phoenix unit by Simon Shillito

Proposal for 2010 Urban SOS / / Phoenix / / Simon Shillito / / The Phoenix Unit Identified issues. The city of Phoenix is a young city defined by rapid growth; at its fringes agricultural land is transformed into urban. Water comes from the mountains; The river is now all but completely diverted, instead feeding the city and agriculture. Rain often brings flash surface flooding. The climate is hot, dry and dusty with summer average relative humidity of around 10% and air temperatures of 40 o C, precipitation averages as 18mm. Water supply is deemed adequate for the next decade 1 , but declining with increased use and deteriorating ground water quality. Fevered development has lead to urban sprawl. A vernacular of single story light structures and high energy demands exists. Materials of the urban landscape amplify the 300 hours of sun per year as heat island effect. There is very little use of outside spaces; yards remain unused and virtually all transit is in climate controlled private cars. As an urban grain dependent on motor vehicles, errands are often too far to walk. Issues are perpetuated in the face of rising fuel prices. 1 Central Arizona - Phoenix LTER, Arizona State University, Land -Use Change and Ecological Processes in an Urban Ecosystem of the Sonoran Desert, http://caplter.asu.edu/docs/proposals/caplter97/comp_prop.pdf

Response stages. To combat these symptoms this proposal focuses on a versatile urban infill unit that acts to subtly adjust living conditions, internally and externally. Small changes to road layout, zoning and legislative adjustments are also proposed creating new community centres, services and focus.

1.Create a low cost high efficiency infill unit with little demands on existing infrastructure. 2. Generate alternative transit methods combined with efficient upgrade opportunities of utilities. 3.Capitalise on increasing density and changing demographics through revised planning legislation and zoning. 4. Promote new fashions in utilities use and urban development. 5. Promote a self sustaining community social structure.

The pilot scheme site. The selected site provides an effective pilot scheme opportunity. It is typified by a large expanse of social housing in the centre of a city block. The block also includes other zoning; private residential, commercial, education, healthcare and leisure. There are no through roads to the south of the block allowing for testing with minimal potential risk to existing transport links. To the north the pilot scheme can be linked to the city centreâ&#x20AC;&#x;s light rail system on Central Avenue. The social housing consists of a number of similar residential structures, They offer an opportunity for sustainable upgrades to a large area whilst simultaneously testing improvements to city utilities. Construction of the existing structures demonstrate out dated methods utilising high radiant heat absorbing materials and poor insulation. As identified there are large spaces in the urban fabric that are seriously under used; yards, waste lands. These plots come in an infinite verity of shapes and sizes. These underused spaces are the infill plots. Open spaces will be filled, so, should be replaced with more condensed new open public spaces and community gardens.

Residential structures Non-residential structures Existing large flora City owned land Privately owned land Potential infill plots 2

Low cost infill. A centralised Infill Company must be established that deals with all aspects of temporary infill from planning applications, unit construction, property maintenance and management through to deconstruction and mediation with the city.

The infill unit. Fitting in-between existing structures, the design focuses on a prefabricated modular concept intended to be easily transported on flatbed trucks and assembled on site with minimum cost and time. As individual components the unitâ&#x20AC;&#x;s modules are mass produced from sustainable timber off site epitomising efficiency and low embodied energy through out their entire life cycle. Extra demand on existing utilities is kept to a minimum through built in energy generation, grey water recycling and thermal efficiency; sustainable services should be shared with host properties. Units are designed to be maintained and or removed efficiently as zoning changes, shifts in structure demands and technology advances; whole sections of the structure can be removed with the units still in place. Visible surfaces, styles, auxiliary structures, floor plans and utilities can be cheaply changed whilst retaining the functionality of the unit. Because of the nature of the construction system modules can have a near infinite number of arrangements allowing any shape & size plots to be utilised upwards of 9m 2 . ( 2m x 2m floor space).

Infill Company Marketed benefits: Social responsibility Extra disposable income Comfort Security Community

Home owner Assessment

The Home owner contacts the Infill Company. Site assessment takes place to ascertain whether the site is suitable to receive a unit. In the case of our pilot scheme the home owner is the city office. 3

Each module is bought onto site as a single piece, they include finishes and services. Material choice and dimensions are specific to enable excellent U-values, structural efficiency, transportability and low embodied energy.

