Home:life

aims/ 1 Directly enable homeless people to design and construct their own bespoke homes as part of a unique Housing First strategy.

2

As architectural designers we see the city as an arena of possibility, holding the potential for healing and division in equal measure. Our aim is to encourage individual and communitarian fulfilment including rehabilitation to those that need it.

Offer opportunities for temporary accommodation, skill learning, personalised support and ongoing assessment in a safe and secure environment.

3

Building for the future is inimical to the construction of hope and identity. Fundamental to our approach is the extension of this right to all. We hope to encourage and support those who have become homeless to design and build their own safe spaces, homes for their futures, and through that enable an enduringly positive and sustainable reconnection with society.

To create integrated vibrant mixed-use additions to existing neighbourhoods which positively impact their surroundings and offer opportunities for wider communal engagement and spatial ownership.

4 To provide a value-for-money solution that eases the ongoing financial burden of homelessness on local government and its associated charities.

Having researched and studied for the past two years in fields that relate to homelessness and the creating of alternative housing communities, we have grounded our approach in research and global best practice. To summarise, homelessness must not be misunderstood as one dimensional and it is most certainly not a “natural conclusion”. It is the direct result of structural failings in many critical aspects of our country’s social support which have underwritten the fabric of individual’s lives for a generation. Ultimately, it is a situation for which it is unlikely and unreasonable to assume that the person affected can be held solely responsible.

5 To advance the idea of civic engagement as a productive tool in addressing the key causes of social alienation and isolation within communities, neighbourhoods and cities.

/intro

The complexity of the routes by which many become homeless is too great to completely address through preventative measures alone.

Home:Life proposes a path out of homelessness for the rising number of people who are already in need. We hope to establish a safety net for those who have been failed in the past and route to bounce back from what is often a deeply personal and extremely difficult experience.

home:life supported, self-build, housing first initiative

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support group made up of relevant organisations

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support group identified homeless candidate

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collaboratively designed self-built homes

Our analysis of the existing infrastructure surrounding homelessness concluded that there is currently an over provision of support to meet the immediate day to day needs of those affected but a lack of long term strategy that includes supported provision of housing.

the concept

Home:Life is a long term social reintegration method that adapts

safe, secure, community

invested

a housing first strategy to improve the lives of those suffering due to homelessness. From inception to back-end management and support, this process will be managed in partnership by professional charities, local government, private companies and academic experts. We at architecture:unknown hope to be part of diverse team and will manage the communal design and construction of the project.

skills

community spaces

lived experience ambassadors

infrastructure

homeless citizen’s

home:life

outward investment

inward investment

This rough outline of the Home:Life process shows how it meets the primary needs of the homeless participants, from identification and skills learning to design, construction and at-home or in-communtiy support. It also attempts to capture the externalities that may arise from the process including, higher representation of the homeless by those that have lived experience, more community spaces for integrated communities and job worthy skills that can contribute back to the economy and social environments.

This project is financially possible when weighed against the current cost of temporary accommodation, recent public awareness drives that have highlighted this critical issue and the political capital that has been invested in addressing homelessness in Greater Manchester.

the process

homes provided for those who are the support group feel need it most

positive members of society, community grows and develops

placemaking d e s i g n

i n t e n t

Our design methodology eschews traditional industry approaches but retains the expected quality of service and finished product. Our approach celebrates idiosyncrasy by enabling those in need to build a future they aspire to. We will guide and support homeless participants to produce bespoke “gold-standard” products across all scales of production from master plans down to furniture layouts. The group determines the overall layout and values of the scheme, neighbours will talk about their street-scapes and families can design individual

houses that meet their specific needs and tastes. We will ensure that these retain a core shared identity that reinforces the values of the community.

At its heart we do not presume to know “the answer” but we do understand the way to get there and feel that this light touch but personal approach is eminently suited to working with the homeless.

ARCHITECTURE - TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES

STANDARD INDUSTRY APPROACH

ENGAGEMENT

MASTER PLAN

MASTER PLAN

ENGAGEMENT

STREETS

STREETS

STREETS

STREETS

HOUSES

HOMES

ENGAGEMENT

HOMES

HOMES

HOMES

HOMES

HOMES

HOMES

HOMES

HOMES

MASS CUSTOMISATION Utilising the principles of mass customisation production to imbue spaces/homes with personal individuality.

