Drainage Solutions • KHD

An Outstanding Ventilation and Water Storage System

Ken Hitchcock — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 14:12:00 +0000

Versitank – Meadows Primary School, Melbourne

The need for innovative, energy-efficient ventilation systems in architectural design has never been more urgent or more important according to international air quality experts and epidemiologists. We now know that Covid 19 and many other viruses have aerosol transmission and to be protected, we need well ventilated spaces with measured low levels of CO2.

For this reason, we have revisited the major development 10 years ago of the Meadows Primary School in Melbourne’s North West, where a passive hydrothermal air conditioning system designed by NOWarchitecture provides excellent thermal comfort and air quality, while reducing energy costs by 50%.

The school was built on the world class, ground-coupled ventilation system using a series of Elmich, load-bearing Versitank recycled plastic, underground water tanks supplied by KHD Landscape Engineering Solutions. Within the foundation beams created by the sealed water tanks are ventilation pipes. The pipes carry fresh air drawn from outside and through the sub-floor. At 2 meters deep, the air is a constant 15 degrees Celsius year-round. The air tempered by the water enters the buildings through floor grilles, providing cooling in summer and raising the temperature of external air in winter. High ceilings allow the hot stale air to rise above activity spaces and exit through upper level louvered windows.

The underground tanks not only store recycled water that can be used for toilets and gardens but they don’t take up open space in the children’s playground.

An additional environmental benefit of using the load-bearing tanks was saving more than 300 cubic metres of concrete that would have been used on a more conventional project.

The physics of the system was checked at the time by CFD modelling and tested by FlowSim while the scale of the project garnered international attention.

NOWarchitecture’s Judith North and project architect Neville Cowland are proud of the design. Judith who believes ventilation in schools is a major problem said: “In the pandemic now, where there is high transmission of the virus, the Meadows Primary School has something very special and healthy.” Neville said at their last inspection the system was working well and providing a substantial amount of airflow. The only change he would possibly consider would be automating the opening and closing of the louvered windows as teachers are too busy to utilise the system as a learning experience for students.
The design though is very timely given the pandemic and environmental issues we now face.

Stormwater Drainage Solutions – Versitank

Ken Hitchcock — Mon, 20 May 2019 03:29:59 +0000

KHD recently supplied a 120,000 Litre VersiTank 550 for use as a detention tank for the Amora Estate Town House development in Cairnlea.

Councils are consistently applying water sensitive urban design (WSUD) principles to these type of projects.

Where once vacant land could easily absorb stormwater into the ground, the stormwater runoff from new roof areas, car parks and hard stand areas, such as this, at Amora Estate, needs to be managed. To slow the extra water flow into the existing infrastructure, detention tanks are necessary.

During storms and heavy rain events, water is temporialiy held within the Versitank then discharged through a small orifice, allowing the water to re-enter the stormwater system slowly over a period of time.

VersiTank takes away the surge of large amounts of stormwater impacting on the existing infrastructure.

The considerations are: catchment area, volumes of heavy rain events and outlet flow rates, which will be determined by the local authority or Hydro Engineer.

Amora Apartments
www.truesource.com.au
www.melbournecivilservices.com.au

Mulgrave Country Club – Drainage Solutions

Ken Hitchcock — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 01:37:11 +0000

In 2012 the Mulgrave Country Club built a new underground carpark under Green #2. This meant the loss of the green for 18 months while a large hole was excavated, the carpark constructed then a new green established on top of the carpark.

The challenge was to prevent any moisture migrating through the suspended concrete slab. Water movement through concrete collects salts, calcium and other minerals that can drip onto cars damaging their paint work.

The fast movement of excess water over the membrane to the waste points whilst maintaining a moist growing zone for the grass was required.

The solution was to install 30mm VersiCell over the membrane covered with geofabric. This greatly reduces the time water sits on the membrane decreasing the chance of moisture penetrating any weak points and the chance of total inundation during heavy rain events.

The VersiCell can move 16 litres of water per m2 second at a 1% gradient ensuring fast transition of water to waste.

The product has a compressive strength of 100 tonne p/m2 allowing heavy maintenance vehicles to traverse the green without product failure.

VersiCell is manufactured from high strength 100% recycled plastics and is resistant to oils, acids and bitumen.

After 7 years Green # 2 is in exceptional condition.

VersiCell is also commonly used as a vertical drainage solution behind retaining walls, where it creates a vapour barrier, allowing water to be directed immediately to the toe of a wall to be discharged via agricultural drains.

