UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
VOLUME 02
Phase 03 Aquatic Communities
Monsters To start this phase, Photoshop and Illustrator were used to develop a series of speculative 2d hybrids which explore phenotypic variations of a selected precedent. These representations were meant to be highly provocative and speculative keeping an eye on the semester trajectory. These early conceptual explorations led to informing certain aspects of the final design.
User Research done on the city of San Francisco and its housing crisis led to choosing a user group belonging to what is considered low to middle income in San Francisco. As seen above, housing built for this user type is far lower than what is needed, where housing for the high income population has reached over 204.4% of what is realistically needed. Nearly one third of San Francisco’s population does not own a car; the
site location of the design does not have parking in close proximity so the user was determined as nonautomobile users. From there, the user is broken down into 1-2 persons and 3-4 persons, non-family and family, and then into age, those who live alone, and number of children. The designed dwelling will cater to each of these user types to create a diverse and active community.
Unit form Density Multiple views
Form The form for the dwelling, and specifically the monocoque shell which sits partially submerged within the water, was carefully desgined based upon a range of criteria. First, because the unit would be floating partially submerged, hydrostatic pressure had to be considered. From research, it was discovered that a sphere, because of its rounded shape, resists hydrostatic pressure the best. Because of this,
an organic and rounded form was considered, much like a boat hull. Each of the corners have been carefully modeled around a specific radius to create a shell that would resist pressure and cracking. Six unit types were designed, three to accommodate 1-2 persons, and three for 3-4 persons. As seen on above, each unit is slightly bent in a different direction. This was designed to allow for a community that could
be very dense, while still directing the views out towards different directions, making the user feel as if they are residing in a less dense environment.
3 - 4 persons
Shell curves
1 - 2 persons
Hydrostatic pressure
DEVELOPER
Site boundary is drawn
DESIGNER
Grasshopper script implemented to generate possible plans within site boundary Phasing is developed Micro piles are placed
USER
Size and shape chosen Site location chosen based on type and availability
MANUFACTURER Assembles design specific user type.
based
on
INSTALLER
Installs dock in phases Places unit in the water and ships to location for dock connection
Muni Metro T Line Stops
GROCERY 20min PUBLIC TRANSIT 7min
19th St
HOSPITAL 20min
20th St Commercial
Retail
Commercial
Commercial
Workshop
Food
Cafe
3rd St
Food
Art Housing Retail
22nd St
Commercial
Pier 70 Development
Art
Commercial
Housing
Food Housing Cafe
Retail
Housing
Tennessee St
Humboldt St
Illinois St
Projected Site PG&E COMPANY
23rd St
24th St
The developer A Forest City has taken on the project of revitalizing the northern part of pier 70. After being in the works for over six years, the plan has been approved and is moving toward construction. The new development plan will utilize most of the buildings historic to the site, maintaining the history and aesthetic of pier 70. The community will include a range of affordable housing, commercial space, parks, food, retail, art, and other amenities. The site is accessible by the 3rd street muni metro line. The projected site for the CoLab project will be to the south of the existing development plan. Our proposal incorporates development on the southern end of pier 70 and sits to the east of the old PG&E Electric site, in the bay.
Site Plan As seen in the key above, projected features were included within the overall plan, based upon research of the area. With the pattern of North to South pier development, and the demolition of an existing eleictricity plant just to the east of our site, we are projecting that development will continue downwards, which will connect our site even furthur to multiuse areas. The design proposes that the 3rd Street Metro Line should reroute and weave throughout the development, which would be more useful for the people residing and working in this area.
Docking System
32’
16’
Joints
16’
8’
Dock Platforms
4’
4’
4’
4’ Connectors
Dock Components
The docking system was designed with three main pieces, joints, platforms, and connectors. Within those, there are variations allowing for flexible designs. In order to keep installation easier and faster, the number of pieces were kept low and the connections were designed between each piece to be the same, even when the system connects to the dwelling. As seen in the diagram, this system allows for a seemingly infinite amount of possibilities. Which means that no matter what the site boundary on the water is, these docks can be arranged to maximize a number of parameters that have been set, including density, views, and green space.
Boston, Massachusetts
Soeul, South Korea
Global Opportunity The dwelling, aggregation system, and tethering system has been designed to be situational. Because the issue of overpopulation, rising water levels, and a need for more affordable housing seems to be global, we have envisioned these units in multiple places throughout the world. The tethering system is designed as non-intrusive, which is not harmful for underwater ecology,
but cannot withstand open ocean situations, so the community must be situated in relatively calm waters. The docking system allows for the community to be aggregated in any way, creating the opportunity to fit these dwellings into any space on water.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Installation Sequence The planning and installation of the design has a very specific squence. First, the site boundary is set, then the micropiles are installed into the ocean floor. Next the phasing is set, meaning that the entire community will not be installed all at once. It will work in phases to allow for the community to expand out to its boundaries based upon demand. From this, the docking system is installed, and then the units are set into the water and plugged in on an as needed basis. Phase 01: Boundary
Phase 02: Micropiles
Phase 03: Phased docking system installation
Phase 04: Phased unit plug-in
01 Base Monocoque Shell
08 Plug-in Floating Stair Pieces
02 Prefabricated Core Plug-in
09 Plug-in Panel Railing System
03 Plug-in Bedroom Floorplate
10 Extruded Aluminum Facade Structure
04 Fold-up End Walls
11 Polycarbonate Wall Panels
05 Customizable Door System
12 Flat Roof Cap
06 Customizable Wall System
13 Entrance / Plumbing Chase Plug-in Element
07 Plug-in Walkway Floorplate
14 Plug-in Dwelling to Dock System
The Four Elements
CORE
The core houses all elements necessary for bathrooms and kitchens. One wall contains the HVAC and plumbing, and the rest are structural. The core is molded of Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic and fits into the base during construction.
