The Indigo Pine House

WELCOME TO

INDIGO

PINE

Your new house is here. Ready to put it together?

1

T

FOREWORD

he Solar Decathlon competition challenges students across the country to design and build a net-zero, market ready solar powered home. The biennial competition consists of ten contests that seek to balance the home on a scale of innovation and practicality:

1. Architecture 2. Market Appeal 3. Engineering 4. Communications 5. Affordability 6. Comfort Zone 7. Appliances 8. Home Life 9. Commuting 10. Energy Balance Along with the criteria associated with the contests, the competition includes several design constraints that mirror those found in practical housing applications: including (but certainly not limited to) lot lines, building height, and ADA accessibility. The Solar Decathlon 2015 was held in a parking lot at the Orange Country Great Park in Irvine, CA. The 2015 competition was Clemson University’s first entry into the Solar Decathlon and was a notable milestone in the continued development of our home, Indigo Pine. From the beginning, our team reconsidered the notion of sustainability as related to both the design of a home and the competition itself. Unlike any other team in the history of the Solar Decathlon, Indigo Pine has seen two full scale implementations, Indigo

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Pine East (in Clemson, SC) and Indigo Pine West (in Irvine, CA). The designing and building process for each home reflects a process which seamlessly moves between thinking and making to develop a comprehensive design with a method and innovations that challenge the conventions of the competition.

Many students have had a hand in the development of Indigo Pine. This monograph was compiled by the core studio crew from the fall 2015 semester. This crew spent the fall in Orange County, California, preparing, executing, and reflecting on the Solar Decathlon. This is our story.

This book provides a glimpse into the comprehensive nature of the home and the eternal search for balance between functionality and livability. The book consists of two headings; one focusing on the literal, functional aspects of the construction – the house – and the other focusing on the figurative ideals of the design and the process – the home. Each heading is divided into seven sections that reflect both major building components as well as milestones in the experience of the project:

1. Foundation

2. Structure

3. Skin

4. Cabinets

5. Systems

6. Porch

7. Finishes 3

the

HOUSE

A base CMU assembly connects the house to the ground while increasing thermal performance.

STRUCTURE

CNC-cut structural grade plywood parts assembled and zip tied together provide structural framing.

SKIN

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FOUNDATION

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01 02 03 A high-performing combination of materials work together to enclose the home.

PORCH

The exterior assembly of regional lumber creates an extended living space and public entrance.

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SYSTEMS

Building systems - mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection - optimize resource consumption.

07 FINISHES

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CNC cut plywood modules connect to provide interior partitions and storage.

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CABINETS

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04 05 06 Paints, treatments, and material choices bring light and life to interior and exterior spaces.

From the beginning, the team sought to challenge the preconceived notions of sustainability in Southern homes with their own modern twist.

STRUCTURE

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110

FOUNDATION

Our approach to the home and unconventional process was radically different from any other team in the Solar Decathlon.

SKIN

124

01 02 03 More than the product itself, this project is about the people and experiences collected along the way.

PORCH

The team used outreach opportunities to show off the project and to share sustainable innovation to the public.

07 FINISHES

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144

SYSTEMS

The entire Clemson community came together to ensure that the Solar Decathlon became a reality.

The future of Indigo Pine continues with another group of Clemson University students, who will reassemble IPW in Florence, SC

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Like the cabinetry system, our team’s logistical framework was highly coordinated and essential to completing our journey to the competition site

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CABINETS

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04 05 06

our

HOME

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our

HOUSE the BUILT

Jul. 2014 Feb. 2014 - Clemson Foundation Mock-Up is officially selected Dec. 2013 -

our

Clemson, SC SC Botanical gardens

IPW

Irvine, CA Orange County Great Park

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WINTER 2013

IPE IPD

Florence, SC Pee Dee REC

SPRING 2014

HOME the PROCESS

Jul. 2014 1st Full Scale Mock-Up

SUMMER 2014 Digital Assembly Study Genoa, Italy to Clemson, SC

Clemson University faculty Dan Harding and Vincent Blouin first started to contemplate a Solar D entry.

Mar. 2014 - First Sim[PLY] mock-up

First Solar D Studio at Lee Hall in Clemson

FALL 2013 Team Visits 2013 Solar D in Irvine, CA

SUMMER 2013

First Solar D Creative Inquiry course ARCH 8510 Studio The Haiku House

SUMMER 2012

Clemson sends Solar D proposal to DoE

Creative Inquiry continues

2 faculty

DoE comments returned to Clemson

SPRING 2015

ACM siding is hand folded in warehouse Cabinets built and stained

SUMMER 2015

Team Indigo Pine occupies Lee Hall, Warehouse, SC Botanical Gardens, Ubiquity Records and Orange County Park

Mar. 2015 IPE Prototype

Team splits - half go to Cali and half remain in SC and reunite in Cali in Sept Assembly and Disassembly teams arrive to aid in Construction

Mar. 2015 Corner Mock-Up

Fine & Small Homes graciously allow team to use CNC in Charleston, SC

95% Drawing Set sent to DoE in Feb

Team splits into two teams “in office” and “in warehouse”

Team gives presentation at local high schools AIA Columbia & AIA Greenville presentations AIA SC Booth

WINTER 2014

Indigo Pine Ribbon Cutting iMAGINE Upstate & Artisphere

FALL 2014 Dec. 2014 Cabinet Mock-Up

Valenpine’s Day

Oct. 2014 Siding Mock-Up

Dec 4th - Indigo Pine and Sim[PLY] unveiled to the public

Creative Inquiry continues

Solar D Studio continues

Charleston Studio V designs IP cabinetry

Pre-assembly of porch systems in Cali

Oct. 2015 Air Diverter Prototype Oct. 2015 IPW Prototype

FALL 2015

6 faculty

CNC cutting Sim[PLY], cabinets, and siding in Charleston

As-Builts due in Aug Sept. 2015 Duct Work Prototype

189 students SPRING 2016

The next phase of students continues developing Indigo Pine as they immerse the house into the fabric of the South by reconstructing it on its new site in Pee Dee, South Carolina.

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the

HOUSE 10

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FAST FACTS 964

CONCRETE BLOCK

6,690.90 lb CO2-Eq EMBODIED ENERGY*

6,500

DOLLARS material + labor

300 FEET OF REBAR 20 FOUNDATION ANCHORS

threaded rod tie downs around the perimeter

*Embodied energy is the total amount of energy consumed during the production of a building from processing natural materials (like mining) to manufacturing, transporting, and product delivery.

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01

FOUNDATION The foundation addresses how a home touches the ground – both literally and figuratively. Establishing a well-built, appropriate foundation is the most important part of the building process, because it bridges the gap between the uncontrollable natural environment and the planned built environment.

Indigo Pine’s foundation navigates a unique site condition – the asphalt parking lot – which is far from a traditional residential site.

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THE CONCRETE LUNG: INCREASING PERFORMANCE

For Indigo Pine, the foundation not only supports the house, but creates a sheltered environment that can be used to make the home more efficient. Standard 8” concrete masonry units (CMU) placed directly on the asphalt form the foundation perimeter. Some of these units are filled with concrete and rebar, creating bond beams used to anchor the house. The anchors take form as threaded rods, establishing a firm connection through both the asphalt below and the structure above.

Inside the perimeter, additional 8” CMU fill the void. This open cavity mimics a crawl space - a foundation type common in many Southeastern homes. The units within the void are not needed for anchoring the home, but provide a flat resting surface for the structure above. The interior CMU alternate between 8” side-stacked units and 1 5/8” spacers. This arrangement, coined as the house’s “concrete lung,” allows for easy unit placement and facilitates an obstacle-free network of air channels.

Most importantly, the units are side-stacked, using their open interior cells to form a network of air channels under the house. (SEE IMAGE).

In warmer months, the underside of the house has a naturally cooler temperature due to shading and the constant regulation of ground temperature.

The CMU act as a thermal mass, assuming and maintaining the lower temperature the void provides. Conversely, the passive cooling system works exactly opposite during colder months of the year. The CMU warm the outside air before it makes contact with the HVAC system due to the inherent characteristics of the thermal mass.

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Two openings near the southeast and southwest corners of the building perimeter pull outside air underneath the house. This exterior warm air moves slowly through the cooler CMU network, chilling it before it hits the HVAC unit outside the northern perimeter. This constant stream of precooled or pre-heated air on the HVAC unit reduces the load on the heat pump mechanism. Therefore, this integration of a passive system requires less energy to condition air, allowing the HVAC unit to run for a shorter period of time and achieve the same desired air temperature in the house.

On Day 1 of the IPW build, holes were predrilled for the threaded rods that tie the house’s structure to the ground.

SUPPORT THE HOUSE

Form the general perimeter and intermediate structural supports for the house.

MIMIC THE CRAWL SPACE

Recreate a typical foundation type used to mitigate poor soil and climate conditions.

INCREASE PERFORMANCE

Introduce a thermal mass to the naturally cooler, typically unused crawl space to increase building performance.

OUR HOME TO YOURS The alternating CMU pattern under the house provides for a flat level for the floor joists to sit while creating a passage for air to naturally flow underneath.

Removing the unusual site requirements for the competition, anyone could install the “concrete lung� in their existing or new crawl space to make their HVAC system run more efficiently. This would simply require extra enclosure, likely with a plastic barrier, to ensure desired air circulation.

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FAST FACTS 5.3 MILES OF

CNC CUTTING

5,457.50 lb CO -Eq 2

EMBODIED ENERGY

56,000

DOLLARS material + labor

328 SHEETS OF

STRUCTURAL PLYWOOD

2,700

STEEL ZIP TIES

1,532 TOTAL CNC CUT PIECES (226 unique parts)

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02

STRUCTURE By definition, the term structure implies organization or assembly. In the built environment, structure is an organization, arrangement, and connection of parts that form habitable space. While Indigo Pine’s structure creates a space for living, its unique and revolutionary approach to the process accomplishes much more.

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SAFETY FIRST

Four main goals governed the design of Indigo Pine’s structure: provide stability, ensure safety, foster ease of assembly, and promote sustainability. Not only are these goals translated to the final product, but they establish a standard for the fabrication and construction process unprecedented in residential construction today.

Indigo Pine derives stability from its CNCfabricated plywood structural system, dubbed Sim[PLY]. This system, designed and fabricated by students, employs a series of interlocking tab and slot connections that fit together to form a 3D plywood jigsaw puzzle. The Sim[PLY] system derives its strength from its varied connections and precise tolerances, requiring no additional structural fasteners – no nails. The system’s joints are, however, reinforced with stainless steel zip ties.

The structure of Indigo Pine is designed to ensure safety. Safe to fabricate, safe to transport, and safe to assemble. The digital, hands-off nature of CNC milling ensures safety in fabrication. Sim[PLY]’s ability to be flat-packed and placed on standard shipping pallets facilitates safe transportation. Additionally, the need for heavy equipment and many power tools is eliminated through Sim[PLY]’s handassembled nature, ensuring safety during construction.

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OUR HOME TO YOURS Due to Indigo Pine’s stable, safe, and sustainable structural innovations, a group of 24 students and 4 faculty assembled the structural frame of the home in less than 2 days.

Like traditional wood-framed structures, Sim[PLY] uses joists, studs, rafters, and trusses. While these elements may look different than their traditional counterparts, they serve the same purpose. They are also similarly installed, which makes learning the assembly process easy for everyone, contractors and homeowners alike.

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During the IPE build, the Indigo Pine team tilted up all of the Sim[PLY] walls, and the interlocking joints at the base held the wall in place.

