Inspiration - Mosman 7

Some great images of buildings in a hot and arid climate.

Also note their use of rammed earth construction, corrugated iron and rusted iron. This is where we are heading with our building.

AC Thumbnails

Passive heating

I thought used effectively, this was a great method of providing warmth in winter. The slab is insulated and very thick and is exposed to winter sun, in the evening the heat radiates from the mass and heats the internal space.
The key to making it work would be ensuring summer heat cannot hit the slab and create an internal heat bank when it is not needed and trapping the heat in in winter, ie, an external louvered wall or doors etc.

RESEARCH > ARCHETYPAL HOUSING (ARID CLIMATE)

Online ESD Resources

A fantastic online ESD resource:

www.goingsolar.com.au

A retail store in Melbourne specifically for environmentally sustainable design.

UPDATE: NOT RIPE OR READY TO PICK !!!

TEAM DYNAMICS

> Whilst some areas of the design have been progressing in the way of generating ideas & research, we've already had out first HICUP!

We have been trying to resolve the final prematurely without nutting out the DESIGN PROCESS.

Today we've taken a step back to do things properly and EXTRACT the essence of our ideas, more collaboraiton.

We've had a big design session today & we're getting there. More tomorrow

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Passive Cooling techniques

Design Concept

Here is my design concept for dry/arid conditions. It takes into consideration the use of thermal mass to act as a heat supply in evenings and to maintain cooler temperatures during the day. This is bermed into the earth as well as being constructed from rammed earth.
Bedrooms are located on the east to make the most of cool evening easterly breezes.
The facility is enclosed with large screens which also aid to enclose the courtyard. The courtyard with pond or creek is incorported to provide a shelter during the day and create a cool breeze in the evening.
The living/kitchen area has a high ceiling so that hot air can rise out of the structure during the day.
An evaporative cooling system would also be incorporated.

Domus Detail - Water Catchment

Here was an idea for a detail of water catchment from the solar panels. Aletha had seen a similar detail on the McSween House. Another interesting idea is using the barbed columns as storm water drains, catching water from the panels and running it down inside the columns themselves.

More Preliminary Models for the Desert Domus

As we discussed a more outward aspect in relation to our modelling Amy and Aletha imagined more columnar fingers emanating from the wings of the model - but in an outward direction, so that windows may be placed at the extremeties of the building wings but yet be shielded from the hot desert sun. This way the building would engage more strongly in the landscape in which it sits. And I have to agree that such a modification to the model looks more aesthetically pleasing. Isn't it interesting that this design is evolving in a much similar way to desert creatures - hard outer skin with soft moist centre! Our tutor thinks the columnar barbs/fingers make the design look a bit like a dead carcass - perhaps it died of dehydration in the desert? - lol!

Preliminary Models for the Domus Project

Here are some picture of preliminary models made as we struggle to come up with an appropriate form for the Desert Domus Dwelling. The first posting is a model of two elongated forms that have earth massed around them. In the centre is a courtyard. The massed earth wings are intended to act as windscoops to bring breezes into the courtyard where a central pond is located to moisten air. The barbs reaching over the courtyard represent curved columns that are intended to shelter the courtyard and the pond from the hot desert sun and carry solar panels.

A criticism of this design raised by the team members is that this design is very insular. We would like to come up with some solutions so that the Domus has an outward aspect to the beautiful yet sparse desert terrain.

Earthships - A model for use of recycled materials in the desert?

I recommend looking at the website link below which will take you to some pictures of what are termed 'earthship houses'.

http://www.solarhomesonline.com/

These houses are bermed into the ground to provide thermal mass, but the wall structure is made from old tyres filled with dirt. The walls are stacked up and the roof is constructed of steel or wooden beams supported by the tyre walls. Some examples have even been totally submerged into the ground. Others (as shown) have domed roofs constructed by using a sand pile as formwork for a concrete cast. Of course the earthship houses are pretty radical and green - most of the time designed so they require no service link ups at all- totally self sufficient, even growing all their own vegetables. I think this could perhaps be a good solution to construction in the desert where transport of materials is expensive and we would like to use the thermal mass of the ground to protect from high daytime temps. Perhaps construction of part of the project out of tyres could make good use of old tyres littering the area? I'd really like to hear what you think of this concept and what ideas this may generate for you in terms of our Domus desert project.

