Siskiyou CoHousing A SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT
a project by Farleigh Winters
H.I.P. Terminal Studio 2014 Completed under the instruction of Michael Fifield
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Acknowledgments
I would like to thank my primary advisor, Michael Fifield, for his guidance throughout this project. His support, suggestions, and feedback were invaluable to my evolution as an architect and the development of this thesis. Alison Kwok, thank you for your generosity of time and knowledge, without you my building systems would not be as complete. Thank you Professor Joseph Fracchia, for your consultation, reassurance and advice. Heart-felt thanks to my friends and family for their continuous support on this project. A special shout-out to 8house for introducing me to co-housing and teaching me how to live communally.
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Contents
Defining Cohousing 6 Suburban Issues 7 Vision 9 Intentions 10 Design Principles 11 Building Program 12 Site Analysis 15 Site Design 27 Common House 37 Individual Units 45 Building Structure 57 Accessibility 61 Water System 65 Energy Harvesting 75 Landscape Plan 83 Process 87
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Cohousing is... ... a conscious commitment to live as a community. ... a platform for increasing density. ... in support of shared infrastructure.
Members of Cohousing seek to establish close, supportive social relationships and utilize their shared facilities to establish a rich community life of social, recreational, cultural and work activities. The six principles that set co-housing apart from other collaborative housing forms are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
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Participatory process Neighborhood design Common facilities Resident management Non-hierarchical structure and decision-making No shared community economy
Suburban Issues The modern image of suburbia is a “low-density, residential environment on the outskirts of larger cities, occupied primarily by families of similar class and race, with plenty of trees and grass.� Early suburbs used the development of the automobile and train to bridge the gap between the city and the country, however contemporary suburbs have lost much of this focus. The suburban development has led to issues of social isolation, oversized houses, and overconsumption of resources.
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Vision Siskiyou Cohousing is an exploration into an ecologically and socially sustainable alternative to the American suburb. Addressing issues of resource consumption and community fragmentation, Siskiyou Cohousing provides the infrastructure for a group to come together in support of inclusive, localized, environmentally conscious living. Located on a former pit mine and landfill, the site is a rare, undeveloped parcel in Northeast Portland. Siskiyou Cohousing is designed for low-impact living, integrating building systems with the natural resources on site to provide water and energy. The building enclosures are super-insulated and day lit to reduce the demand for off-site energy sources. To address the social problems of the suburbs, Siskiyou Cohousing uses a greater hierarchy of public and private spaces to create layers of community interaction, supporting both the group and individual lifestyle. Design Goals: 1. People Place 2. Visible Agriculture 3. Place for all Ages 4. Inviting Common House 5. Comfortable Units
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Intentions Support ideals of future development - Increased density - Decrease dependence on the car - Social interactions Develop sustainable systems on site - Agriculture - Energy - Water - Accessibility Support the community and the individual - Hierarchy of public and private places - Gathering spaces of various sizes - Share auxiliary spaces Align with the characteristics of traditional cohousing - Participatory process - Neighborhood design - Common facilities - Resident management - Non-hierarchical structure and decision-making - No shared community economy
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Design Principles People Place 1. Pedestrian street 2. House cluster 3. Kitchens facing common spaces 4. Push cars to the periphery 5. Degrees of publicness 6. Hierarchy of open space 7. Common land 8. Positive outdoor space 9. Path shape Place for All Ages 1. Connected play 2. Children’s home 3. Teenager’s cottage 4. Old age cottage 5. Household mix
Inviting Common House 1. Main entrance 2. Main building 3. Communal eating 4. Alcoves 5. Eating atmosphere 6. Ceiling height variety 7. Centrally located common house Comfortable Units 1. House for a small family 2. House for one person 3. Individuality of Units 4. Windows overlooking life 5. Six foot balcony 6. Closets between rooms 7. Open shelves
Visible Agriculture 1. Connection to the earth 2. Land restoration 3. Greenhouses 4. Garden growing wild 5. Vegetable garden 6. Courtyards which live 7. Accessible green 8. Tree places