Edwardian Delight Features KHD Bluestone Crazy Paving

Ken Hitchcock — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 01:06:06 +0000

The rich red palette of this home called for a garden of contrast. In this design, the green space and Bluestone paving compliment the Edwardian style perfectly.

The long driveway and pedestrian areas allow the design to flow and help visitors navigate the space when entering the property.

KHD supplied Australian Landscape Grade Crazy Paving Bluestone.

We love this project, as the Edwardian design fits perfectly with the Bluestone Crazy paving.

Project Contact

Landscaper – Weller Landscapes

MPavilion 2017 Project

Ken Hitchcock — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 03:44:15 +0000

MPavilion is a becoming an iconic Melbourne event that will no doubt sit comfortably alongside others such as Moomba and the AFL Grand Final in years to come.

MPavilion 2017, open from 5 October 2017 – 4 February 2018, is a civic space and a cultural laboratory in which Melbournians are experiment and experience, through the event hub and meeting place.

This year’s MPavilion is the fourth of its kind, designed by Netherlands–based architects Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten of OMA. OMA is an international practice and MPavilion 2017 is their first-ever completed Australian architectural commission.

Coolth Inc was engaged by OMA to construct the landscaping, which is an angular, faceted embankment, which forms the back of a semicircular tribune.

Achieving the challenging design was possible thanks to using KHD’s VersiWeb. VersiWeb allowed Coolth Inc to plant 4000 Australian native grasses in a steep slope and formed the sharp edges of the embankment’s geometric pattern. We really love this design.

KHD is passionate about landscaping design and love to push the boundaries when it comes to green infrastructure. Thanks to VersiWeb, Coolth Inc were able to successfully achieve the unique landscaping design required by OMA.

Project Contacts

Architect – OMA

Landscaper – Coolth Inc

Drainage Solution for Sydney’s Conservatorium of Music

Ken Hitchcock — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 04:01:57 +0000

Location

Conservatorium of Music – Sydney NSW.

Specifications

To provide efficient drainage on large landscaped deck areas with heavy tree plantings.

Solution

VersiCell protected the waterproofing membrane, withstands the weight of heavy tree plantings and effectively drains large landscaped lawn and gravel walkway deck areas positioned above auditoriums.

This project first appeared on Elmich Australia.

VersiCell Withstands the Weight from Chatswood to Epping

Ken Hitchcock — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 04:05:49 +0000

Location

Chatswood to Epping Rail Link – Sydney NSW.

Specifications

To provide efficient drainage under rail station concourse walkways.

Solution

VersiCell withstands the weight of heavy reinforced concrete underground rail station concourses, effectively captures and transports high volume subsurface stormwater to drainage outlets and ensures that the concourse slab remains dry under high rainfall conditions.

This project first appeared on Elmich Australia.

Rainwater Harvesting System for UK Community Centre

Ken Hitchcock — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 04:12:28 +0000

Location

Highley Community Centre, UK.

Specifications

To provide an effective stormwater management (rainwater harvesting) system for the community centre grounds.

Solution

VersiTanks were placed within a huge pit lined with a layer of impervious membrane. When fully covered, VersiTanks serve to collect and store rainwater for subsequent reuse. By using VersiTanks, the surface above this infiltration pit continues to be planted and remains usable. This project first appeared on Elmich Australia.

Stormwater Infiltration System in a Restricted Space Townhouse Development

Ken Hitchcock — Tue, 09 May 2017 04:57:21 +0000

Location

Townhouse Development – Matraville NSW.

Specifications

To provide a stormwater infiltration system in a restricted space townhouse development.

Solution

VersiTank modules were positioned to fit into a limited and confined space and provide an effective infiltration system for stormwater from a townhouse development after passing through a leaf/silt trap.

This project first appeared on Elmich Australia.

A Water Tank That Can Take the Weight

Ken Hitchcock — Tue, 02 May 2017 05:00:39 +0000

Location

City of Vernon, Mt Hawthorn, Perth – Western Australia.

Specifications

To provide a 500m³ modular underground storm water infiltration tank system, under a large parking lot, that will withstand the weight of high weight bearing load vehicles.

Solution

VersiTanks 550 modules were assembled and interlocked on site, positioned in the excavated area that was lined with a geotextile layer. VersiTank 550 units were covered with 500mm of compacted aggregate and bitumen to engineering specifications, withstand the weight of high vehicle loads. Storm water from the adjacent shopping complex, the parking area and surrounding streets passes into a leaf/silt trap into the tanking system and then infiltrates into the sand substrate surrounding the VersiTanks.

This project first appeared on Elmich Australia.