Courtyard in the City
What’s Old is New Again: Revisiting Vernacular Materials and Housing| 2023
We are the cells in nature, the way we live is a silent accumulation that impacts the whole. As a human, we have the responsibility to activate our wisdom in our way of living. As an architect, we have the responsibility to shape a space that talks about what is the way of living.
Acknowledgments
First and foremost I would like to express my gratitude to my Unit Coordinator Maren Koehler and my Brief Leader Jennifer McMaster for providing invaluable advice, continuous support, and patience during my study, in particular Jennifer, has been a guiding light for our aspirations.
I would also like to thank all the members in the studio 4. It is their kind help and support that have created a wonderful time.
Finally, I would like to thank my parents. They always show their tremendous understanding and encouragement in these semesters.
What's Old is New Again
A Simple, but Better Place
The relationship between architecture and human lives is an ongoing discussion. In the book, Architecture Without Architects, the wisdom of the anonymous builders is revealed. “The philosophy and practical knowledge of the untutored builders are untapped sources of inspiration for an industrial man trapped in his chaotic cities.” Based on the material and precedent research about recycled material and reconstituted brick, the project will focus on exploring the idea of low-tech architecture and adaptive reuse. The proposal aims at creating better places that support people’s health and well-being while minimising the impact on the planet by integrating traditional knowledge, which we shall respect, with modern techniques and approaches to create innovative solutions to the complex challenges we face, like climate change and environmental degradation.
Located on 252-264 Mitchell Road in Alexandria, Sydney, the site is situated in a rigid pattern with a relatively homogeneous and factory-like appearance. The client group is single mothers with children, who are facing severe housing crises across Australia. Research shows that 1 in 5 women are living in unsuitable houses for raising children; in addition, they are experiencing particular financial pressures, compared to women who do not have dependent children. The design task is significant and urgent.
Together We Create Belonging
The design proposes a full lifespan from the stage of building construction to the residents’ living experience. The site is first populated with greenery spaces, which provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the industrial setting. Cooperating with the existing greenery, the site shall be experienced as a garden in the city. The typology of Hofje is applied to the site with some revisions based on the inspiration from the artwork, Our Mother’s Dreaming. Distinguished from the men’s more cerebral and symmetrical styles, the artistic expression of women shows their exuberant and vibrant spirits using dynamic graphics and symbols.
The design also envisions a more involving relationship between humans and architecture by engaging them in the construction process. The concept of recycling, reusing, and rebuilding is expressed in the proposal by collecting the existing building materials including brick, steel, and glass, which are later renewed and applied as design features. In order to raise the awareness and respect of low-tech buildings, the proposal chose rammed earth as another structural material. Not only quick and easy to build, the manufacturing process can also be an opportunity for the propagation of simple, eco-friendly material. A workshop space is proposed at the shopfront including timber, ceramics, and textiles workshops for both the residents and the public. When the basic construction is completed, the daily necessities including small furniture will be populated by the residents based on their needs.
Growing from the roots
Site Analysis
Cultural and History Identify
The project is located on 252-264 Mitchell Road in Alexandria, Sydney. Buildings here go through many life stages from terraced house to industry and warehouse.
Strengths Weakness
* Industrial Heritage Industrial history providing opportunities for adaptive reuse and creative redevelopment.
* Cultural Spaces Presence of cultural spaces, art galleries, creative hubs and recycling resources.
* Transport Infrastructure Access to major roadways and public transportation.
* Traffic Congestion: During peak hours the Mitchell rd impacting both residents and businesses.
* Limited Green Spaces: Insufficient parks and green spaces limit recreational opportunities for residents.
* Gentrification Challenges Ongoing gentrification may potential lead to loss of the area's industrial character.
Opportunities Threats
* Community Engagement Opportunities to strengthen local bonds and address residents' needs.
* Employment opportunities Potential for the growth of retail meet the needs of a diverse and dynamic population and provide employment opportunities.
* Rising Property Prices: Rising property prices may make it harder for people to afford homes and could force long-time residents to move.
Surrounding Building Materials
Contextual Integration
Analyzing surrounding building materials and facades is an integral part of responsible and contextually sensitive architectural design. The site was a spring factory and is now sandwiched between old terrace houses, fine residences, and new apartments. In order to ensure the new structure contributes positively to its environment and respects local character, we decided to keep the existing wall on the boundary to pay respect to history and form a safe courtyard space for people who will live here.
Materials Consoildation
Sustainability Considerations
Based on the common building materials in Alexandria, we further proposed some sustainability materials in the design.
