Modular Shared Home, Master thesis portfolio by Elnaz Heshmati

Modular Shared Home Master Thesis Portfolio Elnaz Heshmati 2020

A Modular Shared Home

Approaching affordable housing system through sharing and modularity

Master Thesis

Year: 2019-2020 School: Umeå University of Architecture Course: Master’s of Architecture and Urban Design Tutor: Alejandro Haiek - Carl Johan Vesterlund Studio 12 : Tectonic Performance/ The Science and Craft of building Location: Worldwide

The world population is increasing rapidly, and the needs of people are changing constantly. It is estimated that by 2050, the world’s population will increase by 2.9 billion and it will grow three billion more by the end of the century. According to these statistics, cities not only face challenges like providing affordable and high standard accommodations for all people but also, they struggle to respond to the inhabitants’ growing needs. Besides, due to the unadaptable housing system, the architecture can not meet the changing needs of inhabitants through long periods. Therefore, every day the housing market becomes more unaffordable because of the high demand for building new houses for responding to the growing demands of households. Architecture needs to be flexible to adjust itself to the current market; since most of the relocations and high demands for building new housing projects occur when built spaces fail to meet the growing needs of inhabitants. The question is: How architecture can provide high-quality, affordable and adaptable houses for the population? A modular shared home is a residential tower that is designed by the shared-living and modular construction principles. It is designed by the combination of these architectural practices for approaching affordable and adaptable housing system with high-quality performance. The sharedliving concept is used to improve the social, economic and environmental infrastructure of the community. Also, the modular construction principles are used for designing affordable and cost-effective housing project that is flexible to meet residents’ changing needs. The result is a system that offers a mixture of customized and affordable private and public spaces based on individuals and common interests which are adaptive for meeting future needs and also, applicable to different contexts.

Shortlisted 2020

A Modular Shared Home

Shared Living and Modular Architecture Shared-Living Concept Shared living is known as a solution to make affordable houses for many through more efficient use of space and sharing costs. This concept focuses on the affordability of houses from financial, social, and environmental perspectives. It is based on the idea of designing minimum standard living units for each household while considering several shared spaces for them inside communities. Thus, the privacy of residents is preserved whilst spaces for a vibrant community and more social activities are offered to inhabitants. Neighbourhoods that are built based on this idea gain many advantages by sharing their resources, costs, time and spaces. For example, a social supportive infrastructure inside the community, more facilities close to the living environment, more efficient use of spaces and resources, etc., are the benefits of living inside shared living communities. As a result, shared-living idea contributes towards constructing affordable houses by offering minimum fully equipped private units and several shared spaces to the community. Also, It empowers the social ties among residents which leads to a more secure and stable social infrastructure within the neighbourhood.

Traditional separated houses

SHARED GARDEN

community

GARDENING COOKING EATING

community

Shared-living community (Minimum fully equiped private spaces, Several shared space for the community)

Modular Architecture Modular construction is a building construction system that consists of prefabricated components that are manufactured off-site and ready to be transported and assembled on-site. This system of construction and design method has many benefits in comparison to traditional construction techniques. For instance, high-quality and low-cost construction process, shorter delivery time, low material waste, high efficiency, safe workflow, and high capacity of flexibility in the design process are some of the main advantages of a modular construction system. Furthermore, the possibility of customization of units based on each client’s requirements, and future adaptability of houses based on changing needs, improve the satisfaction of residents and decrease the needs of relocations. Therefore, the social and environmental infrastructure for inhabitants can be preserved. These benefits make modular construction popular for building houses that are economically, socially, and environmentally affordable, stable, adaptable and highly standard.

Shorter Delivery time

Adaptability • Remove • Add • Change

Cost-Effective

Ease of Transportation

Higher Workflow Safety

Lower Construction Waste

A Modular Shared Home

Modularity and Design

The structure of the building is designed based on modular construction principles. All the components are prefabricated including timber columns, beams, CLT floor panels, and steel studs for framing the structure. The process of assembling all these components is easy and fast which makes the project time and cost-effective. Moreover, one of the advantages of the modular construction system is providing quick adaptable options like removing, adding, or changing modules and components whenever it is needed. I considered this advantage to create an adaptive and responsive design to meet the needs of residents in a long period. Therefore, I used a joinery system inspired by the “Pixel Facade” project that brings expansion possibilities to the structure for future changes. It means that expanding living spaces based on the needs and interests of users is possible by attaching extra modules to the existing units. The joineries are designed to provide expansion possibilities from different directions.