Construction becomes a hopeful “future crafting� exercise that combines speed, durability, versatility and longevity.

EMPOWERING PEOPLE Through the power of self build, people gain valuable skills, confidence and self worth. Through group design tasks a sense of community built from the ground up, growing organically from the outset for the common good.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Built with the environment in mind, a holistic approach to design, construction and, unusually, a carbon negative footprint upon completion this form of construction is healthier, more resilient, sustainable and affordable.

The processes that people go through can be just as important as the final out come of those processes. Providing someone with a house that is a product of their ownership from inception to completion creates a bond that help makes it a home.

Homes are the primary building block of our lives and the most under provided commodity to the homeless community.

/ S U MMAR Y

We can continue to attend to the day to day tragedies of life on the streets or we can chose to help people off them. Here we hope for the chance of a new home life for those that are most in need of it.

Chose hope not hopelessness.

Chose homes not homelessness.

home:life

wikihouse c n c fa b r i c at i o n

What is WikiHouse?

WikiHouse is an open source project to reinvent the way we make homes.

It is being developed by architects, designers, engineers, inventors, manufacturers and builders, collaborating to develop the best, most simple, most sustainable, highperformance building technology, accessible to anyone to use and improve.

The aim is for these technologies to become new industry standards; the bricks and mortar of the digital age.

The WikiHouse mission • To put the design solutions for building low-cost, low-energy, high-performance homes into the hands of every citizen and business on earth. • To use digitisation to make it easier for existing industries to design, invest-in, manufacture and assemble better, more sustainable and more affordable homes for increasing numbers of people. • To grow a new, distributed housing industry, comprised of many citizens, communities and small businesses all developing homes and neighbourhoods for themselves, reducing our dependence on top-down, debt-heavy mass housing procurement.

how it works d e s i g n t o fa b r i c at i o n

Our analysis of the entire WikiHouse concept has led us to conclude that the end product’s credentials are undeniable, however the design process is labour intensive, prone to error and inflexible, reducing overall reusability, speed and reliability. We have invested our time not in improving the construction system but in streamlining its inception.

The parametric joint is easily flexed for use in various unique scenarios within the building but also contains the information to export and manufacture each bespoke component within it.

We have adapted the WikiHouse design process to take full advantage of the advanced tools available to us including Building Information Modelling (BIM) and parametric design with exports optimised for Just-inTime Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) manufacturing. Our intervention in the process as opposed to the product of the WikiHouse removes investment barriers to the wide-spread adoption of this construction method, allowing this mass produceable building system to be similarly mass customisable.

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By levering the data contained within the model, accuracy and efficiency are maintained minimising construction errors, saving money and time.

2

how it ’ s built fabrication to completion

18mm ply

pins

3 The parts are cut by CNC mill from 2440x1220mm plywood. The thickness of the wood can be varied to suit the structural loading of the design.

6 Frames are erected vertically and connected using horizontal joists.

4 Each part is finished prior to arrival on site, where whole frames are set out and assembled like a jigsaw with no need for any further machining.

7 Strengthening pieces are added as necessary in key structural locations such as the floor.

5 Wedge connections are the primary fixings, securing frames together with nothing but a mallet.

pins

8

Internal and external sheathing boards complete the structure and provide bracing.

All surfaces are now ready for final finishes and fittings such as windows or doors.

finished product example

9 The structure is now watertight and ready for internal fit our with power, plumbing and decoration as required.

design is mass customisable yet still mass producible

precedents

construction & completed

On site, this form of construction quickly begins to resemble impossible to distinguish the finished house from those standard timber frame housing under construction. Once the constructed using traditional methods. frame and bracing sheets are in place the exterior cladding and internal finishes are constructed in an identical manner. This product is aesthetically flexible providing the option of giving the structures a high level of personal customisation Depending on how the exterior is finished, it may be or the ability to meet strict planning criteria.

