Week 4 | Class Tasks

My matrix (in dot points) |

Sun

Toggle | Certain solar panels flip up when a set voltage is reached creating a pattern

Incremental | A series of wooden panel shades fold half way to allow sunlight in when a certain amount of light is detected. Opens whole way when a threshold amount of light is detected.

Infinitesimal | A shade opens and closes in proportion to the amount of light coming in through the windows. A series of shades open out to create a pattern.

Wind

Toggle | Windows on either side of a hallway is opened/closed when a certain wind speed is reached allowing for efficient airflow when necessary.

Incremental | Windows in a room opens and closes 1/4, 1/2, all the way when a certain wind range is reached to allow for controlled wind into the room.

Infinitesimal | Walls slide in and out in proportion creating an opening on either side of a hallway for the most effective airflow according to wind direction and speed

Rain

Toggle | When moisture is detected a gull wing roof closes automatically.

Incremental | An awning automatically expands outwards halfway when light rain is detected and all the way when heavy rain is detected.

Infinitesimal | A series of panels opens out in proportion to create a pattern and shield from rain according to direction and heaviness of rain.

Storyboard |

Sun Toggle

Wind Infinitesimal

 Rain Infinitesimal

Grasshopper (attempt) |

Will need to play around with it a bit more later on!

Import into Rhino

I'm definitely no expert in Rhino & Grasshopper. Will have to put a bit more effort into this one!

PS. Tasks for today will be uploaded a bit later.

Project 2 | Data Dependency | Solar Digits

So here is the general design :)

Later I'll add more details on how it'll work and give my shapes some thickness!

So to sum it up |

Certain solar panels will pop up to form the current temperature in degrees           
(perhaps only changing every 15 minutes or so if temp changes)

               
Also the panels will show the solar energy storage level + rain water tank level.
Triangular flaps will show direction of rain water running down roof.
**Might add a water cycle system to create a constant movement of the flaps

Inspiration | 

www.aliexpress.com

My Design |

Breakdown of Concept + Design

So to keep things simple I've broken down this brief into two parts.

Theoretical 

- How is the concept of home integrated into the design  

- How it relates to the area of disaster

Practical 

- Can it be transported in one ISO 20ft container?

- Is it cost effective to build and replicated to accommodate for the hundreds that have been displaced in my case

So in terms of theory I imaged myself as someone in the Philippines flood aftermath and what the situation would be. Nothing created would bring back what is lost but how can I provide a design that would put these people a little bit more at ease and provide them some of peace of mind. 

Coming from that angle I had put small concrete blocks to raise the structure to help prevent any after effects. My initial design was silly 1m blocks which were way too high and don't fit in the ISO container for transportation. My final one is 35cm blocks - enough to create a safe gap from the ground without being  too clumsy.

Also my main take on it is - anything that will make their life (dwellers) easier I'll incorporate whether it's easier access (simple open spaces and slightly wider doors), supports (for the less able, injured from disaster etc) and easy to use and reach design (e.g cupboards with bottom handles, cubes that can be used as steps)

Other adjustments made  

- ramp folds out further to create a more suitable shallower ramp.

- front door is widened for easier access

- shelf has been made more compact to allow for twin bed configuration (from the detachable beds)

- less luxurious feel (walls are simple colours pale brown + white, simple taps and shower)

- use of lighter colours to create more of a homely feel that the dwellers of Manila can associate with

- window guards added to create a solid sense of security

- overall design more simplified (e.g. less lights, less general clutter)

In terms of practical I had to constantly make sure things can be packed and transported in the container. The ramp is designed with large hinges which allow it to be folded up and unfolded easily. When everything is folded up the ramp will only add 12cm to the container (the outside rail is within the ramp thickness). The small concrete blocks are small enough to be packed and tied down inside the open corridor space.

Practical things added 

- the bedroom wall (unused space) I've added a hanging rack for clothes.

- kitchen I've added hooks for utensils (fridge was reconfigured to open the other way for convenience.

**For more on concepts & pictures refer to the presentation board and previous interim post on the blog

Presentation Board (from interim)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/w07moinp1nu8oii/Presentation%20Board.pdf

Dimensions

Final Design | Exploded View + File (One more post coming up)

So I've spent the whole day redrawing some of the components and grouping them with the final adjustments to make an exploded view.

