Indoor Garden

• 2011-11-21

  

  DOW Competition entry- Stage 2

• 2011-11-20

  DOW competition entry by Aura Wang and Anam Khan

  In stage 2 of the project, we have developed further on our concept of the gradient public-private spaces to define the building. Throughout the houses there are various kinds of spaces defined by their programs and the surrounding site. It ranges from completely private spaces like bedrooms, to semi private spaces like the indoor garden spaces which are visually accessible from the outside along one facade and semi-transparent along the other, to indoor recreational spaces on the second level which are public spaces shared between two households and finally an outdoor courtyard shared between the three households. This variety of spaces defines the concept of this complex.

  It also incorporates active and passive design through controlled glazing on the south facing facade, thermal massing, natural ventilation and solar panels to help generate electricity.

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  Difference in facade to create different degrees of private-public space

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  This concept diagram shows the hierarchy of spaces through the houses and the categorization of the list of programs given by the DOW competition into the different kinds of public-private spaces.

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  This shows how the degree of public-private determines the different kinds of spaces throughout the houses.

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  Context plan

  The materials chosen for the facade relate to the site. On the East, the house faces a busy street with a lot of pedestrians, commercial shops and streetcar stops. Thus to maintain privacy the glass facade is translucent through the use of frosted glass. On the South, the houses face a quieter, residential street. thus the entrance to the house is on this street and the glass facade is completely transparent. The house group together to create an outdoor courtyard that is shielded from the outside streets to provide privacy. The diagram shows entrance routes into the houses.

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  This diagram shows details on the solar panels in an aluminum alloy frame, fitted onto the roof of the building. The roof has a 20 degree slope for maximized solar gain.

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  This diagram shows the use of the “Stack Effect” in the houses. A double height volume is introduced to naturally ventilate the spaces. In the summer, the warmer air, which is less dense, rise up through the vents. this creates a low pressure inside the house and a higher pressure outside, which cause cooler air to rush in, naturally maintaining a comfortable temperature throughout the house. This diagram illustrates the airflow path driven by the Stack effect.

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  Roof plan

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  North elevation

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  North-South section and a detail showing a photovoltaic cell fitted on the roof and the details of the roof insulation and the roof-light.

  The section shows the indoor garden space which act as a “sun-room”, with the concrete walls serving as thermal massing. The walls store solar energy during the day and releases it inward through the night, providing a comfortable temperature in the adjoining living spaces.

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  East-West Section cutting through the garden space.

  This section shows how the indoor plants and the stairs are also performing the role of “natural” partitions. The indoor plants reduce components of indoor air pollution particularly volatile organic compounds. they also remove carbon dioxide which is correlated to lower work performance.

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  First floor plan

  The orientation of the programs is according to thermal zoning.The public spaces within the households are oriented towards the south to gain maximum sun exposure. The kitchens are located towards the center as they release heat. The bedrooms and studio spaces are towards the north walls as surfaces facing north are in shade all year round and thus does not include glazing and has the least necessary amount of windows.

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  Second floor plan

  This floor plan shows the recreational spaces that act as a shared space between two households. They are ventilated and have enough sunlight through the roof-lights and openings in the wall facing South that connects them to the indoor garden space below.

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  Third floor plan