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Building Program User Group: 32 dwelling units 82 individuals
Total LAND
14 acres (609,840 sqft)
Occupied land by buildings: 42,180 sqft FAR: .069 Proposed parcel size: 5.486 acres (238,970 sqft) Occupied land by buildings: 42,180 sqft FAR: .176 Roughly 8 dwelling units per acre Total Garden Space: 328,000 sqft Garden per person: 4,000 sqft People: 82
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Individual Units
Common House
Total Number of Units: 32
Entry Mail Community Bulletin
300 sqft
Kitchen Pantry
540 sqft
Great Room
1,200 sqft
Library
250 sqft
Kid’s area
450 sqft
Workshop
1,000 sqft
2 Guest rooms
330 sqft
Utility Bathroom x 2 Storage Garage (7 spots)
2,680 sqft
Laundry 3 washing machines 3 dryers Game room
230 sqft
1-bdrm units: 6 Kitchen 1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom Living 2-bdrm units: 8 Kitchen 2 Bedroom 1 Bathroom Living
620 sqft
3-bdrm units: 12 Kitchen 3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom Living
1,230 sqft
4-bdrm units: 6 Kitchen 4 Bedroom 2 Bathroom Living
1,520 sqft
950 sqft
TOTAL 35,200 sqft
TOTAL 6,980 sqft
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SITE Analysis Located in Northeast Portland, the 14-acre parcel of land tucked behind the commercial band of NE 82nd and in the shadow Rocky butte is an ideal location for an agrarian based cohousing development. As a large empty lot, the site has become attractive to ruffians, students and transients who use the land for illicit activities. The addition of a cohousing development would contribute significantly to the South Madison community by enhancing street presence along Siskiyou St., reinvigorating and creating an identity to the neighborhood, and contributing to the local production of food resources. The site offers many of the amenities that are desirable to a cohousing community. The development has three schools located within less than a mile of the site. Jason Lee and Roseway Heights are both K-8 schools are located 0.7 miles away and is 0.5 miles away respectively. Directly across 82nd sits Madison High School, one of nine comprehensive public schools in Portland. Second to education, access to grocery stores and commercial areas was considered, as these are a necessary source of provision. Two grocery stores, Safeway (0.9 miles) and Fred Meyer (1.7 miles) are located proximal to the site. Portland is a progressive city when it comes to public transportation and bicycle infrastructure. The Madison South neighborhood is fairly walk-able, however many of the streets directly surrounding the site do not have developed sidewalks or protected pedestrian areas. Residents will also benefit from close proximity to the MAX as well as bike lanes that link to the larger bicycle network. 15
Northeast Portland
The location of co-housing communities is significant to their development because it dictates the support services that are available to residents. These services include commercial and service facilities, schools, and places of employment. With enough community support it is possible for many of these services to be taken care of on site, reducing the reliance on transportation, however this added level of community organization is often unrealistic. Moving co-housing communities from rural areas into suburban or urban settings can offset this reliance on community infrastructure by instead using public services for support. 16
Site Analysis
Proximity to Downtown 5 miles
1/2 mile
2 miles
Commercial
Education, Transit Lines
Industrial
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Immediate Context
Commercial
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Site Analysis
Educational
Industrial
Site History
As one of the few large open plots of land in the Northeast Portland area, it is not surprising that the site has a unique history. In the 1960s the land was part of a large quarry for Rose City Sand and Gravel that excavated the site down to a depth of 80 feet. Following this use, H.G. Lavelle Landfill took over and developed the site into landfill, collecting nonputrescent wastes, primarily from the construction of the interstate highways. Because very little municipal solid waste was dumped, the landfill is fairly clean, composed primarily of rubble and wood debris. The landfill has been capped for over 30 years but there are still methane mitigation and soil settlement issues that have concerned potential developers. For this reason the land is still considered a Brownfield site. 19
SWOT ANALYSIS
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Bike Trail
Housing Frontages
Buffer From Commercial Uses
Vegetated Area
Transit Line
Pedestrian Access
Site Analysis
Zoning CGh
R5h
CGh
OSh
R5h
EG2bh
R5h
EG2h
R5h
R5
CGh
EG2 (General Employment): allows NE 82nd and Siskyou, Portland, OR | a wide range of employment opportunities without potential conflicts from interspersed residential uses. The emphasis of the zone is on industrial and industrially-related uses. Co-housing is a use which technically fits within the zoning code, however R5 may be more appropriate.
