (1 meter on the north, and 0.6
meter with vertical sun screens on the south) provide shade
and help keep out direct sunlight and driving rain.

The complex façade was created through the non-regular

arrangement of standard elements. This principle of building
up visual complexity was based on artist M.C. Escher's
tessellations, which were inspired by the Islamic tiling of the
Alhambra. Three different arrangements of planters,
overhangs (horizontal sunshades), screens and monsoon
windows were developed for the typical plan, stacked up in a
random order. Three floor plate variations give strong
variety to the façade.

The front or south façade presents an elegant play of shadow

and shifting screens, while the back façade takes the form of
a vast service cage concealing the air conditioning units,
drying racks and other utilities that so often mar the
appearance of high-rise buildings. The tall blade wall that
rises from the top of the roof dramatically expresses the
division between major and minor spaces in the apartments.
PLANS

Total 50 apartments.
Two apartments per Floor.
Each having area 95 m2.
Lift & stair core at centre.
Living & dining spaces facing South.
Bedrooms and kitchen facing North

SINGLE SIDED VENTILATION CROSS VENTILATION

NATURAL VENTILATION STRATEGY

With two apartments per floor, the slender tower designed

properly to allow cross ventilation as well as single sided
ventilation.
The building is oriented North-South for optimized
environmental performance with minimum solar gain and
maximum cooling potential.
The north facade is cladded with sliding perforated panels to
maximize the solar shading as well as natural ventilation.
Deep overhangs on the facades (1 meter on the north and 0.6
meter with vertical sunscreens on the south) provide
shading from the direct sun and help keep out driving rain.
This building incorporates monsoon windows -horizontal
openings that let in the breeze but not the rain.
MONSOON WINDOW
CONCLUSION
The building's wind induced natural ventilation strategy is generally
successful in relation to its form, orientation, solar exposure and the
prevailing wind directions.

For most of the period the natural ventilation strategy could not be
applied to achieve indoor thermal comfort for Singapore climate.

during most of the time, it is possible to have indoor thermal comfort

with indoor air speed of 2 m/s for Singapore.

Variable openings help the occupants to control their indoor

environment.

Facade of the tower

It enhance indoor airflow rate, due to large opening in the south with sun screen
living room,however the high airflow rate due to high wind speeds at
high altitudes might cause discomfort for the residents.
CONCLUSION
Central core is also naturally cross ventilated which consumes less energy.

From vernacular design ideas, the horizontal "monsoon window" designed by taking inspiration to
keeps the rain out, while allowing continuous cool breeze into the indoor space.

The materials choice used in the tower is equally the Smart especially the perforated sunscreen,
which allows indoor airflow by keeping the rain out.

The cross ventilation strategy mainly done by wind force.

In a tall building, since wind speeds are much amplified on the sky garden, which enhance indoor
airflow as well as air permeability is lack in the Moulmein Rise tower.
JAISALMER
CITY
Jaisalmer, also known as the "Golden
City," is a historical city in western
Rajasthan, India, with a rich history and
architectural heritage. Founded in the
12th century by Rajput ruler Rawal Jaisal,
it blends Rajput, Islamic, and Jain
influences. The Jaisalmer Fort is a
prominent landmark, and the city is
vibrant with traditional crafts and
colorful festivals.
 HYBRID VENTILATION
Definition of Hybrid Ventilation
Hybrid Ventilation is a two-mode system which is
controlled to minimize the energy consumption while
maintaining acceptable indoor air quality and
thermal comfort. The two modes refer to natural and
mechanical driving forces

Purpose of Ventilation
All hybrid systems have to provide air for indoor air
quality purposes, but in addition some also provide air
for thermal conditioning and thermal comfort during
working hours

Purpose of Control System

The purpose of the control system is to establish the
desired air flow rate and air flow pattern at the lowest
energy consumption possible
DIFFERENT MODES OF HYBRID VENTILATION

