Bricks are a culturally significant material with an enormous presence in the landscape of rural India; monumental kiln structures capitalise masonry production amid the expansive agricultural fields. The historic and well-integrated building block has a potentially long-lifespan but is conventionally an energy-intensive material to produce. There is an opportunity to rethink the structure of brick manufacturing with solar concentrator technologies - parabolic mirrors & fresnel lenses - that fire masonry in controlled low temperature environments and still compete with the durable mechanical properties of traditional kiln fired brick.
Embodied energy in brick production was additionally considered in this research with local material inputs and the integration of biochar, a carbon-negative substance. Biochar is the conversion of biomass into char through the pyrolysis process; the thermal decomposition of materials in an oxygen-free zone at elevated temperatures ranging from seven to eight hundred degrees centigrade. Typical burning practices for biomass-based waste materials like wood chips, sawdust, branches, and agricultural residue are eliminated contributing to a cleaner air quality index for the local community.
The parabolic solar concentrator was successful in reflecting heat and thereby increasing the overall temperature of the device, but the difference in ambient temperature and the resulting maximum needs to be significantly improved to harness the true potential of solar concentrator integration in mass material manufacturing. The experiment did not yield satisfying results for biochar-clay brick compressive strength, but there is new research being published on the emission reductions, and mechanical, physical, thermal advantages of biochar-based bricks and insulating materials. Although there is a learning curve to surpass, by investing time in research on sustainable brick manufacturing, there will be significant savings in operational and embodied energy for the built environment.
PROTOTYPE DESIGN OVERVIEW
LOW HEAT CONSTRUCTION
SOLID POPLAR TOP & BASE PLATE
- OVERALL STRUCTURAL STABILITY TO PROTOTYPE, REDUCING SHEAR STRESS
THREADED BRICK UNITS
- SUPPORTED BY A 15 MM THICK ALUMINUM THREADED ROD
- BRICKS ARE MOLDED WITH A 15 MM CIRCULAR VOID
- SEPERATED BY 25 MM THICK WOODEN SPACERS TO ALLOW PROPER VENTILATION TO ALL BRICK FACES DURING THE FIRING PROCESS
- THREE DIFFERENT MATERIAL MIXTURES WERE TESTED IN THIS EXPERIMENT; TWO METER HIGH PROTOTYPE FIRES NINE BRICK UNITS
CNC CRAFTED POPLAR FRAMING INSTALLED AT EACH SEAM
- CIRCULAR VOIDS DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE ELEMENTS WEIGHT FOR EASIER TRANSPORT AND ASSEMBLY
- 16 MM BY 16 TO 18 MM NICHES DESIGNED FOR SEAMLESS CONNECTION TO STICK BUILT FRAMING
- (TYP) TEN PIECES
LIGHTWEIGHT STICK BUILT ALUMINUM & PINE FRAMING
- 16 MM BY 16 MM PINE FRAMING PROFILE
- 16 MM BY 18 MM ALUMINUM U-FRAME PROFILE
- PINE COMPONENTS SLIDE INTO ALUMINUM U-FRAME MEMBERS
- EASY TO DISASSEMBLE & REPURPOSE
0,5 MM THICK ALUMINUM SHEET SHAPED INTO A PARABOLA
- HIGHLY REFLECTIVE & SMOOTH SURFACE FOR OPTIMUM LIGHT CONCENTRATION
PROTOTYPE SITS ON A ROTATING DISK
- TWO STAINLESS STEEL PLATES ARE WELDED TO A 60 MM THICK STAINLESS STEEL THREADED ROD
- ALLOWS MAXIMUM SOLAR EXPOSURE THROUGHOUT THE DAY; ABLE TO ADJUST TO THE SUNS POSITION IN THE SKY
- ALLOWS THE DEVICE TO WARM THE INTERIOR SPACE DURING THE NIGHT
CONNECTION DETAIL AT FRAMEWORK
WOODEN SPACERS FOR BRICK VENTILATION
DHUN DRY BULB TEMPERATURE
HIGH AT 26 – 28 C, NOVEMBER & DECEMBER CONDITIONS
DHUN TOTAL CLOUD COVER
CLEAR SKIES (80 – 88%) & LOW PRECIPITATION, NOVEMBER & DECEMBER CONDITIONS
DHUN AIR QUALITY INDEX
DATA COLLECTED ON THE 14TH OF JANUARY
THERMAL CAMERA DOCUMENTATION
STRENGTH (N / MM²)
PIKKU JUMBO TRAIN SHELTER
Kouvola, Finland
Academic Work | Individual & Group | Aalto University | Fall 2021 - Summer 2022
ARK-E401701: Wood Architecture Experimental Building Project
Professor: Pekka Heikkinen; pekka.heikkinen@aalto.fi
The train shelter is part of a year-long design build project for the Wood Program studio, a program in the Aalto School centered around wood design and construction. A group of fourteen international students individually proposed a shelter design and then collaborated on developing one of the proposals to a built structure. The shelter’s site is located in Pilkepuisto Park, Kouvola along the Savonia Railway (connecting Helsinki to St. Petersburg). Kouvola city officials asked for a protective shelter to celebrate the historic 1920s Pikku Jumbo locomotive, shielding the train from the harsh Finnish weather and vandalism from visitors.