TILT - UP WALLS Similar to a traditional framing with lumber, each of the walls of Indigo Pine are constructed flat on the platform, then tilted up into place. However, unlike conventional techniques which rely on temporary bracing to secure the wall into its standing position, Sim[PLY] has a built-in “hook� joint at the base of each stud which allows it to be rocked into place and lock securely into the floor joist system below. The result is a resilient wall system that inherently resists uplift forces.

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RE-EVALUATING RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION energy consumption during on-site construction, and deep, insulated wall cavities with limited thermal bridging. Contrary to popular belief, plywood is an extremely renewable resource.

Timber is currently the leading cash crop in South Carolina, and combined with the efficient manner in which plywood is produced, it is an optimal choice for sustainable design. The digital fabrication of the Sim[PLY] system makes it possible to e-mail Sim[PLY] achieves sustainability through its cut files for the entire house to a fabrication shop sourcing of local renewable materials, recycling of anywhere in the world, eliminating the carbon production waste during fabrication, reduction of emissions used to transport materials.

A system based on ease of assembly makes for a faster construction time on site, minimizing the need for skilled labor and expensive or dangerous equipment. Sim[PLY] is designed to integrate mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems into the structure itself by pre-cutting holes to receive the necessary equipment and materials, once again eliminating time, cost, and skilled labor.

DIGITAL FILE CREATED

TOOLS USED:

FILE E-MAILED TO LOCAL CNC FABRICATOR

ZIP TIE GUN

STAINLESS STEEL ZIP TIES

PLYWOOD SOURCED FROM LOCAL HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE

RUBBER MALLET

CORDLESS SCREW GUN

PLYWOOD CNC CUT

TOOLS N O T USED:

NO PENCILS OR TAPE MEASURES -

IT’S ALREADY MEASURED!

PLYWOOD COMPONENTS DELIVERED TO SITE FOR CONSTRUCTION

NO SAWS IT’S ALREADY CUT!

NO NAILS / NAIL GUNS -

WE VALUE SAFETY.

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WHAT GOES UP...

MUST COME DOWN A distinct advantage of the Sim[PLY] system is its opportunity for disassembly without damaging the integrity of the system.

With the simple snipping of stainless steel zip ties, the CNC-cut pieces come apart the same way they were assembled.

This characteristic of the system was essential to competition success, as the home had to be completely removed from the site in a short five day disassembly period.

HOW DOES

STRUCTURAL

The success of Sim[PLY] is dependent on a number of strategic connections that make the system both unique and strong. Several varying types of mortise and tenon connections, slot connections, notch connections, S-joint connections, Z-joint connections and ball joint connections work in unison to create a cohesive structure capable of withstanding East Coast wind loads and West Coast seismic conditions.

Students and Faculty performed a series of tests on the Sim[PLY] structural system to verify its strength and stability.

In addition to validating the system as a whole, the tests helped ensure the verification of proper screw patterns, selection of sheathing orientation, and exploration of sufficient foundation anchoring. The assessments included both full-scale and single fastener tests. All tests used testing and analysis methods approved by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Sim[PLY] WORK? TESTING

The strength of Sim[PLY] is also attributed to its interconnection with exterior sheathing panels. A series of tabs protruding through the structure receive each panel holding it in place prior to fastening. Following a specific screw pattern, wall and roof sheathing panels are fastened to the structure providing shear strength for the system.

STRUCTURAL CONNECTIONS OF Sim[PLY] Ball Joint Connection 22

Mortise & Tenon Connection

Z-Joint Connection

Notch Connection

Mortise & Tenon Header Connection

S-Joint Connection

Mortise & Tenon Edge Connection

Slot Connection

Double Notch Connection

Mortise & Tenon Connection

Tilt-Up Wall Connection 23

STRUCTURE |

WELCOME TO

INDIGO

wall corner assembly

Your home should resemble this photo before continuing.

STOP

NEXT:

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N

S

W south wall assembly

PINE

Your new house is here. Ready to put it together?

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SOUTH WALL ASSEMBLY

STRUCTURE |

south wall assembly

All 4 corner posts have been installed, and walls are ready to be raised. Begin with the south wall assembly.

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part checklist

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STRUCTURE |

south wall assembly

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interior elevation (assembled)

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(assembled)

S-E00W1 x5

F-SIHW2P x5

S-E000 x12

S-E00W x10

H-00LWS x5

F-EIHP x2

H-00LW x10

F-1 x5

F-SIHW1P x6

F-0IL0 x4

F-0EL0 x6

F-0ELW x6

Approx.

45 min.

8 people (ideal)

ZIP TIES x2 packs H-00LWS-1 x5

Additional PPE needed

Approx.

45 min.

8 people (ideal)

exterior elevation

Additional PPE needed

(assembled)

tool checklist

ZIP TIE GUN

RUBBER MALLET

S-10

SOUTH WALL ASSEMBLY

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(assembled)

(assembled)

(assembled)

(assembled)

(assembled)

S-10

SOUTH WALL ASSEMBLY

STRUCTURE |

south wall assembly

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typical stud construction

STRUCTURE |

south wall assembly

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assembly instructions

S

(next stage)

(next stage)

See tutorial 2.1 for zip tie instructions

Approx.

45 min.

Approx.

45 min.

zip ties

8 people (ideal)

1. Assemble the wall interior-face down on the finished subfloor deck according to assembly elevations and axon drawings above.

2. Use rubber mallet to secure pieces that do not snap in place automatically and to ensure precise placement of tabs.

Additional PPE needed

8 people (ideal)

Additional PPE needed

(assembled)

(assembled)

(assembled)

S-10

SOUTH WALL ASSEMBLY

STRUCTURE |

south wall assembly W

assembly instructions

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Approx.

45 min.

5. The (3) people on the ground will secure the wall in its upright position once it is stood in place by hammering the tabs at the bottom of the wall into the existing exterior rim joist.

6. Thread, tighten, and secure all remaining zip-tie connections.

8 people (ideal)

Additional PPE needed

S-10

SOUTH WALL ASSEMBLY

3. Zip tie at appropriate pre-cut holes. Leave the last row of zip ties at the bottom off the wall lose, as they will be tightened later in the assembly process.

4. With (5) people on the deck, and (3) on the ground, lift the entire wall at once, slowly. The people on the ground will help guide the wall into its appropriate placement in the floor plate.

S-10

SOUTH WALL ASSEMBLY

ASSEMBLY DRAWINGS In line with Indigo Pine’s nontraditional assembly method, our team produced a pictographic construction manual. Our vision is for Indigo Pine to be quickly delivered to your site in a simple and easy-to-understand package (which would include the parts required for construction as well as the series of assembly drawings).

These drawings are tailored to enable average persons who do not have prior construction experience to take part in the process of building their home. Similar to Ikea

assembly drawings in concept, these drawings provide a simple glance at the construction steps and include vital information such as tools required, safety information, and assembly order.

This page shows a sample of the full assembly drawing document (which is still in development).

This section describes the South Wall Assembly, and represents our vision for delivery of the home as well as the documents themselves.

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FAST FACTS 863 CNC CUT PIECES

72

SHEETS OF ALUMINUM COMPOSITE MATERIAL SIDING

2.9 MILES OF

CNC CUTTING

59,222.88

lb CO2-Eq EMBODIED ENERGY

76,500

DOLLARS material + labor

133 SHEETS OF OSB

SHEATHING

(includes exterior walls, radiant roof sheathing, and subflooring)

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SHEETS OF INTERIOR PLYWOOD

(includes interior wall and ceiling panels) 26

S

03 K

I

N

Like all aspects of Indigo Pine, the exterior envelope, or building skin, is unique in many ways. From interior paneling to exterior siding, each product and system can be flat-packed, shipped to site, and handinstalled piece-by-piece.

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INTERIOR PANELS

The interior walls, rather than being covered in drywall, remain true to the concept of Indigo Pine in remaining a true material reflection in the form of ½� painted douglas fir panels. These wall panels were cut to notch into the Sim[PLY] structural system, similar to the ZIP panels on the opposing side.

The interior panels, though, are screwed into the wall with a small finishing screw and washer at systematic points, giving a cohesive and organized look to their attachment.

Soffit panels, painted a semi-gloss white, cover both the ceiling and an upper portion of the wall. This color reflects light from fixtures recessed in the cove. These panels, too, are reinforced with the same finish screw and washer combination.

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This view of the master bedroom shows how the design celebrates the interlocking connections by painting the end of the Sim[PLY] studs white.

The interior wall panels and ZIP sheathing panels use a mortise and tenon connection to attach to the Sim[PLY] stud.

ALUMINUM ROOFING

EXTERIOR S H E AT H I N G

CEILING PA N E L S

SOFFIT PA N E L S

ROOF S H E AT H I N G

extruded PBR

7/16” weather treated OSB

23/32” structural plywood

1/2” birch vaneer plywood

23/32” weather treated OSB with radiant barrier

ACM SIDING

WINDOW SHROUDS

AIR GAP

SUBFLOOR

WA L L PA N E L S

CELLULOSE I N S U L AT I O N

4mm Aluminum Composite Material

3mm ACM

2” convective cooling

23/32” OSB subfloor

15/32” structural plywood

100% recycled batt.

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DESIGNING FROM

The cellulose batt insulation is an off-the-shelf product that uses 100% recycled cellulose content. It is sandwiched inside the wall cavity by the plywood interior wall panels and the ZIP system sheathing panels. ZIP sheathing is pretreated to create a weather barrier, and once it is applied to the house the seams are sealed using a flashing tape. The continuous sheathing and flashing tape creates a weather and air tight house.

In combination with effective, inexpensive vinyl windows, these elements serve to protect the interior environment.

The exterior siding is a CNCfabricated Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) system which can be flat-packed and shipped to site and installed using only hand tools. Unlike most residential siding, Indigo Pine’s folded ACM panels create a 2” air cavity between the structural sheathing and the exposed siding surface, allowing natural air flow within the cavity to cool the space, reducing heat transfer from the exterior siding surface to the sheathing.

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INSIDE OUT

Combined with sheathing and insulation the floor has an R-value of R-35, while the lower, thicker part of the wall has an R-Value of R-38. The upper, thinner part of the wall has an R-Value of R-32, and the roof has an R-Value of R-40.

These values are far above the code mandated minimum, and are easily achieved through the deep wall cavity and minimal thermal bridging of the CNC cut plywood structure.

Before the siding can be installed, all wood joints and penetrations must be sealed with flashing tape.

OUR HOME TO YOURS The siding can be applied to any exterior sheathing, new construction or renovation, with or without an integral weather barrier.

After the team’s first mock up in Clemson, Indigo Pine West’s white color was chosen to reduce the passive heat gains in the intense sun of California.

FABRICATION After CNC cutting a series of notches and V-grooves into each ACM sheet, a threedimensional ACM panel is created by hand folding the tabs and fastening them together using pop-rivets. Each panel is then able to be installed directly over the structural sheathing and fastened through to the structural stud members using 2� galvanized deck screws.

INSTALLATION Due to the precise CNC fabrication of screw holes and tabs, the ACM panels are selfaligning and self-leveling. After the first course has been installed around the lower perimeter of the house, panels on each façade can be installed independently from the ground up, connecting at the corners with a standard wrapping corner panel.

Clemson students assemble the exterior panels on site stacking them in place.

PERFORMANCE The siding system works to enhance the thermal performance of the house. The 2-inch ventilated air space keeps the cavity cool ad dry while the high solar reflectance of the panels (SRI=82) mitigates solar heat gain in the walls.

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Like the exterior walls and sheathing, all of the penetrations of the roof must be taped to create a weather barrier.

STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM

The floor assembly begins first at the foundation, where the same exterior sheathing used on the walls is placed and taped (weather barrier face down) on the CMU foundation. Floor joists are then installed each pre-cut to compensate for the natural slope of the site. The floor joist cavities are filled with 11� of insulation to reduce conductive heat transfer from the CMU into the house. A small gap forms in deeper locations to further increase insulation values. The subfloor cavity is enclosed with CNC-cut 23/32� treated OSB subflooring which slots into tabs cut into the floor joists to increase rigidity and reduce man hours for installation.

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OUR HOME TO YOURS Because the interior wall and ceiling panels are not structurally dependent on the Sim[PLY] system, a family can choose whatever wall finish they would prefer in the home without affecting the structural integrity of the house. For example, gypsum board instead of the pre-cut wood panels.

NOW WE ARE HERE The roofing is a clear anodized aluminum Purlin Bearing Rib Panel (PBR) roofing on top of a layer of tar paper which acts as the primary water shedding membrane. Below the PBR roofing, 23/32� treated OSB sheathing (CNC cut) with a radiant barrier is slotted into tabs cut into the roof rafters.

The radiant barrier is face up to reflect radiant heat out of the house.

11� of insulation is installed in direct contact with the sheathing between the joists to reduce conductive heat transfer from roof into the house. A deeper gap forms in certain locations which allows a greater increase in insulation values and allows for more chase space for house ductwork, wiring, piping, and other equipment within the thermal envelope.

Floor joists are laid on top of the CMU foundation.

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FAST FACTS 1356 CNC CUT PIECES

(668 unique pieces)

2.5 MILES OF

CNC CUTTING

161 SHEETS OF CABINET PLYWOOD

(includes 3/4”, 5/8” and 1/2” thicknesses)

2,427.55

lb CO2-Eq EMBODIED ENERGY

30,000 DOLLARS

material + labor

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04

CABINETS Indigo Pine’s exterior walls enclose 972 square feet of interior space. Using the Sim[PLY] system, the exterior walls support the entire roof structure. Therefore, the home requires no interior load bearing elements, leaving all 972 square feet completely uninterrupted. This open space makes the interior of the home entirely customizable – and reconfigurable – to adapt to the growth and change of the family.

In search of a completely adaptable, space efficient system to divide the home into rooms, cabinet walls emerged as the obvious solution. To make them a reality, students used the same CNC methods used for the plywood structure, only this time, for a finishgrade product.

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STORAGE, DIVISION,

& MODULARITY

The cabinet system serves several there is a higher level of precision functions for the home – it required for finished cabinetry, and creates storage, divides space, screws facilitate its achievement. and encourages modularity. As The structural independence of a primary function, the cabinets the system allows each cabinet serve as storage for the home and to function as a module within a family, integrating the wiring and larger kit-of-parts. As modules, piping necessary to make the home each individual cabinet can be function. In an attempt to use exchanged, moved, or removed every inch of space, cabinet walls to alter the layout of the home. address both rooms they divide They are also easily handled by with the inclusion of essential one to two people, increasing storage for a desired function. For the ease of installation example, one side of a cabinet without heavy equipment or wall may serve the kitchen with construction experience. space for storing glassware, while the other side serves the bedroom, The flexibility of the cabinets is still providing space for hanging under development, with systems clothes. integration as the next major step.

Ideally, modifiable wiring, Additionally, the cabinets create piping, and fixtures would the vertical partitions walls, as be integrated into each well as secondary, lower ceiling individual module. planes that conceal bulky internal mechanical systems. In lieu of the secondary zip tie connection like the structure, a screw fastener with a finish washer secures one piece to another, avoiding interference with the hardware and storage capacity of the cabinets.

Compared again to structure, 36

A close-up view of the cabinetry shows that the design of notches allows for hardware-less cabinets -- simplicity at its finest!

The IP team also designed custom doors that lay flush within the cabinetry system, and an oversized return air grill.

OUR HOME TO YOURS Because the cabinetry system is completely separate from the structural system, it could be installed in any home, while fabricated and finished to the owner’s taste. Modularity of the cabinet units also expands the audience beyond the family of 4 to anyone looking for a wall or cabinetry system that saves and/or creates space.

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FAST FACTS 74,000 DOLLARS

material + labor

2,500

APPROX. FEET OF ELECTRICAL WIRE

260 APPROX. FEET OF

PLUMBING PIPING

75 APPROX. FEET

OF FLEX DUCT

34 SOLAR PANELS 36 LIGHT FIXTURES 3

SINKS

1 kitchen, 2 bathroom

3 TANKS 38

1 freshwater 1 greywater 1 fire sprinkler

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SYSTEMS Upstate South Carolina shares its subtropical climate zone with 40% of the world. A family of four who resides in this zone requires a certain premium in water and power consumption. One goal of Indigo Pine is to meet the comfort and utility requirements of the family in a sustainable and efficient manner while maintaining a reasonable budget. To accomplish this goal, the home uses low-tech passive systems and off-the-shelf products in new and innovative ways, increasing total performance and efficiency.

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MECHANICAL SYSTEMS

The mechanical system includes a 1.5 ton ducted mini-split system with an integrated Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV). The mini-split carries a seasonal efficiency rating (SEER) of 18. The exterior heat exchanger heats or cools refrigerant, depending on the season, and sends it to the interior HRV. The efficiency of the heat exchanger is enhanced by precooled or pre-heated air from the thermal mass foundation, captured and funneled by a custom ACM sleeve. Refrigerant is pumped into the house through small insulated pipes to the interior air handler. This unit distributes the refrigerant through coils back to the heat exchanger while blowing filtered air across the coils to condition it. This air comes from the HRV which mixes recycled air with fresh outside air.

The air handler draws from a central return integrated into a hall cabinet, then distributes air through flexible ducts and air diverter tees to the spaces within the house. The air diverter tees are made from CNC cut, folded and

OUR HOME TO YOURS The tees can be introduced into any new or existing ducted system with a centralized single unit and available wall space for control.

The thermostat needs to be centrally located to ensure balanced conditioning of the house.

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riveted ACM, standard air-tight takeoffs, and a small rotating damper flaps located centrally in the tee. These dampers are controlled with Bowden cables attached to mechanical levers and adjust the volume of air flowing out of the tees in each direction ranging from 70/30 to 30/70. Using three tees, four “zones� were created to maximize thermal comfort control, dividing the house first in East and West, then the North and South of each.

Mechanical Distribution Isometric

In IPW, the CNC machine was used to customize our exterior supply and return vents with some extra flair!

An air diverter system was designed to maximize the internal thermal comfort and user control with a low-tech solution.

The system diverts air to wherever the family needs it most.

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ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS

Indigo Pine uses 34 total solar panels (29 power the house’s general use with an AC system, and five power the water heater directly using DC current. The 60 gallon water heater is a modified off-the-shelf 60 gallon tank which passes the DC current through the water inside the tank. Because solar panels collect heat using DC current, by using a water heater that also uses DC, you do not loose energy when converting from DC to AC like with typical appliances. A backup AC current heating element is included for overnight heating and cloudy days. The AC system utilizes microinverter technology to invert the generated DC power to household friendly AC power at a 4% loss. These micro-inverters function in parallel rather than series to minimize power loss in case of a malfunction and provide wireless monitoring of production. The power produced is directly fed into a standard electrical breaker panel to service the lighting, appliances and power needs of the family. If the power is not being fully utilized, excess is fed into the grid, and if the power needs exceed production, the additional power can be drawn from the grid.

Indigo Pine also uses two types of efficient LED fixtures, a linear uplight for indirect lighting and a circular surface mount downlight for direct lighting.

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Unlike any other team in the Solar Decathlon, all the systems, including electrical wiring, were done by Clemson students and faculty. No contractors needed!

The Indigo Pine team thought of everything -- even the exterior conduit supports were designed with the Indigo Pine Logo.

INDOORS

OUTDOORS

GRID CONNECTION MAIN ELECTRICAL BREAKER PANEL

AC JUNCTION BOX

AC DISCONNECT

DC WATER HEATER

TO GROUND AC

AC

AC

AC

AC

DC DISCONNECT

AC

AC

AC

AC

AC

AC

AC

AC

AC

AC

AC

AC

AC

AC

DC

AC

AC

AC

AC

AC

DC

AC

AC

AC

DC

AC

DC

AC

DC

DC JUNCTION BOX

GROUNDNG WIRE

Schematic Electrical Layout

INDOORS

GROUND POINT

-

OUTDOORS

+

OUR HOME TO YOURS These solar panels can be installed on any roof with enough sun exposure - ideally, panels should be directed towards the south and tilted at an angle that is equal (+/- 15 degrees) to the latitude of the site. Micro-inverters allow you to expand or shrink the solar panel array safely and easily based on your needs and budget.

They do not produce energy until they are 43 tied to the grid.

PLUMBING FIXTURES

The plumbing system utilizes flexible and efficient ½� PEX piping with simple push connections to supply water from a centrally located manifold. The manifold is centrally located between the plumbing fixtures and water heater to reduce the travel time for water and the amount of material needed to provide service. For the purposes of the competition, the efficient fixtures fed from a 1 HP pump and 1035 gallon tank to reduce the house’s consumption. The manifold is fed directly from the supply pumps which feeds cold water to the water heater and fixtures, receives and distributes the heated water from the water heater, and connects or disconnects service to fixtures or equipment easily. The drain piping primarily exists below the subfloor and above the lower cabinet ceiling in order to reduce the interference with the cabinets and their configurability.

With the current design, if fixtures or equipment needed to be moved, extensive renovations would need to be done to adjust the cabinets and substructure. This design feature needs further development as the project progresses.

A residential fire sprinkler system fed from a 350 gallon tank, pump, and riser combination is integrated into the structure in order to provide additional fire safety for the occupants.

OUR HOME TO YOURS With the exception of the fire sprinkler system, a standard city utility connection can easily replace the tanks and pumps.

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All piping joints were held together using PVC cement.

The manifold shown is located to reduce travel time of water.

WATER HEATER VENT PIPING WASTE TANK

Plumbing Isometric Layout

CPVC PIPE IN STRUCTURE

SUPPLY TANK, PUMP, AND RISER

RECESSED SPRINKLER HEAD Fire Sprinkler Isometric Layout

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building PERFORMANCE

hermal R-38 tresistance

17% efficiency

Cost-effective, high-performance photovoltaic panels absorb energy from the sun. (Most PV panels measure 1115% efficiency.)

CNC-cut Huber Zip System exterior sheathing with integrated moisture barrier.

Sim[PLY] system

CMU foundation

ACM skin

Structural sheets of plywood are CNC cut and make up the houses Sim[PLY] system.

Conditioned air (shown cool) exits the CMU and passes through an outdoor heat-exchanger.

Aluminum Composite Metal (ACM) window shrouds are designed to allow the winter sun while blocking the summer sun.

The floor, walls, and roof systems of Indigo Pine are rated R-38. R value is a measure of resistance to heat flow. (Typical values: R-13 to R-19.)

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ZIP system

972 SQ. FT.

AT A GLANCE 3 bedrooms for a family

Two 1/2 bathrooms for maximum accommodation

Shared (or not) closet which can connect both rooms into one room, or be closed off to create two private rooms

Cabinet walls with fully integrated systems including hot water heater, electrical panel and plumbing

Accessible entries three entry doors

Windows strategically placed for optimum solar and thermal gain

Spacious front porch which nearly doubles the home’s square footage

Landscaping integrated with porch design

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FAST FACTS 6,650

BOARD FEET

1,674.20 lb CO -Eq 2

EMBODIED ENERGY

12,800

DOLLARS total material cost

150

FOUNDATION ANCHORS

8 POST & BEAM FRAMES

12 FIBERGLASS GRATING

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06

P O R C H Indigo Pine’s porch addresses the house’s connection to its social context. Designed with a contemporary Southern aesthetic, the porch functions as an extension of the interior living space, both public and private. Each of the Indigo Pine porches built respond to their context differently, consequently altering their designs.

