Cabin Placement on Site

The location on the map that I have chose for my cabin is near the fibonacci falls off Datum Drive. I chose this location because it has good access to the road and will allow me to orientate my cabin in the direction I desire within close proximity of some body of water. (Location seen below).

Location Map - Scale - 1:10000

Area map showing surrounding houses - Scale - 1:1000

In this location on the map the house will benefit through various natural cooling methods. As the location is based on a Brisbane climate, it is important to note the sun paths throughout the year and the dominant wind directions. These sun paths can be seen below in the "Site Research" post.

The house will be orientated in a north - south direction to maximise the view, allowing all rooms in the house a view over the stream. This orientation and the design of the cabin downstairs will allow everyday living to occur with views also to the east towards the CBD.

Site Plan - 1:100

The block size is large with the house located in the middle to give as much of a natural environment surrounding as possible. this will allow the heat to be absorbed by the grass and the trees to keep the house cool. The trees and plants will also direct air movement towards the house which is a very important cooling method.

The streams surrounding the house will allow for evaporative cooling methods as the winds from the North east and West direction use the bodies of water to cool down.

Site Research

Wind Directions for Specific Climate

Wind rose - 9am Winter

Wind Rose 3pm - Winter

Wind Rose - 9am Summer

Wind Rose 3pm Summer

Sun Path over Site

Map of City

References

Wind Roses sources from http://www.bom.gov.au/

Sun Path diagram: http://www.worls.qld.gov.au/downloads/tdd/ss_house/sp_bris.pdf

Redesign of Cabin

My design is based on the Maison A Bordeaux and displays a few similarities to the house. I felt I should use this house and then try to improve it to cope with the hot Brisbane climate, whilst maintaining aspects of the original design.

The redesign of the cabin has taken into account the three concepts of Firmness, commodity and delight, and used these for the design. Firstly i will delve further into these concepts.


The house is an environmental filter:

• Systematic design logic
• Building performance
• Climatic Filter
• Structural resolution
• Technology
• Resources

Furthermore Macro-environment:

• Orientation
• Sun Movement
• Sun Control
• Ventilation
• Wind
• Rainfall
• Noise
• Climate
• Weather

Micro-Environment:

• Site Condition
• Access
• Topography
• Aspect
• Views
• Vegetation
• Neighbours
• Day lighting
  

The house is a container of human activities

• Spatial relationships
• Adjacencies
• Circulation
• Functionality
• Context
• Family Profile and needs
• Zoning of activities
• Space distribution
• Schedule of areas
  

The house is a delightful experience

• Form
• Expression
• Aesthetics
• Composition
• Materials
• Structure
• Tectonics
• Materiality: and
• Sensory Experiences
  
  

Three dimensional volumetric exterior presentation

Section: North - South - Scale 1:100


Section: East - West - Scale 1:100

Plan View - Bottom Level - Scale 1:100

Plan View - Top Level - Scale 1:100

Elevation of cabin - Scale 1:100

The house is an Environmental Filter:

• This cabin was built with the intention of keeping the inhabitants cool and comfortable in the harsh and unpredictable Brisbane climate. This cabin is designed specifically for this environment, taking into account the sun, wind and heat. It ensures the residence will not have to worry about weather affecting their everyday living inside the house. The design of the house is based on the design of the Maison A Bordeaux and uses some of its features to suit the Brisbane climate.
• The house filters out the climate through the use of materials, ventilation, orientation and shape.
• The structure is predominantly made of concrete to ensure a strong, durable shell, which can be shaped and constructed in a way to suit the design.
• The house is fitted with basic air conditioning to aid the house if conditions are too severe, but should not require the equipment.
• The house is orientated in a north - south direction with the rear of the house facing the north for views and climatic benefits.
• The house takes into consideration the sun path of Brisbane and has been positioned and built so during the day living is done without direct sunlight and so that dawn and dusk doesn't create any problems
• Port holes in the concrete on each side of the house allow some rays of sun to enter the house. This will allow natural lighting throughout the day without the discomfort of too much sun
• Some of the portholes are also able to be opened, allowing wind to travel through the house and create cross ventilation. Large doors and openings are also located downstairs so that through the day, natural ventilation travels through the house keeping the inhabitants cool.
• All portholes and doors can be closed so that severe winds can be kept out. The portholes are also different sizes meaning the wind entering the house can be controlled.
• The top level of the house is wider and longer than the bottom meaning rainfall is kept away from the entry points of the house

