Concepts: The rear yard features a movable, self contained wood burning fire element. This fire feature can be moved between two locations in the yard or removed altogether to accommodate varying spatial and functional needs. This element and the permeable paved walk are framed by the retaining walls of th hydrogen storage area. The hydrogen storage area is partially sunken in the yard to allow for the utilization of the storage area, and of the space ofit's footprint, in a manner that shelters the rear yard from the street. Along North 35th street, the hydrogen storage area forms a man height slate wall serving as signage for the Smart House and allowing for written communication between the house and community without the worry or liability of vandalism or damage to expensive equipment.
Concepts: The design scheme stems from the idea that each addition to the house represents the building’s adaptation to the changing needs of it’s occupants. Our scheme uncovers these adaptations by delineating the iterations that a successful building should experience through the passage of time. Each addition is clearly distinguishable, marking each progressive step toward a better house.
Maintaining the 19th century core in it’s full height and with minor interpretations to it’s vital Race Street façade, the building mass steps back in height by one story at each subsequent addition. To better demonstrate this progression of the building’s overall development we have removed the existing third floor of the 20th century addition.
The communicating elevator provides access to all levels of the house and also serves as the ADA lift from street level into the house. The material quality of the elevator matches the rest of the addition, unifying the new construction. The use of an all glass elevator also allows natural light to penetrate into common study spaces. The elevator glass incorporates the polymer gel glazing to lessen heat gain in these spaces.
Concepts: The roof deck allows views of the surrounding houses, schools, and churches. This visual connection to the surrounding areas creates a prime functional space for occupants during the warm summers and cool autumns of Philadelphia.
Concepts: The roof of the original house features light collection units, solar energy mechanics (PV and Sterling engines), and green growth paving at non-mechanical spaces. The roof is accessible by the elevator and emergency egress is provided by retractable ladder to the roof deck below.
Concepts: The new occupants of the house desire a home theater and an exercise room. We propose to locate these two areas along with a recreation room in the footprint of the original house. All of these spaces might be implemented with the existing ceiling height of 7 feet, however because we will be removing the existing structural party wall, we propose to also carve out the existing basement floors and to pour new slabs with new foundations. This process will provide the house with a new basement ceiling height of at least 8’ 6” in these areas, which will allow the best use of these three spaces. Access to the basement classroom will be by the existing exterior stair and will include an ADA chair lift. This stair will be enclosed with glass to match the rest of the addition.
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To achieve these improvements, demolition of the existing bearing wall running through the center of the building, the double staircase, roof, insulation, the addition, and some portions of cladding are necessary. These changes will optimize the existing building’s potential by making way for flexible rooms, larger spaces, more energy-efficient insulated walls, and outdoor balcony and roof space. Flexible spaces can be manipulated by occupants through the easy arrangement of moveable shelving and storage units to change common living space into theatre space into game room space and so on. NanaWall, operable window wall systems will also be implemented to bring the outdoors in and facilitate natural ventilation. The removal of the center bearing wall and double staircase allows for the opening of the center of the house and for the flooding of with natural light through a skylight. The subsequent atrium then becomes flanked by the house’s new main structural system comprised of bearing walls that create a circulation and entry zone on the first floor. On floors above, circulation occurs around the atrium, providing for communication between all floors. The conveniently located stair is intended to simplify movement throughout the house. New energy-efficient windows would be installed to also contribute to the amount of daylight entering the house, effectively decreasing the amount of energy that is lost through old inefficient windows.
The design adds a great deal of outdoor and green roof space. Each floor has access to multi-functional outdoor spaces. Some spaces are more private, such as the one which you encounter on the second floor as you move toward the ascending staircase. Others, like the third floor deck, are ideal for social gatherings. This spot even allows for access to the useable roof space and greenhouse by way of an outdoor spiral staircase.
Many resource-conscience strategies would be implemented as a part of the energy-efficient green design approach.. Solar energy and heating would become the building’s most critical resource. Photovoltaic panels would be integrated in the green roof to collect sunlight for these purposes. The green roof would make the filtration and collection of rain water possible making it safe for re-use in all ways except for drinking. Rain gardens have also been planned in areas that would receive much rainwater. A general efficiency about the house is necessary when considering sustainability, so we have sought to design in such a way that makes living comfortable and sensible through the strategic placement of spaces and their relationship to others. The materials being considered are of utmost importance. Not only should the final product be sustainable, but the practices that are used to manufacture and even gather goods for manufacture should be eco-friendly as well. The life-cycle of a material must be studied to examine its manufacture, installation, life-span, and disposal or, ideally, reuse or recycle. A number of materials currently in the house can be reused, either in our design or in other community projects. Materials should be as local as possible, as this practice encourages the local economy and reduces pollution and packaging simultaneously.
Technology is a key element in the all-encompassing idea of the Smart House. While the aforementioned sustainability approaches are in themselves a kind of technology, the house will also be equipped with automated features that allow busy students the utmost in ease of use and time-savings. One of these would involve security. Students could gain access to the house through something as sophisticated and secure as facial scanning or fingerprint matching. Closed circuit televisions would inconspicuously monitor the exterior of the residence to ensure a high level of safety. Similarly, highly-developed ways of monitoring health would be put into action. This is critical in a time when students oftentimes have only a few minutes to spare for meals between the demands of their rigorous schedules.
We are not only striving to make the occupants aware of the fact that they are living in a sustainable environment, but hope to encourage them to live and think in sustainable ways, even when they are outside of this living laboratory for health, well-being, and technology. The renovated house will be an obvious change and improvement in the Powelton Village community, and would stand as a symbol of forward thinking, sustainable, and efficient living. Hopefully this would inspire neighbors across the street and neighbors across the country alike with the help of publicity and awareness-raising efforts. Because of our proposed changes, we foresee abundant economic benefits, including reduced operating costs and increased productivity for healthier occupants. |
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