WORLD’S 1ST OPEN SOURCE 2 STOREY HOUSE, LONDON DESIGN FESTIVAL 2014

wiki farmhouse mid - construction

sustainability integrated technologies We believe this form of construction can meet passivehaus standards and can compliment many other integrated technologies.

The modular nature of the construction allows for easy addition or replacement of components, throughout the lifespan of the structure.

Crucially, unlike traditional masonry construction, the embodied energy in these structures is very low or even negative. Little energy is wasted in production and there is minimal ground impact compared to more traditional forms of construction. The essence of these structures is lightweight and adaptable extending the usefulness of each home.

solar collectors

passive solar gain

localised energy capture and storage smart technology

rain water harvesting

carbon negative production

https://wikihouse.cc/library/technologies

sustainably sourced material

natural ventilation

finished product estimated cost breakdown

1

bed house

- 37m

fit out volunteer led

2

construction volunteer led

- simple concrete service conns . - gas , electric and water cladding - siberian larch battens - softwood battens waterproofing - misc insulation - rockwool plywood - 164 18 mm plywood sheets cutting - cnc machining

foundations

estimated build cost

+10%

fees

+10%

contingency

≈ ≈

≈ =

£1000 £800 £3352 £176.71 £211.69 £759 £3212.76 £4000 £13512.16

- £23889.16

@£2400 @£2400

estimated total cost =£28689.16 ( ≈ £775/ m 2)

- timber double glaze doors - timber doors int . & ext . guttering - black plastic standard misc - smoke alarms etc flooring - timber oak

windows

constructed to london design guide standards

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£1817 £401 £139 £108 £668 £3133

sub-contractor led

- ikea standard - £1440 boiler - combi - £450 wc - shower , toilet etc - £310 lighting - light fittings - £124 electrics - sockets , switches etc - £120 plumbing - pipes , connections etc ≈ £300 labour - electrician , plumber ≈ £4500

and kitchen fitter = £7244

kitchen

Figures are estimated, a quantity surveyor will be required to give a more accurate breakdown. We also hope there is scope to gain VAT back and receive donations or cost price materials to help further reduce the cost of each house.

Labour costs have only been included for key trades and fitters. We envisage the majority of the build will be undertaken by unskilled volunteers and the end user/occupier of the house. A certified electrician and plumber will be required to complete the wiring and plumbing respectively in accordance with all current Building Regulations.

The cost of any land and external works to the surroundings is also excluded. Similarly to the above, some elements of these works may be suitable to be undertaken by the community.

HOME : LIFE futures

The future is modular, low-cost and universally accessible construction, powered by information led efficiency during design and manufacture.

The fringe is rapidly making headway into the centre; hyper-local is the new normal. Home:Life Construction offers the opportunity for everyone to design, build and occupy their own home, to be the makers of their own futures and to follow their own dreams.

/ CONCL U SION

When allied to an engagement led architectural process the net result is a tightening of communities around the shared responsibility for people in space, for places and the life nurtured within them.

further information

TWO STOREY FARM HOUSE, RUGBY, UK https://awikifarmhouse.wordpress.com/ NEWSPAPER ARTICLE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2753200/Company-launches-two-bedroom-home-DOWNLOAD-internet-build-yourself.html WIKIHOUSE TWITTER https://twitter.com/wikihouse INCOMPLETE LIST OF COMPETED WIKIHOUSE PROJECTS https://medium.com/wikihouse-stories/an-incomplete-list-of-wikihouse-projects-bf934c29ed04 WIKIHOUSE RELATED ARTICLES INTERVIEW WITH WIKIHOUSE FOUNDER https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/publications/archive/policy_innovations/innovations/000216/:pf_printable?

KEYWORDS OPEN SOURCE: In product development, open source as a philosophy promotes a universal access via free license to a product’s design or blueprint, and universal redistribution, including subsequent improvements to it by anyone PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT: Public engagement is the creative dialogue process between the specialist designer, the active user, passive users and the adjoining social environment with the goal of generating mutual benefit. The goal is to extract a deeper understanding of the users needs, desires and lifestyles that can be developed into a cohesive and rewarding solution, not only for the users but society as a whole.