|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 2, 2014 22:22:31 GMT -6
Design Team: Tina Wunnenberg (Wismar, Germany)
The design is based on the pattern commonly found in Ghana and the Ashanti Region Compound Houses. These houses are rectangular, one or two storeys high and situated in the middle of a large courtyard. Usually several families live in the same compound. This pattern can be found both in cities and in small villages. My goal is to transfer this compound pattern to smaller single-family homes and so to combine traditional and new structures. For better ventilation, the structure is fragmented and individual pieces were removed. Following the current settlement character, the roads should have a slope of 1.50° so rainwater drains away quickly from the settlement during the rainy season . In addition, the plot should protrude above the road - at the lowest point by 10cm and by 58cm at the highest. Thus, the beginning and the end of the property will be clearly marked.
There are four small houses and two pavilions – the plumbing pavilion and the kitchen pavilion. The design makes use of two earth-building techniques with self-made clay bricks to offer new building techniques to the locals. The main walls of the pavilions consist of rammed earth and also add to the optical variety. For a good ventilation and drainage it is useful to situate the wet area in a detached building because the walls are made of clay. Life in Ghana largely takes place outdoors. The courtyard is used for cooking, washing, playing and general life. That is the reason for the kitchen pavilion. It offers the possibility to use the outside area during the rainy season. The kitchen located in the house offers a storage area for food and cooking utensils, where they are protected from theft by animals and humans. The houses are about 225 square feet and can be divided by a wall into two rooms when the family grows. For this option, you can choose to add a second door to the same building or to incorporate a large lintel at the beginning of the building process to make it easier to add a second door later. It is possible to add beds between the houses.
Design Statement
The foundation consists of stacked stones or mudstones with a circumferential termite protection plate, which prevents vermin infestations. The doors have a double swing. The outside door offers protection and is made of solid wood. The inside door consists of a wooden frame and a mosquito net to protect against mosquitoes. So you have the possibility to open the outside door for ventilation and the inner door protects against mosquitoes without impairing ventilation. The windows consist of a wooden frame with a mosquito net and a lamellar wood window with adjustable blades. The size of the wood sheets is selected so that when they are completely opened enough sunlight comes into the interior. The option remains to use a standard system of glass lamellae if more light is desired. The advantages of wooden slats include the durability, the ecological aspect and better protection against burglary.
The roof is a pent roof made out of timber and aluminum corrugated iron. The large roof overhang protects the walls from rain and sun.
The design should be available in a book with comprehensive building instructions, which families can purchase in order to build their own house together with friends and relatives using materials from the environment. There is also the possibility to employ workers and to buy materials such as bricks, if saving money is not a concern and the families prefer not to build the house themselves. Therefore, standard measurements were taken into account.
Costs
(1) Foundation = 100 $
(2) Walling = 1877,63 $
(3) Roofing = 3720,49 $
(4) Fittings = 100 $
(5) Miscellaneous = 200 $
= 5998,12 $
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 2, 2014 23:51:07 GMT -6
Design Team: Neha Prabhakar Chavan (India)
The design aims to lead people to self-reliance, work enjoyment, creativity & feel safe. Thus creating a good life. The house is flexible for future expansion, labour intensive, socially active & climate responsive. By using certain strategies self-reliance can be achieved which are as follows:
Sustainable material
Waste management
Rain water harvesting
Biogas
Workplace
Vegetable garden
Animal pens
Material Description
It’s a load bearing structure. The use of local materials reduces import & transportation, saves energy & money & favours the development of local industry. Easy technology which can be adapted easily by local labour.
Local Material
Local soil- laterite soil covers over 70% of the surface area of the country.
Bamboo- grows locally which helps save money & energy.
Local stone- locally available.
Ferro cement- low weight, long lifetime in comparison with purely steel constructions.
Stronger & more durable. Zero maintenance.
Composite- use of bamboo & Ferro cement for slab, roof & staircase makes the structure stronger & economically viable.
Brick bat- used for ground flooring with Ferro cement.
Local timber- for doors & louver windows.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 0:04:07 GMT -6
ENTRY # 328490879
THE AYA HOUSE
Design Team: Ben Burghart and Mohamed Ismail (Virginia, USA)
The Aya House is a response to the climate, natural resources, and culture of Ghana’s Ashanti Region. The sample site is a 90’ x 154’ (27 m x 47 m) lot about 7.5 miles (12 km) northeast of Kumasi, just off Accra Road. Rammed earth constitutes the bulk of the home’s foundation and wall construction, the latter of which are orientated to be parallel with the region’s predominant wind pattern (coming, on average, from the southwest, west, and northwest). This condition works nicely with solar orientation as well, as the shorter ends of the 20’ x 60’ (6 m x 18 m) rectangular building face east and west and the shed roof slopes from north to south. With the longer axis running west to east, the house can be divided into three 20’ by 20’ zones. The eastern zone makes up the more private area, composed of two bedrooms and their adjoining studies. The western and central zones serve as the public and more active program areas, including the bathroom, kitchen (with dry storage pantry), living room, and dining space.
