Desert Prefab

Park Springs Ranch Studio Michael Guiliano Park Springs Ranch, New Mexico 2011 (Conceptual Project _J. Brittingham)

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This project is locatedin the northeast corner of New Mexico on Park Spings Ranch. Its primary focus is to incorporate prefabricated construction while instilling regional characteristics of environment and place. Although the project wasn’t conceptualized nor designed for a specific client, it is intended for short stays for a particular individual or couple. Two projects were picked as precedents to guide in the design and construction process. Convent Studios by Rick Joy Architects, located in Tuscon, Arizona guided the design in its use of material choice. Rammed earth, being its primary material and structure, was chosen for its site specific quality as well as its aesthetic appearance on site. The Cantiliver House by Anderson 2

and Anderson was also chosen as a precedent due to its prefabricated construction methods.

It uses a basic box truss as its core structure while adding SIPS wall, floor, and roof panels as its insulated membrane. The two projects gave way to a design in which prefabricated components and the on-site construction of rammed earth could be used to efficiently design and construct a personal short-stay studio house.

01 Site Plan 02

Exterior perspective of west-facing porch and bathing tower

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Design The Park Springs Studio House is situated on an east-west axis, allowing for southern exposure during the winter months. The plan remains open with the exception of a stationary kitchenette-closet which separates the bedroom from the public space of the house. It attempts to protect the occupant(s) from extreme weather conditions while still incoroporating communication between interior and exterior. The western end of the house opens up to the setting sun of the desert. Water was considered to be a sacred component to the design and is celebrated in a small trough that runs along side the house in an exterior corridor on the south side.

It is fed by a series of gabian structures which align themselves with water drainage patterns.

The water continues to run along the side of the exterior corridor until it reaches the removed bathing tower. With the use of solar-powered water pumps, the water is contained at the top of the tower where it is heated by the thermal mass of the massive rammed earth walls. Its function is transformed from its aesthetic quality to a functioning usage for showering and plumbing.

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ENTRY LIVING/HEARTH DINING/KITCHEN BEDROOM BATHROOM EXTERIOR PORCH

01 Floor Plan 02

opposite page - interior dining and hearth

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opposite page - bedroom 04 opposite page - south-facing exterior view

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Construction The on-site construction process entails a poured concrete foundation in which the removed earth is then used to form the rammedearth. The rammed earth is formed in layers which are compressed to 8-10 inches and taper with increasing height. C-shaped steel channels are cast into the concerte/rammed earth structure in which the prefabricated steel box truss is attached. SIPS panels are used to clad the box truss, as well as flloor-to-ceiling glass panes. Local wood is milled and used for exterior decking as well as the finished interior floor. Stone found on-site is gathered to form the gabian water catchment system that guides the resident(s) to the house from the road. The gabian system, over time, will create its own micro-ecosystem, giving way for vegetation growth, and essentially providing additional shade/shelter from the harsh desert climate.

01 Wall Section 02 opposite page - Section Diagram 03 1

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opposite page - exploded axonometric

water flow on exterior perimeter of house

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exterior porch w/ fire pit

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Exterior West-facing deck

interior living/dining room w/ hearth

kitchen/storage

bedroom gabian water catchment and collection resevoir

Gabian-catchment, feeds trough SIPS Roof Panels

SIPS Walls and Window Panels SIPS Floor Panels and Decking

Steel Box Frame 16’ o.c.

Wash tower w/ shower above porch and toilet below grade, fed by gabian water collection Rammed-earth walls assembled and built on site with soil Water trough running parallel with house, ritualizing water in this environment. Gabian water collection east of house feeds this trough which supplies bathing tower and kitchen

Concrete foundation