Post Crit Research

Bamboo Construction Techniques

This Video effectively describes and demonstrates the majority of bamboo construction techniques that would be applied to the Woodfordia Climate Refugee Commune. 

Building techniques would include:

- Mud Bricks for foundations

- Using tar for water proofing of thatched roofs

- Treating and curing of bamboo poles in water

- Using bamboo splints for fastening wood together

- Splitting and crushing bamboo poles for flooring

Workshops:

So instead of completely rebuilding the housing huts maybe there could be construction workshops and classes similar to those that were held in Haiti post the hurricane. I'd like to hold the work shops as a very hands on approach where maybe the participants build small proportions like major joints and connections. Similar to that of this video from Haiti:

Post Crit Review

Feedback from the panel:

- What would the construction details look like?
- What are the living arrangements
- Material - glass? how would they make it?
- Louvers instead of thatching
- Are there social type dwellings? Similar to that of traditional bamboo longhouse designs?

Suggestions:
- Building workshops instead of totally rebuilding the huts
- Maybe the huts could shed layers instead of totally being rebuilt

Presentation Panel

Renders

Modelling Work

Woodfordia Commune Village - SketchUp Fly through animation

Modelling Work

Google SketchUp Animation of a Bamboo Housing Hut

My second attempt at a sketchup animation of my model:

Modelling Work

Google SketchUp Animation of a Community Center

My first attempt at a sketchup animation of my model:

Exemplar Future Scenario Presentation

Flemish Metropolitan Dream by EXCEPT

EXCEPT web site: http://www.except.nl

YouTube URL: http://youtu.be/aH3RmllIdaw

If I had the capacity to produce something like this I would. Its a very basic yet incredibly successful presentation of what currently happens, and what the potential outcomes could be in a case study area.

Further Reading and Conclusions

A New Theory Of Urban Design (Volume 6)
Written by C. Alexander, H. Neis, A. Anninou, I. King

As you will be aware this is the final book written as part of the six part series that contains the infamous 'A Pattern Language' (which was Volume 2). The book is basically a continuation of ideas, concepts and rules given in the previous volumes, especially that of A Pattern Language. 

After reading the book for the last few days I've found some useful material.

Similar to that of the book 'A Pattern Language', this book gives a set of rules and guidelines below are a few relevant sections that I have found:

"Every increment of construction must be made in such a way as to heal the city" (or in my case the land and new urban environment.  - (Alexander C. 1987. A New Theory Of Urban Design p22)

"Every new act of construction has just one basic obligation: it must create a continuous structure of wholes around itself."  - (Alexander C. 1987.  A New Theory Of Urban Design p22)

Wholeness refers to a coherence of conditional spacial arrangements.

"Every building increment must help to form at least one larger whole in the city, which is both larger and more significant than itself. Everyone managing a project must clearly identify which of the larger emerging wholes this project is trying to help, and how it will help generate them."

The above, applied to my future scenario could be translated into: Development within each sustainable village(Woodfordia)  will contribute to the wider community (Woodford Town). It needs to be understood that each small development within Woodfordia, whether it be a small hut or a community center not only contributes to its immediate community but it's wider support community (Woodford).

[SKETCH]

"Every building must create a coherent and well shaped public space next to it." - (Alexander C. 1987.  A New Theory Of Urban Design p66)

"Each time a building increment is built, it is shaped and placed in such a way that it creates well shaped pedestrian space." - (Alexander C. 1987. A New Theory Of Urban Design p66)

"Every whole must be a 'center' in itself, and must  also produce a system of centers around it." - (Alexander C. 1987. A New Theory Of Urban Design p92)


My Rules/Guidelines:
- Each village within Woodfordia must have its own identity. Whether it be a place of construction, manufacturing, festival or agriculture or other.

- Every community building must create a place of meeting and socialisation.

- Every building must contribute to the local and wider community and have a defined role

- Every new structure must be made in such a way that it heals the environment or at least does not harm the environment

Population Projections

Calculation of Population growth

Based of my research on family sizes and my typical Residential Hut designs. I have forecast the population for Woodfoordia from 2032 on wards. I have used a rate of 15 huts built per 2 years for the first 6 years and then 30 per 2 years after 2036. Population growth is 2.2 People per residence, however this may rise to 2.4/2.5 as the density of Woodfordia grows as farming technologies and techniques improve and thus the area can support a larger population. By the year 2066 the population should reach capacity at 1200 people (calculated on the carrying capacity calculator in a previous post).

As you can see from the graph below  in the first year of the Woodfordia Commune, 15 Huts will be built for 33 Residents that will arrive over the following 2 years. Prior to 2032 15 Housing Huts and 1 Community Center will be built by the current residents of Woodfordia. From 2032 on wards, as part of the Climate Refugees sustainable living education they will learn how to grow, harvest, treat and construct the Housing Huts for the next wave of Climate Refugees to come into the program.

By the year 2054 Village areas 1 and 2 will be close to fully built and construction on area 3 will begin. By 2065 all 3 village areas will be complete. 

Housing Huts have a life span of 10 years. Therefore after 2042 the first housing huts will require to be rebuilt. Just as the Housing Huts were gradually built over time, so will they need to be rebuilt. As such from 2065 on wards the Housing construction will begin to go full circle and complete the first cycle, following this even Housing Huts will need to be rebuilt at a rate of 45 per 2 years by the current Climate Refugee population of roughly 1200.

Modeling

Community Center Modeling