SALBALAI | Modular House Design Competition

SALBALAI REIMAGINING PRACTICALITY Historically, Filipinos are always truthful to the design approach of their homes. According to their needs, the behavior of their environment, the purposefulness of spaces, and best regard to their comfort with the use of simple and practical systems.

Inspired by the Bahay Kubo, this 75 sqm. Modular Home stands on stilts and makes use of the most abundant resources locally available in the Philippines. It is strategically configured according to the tropical climate of the country, but the structure's components are designed to be well adaptive according to unique climatic conditions. One, to block out the light and provide comfort when the sun is high up in the summer, and two, to retain heat when the winter’s temperature sets in cold regions.

The Philippines is an archipelago, which is one of the most vulnerable countries prone to storms and flooding, In of which is also growing evident problem globally brought by climate change and causing the rising sea levels.

The unconventional practice and planning of houses with flood mitigation in mind comes into play in this design process, where the spaces are built on an Adaptive Floating Floor System. The designers propose a lightweight and assembly-friendly system that can be dismantled is strategically designed to be not only comfortable but is self-sustaining, and truly sustainable.

The designers reimagine what practicality now calls for, both the sign of the times, and living forward with the crises that the world faces.

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SPATIAL CONFIGURATION

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Each space in the design is configured to fit this singular modular block.

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Singular blocks are joined together , completing a singular modular unit of interconnected systems and functions.

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Identical Private Spaces are located on both ends of the unit. The Public Spaces are condensed in the middle, while Utilities are strategically placed at the back.

Floor Slabs are leveled according to the use of each space and communicate boundaries without the visual barriers that could make the spaces look small.

This spatial configuration allows the spaces that need accommodation from the water and power sources, to efficiently receive and collect, for a more centralized utility system.

The private spaces are intentionally elevated, to allow a more compartmentalized space of refuge in case of flood.

(See Floor Plan and Longitudinal Section on Board 4 for reference)

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Final form with exterior and interior walls, openings, and partitions.

Bamboo Composite Wall

SLAB AND STRUCTURAL CONNECTION DETAIL Lightweight coldformed Steel Framing Elasticized Polystyrene

H.D.P.E Floating Pontoon Blocks Lightweight coldformed Steel Framing

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ELEVATIONS

FRONT ELEVATION

STRUCTURAL COMPONENT

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The structural skeleton of the design is based on a modular configuration of four (4) 4m x 4.5m, spanning a total length of 18m and a width of 4m.

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The slabs are then laid on the skeleton, where each module is built on an Adaptive Floating Floor System.

The modular wall panels are inserted between the skeleton and the floor, allowing the exterior walls to be fixed in place within the skeleton, as the slabs rise in the event of flood.

Completing the interiors, second layer of wall panels, operable doors and windows, and partitions are placed to allow control for the building's visuals and ventilation.

The Floor System is made up of CrossLaminated Bamboo integrated with H.D.P.E Floating Pontoon Blocks and Elasticized Polystyrene, that purposefully functions as effective insulators and adaptive floating devices for buoyancy.

These panels are made out of CrossLaminated Bamboos that are integrated with Bamboo Bundle Veneer Laminated (BLVL). This composite wall have shown significant results in high thermal resistance and thermal stability.

The components above are fixed unto the floor and the roof in order for it to connect both, and allow the entire module to rise, leaving the structural skeleton and exterior walls in tact and grounded.

Completing the building envelope, the roof is then topped on the structure.

BUILDING MATERIALS It is of Lightweight Cold-Formed Steel framing, that has high strength-to-weight ratio, can withstand extreme weather conditions, fire resistant and is quicker to erect. It is connected by bolts and nuts all uniform in diameter to minimize errors on assembly and reduction of energy consumption on site.

The translucent surfaces in the design are made of Photochromic Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, that not only produce electricity but also adapt their absorption depending on weather conditions. These solar cells can generate electricity while offering comfort to users to self-adjust the light transmission with the intensity of the daylight.

The surfaces on the wet areas are of Porous and Permeable surfaces that help control and trap pollutants and solids, releasing precipitation more slowly into the ground below.

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The modular wall panels are made of Bamboo Composite walls that are integrated with Bamboo Bundle Veneer Laminated Composite (BLVL), have shown significant results in a study done in China, showing high thermal resistance and thermal stability shown below.

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In the study, the bonding strength of both inner and outer surfaces of the walls showed no delamination phenomenon, and had gluing properties that are key to ensure the materials’ safety under dry and wet conditions.

Mature raw bamboo pole shall be chemically treated before lamination process

Upon splitting bamboo pole, strips shall be laid flat to be processed in bamboo flattening machine

One flattened and laminated bamboo strip is the modular unit to make up panels of desired size

One flattened and laminated bamboo strip is the modular unit to make up panels of desired size

One flattened and laminated bamboo strip is the modular unit to make up panels of desired size

CENTRALIZED BUILDING UTILTY SYSTEM

Note: "Strength properties in bending, compression parallel to the grain and shear along glue line of laminated and composite bamboo-wood lamination were also found to be comparable with those of traditional timber species used for general structure purposes such as beams, girders, and flooring… As per FPRD’s strength classification, bamboo laminates generally fall under Class 2 (moderately high) and the bamboo-wood combination under Class 3 (medium strength). They have better strength properties than the Philippine mahogany species traditionally used for construction purposes."

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