Green roofs or facades present opportunities for energy efficiency and biodiversity. Recycled materials with sustainable and eco-friendly building practices. Natural sources of materials promote resource conservation, energy efficiency, and waste reduction. In summary, the goal is to minimize the environmental impact.
Single Mother Analysis
Our mothers' dream
As we are designing a co-housing model for single parents, we analyze this group with views of lifestyle, financial situations, and social relationships...
Strengths
* Resourcefulness: Crafting often involves resourcefulness, and mothers may excel in repurposing materials to create unique and personalized items.
* Flexible Work Opportunities Fexible work arrangements or opportunities for remote work to accommodate parenting responsibilities.
* Financial Constraints Limited financial resources may pose challenges in meeting housing costs, childcare expenses, and other daily necessities. Time Constraints Balancing work and parenting responsibilities may lead to time constraints.
* Limited Social Time Limited opportunities for socializing due to parenting commitments.
* Housing Affordability Challenges: Rising property prices and potential threats to housing stability in the inner southern suburb.
Design Approach
Contextual
We look into the traditional topology of Hofje and integrate it with aboriginals thinking of belonging with nature, so the site is first populated with greenery spaces, which provide a light wall to increase the daylight for each space and a warm welcoming atmosphere in the industrial setting.
Cooperating with the existing greenery, the site shall be experienced as a courtyard in the city.
Research shows that 1 in 5 women are living in unsuitable houses for raising children, they are experiencing particular financial pressures. So we widened the concept of boundary and transformed it into a workshop Including wood, ceramics, and textiles, which potentially provides the work opportunity to mothers.
On the hand of comfort, the workshop extensively insulated the noise from Mitchell Road. This workshop is both a place facing to public, also like a garage for people who live here to fix, make, and crate.
The typology of Hofje is applied to the site with some revisions based on the inspiration from the artwork, Our Mother’s Dreaming. Distinguished from the men’s more cerebral and symmetrical styles, the artistic expression of women shows their exuberant and vibrant spirits using dynamic graphics and symbols.
The connection between interior (private) and exterior (public) is widened as a continuous decking, functioning as communal living spaces.
Design Approach
Conceptual
Each unit consists of two modules, a smaller one below and a larger one above. In order to provide the residents with more intimate moments and a sense of security, but still preserve the idea of co-living with their neighbors, the semi-private zone is widened in the design.
As a result, the extra outdoor space on the lower level then becomes a semi-private, continuous decking, which functions as a shared living room.
The Sleeping module contains two living spaces with a sliding panel in between. The spaces can be easily turned into different usages for different needs.
Due to the limited space in the city, and to fit different sizes of single-mother families, we proposed 1 Living module + 1 or 2 Sleeping modules.
The roof garden is on the second floor and connected by walkways that travel around the whole site. As some units have 2 Sleeping modules can directly access the roof garden, others access from the staircases in the couryards. Therefore every units have co-using territory under pergolas on the roof garden.
Design Approach
Constrution
The concept of recycling, reusing, and rebuilding is expressed in the proposal by reclaiming old objects, collecting the existing building materials with supplemental new materials.
The design proposes a full lifespan from the stage of building demolition, construction, completion, and maintenance, which is related closely to the residents’ living experience. In addition, People who are interested in the whole process can have a faceto-face or online experience and participate after following the everyday blog on the website.
Sustainable and harmless materials are selected with respect and care to the Country. Also, rainwater collection, natural ventilation, and solar energy utility are encouraged in the proposal. Sustainable lifestyles are proposed with flower beds on each floor, residents could plant fruits, vegetables, and flowers according to their interests.
The path to the Community
Material Strategy
Major structural elements
When we go through the timeline from demolition, concrete, brick, steel, metal sheet, and glass will be recycled and reused in the construction phase. The diagram shows what the material is, where it comes from, where it is assembled, and their lifespans.
As our main materials are Rammed earth which is an onsite resource, reconstituted brick is the from these waste bricks and so others. Timbers will be ordered from recycled timber outside. Also, the process from demolition to construction we propose as an experimental exhibition which means people can come here to participate. But they need to make an appointment on the website first.
Concrete Reconstitutes Brick Recycled Timber Rammed Earth
Femo Form
Formearth Natural Brick Co. WasteWood
Fig 1. Fig 2. Fig 3. Fig 4.
Time-based plans
Spatial and architectural maneuvers
The time base plan shows each material used in each construction phase.
Material Map
Sustainable Lifestyle
The material map shows a variety of recycling resources around the suburb. Also, manufacturing companies, recycled furniture, and repair facilities. This means the idea of recycling and sustainability not only in the construction process but also in the residents’s lifestyles. The map will be uploaded to the website when the project starts up.
