Villa Grow

One of the challenges of prefab housing solutions is that not all families live the same way, resulting on standard environments not suitable for family living. With this in mind, KKA (Kjellgren Kaminsky Architecture) desgined Villa Grow, a Villa that is adaptable to all to all kinds of families and can be extended as they grow.

This villas have a common basic unit that can be extended by adding new modules. The angles at the end of each unit allow for different orientations, on which you can have a linear house, a patio house, or an organic layout that opens to the landscape. They can even be put together to form a large neighbor.

Interesting presentation on how an evolving family (single with dog, just married, 2 kids…) can grow its house by just adding modules as needed, a true custom prefab.

The Villas are sold in the United Kingdom and Sweden, and are produced by Kjellgren Kaminsky and Emrahus.

I think this is a really interesting proposal and touches on parts of my big idea, about different types of housing that cater for different demographics of people (diversity)and how these models are integrated in a community sense!

RMJM launch new housing design in response to tough financial climate

UK-based international architects RMJM launched the ‘MiLoft’ design, with its rooftop ‘aloftments’, at the international property market MIPIM in Cannes this week. The concept is targeted at homeowners who wish to experience loft style living, without the need to buy a penthouse, and true affordability both in terms of purchase cost and energy usage.

In addition to protecting the environment by using zero carbon technology and sustainable materials, the MiLoft design will mean significant savings for homeowners and occupants with minimal energy usage and running costs. By using innovative ‘Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery’ (MVHR) technology designed by award-winning Max Fordham Consulting Engineers, heat generated within the home – such as body heat and heat from household appliances - is reused to maintain indoor air temperature at a constant level, negating the need for a traditional heating system. In the summer, the dual aspect, double height loft-style and open plan living space will provide natural ventilation in high temperatures, reducing the requirement for air conditioning for hot climates. Rain water is collected from the roof and redistributed for toilet flushing.

In addition to meeting government targets for sustainability, the new housing model has a low construction cost, starting at £55,000 per unit, and the modular design, with shallow foundations requiring little groundwork, means that the blocks can take only five months to build. Made from responsibly sourced timber with steel stiffeners, the units are designed to fit on the back of a truck for easy transportation from the factory direct to the site.

MiLoft is the brainchild of RMJM’s Group Design Director Tony Kettle, who is also responsible for the design of Gazprom’s Ohkta Tower in St Petersburg, which will become the tallest tower in Europe and one of the most low energy high rise buildings in the world as a result of unique technology which minimises the need for heating despite temperatures dipping to minus 30 degrees.

On his MiLoft concept, Tony Kettle commented: “MiLoft is a new model for urban living providing a far better quality of life with the minimum impact on the environment. In a world hit by recession caused by overconsumption and greed, it illustrates that good things need not cost the earth. We aim to revolutionise affordable housing supply across the world.”

Urban Agriculture - Building Center

This is an exhibition at the Building Center (Date: Main Gallery, 9 April - 30 May 2009)

A must see for me as it may have an impact on my major project!

Exhibition Blurb:
In 2007 Lord Cameron of Dillington, first head of the Countryside Agency, famously remarked Britain was ‘nine meals away from anarchy.’ Our food supply is almost totally dependent on oil (95% of the food we eat is oil-dependent) and if the oil supply to Britain were suddenly cut off Lord Cameron estimated it would take just three full days before law and order broke down. We rely on a particularly vulnerable system. Britain needs to seriously invest in agriculture infrastructure if we are to avoid food crisis.

Cities are the most likely to feel the effects of any food shortages. In 2000 consultants Best Foot Forward estimated that Londoners consumed 6.9 million tonnes of food per year, of which 81% came from outside the UK. With a weakening pound importing food has become increasingly expensive. The transformation of cities from consumers of food to generators of agricultural products not only increases food security but contributes to sustainability, improved health and poverty alleviation.

This exhibition demonstrates various methods by which food production can be incorporated into the urban environment at both an industrial and domestic level. We hope to help stimulate the debate and raise public awareness of our increasingly fragile relationship with the food on which we rely on and the method of bringing it to our table.

New Energy

EcoBuild Notes

> URBAN PARKS - CLIMATE CHANGE
- CO2 emissions.
- Projections are that London will get hotter, Longer dry periods as well as intensity of rain issues increased.
- The Urban Heat island effect! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_heat_island)
- Urban Flooding - look at the Thames Barrier for evidence.
- So what are parks for? Community recreation space/function. Parks are effected by climate change - they could become unusable in the future!
- So a more functional green space is needed for future development.
- "Green Infrastructure" - Urban greening, look at the Major's climate change strategy.
- Sustainable drainage - rain gardens as drainage systems.
- Also Sunshine gardens - drought tolerant gardens.
- Mediating micro-environments through the use of street trees - major strategy.
- Restoring rivers - store water in public spaces. Scud systems - transforming the street-scape.
- And food storage - can the community grow there own food?
- Refitting of green roofs - retain water, both store and drain.
- Look at the New Olympic Park - integrating parks into urban developments.

