Week1 idea's-Domus

Basically all of my inital idea's for this week was to have a shared main central space with bedrooms/private space braching off..Discussed of of these idea's with the tute and client group and have made some drastic changes.. check in a few days time for more..... nic

ps- the post from Jacinta before this was me, she forgot to sign off my computer.. Thanks JC

Team 2- contract

Desert Design...

I have been researching desert architecture and how the climate affects the design. I actually came across some remarkable buildings that are in designed for a hot/arid climate which are beautiful, they 'fit in' the environment while remaining practical for the extreme climate conditions. I also think its safe to say I don't need to re-write the hot/arid climate conditions as there is alot of information below!
Here are some examples of architectural desert designs which I found very inspiring for my design.

Taliesin West, by Frank Lloyd Wright, at Scottsdale, Arizona.

Frank Lloyd Wrights initial sketch of the amazing idea, he uses local materials and creates an 'organic' building, in his true style.

This is the Explora Hotel at the Puritami River.The design is modern and open, this is a view of the spa/sauna design located completely out in the open with incredible views.

Check out these links for more detail on these cool buildings, I found it very helpful :)

http://www.architectureweek.com/2001/0523/environment_1-1.html
http://www.architectureweek.com/2001/1003/design_1-2.html

Team7-Concept3

Concept 3:
My inspiration was come from a lizard that inhabit the arid climate. Many reptiles and other animals protect themselves from the extreme temperature by spending their time under huge rocks.

I found that this would be a very good ‘style’ to employ to my domus.
Massive solid concrete roof absorb heat during daytime, release heat at night time.
Concrete texture againest north territory of Australia red soil texture, High windows below eave, massive heavy roof seems float in the air. Creating a sense of inarguably beautiful and serene. like a space ship land in an other planet.

Team7-Concepts

Concept1

Concept 2

TUTORIAL 1: Copacabana Team 7

The first tutorial for our team went quite well. We recieved plenty of feedback from out tutor, and our clients also provided some really great advice and shared their experience. Here are the main points that were made in discussion.

• Must keep in mind the site dimensions (36m by 12m) when designing.
• Select materials that work with the desert landscape eg. corregated iron for a rustic look.
• Inspiration gathered from the environment and applied to the design worked well eg. Dang Dang's rock idea.
• Sails or shades could be used in the design, to promote the idea of utilising a roof to shade the interior roof, thereby reducing heat build-up.
• Could build into the ground eg. If the rock concept stemmed from underground a creature-like effect could be created, which would further relate to the concept.
• The essence of inspirational sources could be utilised to abstract the design eg. Loz's ship idea.
• The ship could be a good example of minimum spaces utilised to its maximum potential.
• Sliding windows could be a feature of the design, and could move to provide shade depending on the sun movement throughout the day eg. Loz's second idea.
• Utilise interior spaces innovatively, and view these area as an extension of the Minima project.
• An outer shell could be used to cover the building to reduce heat accumulation eg. my second design. The crocodile building 'ulara' could be a source of inspiration for this idea.
• Utilise the eaves of the building as a main feature to govern the emmision of light eg. my second idea
• Ensure that the building responds to the climate, and is 'funky' if it is justifiably.
• Utilise on-site resources eg.quartz? rocks?
• Incorporate a light tunnel to diffuse light throughout the centre of the house and underground areas.

MAIN DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

After discussing the events of this tutorial, Lauren, Dang Dang and I came up with these features that we agreed to incorporate in our designs for the following week:

• Underground building.
• The use of a light tunnel.
• A universal roof structure symbolic of a rock or the natural surrounds.
• Minimal and innovative interior space that caters for four people and includes sleeping areas, a kitchen space, living space and one toilet/bathroom.
• Thick walls to keep out the heat, work with the roof structure and work as a retaining wall.
• Incorporation of solar panels and water tanks.