EG2h
R5 (Residential with 1 unit per 5000 sqft density cap): R5 is for single-dwelling zones that are intended to preserve land for housing and to provide housing opportunities for individual households. The zone is intended to create, maintain and promote singledwelling neighborhoods. It allow for some nonhousehold living uses but not to such an extent as to sacrifice the overall image and character of the single-dwelling neighborhood. 21
total site size: 602,834sqf | reduced site size: 233,685sqft
Environmental Conditions
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Site Analysis
Growing Potential
328,000 sqft Total 4000 sqft per person or...1/40th of an acre per person (Christopher Alexander, Pattern Language)
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Existing Site Conditions
Trees and prairie
Fenced off from street 24 Site Analysis
No pedestrian sidewalk along site edge
Ravine on east side of site
Sidewalk ends abruptly
Methane pipes along street edge 25
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Site Design The section of the site running between 84th and 86th is the ideal location for the housing units to be placed. The axis defined by the streets running perpendicular to the site will be maintained as circulation routes into the site. Unifying the community is a pedestrian path that acts as the primary entrance for each dwelling unit. Dwelling units are clustered in groupings of 8-8 households, which form micro-communities within the larger development. The front doors of units are spaced between 25 and 40 feet of each other, forming a distance that allows for orientation within the community, and privacy when desired. At the front of each unit is a water collection basin. These basins make the water system more visible within the project and suggest the individual contribution to the larger whole. Central to the community is the Common House, where the community gatherings and shared spaces occur. The path widens and opens into the Common House courtyard, creating a space to linger and not just pass through. The parking area is pushed to the edge of the west side of the site, allowing the primary circulation on site to be pedestrian dominant. West of the parking area is a community garden, intended for use by the cohousing community and the larger neighborhood. This garden acts as a buffer between the commercial zones of NE 82nd and the residential zone of Siskiyou Cohousing. The South and East sides of the site are to be left undeveloped. The intent for the south side is that it could become a largescale agricultural center or a solar farm. Vehicular access to the south portion of the site should be maintained for potential uses. The east side of the site is to be left as a wilderness refuge to restore the natural ecology of the land for native plants and animals. 27
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Site Design
Site Plan scale: 1"=80’
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Site Design
Community Path
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Site Design
Portland Parking code is quite progressive. This site is located within 500 feet of a transit street, only .20 spaces per unit are required because the site has between 31 and 40 units. On sites where trees of 12 inches in diameter and larger are preserved, parking can be reduced by one parking space for each tree (max of 2 parking spaces or 10% of total). Bicycle parking may substitute for up to 25 percent of required parking. For every five non-required bicycle parking spaces that meet the short or long-term bicycle parking standards, the motor vehicle parking requirement is reduced by one space. 7 spots (transit) - 2 spots (tree preservation) - 1 (bike parking) = 4 required spots Because it is acknowledged that cars are still an important part of today’s pattern of life, additional spaces will be provided. The 7 required spots will be filled with community cars that are powerd by the solar panels atop the garage.
Perimeter Parking
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Site Design
The pedestrian entrance on Siskiyou Street is located on axis with the sidewalk of 85th street. This carries the pedestrian entrant directly to the main entrance of the Common House.
Pedestrian Entrance
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Common House The Common House is centrally located, for egalitarian purposes and functions as a social hub for the community. The spaces within the Common house are designed for gathering and social functions. A variety of scales of space are provided, as well as spaces designated for children and adults. The Common House kitchen is where community meals are prepared. West of the kitchen is a small lounge space where adult or children can socialize while their parent or partner prepares a meal. Also attached to the kitchen is an enclosed pantry where bulk foods can be stored. Adjacent to the kitchen is the Great Room, where community gatherings take place. The Great Room extends out into the courtyard through sliding glass doors, expanding the room through interstitial and indoor/outdoor space. The courtyard between the buildings of the Common House is where residents can lounge and enjoy each others company. Demonstration garden beds as well as components of the Living Machine line the courtyard, indicating the presence of agriculture and water re-use within the community. The Common House is divided into two buildings to allow light into the courtyard, making it an enjoyable place to spend time. The east building includes the kids’ room, the community laundry room, guest bedrooms, lounge, and service spaces. The kids’ room is attached to the pedestrian path, giving prominence to the kids on site and extending their realm of activity. The laundry room has six machines within it as well as storage for group resources, such as games and books. The laundry is a secondary recreation room for kids or adults. The room is sized for a ping-pong table, so that residents can hang out while doing their laundry, or use the table as a place for folding clothes. The guest bedrooms are for friends or travelers who are visiting Siskiyou Cohousing. The guest bedrooms share a bathroom and are separated from the more public realm of the common house by a small entry. The guest rooms could be treated as individual rooms or as a suite. The library space on the south side of the Common House is intended to be a more private space for adults to lounge. This is where residents can hang out in groups or individually in a more quiet social setting. The library is attached to the Living Machine, creating an agricultural screen to the exterior. 37
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Common House
Common House Courtyard
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Common House
The great Room is where community meals are shared and where gatherings take place. The space must be able to support the whole community as well as smaller groups or individuals, as it is used for a variety of purposes. The prominent design move for this space is to create a window into the garden and Living Machine just south of the Great Room. This outdoor feature is meant to draw the users gaze as soon as they enter the room, projecting them out into the landscape. The Great Room is often problematic architecturally because the space can feel cavernous and exposed when only a few people are using it. To combat this issue, alcoves are created along the edges of the southern most side of the room, where lowered ceilings and bench seating enclose users. Pendant lighting drops from the ceiling within the alcoves and within the larger spaces, creating pools of light around each table and adding intimacy to the individuality of each space.
