CAUKIN Virtual Workshop- South Pacific Prototype Housing

Grace-Marie Spencer - South Pacific Prototype Housing 2020 Workshop, Page 1

A1 MODULAR OPTION 1 - THE SQUARE, THE HEXAGON, THE OCTAGON

The aim is to aid communities whilst creating a cyclone, resilient building typology that is research-based whilst rapidly built and inexpensive for the community. The community will, therefore, have an opportunity to build up a sustainable village improving on the sustainability goals.

The idea of this programme is to create a cultural plan that looks back on tradition whilst using modern technologies. There will be three aims to help create this plan.

THE VISION

Toilet Hut

2m

Learn – Build – Share

THE HUT

THE VERANDAR

Shower Hut

Living Hut

4m

Cooking Hut

Community Hut

4m

4m

ADVANTAGES: Easier to attach walls sure to same size edges.

One wall and roof same method of construction easier to repeat without learning additional skills.

Keeping the symmetrical idea of (Arya, A. and Agarwal, A., 2007), a square shape building will reduce the wind damage onto the structures.: “Simple, compact, symmetrical shapes are best. The square plan is better than the rectangle since it allows high winds to go around them.”

DISADVANTAGES: Difficult to construct non 90 degree angle.

section

OR:

KEY

A1 MODULAR OPTION 2 - THE SQUARE, THE RECTANGLE

Storage

Toilet Shower Hut Hut

Living Hut

Cooking Hut

Community Hut

Fire pit Living Hut

The post is risen 1 meter off the ground to find the right balance between storm surge resilience and feasibility of building. The recommended height of 2-10 meters above the ground helps avoid flooding from storm surges; however, this would require a lot of material and steps which would become more expensive and add much effort for the people who live and build themselves structure, reducing the likelihood of them building these structures.

Cooking Hut Bamboo partitians

PLAN

4m

8m

10m

Structure

Seating

Living Hut Cooking Hut

Overhang – A minimal overhang will prevent uplift on the roof and separation of the roof from the walls.

Each wall will have the opportunity to build a window, door or both within them; this gives the communities to adapt each wall to provide for their needs. The openings will have a robust timber shutter system to bolt up if there is a storm or for other reasons.

Glass will not be used for the opportunities due to shattering in winds.

2m

The underground store, also used for a fire pit will be built within the floorboards so can be set into the ground and built by a treated timber frame lined with Adobe for thermal qualities. A door like structure will cover them up in a storm so it can become storm protection for emergency supplies, harvested crops and possessions.

ADVANTAGES: Easier to construct with 90 degree angles.

DISADVANTAGES: Redesigning walls and roofs will need to different construction processes meaning more to learn on site.

The hip roof at 45-degree pitch is one of the optimal pictures to survive cyclone conditions. The thatching has been problematic in cycling previously, but if constructed well, it can be resilient. The important thing is to consider two use more leaf on the roof as possible, which helps it to reinforce one another.

The openings, windows and doors, will be kept open in the kitchen cooking during cooking, allowing ventilation across the hut, as well as the thatch, being able to filter out the smoke. When a cyclone hits the village, the opening requires shutting to prevent significant damage to the hut.

To prevent uplift and to anchor down structures; rocks, coconut shells or any other available material will fill into the platform.

Grace-Marie Spencer - South Pacific Prototype Housing 2020 Workshop, Page 2

A1 MODULAR OPTION 1

The feedback given recommended the living/cooking/bathroom all connected as the changing climate results in frequent rain; however, they still lead an outdoor lifestyle, which is why there is a flexible option to provide a veranda between the core spaces. The verander space also provides the communities with a place to relax and socialise. The choice of a semi-communal kitchen developed from local feedback. Combining the Fijians private kitchen lifestyle alongside Vanatu’s communal Kitchen life, the open fire kitchen will provide a semi-communal space for the surrounding living house. The kitchen space will allow the community to cook collectively; however, enough space for each family. The site of the area will also provide an opportunity to socialise in this space.

SEPERATED

A1 MODULAR OPTION 2 SEPERATED

ADVANTAGES: Toilet huts suitable distance from living huts to smell.

Flexible allowing private veranda space.

Ability to add connectors and additional huts easily.

More private.

DISADVANTAGES: No shelter from rain when moving between huts.

More distance to travel between huts

SEMI-ATTACHED

ATTACHED

SEMI-ATTACHED

ATTACHED

ADVANTAGES: Allow connections to become a veranda like area where people can hang out or adapt.

Areas between verandas can also be used as exterior social space.

DISADVANTAGES: Creates potential wind traps for distruction.

More construction work required alonside additional materials, money and time needed.

Toilet huts still relatively near living huts.