TEAM CONTRACT: Copacabana Team 7

Jacinta Somerton, Lauren Shepherd, Dang Dang Zhou

Each team member must…

• Carry out specific tasks as agreed upon by the team, which will then be discussed and further refined at the following team meeting.
• Be on time and punctual to all team meetings.
• Be able to express their ideas and opinions in group discussions.
• Also give others the opportunity to speak, and listen constructively at all times.
• Come prepared and willing to work at meetings.
• Assist in scheduling team meetings outside studio hours, and make these meetings a priority, particularly over social events.
• Ensure other team members are not struggling with any set tasks, understanding completely what they are assigned to do outside team meetings and work.
• Rotate roles as scribe, taking minutes at meetings which will be posted on the Copacabana 2 blog.
• Split the cost of the project and contribute equally.
• Adopt a flexible and positive approach to the assignment as a whole.
  
  
  
  
  Signed
  
  Jacinta Somerton______________________________________
  Lauren Shepherd______________________________________
  Dang Dang Zhou____________________________________

Domus

This week was based on research and the first stage of development.

Along with my team members, Natalie and Finchy, we chose Hot/Dry for our climate.

Considerations and Solutions

• Temperature - summer (minimum heat gain, maximum natural cooling) cooling can be achieved by evaporative cooling and cross ventilation.
  - winter ( minimum heat loss, maximum solar heating) heating can be controlled by the use of sun through windows and absorbed into the structure.
  
• Orientation - the main orientation of the house should be north/south with the long axis running east/west. Main living spaces should face north to aid sun control.
  
• Rain - the arid area of Australia receives the the least rain. Rain is usually received when there are extreme conditions either to the north or south. A verandah not only provides sun protection but also protection from the rain and would be a good solution for drying clothes in wet weather, as oppose to a dryer.
  
• Wind - gale force winds are uncommon but occur most often between October and December. The wind also causes dust storms in such a dry climate. Skillion roofs and wind breaks can redirect the wind to protect the building.
  
• Materials - floors should have a concrete slab to stabilise internal temperatures and not be covered by carpet to aid the cooling system.
  - walls need to have a large thermal mass to keep the heat out and the cool in, they also have the opposite effect at night, releasing heat into the cool air to heat the house. Materials such as earth and concrete are good.
  - roof materials should also have large thermal mass and be of light colours to reflect the sun, shiny materials are not recommended.
  
• Sustainability - collecting water through condensation and rain collection, also using grey water to support plant life around the building.
  - collecting power through either solar panels or windmills.
  - using materials with a lower embodied energy and long life span.
  
• Vegetation - spinifex is a low spikey clumping plant which is most common in the arid area and assists in preventing dust storms by providing ground cover.
  - trees such as desert oak, ghost gum and some eucalypts survive well in the desert climate and also provide shade and protection to a building.

Three Designs

Design One:

Design Two:

Design Three:

Feedback would be awesome guys, i am thinking of developing design two further as i think at this point it tackles the considerations best.

Analysis of Climate and site design: Hot and Dry

Sun and light:

Shelter the house from the hot summer sun by placing little or no windows on the east and west sides of the building. Place the majority of the windows on the North side of the house, to capture the winter sun.

As the sun sits high in the sky in summer and lower in winter, it is a good idea to have small high windows, so they can be shaded by the eaves during summer. The low angle of the winter sun means that it can go under the eaves.

Other methods of shading include verandas, awnings and the use of vegetation to shade the house.

Heating and cooling:

Control the climate of the house actively, by designing it so it is adapted to the hot, dry climate and uses appropriate materials, such as pale surfaces on the roof to reflect the sun. Should also use passive heating and cooling techniques including air-conditioning, heaters and fans; evaporative coolers works best in the dry atmosphere.

Insulation should also be used. Possibly, solar panels could be used to make use of the hot daytime sun, and could also have part of the house underground to keep it cooler.

Take advantage of the summer breeze by using cross flow ventilation throughout the building, but ensure that the house is protected from breezes during the winter

Materials:

Use materials with high thermal mass such as concrete, brick or stone to help keep daytime temperatures down and retain heat for the cold nights.

Could use locally sourced materials?

Precipitation:

Deserts usually have less than 250 mm of rain annually, and the rate of evaporation usually exceeds the rate of precipitation.

Vegetation:

Due to the hot temperatures and lack of rain the plants must be able to survive on virtually no water. The plants have small leaves, thus the smaller surface area reduces the amount of absorption of water back into the atmosphere. Some plants, such as succulents store water in their stems, leaves and roots. Examples of plants that are able to survive in the desert include cacti, sunflowers and the date palm, though these do not grow naturally in the Australian desert. Australian examples are the Eucalyptus trees, and possibly some varieties of cacti.