Exterior Polycarbonate Panel
Interior Polycarbonate Panel
Polycarbonate Panels
FACADE
The facade is constructed of two polycarbonate panels spaced a foot apart. Within the interior of the panels lies the structural columns that fasten the polycarbonate to the form of the base. The poly carbonate produces a diffused light during the day, and a glowing light on the exterior at night.
Aluminum Column
Aluminum L Bracket
Custom Aluminum Bracket
Rubber Gasket
ENTRY
The entry way is a locking system that connects the unit to the dock. Within this entry is a designed space for bike storage or other entry uses.
BASE
The base is molded of Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete. This material is bouyant and air tight. The base is one piece that has been molded to house HVAC and plumming systems, storage, floatation devices and ballast tanks.
Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Monocoque Shell
The four main elements of the dwelling design are the base, core, facade, and entry. Each piece is prefabricated and then plugged into the composite. The base is a Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete mold that houses the utilities, HVAC systems, flotation devices, and ballast tanks. The inner cavities of the base are molded in and accessible by panels placed on the floor of the kitchen. The core is molded in a similar way but of Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic. This material is structural and also allows forms to be easily constructed. The core includes built in pieces such as the sinks, showers, shelves, and countertops. The core includes cavities in the walls for ventilation, water and electricity. The facade is constructed of two layers of Polycarbonate with supporting aluminum framing every six feet. The double layer of Polycarbonate is thermal and allows light to refract into and out of the space. The entry piece is what connects the dwelling to the dock system. The piece is the last to be installed. It is locked into position by a series of sliding panels. This entry includes water seals, LED lights, a mail slot, and bike storage.
SECONDARY ACCESSORIES Sliding doors are inserted Toilet fixtures Suspended stair and walkway
SECOND FLOOR
Attaches to the core Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic mold
HALF BATH Toilet and sink Sliding door
FIRST FLOOR CORE
Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic Cabinets and countertops molded into core as one piece
ADJUSTABLE DOORS 1.5’ panels Acoustic panels
PANTRY
Plugged in after core Structural support Food storage space and air chase
CORE AXONOMETRIC
0’
2’
4’
8’
16’
MOVEABLE WALL PANELS
Locking rotational device Acoustic barrier Lightweight
Panel Magnetic gasket Acoustiblok Panel
One and a half foot panels rotate 90 degrees
Panels push either direction on a sliding track system and lock into place
Frame
Walls and Doors The second floor bedroom space paneled wall system which can is designed to accommodate any open at any spot to create a door. combination of users. The sliding The panels are rotated 90 degrees, walls allow the space to be divided slid back and locked into place. This up for roommates or for a family that strategy allows each room a door, or might need more space in certain the entirety of the space to be open. WALL CUSTOMIZATION rooms. TheAND doorsDOOR slide along a track The movable walls and a key component of user authorship on the second system embedded intodoors thearecore. floor. The doors pictured above rotate and slide to create numerous options for doors To allow for any iteration of space or an open plan. The moveable walls create spaces sized to the users need. If the division, there needed to be an user needs four equally sized rooms, those can be swiveled into place. adjustable wall and door component. The rooms are accessible by a
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Sliding Doors
The core is outfitted with sliding doors to optimize space and effeciency. The doors glide along a track and are stored within the wall when open.
Core
The core is a molded form of Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic. The fixtures normally associated in bathrooms and kitchens are molded in as well.
A
AA’
Entry
The entry piece connects the dwelling to the dock system. It attaches with a sliding and locking system.
BB’
First Level 0’
2’
4’
8’
16’
32’
B
Bedroom
The second level bedroom floorplate attaches into the core and wraps around the form to allow for walls to move along the length. The moving walls can help the user arrange the space to meet their needs.
A
AA’
Bathroom
The second level bathroom furniture is molded into the core in order to maximize efficiency. These include the sink, vanity, and shower.
BB’
Second Level 0’
2’
4’
8’
16’
32’
+20’ - 0”
Wet Wall
Bathroom
Bedroom
Utilities run up this side of the core to service the showers and toilets on the second floor.
+12’ - 0”
Kitchen
Built-in Storage
Polystyrene
Cavities molded out of the base house the polystyrene foam to assist in buoyancy of the structure.
Hallway
The kitchen space is condensed to fit in the program of the core. For structural support as well as storage space, a corner supporting column is placed.
0’ - 0”
- 3’ - 0”
- 6’ - 0”
Section B
0’
2’
4’
8’
16’
32’
+20’ - 0”
Storage Space
Because of the limited space, a large amount of storage space is designed into the corner below the entrance.
Views
The polycarbonate exterior panels in certain places are vacant and glazing takes its place. To access the windows for full transparency, the interior layer of polycarbonate can be slid to the side on a track system. Core +12’ - 0”
Entry
The entry piece includes amenities such as LED lights to guide the user and create a contemporary version of the porch light, a mail slot, sliding door for opimal space, bicycle storage, and the main port for utilites to enter the dwelling.
Polystyrene
The dock components house the utilities for the walkways as well as two feet of polystyrene foam for floatation.
Living Space
0’ - 0”
Storage Space
- 3’ - 0”
- 6’ - 0”
Section A
0’
2’
4’
8’
16’
32’