Bsc2 - Housing Project

Architectural Design & Technology 2

RANDA IBRAHIM

C22026225 Intergenerational Connections

Autumn Portfolio

CONTENTS

I SITE STUDY

Albany Road

User Study

II NARRATIVE STUDY

Searching for Purpose

III PRECEDENT STUDY

Erika Horn Residential Home

Abdel Moniem Mustafa

Creating a Function

IV DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Massing

Initial Sketches

Reflection on Narritive

Further Developments

V FAMILIAL TIES

Ground Floorplan

First and Second Floorplan

Dwelling Section

Elevations

Renders

VI ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGY

Exercise 1: Structures

Exercise 2: Building services, environmental design and renewable energy

Exercise 3: Sectional thinking

Exercise 4: Materials and detailed section

TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE

Emphasising contextual sensitivity, the project focuses on breaking the cycle of mediocrity prevalent in the housing sector in the UK. The design principles prioritise the dwellers’ experience, promoting independence, accessibility, intergenerational connections, and community engagement. The goal is to create a model for mainstream housing, aligning with higher design standards for space and quality, as advocated in the HAPPI final report of 20091. The scale and complexity of the development will be tailored to the specific location and context, with a strong emphasis on equal access, provision of highquality shared spaces, and a thoughtful integration of essential living elements for every resident.

DESIGN INITIATIVE

The AT portfolio asks for a systematic overview of the design studio module. It integrates theoretical principles with practical application, covering key exercises: Exercise 1 focuses on structural analysis, dissecting a precedent project to explain its loadbearing mechanisms and response to forces. Exercise 2 extends to building services and environmental design, demonstrating incorporation of daylighting, ventilation, and renewable energy strategies aligned with site conditions. Exercise 3 details design intent through sections and optional elevations. Exercise 4 delves into material choices, discussing sustainability, cost, and physical properties, culminating in a 1:5 section highlighting a critical architectural detail. This approach ensures a comprehensive presentation of the design studio project, emphasising the synthesis of theoretical understanding and practical implementation.

The Albany Road

Site Plan 1:1000

Strength Weakness

- Diverse - Culturally dense, vibrant and inclusive

- local ammenities

-Roath Park

- Grocery, food, clothing shops are all nearby

- Schools

- Healthcare facilities

- Transportatiom - well connected with public transport (bus network)

- local businesses - a strong sense of community

- Traffic congestion - a shortage of parking spaces - more difficult for residents and visitors

- Social disparities - income, living standards

- Aging infrastrucutre

- Noise pollution - due to high traffic and population, affecting living experiences

Opportunities Threats

- Community engagement - an opportunity to enhance the urban fabric of the community

- urban regeneration - potential for redevelopment projects to improve infrastructure

- Cultural events - utilising cultral diversity - bringing people together

- Greenspace expansion - opportunities to create additional greenspace and recreational areas

- Gentrification - impacting affordability and the social character of the neighbourhood

- Economic downturn - uncertainties can affect the small businesses of the neighbourhood

- Crime rates - pose a threat to the safety of and wellbeing of the residents - especially the elderly

- environmental issues - vulnerability to environmental challenges, pollution

- lack of community involvement - apathy - how can we combat this?

These are the key spots on Abany road that are frequently visited/populated. Outside the post office opposite the site is a bench that is quite frequently used. AlbanyRoad

Over the span of two centuries, Albany Road in Cardiff has transformed into a unique and distinctive place, shaped by the diverse influx of people from Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Exploration of Albany Road

There are a lot of people who walk along albany road and therefore having an outdoor seating area is important. However one bench is not enough as there are always people sat there. A way to combat this is to incorporate a public courtyard into my design

Exploration of Albany Road

Cafes

Charity Shops

Albany Primary School

Residential Restaurants

Street Facades

Residential Facades

A feature about my site that stood out to me was the Roath Market. Every Saturday, the community comes together to sell fresh produce, coffee and handmade crafts to give back to the community.

Engaging with the people at the market in Roath, I discovered that most of them weren’t there solely for financial gain but rather to strengthen the sense of community. The weekly market became a space where individuals gathered to share pastries, talk about their weeks, and build connections. Families, with children playing and grandparents present, were prominently part of this communal experience. This inspired me to envision a design that places a strong emphasis on bringing together different generations and communities, making it a focal point of the space I aim to create. Connections

Plant stall outside Roath Park Wesleyan Methodist Church

Familial Ties and Intergenerational Connections

Reflecting on the neighbourhood of Roath and Albany road, I recognised that there is a strong sense of community that lies. However with only a temporary market to bring people together, noticed most people on Albany Road were using it as a stepping stone to somewhere else, or as a temporary stop to pick up something from the shops. My aim with my scheme is to create a space on Albany road that attracts the people of the neighbourhood to congregate.