Flexible structure joineries

Inspired by Collin Abdallah. “”Pixel Facade” System Combines a Love for Nature With Next-Generation Workspaces “ 07 May 2018. ArchDaily Accessed 3 Dec 2020. <https://www.archdaily.com/893745/pixel-facade-system-combines-a-love-for-nature-with-next-generation workspaces> ISSN 0719-888

Center Joineries

Edge Joineries

Prefabricated elements for shaping modular building

Corner Joineries

Base Module

A module of 4*4 m is used as a base measure for shaping spaces

y. n-

Flexible structure provides expansion possibilities for future development A Modular Shared Home

Flexible Structure Joinery (Physical Model Exploration)

A Modular Shared Home

The design of private units follows flexible modular principles for allowing easy and permanent adjustments for meeting the needs residents in a long period. A base module of 4 to 4 meter PRODUCED BY ANofAUTODESK STUDENT VERSION is defined for each essential private space meaning living room, bedroom and service room including kitchen and bathroom. Three of these modules are combined to shape a minimum fully equipped private space which is suitable for a single person or a couple. The L shape is considered for designing minimum private units to allow maximum possibilities of expansion from different directions for future adjustments. By adding one more module to the L shape minimum private units we can create a minimum standard area suitable for single parents and families with one child. Also, by adding two more modules the area becomes suitable for single parents and families with two children. This design proposal offers adaptable living environment to inhabitants.

4.40

Services

Living room

Bedroom

dish washer

4.40 washing machine

4.40

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Private Unitsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Design Process

Modular Units

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

UNIT A Minimum L Shape Private Unit

UNIT B Expanded Unit ( UNIT A+ 1 extra module)

UNIT C Expanded Unit ( UNIT A+ 2 extra module) A Modular Shared Home

Private Unitsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Plans

UNIT A 1-Minimum L Shape Private Unit

UNIT B 2-Expanded Unit ( UNIT A

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Extra Bedroom

Garden, Terrace

dish washer

washing machine

Extra Bedroom

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

washing machine

dish washer

Garden, Terrace PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Garden, Terrace

PRODUCED BY AN AUTO

Extra B

B A+ 1 extra module)

UNIT C 3-Expanded Unit ( UNIT A+ 2 extra modules)

ODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Bedroom

washing machine

dish washer

Extra Bedroom

Garden, Terrace

A Modular Shared Home

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Garden, Terrace

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Extra Bedroom

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Garden, Terrace

Centralization of minimum private units around a circul

4 m expansion area

3- This part in each level is fixed and the expansion of units are possible from external sides

4.40

Extra Bed

4.40

Garden, T

4.40

Garden, T

4.40

Extra Bed

6 4.40

2- Centralization of 4 Minimum fixed Units around a circulation

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION 4 m expansion area

1- Minimum fixed part of each unit

4 m expans

4 m expansion area

Four minimum L shape Units are centralized around a circulation core and are replicated in 16 floors. All the units have the possibilities of expansion for private and shared uses. The expansion is possible from different directions by using a flexible and modular prefabricated design which allows plug-in extra modules to the units for meeting the needs through time.

lation

sion area

Extra Bedroom

Garden, Terrace

Extra Bedroom

droom

dish washer

4.40

dish washer

4.40

washing machine

4.40

G 4.40

Extra Bedroom

Terrace

Garden, Terrace

droom

Extra Bedroom

Garden, Terrace

dish washer

Extra Bedroom

washing machine

Garden, Terrace

washing machine

Terrace

Garden, Terrace

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

4.40

washing machine

4 m expansion area

Extra Bedroom

A Modular Shared Home

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Shared Possibilities

ESK STUDENT VERSION

B T

UNIT A

UNIT B + UNIT A Share Opportunity

B L

UNIT C + UNIT C Share Opportunity

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

UNIT B

UNIT C

UNIT B + UNIT C Share Opportunity ...etc

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDE

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

L shape configuration of module and centralization of them around circulation not only provides expansion possibilities for enhancing the area of the private units but also it provides two possibilities of terraces for each home that can be shared with the next-door neighbour. The shared spaces between each two units can be used for different purposes such as ODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION a shared dining room, living room, sport room, urban farming and vertical garden as well as a small office. Considering possible shared spaces between units adds social, economic and environmental advantages to the community.

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSI

A Shared Dinning room

A Shared Living room

A Shared Farmland

A Shared Sport room

A Shared Vertical Garden

A Shared Office A Modular Shared Home

Plan layout of each level after expansion (Variable) The composition of units in each level are different because of the various numbers of users in private units as well as different sharing interests between neighbours. This plan shows a possible configuration of units in one level which can be different in another level.

4.4

4.40

Centralization of 4 expanded units around a circulation core (One of the alternatives)