The materiality of the porch was designed to be site specific. The intension of the porch was to use locally available materials -- In IPE, the porch was constructed with treated yellow pine; whereas in IPW, the team utilized redwood lumber. By using locally available materials, Indigo Pine encourages sustainability and allows another avenue for customization.

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OUTDOOR LIVING

Addressing its specific context, Indigo Pine East’s porch extends north to expand the eastward view for bird-watching in order to face the trees where the birds reside. Indigo Pine West’s porch is compact with a public space towards the south to address the corner condition at the Solar Decathlon site. IPW’s porch also features a more private space located towards the north, a covered carport, and a wide western ramp to invite competition visitors in. Fiberglass grating panels provide shading on the porch while maintaining visibility and air flow.

The construction method, structural independence from the house, and housing for solar panels on its roof were universal to both porches.

Using standard, readily available dimensional lumber, the porch is able to be prefabricated in all regions of the United States and assembled on site quickly using hand tools, regardless of lumber species.

OUR HOME TO YOURS The Indigo Pine West porch will stay in California as a pavilion for a nature preserve.

The Indigo Pine East porch will stay in the South Carolina State Botanical gardens to educate the public on bird watching and Indigo Pine East.

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Whether in South Carolina or Southern California, the lumber used for the porch was site specific and can be bought at any hardware store across the country.

ALUMINUM ROOFING

C A R P O RT BENCH

LIGHTING TROUGH

ELECTRIC CAR

PORCH SWING

EXTRUDED FIBERGLASS

SLIDING DOORS

CALIFORNIA REDWOOD

HANGING PLANTERS

ADA RAMP

The fiberglass grating was used both privacy and shading-- it also made an excellent support for custom planter boxes.

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FAST FACTS 17,000 DOLLARS

(includes flooring, rubber base, appliances, and fixtures

972

SQUARE FEET

117 FEET OF RUBBER WALL BASE

7 APPLIANCES 2 INTERIOR FANS

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07

FINISHES The finishes of a house are what make it feel like a home. Indigo Pine employs a material and color palette that is based on the natural environment of South Carolina. Furnishings are comfortable and inviting with clean, contemporary silhouettes, and lighting is warm and indirect.

The color scheme of the Indigo Pine home relies on warm grays, deep indigo, and golden yellows to create a welcoming atmosphere appropriate for a family.

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INTERIOR FURNISHINGS

The color scheme of the Indigo Pine home relies on warm grays, deep indigo, and golden yellows to create a welcoming atmosphere appropriate for a family. The flooring creates a rustic feel in the home, balancing an array of grays and beiges that coincide nicely with the “Functional Gray” wall color throughout the home.

Most families will move into a home with an array of possessions and heirlooms they have collected throughout years or generations. In keeping with that tradition of moving in with personal belongings, a sincere effort was made to supply Indigo Pine with pieces that would be found in a lived-in home. Items such as children’s shoes and stuffed animals, books, vintage tennis racquets, serving dishes, and frames were found in thrift stores and consignment shops which create an interior that actually feels like a place a family would inhabit. The Clemson University Art Department created custom ceramic sets for the house that are branded with the Indigo Pine logo, and were used to serve dinners to our opposing teams during the competition.

The large furniture pieces were chosen for their simplicity and comfort. With key statement pieces such as a modern wicker chair (reminiscent of the 54

lowcountry SC weaving culture), and two CNC-cut plywood rocking chairs for the porch that were crafted with the same Sim[PLY] system as the house, the house began to embody the feeling of a home.. The dining table was borrowed from Michael McFadin, the owner of the Ubiquity Records warehouse. Most notable were the laser-cut dining chairs, fabricated and designed

by Michael Towey at Costa Mesa’s “California Workshop.”

Towey also designed the feature light fixture over the dining table, made of folded, geometric fabric pendants hung on strings.

The neutrals of the interior not only help bring natural light in, but allow our unique indigo and yellow furnishings throughout the house to come to life.

OUR HOME TO YOURS By using whites and light colors on the inside of your home, you can help reflect natural sunlight further into the house.

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making a house A HOME The emergence of a real, livable home from months of hard work was the most gratifying aspect of the finishes. One of the highlights of the competition was gathering on the porch after the all the furnishings filled the home: After construction was finally complete on the ninth day, we began cleaning up any dust and dirt that had piled up throughout construction. We then emptied the last load of boxes into the house -- the furnishings. We sat together opening all of the boxes just like Christmas morning. Each box opened invited more smiles as we ooh’ed and awed together. Each holding up the new treasures from inside the boxes for everyone to admire - from children’s shoes to custom pottery made by Clemson Students to photographs of the team building IPE. The unique pieces were place and dotted around the home each finding their specific place. After cleaning up all the boxes and packaging, we laughed and smiled because we had just finished turning our house into our home.

REBECCA WILSON

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I always thought the most difficult part of this build would be getting the structure up.

The thought of moving hundreds of cinder block, raising a massive box girder, dropping in 40 trusses seemed a very daunting task.

That was done in a day and a half.

To my surprise, the most difficult aspect of this build is finishing. Interior paneling, cabinetry, MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing).

These are difficult because they are very precise. The structure was done in broad strokes, pieces fitting together to create a large skeleton, pre-cut paneling that fit onto

that. These moves allowed for wiggle room, shifting, pushing, pulling until pieces found there home. A half inch could be squeezed or pushed out relatively easily.

When it comes to finishing, a half inch can be devastating. Mistakes in the structure are covered up, hidden behind layers of cladding, insulation, paneling etc. Mistakes in the cabinetry, interior paneling, etc are in your face and you have to work very hard to correct them. We are also on top of each other. The more finished the interiors become, the less space we have, which is inconvenient, because it is when we need the most space. We

stack up, working above, below, and around one another. It is also very easy to gauge progress at the beginning of the build, to see a house appear out of no where in a few days is impressive. To see a house have its HVAC run, its plumbing and electrical roughed in, is yawn inducing. But we are still chugging along, and I feel that what we have accomplished up to this point is very impressive. Tomorrow is critical, we have a lot to do, and not a lot of time to do it. Wish us luck.

ANTHONY WOHLERS 57

Indigo Pine branding was added to all construction hard hats during the IPE build for safety and marketing.

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Steel zip ties were used in the construction of the Sim(PLY) system which eliminated the need for nails on the construction site.

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Roof joists were constructed on the second day of the build during the solar decathlon competition in Irvine, Ca. 62

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During the fall of 2015, Team Clemson constructed the Indigo Pine home in the Solar Decathlon. 34 solar panels on the roof are designed to make the house net zero.

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The south elevation features the public side of the porch, large windows into the kitchen and living room, and a space for cornhole outside.

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The North side hosts the carport that powers an electric car by using some of the power from the solar panels on the roof.

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The east side of the house has windows to the children’s bedrooms and houses the mechanical equipment.

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The southern wall has 5 large windows with extended window shades. This extension passively stops direct sunlight from entering the main living space of the home.

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Students designed custom Indigo Pine conduit covers for the electrical wiring from the solar panels on the roof.

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The deep window boxes not only stop direct sunlight during the day but act as plant boxes for herbs you can use in the kitchen.

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The industrial fiberglass panels provide privacy for the porch. The planters that attach to the fiberglass were custom designed by students out of the same ACM material that cover the exterior walls.

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Visitors were greeted by the Indigo Pine mailbox to make a more welcoming and homey first impression.

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Indigo Pine coasters featuring information about the house and a recipe for Solar Sweet Tea were a special surprise for visitors.

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The rocking chairs on the porch were custom designed using the same Sim[PLY] construction method that was used to construct the house.

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The redwood porch was designed using pass through joints with mostly 2� x 6� and 4x4 lumber readily available from local Californian suppliers.

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The porch was designed to be another area of the home that can be easily customizable to your needs and aesthetic desires.

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Specific voids in the columns were designed to host lumber that supported the fiberglass railing.

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The south side of the porch was designed to be a more public outdoor room.

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The north side of the porch was designed as a more private extension to the master bedroom.

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The interactive fiberglass panels can be opened or closed depending on your privacy needs and the best placement to stop direct sunlight from entering the outdoor living room.

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The fiberglass grating provides different and unique lighting experiences through out the day and night.

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The beautifully mild weather of Southern California and South Carolina allows the porch to be used during any time of the day and throughout much of the year.

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The public tours during the Solar Decathlon competition began on the porch with an introduction to the meaning of the name Indigo Pine and original project’s goals.

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The tour continued into the interior of the home where the team introduced the importance of Sim[PLY] construction and other sustainable features of the home.

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Michael Towey, a local artisan, graciously allowed our team to feature his custom light fixtures and chairs inside our home during the competition.

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The master bedroom features the interior cabinet walls that are used throughout the house that allows for ultimate flexibility for a growing family.

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The first room guests enter is the large open living space with kitchen and dining. The brightness and high ceilings make the house feel large and welcoming.

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All of the interior finishes and decorations were specifically picked out by the team to make it feel as much like a home as possible.

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The galley kitchen features energy efficient appliances and flexible custom designed cabinetry that can be flat-packed to the site.

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The two children’s bedrooms are connected with a shared closet so toys and clothing can be accessed by both children. As children get older the cabinets can be rotated to allow for more privacy.

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The air diverter system designed by Clemson students and faculty allows the family to direct conditioned air to where it is most needed at any given time of the day.

Team Clemson was the only team in the competition that designed for a family of four. This came from its commitment to addressing the needs of the families in SC. 101

The Indigo Pine team designed two half bathrooms with one shared wet wall to share the plumbing for both bathrooms.

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The two half-baths allow multiple uses at anytime. This will alleviate many traffic jams during those busy mornings.

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Plants were carefully selected to perform best in the local climate. Some plants are even edible so they can be used during cooking while other plants are low-water succulents for easy maintenance.

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Clemson University pottery students provided Indigo Pine pottery that was used for hosting dinner parties during the competition.

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our

HOME 109

Neilson Guest Cottage | Spring Island, SC 110

01

FOUNDATION Indigo Pine began with a singular idea: to challenge the notions behind sustainable homes in the South.

From the beginning, our team recognized that misconstrued cultural norms have cast a shadow of environmental regression upon the South. Despite the distance between our current reality and our aggressive goal, however, Clemson University students committed to building upon the idea of Indigo Pine.

For three years to date, our team has endeavored to develop innovative ways to foster sustainable living for the average Southern family, but to do so in a modern way.

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IDEAS TO BUILD UPON The idea behind Indigo Pine began one summer evening in 2012 when two of our faculty, Dan Harding and Vincent Blouin, found themselves contemplating a critical but simple question:

Why don’t people look at the south as a place that spawns sustainability in architecture?

$45,000) by considering a balance between initial and long-term utility and maintenance costs. In order to balance the family’s affordability concerns in the short and long term, our team combined hightech and low-tech solutions which can be integrated together or applied separately and remain effective.

-DAN HARDING

This singular question launched a three year journey toward the Solar Decathlon 2015; in which the members of Team Clemson sought to change this perception through design. The process began by rooting the project in the characteristics of Southern culture and housing paradigms, but quickly identified with the idea of inverting these principles to form a sustainable, modern take on the Southern home.

Through our journey, Team Clemson strongly identified with housing for the commonman. Our target client, a typical Southern family of four, is faced with meeting everyday concerns of family life and has a modest income with which to do so.

Our team designed with South Carolina’s median household income in mind (around

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DAN HARDING & VINCENT BLOUIN

Graduate student Anthony Wohlers organizing CNC cut parts for an early structural mock-up.