Erika Horn Residential Care Home in Graz

Dietger Wissounig Architekten2

The Erika Horn Residential Care Home was designed to provide an environment that resembles a residential community rather than a traditional care facility for the elderly. The primary goal was to create a space where senior citizens could maintain their autonomy and actively participate in daily life. The design incorporates housing communities with large common areas at the center, stimulating a sense of fellowship among residents. The use of wood and rear-ventilated facades is common in the design of old people's homes to create a comfortable and environmentally friendly living space.

Analysis of spatial organisation

Circulation

Plan Envelope Residential Balance and symmetry

The layout ensures that residents have access to outdoor areas and ample natural light, which contributes to their well-being. The architects worked closely with the care home operators to align the architecture with the care concept, resulting in a home that supports the individual needs of residents while promoting a sense of community and security. The project was part of a shift in the field of inpatient care for the elderly, emphasising residents’ autonomy and quality of life within a group living environment.

Abdel Moniem Mustafa’s Architectural Works

Key Elements:

Verandas

Internal courtyards

central gathering spaces

Mustafa's verandas served multiple functions. They were designed to provide shading from the sun and facilitate natural ventilation, which contributed to creating comfortable living and working spaces.

Relationship of Structure

Floorplan of a house in Khartoum, Sudan

Private residences in Greater Khartoum, Sudan

Abdel Moneim Mustafa's designs are marked by simplicity, functionalism, and an adaptation to the Sudanese climate. He employed reinforced concrete structures and red-brick infill walls, often cladding external walls in colored cement/sand bricks. His designs emphasise transparency and lightness, and he focused on optimising natural ventilation and shading in response to the local climate.

Private Residences in Greater Khartoum, Sudan

Internal courtyard

Chemistry Lab of the Faculty of Science at the University of Khartoum, Sudan3

Corridors and walkways

Developing a Design Purpose

Reflecting on my precedents

Morey Mews, Peter Barber Architects4

Key design features I aim to implement

Oriel Windows

A space where the user can sit, people watch, read.

walkways and verandas to bridge the connection between the exterior and interior

Public courtyard to bring more people together on Albany road. a space where someone can sit and relax before heading to their next destination or a space where users can play with their kids coming back from the schoool opposite.

Open marketspace

as part of my design, including a set marketspace where the users of the roath market can set up their stalls more frequently, again bringing people together

Merging Form with the Urban Fabric

Looking at the topography of Albany road, a lot of the houses are built in rows with gardens in the middle. Mimicing that structure so as to create something that fits within the urban fabric of Roath. I came up with a structure that seperates the residential and public spaces but still allows for communion and congregation.

Typical terraced housing found in Roath Initial form idea Sketch done by tutor to show organisation and potential structure of scheme

Developing within the Urban Context

Key Symbol

First and second floor to be all residential

Site restricitions in terms of access, noise and sunlight meant that no residential units could be placed on the ground floor.

Diagram showing the organisation of my scheme

Slanted roof with skylights and solar panels to maximise sunlight

Longitudinal Section

1:200

Albany Road Elevation

1:200

Front Elevation Left Elevation

Back Elevation Right Elevation

Exercise 1: Structures

Structural analysis of precedent

Live Load

Dead Load

Wind Load

Area of one unit = 6.7x6.2 = 41.5m2

Total area (31 units) = 1286.6m2

Ultimate Load = (dead load partial factor x dead load) + (live load partial factor x live load)

Wult (kN/m2)= 36.37

Total Load = total area x ultimate load

LoadT = 46793.6kN

I chose to look at the Ed Le Quesne House as a structural precedent because the facade mimicked how my structure looks. Large long loadbearing columns create the design of the building as well as serve as the structural base of the design.

Main loadbearing columns

Reaction Force

Compression

Tension

Dead Load

Exercise 1: Structures Structural Strategy

Calculating the span depths of my brick masonry columns:

Masonry columns are 4m

span depth ratio (h/d) = 20-35

so the range of depth = 0.2m - 0.11m

Main points of load - foundational pads to be placed on these points

3D visual

Exercise 2: Building services, environmental design and renewable energy

Daylighting

Bedrooms facing the east and living spaces facing the west to maximise light at the intended times. Early morning light is preferred in the bedrooms whereas afternoon/evening light in the living spaces.

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 1

Kitchen & Living 2

Daylight Factors

Daylight factors is the amount of natural light that penetrates through the building envelope into the interior spaces.

Taking into the account the size and location of windows as well as their glare, calculating the daylight factors will help achieve balance between providing sufficient natural light for users and minimising the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours, reducing energy consumption

Sustainable Strategy

PV glass to be implemented in certain windows to generate electricity from the sun from photovoltaic cells. combining functionality and renewable energy.

Types of PV glass:

Crystalline Silicon PV Glass - Uses traditional crystalline silicon solar cells embedded in the glass.

Thin Film PV Glass - Offers flexibility and a lighter weight. materials include amorphous silicon or cadmium telluride

Skylights implemented in my design to maximise natural light, especially for spaces that require more light (north oriented blocks)

The table below highlights the peformance of a PV system on Albany road throughout the year.

