Post by pp on Oct 30, 2015 21:14:58 GMT -6
ENTRY # 454738105
THE ART CENTER
by Design team of Thomas BOUTEFEU, Pascal FERREIRA and Gwenaƫlle LE BRIS in France
DESIGN STATEMENT
The house is based on the principles of design for climatic comfort with low costs construction, inducing the use of local materials (wood, cob, bamboo). The imported materials are used in minority. It is also designed as a model in order to sensitize the merits of the earth construction.
The house was realized in series of units. The circulation spaces (bridges) are developed around a courtyard, the real place of the family daily life. The project includes 2 single rooms, 2 doubles rooms and a dormitory for 4 people. The patio has several qualities: it refreshes the building and gives an intimate space for creation activities.
The simplicity of the conception and the minimum use of costly materials allow it to be easily adopted by villagers. Ceilings are made of dirt to improve thermal comfort and to give an acoustic protection against heavy summer rains. The construction is protected by a large metal corrugated roof to also cover external walls from water. This disunited on-roof allows natural ventilation bringing an essential and effective thermal comfort.
To protect the building from monsoon, the first floor slabs are raised from the ground. The house on piles gives more intimacy and a better protection from external unpleasantness.
The floors are made out of rammed down lateritic earth, a mixture of earth, water and cow dung. This technique, used in the north of Ghana, is very economic because of the use of materials in-situ.
THE PROJECT CAN CHANGE DURING THE DESIGN :
- Some units can be gradually added depending on the needs.
Lastly, the local labour participation will be the key of the success of this project. It will enable them to acquire new competencies preserving at the same time tradition and innovative aspects of construction.