Pikku Jumbo is placed along the southern park edge closest to the railway tracks at the intersection of two pedestrian paths. The surrounding context includes residential buildings and the nearby Kouvola railway station. During the design phase, it was important to consider the visibility of the train from all locations: within the park, along the promenade, and from a passing train.
My individual proposal was the Climate Conscious Train Shelter inspired by Kouvola, Finland’s weather data. Seven out of the twelve months include snow days, so the main design protagonist is a dynamic roof with woven wooden structural members and tarred shingles for waterproofing that protects the train from the elements. On the North it integrates into the park landscape and on the South it draws back for greater visibility of Pikku Jumbo as viewers pass through on a train along the railroad tracks.
The chosen concept for construction, proposed by classmate Marfa, is based on motion in the landscape (Vilinä). Our team developed the initial design by supporting the shifting horizontal glulam beams with a wooden stacking structural system reinforced with wooden shear dowels and steel tension rods. My contributions ranged from being assigned BIM Manager to developing permission drawings and assisting in process model construction.
SOUTH ELEVATION
PROCESS MODEL, ROOF VIEW
PROCESS MODEL, MAIN APPROACH
SKETCHES BY: ANASTASIYA VOLKOVA
VILINÄ TRAIN SHELTER FINAL CONSTRUCTION
PROCESS SKETCH, ASSEMBLY SYSTEM
PROCESS SKETCH, NOTCHING JOINT
SOUTH INNER WEST WALL ASSEMBLY
ARCH ELEMENT TRANSPORT
RING BEAM ASSEMBLY
PILLAR TO FOUNDATION INSTALLATION
WHAT ARE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THIS DESIGN PROCESS?
- OVERLAPPING JOINT
- DYNAMIC SHAPE
- BALANCE DEMONSTRATION
CHISEL CHISEL ... SAW SAW ...
THE INITIAL DESIGN INCORPORATED SHARP ANGLES OF LESS THAN 90 DEGREES. THE CNC MACHINE IS UNABLE TO WORK IN TIGHT CORNERS SO THIS CAUSED US TO RETHINK THE CONNECTION DETAIL.
ONCE THE DESIGN ADAPTED TO THE CNCBECOMING COMPATIBLE - THE MAJORITY OF THE DIGITAL FABRICATION TIME WAS SPENT SETTING UP THE SOFTWARE. THE CNC PRODUCTION WAS QUICK.
SETTING UP THE CNC (2 HOURS)
Helsinki, Finland
Academic Work | Group | Aalto University | Fall 2021
ARK-E4016: Material Studies
Professor: Pekka Heikkinen; pekka.heikkinen@aalto.fi
WHAT DO WE SET OURSELF AS RULES FOR THIS DESIGN PROCESS?
- DISASSEMBLABLE
- NO GLUE
- NO STEAL
- STRONG
- EASY TO PRODUCE
- AESTHETIC
BRANCHES GROW FROM THE CENTER OF THE TREE - THUS THEY MUST HAVE A NATURAL STRONG CONNECTION. AS THE GRAIN GROWS FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE.
CLAMPING & PREDRILLING BOARDS BEFORE INTRODUCING THE WOODEN NAIL GUN.
4 LAYERS WITH 3 DIFFERENT GRAIN DIRECTIONS. THE IDEA COMES FROM CELL WALL STRUCUTRES BUT ALSO FROM NURHOLZ OR HOLZ100 CONSTRUCTIONS.
FIRST AND LAST BOARDS ARE PARALLEL; THE SECOND IS ANGLED AT 60°; AND THE THIRD IS PERPENDICULAR.
AS THE LOAD IS BEING PLACED ON TOP OF THE JOINT, THE FORCE WILL TRAVEL THROUGH THE LEGS INTO THE GROUND. NATURALLY, THE LEGS WILL START SPREADING FROM THE LOAD, PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE TENON & MORTISE JOINT.
THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO PREVENT THE LEGS FROM SPREADING, E.G. STRONGER JOINT CONNECTION OR INTRODUCING A ROPE.
WE CHOSE THE ROPE AS IT IS A DURABLE ELEMENT. THE ROPE WILL TRY AND KEEP THE LEGS IN PLACE IN ORDER FOR OUR “RELATIVELY WEAK” CONNECTION TO SURVIVE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
THE CIRCULAR JOINT
Helsinki, Finland
Academic Work | Group | Aalto University | Fall 2021
ARK-E4016: Material Studies
Professor: Pekka Heikkinen; pekka.heikkinen@aalto.fi
PINE GROWTH RINGS
PINE
BARK TEXTURE
PINE LAYERS IN CROSS SECTION
HEARTWOOD KNOTS
SANDED PINE BARK
STRAW & CLAY
MATERIAL STUDIES
Espoo, Finland; Takoma Park, MD, USA
Academic Work | Individual | Wood Program & University of Maryland | Spring 2022; Fall 2018
ARK-E4013: The Matter of Building; ARCH678G: Low Heat Lab: Design-Weave-Build
Professor: Pekka Heikkinen; pekka.heikkinen@aalto.fi; Jana Vandergoot; jvanderg@umd.edu
Over the course of my education I have participated in multiple design-build opportunities that focused on natural material applications. Here, I am displaying a collection of images that illustrate three projects: Disassembly Cube (pine, birch), Formed Earth & Poured Earth (Ukumaja red clay, sand, cement, aggregate, straw), and Low Heat Weaving (Phragmites, organic twine, turmeric, willow, paper).
In order to eliminate waste and develop regenerative systems, designers need to work with more local plant-based materials that can be recovered and reused.
Disassembly Cube combines different layers of pine (bark, sapwood, heartwood) with self-made birch dowels. The flexible assembly of the cube is achieved by avoiding glue in the birch to pine connections. Formed Earth & Poured Earth illustrates how a traditional material like earth can be applied in modern construction to substitute a carbon intensive material like cement. The smaller studies mix materials seen in vernacular wall systems: straw/clay, cob, adobe, and rammed earth. Low Heat Weaving are my individual woven studies with low embodied energy materials (grass, paper, twine) and seasonal images of the final group installation.
The Low Heat Weaving studies contributed to the development of a group biodegradable, weed-control mat installation in Takoma Park, Maryland.
MARGARET MORRISON COMMONS
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Professional Work | Group | Bohlin Cywinski Jackson | Fall 2022 - Summer 2023
Principal: Kent Suhrbier; ksuhrbier@bcj.com & Greg LaForest; glaforest@bcj.com
The Margaret Morrison Street Neighborhood Commons project at Carnegie Mellon University extends the new network of Neighborhood Commons on campus. This project opportunity expands the Commons into the Hillside Community of student residences, like the existing Hamerschlag House Dormitory. The addition of approximately 5,900 gross square feet consists of a large Central Gathering space, a Multi-Purpose Room, Study Rooms, Media Room, Music Room, Active-Wellness Room, Art Room, Support Spaces, and an Outdoor Patio.
A team of four designers intend to provide a welcoming space for students to come together for academic collaboration and relaxation. The relationship between the interior conditioned commons space and the neighboring outdoor courtyard is blurred with a full height storefront system, an indoor-outdoor central gathering hearth, and a six-foot wide skylight extending light into the flexible multipurpose space.
I had the opportunity to work on this addition fulltime from Concept Design to Construction Administration for nearly one year developing the initial programing layout to reviewing contractor submittals. My main design contributions include the research and advocacy of the wood slat ceiling assembly, the exploration and development of the central hearth form and venting system, and the detailing of the arts & crafts bamboo millwork components. Throughout the year I prepared weekly client presentations and documented the project design for permit submission. The project pursed LEED Silver v4 certification, and I managed the documentation and coordination during the design phase.
