This month we carry on our interview with Santiago Carral, the director in charge of the Rivera Cuale project at KMD Architects, to learn about how Rivera Cuale is a sustainable development. If you missed the first part of the interview in March where we talked about the inspiration behind Rivera Cuale’s architecture, click here to read it.
How is Rivera Cuale a sustainable project?
As an international architecture firm with projects around the globe, we are often asked by our clients to design a sustainable building; unfortunately, many of our clients backtrack on this idea once they understand that sustainability has a hefty price tag. That is why we were really excited to be able to work on a project like Rivera Cuale, where the client pushed ahead on sustainability and implemented the sustainability criteria to reduce the impact the building and its amenities have on our planet.
Here are many examples of what was implemented to ensure we built with sustainability and the environment in mind:
1. We installed a solar heating system for the swimming pool, meaning the pool has a zero carbon footprint! We also required the pool consultant to utilize a saltwater filtration system, which not only is very pleasing to swim in but also has a much smaller impact on wastewater since it does not have any chlorine, which normally ends up in the sewage system.
2. By orienting the building towards the subtle breeze that runs up the Cuale River, units benefit from ample cross ventilation that help keep them cool and lessens the need for air conditioning most of the year! This passive building design takes advantage of the natural surroundings.
3. Our tire retaining wall to date has used about 18,000 recycled tires. This has saved them from being dumped in a landfill and incinerated, which would result in air pollution. These tires are bound together and compacted with soil so that vegetation can grow from them, which is nice aesthetically and helps to produce oxygen. This is a green wall in more than one way!
4. As we focused on the amenities, we asked that the Landscape Architect choose only endemic shrubs and vegetation, or at least to choose plants from regions with similar climates. These species are not only beautiful to look at but require much less water than species from climates different to that of Puerto Vallarta.
5. We chose only water saving plumbing fixtures, energy efficient light fixtures and appliances, as well as materials and finishes that were sustainably manufactured, wherever possible.
6. We decided to use Concrete Masonry Block (CMU) for key areas in the building. First, all the walls that separate one unit from another, as well as walls that enclose exit stairs and elevator shafts, were done with CMU in order to offer an increased noise barrier. Second, all building perimeter walls were also done with CMU. This material not only offers more protection against the elements since it is much stronger than drywall, but also by combining it with other materials it offers much greater thermal resistance to the units, to help keep them cooler and reduce the need for air conditioning, which in turn reduces cost and carbon footprint.
Even our choice of location helps to reduce carbon footprint by promoting a healthy lifestyle – with everything within walking distance, cars are not a necessity in the neighborhood. And, patronizing the local markets helps them to stay in business to keep bringing you fresh food from nearby locations, which in turn reduces pollution from transportation of the goods.
Our location in an authentic Mexican neighborhood also gives us the unique opportunity to work directly within the community on educational projects that increase environmental awareness, quality of living and the health of our planet.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. We hope it has brought you a better understanding of the inspiration behind Rivera Cuale. Everything from the vision, to the urban and natural surroundings, to the building materials, gardens, and amenities was thought out in detail to ensure the best product and with the least environmental impact possible.
Prepared by Leanne Smith, Rivera Cuale