 he two modes refer to natural and

T
mechanical driving forces. Natural
driving forces are wind and buoyancy,
mechanical driving forces normally
means fan(s).
DESIGNING HYBRID
VENTILATION SYSTEMS
 he hybrid ventilation process is very dependent on the outdoor climate, the
T
microclimate around the building as well as the thermal behaviour of the building and
it is, therefore, essential that these factors are taken into consideration in the basic
design step. The output from the first step is a building orientation, -design and -plan
that minimises the thermal loads on the building in overheated periods, that together
with the selected ventilation strategy makes it possible to exploit the dominating
driving forces (wind and/or buoyancy) at the specific location and that ensures a
proper air distribution through the building.
It is also important that issues like night cooling potential, noise and air pollution in
the surroundings as well as fire safety and security are taken into consideration.
In the climatic design step the natural ventilation mode of the hybrid system is
designed. The location and size of openings in the building as well as features to
enhance the driving forces as solar chimneys and thermal stacks are designed
according to the selected strategy for both day and night time ventilation. Passive
methods to heat and/or cool the outdoor air are considered as well as heat recovery
and filtering.
Appropriate control strategies for the natural ventilation mode are determined
and decisions are made regarding the level of automatic and/or manual control
and user interaction.
In step three the necessary mechanical systems to fulfil the comfort and energy
requirements are designed. These can range from simple mechanical exhaust fans
to enhance the driving forces to balanced mechanical ventilation or air
conditioning systems.
The hybrid ventilation and corresponding whole system control strategy are
determined to optimise the energy consumption while maintaining acceptable
comfort conditions. Effective and efficient climatisation and ventilation of indoor
spaces has the best chance for success when the design process is carried out in a
logical, subsequent manner with increasing detail richness towards final design,
and in the framework of a design procedure.
In the case of hybrid ventilation the need for a design procedure is even more
evident due to the comprehensive design team, where users, building owner,
architect, civil engineer and indoor climate and energy counsellor must all be
involved simultaneously.
A HVAC design procedure consists of different phases: conceptual design phase,
basic design phase, detailed design phase and design evaluation.
BENEFITS OF HYBRID VENTILATION
Benefits of natural ventilation (when possible)
Improve indoor air-quality
Remove humidity, smoke, and fog
Reduce operation &
maintenance costs
increase fresh air at the operating floor
Improve personnel comfort
Increase evaporative cooling effect
Create a positive pressure environment
BRE ENVIRONMENTAL
OFFICE

CASE
STUDIES

GSW HQ
BERLIN, GERMANY
BRE ENVIRONMENTAL
OFFICE
WATFORD, UK
 Key information on BRE Office
Year of completion: 1997.
Location: Watford, United Kindom, 51.40N, 0.25W.
Architect: Fielden Clegg Design, Max Fordham &Partners.
HVAC consultant: Arup.
Site and situation: Dense city landscape surrounded by medium- to highrise buildings.
Prevailing wind direction: West.
Gross floor area high-rise: 16 208 m²
Number of storeys: 22 (The top floor, housing a mechanical ventilation
plant, has double height. The high-rise building is set atop of a three-storied low-rise building).
Depth of plan: 11.5- 15 meters.
Floor-to-ceiling height: 2.7 meters.
VENTILATION PHILOSOPHY AND
AIMS

One of the main objectives in the design of this building was to

reduce energy consumption. Several features contribute to this
including the large glazed areas to provide daylight, the use of low
energy lighting, and the use of natural ventilation rather than air
conditioning.
In winter, the main aim of the ventilation system is to provide
acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ) while avoiding discomfort due to
draughts and minimising the excess energy required to heat
unnecessarily large amounts of incoming air.
In summer, the provision of comfortable indoor temperatures is
important. This is achieved by maximising the exchange of heat
between the building structure and the outside air, particularly at
night when the outside is relatively cold (night cooling).
A combination of single-sided, cross, and passive stack ventilation is
used in the building.
VENTILATION TECHNOLOGY
The main components of the natural ventilation system
are openable windows to supply outdoor air, ventilation
stacks to extract stale air, and the sinusoidal ceilings
which provide channels for air distribution and a large
surface area for night cooling.
 CONCLUSIONS

comfortable internal temperatures are

generally maintained, and though the
lower design value temperature of 25°C
was sometimes exceeded the upper design
value temperature of 28°C was not;
night ventilation and external shading
does effectively reduce the effect of high
external temperatures and, with the aid of
ground water cooling, could prevent
temperatures exceeding the lower limit
temperature as well.
adequate ventilation is provided;
comfortable internal temperatures are
achieved.
GSW HQ
BERLIN, GERMANY
CASE STUDY
Key information on GSW Headquarters
Year of completion: 1999.
Location: Berlin, Germany. 53°N 14°E.
Architect: Sauerbruch Hutton Architects.
HVAC consultant: Arup.
Site and situation: Dense city landscape surrounded by medium- to
high-
rise buildings.
Prevailing wind direction: West.
Gross floor area high-rise: 16 208 m²
Number of stories: 22 (The top floor, housing a mechanical
ventilation plant, has double height. The high-rise building is set
atop of a three-storied low-rise building).
Depth of plan: 11.5- 15 meters.
Floor-to-ceiling height: 2.7 meters.

