Finale: Poster + Model

Poster (1)

Poster (2)












(poster 3:coming!)


Pictures of the model.

Mosman 3:Progress Development

This week, we concentrated on materials.

Selection of materials

For windows,we've decided (and it was also suggested by our tutor, Sean) to install double glazed windows in all areas so that it could keep the house warm during the night

For the roof,we've tried a couple of materials like mudbricks, strawbale and rammed earth.
And we have difficulties in choosing due to the shape of our roof.

For walls and floors,we've decided to use concrete because its high capacity in thermal mass.

This is a picture of a rammed earth wall

Rammed Earth Construction

Rammed earth is a simple construction technique based on compacting earth between formwork to make a homogeneous mass wall. It has recently become popular in Australia, the USA and other parts of the world because it is recognised as a sustainable building material. Few realise the full extent of historic rammed earth construction and the varied techniques used in the past.

To construct a rammed earth wall, a formwork box is constructed using two parallel timber sides, supported on two or more horizontal timbers. Vertical timbers are then placed through holes in the ends of the horizontal timbers thereby restraining the formwork. These vertical timbers are connected at the top using rope, forming an open box.

Soil is taken from the ground and if necessary sieved to remove larger particles. Additives such as straw or lime may be mixed into the soil, which is then dropped into the formwork in layers, usually around 150mm high. The layer is then compacted using a heavy rammer. Upon compaction of one layer, another layer of earth is placed in the formwork and the process repeated until the formwork is full.

The formwork is then removed and placed on the next set of horizontal timbers where the process is repeated. Once the formwork has been moved on, the horizontal timbers are removed from the wall leaving characteristic holes. Upon completion of one horizontal level the formwork is moved vertically, the mass of standing wall being known as a lift. A rammed earth wall can thus be constructed using very little manpower and crucially without recourse to temporary works such as external scaffolding.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3Drammed%2Bearth%26fr%3Dytff1-wdgt%26fr2%3Dtab-web%26fr%3Dytff1-wdgt&w=242&h=234&imgurl=www.dur.ac.uk%2Fp.a.jaquin%2Fimages%2Frammed_earth_formwork.gif&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dur.ac.uk%2Fp.a.jaquin%2Frammed_earth.htm&size=9.4kB&name=rammed_earth_formwork.gif&p=rammed+earth&type=gif&no=1&tt=8,101&oid=99f992e0c5077a9a&ei=UTF-8

Mosman 3:Design Development

How 3 designs were combined into one.

Initially, we agreed to take Munya's design (re:week 9/10 initial drawings) as our main design feature,and Ilya's roofing system( for the roofing system) as well as Kartina's water feature concept into the design. So we've taken the pros and cons from each of our design and combined it into one.

And oh,not to forget, we did take into consideration as well the comments from the client group and the tutors.

Munya's design(Comments from the client group and tutor(alex)
-great design.
-not too sure about the location of the rooms and bathrooms
-great ventilation system

Ilya's design
-great roofing system
-the tutor also commented on the glass windows,he suggested glass windows should be put to all north windows and eaves should be installed where the windows are located.
-she has used concrete as her main material ,and the tutor commented on that saying with concrete houses like these it is not a good idea to use stilts.


Kartina's design
-good water feature -for cooling effect
-comments from the client group:the site is independant.(must find source for electricity and water)
-too much space used(minima concept should be applied)


So,we the pros and cons,we've decided to analyse more on how to make the house:
a)energy sufficient
b)minimal
c)cool ( and thats because its hotter during summer and we would like to concentrate on the main criteria of this climate--hot-dry)

Mosman 3:Week 9/10 Progress + Development

We were asked by our tutor to do a research on the sun angle and rainfall analysis.

Here are the results:
That's for the annual rainfall.We've come to a conclusion that it doesn't rain as much in a year. So probably for the chosen material it would be the best if we were to use mudbrick (because we need to reapply the material at least, after every wet season)

And here is the result for the calculated sun angle

Mosman 3:Week 9 Design Development

Each of us were asked to produce our initial sketches/drawings of what we think might be the ideal design for our chosen climate.

And here are some of the scanned images from Munya,Ilya and Kartina.

Munya's Design

Basically, Munya's design concentrates on the ventilation of the house, thermal mass and other aspects such as the sun angle (how far the eaves should go,etc.)

Ilya's Design

Ilya's design is concentrated on ventilation of air through the house and she has designed an open courtyard for the air cooling effect during the day.

Kartina"s design

Kartina has concentrated on building a space where it could symbolize a village.Unfortunately, the task requires the minima concept. She has also included a few water feature concept such as ponds to keep the are cool during the day.

The designs were then discussed with our tutor and then the designs were later combined into one.