In the spirit of both Assemblies ... a marriage of faith and sustainability
As congregational leaders prepare for CRA's 2010 assembly in Hobart, pathways visits that city's Baha'i Centre and its state-of-the art green design. The Baha'i Centre for Learning, only minutes from the assembly venue, marries last year's national assembly theme, interfaith, with this year's theme, ecology.
pathways, May 2010
We cannot segregate the human heart and the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved. Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by. Baha'i teaching
It could have been a high-rise block of offices. It very nearly was a used car yard. Instead, one of the busiest traffic intersections in Hobart now boasts an ecologically state-of-the-art Baha'i Centre of Learning.
Several years in the design and construction, this rather unusual looking, yet unobtrusive, building is a constant reminder of society's need to work towards a peaceful and sustainable world community, for those who have the heart to perceive.
For the casual observer, the outside shows an array of buildings dominated visually by a dome-shaped structure, nestled in a recently-planted environment, while inside provides a modern, spacious, serene, light-filled space constructed around a tree. A more observant visitor might notice that the focal dome shaped auditorium has been built within four trees -- and aligns with one of the Hobart CBD main thoroughfares, Collins Street.
And so, the story of the building begins to unfold.
Tasmania's Baha'i Centre of Learning has been very deliberately built to provide an ecologically self-sustaining facility that will last for many generations. Recyclable in the future, wherever one walks, whatever one sits on or looks at is a marriage of sustainability and faith.
The construction incorporates principles of advanced energy efficiency. Airtight construction of the building, for example, minimises its heat loss while the all-encompassing installation, which lies 600 mm deep in the roof, and 200 mm thick in the walls, is constructed entirely of recycled newspaper.
Energy efficient lighting systems and electrical fixtures are utilised to complement the natural light which enters the building through numerous tall windows. The planned use of solar panels will ensure the future reduction in need and reliance on other sources of energy stop.
The majority of timber used in the centre, including all the Jarrah, is either recycled or plantation grown.
In keeping with the environmentally friendly approach, trees were not removed from the original building site and were instead encompassed into the design -- hence, the London plane tree which stood in the middle of the building site now graces the foyer in a central atrium, allowing light and ventilation into the heart of the public space, while filtering the noises of the city.
Materials, such as stone, stainless steel, aluminium and timber, as close to their natural state as possible, were widely incorporated in the design. Such materials, which have not been subjected to manufacturing or chemical processes, ensure the centre maintains its standard of environmental sustainability.
The interior surfaces have been finished with natural paints sourced from organically grown plant-based oils and mineral pigments, while fabric for the window seats uses natural materials and dyes.
All windows are double-glazed and a low-toxic structural glue imported from Germany was used for the first time Australia.
Several 500,000l-capacity water tanks have been installed below the ground to collect and store rain from the extensive roof area. The water is then naturally filtered through Enviroflow gutters, designed in Australia.
One of the centre's most striking features, visually, is the domed auditorium which provides a meeting place for up to 250 people in theatre style arrangement with natural lighting and enhanced acoustics. It is this part of the centre that is situated within the four saved trees
The kite-shaped double glazed skylights in the dome provide natural lighting to the main auditorium and the central is lantern is filled with Nanogel (a lightweight thermal insulator developed by NASA).
The dome design integrates both passive and active control systems regulating the internal temperature and allows warm air at the top of the dome to circulate to lower and cooler areas through a heat stratification system. In the event of overheating, vents in the done open and warm air is vented upwards through natural convection. Extensive installation, double glazed windows and polished concrete floor provides a passive solar heating, minimal heat loss and reduction in traffic noise.
Seen from below, the nine points of the crowning dome converge towards the centre expressing the concept of a single unifying connection. Contributing to the strength and beauty of the crown, they also reflect the aim of the centre to bring people together regardless of differences in opinion, thoughts, beliefs, religion, race or creed.
The logo of the centre expresses the theme of unity and connectedness which is central to the Baha'i faith and is seen through out areas of the building. It is reproduced in stainless steel encased in naturally polished black concrete floors of the auditorium and Tranquillity Room (one of several smaller conference/meeting rooms) and the foyer Jarrah boards.
Outside, the protected Bhutan cypress trees gracing the periphery of the property were preserved and a native garden including many bush-food producing plants has been established
Commitment to the minimisation of its carbon foot print, as well as the challenges of working with and sourcing site-of-the-art materials and the complexity of its unique roof and wall geometry, extended the construction schedule from an 18 month to a 3½ year project. It has also involved an usual group of consultants including a building biologist from Germany and a bush-tucker expert.
The centre, which has been established as an educational institution reflecting the aspirations of the Baha'i faith, seeks to actively foster and contribute to the development of a peaceful and sustainable world community.
Writing more than a century ago, Baha'u'llah, the faith's founder, stated that "the well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established".
The Baha'i centre of learning extends an invitation:
Beyond the immediate considerations of environmental concerns for our planet, there is growing recognition of the deeper implications of sustainability and its relationship to world citizenship, responsibility and our collective future. Within an ever advancing civilisation, the ways in which we treat, regard and care of one another must go hand in hand with our stewardship of the environment. You are invited to visit the Baha'i centre of learning to find out more and to enjoy its features.
Opening hours: 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday, 9am Saturdays and other times, by appointment.
photographs:
the striking dome-shaped auditorium (top and above)
the entrance to the Baha'i Centre for Learning, behind one of the saved trees
looking over the gardens towards one of Hobart's busiest intersections
text and photos: Penny Edman, with thanks to the centre's architect, Stuart Hall, of Hobart.
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Energy efficient lighting systems and electrical fixtures are utilised to complement the natural light which enters the building through numerous tall windows. The planned use of solar panels will ensure the future reduction in need and reliance on other sources of energy stop.