E-MAILABLE DESIGN

TECHNO - LOCAL Our team began designing a “techno-local home.� Techno-local design, as the name implies, seeks to hybridized global technology with local conditions and daily life; accomplished by leveraging available technology, designing for the southern climate, and innovating within existing systems. Our team quickly identified the appeal of a design that can be adaptable and comfortable in a subtropical climate zone; which encompasses South Carolina but also covers about 40% of the globe. While the home is designed with Southern culture in mind, it can nearly eliminate geographical limitations by leveraging modern technology.

Early in the design process, shortly after the team learned of its acceptance as participants in the 2015 Solar Decathlon, our team decided to leverage available technology in a radical way, planning to e-mail the home to the competition. It was to exist as a set of digital cut files that could be milled using readily available machinery (a CNC machine). This meant that it could be e-mailed anywhere in the world, and, subsequently, milled with local materials and built with local labor. This simple idea seeks to change the way that we consider sustainability in the current digital age by design; promoting a balanced, sustainable lifestyle in a techno-local home.

Indigo Pine exists in full as a set of digital files all structure, cabinetry, and siding components.

By leveraging available technology, Indigo Pine can be e-mailed anywhere in the world, fabricated with local materials and built with local labor.

CNC MACHINE

CUT SHEETS

ASSEMBLED PARTS

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‘TECHNO’: FLAT-PACK DESIGN In line with the “Techno” aspect of our Techno-Local design, the team began to explore the growing market of digital fabrication. Early in the process, we identified our goals with the capabilities of a Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machine (essentially a table run router) and identified the constraints inherent in the use of the machine itself - the largest of which is the use of flat sheet goods such as plywood or aluminum composite material (ACM). One of the largest advantages of utilizing sheet goods is the inherent ability to produce a series of easily manageable, flat-packed parts that can be e-mailed anywhere in the world, cut using locally sourced materials, and subsequently built using local labor. By leveraging technology, our team is beginning to answer the social, economical, as well as environmental concerns that surround the current building industry.

process. The home arrives as a ready to assemble, flat-packed kit-of-parts, complete with assembly drawings and manuals. All parts and modules of Indigo Pine are designed to interlock, integrate with the home’s systems and be easily managed by average persons; in effect allowing people who do not have construction experience to take part in the assembly process.

Furthermore, without any need for power saws, nail guns, or powerful lifting equipment, an Indigo Pine building site is safer and easier to manage.

Why build a flat-packed house? Imagine for a moment that you are buying a home that you and your family can put together. How would you want to receive the parts?

Every part of Indigo Pine is designed around the potential for you and your family to take part in the home building

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Students fabricated parts for several mock-ups with a CNC machine in Clemson’s woodshop.

“LOCAL”: SOUTHERN ROOTS Our team’s commitment to a “local” design implies an understanding of both the cultural heritage and climactic requirements of our state. In order to understand this context, our team initially identified several iconographic aspects of Southern homes.

Three of these icons (Porch, Double-Hung Windows, and a Defined Entry) strongly informed the design of Indigo Pine. Each of these elements contributes to the contextual and thermal comfortability of the home. The porch and windows passively cool the home by regulating heat gain and crossventilation, respectively. Including a front porch and a defined entry helps the home fit to its Southern context. The porch, however, was considered as a separate structure to encourage adaptability to the particular site, whether that be in the context of the South or elsewhere in the world.

KEY CONCEPTS PORCH ELEMENT

Transition space from outdoors to indoors serving as another room of the house.

DOUBLE HUNG WINDOWS

Facilitate crossventilation, passively keeping the home comfortable.

DEFINED ENTRY

Distinguish the front and contextualize the house to the South 115

HAIKU HOUSE PROTOTYPES: The beginning phases of our project included students outside of the Solar Decathlon project itself in a seed studio working on a project known as the “Haiku House.” Haiku is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterized by two main qualities: The essence of haiku is “cutting” (often represented by the juxtaposition of two images or ideas and “cutting word” between them), while the poem structure itself traditionally consists of 17 syllables in lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, respectively. Students were challenged to design a 1,000 sq ft singlefamily dwelling with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths.

Cabinet House Floor Plan, Sections And Elevations 116

From this project, a few key ideas emerged as potential candidates for further development throughout the Solar Decathlon competition the main one noted as a “Cabinet House.” The Cabinet House (wall section pictured here), presents innovative, space-saving designs in which the cabinets themselves serve as partitions. Utilizing cabinets in this way served to provide ample storage space and reduced floor area required to divide rooms.

SOLAR DECATHLON PROPOSAL: As part of the Solar Decathlon, teams must apply to be admitted two years in advance of the event by submitting a document known as the proposal. Our team’s proposal identified a few key ideas on which we planned to expand upon: Modularity, Cabinetry, Indigenous Materials + Technology, and Photovoltaics. In this document, the idea of the “Techno-Local” house was made concrete and tied into the key ideas mentioned above.

Much of this design, however, was refined soon after our official acceptance into the competition. Most notably, the prefabricated aspect of the proposal home was reconsidered to be more sustainable in light of the Indigenous Materials + Technology concept. The ability gained by e-mailing the home strengthened our goal of Techno-Local design much more than the initial proposal. Additionally, competition constraints had a large bearing on the development of the floor plan for tour-route compliance.

KEY CONCEPTS MODULARITY

Prefabricated modules designed to allow the home to grow with the family.

CABINETRY

Cabinet walls seamlessly integrate systems and provide ample storage.

gable roof for a broad market appeal and an optimum location for p.v. placement

screened porches and high clerestory windows allow for air and light to flow through the spaces of the house

MATERIALS

Indigenous wood material bolsters local economies and produces a net reduction in CO2.

PHOTOVOLTAICS

banks of cabinetry placed along either side of the central living space

bedroom units that can be constructed separate from the main living space and attached on-site

Solar panels produce ample energy for daily needs and encourage energy monitoring.

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02

STRUCTURE Building upon our core ideas (Techno-Local, Flat-Packed Design, and Southern Roots) was an exciting two year process. During our experience, our team amplified these three core ideas into a marketable, well-designed and cohesive home. The Indigo Pine brand became synonymous with progressive and thorough design, and was the first studio at Clemson to design and build on a scale that led to two fully functioning homes. Contributing to this effort is the unconventional way that we structured our approach to design and to the Solar Decathlon itself; one that is radically different than any team has done in the history of the competition.

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APPROACH TO COMPETITION As mentioned previously, our team approached the Solar Decathlon very differently than any other team in the competition’s 13-year history. Our team looked at sustainability in a different light; one which embodies the entire process of designing and building a sustainable home. The most obvious example of this is our use of modern technology to develop a fully e-mailable design which can be cut using local materials and built with local labor. More subtly, though, are our long-term approaches to both design and construction, and how these compare to the traditional approach to the prefabricated solar housing competition.

In terms of design, most teams follow the traditional progress through schematic, design development, construction documentation and construction administration phases. Our process, however, was much more fluid; integrating construction as part of the iterative design process.

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In terms of construction, teams will typically build their home on their campus, disassemble the home in large modules, ship the modules across the country to the competition site, and reassemble the home with the use of large cranes.

Our student team, however, did not see this as a sustainable methodology for an environmentallyoriented competition. By utilizing modern technology, we were able to reduce our shipping mileage alone from 2,500 miles to a mere 90 miles; substantially reducing both our overall costs and our carbon footprint.

APPROACH TO DESIGN While the Solar Decathlon was an important step in the overall development and public understanding of Indigo Pine, we have consistently thought of the idea behind Indigo Pine reaching well past the confines of the competition. As such, our design goals were geared toward developing the idea behind Indigo Pine rather than simply a house for a competition.

Our approach was to integrate thinking and making (internally called “thinking-making�) throughout design and construction processes. A thinking-making approach led us to continuously produce sets of cut files and mock-ups to test, and, subsequently, modify as necessary right up until the competition home is complete. This approach is innately prototypical and iterative, encouraging a steady stream of growing knowledge as prototypes are continuously constructed, thoroughly tested and subsequently refined. Despite its many admirable qualities, this method also carries the implication that changes will continue to be made up until the deadline - in fact, there were many changes occurring on the competition site itself.

While this method incurs a heavy up-front time commitment (and admittedly requires a lot of time and money), the system’s simplicity and on-site efficiency are unmatched in the modern building industry. By approaching our design and construction as an integrated experience, innovation permeate the entirety of the process. Our systems could continuously tested and refined based off of real-time experience and knowledge gained in the field.

We hope that our approach will act as a model for future teams, and that the competition will benefit from our approach to fully sustainable thinking-making.

PROTOTYPES IN DESIGN Our manually operated Air Diverter system is one example of design permeating our prototypical process. The design did not refine quickly enough to materialize in our first house, Indigo Pine East; but was refined for Indigo Pine West. Despite the design finalization on competition site, the simple solution was a crowd favorite. 121

MOCK-UP PROTOTYPES

Mar. 2014 1st Sim[PLY] Mock-Up

Jul. 2014 Foundation Mock-Up

Jul. 2014 1st Full Scale Mock-Up

Oct. 2014 Siding Mock-Up

Mar. 2015 Corner Mock-Up

Dec. 2014 Cabinet Mock-Up

Mar. 2015 IPE Prototype

Sept. 2015 Duct Work Prototype

Oct. 2015 122IPW Prototype

Oct. 2015 Air Diverter Prototype

MOCK-UPS

The prototypical, iterative nature of our design process is best portrayed in our consistent use of mock-ups to further design and contructability.

With each new iteration of the structure, the foundation, siding, etc, our understanding of the unique advantages and disadvantages of the system and materials developed. Many times, as soon as one mock-up was complete, our team went back to the drawing board with ideas on how the system’s design or buildability could improve. Pictured here are several of our key mock-ups and prototypes assembled and analyzed throughout the two year process.

DOCUMENTATION

Indigo Pine is a non-typical home, and thus required non-traditional forms of documentation. Each mock-up and prototype was thoroughly documented with photographs and textual notes as means of advancing the design of the system’s elements. Our team documented both quantitative and qualitative data to provide a comprehensive view of the mockup.

Additionally, our team set out to produce a set of construction drawings that mirrors our process.

While we produced a traditional set of CDs and specifications for the competition, our team’s preferred set of documents were pictographic “assembly drawings” that assisted in the on-site assemblage of the parts. These drawings (a sample of which was previously shown in “the House” structural section) is designed to convey construction in a language that anyone can understand.

A TALE OF TWO HOUSES This is the first time in Solar Decathlon history that a team has built not one, but two houses. For our team and our process, building two houses was of critical importance. Indigo Pine is prototypical in nature - the development of the systems and their integration depends upon iterative design and prototype milestones. Our decision to build two homes augments the prototypical nature of the overall idea and encourages continual learning and design.

Our first home, Indigo Pine East (IPE), was built as a prototype for our systems in a parking lot at the South Carolina Botanical Gardens (SCBG). Our goals for the first of two houses were to understand the capabilities and limitations of our systems and their components, document construction activities for later improvement, and mock up the conditions of the competition in order to get a full glimpse of the project’s trajectory for the second home. This home served as a critical step in the process of learning about our system’s capabilities before moving on to Indigo Pine West (IPW) which would be built in Irvine, CA for the 2015 Solar Decathlon.

Indigo Pine East, pictured here, was the first version of Indigo Pine built in March 2015.

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S

03 K

I

N

Indigo Pine is more than just a physical house.

A community has gathered around the project and enveloped its team members, providing encouragement, support, and friendship. During the team’s time in California, the core team gathered a unique cast of supporters. This group acted as a protective barrier that demonstrated to team members the power of a project built on respect, common values, and shared interest. These individuals, ranging from lobster fishermen to craftsmen, played a critical role in our unique experience gained from the project.

