Bridge Creek — Oklahoma | Fall 2024
The Solar Shelter is a climate-responsive structure designed to withstand the extreme weather conditions in Bridge Creek, Oklahoma. Through orientation, material performance, and thermal zoning, the project demonstrates how architecture can achieve year-round comfort using passive energy systems.
The structure is divided into three thermal zones that correspond to specific climate conditions. The winter zone, designed for January 7, features insulated concrete walls with an R-value of 15, forming a strong thermal barrier that retains solar heat. Its high thermal mass stores energy during the day and releases it at night, while triple-glazed windows reduce heat loss and prevent condensation.
The summer zone, modeled for August 13, opens upward to the sky with a perforated brick envelope that encourages cross-ventilation and diffused daylight. The porous brickwork filters sunlight and wind, creating a naturally ventilated cooling chamber. Beneath this central core lies a tornado shelter, embedded ten feet underground, where the earth’s consistent 55°F temperature stabilizes interior conditions during extreme weather events such as May 7, the region’s high-wind day.
A pier-and-beam foundation limits ground contact, preventing heat transfer and improving long-term thermal regulation. Roof-mounted solar panels generate renewable energy for lighting and ventilation systems. Together, these strategies transform the building into a living thermal model—absorbing, storing, and releasing energy according to seasonal demand.
“Resilience begins where architecture learns to adapt to climate.”
Thermal Zoning
Three environmental zones—winter, summer, and subterranean—operate as a single passive system, responsive to seasonal extremes.
Material and Light
Perforated brick, concrete, and triple glazing mediate sunlight and airflow, producing dynamic light and temperature gradients throughout the day.
Section Perspective
The sectional composition illustrates the transition from the open summer zone to the insulated winter volume and the underground tornado refuge.
Climate Data
Psychrometric and wind rose analyses informed the shelter’s orientation and massing. Seasonal solar radiation ranges from 300–400 W/m² in winter to 700–800 W/m² in summer, guiding strategies for shading, ventilation, and heat-gain management.
Thermal Wall and Foundation Details
Wall and basement assemblies integrate EPS insulation, concrete mass, and reflective glazing to maintain a target interior temperature of 70°F across exterior conditions ranging from 15°F to 103°F.