To bring as much attention to the strength and durability of rammed earth construction, and in the hope of inspiring similar earth building technology across Ghana, the central zone contains a wall twice as thick as the other walls and it uniquely makes direct contact with the roof’s wooden structure. The other walls are visually separated from the roof structure. This gives the effect that the 20’ x 60’ roof is resting solely on the central wall, emphasizing its importance. From the north and south elevations, this wall is also unobscured and acts as a programmatic connection for the home’s shorter axis. Recessed and perforated parts of the wall create shelving, seating, and views through the entire house.
The kitchen, in the northwest corner, also shares a particular importance. Unlike most Ghanaian homes, where cooking occurs in a separate structure away from the house, this one is connected to and facing the southeast. This is enhanced by a break from the rectilinearity of the rammed earth wall; the kitchen’s exterior wall is a quarter-circle sharing a center with the thickened central wall. Part of the kitchen extends beyond the overhang of the roof’s northern edge, addressing the necessity of the Ashanti cooking style to use an open fire, which requires that smoke be carried away from the interior.
The floor changes levels throughout the house, to signify programmatic change and respond to the environment. The highest levels (2’ off of ground level) belong to the bedrooms and kitchen (the latter has a slight slope towards the north for drainage). The dining space is one step lower (8”), followed by the living room and the bathroom, which are at ground level. Through our research of Ashanti architecture, we know that raising the floor level protects certain areas from water and comforts occupants as they guard against outside pests. As with most buildings and roads in Ghana, a 2’ deep gutter surrounds the building’s footprint, to mitigate the problems brought by flash flooding during the rainy season.
The home is comprised of five basic construction materials: clay-based aggregate from the site for the rammed earth walls, concrete, lumber, zinc corrugated roofing, and bamboo. Only tools, hardware, and labor are additionally needed to build the house. Lumber used to make the rammed earth formwork will be reused in the roofing structure (e.g. rafters, spacers) and to hold the bamboo in place as screening.
Our general budget for this project breaks down as follows: foundation ($750), walls ($600), roofing ($1,500), fittings ($200), labor ($2,000), and miscellaneous ($300). The total is $5,350.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 0:11:41 GMT -6
ENTRY # 269607285
  
KENTE HOUSEDesign Team: Angeles Hevia (Chile)
Kente House, Ashanti, Ghana Kente House is a 118m2 [1276sqft] single-‐family unit designed for Kente weavers in Bonwire. However, it can be located in any township in Ashanti since its design incorporates elements that reflect the region’s cultural heritage. The house is located along the W/E axis. Bedrooms are distributed in the central part. It also includes a weavers’ workshop in the western facade in order to avoid the morning solar radiation during working hours. In addition, two intermediate spaces for recreation [verandahs] and a bathroom are incorporated. All the above spaces enclose the central courtyard where the kitchen is located.
The Design Problem
In Ghana, stereotypes about buildings made of earth persist because buildings are for the very poor, erode due to poor construction and are not seen as a modern material. In addition, Abu Marmah states that there is a ‘lack of privacy in the large urban home’ and Anne Baeyens explains that ‘the accommodating households are certainly not always happy with sharing’. Elements such as the central courtyard and verandahs are part of the philosphy of living in the traditional Ashanti compound house, since they provide thermal comfort, safety and social meet ups among others. This makes them valuable elements and worth to be included in a modern house design.
How to create modern architecture with earth?
1. Shape: fragmentation to fulfill modern needs Kente House proposes a design concept based in fragmentation. A large shape with rooms enclosed by protruding walls enables independent, unique compartments oriented in different directions. Walls directed in different angles allow unique orientation for each room enhancing privacy and individualisation. Protruding walls provide dynamism in the SW facade permitting rooms to be separated and isolated from each other.
2. Technique: avoiding erosion Walls incorporate mortar strips along their exterior side [Rauch, 2014]. This avoids infiltration from rain, also ensuring erosion prevension. Foundations isolate earth walls from the ground, external verandahs protect them from the rain and bitumen or plastic foil is used.
3. Materials: modern + local + traditional Kente House incorporates rammed earth walls made of local laterite using the traditional technique of rammed earth. It is a cheap, quick method, which enables walls to be texturised with veins or strata like effect providing a modern, modulated look that can resemble the aspect concrete provides. The shading modules reflect and promote the local cultural heritage, providing thermal comfort, an aesthetical design and functional architecture.
Material Description
Forty centimeter rammed earth walls incorporate local red laterite. Foundations include laterite, cement and bitumen or plastic foil. The floor is made by compacted earth [80cm] plastered with sand and cement. The ventilated roof is made of local wood covered with zinc sheets. The shadings are made of local wood and cotton fiber.
Environmental features
The house is located along the W/E axis to protect from the sun and reduce direct solar gains. It is orientated towards the SW in order to harness prevailing winds coming from this orientation.
