* Residential Architecture: Tind Prefab Houses by Claesson Koivisto Rune

Residential Architecture: Tind Prefab Houses by Claesson Koivisto Rune: “..stockholm, sweden-based studio claesson koivisto rune have teamed up with manufacturers at fiskarhedenvillan to design a series of pre-fabricated houses with a distinctly scandinavian aesthetic. the ‘tind’ residences draw their name from the norwegian word for ‘mountain peak’, a conceptual underpinning informed by the remarkable lack of sharp pointed peaks in scandinavian mountain systems. the softened edges of the range, shaved during the last major ice age, lend the landscape a particular beauty that finds its way into the architecture in the form of a truncated, single pitch roof. floor-grazing windows are relegated to major walls and all apertures lie flush with light-drenched interiors. rather than a perforated volume, the home is a rhythmic composition of built material and void, seamlessly delineated by beveled niches that also disguise the building’s joists. roof and wall are sharply divided and every vertex is clearly expressed by material changes. despite the various models of kit houses, every interior is organized by a central entrance way or staircase and seeks to blur notions of interior and exterior. while prefabricated homes have many historical iterations, the architectural integrity of the ‘tind’ series is preserved through culturally relevant approaches to living. the three dwelling designs will be officially launched this week in oslo and stockholm and will later be presented along with ceramic manufacturer globo during milan design week 2013..”  Extensive glazing, natural light, views..

See our post on another home by Claesson Koivisto Rune: Residential Architecture: Widlund House by Claesson Koivisto Rune.

image: © peter guthrie; article: Designboom

designalog : contact

* Residential Architecture: WFH House by Arcgency

Residential Architecture: WFH House by Arcgency: Arcgency have designed the WFH House in Wuxi, China.  “..The design is based on Nordic values. Not only according to architecture, but also design objects. These values are defined as: • Flexibility. • Build for people, human values. – Good daylight conditions, different types of light. • Reliable (long term) solutions. – Healthy materials, recyclable materials, design for disassembly strategies. • Materials that age gracefully. • Access to nature, greenery. • Minimalistic look. • Playfulness.  Sustainable global housing: The WFH concept is a modular concept, based on a design principle, using 40 feet high cube standard modules as structural system. The structure can be adapted to local challenges such as climatic or earthquake issues. Online customization-tools give clients the possibility to decide their own version of the house concerning layout, size, facade, interior etc. The configuration happens within a predefined framework that will ensure high architectural value and quality of materials. Building-components are prefabricated and on site construction can be limited..FLEX space: The FLEX space is the heart of the house. It contains the living room, kitchen and can be used for multiple purposes. Parts of the room are double height, creating perfect lighting conditions. The rest of the space is one storey height, defined by the landing that creates access to the spaces on the second floor. In each end of the FLEX space there is access to the surroundings and daylight. The boundary between inside and outside disappears, when the doors open. This is a fundamental part of the design; to be able to open let nature in. It is a consequence of having varying requirements for inside temperature and definitions of what domestic functions takes place inside and outside..Geometry: The geometry of the FLEX space is defined by the two rows of modules, and can easily be modified to specific wishes regarding size. The FLEX space has a number of possible solutions for subdivisions. Both on one plan or two plans. It can also be one big space, creating a lot of light and openness. The kitchen elements are built into the wall (into the technical module). It creates more floor space and also makes connection to water and plumbing easy. The kitchen can also be extended with at freestanding element, defining the work area of the kitchen. From the FLEX space there is access to all spaces. This eliminates square meters used for logistics. It is possible to make larger openings from the FLEX space into the rooms, again creating flexible solutions within the same system..The size of the bedrooms is defined by the half of a module (15m2). There are four bedrooms, and they can be used for multiple purposes: A parent’s bedroom, kid’s bedroom, workspace etc. Three of the bedrooms have windows on two facades, creating a mixed light. It is possible to remove the wall, or part of it, facing the FLEX space. This adds flexibility to the layout and shows the structural systems ability to adapt do different needs..The landing creates access to the second floor, but can also be used as a space for play, relaxation or work. It gives the inhabitant the possibility to draw back, but still enjoy the company of people in the house. You are in the FLEX space, but because you are on the first floor you are drawn back from the action. It is an ideal place for a quiet retreat and still being able to observe what is going on in the house..”  Ample glazing, natural light, views; interesting modular concept and interior volumes..

designalog : contact

image: © Jens Markus Lindhe; article: “WFH House / Arcgency” 21 Feb 2013. ArchDaily

* Residential Architecture: The Bunkie – Small Space Architecture by Evan Bare + Nathan Buhler

Residential Architecture: The Bunkie – Small Space Architecture by Evan Bare + Nathan Buhler: “..evan bare of 608 design and nathan buhler of BLDG workshop have conceived ‘the bunkie’ as a medium to experiment in ideas 
that cross boundaries between architecture and furniture design. the concept uses identical techniques used in
 the manufacturing process of high production plywood furniture. the frame is built using a CNC router to cut highly accurate parts which fit together like a puzzle.
.clad in plywood and barn board (or other materials) – everything can be built in a factory and shipped flat-packed on-site for final assembly. the interior was designed to maximize the potential for small spaces – living quarters that could be commonly used as a family cottage add-on for
 sleeping extra guests without building permit requirements. a multi-functional room has been developed that consists of three modes: sleep, play and open..‘sleep mode’ employs two queen sized murphy beds built into one main wall – a small dining table and set of four chairs are visually integrated into the main feature wall, and can be detached for use in play mode. open mode would provide the most square footage to be used for meditation, yoga,
reading, or even ice fishing..”  Great!