Figure 1
Southern Facade of GSW Headquarters
Site and Context
The GSW Headquarters is
located in the city centre of
Berlin, Germany (left)
surrounded by medium- and
high-rise buildings (right).
The GSW Headquarters is
located on Kochstrasse 22, in
the Borough of Kreuzberg in
the city centre of Berlin, very
close to the line of the Berlin
Wall and where Checkpoint
Charlie used to be. It is located
in an urban city landscape
surrounded by medium- to high-
rise buildings. The GSW
Company has occupied the
existing 17-storey tower, built
in the 1950s, since 1961, but an
urgent need for more office
space called for an extension.
Figure 2 Figure 3, 4
Map of Germany Surrounding Buildings
To understand the history of the site on
Kochstrasse one has to be aware of the
history of the city of Berlin. Relatively rapid
and very varied sequences of different urban
ideas have emerged since ca. 1700.
The baroque city extension of the northern
and the southern Friedrichstadt were to
become the dense stony Berlin of the late 19th
and early 20th centuries.
The bombardment of 1945, the post-war
reconstruction in East and West, the fall of
the Wall, and the 1980’s International
Building Exhibition finally lead to the
heterogeneous urban structure which was to
be found at the site at the start of the
project.
The simultaneous traces of the various stages
of development show Friedrichstadt as a rich Figure 5
urban landscape, which embodies the social, The GSW Headquarters complex is the building marked in the lower part of
cultural and political history of this city. the map (left). Note that all high-rise buildings in the vicinity are oriented
north-south.
The Building
In the late 1980s, before the wall came down, GSW
needed additional office space and decided to develop
further on their site with a 22m high building
surrounding the existing one. The planning authorities
rejected this, and subsequently GSW held a design
competition in the autumn of 1990 with six invited
architects for the design of an extension to their
headquarters building. The brief asked for 19,000 m2 of
offices and shops, and to incorporate the existing
building into the new development and to create a link
between old and new.
In the late 1980s, before the wall came down, GSW
needed additional office space and decided to develop
further on their site with a 22m high building
surrounding the existing one. The planning authorities
rejected this, and subsequently GSW held a design
competition in the autumn of 1990 with six invited
architects for the design of an extension to their
headquarters building. The brief asked for 19,000 m2 of
offices and shops, and to incorporate the existing
building into the new development and to create a link
between old and new.

Figure 6
The building complex includes five distinct and different volumes; the
existing tower, the high-rise, the Baguette, the Baguettini, and the Pill Box.
North is up.
The GSW Headquarters Building is an assemblage of five
distinct volumes.
This variety of elements allows a response to the
different typological and morphological conditions of
the ensemble’s location betweenthe southern and
northern parts of the so-called Friedrichstadt in the
centre of Berlin.
Within the discussion about the reconstructionof the
once-divided capital, this project articulates a response
to the city which accepts Berlin’s historical
conglomerate as a structural principle.
History is seen as a dynamic process which leaves its
traces. The intention to work with these traces -in a
constructive and creative way is the underlying
principleof this scheme.
With its low-energy concept the building leads into the
future, and with its idiosyncratic aesthetics it demands
the return of a sensual architecture at the beginning of
the 21st century.
 Figure 7
The picture (left) show (from left to right) the east façade of the existing tower, the high-rise and the Pillbox set atop the
baguette. The high-rise building spans between the baguette and the baguettini (right)
 Figure 8 Figure 9
The plan of the existing tower and the new high-rise Section drawing of the high-rise showing the concept
with a double-banked office layout in the northern of the structure as well as that of the double façade
end and an open office layout in the southern end. and the wind roof.
 The high-rise building features a double-banked office plan with cantilevers supported by post-stressed RC edge beams on
each floor.
Prefabricated floor elements with in-situ concrete topping span between these beams. Smooth concrete ceilings, left
exposed for optimal thermal mass utilization, incorporate everything typically hidden by suspended ceilings into the
primary structure.
The building's columns, fashioned from a steel I-beam section with concrete fire protection, offer a space- and material-
efficient design, with an elegant appearance.