Shading module
Constructed by Kente weavers with local cotton. It reduces solar gains in east and west facades
Ventilated roofs
Oriented to the SW to harness prevailing winds
Rammed earth walls
Made of local red laterite, they provide thermal delay bewteen interior and exterior
Verandahs: External thermal buffer
They provide an intermediate space for recreation, also enabling thermal lag between interior and exterior
Cross ventilation
Natural cooling provided by SW winds. Hot air rises and is released through windows in NE facade
Sloped roofs
To avoid water filtrations during the rainfall season
Roof overhangs
To protect SW walls from rain
Budget
Walls = U$1,500
Floor = U$600
Roof = U$2860
Shading device = U$450
Windows = U$70
Doors = U$70
Bathroom = U$200
Total = U$5,750
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 0:26:48 GMT -6
ENTRY # 325650187
SUMSUM Mud House
Design Team: Dennis Meijerink and Alexey Boev (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
People from Ashanti region in Ghana believe that houses made from mud are for the poor and could not create beauty and good living conditions for long-term. These houses are not enough protected from the rain and large surfaces of mud or concrete are not flexible enough and has tendency to crack. SUMSUM mud house gives a new view on mud as a constructive material, revealing its architectural potential. At the same time the concept is a fresh look at traditional lifestyle of people in Ghana not only on the level of the building itself, but also focused on possibilities of creating diverse urban patterns.
ARCHITECTURE
SUMSUM house is a new interpretation of traditional house in Ghana, where usually four small houses are grouped around central open space, creating urban unit – block. In SUMSUM concept by rotating courtyard on 45°, four separate volumes – rooms were created for better adhesion concrete (foundation) and earth (walls), minimizing cracking of materials. These four rooms are connected with a gallery around the courtyard – the core of the house – and they together are intended to be used as a flexible living area in every weather conditions. Niches in the walls serve as small storage spaces. One of four rooms is pulled to the inside, that creates a semi-open space on a corner of the plot, which gives a possibility for everyday interaction between the inhabitants of neighboring houses and serves as a transition space between the street and private house.
URBAN STRATEGY
Analysis of Ghanaian townships in Ashanti region, around the ‘garden city’ of Kumasi, showed that all them have identical urban structure from compound houses. Suburb Ejisu-Juaben is not an exception. Rectangular blocks with a courtyard in the middle are organized in a grid, surrounded by the landscape of various trees and plants. Disadvantage of this structure is that it doesn’t provide space for social life, for everyday interactions. Streets are just pathways. SUMSUM urban strategy aims to create transition space between house and a street, between private and public, creating outside spaces for possible social interactions and activities, at the same time protecting private life from interference. It’s a reactivation of existing urban pattern, giving new perspectives for inhabitants of Ejisu-Juaben. By orienting open corners differently, SUNSUM house design is flexible enough to create numerous variants of interaction points.
MATERIALISATION
SUMSUM mud house is constructed using two different techniques of compressed and rammed earth. Outside walls are from 300 to 600mm thick, made from rammed earth. The compressed earth blocks (hand press) have high constructive quality for walls, floor blocks and vaults. Open masonry of outer walls, connecting four rooms, brings visual inside-outside relation. House is covered with zinc plates for protection of the mud in a way, that atmosphere of mud building remains. Support structure gives the impression of floating roof and provides house with thermal isolation.
CALCULATION
FOUNDATION & FLOOR
sand truckload (1 trip) – 60 $
cement foundation (85 bags) - 880 $
aggregates (1 trip) – 60$
foundation stones (1 trip) – 60$
cement finish floorlayer (92m2) – 350$
labor (160 hours) – 140$
WALLING
ceb (79m2) – 440$
rammed earth (100m2) - 560 $
labor (240 hours) – 210$
CEILING
ceb (75m2) – 420$
labor (160 hours) – 140$
ROOF
steel constructing big (120m1) – 240$
steel construction small (150m1) – 225$
wooden column (6m1) – 30$
zinc (223m2) – 1200$
labor (240 hours) - 210
MISCELLANEOUS
steel doors (2) – 100$
bamboo panels (5) – 125$
toilet (1) – 65$
fasteners - 250$
skilled labor (20 hours) – 20$
TOTAL 5835$
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 0:34:55 GMT -6
Design Team: António Borges Abel, Teresa Margarida Rosa de Sousa and Virgolino Trindade Adanjo de Almeida (Portugal)
For the Mud House Competition, we have developed a single-family dwelling that is organized in three axis. We have found a simple geometry, with modular organization, without spatial mode hierarchies so that spaces could be adapted to several different purposes, its design however, grants amplification, if necessary, the habitation can transform the covered outside areas or laser, into more rooms. The choice of materials, aims to maximum cost reduction in what transformation its concern for further expanding, which applies to transportation or execution work, having this in regard, we essentially opted for earth, bamboo and wood.
This way around we are able to use local raw materials to conciliate with traditional techniques, in use by local population, which allows self-construction, without handling difficulties of maintenance. The design set, as the purpose of granting transverse ventilation and the Chimney effect (rise and exit of hot air), guidance and maximum storage of rainwater (ending in reservoirs, for domestic purposes) as well as shading for the whole house. Its structural composition is elementary, since the walls are made of rammed earth and be self-supporting, and are braced by two laterals volumes (kitchen and toilet facilities) that ensure your bracing thus decreases the use of concrete getting this limited to shoes.
The location of these two spaces is relative to the inner side of the house to reduce the risk of fire and input odors inside each one has small openings for (unique in the whole house in order to decrease the use of glass). The roof is metal sheet (for cost savings, speed of assembly and ease of acquisition in the country) is supported by a reticle in bamboo. This is elevated so that the inside air does not overheat, to maintain ventilation and indoor not cause condensations.