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KENNY

“We call him Kenny... because that’s his name.” -Alex Latham Kenny is a lobster fisherman and Newport Beach native who occupied the paved yard adjacent to the CA shop. As Team Clemson prepared for the Solar Decathlon, Kenny was preparing his traps and boat for another season of lobster fishing.

Along with space in the yard, he was always quick to share tools, extensions cords, and best of all, stories at happy hour after a long, hot day. Cheers, Kenny.

The team hanging out with Kenny after a long day of preparation.

ENRIQUE

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JOHNNY

KEI

Ubiquity vinyl on display at Indigo Pine West.

UBIQUITY RECORDS Ubiquity Records not only provided shop and classroom space for the Clemson students during their time in California, but they also exhibited LOTS of patience after weeks of noisy forklifting and pre-fabrication to prepare for the Solar Decathlon. Enrique, shown with trademark coffee in hand, was always quick to assist with an excellent food or drink recommendation or receive packages for the team while they were out on the site. Johnny,

sifting through boxes in the center image (left), maneuvered around our mess in the back room, maintaining business as usual (despite the chaos) with his California personality of Zen mixed with infectious enthusiasm. Kei, graphics-guru of Ubiquity, is shown at his computer and also assisted the team in their various times of need.

The entire Ubiquity Records staff endured lots of noisy circular saws, sawdust, and a packed office fridge thanks to their student tenants, but they were never anything less than fully supportive of our crazy endeavors. Not to mention, they kept the team motivated with a constant stream of their groovy records.

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MICHAEL TOWEY

Michael is the craftsman behind The California Workshop, creating contemporary furniture and lighting pieces that combine high-tech laser cutting fabrication with classic, sustainable materials and finishes.

Michael and his incredible design methods have served as local inspiration for the team during their time in California. He allowed us to feature his chairs and light fixtures in Indigo Pine West, to the delight of our visitors.

Team members stumbled across his workshop by happenstance, which was located just down the street from their own headquarters at Ubiquity Records.

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ROBYN VETTRAINO Robyn acts as Executive Director of the Newport Banning Land Trust, the incoming steward of approximately 235 acres of open space within Newport Banning Ranch, which will be conscientiously nurtured into a publicly accessible and educational area. Robyn was a former student of Kate Schwennsen, current director of Clemson’s School of

AT HOME IN

Architecture, and their connection landed the team a place at Ubiquity Records. Robyn has been a valuable resource for the team, and with an office at Ubiquity, equally patient through the noise and debris of construction. Through Robyn, various materials from Indigo Pine are being repurposed, such as the ornaments (one shown at left) that were cut from excess 4”x 4” redwood posts. In the image to the right, Robyn is standing near the potential permanent home of the Indigo Pine porch (shown in the background), which would be retrofitted for use as an outdoor classroom and trailhead, leaving a trace of the project’s legacy in Newport Beach for years to come.

NEWPORT BEACH

The nine students who spent the semester in California had the good fortune to live in a unique house on the peninsula in Newport Beach. The house, built by its owner to reflect his passion for sailing, is designed based on a ship, complete with portholes, wood paneling, and a full mast on the front porch. The fondly named “boathouse,” played an important role in creating lasting memories of the semester spent in California.

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04

CABINETS Making the journey the Solar Decathlon competition involved a host of logistical considerations. The particularly unique nature of our home necessitated equally unique coordination to complete our journey to competition site. Unlike our competitors, our team procured a local warehouse and nearby housing for prolonged pre-fabrication work, integrating ourselves into the culture of Southern California.

Like our cabinetry system, our team’s logistical framework was highly modular - comprising a series of interchangeable variables that would ultimately integrate into a unified whole.

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THE FLEET

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BICYCLES

STORAGE UNITS

STAKE BED TRUCKS

RAIL SHIPPING CONTAINER

TRAILERS

SCISSOR LIFTS

FORKLIFTS

PICK-UP TRUCKS

BOX TRUCKS

BMW i3

CARS

FLAT BED TRAILERS

“GREAT WHITE”

“WHITE THUNDER”

“BLUE CRUSH”

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A HOUSE YOU CAN E-MAIL? Anyone following the project prior to Summer 2015 knows that the original plan was to e-mail the cut files to California and fully fabricate it on the west coast. However, in May of 2015 the fabrication partnership fell through, calling for a total change of plans. The building was fabricated instead at Fine and Small Homes in Charleston, SC, a move that ultimately established a valuable partnership with F&S. Leading up to its shipment across the country via one 53’ CSX rail shipping container and four 16’ PODS, the project nearly canceled a few times due to logistical constraints and a shortage of available student workers. Fortunately, the team pulled together and made it to Solar Decathlon 2015!

Coordinating which trucks were on site and when became a major task that had to be executed precisely to ensure finishing on time.

WE’VE COME A LONG WAY...

August 2015, SC to CA: 2,300 MILES 134

PROJECT WORK LOCATIONS SPRING 2014 1. Lee Hall, Clemson, SC SUMMER 2014 1. Lee Hall, Clemson, SC 2. Tri-County Tech 3. Genoa Fluid Campus, Italy FALL 2014 1. Lee Hall, Clemson, SC 2. Charleston Fluid Campus, SC

Pre-assembling certain pieces, like the box girder (shown), allowed the assembly process to go smoothly and quickly on site.

SPRING 2015 1. Lee Hall, Clemson, SC 2. Charleston Fluid Campus, SC 3. West Cherry Road warehouse, Clemson, SC 4. SC Botanical Garden, Clemson, SC (home of IPE)

FALL 2015 1. Lee Hall, Clemson, SC 2. West Cherry Road warehouse, Clemson, SC 3. SC Botanical Garden, Clemson, SC (home of IPE) 4. Ubiquity Records, Costa Mesa, CA 5. Orange County Great Park, Irvine, CA (home of IPW and the Solar Decathlon 2015)

SUMMER 2015 1. Lee Hall, Clemson, SC 2. Fine and Small Homes, Charleston, SC 3. West Cherry Road warehouse, Clemson, SC 4. SC Botanical Garden, Clemson, SC (home of IPE)

...AND SHOPPED AROUND. 135

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05

SYSTEMS It took the entire Clemson community in order to make Indigo Pine a reality. The Creative Inquiry course for the Solar Decathlon 2015 consisted of faculty and students from across all five colleges, resulting in over two hundred participants who touched the project over the course of two years. Indigo Pine was not limited to South Carolina. Students continued work on the design while on study abroad, bringing influences from all over the world into the final product. The competition was only possible thanks to the University creating a new study abroad location for the semester in Newport Beach, California. There, team members were able to live and breathe Indigo Pine for the semester with full support from the University.

Clemson University’s intricate system of colleges, departments, study abroad, creative inquiry, faculty, staff, and most importantly, students, worked in cohesion to create a 1,000 square foot home that can change the housing industry.

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CREATING A SOLAR DECATHLON CURRICULUM Building such a largescale, long term project into Clemson’s curriculum was a key factor in the success of the project. The team leaders used a number of preexisting courses and programs to incorporate the Solar Decathlon 2015 project into credited hours for students and faculty. From there, the talented students and faculty at Clemson University had the structure to create an exceptional project.

CREATIVE INQUIRY Clemson’s creative inquiry courses allow classes to be created that focus on specific research endeavors, allowing students to learn outside of their department. A Creative Inquiry course was created to allow non-architecture students from majors like engineering, packaging science, and communications to participate.

FLUID CAMPUS Students enrolled in the School of Architecture have the unique opportunity to study at one of several offcampus locations offered by the school. Usually, those campuses are in Genoa, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; Charleston, 138

SC; and summer studios in New York and Asheville, NC. For fall of 2015, a special fluid campus was created in Orange County, CA to allow students to spend their entire semester both executing the Solar Decathlon competition in Irvine, CA, and to learn about the unique and worldrenowned architecture found in the Southern California region.

MINOR IN ARCHITECTURE The Minor in Architecture program was created to allow students to not only earn a minor degree in architecture, but also learn about it in one of the most rich urban fabrics in the world, Genoa, Italy.

Through their participation in this program, a number of students outside of the architecture department were introduced to the project and became involved long term.

DAN HARDING faculty advisor CLAIR DIAS project manager

Architecture minor students and faculty during the Summer of 2014.

MICHAEL STONER project engineer FREDDY PAIGE sustainability consultant

One of many brainstorming sessions between multiple disciplines that played a major role in the project’s development.

Clemson

Engineering AND Science COLLEGE OF

Business AND Behavioral Science

Agriculture, Forestry, AND Life Sciences COLLEGE OF

Undergraduate

Creative

INQUIRY

PROGRAM

Landscape Architecture

DEPARTMENT

Genoa, ITALY

COLLEGE OF Architecture,

COLLEGE OF

Charleston, SOUTH CAROLINA

Arts, AND Humanities

Health, Education, Human Development

COLLEGE OF AND

Graduate

PROGRAM

Architecture

DEPARTMENT

Architecture

+ COMMUNITY BUILD

Newport Beach, CALIFORNIA

Solar Decathlon 139

THE SIM[PLY] GUYS

Anthony Wohlers is known as the “mastermind of Sim[PLY].” He’s the guy that spent a year figuring out the in’s and out’s of this system and applying it to Indigo Pine. Although he had help along the way, much of Sim[PLY]’s genius, in its early stages, flowed through Anthony during his time as a Master of Architecture student.

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While Anthony and the rest of Team Clemson were busy working on making Sim[PLY] stand up, Michael Stoner was tearing it down. As the Project Engineer, Michael played an important role in testing the strength and stability of the Sim[PLY] system for Indigo Pine. Michael got involved with the Solar Decathlon team when he met professor Dan Harding and graduate assistant Clair Dias in Genoa, Italy as a participant in the summer 2014 Minor in Architecture program.

THE “CORE CREW” The core crew refers to the students who spent the fall semester of 2015 living, learning, and building in Orange County. This group of students prepared for the competition, completed assembly of Indigo Pine West, conducted tours and public exhibit of the home, and finally took the house down again. During the assembly and disassembly periods, they were assisted by students affectionately dubbed, “the temp crews,” who spent two weeks away from Clemson working on the project. Without the incredible commitment of all participants involved in the project from 2014 - 2015, the project these students realized would never have been possible. Sincere thanks to the Indigo Pine family.

