QUARANTINE CABIN: THE VOXEL

THE VOXEL

Given the pandemic of COVID-19, a large part of the world’s population underwent lock-down. Our routines have changed, and for some our homes became our workplace. The anxiety of the global health situation, the social isolation, and the confined spaces in which people live have been taking a toll on people’s mental health. Voxel functions as a quarantine cabin rethinking these challenges, while responding to the current environmental situation.

The Voxel aims at addressing isolation, mental health, and our environmental footprint. By following the tiny house movement, the house enables you to live a life adapted to your needs while reducing your environmental footprint. Tiny houses can be a more financial option, while providing the opportunity of simple-living.

THE SITE

Located in EL Mirador de Collserola Park is the Valldaura Labs campus of IAAC. Surrounded by forests on all sides there are various trails leading from the main building to the forest. The formal location for the prototype for the cabin is located at the beginning of one of these trails, south of the main building and next to the parking space.

The location was chosen as such to ensure enough separation from the main building to follow a due quarantine process for the residents while still remaining in close contact for the main building to perform auxiliary functions for the cabin.

The location also provides uninhibited views of the surrounding mountain ranges and a direct view of Montserrat, affording beautiful views of the sunrise and sunset. This ensures that the resident can spend the quarantine period in a calm and peaceful atmosphere surrounded by nature, enabling positive mental health in relative isolation.

INTERIOR PLANS First Floor

INTERIOR PLANS Second Floor

SECTION

SECTION

THE INTERIOR

The interior of the Voxel follows the basic concept of Fixed-Dynamic-Fluid which invites the adaptability of the space. One of the questions of the interior design process is the limitation of space. To avoid a dull space the interior space is designed to be a spiral form.

To reach the purpose of simplicity and flexibility, some wall panels are designed with a series of perforations. With different prefabricated panels and dowels the user could design the wall system as per their requirements. Such panels are mostly placed in the main activity spaces

The furniture elements in the interior consist of fixed as well as reconfigurable elements. The reconfiguration of elements is done using dowels to connect various wood panels to add or reduce the size of elements to be used as seating, table or storage. A fixed element is provided on the upper and lower level to fulfill the purpose of a sleeping space or a living space.

RAINSCREEN CHARRED WOOD

Shou Sugi Ban is a technique for making the wood water and insect resistant by burning it and treating with linseed oil.

The CLT panels are wrapped in a cork membrane for insulation that will allow the wood to breathe, but forbids moisture from entering.

The offcuts/waste wood from the processing of the Valldaura pine trees is placed in varying paramtetricized patterns to serve separate functions and form a rainscreen wrapped around the structure. Once these offcuts are mounted onto a frame, the framed structure is charred in the Shou Sugi Ban technique and the charred frames form the rainscreen facade.

This facade includes openings for entrance, window and an outdoor shower formed by three bigger pixels. The transition from rainscreen to more perforated screens is visible where there are openings. Corner windows are treated according to their direction. The lower corner is planned to cultivate plants therefore, it is more perforated compared to other panels.

NORTH ELEVATION

RAINSCREEN FACADE

Rain screens are designed as separate framed units that are attached to the CLT panels individually. The first layer after CLT panel is the structure filled with 3 cm of cork to insulate the building. Water proofing membrane is a breathable element to protect the CLT from humidity while it allows it to breathe. The frames are supported on offcuts from the CLT trimmings as posts or on extruded pixel frames.

The pattern is optimized to provide varying levels of opacity depending on the functions behind, with more spacing for viewing experience and less spacing to hide and protect the various metabolic functions.

Extrusions in the facade add to the functionality of the skin, like space for the outdoor shower and roof ladder, and extends the interior space outwards.

METABOLIC AND ROOF SYSTEM

Schematic Water Management

The proposed water management system optimizes the usage of water by filtering gray water and reusing it for the toilet. Using and maximizing the water capacity by using a smarter water rainwater collection and filtration system.

The roof is defined by four box pixels that facilitate the capturing of rainwater. The drainage system directs the water from the highest pixel to the lowest pixel and the water is filtered through the rainwater pipe and is redirected to the water tank under the cabin.

Each of the roof box is divided into four parts for the planting of specific flowers that attract desired pollinators that are not currently abundant in the Collserola Park.

ENERGY

Regarding energy consumption we needed to incorporate sustainable considerations to all the stages of design through optimizing and reducing energy consumption in order to achieve a low impact self-sufficient building.

With a proper balance between passive design, efficiency, renewable source energy generation, good energy storage and a reasonable demand by the user, the building can respond properly to all its energy needs.

Energy Generation

Electrical Circuit

85 // Academic