Figure 10
Picture taken under construction of the high-rise showing the structure (left). (Concrete/steel columns carry a post-stressed
RC edge beam between which prefabricated floor elements span). The picture shows how daylight that enters from the side
modulates the shape of the columns in the conference room of the baguettini (right).
The low-energy concept prioritizes façades, aiming for high transparency to maximize daylight and views outside.
Solar shutters and blinds regulate heat and light transmission, while buffer zones in the double façades enhance
insulation.
The east façade features porous ventilation openings, akin to a smooth skin, while the west façade, with its layered depth,
resembles fur.
Occupants can control movable elements individually, or a central building management system can operate them.
The west façade consists of three layers. The inner layer features a double-glazed aluminum curtain wall with alternating
openable windows.
Cantilevering brackets on vertical posts support the outer layer, made of single-glazed laminated glass panes mounted on
site. A 1.15 m space between the layers is accessible via metal-mesh decking.
Airflow regulation between the skins is facilitated by dampers, while solar shading devices form the third layer, situated
inside the flue for protection against weather and pollution.
These devices, made of perforated aluminum shutters, pivot around a vertical axis and can be mechanically moved aside.
The resulting pattern of colored shutters varies based on weather and occupant preferences, providing an ever-changing
appearance to the west façade.
 Figure 11
A section drawing through
the west façade (left),
picture during
construction (middle) and
a picture of the façade
after completion (right)

Figure 12
The north façade (left) and
the south façade (middle)
are both extremely
narrow, accentuating the
verticality of the high-
rise. The meeting between
old and new are exposed to
the greatest extent in the
south façade (right).
 The north and south façade make up the slender gable walls of the high- rise slab.
The layered sectioning of the building is expressed in the two gable facades. One can clearly detect the depth of the solar
flue in the west facade, the office zone in the middle, and a vertical band “drawn up” by the double east façade (although
narrower than the double west facade).
The verticality of the two façades is emphasized in the south facade through a homogenous field of fixed louvres (in front
of the windows), and in the north façade through the narrow rhythms of especially articulated profiles that run from
bottom to top.

Figure 13
A section drawing through the east façade (left). The appearance of the façade viewed from street level (middle) and viewed
from an office in the neighbouring tower (right).
 The north and south façade make up the slender gable walls of the high- rise slab.
The layered sectioning of the building is expressed in the two gable facades.
One can clearly detect the depth of the solar flue in the west facade, the office zone in the middle, and a vertical band
“drawn up” by the double east façade (although narrower than the double west facade).
The verticality of the two façades is emphasized in the south facade through a homogenous field of fixed louvres (in front
of the windows), and in the north façade through the narrow rhythms of especially articulated profiles that run from
bottom to top.