image: Courtesy of Evan Bare + Nathan Buhler; article: Designboom

designalog : contact

* Residential Architecture: The FLOAT House – Make it Right by Morphosis Architects

Residential Architecture: The FLOAT House – Make it Right by Morphosis Architects: “..The FLOAT House is a new kind of house: a house that can sustain its own water and power needs; a house that can survive the floodwaters generated by a storm the size of Hurricane Katrina; and perhaps most importantly, a house that can be manufactured cheaply enough to function as low-income housing..Make It: Affordable: A new approach to mass-producing low-cost homes that respond to local culture and climate..The FLOAT House optimizes the efficiency of mass-production, while respecting New Orleans’s unique culture and context. The Ninth Ward’s colorful vernacular houses, which local residents have traditionally modified and personalized over time, reflect the community’s vibrant culture. The FLOAT House grows out of the indigenous typology of the shotgun house, predominant throughout New Orleans and the Lower Ninth Ward. Like a typical shotgun house, the FLOAT House sits atop a raised base. This innovative base, or “chassis,” integrates all mechanical, electrical, plumbing and sustainable systems, and securely floats in case of flooding. Inspired by GM’s skateboard chassis, which is engineered to support several car body types, the FLOAT House’s chassis is designed to support a variety of customizable house configurations..Developed to meet the needs of families in New Orleans’s Lower Ninth Ward, the FLOAT House is a prototype for prefabricated, affordable housing that can be adapted to the needs of flood zones worldwide. The FLOAT House is assembled on-site from pre-fabricated components:

• The modular chassis is pre-fabricated as a single unit of expanded polystyrene foam coated in glass fiber reinforced concrete, with all required wall anchors, electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems pre-installed. The chassis module is shipped whole from factory to site, via standard flat bed trailer.
• The piers that anchor the house to the ground and the concrete pads on which the chassis sits are constructed on-site, using local labor and conventional construction techniques.
• The panelized walls, windows, interior finishes and kit-of parts roof are prefabricated, to be assembled on-site along with the installation of fixtures and appliances. This efficient approach integrates modern mass-production with traditional site construction to lower costs, guarantee quality, and reduce waste.

Make It: Float: A flood-safe house that securely floats with rising water levels..Global climate change is triggering ever-harsher floods and natural disasters. Nearly 200 million people worldwide live in high risk coastal flooding zones , and in the US alone, over 36 million people currently face the threat of flooding. The FLOAT House prototype proposes a sustainable way of living that adapts to this uncertain reality..To protect from flooding, the FLOAT House can rise vertically on guide posts, securely floating up to twelve feet as water levels rise. In the event of a flood, the house’s chassis acts as a raft, guided by steel masts, which are anchored to the ground by two concrete pile caps each with six 45-foot deep piles..Like the vernacular New Orleans shotgun house, the FLOAT House sits on a 4-foot base; rather than permanently raising the house on ten foot or higher stilts, the house only rises in case of severe flooding. This configuration accommodates a traditional front porch, preserving of the community’s vital porch culture and facilitating accessibility for elderly and disabled residents..While not designed for occupants to remain in the home during a hurricane, the FLOAT House aims to minimize catastrophic damage and preserve the homeowner’s investment in their property. This approach also allows for the early return of occupants in the aftermath of a hurricane or flood..Make It: Green: A high-performance house that generates and sustains its own water and power needs..On track for a LEED Platinum Rating, the FLOAT House is an innovative model for affordable, net-zero annual energy consumption housing. High-performance systems sustain the home’s power, air, and water needs, and minimize resource consumption:

• Solar Power Generation: The roof supports solar panels that generate all of the house’s power, resulting in net-zero annual energy consumption. The chassis incorporates electrical systems to store and convert solar power for daily use, and to give back to the electrical grid during the temperate fall and spring months.
• Rainwater Collection: The sloped concave roof collects rainwater, and funnels it to cisterns housed in the chassis, where it is filtered and stored for daily use.
• Efficient Systems—including low-flow plumbing fixtures, low-energy appliances, high performance windows, and highly insulated SIPs (Structural Insulated Panel) walls and roof—minimize water and power consumption, and lower the lifecycle cost for the home owner.
• High-grade energy efficient kitchen, appliances and fixtures maximize durability and reduce the need for replacement.
• Geothermal Heating and Cooling: A geothermal mechanical system heats and cools the air via a ground source heat pump, which naturally conditions the air, minimizing the energy required to cool the house in the harsh summer months and heat it in winter..

See our post on another home for Make It Right for post-Katrina New Orleans: Residential Architecture: Duplex by Frank Gehry for Make it Right.

designalog : contact

image: © Iwan Baan; article: “The FLOAT House – Make it Right / Morphosis Architects” 02 Aug 2012. ArchDaily. <http://www.archdaily.com/259629&gt;