My goal is to make things as easy as possible for anybody to understand. Hopefully I've done that :)
One more post with comments + plans/sections after this.

Dropbox Link
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7lra403sc6iwcvu/Final%20exploded%203%20Chris%20Lau%20z3465726.skp

Exploded View

Adjustments

So my main feedback from the interim was less on gimmicky space saving items + a less luxurious design.

Other things to change:

Wider doors
Smaller shelf (to accommodate for my possible twin bed configuration)
More shallow ramp

Other minor details are being adjusted.
Final design + comments coming soon :)

Rectangle House | Final Design

Dropbox Link

https://www.dropbox.com/s/audfow0kni3dsxv/Rectangle%20house%20-%20Chris%20Lau%20z3465726.skp

Please 'unhide' the hidden walls to see the whole design.

Presentation Board
https://www.dropbox.com/s/w07moinp1nu8oii/Presentation%20Board.pdf

Brief + Deliverables

Brief |  Design a home for up to 2 people after a disaster event
       
            Home design should be:
            Culturally suited to the geographic area of disaster
            Meet the basic needs for residents
            Easily assembled by residents if required
            Whole design fits into 1 20ft ISO container for transportation
            Design and details are TO SCALE :)

Deliverables |  3D Model
                       3D Images of design
                       Orthogonal plan and sections
                       Digital poster with design proposal for a 5 minute presentation

Week 2 Studio | Combined Concept of Home | Geo Location: Manila, Philliphines

Combined definition with Maurishka

Home
A home is made up of not only the physical structures that inhabit the space for personal living but also memories and feelings that encompass the ideas of comfort and security.
Home as a concept involves 'both movement and strangers'. 
Home is more about where you are going more than where you are from. Ginsburg (1999)
Home is a place where both the individual and family is provided with three territorial satisfactions.

Phillippines
Manila

Location 
Urban. The Capital and second largest city in the Philippines

Affected
Family and resident that lived in the Marikina city, east of Manila
80% of the city was submerged
Houses were ruined and neighborhoods swept away
Many major facilities were shut down
Roads rendered impassable, ferry services cancelled
The people affected need basic living needs since most of their houses were destroyed
Vulnerabilities include the need for saftey against water bourne diseases
As well as debris and sewage littering the capital that could create hazardous areas
Food supplies and hygiene supplies

Housing

Manila is the economic and political heart of the Philippines, home to extensive commerce and some of the most historically and culturally significant landmarks in the country, as well as the seat of the executive and judicial branches of the government - Wikipedia 'Manila' accessed 14/3/14

The metropolitan area lies on a wide flood plain composed mainly of alluvial soil deposits. The area is bounded by Bulcan to the north, Rizal to the east, Laguna to the south and Cavite to the southwest. 

Climate Conditions

Under the Koppen climate classification system, Metro Manila is split between a tropical wet and dry climate and a tropical monsoon climate. Manila, which features less rainfall than Quezon CIty, has a tropical wet and dry climate while Quezon City features a tropical monsoon climate. Together with the rest of the Philippines, Metro Manila lies entirely within the tropics - Wikipedia 'Manila' accessed 14/3/14

Religion | Day to day interactions | Social Interactions

Spanish architecture has left an imprint the Phillippines in the way many towns were designed around a central square or plaza mayor. Culture is heavily influences by American pop culture trends. Philippines is predominantly Roman Catholic. 

Philippines has often been declared as a very social country. By the time mobile phones became a household item, the country were crowned the texting capital of the world with supposedly over 400 million text messages sent per day. Following that, as social media rolled around, over 90% of Filipinos were supposedly involved in one form of social media or another - www.theguardian.com, 'Why Manila is the selfiest city in the world' accessed 15/03/14

Independent Study | 3 Concepts of 'Home'

Prescribed Readings 

Mallett, S. (2004). Understanding home: a critical review of the literature. The Sociological Review, 52(1), 62-89.

Porteous, J. D. (1976). Home: The territorial core. Geographical Review, 66(4), 383-390. 

Home.. What's that?