Figure 14
1) Maximisation of natural light (left). Generous glazing of the facades and a comparatively narrow floor plan favour
utilisation of daylight in all workplaces. Additional lighting during the day is only necessary in exceptional cases. 2) Buffer
zones (right). The building’s double east and west facades act as thermal buffer as well as a sound protection layer that reduce
or keep external noise from the city out of the interiors.
 Figure 14
3) Effective solar protection (left). In order to avoidthe negative effects of the generous natural lighting (overheating and
glare), the building can be screened by blinds located in the cavity of the double facades. The individual user can regulate the
solar protection devices. 4) Utilisation of natural ventilation (right). Natural ventilation of all workplaces in a controlled
manner renders the operation of a mechanical ventilation system superfluous 70% of the year according to Arup. The user
regulates the ventilation
 Figure 15
5) Heat recovery (left) In the winter, when the outdoor air is too cold to ventilate naturally without causing draughts, a
mechanical system with heat recovery take over. 6) Thermal mass (right). Exposed concrete slabs in the interior dampen diurnal
temperature fluctuations, reducing the need for both cooling and heating.
VENTILATION
CONCEPT
The GSW high-rise building is equipped with a mechanical ventilation system in addition to a natural system.
The mechanical system was incorporated for comfort during seasonal weather extremes when, for most normal office uses,
the windows need to be closed.
The main air- handling plant is located in a two-storey plant-room at the 22nd floor (just below the roof).
Mechanical ventilation is initiated by the building management system (BMS), although occupants can select individual zones
within a floor in either mechanical or natural ventilation mode by a wall-mounted zone controller.
The mechanical ventilation system takes over for the natural system when the external temperature drops below 5ºC.
This is to avoid the risk of draughts. Exhaust air is then returned to the central plant-room via risers for heat recovery.
Because the client has quite high internal equipment loads, and because tenants had to be offered reasonable equipment
loads too, the building has a limited comfort cooling system.
The cooling system is designed to provide maximum internal temperatures of about 27ºC at external temperatures of 32ºC.
In keeping with the environmentally friendly design, no refrigeration systems are used. Instead, cooling is based on spray
coolers and desiccant thermal wheels.
The building is 100% naturallyventilated when the outdoor temperature is between 5ºC and 25ºC.
The natural ventilation principle in the high-rise building is stack-ventilation in that the natural driving forces promote an
outflow out of the building (through the double facade).
This is the case for the building viewed as a whole, but for the individual floor it is more natural to characterise the
ventilation principle as cross-ventilation.
Air enters each floor through the east façade and is exhausted through the thermal flue in the west façade.
This air-path is valid for a number of possible plan layouts.
The upward motion of air in the western double façade (due to thermal buoyancy) creates an under pressure that can suck
air out of every storey in the building, and into the double façade when the windows in the west facades are open.
When windows on the two facades (east and west) are open, fresh air flows accordingly from east to west.
Control flaps located at the bottom and at the top of the thermal flue regulate the airflow and make the system less
dependent on outside conditions.
This system enables air exchange rates comparable to mechanical systems. The natural ventilation concept eliminates the
need for operation of the mechanical ventilation system 70% of the year according to estimates done by Arup.
 Figure 16
The plan and section drawings show the ventilation air-paths for the five possible plan layouts: 1) Open plan 2) Combi/east
 Figure 17
The plans and sections drawings show the ventilation air-paths for the five possible plan layouts: 3) Combi/west 4) Single
banked
 Figure 18
The plan drawings show the ventilation air-paths for the five possible plan layouts: 5) Double banked.
 Arup engineers utilized computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to investigate the thermal and ventilation performance
of the building.
These simulations quantified airflow, enabling the dimensioning of ventilation openings and prediction of room
temperatures considering thermal mass for solar shading design.
Simulation also facilitated understanding the functioning of the solar flue and devising a consistent fire protection
concept. Through CFD analysis and wind tunnel testing, engineers could confidently predict the operation of cross
ventilation principles in the spaces.

Figure 19
The air-path through the west double façade from the bottom opening (left), through the double façade (where exhaust air from
every storey is collected) (middle) and finally at the top where exhaust air leaves the building under the wind roof (right).
The wind roof is an element of the building that came into existence as a direct result of both the engineer’s CFD
simulations and the wind tunnel tests. When the wind blows from the east or west (which are the prevailing wind directions
in Berlin) it will be drawn directly over the top edge of the thermal flue. Because of the profile of the roof the wind
accelerates and causes a greater negative pressure right over the top of the flue than elsewhere.
This phenomenon, referred to as the Venturi effect, reinforces the natural convection caused by thermal buoyancy in the
double facade. If the wind is blowing from northerly or southerly directions, a series of fins suspendedunder the wing
causes the wind to eddy. This should prevent the risk of a positive pressure building up over the flue outlet.

The wind roof is an element of the building that came into existence as a direct result of both the engineer’s CFD
simulations and the wind tunnel tests.
When the wind blows from the east or west (which are the prevailing wind directions in Berlin) it will be drawn directly
over the top edge of the thermal flue. Because of the profile of the roof the wind accelerates and causes a greater negative
pressure right over the top of the flue than elsewhere. This phenomenon, referred to as the Venturi effect, reinforces the
natural convection caused by thermal buoyancy in the double facade.
If the wind is blowing from northerly or southerly directions, a series of fins suspendedunder the wing causes the wind to
eddy. This should prevent the risk of a positive pressure building up over the flue outlet.
 Figure 20
The ventilation panels are integrated as part of the door (left). A section drawing shows the air path through the panel
(middle). Close up picture of the visible part of the ventilation opening in the panel (right).
CONCLUSION
Considerations regarding the urban context took precedence over the natural ventilation concept in the initial stages of
the GSW Headquarters design.
However, once the urban response was established, the natural ventilation concept and building design influenced each
other iteratively.
The ventilation concept inspired elements of the building design, and vice versa. Elements like ventilation openings, the
double façade, and the wind roof were integrated into the architecture to achieve the desired aesthetic and functional
goals.
Solar shading panels and the wind roof contribute to both ventilation and the building's iconic appearance.
Designing a naturally ventilated building was found to be more challenging than a mechanically ventilated one, requiring
careful attention to airflow paths and multifunctional elements.
Close collaboration between architects, engineers, and builders was crucial for success.
THANK
YOU