MASTERPLANNING EXAMPLES A1 A1 A1

River village example layout

A1

DISADVANTAGES: Attached to toilet huts resulting in potential bad smells.

No allowance for veranda space or too much flexibility to adapt.

THE SUSTAINABLE PLANTING AND FOREST SCHEME - THE SCREEN A1

A1

ADVANTAGES: Awnsering Fijians’ requirement of attached living so can shelter from the frequent rain.

Flecibility of adding and subtracting based on families requirements.

The timber planting can also help to provide fuel for the fire; sourced through the thinning process. The thinning process allows the remaining trees greater access to light and to grow stronger. The planting is grown around the exterior of the villages acting as a screen by absorbing some wind energy without damaging any is truthful trees. The sustainable planting scheme includes bamboo; however, it is challenging to grow well for structural use, so instead, used for thatching, reinforcements, and partitions. The bamboo cakes a lot less time to grow so is available promptly.

A1 A1

A1

coastal village example layout

A1 A1

A1

A1

A1

hillside village example layout

Some key issues need addressing when designing a massing scheme. Firstly to avoid creating wind tunnels, having buildings lined up creates perpendicular rows of space which the wind will travel through, whereas creating a staggered zig-zag layout will prevent this. Blocking the wind also needs considering, creating obstacles which will disrupt the free flow of the wind can cause damage.

The open spaces are just as important in the Pacific Island communities due to their outdoor living lifestyle; therefore, considering these spaces is vital to a successful masterplan.

The hierarchy is essential to the Melanesian lifestyle; it helps create a fundamental structure in the village layout where a central space is essential.

The community buildings can adapt to different uses which will provide a church, education and structure to set up stronger economies. During storms, these buildings can provide additional shelter and storage for livestock, harvested crops and emergency supplies.

The crops will be planted at the highest point of the site to minimise the effects of storm surges mainly if the village lies on the coast. A report https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/ feb/20/a-farm-to-withstand-a-cyclone-rebuilding-after-fijisworst-storm looked at a farm In Fiji post-cyclone. The critical finding was areas with tree cover helped to protect the crops where the “branches that fell formed a protective blanket” and areas that “there were no trees, the crops were completely unprotected.” When the storm surges hit “most of the land had been eaten away by the strong waves that swept 30-50 feet inland, except the area held in place by the roots of a massive heritage tree.” The problem placed is that the trees will take time to grow (25+ years) so the village will be at risk.

KEY Toilet Hut

Shower Hut

Covered Walkway

Church Hut

Cooking Hut

Livestock Hut

Community and Education Hut

Living Hut

Planting

Grace-Marie Spencer - South Pacific Prototype Housing 2020 Workshop, Page 3

GUIDE TO BUILD

SITE PREPERATION

PLANT

MAX 25-30 YEARS

PREPERATION

COLLECT:

COCNUT SHELLS AND FIBRES

CUT AND TREAT TIMBER

PLACE POSTS IN GROUND, BRACE THEN FILL WITH ROCKS AND COCONUT SHELLS

DIG HOLE FOR POSTS 750MM DEEP

MEDIUM-SMALL ROCKS AND CLAY

BAMBOO AND PALM LEAVES

TIMBER WORK SILLS

JOISTS

FINISHING

FIX EVERY JOIN WITH CONOCUT FIBRE ROPE AND GALVANISED STEEL STRAPS

BRACING

Thatching

FOR ADOBE, MIX CLAY, WATER, COCNUT FIBRES, PAPER OR OTHER FIBRES AVALIABLE

REINFORCE INBETWEEN TIMBER WITH BAMBOO AND FILL WITH ADOBE, RENDER EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR

Thatching, made for palm leaves which is palm leaves, is part of the sustainable planting scheme sourced locally and available when maintenance is needed. If constructed correctly and securely tied down using coconut rope, thatch should be wind and water-resistant whilst filtering the smoke, whilst being an excellent natural insulator.

POSTS, HEADER, PLATE.

RAFTERS

The joints will firstly be secured by nails (stainless steel or copper,) alongside galvanised steel straps as well as tied by a fibrous rope. This rope, made from coconut fibres, constructed rapidly using locally sourced material.

THE PARTITION This bamboo structure woven into a partition gives the inhabitants the flexibility to change their living spaces to adapt to what they need. Meaning a standard 4X4 meter space can inhabit up to 4 separate ‘bed areas’ which still creating a central living space.

maintenance

• The concrete building can last up to 100 years; however, quickly destroyed in a cyclone. Treated timber will allow thee core timber structure to stay 50 years until replacing and this should take place to have more chance of surviving a cyclone.

• Thatch roof- Rethatch every ten years.

• Adobe Clay can be a very durable material which can last up to 100 years if appropriately constructed.

• Exposed bamboo - replace every two years.