Share Opportunity

4.40

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Garden,

4.40

Garden, Terrace

Extra Bedroom

Share Opportunity

Extra Bedroom

Garden, Terrace

Extra Bedroom

Garden, Terrace

Extra Bedroom

dish washer

washing machine

Terrace

washing machine

Garden, Terrace

Share Opportunity

Terrace

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

dish washer

4.40

washing machine

Garden, Terrace

Share Opportunity

A Modular Shared Home

Shared space between Units

B 4.40

C 4.40

4.40

Garden, Terrace

Extra Bedroom

Share Opportunity

G 4.40

dish washer

washing machine

4.40

2 Extra Bedroom

4.40 4.40

Garden, Terrace

washing machine

washing machine dish washer

Extra Bedroom

dish washer

4.40

Share Opportunity

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

4.40

6 Extra Bedroom

Garden, Terrace

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

4.40

D 4.40

Illustration of shared spaces between private units A Modular Shared Home

Design Development ( Structure Analysis) The building is a hybrid wood-concrete structure. A concrete core is used for circulation in the middle of the building. The floors in each level are attached to the concrete core by using metal c-brackets that transfer the loads to the concrete core. A timber structure framework is located around the circulation which allocates four minimum L shape units in each floor. The concrete core and timber structure around it hold the load of the whole building. Then a For more information about Brock Commons project click on the link: Zoya Gul Hasan. “Inside Vancouver’s Brock Commons, the World’s Tallest Mass Timber Building” 18 Sep 2017. ArchDaily. Accessed 12 Dec 2020. <https://www.archdaily.com/879625/inside-vancouvers-brock-commons-the-worlds-tallesttimber-structured-building> ISSN 0719-8884

Metal C-Brackets Used for connecting CLT floors to the core

m ex 4

et er

ce e tan cor dis te ter oncre e 6 mrom c f

6 fro mete mc rd onc ista ret nce ec ore

1-Concrete core 2- Timber structure around circulation core 3- Fixed and flexible parts of th

flexible boundary of 4 meters is considered around timber structure to provide possibilities of private and share expansion for minimum L shape units. These expansions happen based on tenants’ interests, needs and the number of occupants in each unit. Therefore, the composition at each level is different than the other one which makes the form dynamic through time. (The structure design is inspired by “Brock Commons” project in Vancouver.)

he tower

4- Expansion Possibilities

5-The tower after expansion of Units through time A Modular Shared Home

Replication and Connection in an Urban Plot For creating more affordable houses in bigger urban plots and accommodating more people in high-quality living condition, the single modular shared tower is replicated. Also, for saving the notion of sharedliving between separated tower blocks, the same modular and structural techniques are used to produce more shared spaces between these blocks. These intermediate shared spaces create a connection path between towers which is called a shared bridge full of social activities and human interactions.

1 Single Tower

4 A shared bridge full of social activities

A Modular Shared Home

Shared Bridge Modules and Spaces

x 2 = Co

The shared bridge consists of many indoor and outdoor social spaces where people meet and share their space, time and resources. This shared bridge between towers provides social, economic and environmental advantages for the inhabitants.

Community Coffe 4*4*3.6 module

8*4*3.6 module

Community Loca

x 4 = Co

4*4*7.2 module

8*8*3.6 module

Community Inner

ommunity Kitchen / Living room / Coffee Bar / Child Care / Study Room / Local Food Store

ee Bar

Community Kitchen

Community Living room

al Food Store

Community Child Care

Community Study room

ommunity Inner Garden / GYM

r Garden

Community GYM A Modular Shared Home

Shared Bridge full of social activities between towers

A Modular Shared Home

Outdoor Shared space The flexible design strategy of shared bridge between towers helps to keep outdoor spaces active in all year round and in different climates. Usually, outdoor spaces are out of use in cold climates. However, the flexibility of the structure provides opportunities like plug-in prefabricated walls and roofs for securing the spaces and keep them useful and active in all seasons and climates. Therefore the goal of socializing and sharing time, spaces and resources in the shared bridge will continue.

Prefabricated Retractable roof is plugged in

Active Outdoor spaces in warm seasons and climates

Active Outdoor spaces in cold seasons and climates Prefabricated Retractable roof is plugged in A Modular Shared Home

Indoor Shared space

engineered soil with plantings filter fabric reservoir layer with optional aggregate moisture retention layer aeration layer

thermal insulation cool air

fresh air

drainage layer Absorb sunlight

root barrier protection course waterproofing membrane srtuctural deck

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Indoor shared spaces are designed for increasing the resiliency in different climates. They are designed to make secure and protected social areas near the living environment which can be permanently active regardless of the climate condition. Therefore, they provide a permanent and vibrant space for the community to do social activities. Also, they enable the notion of sharing inside the community in all seasons. This indoor green garden is an example of indoor social space which stays cool in summer and tropical climates. Also, It provides a green and warm area in winter and cold climates. Consequently, PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION it remains an active social and green space all year round where people always can meet, communicate and share their time, space and resources together.

Active indoor Garden in warm seasons and climates

Active indoor garden in cold seasons and climates A Modular Shared Home

Resiliency of the building in different climates

Integrating vertical farming into the modular shared home project is the other idea considered for increasing the resiliency of the system in different climates. Vertical gardens inside the building provide all year round green spaces for people and increase the food security for the community. Moreover, these gardens produce cool and fresh air for the inhabitants and clean the air from pollutions and carbon dioxide

The role of integrating vertical gardan inside residential buildings in cold climates

X 8 4*4 module

The role of integrating vertical gardan inside residential buildings in tropical climates

A Modular Shared Home

Access to Private and Shared Spaces The circulation and accessibility to private and public spaces are designed separately for protecting the privacy of residents and defining the border between these spaces. Vertical circulation is designed for accessing private units. Also, the shared bridge and its social activities are accessible for the public through the entrance separated from private area access.

Private Access

Public Access

A Modular Shared Home

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Elnaz Heshmati

A Modular Shared Home