Thus we tried to create a functional, contemporary economic and housing together using traditional construction techniques and local crafts with a contemporary character and worthy in order to raise awareness of the possibilities of building on land thus preventing the importation of Western models not respond to weather constraints or to ways of inhabiting the population of Ghana. Likewise we point to a path of economic construction and being environmentally sustainable.
Description of Work
Unit coasts (US$) Quantity unit Partial cost Total cost
Foundations
Digging holes for foundations by family
Concrete in foundations 100 15,88 m3 1588
1588
Floor
a) in earth tiles by family 59,4 m2
b) in floor tiles 7 15,7 m2 109,9
c) in cement with earth (terraces) by family 12,25 x 4 m2 109,9
Walls in Rammed Earth
a) with 0.20 width by family 90,2 m3
b) with 0.40 width by family 2,86 m3
c) with 0.50 width by family 17,1 m3
1 local skilled laborer 10 30 days 300
Plaster in interior walls surfaces by family 224,4
Wall tiles in wc, bathroom and kitchen 6,6 46,8 m2 308,88
Walls in plywood or similar 8 10 m2 80
External superior walls in blade louver frames 120 4 un. 480
Window/wall in blade louver frames 192 4 un. 768 1936,88
Roofing
1. Structural beams in bamboo
a) with 0,20 m of diameter 3 113,4 lm = 340,2
b) with 0,15 m of diameter 2 172,7 lm =345,4
c) with 0,10 m of diameter 1 243 lm = 243
2. Structural columns 2 31,8 lm = 63,6
3. Zinc plates with 1,10 x 3,00 m2 20 54 un. 1080 = 2072,2
Plumbing
WC seat 65 1 un. 65
Washing basin 32 1 un. 32
Sink 50 1 un. 50
Dishwasher 50 1 un. 50 = 197
TOTAL = 5706,98
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 0:54:42 GMT -6
Design Team: Erik Yarosh (California, USA)
Earthen architecture is perceived to be inferior to modern dwellings made of cement blocks and other modern materials. These materials are not only expensive but also thermally insufficient, acoustically problematic, and cannot be recycled back into the earth. Yet, concrete is still considered indispensable for building. With the escalating cost of modern building materials that are manufactured from imported resources, often times families - especially those with low income - are struggling to afford a house. In response, this project focused on the utilization of indigenous materials and techniques with contemporary, sustainable design, promoting a smart, new standard for housing design in the region. Local materials can be used to create a durable, aesthetic, and functionally superior home for low cost, serving as a prototype to challenge the negative connotations and stigmas associated with mud architecture.
The preliminary design was developed from Semper’s “Four Elements of Architecture”: hearth, woven enclosure, structural roof, and foundational mound. The final design, though based off this analysis, begins to challenge the idea. The mud brick foundation extrudes up out of the earth in places, acting as an enclosure as well as load-bearing, structural elements. A system of woven panels can be used as a spatial and acoustic barrier in both the vertical and horizontal. These woven panels will be formed using local basket craft and will begin to give the building a cultural identity. The panels can be easily accessible, modifiable, and replaceable. They allow air to easily flow through, while simultaneously diffusing direct sunlight to help keep interior spaces cool and dry in Ghana’s tropical climate. A double butterfly roof made of corrugated metal collects rainwater and directs it toward a sand greywater filtration system. The collected, filtered rainwater will be recycled and used.
The roof will be raised above the walls, allowing hotter air to be constantly circulated out. The placement of the double butterfly also creates two areas of low-pressure air directly above the occupied spaces. This idea was derived from Bernoulli’s principle as a way to vacuum air out and keep the spaces constantly ventilated. The roof can also be split and raised to let indirect light inside and promote air circulation. In the bathroom, a composting toilet will allow the building to produce compost out of any type of organic waste.
The house consists of two distinct areas, one is focused on privacy and security, the other, focused on community and gathering. The “private” section consists of two bedrooms and a bathroom with a shower and composting toilet. The “public” section consists of a kitchen, a large interior gathering space, including a large exterior gathering space to accommodate multiple functions. The dimensions of the house are 50’ x 40’ with 1,350 total square feet of interior living space.
Budget
Mud Brick (Walls + Foundation): $660
Structural Framing: $1510
Panels: $1280
Roofing: $1800
Other Costs: $400
Total: $5650
Surplus: $350
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 1:03:31 GMT -6
EBAN AYA
Design Team: Atelier Koe (Richard Rowland, Hippolyte Gilabert, Clement Dagneaux and Ellen Ford Rowland) in Senegal
From an accessible architectural process to a resilient community network
The art of building with earth is ancient and has survived the test of endurance. Unfortunately, over time, misconceptions and the occidental introduction of cement have linked earth construction to the stigma of poverty. Reaching back and taking inspiration from the source, Eban Aya fuses earth as a building material with functionality and aesthetics as a means to valorize the modern mud structure. With future generations in mind, the building process respects the needs of individual Ashantis, their community and their land.
Eban: Love, Safety and Security. The home to the Akan is a special place. One with a fence is considered to be ideal.