0 63

Cladding

Internal finish Fire retardant wall skin and bracing Moisture barrier

3000mm

Module construction.

Lose fill wood cellulose insulation Male structural jointing point Main load carrying element

Joints between modules are Insulated and skinned on site also using prefabricated components. Services are housed inside jointing spaces. As the jointing skin can be quickly removed without compromising the Structure; these services are hidden but easily accessible. The timber from which structural components are made is of standard repeated di- 1 Internal surface module joint skin mensions allowing for cheap, 2 Services ducting quick manufacturing. The loose fill 3 Female structural jointing point insulation is a by 4 Module joint mat insulation product from machining of strucModule joint external skin tural components.

Adjoining module

Services systems integration. 1 — Energy generation. 2 — Water treatment.

3 — Structure modules. 4 — Female to female

structural joint. 5 — Automatically opening/ closing exhaust port. 6 — Solar shading. 7 — User operated window. 8 — Swamp cooling system.

9 — Air flow.

5 7

10— Earth anchor foundations; elevating the structure

9 8

off the ground creating street ventilation, drainage & primary pest defence (termites& scorpions).

Cold & hot water.

3 10

Hot water should be supplied by solar heating and indirect heat storage.

Precipitation / condensing Temperature differential; Potential energy generation.

Evaporation cooling reduces the water temper Swamp cooler ature in the reed bed and creates a Cool internal air heat absorbing convection curHeader rent that cool photovoltaic tank units above. Pump, Heat compressor Cooling exchanger & control loop

Grey water feed Remotely activated emergency Reed bed; Grey water water dump (see p.8) treatment. Reeds act as solar shading and heat manifold simultaneously maintaining bio diversity.

Treated water to toilet, external tap, mains drain & cooling system and host property.

Dust filter and water mister Warm, dusty, dry external air

Site integration. Relative scale of these units is larger than existing structure due to integrated structure, thermal properties and the requirement of minimal ground works. Taller units

should be close to existing structures without creating overlooks, wasted space or restricting access; maximising land use and providing shelter to existing houses.

embellishment coupled with intelligent composition tools and a range of screening systems will create spaces that physically function and remain emotively comfortable.

Infill units need not dominate the existing structures; diverse use of skinning materials and visual

A taller grain will promote multi floor development, increasing urban density further.

Looking north on the back road linking South 1st Avenue & West Mohave Street.

Instillation & modification. 1 2

Existing structure has measures applied that increase efficiency and safety. These systems can include a light weight radiant heat reflecting secondary roof surface — 1 that acts as ducting for new services. centralised fire warning system and feeds can be installed, making the structure ready to receive treated grey water and renewable energy. Modification of existing structures also helps to aesthetically „knit‟ the area together. Minimal ground works take place making the site ready to receive the infill unit structure. These works include utilities trench and earth anchor foundation points — 2 . Modules arrive by truck. They are hoisted into place and bolted together. Wiring and pipe work is coupled. Joints insulated and skinned. A quick process — 3 . When the infill unit is complete. The unit tenant pays rent to the Infill Company who in turn pay land rent to the host property owner. The infill Company should manage utility bills as one outlet now feeds two properties, data should be gathered and used for further development and analysis.

Increased efficiency and reduced heat absorption in the host structure coupled with sustainable services and area cooling provided by the infill unit form a symbiotic relationship. Unit modules can still be easily removed — 4 for heavy maintenance, upgrades or even alterations to the unit‟s composition — 5 . For example the photovoltaic module could be replaced with other energy generation systems, second stories could be added or the floor plan

The water cycle & micro climate; 1 Evaporation. 2 Mean wind direction. 3 Condensing. 4 Reservoir. Water supply is threatened by increasing use and deteriorating quality, exaggerated by artificially low prices. Domestic water preservation methods should be implemented at design and construction stages. Localised grey water treatment can go someway to relieve demand and increase circulation through the water cycle, working towards reducing contamination. Reed bed treatment effectively locks contaminates up in biomass which can be harvested and used for energy generation. Evaporation cooling increases relative humidity and decreases the air‟s ability to hold dust and other contaminates. Greater Phoenix‟s westerly prevailing wind will carry the more humid air from the city taking heat with it, reducing heat island effect. Travelling in an easterly this air is then cooled and condensed at the mountains, re -entering the feeding reservoirs. A

f1 C A Water treatment B cells creG ated in modules with fire f2 retardant boarding. C particle/ heat detector. D ventilation port. f3 E window. F doorway G neighbouring