The Great Room
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Common House
The kids’ room faces the pedestrian path, providing children the opportunity to move between the path and the room as they please, giving them dominance on the site. The kids’ room has a visual connection to the laundry room as well as the kitchen and courtyard, allowing parents to watch their children as they play, while maintaining acoustical separation.
KIDS' Room
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Individual Units
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2
Level 2 1/8" = 1'-0"
level two
2
Level 2 1/8" = 1'-0"
level one 1
46
Level 1 1/8" = 1'-0"
Individual Units 1
Level 1 1/8" = 1'-0"
3223 Building Type
Entry Threshold
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2
Level 2 1/8" = 1'-0"
2
Level 2 1/8" = 1'-0"
level two
level one 1
48
Level 1 1/8" = 1'-0"
Individual Units
323 Building Type
The Living Room and Private Side
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level two
2
Level 2 1/8" = 1'-0"
level one
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Individual Units Level 1 1
1/8" = 1'-0"
1441 Building Type
Kitchens overlooking Life
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Individual Units
Increased layering of public and private Spaces
SD SD
Public The public realm consists of public streets and sidewalks. This is where the neighborhood at large navigates through the community.
Semi Private The semi private realm is the primary circulation network for the community. This is the primary entrance to each unit and where the majority of action occurs.
Private The private realm takes places within each unit. “Back yards� front the public realm. Privates spaces overlook the public spaces, providing an added layer of security and interaction.
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Individual Units
Circulation space for Multiple Uses
7’ 2�
Widened Hallways Housing units at Siskiyou Cohousing are reduced in size and have efficient circulation spaces. On the ground floor, the primary circulation route is widened to allow for a variety of uses within the space. A built in cabinet system lines the shared wall, providing a sitting nook that can transition into a bed, storage space, shelving, and a entry bench. A desk could also be added depending on need. The built-in system also functions as a buffer between units by deadening sound and creating a greater thickness between units.
WR DW D EF E F.W . EE E .F EF F D
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Building Structure The structure and enclosure system for the individual buildings in Siskiyou Cohousing is designed to be super insulated as a feature of sustainability. Tightly sealed buildings leak less and therefore it is easier to maintain a comfortable air temperature within the enclosure. Siskiyou Cohousing uses structurally insulated panels (SIPs) for the primary structure of the buildings. For added thermal protection, a 2x4 insulated service cavity is added to the interior of the wall system, as well as 2� of rigid insulation on the exterior. The service cavity makes it possible for the SIP to be penetrated fewer times, maintaining its thermal continuity. The exterior insulation wraps the building, covering any minor thermal bridges and insulating the foundation. The exterior finish for the buildings is composed of the James Hardie Panel Reveal System. These panels were chosen because of their durability, flexibility, and longevity. The initial goal for the wall enclosure system was to hit an R-value between 50 and 70. This level of insulation has the potential for passive house standards, however Passive House certification has not been pursued in this project. The total R-value designed is around 55.