• The cabin is located at the rear of the site away from the road, meaning minimal noise should be heard.
  
• The cabin is located near the top of the mountain meaning it will have large views to the north. Its position on the back of the site means it will also get views of the Charette CBD.
• The living area opens up to a large yard looking to the north and east so users will have views throughout the day and night.
• The site contains much vegetation in grass, plants and trees to increase the heat absorbed by the ground. This will keep the house cool and also provides shade and entertaining areas throughout the site.
• As the block sizes in the area are large, users will not have to worry about the neighbours to a great degree.

The house is a container of human activities:

• The cabin has been designed to keep public entertaining areas to the lower level and private and personal spaces on the top level





• The design allows for everyday living to be undertaken on the lower level while sleeping, working and reflecting can be done upstairs away from others.




• 


• The house is designed to be done around the working office space. This space takes up the middle level and is designed to be a 'platform' that everyday life revolves around.



• The cabin functions well through the daytime activities on the bottom level and night time on top. This allows little movement between spaces and provides all spaces within close proximity

The house is delightful experience:

• The house shows obvious signs of delight through the form of the cabin. It takes on an unusual form like the Maison A Bordeaux and gives a unique experience that is a joy to inhabit.

• The colour and use of materials, combined with the site landscape and position give off a beautiful and comfortable feel. The addition of surrounding view and quiet neighbourhood mean the cabin will provide a very relaxing space.

• Materials used in the cabin have been chosen to suit the Brisbane landscape and show form to the original Maison A Bordeaux.
  
  Materials used:

Walls - Concrete (Top level)

- Glass (Bottom Level)

Floor - Concrete (Bottom level)

- Timer and carpet (Top floor)

Roof - Reflective colour bond

- Sheet insulation

- Plasterboard interior of roof

• The main structure of the house is held through the thick concrete walls. As much of the bottom floor is glass, a thick beam has been included near the rear of the house to help support. A tall metal column with horizontal beam is also located on the side of the house for extra support. (These are all features of the Maison A Bordeaux)


• 
  In the house the main sensory function used will be of course sight. This is due to the natural lighting that will occur through the day. Noise will be kept to a minimum due to the distance and low amount of surrounding neighbours.

Chosen house: Maison A Bordeaux, France - OMA

I chose the Maison A Bordeaux because I believe it is truly a spectacular and unique design, and would have much potential in a redesign. I find the whole story behind its design and construction amazing and respect the Architect and owner extensively for its existence. I believe it would be interesting and very much possible to bring this design to the Brisbane climate and use some of its original features to suit the Brisbane climate and fit in with the requirements of the brief.


Plan View - Level 1 (Underground)

Plan View - Level 2 (ground Level)

Plan View - Level 3 (Top Level)

House Elevation

Perspective View of Top floor

Perspective View of Bottom Floor (Underground)

Exemplar 1: OMA - Maison A Bordeaux

Plan view of Maison A Bordeaux
(GIZMODO, 2008)


The house is an environmental filter:

The houses position atop the hill allows the natural environment to play a vital role in the conditions of the house. The middle living area of the home is essentially a glass room, allowing maximum light in and reduce the requirement for synthetic lighting. The glass room which takes up half the level is open out towards the view allowing wind to pass into the house.

