Prototype Development

This week various iterations of shipping container shapes were modeled into groupings to find the best combination to use as a standard configuration that will be replicated to create the residential development on the site.

Several of the proposed iterations were tested both in model and in sketch up to look at how they interacted when replicated and to look at the views from and into the units in the development.  The goal is to have a tightly knit grouping of units that avoids direct views on the same level into neighboring units.

Site Updates and Prototype Development

Types of trees for tree farm:

"Hardwood" is a common term used to describe deciduous trees, meaning broad leafed trees that drop their leaves in the autumn. Hardwood trees are distinguished from softwood trees, which are also known as coniferous or evergreen, and characterized by needles rather than leaves, which remain on the tree throughout the winter. In general, hardwoods produce a fruit or a nut, while softwoods produce a cone.
Some of the more common North American hardwood species include birch, oak, maple, cherry, walnut, beech, hickory, poplar and basswood. These trees are used for many different purposes, from fine cabinetry to firewood. In general, hardwood makes much better firewood than softwood; due to its density and weight, it creates much more heat per cubic foot than does softwood.
http://www.ehow.com/list_7318852_types-trees-hardwood_.html

 http://www.hardwoodinfo.com/articles/view/pro/24/267

Proposed tree types for tree farm:

1. Ash

Where is grows: Throughout the Eastern U.S. White ash trees range in height from 80 to 120 feet with diameter from 2 to 5 feet and a width of 50 to 90 feet.

Main Uses: Furniture, flooring, doors, architectural millwork and moulding, kitchen cabinets, paneling, tool handles, baseball bats, hockey sticks, skis, oars and turnings.

Abundance: 4.6 percent of total U.S. hardwoods commercially available

Description: The sapwood is light-colored to nearly white and the heartwood varies from greyish or light brown, to pale yellow streaked with brown. The wood is generally straight-grained with a coarse uniform texture. The degree and availability of light-colored sapwood, and other properties, will vary according to the growing regions..

Properties: Ash machines well, is good in nailing, screwing and gluing, and can be stained to a very good finish. It dries fairly easily with minimal degrade, and there is little movement in performance.

Ash has very good overall strength properties relative to its weight. It has excellent shock resistance and is good for steam bending.

Availability: Readily availability.
 

2. Black Cherry

Where is Grows: Eastern U.S., principally Northern and Lake states. The average tree is 60 to 70 feet in height and 35 to 50 feet wide.

Main Uses: Fine furniture and cabinet making, mouldings and millwork, kitchen cabinets, paneling, flooring, doors, boat interiors, musical instruments, turnings and carvings.

Abundance: 3.9 percent of total U.S. hardwoods commercially available.

Description: The heartwood of cherry varies from rich red to reddish brown and will darken with age and on exposure to light. In contrast, the sapwood is creamy white. The wood has a fine uniform, straight grain, satiny, smooth texture, and may naturally contain brown pith flecks and small gum pockets.

Properties: Cherry is easy to machine, nails and glues well and when sanded and stained, it produces an excellent smooth finish. It dries fairly quickly with moderately high shrinkage, but is dimensionally stable after kiln-drying.

The wood is of medium density with good bending properties, it has low stiffness and medium strength and shock resistance.

Availability: Readily available.

 

 

 

Both types will be planted 40 feet apart intermixed across the acreage of the tree farm.  The tree farm will blend into the residential zone creating a blurred boundary between the farm and the residential zone.

The projected height of 60-120 feet for the trees on the farm will provide a clear difference in scale between the tree farm and the residential development once the trees have reached maturity.

 

The concept of using the old roadways as guidance was explored- below is a diagram of a possible layout using the first iteration of the prototype.

 

 

 

Next, views from the interiors of the units were considered as these will inform the directional layout of the prototypes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next simple stacking section diagrams are explored to experiment with different spaces that can be created from the simple shape of a cross-section of a shipping container.

 

 

 

Review Week- Site and Evolving Prototype

INSPIRATION:

Double House by MDRDV

Slip House by Carl Turner

Precedent:
Mies van der Rohe's Lafayette Park:

Key design guidelines from Lafayette park to be used as a reference for the proposed urban farm development:

1. First level raised at least 4 feet above associated parking to preserve exterior views.

2. Minimum spacing between buildings of 35' (given 40' x 180' buildings)

3. Maximum spacing between buildings of 145' (given 40' x 180' buildings)

4. Front of buildings is public space, rear of buildings is community/private space

5. Average townhouse SF is 1300 SF

6. Townhouse units are only 2-stories high and fit under the tree canopy

7. Townhouse units fit together lit a puzzle- alternating 2 beds on front or back on second floor every other unit.

8. Play on public and private- nighttime versus daytime; change of seasons effecting foliage

SITE STRATEGY:

-The farm will be a combination of several greenhouse/ hoophouses for year-round organic fruits and vegetables as well as tree farming (combining short-term and long-term farming goals).  Fruits and vegetables to be sold at Eastern Market 2.5 miles away)

-In the proposed site there is a total of 104 acres with 14 set aside for residential development and 11 for commercial buildings/activities resulting in 79 acres for farming.  Proposed to farm this remaining land between tree farm and fruit/vegetable farm with 3-4 acres for hoophouses and plantings and the remainder for the tree farm.

-In a precedent 60-acre organic farm, 12 farmhands were needed.

Therefore, at least 12 units will be needed for the development.  To achieve a mix of tenants a minimum number of 20 units is proposed.

 

-20 units results in approximately 0.7 acres per unit given a total of 14 acres for housing.

PROTOTYPE:

Shipping Container Units:

Container Material:  "corrugation panels (roof, sides, and back) made of weathering steel, floor, purlins,front doors, frame, and rails form an integrated structural skin"
Foundation:            Concrete slab on grade

Frame:                   Additional steel framing needed for any cut opening

Size:                     "40 High" units are 8' wide, 40' long, and 9'6" high

Mechanicals/ Off-grid technology:

Insulation:             Supertherm- sprayed on interior and exterior of corrugation panels

Windows/Doors:     Steel-framed

 

 

 

 

This layout actually accomodates 32 units (versus the proposed minimum of 20).  Each building cluster could accomodate 4 units. Two 1-Bedroom units and Two 2-3 bedroom units.  Each unit would have dedicated garage/work space, with the 1-bedroom units sharing a double garage and the 2-3 bedroom units would each have a double garage.