Home
n. 1. The place or a place where one lives: have you no home to go to?
2. a house or other dwelling.
3. a family or other group living in a house or other place.
4. a person’s country, city, esp. viewed as a birthplace, a residence during
one’s early years, or a place dear to one.
5. the environment or habitat of a person or animal.
6. the place where something is invented, founded or developed: the US is
the home of baseball.
7.a. a building or organization set up to care for orphans, the aged etc b. an
informal name for a mental home.
12. a home from home a place other than one’s own home where one can
be at ease.
14. at home in, on, or with. familiar or conversant with.

The Editorial Board of The Sociological Review 2004 


3 Concepts of Home

1. Home as a concept involves 'both movement and strangers'. 

As Amed (1999) mentions, it is not so much where and when people come and go but more so revolves around the encounters of these movements. Also 'home' may also cover one's country, city or town where 'one’s family lives or comes from and/or where one usually lives.' It is something that is located in space but not necessarily tied that one space. Also it does not simply mean a house, shelter or household in this sense.

Mallett, S. (2004), P78,79

2. Home is more about where you are going more than where you are from. Ginsburg (1999)

This statement is reinforced by Tucker (1994) who highlights that 'home-searching is a basic trait of human nature' and it is part of human nature to migrate to ensure their survival. Dovey (1985) claims that boundaries of time and experience of being at home is established through these journeys.

Mallett, S. (2004), P77, 78

3. Home is a place where both the individual and family is provided with three territorial satisfactions.

These satisfactions come from the personalisation of space and defence of space. This is also a concept of psychic and physical security which are usually represented in the forms of bedrooms, boudoirs or studies.

Porteous, J. D. (1976), P383

Rectangle House | Unfurnished | Basic Detail

Info | The structure will be raised 0.5m above ground with 3 equal sized concrete blocks that are easy to stack on top of each other - this allows for easier transportation. On the right is a pull down staircase to gain access to the home. 

Space is separate into two areas: Left is for sleeping & studying and the right is for the kitchen, washing and showering. The platform which opens up at the front is extra area for more living space. It can also be closed A public mobile toilet is used for the temporary residents.

The middle white sliding panel glides left and right and opens up/closes one section and can be locked to one side for night time. There are also skylights and windows to allow for natural light and ventilation.

Adjustments | Pics show 1m blocks. Been changed to 0.5m. Current red ISO container will be replaced by google warehouse 20ft ISO container by PM3D for more realistic detail.

My Design | Rectangle House | Housing for Flood victims in Queensland

Size: 20ft container | Exterior 6.058m (L) - 2.438m (W) - 2.591m (H)
                                Interior 5.710m (L) - 2.352m (W) - 2.385m (H)

Description | Raised above ground between 1-2m depending on area. Entry to living via a series of planks making the steps. Overall design will be a minimalist studio design fit for a couple or 2 people (bunker design).

Brief |   Design for 6 months inhabitation

            Fit for 2 people occupation

            Enable basic needs - eating, cooking, toileting, sleeping & washing

            Will have cross ventilation, access, windows/openings
            Protection from rain & sun

Deliverables |  3D Model

                       2D Orthogonal plan and Sections

                       Summary poster of design proposal

Basic container design (measurements as in brief)

Project 1 | Queensland Flood 2011 | Shipping Container Architecture

Before & After photos of Queensland Flood 2011

2 Prototypes
Comparison

Aim: To get familiar with designs that are raised above ground. 

To reduce and/or prevent future flood damage

Focus area: Toowoomba, Queensland
Located 127km from Brisbane, South East of Queensland.
Population about 160,000 - second most populous inland city
Toowoomba sits on the watershed of the Great Dividing Range - about 700m above sea level
Was hit by a flash flood causing more than 160mm of rain

Toowoomba during the 2011 floods

Wikipedia - 2010-11 Queensland Floods

BACH PROTOTYPE

http://www.atelierworkshop.com/port-a-bach

ABOUT

- portable,
- secure,
- high-level finish,
- designed to be environmentally clean
- comparatively inexpensive,
- comfortably sleeps two adults and two children. 

ABILITIES

- immediate, flexible and long-term solution that enables you to use your land without investing in a permanent property commitment,
- to be power, water and sewer independent, it is well suited to remote or non-service supplied land,
- also be connected to available services,
- quick and easy transportation (via truck or helicopter) and installation to any orientation with minimal impact on site,
- unfolding to create a living space and refolding to create a secure unit for in situ storage or relocation.