E B

4 2 1

Phoenix

Fire risk management. Fire in these infill units will spread

Mountains

slowly due to encompassing fire retardant skins on all modules. Fire detection systems can be linked to the Infill Company who can react accordingly. Here is an example scenario; f1 — Fire detected by alarm system, resident or member of public. Company attempt contact with residents or dispatch investigation unit (own unit, fire officer, police) and „standby‟ warning issued to emergency services. f2 — Investigation unit arrives/ resident contacted; Warning reversed or neighbour units alarm remotely activated and electricity supply isolated and grounded.

f3 — Emergency systems initiated. f4 — If the property is found to be empty all openings can be locked down with the emergency system from central switchboard thereby starving internal fire. f5 — If fire is spreading on the external surface or the structure appears to be damaged, water from storage on the roof can be released, reducing loading on structure and slowing external spread until the fire can be bought under control by the fire department. Water can also be dumped on neighbouring units.

City transit, utilities & community. As density increases so does the viability of public transit. Dedicated mass transit routes should be defined alongside low carbon personal transport routes. These new routes should be coupled with dedicated local services. One way public transport and residents only. 2 way shaded cycle/footpath (use of vehicles such as Segway are permitted) Reserved plots for local services, promoting local travel and creating community focus. (convenience store etc) Narrow 2 way shaded cycle and footpath streets (called ‟connected oasis‟ by the city of Phoenix) promote sustainable personal transit. Because of considerably lighter traffic the road surface can be lighter, enabling surface utilities reducing cost of upgrading. Utilities trench can also incorporate cooling systems for users. Mass transit lanes reduce versatility of cars, thereby promoting other transport means. Energy generation can be incorporated into street shading and the whole area will work to reduce the heat island effect.

1 — Private residence (Host property). 2 — Private plot (unused except access). 3 — Safe pedestrian zone. Light use. (un-shaded footpath). 4 — 2 way motorised carriageway. 5 — Subterranean services. 6 — Infill unit. 7 — 2 way cycle/footpath “connect oasis”. 8 — 1 way mass transit lane. 9 — Easy access services.

Existing street section 1

5 Proposed street section

6 7

When redevelopment takes hold. With ever increasing energy prices and developing technology there will inevitably come a point where the majority of existing structures become obsolete, this is the point where it becomes more economical to start again rather than persistently modifying. When the host property goes up for sale or end of serviceability is reached, infill units can be easily removed, refurbished and reused; The reuse of components offsets initial investment. The urban plot should benefit from a higher density history, increased land prices and improved city services. Focussed sustainable redevelopment should be reinforced by new planning legislation and building codes. These rules should be continually revised in line with targeted reformation of public perception and scientific evidence. Incentives for urban renewal over new construction should be applied; slowing expansion into the surrounding landscape. Legislation should limit use of radiant heat absorbing materials in new constructions (a big problem with materials in existing buildings). Courtyard housing and shared use development should also be promoted.

Changes take time, particularly those dealing with Socio cultural issues. The general populous, like that of many developed countries finds it hard to accept necessary change, instead falling back with a â&#x20AC;&#x17E;its always workedâ&#x20AC;&#x; response. Arizona offers a unique opportunity to buck these trends with a history of experimental community design and an immediate need. Education is key, the population is largely aware of the need and has seen other prototypes. For those that are unaware or unwilling to accept change, a functioning alternative must be demonstrated with perceived attractions, but shifts can not be forced. To get an initial demonstration up and running the client should be one who understands need and intent and has the ability to implement despite initial public reluctance. An ideal client would be the city office, holding a large residential plot within existing infrastructure, hence our pilot scheme. After this, acceptance will occur as our alternative becomes increasingly wide spread and is seen to work. Public opinion can be influenced; as is seen frequently in all arenas of marketing. Perhaps it would aid this function to think of the infill unit as a consumer item, marketed at a specific time to yield industry and create a sustainable fashion in line with motive. In short, this proposal offers an affordable method to implement necessary changes, not as a mitigation path but as a catalyst and foundation for a permanent engineered solution.