The vegetation is more likely to be shrubs rather than large trees, as they are able to survive better.

Vegetation is advantageous as it reduces the amount of dust blown around, due to the dry conditions.

Humidity:

High average temperatures, reaching up to 55 degrees in the shade and freezing temperatures at night. There is little cloud cover to trap the daytime heat so it rapidly cools down at night.

Beginnings of Domus...

Design One

Design Two

Design Three and Floor Plan Options

My team Finchy, Sarah and I have chosen the hot-dry climate to design our minimal housing. As Finchy has researched, hot-dry climates are hard to keep cool and contain loots of heat therefore I was thinking of these conditions and decided on a closed design.

I decided to emphasise on the 'australian shack' while making modern changes and exploring materials such as concrete and timber.

Hope you guys like them, of course we will be working together so look forward to seeing your designs tomorrow!

MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Sun:

• The sun is a major factor in hot-dry climates, as it is the major source of the heat, and due to its severity, is also a major producer of light
• By creating lager eaves it would be possible to reduce the heat emission of the the sun into the building
• Reducing the window spaces on the west and the east faces of the building will also have a large impact on reducing the heat emission, as it is along the east-west axis that the sun is at its strongest

Light:

• Light will be most concentrated along the east-west axis, so in order to allow a suitable amount of light into the building without compromising the inside temperature, the windows on the east and west facades will need to be reduced, and windows along the north and south facades can be maximised

Heating:

• Due to the hot environment during the day heating is not an important factor until the night
• By harnessing the heat of the sun during the day then it would be possible to release it into the house during the day.
• This can be done using solar panels in order to collect energy used for heating systems and general power
• Another method would be to collect the heat into an enclosed area, most probably the roof, and create a method of dispersing it when required

Cooling:

• Cooling in a hot-dry climate is a much bigger task than heating, although it is not impossible
• By creating bigger eaves it is able to keep most of the interior out of direct sunlight, reducing the radiation of the sun being emitted into the house
• Create larger, more open and ventilated areas in order to reduce the impact of the passive heating, i.e. human body heat, appliance heat, etc...
• The choice of materials is also a factor; steels are highly conductive to heat, however stone masonry is quite efficient. By choosing the correct material it is much easier to reduce the impact of the environment upon the living space

Materials:

• As previously stated, some materials react in different ways in different weather conditions. For example: Steel shrinks in the cold and expands in the heat, so in the selected climate there would be a lot more variables to take into account if we use steel as a primary material.
  
• If using timber it is important to get a strong/dense hardwood that can cope with the harsh conditions of the desert. A timber like Jarrah, which is native to WA, would be a very good option, as it adheres to both of these requirements, but also has a strong aesthetic appeal that mimics the earthy tones of the desert
• Brick and stone masonry is the best option for wall and floor construction, primarily due to its thermal properties in hot conditions. It is able to repel a lot of the radiation from the sun, creating a much cooler environment inside, whilst slab flooring is a much cooler option to carpet or timber floorboards.
  

Vegetation:

• Australian desert flora has evolved over time to withstand some of the harshest weather condition nature can throw. It is common for the plants to have brighter colours in order to reflect the sun, whilst others grow thinner and longer in ordure to reduce the effect of photosynthesis.
  
• Porcupine Grass is one of the most common forms of desert flora, spanning over acres of desert planes, with roots growing as deep at 10m in soils that are low in nutrients and moisture

• Wildflowers can be described as beautiful during the wet-season, when rains have soaked in and the blossoms have flowered. However, after a lengthy dry period it is said that the build up of nutrients within the bulbs can produce flowers of even more beauty.

