"Kay e Sante nan Ayiti"
Housing Competition
St. Marc, Haiti
Housing Competition
St. Marc, Haiti
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
There are a number of equally important conceptual goals of this project. One was to find a thoroughly modern language that speaks to deeply rooted Haitian urban and social traditions. It was also important to learn from past mistakes made by the building trades in Haiti while bringing new building traditions to the people of Haiti.
Another goal was to meld active and passive approaches to sustainability into one flexible, scalable and recyclable solution that is both ecologically sound and economically viable.
Sustainability Categories as defined by the USGBC for LEED Certification:
SS Sustainable Site
We have devised a site strategy that will maximize sustainability by minimizing the impact of the building on the site. The local ecosystems and waterways will be preserved by allowing natural, free-flowing drainage under major areas of each housing unit.
SS Sustainable Site
We have devised a site strategy that will maximize sustainability by minimizing the impact of the building on the site. The local ecosystems and waterways will be preserved by allowing natural, free-flowing drainage under major areas of each housing unit.
Disturbance of the topsoil will be minimized through the use of prefabricated foundation units that only require 12 inch diameter pylons for support. Individual courtyards will feature regionally appropriate landscaping and native crops like Mango trees and Banana trees to both shade the private outdoor areas and provide supplemental incomes for residents. Herbs, vegetables and other edible plants can also be grown. Storm water runoff and erosion will be dealt with through a rainwater collection system coupled with respect for natural drainage patterns in the area.
WE Water Efficiency
Potable water will be supplied by collecting rainwater from the butterfly roof and filtering. Cisterns over each bathroom and over the kitchen will store water that will be used for toilets. Drinking water will undergo an osmosis and UV purification process before use. All fixtures will be low-flow, high efficiency, gravity fed appliances. Any excess water will be directed towards the landscaping outside.
Potable water will be supplied by collecting rainwater from the butterfly roof and filtering. Cisterns over each bathroom and over the kitchen will store water that will be used for toilets. Drinking water will undergo an osmosis and UV purification process before use. All fixtures will be low-flow, high efficiency, gravity fed appliances. Any excess water will be directed towards the landscaping outside.
EA Energy & Atmosphere
Innovative strategies in this category include ample opportunities to tune the indoor atmosphere by use of sun shading, breeze channeling and natural ventilation strategies to provide comfort and mitigate airborne contaminates. The precast walls provide ample insulation properties while also providing thermal mass properties. The living pavilion with its folding canopy doors and high ceiling is well suited for Haiti’s tropical climate.
Innovative strategies in this category include ample opportunities to tune the indoor atmosphere by use of sun shading, breeze channeling and natural ventilation strategies to provide comfort and mitigate airborne contaminates. The precast walls provide ample insulation properties while also providing thermal mass properties. The living pavilion with its folding canopy doors and high ceiling is well suited for Haiti’s tropical climate.
And, the very compact sleeping rooms found under the butterfly roof funnel air through clerestory openings that channel air over each bed, allowing the Upper-room Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation lighting system to destroy any contagions that try to enter or leave each sleeping room.
MR Materials & Resources
In order to reduce construction waste and reduce materials and resource usage, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete or AAC, has been specified. This material is very light weight, highly insulating and easily transported. Moreover, we are proposing that the AAC components be precast in Haiti by Haitians. This fire, hurricane and mold resistant material can be engineered to withstand earthquakes and will be shipped to the site fully reinforced to meet all structural requirements. The recent earthquake brought about the realities of structural stability to the forefront of the building industry. This AAC system as a prefabricated component ensures that safety standards, inherently subjective to builders in masonry units, are no longer problematic.
In order to reduce construction waste and reduce materials and resource usage, Autoclaved Aerated Concrete or AAC, has been specified. This material is very light weight, highly insulating and easily transported. Moreover, we are proposing that the AAC components be precast in Haiti by Haitians. This fire, hurricane and mold resistant material can be engineered to withstand earthquakes and will be shipped to the site fully reinforced to meet all structural requirements. The recent earthquake brought about the realities of structural stability to the forefront of the building industry. This AAC system as a prefabricated component ensures that safety standards, inherently subjective to builders in masonry units, are no longer problematic.
Precasting also reduces waste and makes for quick and efficient construction on site. An initial prototype may have to be shipped from abroad but this proposal endeavors to develop new industries for Haiti and jobs for Haitians while providing sturdy and permanent homes.
IQ Indoor Environmental Quality
Natural ventilation, natural daylight and the mediation between public and private views are all key aspects of this design. Several layers of screening devices are employed in order to control/manage, entry/exit of air, light, water and people. The various sliding, folding and swinging devices provided create conditions for optimal air flow and quality. Increasing the natural flow of ventilation throughout all of the spaces become key, through large openings and the natural stack effect of the raised roof of the butterfly system.