ePs Core
8’
4’
SIP Panel Dimensions
osB
SIP Structure
Hardie Panel Reveal System
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Wall Details
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Building Structure
2 HR Fire Walls
Plumb Walls
SIP Panel Grid
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Site Circulation 60
Accessibility
MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS COVERED BY FHA DESIGN REQUIREMENTS 1. All dwelling units in buildings containing four or more dwelling units if such buildings have one or more elevators. 2. All ground floor dwelling units in other buildings containing four or more units. Option 3. 100% of units will be fully accessible on the ground level to foster accessibility for the entire community, regardless of ability, age, or otherwise. To be a covered unit, all of the finished living space must be on the same floor, that is, be a single-story unit, such as single-story townhouses, villas, or patio apartments. Multistory dwelling units are not covered by the Guidelines except when they are located in buildings which have one or more elevators, in which case, the primary entry level is covered.
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kitchens Kitchens that comply with the Fair Housing Accessibility Guidelines can be designed to look and function like conventional kitchens typically found in multifamily housing. The Guidelines specify that three specific requirements must be provided to allow people who rely on mobility aids to “use” the kitchen. 1) Specify minimum clear floor spaces at fixtures and appliances. 2) Define minimum clearance between counters. 3) Provide additional specifications when a U-shaped kitchen is planned.
1 BDRM Kitchen
2 BDRM Kitchen 30” x 48”
cfs - fixtures
5’10”
30” x 48”
7’5”
30” x 48”
cfs - dining
cfs - fixtures
6’0” 11’3”
3 BDRM Kitchen
4 BDRM Kitchen
30” x 48”
8’6”
cfs - fixtures
30” x 48”
cfs - fixtures
8’3”
5’0” 10’5” 62
Accessibility
bathrooms Usable bathrooms must include: 1. An accessible route to and into the bathroom with a nominal 32” clear door opening.
1st floor bath - 3 BDRM
5’6”
18” 15”
32”
2. Switches, outlets, and controls in accessible locations.
30” x 48“
3. Reinforced walls to allow for the later installation of grab bars around the toilet, tub, and shower stall. 4. Maneuvering space within the bathroom to permit a person using a mobility aid to enter the room, close and reopen the door, and exit. 5. Maneuvering and clear floor space within the bathroom to permit a person using a mobility aid to approach and use fixtures; fixture dimensions and placement are specified only under certain conditions.
7’0”
1st floor bath - 1 & 4 BDRM
30 x 48”
32”
cfs - tub approach
7’9”
30 x 48”
cfs - || approach
7’0”
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Portland Average Rainfall
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*http://average-rainfall.findthebest.com/l/201/Portland-Oregon
Water System To achieve the goal of net zero water on the site, rainwater harvesting, storage, filtration, and modifications to patterns of consumption must occur. Schematic design and calculations have been done to see if this goal is feasible. In the US it is nearly impossible for a residential building to entirely support itself entirely off of captured water. This is due to the high volume of consumption that the typical American is accustomed to using in a given day. To be most efficient with water onsite, it is cycled through the system several times, maximizing its capacity for use. A roof-top rainwater harvesting system is the primary means of collecting water on site. Supplemental water is also brought in from the municipal water system as needed. Collected water is piped into a storage tank where it is stored until it is needed for use. Small tanks are strategically placed around each building and several larger tanks are stored beneath the pedestrian path. Each building filters water before it enters the dwelling unit. Within the unit, water is treated hierarchically, meaning that it is used for white water uses first, and then cycled through the system as grey water and eventually black water. Black water is removed from the unit and sent to the Living Machine where it is treated for eventual re-use on site.
City water Rain water
Storage
Filtration
White water uses Grey Water
Landscaping Living Machine
Black Water
Toilets
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3223 Roof = 2,700 x 2 =5,400 sqft
Living Machine CH Roof = 5000 sqft
Roof SQFT = 3,200
Total Roof Area ProDUCes: 32,740 x [sqft]
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Water System
(29.14 inches) [avg. Portland rainfall]
32,740 sqft x
(.46) [capture potential]
= 438,860 = gal./year
323 Roof = 2,160 x 4 =8,640 sqft
1441 Roof = 3,500 x 3 =10,500 sqft
CoNsUMPTIoN: Avg. US individual uses 80-100 gallons per day 82 person community = 6560 gallons per day 2.4 million gallons per year at low estimate
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Catchment 32,760 sqft of roof area 75% effective capture = 0.46 gal. of water per sqft of catchment area, per inch of rainfall 29.14 in. average yearly rainfall in Portland
ToTAl: 438,860 gal. per year
Storage Cistern volume is sized to 1/4 the amount of water collected in a year, which equals roughly 110,000 gallons. This accounts for the longest dry spells in summer. Tanks are stored under the pedestrian path for easy access and to help protect against freezing in the winter.