VERY HELPFUL WEBSITES SURROUNDING HOT-DRY ARCHITECTURE

http://www.jonesstudioinc.com/
This site is actually amazing!!!!!!! It focuses around The Jones Group, and architectural firm that has developed a great interest in sustainable architecture, especially in desert regions. By clicking on the projects icon you can get a brief description of each design, and a picture library that shows just how amazingly awesome these buildings really are. The Jones-Johnson residence even has a link to separate article, including a conversation with Eddie Jones and his wife Lisa Johnson. The other relevant projects include: Desiderata Alternative Program, Scorpion House, Low Compound, Walner Residence, APS Environmental Home, Black Canyon Trail, Halas Residence. Check out the entire site tho, cause its really useful

http://www.bgu.ac.il/CDAUP/
Thank god you guys have finchy, cause this website will actually make you wonder what you would have done without him. Now that that lil bit of arrogance is out of the way i will now tell you about this website. It is quite simply a website on desert architecture, with links to easy to understand research and a range of existing designs. The The student dormitories at Sede-Boqer is a perfect example of how the problem of climate is tackled.

http://www.sunset.com/sunset/Premium/Home/2003/05-May/DesertLiving0503/DesertArchitect0503.html
Another really good website that looks at examples and problems surrounding architecture in hot-dry conditions. It even provides a few tips and considerations for a potential designer, so be-careful to read the entire article

http://www.inhabitat.com/2006/03/30/prefab-friday-marmol-radziner/
This site looks into prefabricated housing systems which have been designed for dessert surroundings. It doesn't provide plans, sections, and elevations as such, but its pictures are highly detailed and clear, and there is some discussion about the environmental considerations employed.

Copacabana Domus Team 3 - Team Contract

1. Thou shalt not slacken off at any time

2. Thou shalt be motivated at all times.

3. Thou shalt attend all group meetings outside of uni, all the time, seriously

4. Thou shalt put an equal amount of input and insight into all group discussions

5. Thou shalt only give constructive critisism.

6. Thou shalt share their expertise with the team, helping them with any problems they may be having

7. Thou shalt share all costs of the assignment.

8. Thou shalt apply themselves equal to the others, including all nighters.

9. Thou shalt confirm all big decisions with the group.

10. Thou shalt not cry...over domus.

11. Thou shalt share the buying of the drinks each week.

12. Thou shalt do allocated tasks on time!

Sarah Box
Andrew Fincher
Natalie Rushidi

Minima!

Hey guys! Well done on finishing our second archy assignment of the year! Here are my final posters and a few cad renders of my design so you can view it more clearly. From my review comments from Sam I gathered that in the future, my designs need to be more realistic and achievable in relation to the 'real world', so I think I'l try and tone them down a little for Domus. Better get cracking! Good luck everyone! PS. Lozza and Dang Dang, I've typed up our team contract, so make sure I find you on either mon or wed to grab your signature!



This render displays my design without the adjoining ladder, showing the areas for sleeping, studying, showering and eating and cooning more adequately.
I aimed to make my posters clearer after Sam's comments about all our presentations after the first assignment. I think i achieved a level of clarity, however did not contain enough depth or clarity in the images and information that I included on my poster.

Minima-Project 2

Our enviromental considerations

Environmental factors

• Sunlight
• Maybe the use of eaves to prevent sunlight from flooding into the space, to prevent the space from becoming to hot during warmer
• Maybe they could be adjustable to accommodate differing seasonal conditions
• Solar panels to take advantage of excessive light energy otherwise wasted

• Warmth
• Insulation will be needed to prevent the space from becoming an oven and a freezer at night
• Air conditioning the unit year round will be expensive

• Wind
• Possible use of wind farms to capture energy as well or instead of solar panels

• Vegetation
• Pretty sparse natural vegetation, any planting needs to be native and not require watering as drought issue is particularly important
• How can the dust issue in the desert be addressed? Screening?

• Precipitation
• How often does it rain and how much?
• Can a water tank be a feasible option as a source of water

• Materials
• The use of metals conduct heat effectively and don’t insulate well so may not be appropriate in this context
• Masonry such as brick or heavy stone is probably the best material when combined with insulation

Space Considerations

• Private Spaces
• Need to have separate bedrooms to prevent cabin fever

• Shared Spaces
• Kitchen/laundry
• Bathrooms, more than one with toilets separate to the bathroom
• Living space – pool table/table tennis?
• Work space with semi private spaces to prevent people from working on top of each other – function room?

Andrew Fehervari, Nicolas Fletcher and Chris Wright

Minima Model

Minimal!

Hey guys! Good work on the first project of the year! We all got a bit grilled on our presentations so i guess we need to inprove on those for next time. See you all round uni!

Project 1-finally!

ps- well done on all the marks guys and girls!
pps- you all did me proud!

Minimal- final posters & model