Aya: Endurance and resourcefulness; a hardy plant that can grow in difficult places; someone who has endured many adversities and outlasted much difficulty
Eban Aya begins with bamboo, which is inexpensive and grows abundantly in Ghana, yet is another undervalued resource. In cultivating an alliance with a government organization such as BARADEP (Bamboo and Rattan Development Program), non-invasive bamboo clumps are initially donated and planted along the periphery of the land, delineating property boundaries, providing security, safety and privacy. The bamboo fence will further serve as a crop to be harvested within a two year period, a portion of which is meant to be a donation to the construction of a neighboring home or community building. Bamboo poles will be used in construction as well, making individual production a valuable commodity.
Osidan: The builder and Creativity
Eban Aya is only a shell, a foundation for individual, familial and community creativity. Like earth itself, this shell can be transformed and adapted to meet the needs of its inhabitants and its primary function: a home for a family of two, four, six; a weaving studio, a women's cooperative, a community building; a school; a place of worship. This shell structure allows home owners to be involved in the space design process in order to create a unique dwelling based on their specific needs. The Eban Aya shell may initially utilize only the ground floor for a small family or as a starting point to build upon if finances are limited.
Boa Nena Me Mmoa Wo: Cooperation and interdependence; "Help me and let me help you."
The Eban Aya process embraces the idea of the nuclear family radiating out to include the larger community system-- which in turn supports the family. It invites individual ownership, community participation, collective learning, sharing and management in the creation and realization of each building. Local masons are trained in a viable earth building technique using only vernacular, readily available materials; bamboo is grown, shared, sold, utilized in construction and "payed forward" in order to help in the realization of the next home or community building. By incorporating the abundant laterite within the walls, the earth provides natural insulation, humidity regulation, acoustical properties and natural cooling. Building with earth reduces CO2 emissions, offers improved air quality and comfort, and is both enduring and durable.
Extending the concept of permaculture (where "culture" refers to a global value system as opposed to simply "agriculture"), not just to a way of building but how it impacts individuals and community is not only logical, but essential to the future. Eban Aya facilitates the creation of this network.
Location: Kumasi Township of Bomso
Materials used: Laterite, bamboo, pozzalana, lime
Total Budget: $6000.00
Material cost: $2775.75
Estimated Labor: $2772.00
Remaining budget for fittings, used water treatment and interior partitions: $452.25
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 1:24:10 GMT -6
ENTRY # 326989575-A
THE PARAGO HOUSE Design Team: Johanna Wickström and Mohamed Ibrahim Bedri (Stockholm, Sweden)
Inspired by the Ashanti courtyard homes, the Parago House blends tradition with modern architecture. With a big garden in the heart of the home and walls of rammed earth, the Parago House emphasises on openness human coexistance with nature.
The Parago Family
This house serves the traditional single middle-income family unit with a size of 4-6 people including 2 children. The client works as an arts practitioner; a creative, caring and down to earth person who loves being close to the beauty of nature and who always have had the dream to grow his own vegetables and fruits. Open spaces for family gatherings around music, cooking and laughing are also highly important for this client.
Building with Rammed Earth
Environmentally Sustainable: Rammed Earth buildings are very low in embodied energy and are often made out of local materials. As there is no firing process there are no kilns, toxic emissions or greenhouse gases. Because of this, rammed earth has an extremely low CO2 emission of 8.08 kg/m2.
Human Friendly: Rammed Earth buildings are very low in embodied energy and are often made out of local materials. As there is no firing process there are no kilns, toxic emissions or greenhouse gases. Because of this, rammed earth has an extremely low CO2 emission of 8.08 kg/m2
Thermal Mass: A minimum of 30cm thick rammed earth walls provides great protection from extremes in climates. The thermal mass of the walls makes for a very slow heat/cold penetration and allows the internal temperature to remain stable, with warmer feelings during the winter and cooler in the summer than outside temperatures.
Strong and Durable: As rammed earth walls are load bearing, there is rarely need for other structural framing. There are many examples from around the world of rammed earth buildings standing over a century.
Climate Adaption: The design derive from two main factors, first to utilize the whole plot and secondly to optimize the indoor climate from orientation according to the local climate. By dividing the house in and place them in a angle of 90° directed towards the main wind direction south west, all rooms has a major air intake on its windier side and a small high air outlet close on the leeward side. ENTRY
Costs
Foundation = $1359
Walls - $292
Roofing = 1323
Fittings = $826
Labour = $1250
Miscellaneous = $163
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 1:32:06 GMT -6
ENTRY # 326989575
Design Team: Johanna Wickström and Mohamed Ibrahim Bedri (Stockholm, Sweden)
Building Vertically
This house serves the traditional single middle-income family unit with a size of 4 to 6 people including 2 children and the site is located in Kumasi in the Ashanti region. The client is a design practitioner, a creative, caring and down to earth person. The family loves being close to the beauty of nature and value family gatherings around music, cooking and laughing. Building the family house vertically creates more green space on the plot. The greater green area can be used for farming and gives the family more outside area to play and spend quality time. Having everyone under the same roof also creates a greater sense of security for the family members. The main material for this design is Rammed Earth. The material is very low in embodied energy and is made out of local material, which makes it an environmentally sustainable choice. Furthermore, rammed earth walls with a thickness of at least 30cm provide great protection from the extremes in climates. The thermal mass of the walls makes for a very slow heat/cold penetration and allows the internal temperature to remain stable, with warmer feelings during the winter and cooler in the summer than outside temperatures.