Exercise 2: Building Services, Environmental Design and Renewable Energy

Natural and mechanical ventilation

MHVR Ventilation

Mechanical Heat Recovery Ventilation system designed to provide fresh air to a building while recovering heat from the outgoing stale air.

This system would be particularly necessary to my design as natural ventilation is slightly limited. Ensuring the best quality comfort would be implementing an MHVR passivehaus ventilation system in every unit.

Benefits of MHVR systems:

- Cost efficient - Cold climates where heat is a significant energy expense

- Moisture Control - can help control indoor humidity levels

- Filtration - captures dust and, allergens and other particals improving air quality

- Energy efficiency - can further contribute to a reduction in overall energy reduction reducing the carbon footprint of the user.

Exercise 3: Sectional Thinking

Roof detail

Wall Brickwork (with 80mm wall cavity) 215x65x102mm

DPC

Cement nook to catch moisture

Insulation 100

Foil backing

Blockwork 140mm

Vapour Barrier

Ply 15mm Plaster 15mm

Floor detail

Floor to Ceiling

Plasterboard 10mm

Insulation 100mm

Steel frame joist

Metal deck

screed fill with floor heating 70mm

underlayment with timber studs 30mm

wood flooring finish 25mm

Roof Plasterboard 10mm

Rigid Insulation under rafters 50mm

Insulation 150mm

Breathable roof membrane

WBP plywood with timber studs 20mm

Zinc roofing 35mm

Oriel Window Detail

Wood flooring finish

Underlayment

Vapour barrier

Timber joists 140x50mm

Insulation 60mm

Ply 12mm

rigid insulation 35mm

SHS frame 100x100mm

Steel angle section to support glass

Double glased structutal glass (glued to frame)

Foundation Joint Detail

Exterior Wall

Brickwork (with 80mm wall cavity) 215x65x102mm

DPC

Cement nook to catch moisture

Insulation 100

Foil backing

Blockwork 140mm

Vapour Barrier

Ply 15mm

Plaster 15mm

Foundation (Interior)

Wood flooring finish 25mm

Underlayment with timber studs 30mm

screed fill with heating pipes 150mm

insulation 140

Vapour barrier

Aggregate - carboniferous limestone 50mm

Gap for ventilation

undistupted soil

Blockwork continue down 1000mm to the ground concrete block 450x300

Foundation (Exterior)

Pavement Blockwork 150mm

Aggregate - carboniferous limestone

50mm 100mm (Bottom layer thicker and stronger to support the load)

Undistrupted soil

Blockwork continue down 1000mm to the ground concrete block 450x300

Exercise 4: Materials

Building Materiality

Sustainability Appraisal

UK laws require the U - value of a structure to be below 0.3Wm2K/W

Both my walls and roofs fit this requirement however the roofs could be construced better to make it even further below the 0.3 mark

1. Billeter, J. (2012). The Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI) Report (2009).

2. ‘Dietger Wissounig Architekten Residential Care Home Erika Horn, Andritz’. [n.d.]. Divisare <https://divisare.com/projects/328403-dietgerwissounig-architekten-residential-care-home-erika-horn-andritz>

3. Architecture (CCA), C.C. for (n.d.). Decolonize or Redistribute? Abdel Moneim Mustafa and Mid-Century Modernism in Sudan. [online] www. cca.qc.ca. Available at: https://www.cca.qc.ca/en/articles/85227/ decolonize-or-redistribute-abdel-moneim-mustafa-and-mid-centurymodernism-in-sudan.

4. ‘Moray Mews’. [n.d.]. Peter Barber Architects <https://www. peterbarberarchitects.com/moray-mews#: :text=Moray%20mews%20 is%20a%20terrace> [accessed 17 January 2024]

5. ‘Waddington Architects Ed Le Quesne House’. [n.d.]. Divisare <https://divisare.com/projects/446647-waddington-architects-ed-lequesne-house>

6. Metric Handbook: Planning and Design Data, Third Edition reference

7. Marsh, Andrew. [n.d.]. ‘PD: Dynamic Daylight’, Drajmarsh.bitbucket.io <https://drajmarsh.bitbucket.io/daylight-box.html>

8. Data from - Meteoblue. (n.d.). Cardiff, United Kingdom - Climate dataClimate information - Climate models.

https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/historyclimate/ climatemodelled/cardiff_united-kingdom_2653822

9. Data from - Sun Direction. (n.d.). Sun Direction - Cardiff. Retrieved January 13, 2024, from https://sun-direction.com/city/63803,cardiff

10. European Commission (2016). JRC Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS) - European Commission. [online] Europa.eu. Available at: https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/tools.html.

11. tools.bregroup.com. (n.d.). BRE: Green Guide: Green Guide 2008 ratings. [online] Available at: https://tools.bregroup.com/greenguide/ggelement. jsp?buildingType=Housing&category=7&parent=0&elementType=10028.

12. Ching, Francis D K. 2020. Building Construction Illustrated. (S.L.: John Wiley & Sons)