FULL-TIME

COMPETITION TEAM

JON PENNINGTON Measured Contest Captain

ALLIE BECK Primary Student Contact

ALISON MARTIN Health and Safety

JEFF HAMMER Instrumentation Contact

CLAIR DIAS Project Manager

ALEX LATHAM Sponsorship

ERIC BALOGH Construction Manager

NEELY LESLIE Public Relations

TYLER SILVERS Arch. Project Manager

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AARDRA ATHALYE ADAM HALL ADAM WINDHAM ALEX LATHAM ALEX LIBENGOOD ALISON MARTIN ALLIE BECK ALLIE TATE ALLYCIA GALINDO ALYSSA GLAZENER ALYX MCCARTHEY AMELIA BRACKMANN AMY TRICK ANCIK ANCTIL ANTHONY WOHLERS ASHLEY COWDEN-FISK ASHLEY DAVIS ASHLEY MARTIN AUGUST LEHNERT AUSTIN BALSER AUSTIN FERGUSON BENJAMIN WOFFORD BILL SLOWIK BRANDON GREEN BRIAN BETZ BRIAN LEOUNIS BRITTANY COHEN BRITTANY WILUND BUDDY (DAVID) HAINES CALEB CROW CARLOS GONZALEZ AGUILA CHAD ANDERSON CHAD SMITH CHANDLER BLACKWELL CHELSEA PATENAUDE CHELSEA WAGNER CHRIS DIORIO CHRISTOPHER ARMSTRONG CINDY SEABORN CLAIR DIAS CLARE WOLF CLAY HORNEY CODY NEARY COKER PLOWDEN COREY FERGUSON COURTNEY COLLINS DAN HARDING DANA GRAUNKE DANIEL JENCKS DANIEL TAYLOR DAVE PASTRE DAVID HERRERO DAVID SHARPE DAVID STONE DOMINIC BOYD DON BEASLEY DUSTIN ALBRIGHT DUSTIN MERRITT EDGAR MOZO EDUANDO JOSE MOREIRA EDWARD HOEGG ELIJAH GREGORY EMILLY PETZ ERIC BALOGH ESTHER KAUFFMAN EVAN LAWSON FREDDY PAGE GARY COLLINS GAURAV MARMAT GRAY BLAKESLEE GRAYSON PERKINS GREG BATT GREY STRAIT GUNNAR LOWE GWEN PETRASKO HANNAH DIAS HANNAH JOB JAMES GILL JARED LEE JASON BOYD JASON HALLSTROM JEAN PAWL JEAN-PIERRE WERSINGER JEFF HAMMER JENNINGS WILLIAMS JIAN HUANG JIAN ZHOU JIANFEI SHEN JIMMY WOODS JOEL BROWN JOEY MANSON JOHANNA NEMETZ JOHN BARTLETT JOHN GOOD JOHN MARK DIAS JON PENNINGTON JONATHAN HARRIS JONATHAN SHAFFER JOSHUA GROOMS JOSHUA MACE JULIA CHAPMAN JUSTIN HAMRICK JUSTIN TIMKO JUSTIN WRIGHT KAITLYN KISTLER KATE SCHWENNSEN KATIE MAWYER KAYLA BETTEN KEITH RICHEY KENDALL ROBERTS KEVIN HASSET KEVIN KUCKUK KEVIN 142

MEEKS KINDALL STEPHENS KUNAL PATEL LACEY FIRESTONE LANA LATHAM LANE LATHAM LANEY TUTEN LAURA RICE LAUREN KENNER LEA ANNA CARDWELL LILLIAN JONES LINDSEY WATSON LIZ COONEY LIZETE REA LOC SANDERS LORIEN WESTMORELAND LYLE MCCRACKEN LYNDA KONG MARCUS CURRY MARISSA DILORETO MARY TRAN MARY KATHERINE KEARSE MARYAM HAMIDPOUR MATTHEW KRIDER MATTHEW SMITH MCKENSIE KEEHAN MEL DIAS MELODY BAZZLE MEREDITH MCTIGUE MICHAEL MCDONALD MICHAEL SMITH MICHAEL STONER MICHAEL STROPLE MIKE LEMAHIEU MINGLU LIN NASEEM KESHMIRIAN NATHAN HUETTE NATHAN PARKER NEELY LESLIE NICK CARO NICK COLLINS NICK HERNADEZ NICK IRMEN NICOLE BRONOLA NICOLE CARY NICOLE NGUYEN NIGEL KAYE PATRICK PETRONE PAUL MOSHER PAUL RUSSELL PHILLIP GATHERWRIGHT PHILLIP MADER RAJ SINGH RAQUEL COBB REBECCA WILSON RICHARD GEORGE RICHARD PAK RILEY MARSHALL RITINHA FERNANDES ROBERT TAYLOR RUSSELL BUCHANAN SAAHIRAH GOODWIN SAMANTHA FUNKE SARAH CASADAY SARAH ROMAN SARAH SEIGLER SARAH ZEMITIS SCOTT SCHIFF SEAN MORRISSEY SERAPHIN MILLON SHANE CARTER SHUO YANG SPENCER HUTCHINSON SPENCER SHERRMAN STACY DAVIS STEPHANIE MORRIS SURAJ REDDY JANAMPALLY TAYLOR SIGLER TEJAAKASH VALAVALA THACKSTON CRANDALL THOMAS MASINO THOMAS STRAKA TIANLUN YANG TIM PARR TRADD HORNE TRENT BAKER TREY MEYER TRIEU VO TYLER SILVERS UFUK ERSOY ULRIKE HEINE VALERIE ZIMANY VINCENT BLOUIN VAMSI GONDI VIRGINIA HUNT WILLIAM CRAIG WILLIAM GAUTSCH WILLIAM HERRINGTON WILL HINKLEY WILL PARKER XIAOYU LU XINGJIAN MA YANWEN XIAO YENNY KAYAMBA ZACHARY WHITEMAN BOLD indicates lead faculty member

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P O R C H The Indigo Pine team utilized a multitude of outlets to creatively share our ideas and interactively promote our home. We aimed to share this knowledge with others in the hope that efficient and affordable housing that is easy and safe to construct by unskilled labor can become a reality. Conveying the concept that Indigo Pine is accessible and uniquely buildable requires simple, graphic, and clear communication of the key ideas surrounding the home. It is a house with roots in South Carolina but also far-reaching, cutting-edge strategies.

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BRANDING: MAKING A

NAME FOR OURSELVES

We aim to share the knowledge of our technologies with others in hope that efficient, affordable housing that is easy and safe to construct by the average person can become a reality.

Conveying the concept that Indigo Pine is accessible and uniquely buildable and adaptable requires simple, graphic and clear communication of the key ideas surrounding the home. Those key messages are: Accessible Innovation and Southern, with a Twist!

In order to spread our message we first had to give ourselves a name and begin to grow our brand. Many studies and iterations were done with the name and logo with assistance from Stitch Design Co. in Charleston, SC. After many conversations the Indigo Pine name and logo were selected, and the branding soon appeared in any and all communications to the public. The logo was also used in many construction details making the house and the brand one in the same. To name a few instances: conduit and vent covers, CNC routed rocking chair, dinner menus, chopping boards and construction hard hats all help to build the brand on site.

Even after the Solar Decathlon competition, the logo and branding strategies continue to promote the original ideals and mission in future projects.

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The Indigo Pine Home’s fabrication files will be emailed across the country to lower the carbon footprint of the project. By emailing the home, we are able to fabricate the house with locally sourced materials, helping both the environment and the local economies.

By engaging with the local economies we hope to increase the job opportunities for people in the area.

W E LCO M E TO

1,923 STRUCTURAL PIECES 106 34 SOLAR PANELS 2 HOUSES 1 TEAM CLEMSON

WOULD

TEAM CLEMSON HANDOUT; BEVERAGE COASTER: front

YOU LIVE IN A

PUZZLE?

STUDENTS + FACULTY

ENERGY

Join us on the porch at...

...and don’t forget the sweet tea!

Team Clemson’s Southern Solar Sweet Tea: Put 4 cold-brew tea bags into a gallon jar of water.

Add 1/4 cup of honey and place jar outside in direct sun.

After 5-8 hours, retrieve jar and shake to mix honey.

@ Indigo Pine we want to & we think you will too after

Serve over ice with a lemon wedge. Cheers, y’all!

www.

i n d i g o p i n e. c o m

back

you visit

All of our custom components (like the facade pieces above)

are fabricated out of sheet goods. That way everything can be easily packaged and transported for construction.

INNOVATIVE STRUCTURE

Clemson University is altering the competition standards by electing to “email” our house across the country using only digital files to cut out our structural system using a CNC routing machine. This allows our home to be built virtually anywhere a CNC is available using off-the-shelf materials. We are challenging the construction and design world to think differently about sustainable building.

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#IndigoPine #newteammember #SolarD # Clemson

#IndigoPine #SolarD #Clemson

#nextstopCalifofnia #DeathValleytoSouthCali

#IndigoPineFamily #doesntfeellikeschool#grade18

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#DeathValleytoSouthCali #SD2015 #manifestdestiny

#IndigoPine #SolarD #Clemson

#IndigoPine #ProudTiger

#IndigoPineFamily #SD2015 #Clemson #solar energy

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OUTREACH The outreach of Indigo Pine extends from the local to the national level. By constructing two separate versions of Indigo Pine on both the East and West coasts, Team Clemson was able to physically share our ideas with a wide audience. Additionally, leading up to the competition, the Indigo Pine team communicated its message through local and worldwide media coverage, news and journal articles, and events at numerous locations.

Through publications, events, displays, and more, the concepts behind Indigo Pine truly have reached coast to coast and continue to be shared today.

The ribbon cutting ceremony at IPE was a great opportunity to share the Indigo Pine message with the public.

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Utilizing campus displays, local events, and digital projection, our team shared the ideas of Indigo Pine. Through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, in addition to Indigo Pine’s website, Team Clemson’s online presence is wellknown. Additionally we hosted and attended targeted events such as: INDIGO PINE UNVEILED Unveiling of the project on Dec. 4th, 2014. Students pictured sharing the concepts of the project, including an Indigo Pine family tree “VALENPINE’S DAY” #willyoubemyvalenpine photobooth INDIGO PINE EAST RIBBON CUTTING Clemson celebrated the construction of IPE and shared the home with local community and sponsors.

LOCAL SCHOOLS Several team members made visits to local high schools to present the Indigo Pine project and educate students about sustainable and innovative design.

Our team was very fortunate to have so much support throughout the competition.

Students on campus even organized a good luck banner covered with personal messages.

iMAGINE UPSTATE and ARTISPHERE Indigo Pine had booths at iMAGINE Upstate, a technology innovation festival, as well as Artisphere, one of the top art festivals in the country. Both were held in downtown Greenville, SC. CALIFORNIA OUTREACH Public display boards, websites, home tours, takeaway coasters, team uniforms, and social media links, all extended the Indigo Pine brand and ideas across the West coast.

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07

FINISHES

BY STUDENTS, FOR STUDENTS, FOREVER.

The 2015 Solar Decathlon was the first time that Clemson University had a team enter into the competition. After challenging the conventions of the competition, Clemson placed sixth out of fourteen teams.

After the Solar Decathlon ended, Indigo Pine West was disassembled and packed into 16-foot PODS. The house will go to Clemson’s extension site in Pee Dee, South Carolina, where it will be reconstructed, and will serve as housing for Clemson students who are researching at the Pee Dee facility. In this function, Indigo Pine West will return to its roots in South Carolina and serve an immediate purpose as a student residence in a natural learning environment.

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OCTOBER 2015 the competition The next few pages illustrate the day by day construction timeline of the student team who represented Clemson University in the 2015 Solar Decathlon.

These pages were also sent to our many sponsors as a thank you for all their support and contributions - so some information may be duplicated from previous sections of the monograph.

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DAY 1 foundation + structure

CMU FOUNDATION

DAY 2 roof joists, sheathing

The CMU (concrete masonry unit) foundation of Indigo Pine not only supports the home, but also functions as a thermal air mass. Through perforated openings in the siding, air is pulled under the home and through the side stacked concrete blocks. While under the home, the air is cooled or heated passively before entering the air handler. This results in less energy used at no additional cost.

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DAY 3 siding

CNC-CUT SIDING Indigo Pine further delves into innovative uses of materials with its student-designed siding. Similar to the Sim[PLY] system, the siding is made by cutting ACM (Aluminum Composite Material) using a CNC machine. However, instead of using a wood product as Sim[PLY] does, the siding system uses a metal composite panel that is cut, as well as etched, then folded and secured in place using rivets and a hand powered rivet gun. Not only does the siding attach quickly and easily to the house, it also creates a 2� air barrier between the siding and sheathing, allowing heat and vapor to escape through vertical channels in the siding rather then infiltrating the house.