(OMA, 2010)

The lower level which is cavern level below ground is sheltered from most light during the day. This below ground positioning will mean little heat is able to penetrate into these rooms. As this level is used for more intimate family life, it is less used during the day and will therefore require less natural lighting. The outside space is also covered in grass, meaning natural cooling will come into place through the absorption of heat into the ground rather than the house.

The top level contains bedrooms and more personal spaces and controls light through the 'portholes' carved into the concrete walls on each side. The large porthole at the end of the house can also be opened, allowing breezes to pass into the house and through the other side, keeping the environment cool. The green environment around the home will allow natural cooling and with the high positioning and location, the house should remain a good temperature throughout the summer. The below ground level combined with the concrete shell of the house should mean the house is kept at a warm temperature throughout summer too.

(GIZMODO, 2008)

The house is a container of human activities:

This house is has diverse use for human activities due to the reasons for its construction. The male owner of the house became wheelchair bound, but still requested a complexity to the design. The house allows for private uses on the top and bottom floor, while the middle floor allows for daytime activities and more entertaining or public gatherings.

The unique form of the house comes in the 3 x 3.5m lift located towards the rear of the house. this lift provides the man with all of his everyday office needs and more, while allowing him to travel between all three floors.

(Image OMA, 2008)

All everyday activities can be undertaken on the middle floor and it is only the family that requires any other space. Furthermore the house has been designed with a courtyard area that separates the normal house from the guesthouse/cleaners house. The house itself contains 5 bedrooms while the guest house contains 2.

(Image OMA, 2008)

The house is a delightful experience:

The house provides an enjoyable experience to those who live in it and those who visit it through its unique and well thought out design. Inhabitants are able to site in the middle level and enjoy the spectacular views over Bordeaux or can go off to their own personal space and do whatever they wish. The house provides good separation through the use of thick concrete walls and unusual wall positioning to give rooms different shapes and sizes.

(Image OMA, 2008)

Time Magazine named Rem Koolhaas's Maison à Bordeaux "Best Design of 1998." The house was designed to accommodate a man who was confined to a wheel chair after an automobile accident. Koolhaas describes the building as three houses because it has three separate sections layered on top of one another.


The lowest part, Koolhaas says, is "a series of caverns carved out from the hill for the most intimate life of the family."


The middle section is a smaller 3 x 3.5 meter (10 x 10.75 feet ) glass room where the wheelchair bound resident has his private living area. The entire room is an elevator platform which rises and lowers to other levels of the house. Bookshelves line one wall of the elevator shaft.
The upper level, which Koolhaas calls the "top house," has separate areas for the husband and wife and for their children
(Architecture.about, 2010)

The lowest level is cave-like - a series of caverns carved out from the hill for the most intimate life of the family.The highest house is divided in a house for the couple and a house for the children.The most important house is almost invisible, sandwiched in-between: a glass room - half inside, half outside - for living. (Bradbury, 2009)

The man had his own «room», or rather «station». A lift, 3 by 3.5 m. that moved freely between the 3 houses; changing plan and performance when it "locked” into one of the floors or floated above. A single «wall» intersected each house, next to the elevator. It contained everything the husband might need - books, artwork and in the cellar, wine...The movement of the elevator changed each time the architecture of the house. A machine is its heart. (e-architect, 2010)

References

Architecture.about, 2010 http://architecture.about.com/library/blkoolhaas-maisonbordeaux.htm (Accessed 12/3/2010)

e-architect, 2010 http://www.e-architect.co.uk/bordeaux/maison_a_bordeaux.htm (Accessed 13/3/2010)

GIZMODO. 2008. http://www.gizmodo.fr/2008/03/29/koolhaas_la_maison_transformers.html (Accessed 15/3/2010)


Bradbury, Dominic. 2009. The Iconic House: Architectural masterworks since 1900. Thames and Hudson. 2009.

(OMA) Office For Metropolitan Architecture.2010. http://www.oma.nl/ (Accessed 14/3/2010)