Battersea 5 tutorial 3

Minutes for Tute ~ 11th May 2007-05-12

For the tute we presented one idea in the form of one plan, a section and an elevation; as well as a plasticine working model, which we create as a group to get an idea of the form which we wanted. From the model Richard pointed out that if we intend on using rammed earth for the hill structure, it would not give us the plastic form that our model displayed. He suggested that the plastic shape become more like rammed earth or change the material to give the plastic shape. He liked the construction of the bedroom in the solid thermal mass (in an almost cave like structure) and the use of the windows which were influenced by Le Corbuiser’s Notre Dame du Haut, through into the bedroom spaces.

We discussed the importance of protection for bugs (mostly flies and mozzies) in the desert and to make the out living spaces a more enjoyable place to be, we decided on adapting the screening method that was used in Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House.
Originally we discussed as a group to have the water storage tanks which store the year’s worth of household water that is collected from the roof, under the house. But with the evaporative cooling method that we discussed using the water storage tanks are going to ran along the east and west side of the house. Since most of the wind comes from the east or west. The tanks are required to have big thick walls. The rain will ran down the roof into a box gutter and then down into the storage tanks on the sides of the house.

Richard also brought up that we need to think about the protection of the louvred windows from the east and west sun, he suggested some ideas that we could think about”
~Change the geometry of the hill
~Sit the servant wall out
~Vertical blanket – higher than the glass
~Glass box windows – sun bounces around inside the box

The courtyard – Richard liked the idea of the courtyard being an exterior courtyard inside, our roof over the courtyard opening closed the space in. Richard talked about being in the desert and enjoying the desert sky, especially at night. However we counld open the courtyard completely, we still had to protect from the north sun. So it was suggested that we only cover a secton of the courtyard – maybe ¾ of the opening, and to have the roof of the courtyard 1.5 to even 1.75metres from the roof of the building.

AIM FOR NEXT WEEK
~Fix wall – make hill look less plastic or find materials that can make the plastic shape possible
~Refine – last tute in the last one before hand-in
~The possible layout of the posters

OVERALL: 'The concept works well, and the ideas are coming together. It is tying together well.'