Treatment Each building will have its own purification system that serves all the units within it. The collection, storage, and use of rainwater is localized on a “by-building� basis.
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Water System
FIRST USE Treated rainwater, in addition to supplemental city water, will be directed towards uses that require white water and produce grey water, such as sinks, showers, and laundry. The overall strategy is to create a hierarchy of water uses so that water will be used for systems further down the water chain as it becomes increasingly contaminated.
GREY WATER Grey water is the product of sinks, showers, and laundry appliances. It can be contaminated with organic matter, suspended solids or potentially pathogenic micro-organisms. If appropriately collected and handled, grey water can be safely re-used for flushing toilets as well as irrigating certain trees and plants.
SECOND USE Grey water will be passed on to use in toilets and for irrigating plants. Re-use of grey water reduces the demand on other sources of water, such as potable water, surface water and groundwater.
BLACK WATER Black water is waste water that contains fecal matter and urine, typically coming from toilets. Processing black water on site and treating it can reduce on-site water use by providing another source of grey water that can be re-purposed.
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Cisterns The water collected and re-used on site must have the appropriate storage tanks. Ideally these cisterns would be able to support the community through a drought. The Green Studio Handbook estimates the size of cisterns by using 1/4 of the annual water needs. Since the roof-top water collection system is only able to collect 438,860 gallons per year, this number is used to estimate cistern size. ¼ of 438,860 is approximately 110,000 gallons. Schematic design for cisterns initially placed them underneath the pedestrian path, the main idea being that this connecting path would be the spine of water circulation for the community. Since the site is limited in depth due to the capped landfill, the estimated depth for this water cavity is 4 feet. Initially calculations showed that if the flat platforms along the path are used for water storage, then they could hold roughly 34,100 gallons. Additional tank space is needed. Rainwater HOGs provide a supplemental water storage space. HOGs are versatile 50 gallon water tanks that can be installed individually on connected as part of a system. They are able to stand vertically or lay on their site, making them perfect for installation beneath patios or along side a building. HOGs can provide additional insulation for buildings, “as a thermal mass unit, Ground HOG outperforms concrete of the same area by at least 10%” (http://rainwaterhog. com/products/groundhog/). If the HOG system is used beneath each unit’s patio on both sides of the building, then an additional 38,600 gallons (771 HOGs) of water storage is made available. Lining select walls of the building perimeters can add an additional 2,400 gallons (48 HOGs). The addition of HOGs brings the total cistern capacity to 75,125 gallons, short 34,875 of the desired goal. Additional tanks could be added to the system, working within the existing site plan. Potentially cisterns could be placed beneath the buildings themselves or surrounding the common house. The cisterns could also be placed beneath the path.
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Water System
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Water System
Living Machine Waste water is treated and re-purposed on site. The Living Machine converts black water to grey water so that it can be re-used or reintroduced into the natural landscape. The system is composed of two anaerobic tanks, a closed aerobic tank, three open aerobic tanks, a clarifier, an artificial wetland, and a UV filter.
Third Use Water coming out of the Living Machine will only be used for grey-water purposes, such as toilets and watering landscaping.