> LUKE ENGLEBECK
- Adapting the public realm for the changing climate change.
- Look on Ecobuild website for recorded presentations.
- Over Half of the worlds population live in cities!!!!
- Look at One-Planet Living - Kevin Mcleod.
- UK - 90% of people live in urban areas - look at Victorian Industrial Resolution.
- We need to think in terms of sustainable retreat - prof James Lovelock.
- John Ruskin - Public Change.
- Eco Urbanism - multidimension, sustainable human communities - Miguel Romano.
- Nicolas Stern=Jan2009 - look at the stern report.
- Saving energy through innovations in the public realm.
- Correlation between greenery and buildings - trees cool the atmosphere.
- Green Walls - Seville green mist cooling!
- 82% OF LONDONS FOOD IS IMPORTED FROM ABROAD!
- Shenyang - use public spaces to grow food-must look further into this!
- Food Production, forest garden - Community farms and Allotments (even on balconies).
- The longer the GRASS the greater the Bio-diversity. Also the greater the rain storage, saves carbon!
- Storing Carbon in the soil - carbon saving with longer grass (US, Straton - saving on streetscape)
- Green Roof/walls - provide insulation and improve air quality. Look @ green wall in Hatton Garden!
- Calling on community action for a sustainable future.
- WATER = Live-able surfaces
- Sustainable drainage - keeps vegetation going!
- Re-using water through building surfaces and services - grey water. Irrigate the public realm.
- Community Action.
- Incorporate food production into urban grain.
- Potential for self sustainable communities!

> GROUNDWORK FEDERATION - use the community through the design and the manufacture!

> BACA (Dordrecht Floodproof Pilot) - LIFE GUIDE
- Potzdamerplatz - greenroofs - recycling water - irrigation - lake on a carpark!
- Look @ Paradise Park-London.
- Evaporation-combining green roofs and photovoltaic's.

> DESIGN FOR BIODIVERSITY!

- Ecosystems service system - dusty@dustygedge.co.uk

> IS MODERN ARCHITECTURE TRULY SUSTAINABLE
- 1st Hopkins Architects
- 2nd Make Architects

> WHOSE GOT THE PLAN??
Toby Lloyd
- Ecotowns - growth agenda.
- Developers bankrupt
- Long-term quality - uk is getting worse.
- Not building enough.
- Section 106
- New towns program
- New ways of building housing; sustainable - new communities.

Christian Wolmar
- Better Transport Links
- People are dependent on transport - their cars!
- Politics - money!
- 2 parent family - work in different locations; children - schools.
- Look at Gronigen, Holland.
- LDF - engaging the community.
- Ideas to layout green spaces first - Sir Terry Farrel, look at his planning ideas.
- Ecotowns - sustainable communities - government plan - is it really sustainable??
- A new plan, rethinking - less travel, less CO2.
- Look @ manchester - greener city campaign.
- Ecotowns are really eco-villages. The principles are there but transforming EXISTING TOWNS IS MORE IMPORTANT.
- No we dont want them, he says. we would be better off extending the existing fabric.
- We're not currently building the houses people need - better housing is needed - SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS!
- New housing needs to be bolted onto existing infrastructure and transport.
- Look @ holland! = LADYSTUD.

Business Unit Questions

> Annual Turnover - how much money does the company make?
> What is the company service
> Target Audience/market - consumer
> Where are they based - location
> Where does the company operate?
> Employees - staff
> History - How did they start?
> Company Development
> Growth - future
> Company Structure
> Company Culture
> How is the company innovative?
> How are they branded?
> How are they coping with the current economic crisis?
> Strengths & Weaknesses?
> Opportunities and threats to future development
> Who are the leaders or leader of the company?
> How are people employed/rewarded?
> How have they learnt from previous company?
> Why are they moving offices?? Money?
> How do differentiate themselves in their market?
> What is their market?
> Evaluation of Company?
> Do they rely on specific personnel too much??
> Customer Feedback?
> Employee Feedback?
> How do they integrate new technologies?
> How are they getting themselves out there?? The brand Name in the market?
> Company statistics, growth etc?
> What have employee's done previously?? degrees etc??
> Biography?
> What is Flourish's ethos??
> Future Projects??
> Income/expenditure??
> Profit/Annual turnover?
> Share Prices, Salaries??
> How was it starting the company?
> Are there new areas they want to go into??
> Why start company?
> Company Values??
> What make you different??

Giant Eco-Egg Skyscraper: A Conceptual Luxury Hotel

Giant Eco-Egg Skyscraper

From the unseen, unsung files of design competitions past comes the Envision Green Hotel proposed by Miami-based Michael Rosenthal Associates for Hospitality Design’s Radical Innovation design competition. Part wind tower, part urban eco-resort, and all egg, this “lobular” structure is touted as one of the most recognizable landmarks for the city in which it would ultimately be…laid. Inhabitat leaves it up to you to decide whether this is an egg-cellent idea or something not quite fully hatched.

Operating like a living organism, the Envision literally breathes through its wind and atmospheric conversion systems, which allow natural air into the interior of the building without mechanical intervention. Photovoltaic exterior sheathing provides the building’s energy, while indoor gardens at various levels of the structure act as upward extensions of the earth, creating mini-microclimates that filter the air and act as added insulation. Recycled pools of water around the structure serve as catch basins, water reservoirs, fire barriers, and indispensable decorative aquatic features. Power from the wind turbine heats the boiler and creates steam for the chiller water plant beneath the structure to cool and heat the hotel.

Within the hotel, rooms would be designed on a 4 foot multiple to conform to standard-sized materials and reduce construction waste. A high-efficiency LED system would illuminate the interiors, and non-toxic, non-off-gassing finishes would be employed. Besides the typical water-efficient fixtures, this eco resort would use recovered rainwater for flushing and irrigation. The rooms would also include a mood pad control unit that would allow each guest to control the lighting and choose groovy digital images that would reflect behind glass walls and ceilings.

To help this giant eco-egg blend even more subtly into the surrounding urban context, exterior LED curtain walls would change color throughout the night to indicate the progression of time, making the Envision glow in the night like a giant, moody Fabergé egg.