12” DIAMETER 14 GAUGE SS SHROUD WITH BEAD-BLAST FINISH
1/4” COR-TEN PASSIVE VENT
AIR & VAPOR BARRIER
3/4” NON-COMBUSTIBLE PLYWOOD SHEATHING (REQUIRED ON EXTERIOR SIDE OF FRAMING ONLY)
MINERAL FIBER INSULATION
NON-COMBUSTIBLE 2 BY 4 COLD-FRAMED METAL FRAMING
EXTERIOR
* REFER TO MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS FOR CLEARANCES
STAINLESS STEEL FLASHING
CONTINUOUS 2X FIRE RATED BLOCKING 1/2” JOINT, BACKER ROD AND SEALANT 5 1/4” X 68” SLOT FOR HEAT RELEASE
NON-COMBUSTIBLE 2 BY 6 COLD-FRAMED METAL FRAMING
1/4” GAP FOR AIR FLOW, INTERIOR SIDE ONLY
INTERIOR
STEEL OR CONCRETE SHIMS FOR SETTING AND LEVELING THE FIREPLACE
PERFORATED CORTEN PLATE, UPTURN BACK LEG, 55% OPEN
CONTINUOUS 2X2 STEEL ANGLE SUPPORT INTERIOR RECEPTACLES EXTERIOR RECEPTACLES
PATIO
ARTS & CRAFTS
CENTRAL GATHERING
ACTIVE WELLNESS STUDIO
STUDY SPACE
MUSIC
VENDING MULTI-PURPOSE
EXISTING STUDENT DORMITORY
MEDIA ROOM
OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER
Brandywine, MD, USA
Professional Work | Group | Quinn Evans | Summer 2019 - Summer 2020
Principal: Joe Cellucci; jcellucci@quinnevans.com
The William Schmidt Outdoor Education Center is a 450 acre property in Brandywine, Maryland, United States that provides an overnight learning experience for 8,000 5th graders every year. Here, students engage in activities that foster team building, personal growth, and awe for the environment. The site is a Maryland Coastal Plain landscape connected to the Anacostia watershed; it encompasses three major regenerative layers: stream valley, woodland, and meadow.
Our design team (five members) was tasked to renovate two existing buildings (Orme & Neville), construct a dining hall and two village centers (made up of two camp centers, fourteen cabins, two pavilions, and two classrooms), and restore the campus trail network. The design intention is to provide an ecologically sensitive camp design that aids in the lands restoration.
Village I references the Fibonacci spiral, evident in natural growth patterns, for the layout of the buildings on site. Village II orients its buildings to natural systems responding to the solar path throughout the year. The dining hall is strategically positioned in between the two villages to act as a meeting location. All new construction utilizes a combination of sustainable systems ranging from bioretention water management, rain cistern collection, and solar panel energy sourcing.
I worked on this three volume project from Design Development to Construction Documents. My main design contribution was developing the wooden trellis at the cabins. I had the opportunity to explore the concept of time, to analyze light, and to provide diverse programming as wooden structural elements weave through the cabin from the meadow landscape to the woodland.
STREAM VALLEY
WOODLAND
MEADOW
PROBLEMSOLVINGTRAIL
DININGHALLCONNECTOR
MODEL & DIAGRAMS BY: ANASTASIYA VOLKOVA
LIFECUBE COMMUNITY CONCEPT & MODULE DIAGRAMS
SINGLE UNIT
DOUBLE UNIT
TOWER UNIT
LIFECUBE HOUSING
Baltimore, MD, USA
Professional Work | Group | Quinn Evans | Summer - Winter 2020
The LifeCube tiny house unit is a factory built, self sustaining, emergency housing solution designed to respond to the issue of homelessness. The first round of twenty units will be universally accessible and transported to individuals in need in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. The flexible module can be adjusted in plan design and reconfigured to stack on other units. The concept can expand from an individual portable unit to a collective LifeCube community. The project has been awarded the AIA Maryland 2020 Excellence in Design Award.
Healthy materials (low VOC, low carbon footprint, simple ingredients, regional sourcing) are specified for the space. These include Linoleum Flooring, Cypress Interior Siding, MDO Board Ceiling, and Richlite Casework. Self sustaining strategies include solar panels snapping to the standing seam metal roof. Solar batteries stored in casework to power the fixtures and appliances. Operable windows allowing fresh air into the unit and cross ventilating the space. UV lighting system technology cleaning the air for the next occupant. A bathroom plenum holding 15 gallons of freshwater, 38 gallons of gray water and a compact electric water heater stored within the interior wall cavity. A dry system composting toilet separating liquid from solids. The wall assembly incorporates wood fiber continuous insulation and a tight air barrier for a final R value of 30.
I worked on this project from Concept Design to Construction Documents. During concept development, I was awarded the LifeCube Affordable Tiny House Material Design Award. After being put on the project, I had the opportunity to take ownership in thoughtful material specification by researching contemporary products and delivering material presentations to the client. In addition to that I explored efficient placemaking and coordinated the implementation of the sustainable design features.