Architecture Performance
Ground Floor Plan
Sharing Life
We proposed 11 housings with a mix of 2-story and 3-story floors. The workshop faces Mitchell Road and the main entrance of the courtyard housing is in the middle. The ceramics and timber retail room is on the left, their workshop beside. The textile exhibition is on the left and its workshop is beside.
On the side of Belmont Street, we proposed a back entrance with bicycle parking. Each unit has fixed utilities kitchen, a toilet, and laundry. Also flexible space like the dining area, which can also turn into a small lounge or child play area. In addition, there are two fireplaces for people gathering.
First Floor Plan
Sharing Life
For the first floor, each unit has two bedrooms, which can be connected into one with a sliding panel in between.
The spaces can be easily turned into different usages for different needs. The unit plans below show the four scenarios. In addition, balconies are proposed for each unit for relaxing and sunbathing, which also can prevent the summer high sun.
As most mothers might have limited time to company with their children, kids can stay at the childcare space on the front which is the upper floor of the workshop. There is a big indoor communal space on the right for people to read, study, and gather.
Second Floor Plan
Sharing Life
On the second floor plan, there is considered a roof garden where everyone can spend their leisure time. Some units have 2 Sleeping modules that can directly access the roof garden, others access from the staircases in the couryards. The pergola with solar panels surrounded by the gardening bed provides a place for people to plant fruits, vegetables, and flowers according to their interests.
The front has a swimming pool, a kid puddling pool, and a barbeque place. So mothers here will have enough space to enjoy life, and kids here will have great childhood memories.
Section Sharing Life
The section through the central courtyard shows the relationship between the indoor, outdoor, and natural environment. The courtyard is a nice and safe space for the kids under the supervision and care of their mom from the kitchen.
The section details the important moments of key materials joints. The floor slab is a light Timber structure for the upper level with an extension to the balcony.
Ground floor with more solid and lasting concrete foundation with tiles.
Elevation
Sharing Life
Rather than designing the facade, the facade is ‘a natural result’ of the construction process. After washing and cleaning the existing wall installed on the recycled metal pannels which were disassembled on the demolition phase. The facade is a visual language of the sustainable lifestyle the 'Courtyard in the City' community showing.
There are two different opening languages, one is fixed clear glazing, one is movable recycled timber panels.
Thermal Comfort
Managing Our Climate
By carefully managing the microclimate, we can make adjustments to enhance thermal comfort. Through thoughtful control and optimization of these elements, we aim to create a more comfortable and pleasant atmosphere, ensuring that individuals feel just right in terms of warmth or coolness.
Where emptiness is full
It is a spring early morning, I open the door see the beautiful courtyard, and breathe in the fresh air. It is a new day with my love and passion, this is my life...
The building is never finished
Interim Presentation Research Framework and Conceptual Design Report
For the first assignment, we spent a large portion of our time doing precedent learning and materials research. We became acutely aware of the significance of materials in the field of architecture. We identified the philosophical meaning behind this design. 'Creating better places that support people’s health and well-being while minimizing the impact on the planet by integrating traditional knowledge, modern techniques, and approaches to create innovative solutions.'
Final Presentation
Design Resolution and Defensio
In this assignment, we made two upgrades.
The first one is to enhance the dimension of the theme 'Revisiting Vernacular Materials and Housing', we aim to influence as many people as possible to live a sustainable lifestyle through experience, living, and observation. Secondly, we explored a new spatial approach to co-living by utilizing two modules to form a unit, a smaller one below and a larger one above. This form provides people with appropriate private space and comfortable public-private space.
Material Study
Design Resolution and Defensio
The attempt of brick-making mixed different waste ingredients into the powder, but the elements were not well shown from the surface. Improvement might be made by mixing the ingredient several times during its forming to prevent consolidation.
The first attempt at the rammed earth included plaster as the bonding material, and the result turned out to be similar to the reconstituted brick. For the second attempt, we tried to mix the soil, gravel, and straw with clay. The soil we found is mainly mixed soil for gardening instead of pure and natural soil, thus the result has a different appearance than we thought. The material we envisioned in the design can be made of more pure, bioregional soil and sand types.
Fig 2.
Fig 2.
Fig 3.
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Figure 1, pag.28 & 65
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Figure 2, pag.28 & 65
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Figure 3, pag.28 & 65
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4, pag.28 & 65
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What’s Old is New Again
“The building is never finished. Everything is designed as an open frame.” The proposal wishes for a future in which the building and human beings care, coexist, and evolve together.
Just as trees, mountains, and rivers contain stories, the design of new places and objects can be an extension of the past and imbue new stories into them, so that multiple narratives will be communicated as we engage with them over time.
Figure