Natural ventilation, natural daylight and the mediation between public and private views are all key aspects of this design. Several layers of screening devices are employed in order to control/manage, entry/exit of air, light, water and people. The various sliding, folding and swinging devices provided create conditions for optimal air flow and quality. Increasing the natural flow of ventilation throughout all of the spaces become key, through large openings and the natural stack effect of the raised roof of the butterfly system.
LL Locations & Linkages
The proposed houses are built near already-existing infrastructure, community resources and a road. The design provides for more than adequate open space for walking, physical activity (gardening) and time spent outdoors.
The proposed houses are built near already-existing infrastructure, community resources and a road. The design provides for more than adequate open space for walking, physical activity (gardening) and time spent outdoors.
AE Awareness & Education
The Features that makes this home green are designed to be an integral part to the architectural design. Thus, the prototype will function as a teaching tool, disseminating knowledge about environmental building practices to all who encounter these buildings.
The Features that makes this home green are designed to be an integral part to the architectural design. Thus, the prototype will function as a teaching tool, disseminating knowledge about environmental building practices to all who encounter these buildings.
With a mix of high and low technology appropriate for Haiti, this prototype seeks to be easy to operate and maintain.
ID Innovation in Design
Several Innovations in Design are proposed in this prototype housing unit. Using precast building components instead of concrete or cinder block is one example. Precast construction will eliminate the problems now associated with concrete buildings by having all reinforcement integrated into the material in a factory setting, not on the construction site. Also, these building components can be easily disassembled and moved if necessary, making expansion or contraction very quick and economical. Another innovative solution involves the various screens. Some screens are made with sugar cane stalks, a readily available material in this area. Other screens are made from ironwork scrapes salvage for earthquake debris, recycled and refashioned.
Several Innovations in Design are proposed in this prototype housing unit. Using precast building components instead of concrete or cinder block is one example. Precast construction will eliminate the problems now associated with concrete buildings by having all reinforcement integrated into the material in a factory setting, not on the construction site. Also, these building components can be easily disassembled and moved if necessary, making expansion or contraction very quick and economical. Another innovative solution involves the various screens. Some screens are made with sugar cane stalks, a readily available material in this area. Other screens are made from ironwork scrapes salvage for earthquake debris, recycled and refashioned.
Health and Design
Every aspect of the design was driven by the need to improve and/or maintain the health of the occupants. The low bar with the butterfly roof has been orientated to catch the breeze and provide natural ventilation for the sleeping modules. That same butterfly roof also functions as a water collector and solar collector mount. Also, its underside has been calibrated to funnel air across the beds of the sick. As air flows through the clerestory it will be disinfected. The roof form direct the current over the bed, up and out – once again getting a dose of UV irradiation thereby providing protection for those outside. The sleeping modules open out to a cascade of stairs that lead to an ample garden which offers both activity and contemplation. With the high garden wall and various screens the lush courtyard offers economic, ecological and emotional regeneration. In both physical and conceptual counterpoint, the living pavilion offers a breezy, high ceiling, shaded and easily cleaned indoor/outdoor, public/private transitional space that is flexible and functional. All living areas are lifted of the ground to provide flood protection. Sturdy materials provide a sense of well being and a hint of visual tension. The design is ultimately an essay on architecture as connection.
Every aspect of the design was driven by the need to improve and/or maintain the health of the occupants. The low bar with the butterfly roof has been orientated to catch the breeze and provide natural ventilation for the sleeping modules. That same butterfly roof also functions as a water collector and solar collector mount. Also, its underside has been calibrated to funnel air across the beds of the sick. As air flows through the clerestory it will be disinfected. The roof form direct the current over the bed, up and out – once again getting a dose of UV irradiation thereby providing protection for those outside. The sleeping modules open out to a cascade of stairs that lead to an ample garden which offers both activity and contemplation. With the high garden wall and various screens the lush courtyard offers economic, ecological and emotional regeneration. In both physical and conceptual counterpoint, the living pavilion offers a breezy, high ceiling, shaded and easily cleaned indoor/outdoor, public/private transitional space that is flexible and functional. All living areas are lifted of the ground to provide flood protection. Sturdy materials provide a sense of well being and a hint of visual tension. The design is ultimately an essay on architecture as connection.
Competition Organization Website http://www.archiveinstitute.org/haiti
ATELIER AZARA
Copyright © 2010, All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2010, All rights reserved.
Competition Presentation Board
Proposed Site Plan
Floor Plan - Bedroom Module A
Front Entry
Courtyard View of Bedroom Modules
Living Room View @ Entry
Sustainable Components
View of Living Room from Courtyard
Longitudinal Section
January 12, 2010 Earthquake Disaster
Existing Site Photos