Walls built with rammed earth are non-toxic and non-polluting, which creates safer and people-friendly homes. With the natural, “breathing” walls, the air quality is improved. In addition to that, termites and other pests aren’t concerned with rammed earth and as the walls are load bearing, the amount of termite-friendly timber is low. On top of that, earth doesn’t burn, so the buildings are practically fire proofed. Aluzinc Roofing Sheets has been used for the roof, which consists of aluminum and zinc. These two metallic substances together provide excellent corrosion and abrasion resistance at high temperatures; the barrier effect of the aluminum and the sacrificial protection of zinc. For the floors and roof structure, local wood is used.
Budget in USD
Sector Price
Foundation 1942
Walls 850
Roof 1273
Miscellaneous 243
Fittings 627
Labour 856
Total Cost 5791
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 11:38:52 GMT -6
Design Team: Hannah Bridger, Rosie Evans, Hamish Garry, Lydia Hamer, Seb Maher, Stephen Yiavasis (Wellington, New Zealand)
Site Location: Hypothetical site, specific to the site conditions of the Ashanti region
Construction: Predominantly rammed earth (laterite), with timber framing elements and concrete perimeter foundations and bond beams
Occupants: 3-5 family members
Project Summary
The Problem: Ghanaian domestic architecture is at a crossroads between the use of traditional, and Western architectural models. The emergence of a middle-income socio-economic class of Ghanaians has given rise to a housing need which has not been met with a clear, climatic and culturally appropriate architectural direction. Currently, many middle-class Ghanaians are aspiring to western style homes. The cutting and pasting of Western building techniques into a Ghanaian context gives rise to several issues, which our design seeks to address –
Thermal and acoustic deficiency
Increased embodied energy
Dependence on importation
Lack of response to Ghanaian cultural heritage
Expensive construction
Design Challenge: Our problematic position as designers on the outside without first-hand knowledge of Ghanaian culture, added another layer of complexity to the project. Engaging in the design of an open-source house for repeat production posed the risk of the design becoming repetitive, a stigma that modular housing is often associated with.
Our Response: To address the issues above, we asked:
What could a sustainable architecture for the emerging middle-class in Ghana look like?
How could our design proposition challenge the stigma of repetitive modular housing?
How could our euro-centric and geographically distanced position as designers in New Zealand; a country with a similar period of English colonial influence, benefit our design?
What could make architecture for the people of Ghana less expensive to construct?
From these questions we arrived at three core design priorities:
Use of Local Materials
Using local materials (rammed earth, timber) reduces dependence on importation and materials with high embodied energy, thus allowing for a more sustainable architecture (as well as greater acoustic and thermal performance). Use of local materials also provides opportunities to respond to the architectural heritage of Ghana.
Adaptability
Designing for adaptability allows for an architecture that is dynamic and unique, and so avoids the stigma of repetitive modular housing. This adaptability allows for customisation of space based on the needs of the proposed inhabitants. The active role of the owner/inhabitant in design decisions instils a sense of ownership by connecting the house design to the act of inhabitation.
Simplicity of Construction
An emphasis on simplicity of construction results in low-skilled and owner construction, and therefore greater affordability.
Our Approach: Faced with the dilemma of choosing between traditional or Western architectural models, the people of Ghana have the opportunity to realise an architecture that responds to cultural heritage on the one hand, and allows for innovation and greater quality of life on the other. This holistic principle of balance is the core focus of our design, informing decisions ranging from floor-plan layout to materiality.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 12:28:45 GMT -6
Design Team: Mattis Mussault (London, UK / Stabbestad, Norway)
Objective: Instead of attempting to make a typical Ghanaian habitat I designed this mud house to emphasize the confluence of Western and African culture.
Materials: For this rammed earth and bamboo house, moist earth is poured into a formwork in 15-cm thick layers, and
then compacted by ramming. In comparison with wet loam techniques, rammed earth has a much lower shrinkage ratio and a higher strength. Compared to adobe masonry, rammed earth which is monolithic provides the advantage of longer life.
To avoid extra labor input the following points should be considered:
-boards on both sides must be stiff so that they do not bend outwards while ramming is underway.
-All the parts should be light enough to be carried by two workers.
-Easy vertical and horizontal adjustment of the formwork must be possible.
-Variations of the wall thickness must be controllable within a specified tolerance.
This traditional earth flooring base layer consists of coarse gravel which interrupts capillary action. Above this about 15-cm of loam with a high clay content is rammed in two layers until no cracks appear while drying: this acts as a water barrier. Then a 10-cm-thick layer of straw loam provides thermal insulation, and an additional 4-cm thick layer of straw loam stabilised with cement is added to support heavy loads. As a final layer a 2-cm thick layer of cement mortar with sawdust is recommended and two coats of water glass could be applied while the final layer is still moist. Finally when it is all dry the surface may be waxed.
The flat roof construction is very classical technique: the bamboo beams form the primary elements and the split bamboo canes and branches creates a dense network. On top 15-cm of straw loam is rammed and the final layers consist of clayey loam containing coarse sand. Tiles are then placed so the roof can be walkable.