Library and Living Machine
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Energy Harvesting Collection Area
The solar arrays at Siskiyou Cohousing are arranged on all south facing roofs. The ideal angle for solar panels in Portland, OR (Latitude 45.6ยบ N and Longitude 122.62ยบ W) is 45.4ยบ. This is a very steep roof pitch, so for aesthetic reason and to increase the roof area, the pitch was designed to be less steep for the majority of south facing roofs. Also a slight variation has a relatively insignificant impact on the total energy collected. Three different roof pitches on the site face south: 2:12, 2:12, and 9:12. The calculated annual kilowatt hour (KWh) production of the solar panels on the site assumes that all south facing roofs are used, a DC-to-AC Derate Factor of 0.77, and that a fixed roof mount system is used. The calculated total energy production is:
322,912 KWh per Year
CONSUMPTION In 2012, the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was 10,837 kWh, an average of 903 kWh per month. The highest annual consumption at 15,046 kWh (Louisiana) and the lowest at 6,367 kWh (Maine) show the range of KWh in a year. For comparison, in 2011 the national per capita average was 4,500 KWh, and the average per capita consumption of electricity in Oregon homes in 2011 was 5,023 KWh. These figures show a significant variation in the range of consumption year to year and state to state. If each housing unit in Siskiyou Cohousing is considered at the national average, then the range for the overall consumption of the community translates to:
203,744 to 481,472 KWh per Year 411,886 KWh Oregon Average in 2011
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SOLAR Energy Production The solar arrays at Siskiyou Cohousing are arranged on all south facing roofs. The ideal angle for solar panels in Portland, OR is 45.4ยบ. This is a very steep roof pitch, so for aesthetic reason and to increase the roof area, the pitch was designed to be less steep for the majority of south facing roofs. Three different roof pitches on the site face south: 2:12, 2:12, and 9:12. Assuming that all south facing roofs are used, DC-to-AC Derate Factor of 0.77, and a fixed roof mount system is used, the total production calculated is:
322,912 KWh per Year
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Energy Harvesting
*http://pvwatts.nrel.gov/
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9:12 SLOPE Produces: 140,058 KWh The garage roofs are intended to be representative of the energy that it takes to power one vehicle. Therefore, each roof form corresponds with one parking space below.
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Energy Harvesting
3:12 SLOPE Produces: 9,530 KWh The Common House roof forms are slightly steeper than the individual unit forms. The Common House roofs are primarily oriented to direct water into a catchment cistern within the courtyard, demonstrating the collection of water on site. Secondary to water collection is the solar orientation.
2:12 SLOPE Produces: 173,327 KWh The majority of south facing roofs on site are pitched at a 2:12 slope. This allows for a greater roof area to cover each unit and maximizes the total surface area.
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Shading Devices Sun entering the building can be both a benefit and a hindrance. Shading devices and roof overhangs on the south side of the buildings will keep the hot summer sun from entering the building. During winter months, the shading devices allow the sun to TWO BDRM penetrate and heat the interior. The western sides of units are naturally protected by trees and adjacent buildings. FOUR BDRM
ONE BDRM
THREE BDRM
TWO BDRM 80
Energy Harvesting
SUMMER SUN SUMMER SUN sUMMer sUN 68˚
WINTER SUN WINTER SUN WINTer
sUN 21˚
FOUR BDRM
SUMMER SUN
WINTER SUN
THREE BDRM
FOUR BDRM FOUR BDRM
TWO BDRM
FOUR BDRM 81
Color Palette
Fountain Grass
Candyfruit
Hosta
Rosemary
Japanese Maple
Geranium
Lavender
Spurge
Nasturtiums
Oregano
Fern
Wisteria
Red Hot Poker
Fuchsia
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Hens and Chickens
Landscape Plan Due to the significant size of the site, and the connection between the environment and sustainability, a general landscape plan was developed. The goals for this plan are to restore the former landfill to a vibrant, resilient, and biologically sound state, to protect the watershed and its inhabitants, and to define spaces within the community. Although this portion of the project was not fully realized in the design, the intentions of the project were developed. The programmed areas are to include: demonstration gardens, neighborhood farm, community meeting space, Living Machine system spaces (hydroponic tanks, aerators, filtration beds), small/nodal gathering spaces, and kids areas. The spaces that run North/South between each unit are intended to be a series of outdoor rooms, each varying in character. Plants were selected for this project from a data base provided by the EPA that suggests for specific regions in the US. Specific the Pacific Northwest. Plants were picked primarily based off of their color, however criteria that was also considered includes: drought tolerance, ability to slow water drainage, native to Oregon, edible, and no thorns or prickers. Plants are useful for a variety purposes. The intent for this selection of plantings is to provide enough variation in the potential uses so that consideration can be made for sunny spaces and shaded spaces, ground cover, screening elements, and canopy defining trees.
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Thank You for Visiting Siskiyou Cohousing
Farleigh Winters | fwinters@uoregon.edu | 2014
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Process Images
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Neighbor
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Street
Bike
Pedestrian
Process Images
2 BDRM unit
Path 45’
1 BDRM unit
road off 82nd
currently undeveloped
Neighbor
Street
Pedestrian
Park Space
2 BDRM unit
Path 30’
3 BDRM unit
currently undeveloped
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