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DAY 4 roofing

DAY 5 porch

THE SOUTHERN FRONT PORCH

DAY 6 interior cabinetry units

Indigo Pine would not truly be a southern home without its expansive front porch. Not only is the space wonderful for relaxing alone, but it also functions well as a space for entertaining guests. Custom plywood rocking chairs, made with the same Sim[PLY] technology that comprises Indigo Pine’s structural system, as well as a sleeper sofa and joggling board, truly epitomize a southern front porch. Fiberglass grates block harsh sun but still grant views of the outdoors.

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DAY 7 solar panels, systems

SOLAR POWER Indigo Pine uses 34 total solar panels, 29 of which power the house’s general use AC system and five of which power a DC current resistance water heater directly. These solar panels can be installed on any roof with enough sun exposure, ideally direct southern exposure angled to a specific latitude. Each solar panel provides 285W of DC power at 39.7V and 9.2a.

The Solar Energy Labs water heater is a modified off-theshelf 60 gallon tanked water heater which passes the DC current through the water inside the tank which acts as a resistor to generate heat in the water. Indigo Pine also uses two types of efficient Philips LED fixtures, a linear uplight for indirect lighting and a circular surface mount downlight for direct lighting.

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DAY 8 interior wall paneling

DAY 9 staging the home

THE SOUTHERN HOME As with any southern home, a space for entertaining is key. Indigo Pine’s floor plan revolves around an expansive main living space, composed of the kitchen, dining, and living room spaces all in one open area. This area, in combination with the capacious front porch, provides the perfect environment for entertaining many guests, truly allowing a small space to live large and for guests to enjoy the southern climate both indoors and out.

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Occasionally I have a team during a Decathlon that seems to perform at a level well above average. Without a doubt, your

team was the most well managed and well organized

that I have seen in during my entire 11-year career with NREL and SD events. .... Despite the complexity and shear volume of work your team had to accomplish, you all managed to accomplish it easily without the tension so apparent among your peers.

-TOM MEYERS Solar Decathlon Chief Building Inspector

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COMPETITION RESULTS

Among 14 SCHOOLS,

CLEMSON PLACED 6TH. Originally, 20 SCHOOLS were accepted to participate but numerous dropped out. nd PLACE in ARCHITECTURE

nd PLACE in COMMUNICATIONS rd PLACE in MARKET APPEAL 164

JURIED RESULTS AFFORDABILITY SCORE (per third-party Faithful and Gould)

MARKET APPEAL SCORE

“Potential for great value worldwide.

The innovative kit of parts provides excellent value for the target market.”

COMMUNICATIONS SCORE “The coaster handout is creative, clever, and branding was consistent. The signage was affixed to the home with the zip ties.

We liked the attention to detail -- signage with the paintings, laptops open, etc. Really liked the number on the mailbox and side of the house. Although there was very little signage in the house, the team integrated their message and branding throughout.”

ARCHITECTURE SCORE

“Outstanding innovation, extremely thoughtful, thorough consideration of virtually everything in the design. This was a fully functional, flexible 3-bedroom house without sacrificing privacy.”

ENGINEERING SCORE “The jury commends the team for their very innovative construction system. Clever use of CMU storage for preconditioning air to outdoor unit. Strong market potential for CNC construction system.”

MEASURED CONTESTS APPLIANCES

HOME LIFE

FINAL TOTAL:

853.3

COMMUTING ENERGY BALANCE* COMFORT ZONE*

Clemson’s Achilles *Team Heel, see afterward for explanation.

/1000 pts

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THE HOUSE

DISASSEMBLY

ON THE ROAD

Completed Indigo Pine West in Irvine, CA.

Packing up Indigo Pine West.

Clemson leaves the site as they found it.

WHAT ABOUT

INDIGO PINE EAST? Indigo Pine East was assembled in the SC Botanical Garden adjacent to Clemson University’s campus during the Spring and Summer of 2015. Team Clemson is hopeful that Indigo Pine East will find a permanent home on Clemson University land in the upstate, and continue to be used for research and educational purposes.

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THE PORCH STAYS As noted previously, the Indigo Pine West porch will remain in California to serve a new purpose as part of the Newport Banning Land Trust. Like the rest of the home, the porch was disassembled and the materials were packed into storage units which can be retrieved whenever construction starts. All porch materials fit into two units.

FUTURE SITE of IPW

1 HOUSE = 16 PODS

IPW will be reassembled in the summer of 2016 in a forested site in Florence, SC at the Pee Dee research and education center where it will become IPD (Indigo Pine Pee Dee). IPD will become a home designed and built by students for students.

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house image

168

family Indigo Pine features three bedrooms and is designed for a closeknit family of four.

IPE

Through countless hours of planning, designing, building and

more, the Indigo Pine team came together to create something truly revolutionary. Not only is the Indigo Pine home capable of sustainably supporting a family of four, but the design also serves as an innovative method for affordably and efficiently constructing a home using unskilled labor, hand tools, and a resilient pre-cut structural system.

global Indigo Pine can be e-mailed, fabricated, and built by anyone, anywhere.

IPW

Architecturally, Indigo Pine offers a more contemporary palette of materials to create a modern southern home while keeping to the design traditions of our region. Engineering systems specifically look to bring sustainable solar energy to the marketplace of our region, all the while using creative systems to reduce energy consumption without sacrificing comfort. Construction was thought through very carefully as an integrated part of the architecture and engineering, resulting in a design that could be quickly, economically, and safely built by a small group of inexperienced laborers. All these efforts combine to promote and foster a sustainable lifestyle in families, homes, and their larger regional context.

Without the support of university staff, generous sponsors, and dedicated professors, creating and constructing the vision of Indigo Pine would not have been possible. All of the support will not be forgotten, as the Indigo Pine legacy continues through the work of future students (both present and future), our designs and innovations will serve as the foundation for future students to grow the Indigo Pine family and the community impact will outlast our time at Clemson.

indigo pine 2014-2015

local

IPD establishes a sense of place through local vernacular materiality.

academia

IPD

IPW

Irvine, CA Orange County Great Park

From a family of four to student living, all design decisions embody academic development.

Clemson, SC SC Botanical gardens

IPE IPD

Florence, SC Pee Dee REC

Where will we grow next?

169

T AFTERWORD

his monograph was compiled by the nine students in the “core crew” who oversaw the

completion of the project:

1. Clair Dias 2. Eric Balogh 3. Jeff Hammer 4.Alison Martin 5.Neely Leslie 6. Jon Pennington 7. Alex Latham 8. Allie Beck 9. Tyler Silvers

T

his small group inherited the project during its Design Development stage in January

2015, and were charged with seeing the design and construction through to the competition.

While this crew took the torch to the competition, each member feels a debt of gratitude to all the students and faculty who assisted in the development of this project, whose names are listed in the Home: Skin section of this book.

This monograph is a glimpse into this group’s unique experience with the project, and acts as a vehicle to transfer our knowledge and understanding to the next generation.

During

the

Solar

Decathlon

competition,

countless lessons were learned that tested our creativity, build-ability and teamwork. Indigo Pine excelled in rethinking how a house is 170

delivered and goes together, all while engaging user participation and thinking holistically about social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The project was, and continues to be, widely recognized for its innovations, which truly set it apart from all other competitors.

That said, our time spent innovating, left relatively little time to work with the MEP systems and gain experience as users. It’s like we built the most interesting of sailboats but had not fully learned to sail it. In particular, our biggest missteps occurred during the Energy Balance portion of the competition. Facing abnormal, triple-digit temperatures on the opening weekend, our team opted to run the air conditioning during the public tours instead of relying on passive ventilation and our ceiling fans. With the revolving door of tours, we burned a lot of energy trying to cool the house.

And while our guests were quite comfortable and happy, this undermined our energy equation, and we never quite recovered in this or the related categories. That said, our team remained positive, learned from the experience,

1. Amelia Brackmann 6. Nathan Huette

and continued on in excellence, throughout the remaining display period and disassembly.

Moving forward, the developments of Indigo Pine are broad and varied. There are still patents to acquire, additional design iterations to develop, and further documentation to compile.

Regarding the final placement of the two houses, our hope for Indigo Pine East is that the home will continue to reside on Clemson’s campus for continued research and development. Our goal for Indigo Pine West is to immerse the house into the fabric of the South by reconstructing it on its new site in Pee Dee, South Carolina. We are excited to pass the torch to the next core crew, and we hope that the content presented in this book – the literal, technical understanding and the figurative, project values and experiences that we have shared as a team – will serve as a strong foundation on which to continue the development of Indigo Pine for years to come.

So from our crew to the next (but certainly not the last):

2. Russell Buchanan

3. Kendall Campbell

4. David Herrero

7. Paul Mosher 8. Daniel Taylor 9. Rebecca Wilson

5. Jian Huang

10. Ben Wofford

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thank you to our

INDIGO PINE SPONSORS DEDICATED ROOM

PAU L & MARYANN S TE E LMAN

172

$100,000+

(Robert Mills Professorship) Henry Chambers & SC Department of Higher Education

DEDICATED PORCH

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BEDROOMS

$25,000 - $49,999

CNC MILLING

$10,000 - $24,999

OSCAR E. (GENE) WILSON R.A. LEED BD+C, ASCEM

VICE-PROVOST OF RESEARCH

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

MATERIALS, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

DOOR OR WINDOW

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S O U T H T E X A S

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, ART S AND HUMANITIES

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE

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STUDENT HOUSING

$3,000 - $4,999

STUDENT M EALS

$1,500 - $2,999

MOSELEY ARCHITECTS ANNUAL TRAVEL GIA

B IL L P E L H A M

D IR EC T OR KAT E S C H WENNS EN & M R . B AR RY JONES

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PRO FESSO R RO BER T SILANCE & MS. CHRISTINE TEDESCO

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up to $1,000 loves lus nc.

P ro f. J i m B a r ke r a n d M r s. M a r ci a B a r ke r Do n n a C a r ver a n d B e t h R u s c h Gregory Fitzpatrick R i c k a n d E l i z a b et h d e l M o n t e G e o r ge L e e Ph ot og ra p hy De a n R i c h a r d a n d M s. C i s s i e G o o d s t e i n E r ic H o l m b e r g M a r y B et h Bra n h a m

Pe t e a n d D eb o ra h S u t t o n A n ge l o a n d A n a s t a s i a D e m o s Dan and Leanne Mace Fr e d a n d H e l e n M o o r e D a v i d a n d L a u r e n S i c k i n ge r M a r k G o d f r ey Ja n e t L e h m a n

Ro b e r t M o r ga n D r. M a r y Pa d u a Way n e a n d J i l l Ro ge r s M s. D a n a A n d e r s o n a n d D r. Jo e C u l i n A a ro n a n d C l a i r e B ow m a n D a n a n d Pa t t y Wa r n e r Benjamin Story

S te ve n Ro dge rs A n o ny m o u s P ro f. G re g S h e l n u tt an d D r. E l l e n G ardi n e r Fac u l ty an d S tu de n ts o f J L M an n H i gh S c h o o l M i c h ae l E dwards L arry an d Te n n e i l Jam e s

THANK YOU ALSO TO OUR

INDIGO PINE INTERNAL SPONSORS Account Management, Architecture + Commmunity Build Program, The Center of Excellence, Clemson Broadcast Productions, Community Research and Design Center, CCIT, Glenn Department of Civil Engineering, Development Office, Facilities, Food, Nutrition and Packaging Science, General Counsel and Risk Management, Department of Landscape Architecture, Office of Stewardship and Events, South Carolina Botanical Gardens, The Sonoco Institiute, and the Wood Utilization + Design Institute.

I N T E R I O R F U R N I S H I N G S S T A G E D B Y : U N I H O M E S T O R E , S T A R K C A R P E T S, A N D T H E C A W O R K S H O P 175

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