Four Aspects
Architecture: The tectonic structure with the two bamboo facades shades the west and east rammed earth walls and offers a second shelter allowing access and use of the primary rooftop. Carefully thought construction design and modern horizontal pattern of bamboo of the east and west sides enhance its value. Well protected rammed earth walls stays pretty and maintenance less. With use of
traditional symbols it will be re-accepted by the locals as a precious building material.
Social: The local workforce can quickly be trained working with earth and bamboo and therefore build more houses.
The house offers private and semi private areas and does not act against people’s habits.
Ecology: Low carbon footprint because of the use of local materials that requires low transformations.
Concrete’s negative issues are well know, amongst architects at least, and modern earth researches shows great performances of this material. Governments encourage the development of not only earth but also, at a great scale, bamboo constructions.
Economics: Its a low budget but yet durable design; earth is from the ground and bamboo a growing resource in Ghana. !
Budget
Description Quantity Unit Price Cost
Rammed earth ~100sq m $ 0 local labor
Bamboo canes 150 $ 10 $ 1 500
Corrugated zinc sheets 10 $ 120 $ 1 200
Foundations $ ~500
Clay, sand, cement $ ~150
Tile boxes 10 7 $ 70 $
Doors 4 $ 10 $ 140
Windows 29 $ 10 $ 290
WC, shower, sink 4 $ 30~70 $ ~300
Builders 4 $ 10 $ 1 200
Miscellaneous $ 500
Total $ 4 900
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 12:36:35 GMT -6
ENTRY # 324350545
Design Team: Areen Attari, Shahveer Irani, Wasim Noori and Azeer Attari (Maharashtra, India)
“Like other types of rural architecture in the world, traditional African architecture – designed, lived, and perceived by mortals – exists only through a set of relations with the gods and with nature. This architecture born of profoundly spiritual and productive relations between dweller and dwelling, space and habitat, accommodates sociability and implies the continuous existence of the group. The house, source of inspiration for architects, continues to be hallowed space because it is essential both human and cosmic. Each house reveals itself to be at once a tool, a work of art, and a spiritual space. It is built according to the model of the human body to shelter, protect, receive, revive, and survive; to give aesthetic pleasure, to dream in peace, to create a social terrain, to facilitate communion with ancestors and gods, but also to comply with the forces of nature. A lived-in house is, like adult humanity, apt to procreate – a house in constant evolution. It is a living element the grows and shrinks, that demands regularly looked after, repaired, and care for like a sick person, and dies when allowed to fall into disrepair. The house is neither a means nor an end in itself; it is both constructed space and space of construction – a framework within which, with which, and thanks to which one lives.”
-Vernacular Architecture of West Africa. A World in Dwelling by Jean Paul Bourdier & Trinh T. Minh-ha
Our methodology has been to study the various types of traditional architecture peculiar to a region, history, people, culture, climate etc to develop a true understanding of its context and to use technology to adapt, strengthen, modify and re-vitalize rather than technology to replace.
Township – The design can be adapted to suit several townships in the Ashanti region and not any one township in particular.
THE DESIGN
The design consists of two rooms with attached bathrooms, a common family room, a kitchen, a shop/workspace and a common toilet. The design evolves around two courtyards, has a kitchen garden for urban farming, and also a decentralized wastewater treatment system. The design has evolved on a grid of 11’ x 11’ allowing the opportunity to create variations as long as there is a minimum of two courtyards and the block with the two bedrooms remains constant. The shop/workspace can also be re-arranged to become another bedroom and scope for incremental vertical growth of the building in the future has also been provided. The foundation and walls of the house are made with rammed earth, using a cheap and local shuttering. The floor is also of earth. Bamboo has been used as a ceiling and also in the truss of the sloping roof that has been covered with corrugated metal sheets. Bamboo has also been used as a base for the flat slab made from lime and mud. All the doors and windows are made from timber. Climatic considerations have also been taken care of during the design.
The cost of construction of the building is $5,706
The total area of the design is – 1186 sq ft.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 12:43:39 GMT -6
Design Team: Christa Mueller and Rebecca Wall (Ohio, USA)
We wanted to create a space that both embraced the traditions that the people of Kumasi hold dear as well as transcends the mud house stigma. There are three major factors that guided the design of the mud house. The first is the culture of the people in the Ashanti region. We understand that the people of this region embrace their heritage and their traditions guide their everyday lives. We took care to honor this aspect of the Ashanti region culture. The second factor that guided the design is the vernacular, for the materials, climate consideration and landscaping. We chose rammed earth as our “mud” method because of its use of the on-site earth, it’s long lasting durability which is a factor that’s contributed to the mud house stigma and it’s aesthetic beauty. The timber used is from the local forests to the south of the city. The third factor is the client themselves. We chose to place our mud house in Bomso, the location of a university in Kumasi. Our client is a married professor with two girls. The professor sometimes works from his home as well as offers weekend study sessions. We aimed to create a space that would both work as a space to nurture their children as well as facilitate their lifestyle. “Mudhouses” will no longer be “poor” houses but homes that allow for the comforts that all homeowners seek.
The main materials used are the earth on site, timber from local forests such as Papao and Wawabima, and corrugated metal for the roofing. Other materials include the bathroom and kitchen fixtures, rain barrel, hand pressed brick for the flooring and any electrical hardware. All landscaping is local. Labor would include an electrician, a plumber and a carpenter. All other labor would be family members and students.