FEATURES 
- fully enclosed exterior steel shell (when folded up),
- appointed with large internal storage cupboards and shelves / stainless steel kitchen and fittings / bathroom with open shower, sink, composting toilet,
- interior fabric screen system gives the versatility of creating rooms within the large open living space : includes bunk beds, double bed room, dressing room, kitchen and bathroom,
- exterior canvas screen system allows to shelter the deck area for comfortable indoor/outdoor flow and living,
- 6 concrete footings form a stable, non-invasive 'foundation', allowing you to situate the unit on a wide range of ground conditions. 

TWO-TREE HOUSE

http://www.golanyarchitects.com 

ABOUT

- portable,
- secure,
- high-level finish,
- designed to be environmentally clean
- comparatively inexpensive,
- comfortably sleeps two adults and two children. 

ABILITIES
- High above ground prevents further flooding instances
- Strong support from tree
- to be power, water and sewer independent, it is well suited to remote or non-service supplied land,
- also be connected to available services,
- quick and easy transportation (via truck or helicopter) and installation to any orientation with minimal impact on site,

 FEATURES 

 - appointed with large internal storage cupboards and shelves / stainless steel kitchen and fittings / bathroom with open shower, sink, composting toilet
- exterior canvas screen system allows to shelter the deck area for comfortable indoor/outdoor flow and living

Flood | Brazil - Australia - Phillipines

Brazil Flood 2013

How it happened

Flooding is common in southeast Brazil during the rainy season.

Torrential rains caused the Flooding that occurred on The 26th of December 2013 in southeastern Brazil.

Approximately 50,000 we left homeless and 32 people dead across the states of Espirito Santo and Minas.

The torrential rains were described as the worst in the past 90 years

At total of 70 towns were affected across Minas Gerais and a state alert was declared in 26 of them

A storm also left 16 people and flattened more than 200 houses in the city of Lajedinho in the northeastern state of Bahia

Aftermath

200,000 kilometers of roads were reported destroyed or damaged

Homes were destroyed across 47 cities in Espirto Santo, which borders RioDe Jenero state

Many people were left without communication, drinkable water and power.

Supplies to the victims were drenched in mud

Roads were cut of by flooding and landslides

The Governor Renato Casagrande stated ‘Going to have to Rebuild the state’.

Extensive damage caused to bridges and roads

At total of 70 towns were affected across Minas Gerais and a state alert was declared in 26 of them

A storm also left 16 people and flattened more than 200 houses in the city of Lajedinho in the northeastern state of Bahia.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/12/27/dozens-killed-brazil-flooding-and-landslides

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/12/27/dozens-killed-brazil-flooding-and-landslides

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/12/24/341638/floods-mudslides-kill-20-in-brazil/

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Natal_Brazil_Flood.jpeg

Queensland Flood 2011

Queensland Floods (Much of the central and Southern suburbs were affected)

 - At least 70 towns with more than 200,000 people affected

 - 28,000 homes flooded

 - December 2010 - January 2011

 - 38 dead and 6 missing

 - Caused 2.38 billion AUD

 - Peaked at 4.46m on 13 January

Aftermath

 - Don’t drink any water from taps or tanks until your council or authority advises its safe to do so

 - Flood water can be contaminated

 - Consider flood proofing materials

Impacts

 - Inflated banana prices after being destroyed 75% of the crop

 - Imposed Flood levy  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80%9311_Queensland_floods

http://oncirculation.com/2012/05/22/20102011-queensland-floods-made-worse-by-background-climate-change/

http://www.news.com.au/national/queensland-flood-bill-could-rival-cyclone-larry/story

Philippines Flood 2009

What happened + Impacts

Worst flooding in Manila for 20 years

Caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana when it lashed the island of Luzon. Equivalent of a whole month’s rain fell in six hours.

Roads rendered impassable, ferry services cancelled

Torrential rain caused the worst flooding in the phillipines in over 4 decades

It submerged more than 80% of the city

246 people found dead

Hundreds and thousands were displaced

Ruined homes and swept away neighborhoods

It disabled a majority of Manila’s facilities

Debris, sewage, abandoned vehicles were tossed around and littered the capital

Aid workers warn of water bourne diseases.

“State of public calamity”

Once in lifetime typhoon

A month’s worth of rain deluged the city in a space of 12 hours.

http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1926646,00.html