Mosman 7 Preliminary Design Ideas/Principles for Jiln Bardi

Here are 3 preliminary design sketches for the Jiln Bardi site. The climate is hot-dry/arid. Design solutions to this climate as discussed in lectures may include:

• shade late morning/all afternoon;


• catch summer winds


• moisten air


• courtyard of heavy materials


• light colours


• wind scoops


• cooling from convection currents

These preliminary sketches show incorporation of some of these elements in various ways, however you may note that the sketches also show a strong interest in:

• sympathetic or appropriate response to landscape elements
• use of local/recycled materials
  

Mosman 7 Design Principles

Principles to be addressed in design:
- Use of screening/filtration of light
- Thermal Mass
- Ventilation/cross flow/natural evaporative cooling/wind scoops
- Sense of approach/enclosure
- Indigenous references

Scenario:
- Local meeting place
- Health/education/community outreach

Climatic conditions

Geography
-Sparse vegetation consisting of tough spinifex grass, hardy saltbush shrubs, spiny accacia and tall desert oaks.
- Animals are nocturnal, feeding at night. Animals include Bilbies/rabbits, Mulgara, thorny devils ( colorful spiny lizards)
- Land generally uninhabited, the minority used for mining or cattle grazing
- Soil is red sand.
- Generally flat with some sand dunes

Climate:
- Limited sporadic rain, Rainfall is low throughout. Generally patchy with many drought years often ending in monsoonal cloud mass. Yearly rainfall approx. 250mm. Evaporation rate is very high and makes up for the higher than normal desert rainfall. Almost all rain comes from monsoonal rain and occassionally tropical cyclone. Approx. 30-40 days of rain per year. Generally thunderstorms during the wet season (Nov-April)
- Summer day light hours from 8-10 hours per day.
- Summer average temp. 37-38 degrees (low end of scale). Nights cool down to cold
- Winter is short and warm. Average temp. 25-30 degrees with cool, almost frosty nights. It begins to warm up again by August.

Winds
- For the week past, winds have been very mild, generally calm and easterly

DOMUS - CLIMATE INVESTIGATION

Investigations of Pros and Cons of the selected climate zone for a dwelling can help identify recurring themes associated with the environment. For the Domus Project, Aletha, Amy and Catherine have teamed up and the results of their preliminary climate investigation follows:Recurring themes identified by the brainstorming shown above include: Thermal Massing (to cope with swaying diurnal temperatures experienced in hot/dry climates; Filtering of Light; Framing of Views and Protection from Wind and Sun.

Minima - Final Design

My Minima developed from the idea of transportable accommodation, thus a caravan. Once I had this idea in my head, I found it hard to shake it, so all my ideas were pretty similar. I then looked as ways to try and demount and minimise my space and developed the idea of a box inside a box, that would create more floor area by pulling apart. In the end it worked better my cutting the outer shell in half and having each section slide out from the inner shell.

All shells were to be constructed from high strength plastic and the interior amenities box to be made from fibreglass. The layout of furniture and fixtures inside would involve a core unit (the fixed bench) from which the desk, coffee table and lounge could be stored and pulled out when required. The bed would be suspended above and could more from side to side depending on what was happening. The kitchen would also be contained in this bench.

The final design was very simple.

Minima Review

Final presentations for Minima were very interesting. It was great to see how other people represented Minima. I was keen to see to what scale people considered Minima living. I took a more comfortable approach and had a space that included a lounge, coffee table, large bench to work from and seperate ammenities. This was probably a rather boring approach and I much preferred solutions that included very little but still provide a space that was attractive and inviting.

I had never made a model before, so again was very keen to see what other people had come up with. Some were pretty flimsy, but other were really interesting and really demonstrated the design.

I spent most of the say watching reviews and thought that some people got far more of a reation from the reviewers than others, in a lot of instances, you had no idea whether the reviewer actually liked the design or not. But generally I learnt alot by going from one group to the next.

I have learnt alot from this second project to take into the third. So let's see how we go here.

SITE ANALYSIS

> APROACH TO SITE ANALYSIS

As in project 1- 'Minimal' dwelling, the approach to site analysis is a similar in Minima whereby I have chosen to look at some of the same aspects and employ the same methods for recording + communicating these observations.

For the 'Minima' site I have been specifically been looking at the following aspects and considering how these elements can be integrated into the building design

1) CIRCULATION PATHS

2) VIEWS

3) JUNCTION BETWEEN OLD & NEW BUILDING ELEMENTS.

'Chrystalis'- Form Follows Function

key design ideas
> wrapping
> functional
> form
> enclosure

"chrystalis" definition-
n. pl. prounced 'chry- sal- li- des'

1. A pupa, especially of a moth or butterfly enclosed in a firm case or cocoon.

2. Protected stage of development.


The image above support the suitability of using a chrystalis concept as an ideal form for 'Minima.'

Here the process of the caterpillar creating it's own enclosure, demonstrates how the caterpillar arrived at the final form of 'the chrystalis' and what dictated the outward appearance of the form; shape, size, volume + colour.


The outward appearance of cocoons vary upon the species & size of a caterpillar, as well as it's habitat.

The chrystalis, otherwise known as a cocoon, is a 'Minima' in it's own right. A rationalised representation of a caterpillar's required functions.
Those functions being-

1. An economical means of protection from the weather & predators. Built out of a hard outter surface and coloured to blend in with the surrounds.
Note- 'economical' meaning, minimal energy & time used to create it's enclosure.

2. A place to undergo the transformation process.

A case where of form follows function.

AC thoughts> the outward form of my Minima could be a 3 dimensional representation of the required functions translated combined rationalised volumnes. I coudl also possibly look at integrating the surrounding environment of our selected site, however I'm not sure whether I should do this as this Minima is suppose to be a demountable, relocatable design.
What may suit this site may not suit another site. Perhaps there are implications of making a site specific Minima.

Anyone have any thoughts or opinions on this?? Agree or disagree??

Two Paths...

>Two paths.
Path 1 > Compressed dark space and volume... with a narrow light at the end.
Path 1 > Ascending up to the sky or down to the earth with a panoramic view.

Devices of Experiential Architecture

Change in floor levels, wall heights, framing of views, use of daylight and shadows creating two very different experiences.

Devices of Experiential Architecture Tadao Ando

Chikatsu- Asuka Historical Museum
Architect- Tadao Ando

Reference- Colours of Light,
Tadao Ando
Aurthor: Richard Pare
Pages: 163,164 -165, 167
_____________________________________________________________

Images from Chikatsu - Asuka Historical Museum, are fine examples of pure, minimal & experiential architecture, which I find very influential- especially these images + the following images.

Here it is possible to see Ando's key design elements; use of minimal materials (concrete), manipulation of wall heights in contrast to the floor, change in floor level, compression of space, release of space, framing of views of landscape and consideration of light and shadow.

Perhaps I can use these design elements as devices for examining the site and producing my own interpretation of 'experiential' architecture.
Look at: framing views, space; volume (compressed or released?) & natural light + shadows.

Inhabitable Scupltures

More great ideas from Poratble Architecture

Portable Architecture

Minimal living - homeless vehicle project. The vehicle fills their needs for a means of transport and shelter - sleeping - washing - cooking

Here are my anthropomorphic sketches for minimal space. I did these as research into how much space is needed to undergo certain activities

Hello there! here is an idea for a light form of framing which is has potential to be very portable, especially if it is combined with a nylon or canvas.

Project 1-Minimal

This project required me to think about minimal space for study/sleep function. The enclosure, designed for the atrium of the Waterfront Campus at Deakin University in Geelong was to accomodate one person and was to investigate the concept of 'minimal'. Because time spent overseas (third world) lately had taught me how many people cope with minimal resources to sleep, bathe, sit, eat, drink etc I tried to adapt some postures that the very poor adopt in order to perform these activites as such a posture makes use of minimal accessory.

TOILET RESEARCH FOR MIMIMA - SELF CONTAINED LIVING POD

Hi, here is some info on a super small space saving and composting toilet that I have found. Wonders never cease with how small these things can get. Especially considering there is no outlet for the waste!
http://www.poolproducts.com/-i-OPP-SNM-SPACESAVER-FNM
-96.htm#GEN5=NEXTAG, or perhaps you might like the look (& dimensions) of this 'hatbox loo' by Kohler, which I think is particularly savvy for a minimum toilet!
http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?
item=9676302&prod_num=3492&module=Suites%20&%20
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Minimal Space

I approached this project from a very technical perspective. I began by looking at my dimensions, looking at how much space I would need to sleep, sit up, study and with little consideration to circulation space. I found this gave me a good base from which to begin designing a Minimal space.

I took a very practical approach to reviewing the materials available so that I could then understand how big the enclosure could be. I think I let this get in my way of being creative and came up with a very practical enclosure.