Budget in US dollars
Foundation - $448
Walling - $1718
Roofing - $1800
Flooring - $460
Fittings: $600
Miscellaneous - $500
Total - $5,526 (with room for error)
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 22:49:09 GMT -6
ENTRY # 326466137
THE RING HOUSE Design Team: Philipp Dettmer (Munich, Germany)
The idea for the single-family dwelling is a contemporary courtyard building made of local materials, while proofing the beauty and durability of local mud architecture.
HERITAGE & TYPOLOGY
The form of the ring is the contemporary, stream-lined reinterpretation of the Ghana compound forming a protected and private courtyard. The central outdoor space it encloses is used for family life, vegetation, recreation, rituals, privacy buffer and main circulation space.
LOCAL MATERIALS & GENDER EQUALITY
The two main materials, hand-pressed adobe bricks and corrugated metal sheets, are locally sourced, economical and most-frequently used in the area. Using hand-pressed bricks means referring to a tradition in Ghana – men and women collaborating together in this process.
STRUCTURAL SIMPLICITY I - SHEET METAL
The two exterior walls of the ring, being the only load-bearing walls of the house, will have the same distance to each other. By keeping the ring's width at 10 feet, the corrugated metal sheet (12'-0'' x 4'-0'') is structurally independent and self-supporting. Taking full advantage of the structural capacity of corrugated sheet metal, it eliminates the beam structure entirely. A wood structure becomes redundant, the lighter material of the sheet metal facilitates the work overhead. Costs are reduced using less material, fewer trades (no wood nor steel worker), less trained labor and shorter construction periods.
STRUCTURAL SIMPLICITY II - SHIFTED BRICK
In order to make wall openings, the adobe brick is shifted by 1/3 when stacked. While making the openings, the bricks create monumental zig-zag-shaped openings along both exterior load-bearing walls of the ring. Taking maximum advantage of its structural capacity, it avoids the use of an architrave or formwork. Cost are reduced using less material and labor, while conceptually, the purity of (2) materials is maintained.
LIGHT & AIR
The shifted bricks allow to let in sufficient light and air. The amount of openings can be adjusted depending on sun orientation, wind direction, privacy protection, desired light intensity. The multiple window openings, the planted courtyard and the cantilevered roof help to keep the interior spaces cool.
LIGHT, SHADOW & ATMOSPHERE
The window openings vary in size and location depending on use and location, creating an individual pattern on the facades. While the sun projects a lively shadow play during the course of the day, the filtered light inside generates a calm, contemplative atmosphere inside.
SITE UN-SPECIFIC FORM
The form of the house is intentionally site unspecific. Independent to context, the ring relates to all directions equally. Its orientation to sun, wind or access can easily be adjusted via rotation.
SAFETY
The double-walled ring protects its interior spaces and encapsulates an introverted world. The exterior walls consist of shifted bricks with multiple openings whose size does not exceed the width and height of a single brick. Due to the small dimension of the openings, the conventional enclosure method using glass and/or steel bars becomes redundant while complete safety in the building's interiors is provided at all times.
PROGRAMMATIC FLEXIBILITY
The interior walls not being load-bearing, they can be placed as needed, the length, terms, sizes, types locations and quantity of spaces of the interior spaces thus being completely flexible. For example: the amount of bedrooms, the living room size or the integration of additional program such as a home office. The same ring can function as a 1 to 5 bedroom house. The ring house can also offer to include spaces accessed from the exterior by the public, such as a grocery, a shop, an office or any other built-in commercial or manufacturing space. The interior walls can easily be demolished or relocated without effecting the buildings structural integrity as programmatic needs of a family or building owner may change over time.
ORNAMENT & INDIVIDUALISATION
The final layer of the ring's exterior facades is the rain-protective plaster finish made of cement-earth mix. While making a monolithic building, the hand or towel applied plaster has a long tradition to become the decorative element that embellishes the building while differentiating it from others.
BUDGET
I. Foundation $ 1.505,08
II. Walling $ 716,00
III. Plumbing $ 335,80
IV. Roofing $ 2.424,00
V. Miscellaneous $ 798,00
Total $ 5.778,88
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 23:12:43 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 23:14:04 GMT -6
ENTRY # 327811207
  Design Team: Anne Schakel (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
This design is clear and simple, with respect for local traditions. The building uses local materials and is specific suited for the climate in Ghana. With simple materials, tools and solutions this house can be build together with the community and has the possibility to be transformed and redesigned according to the requirements of the family.
The walls are made with earth bags or superadobe as developed by Nader Khalili and the Cal-earth institute. This is a strong, cheap and easy way to build and everyone can help, besides that it is a proven technology and is tested to be earthquake resistant. Thanks to the shape of the building there are no additional supporting structures necessary. The roof is made from a different material to allow the wind to blow through. The roof is made from timber and covered with clay tiles, which are produced in Ghana and are a lot more sustainable and make less sound than the conventional metal sheets. The shape, orientation and layout of the design are made in harmony with the climate. There is a lot of room for air to blow through, both in the building and under the roof.
One of the benefits of building with earth is the different atmospheres the material can be. With a different color or finish the feeling changes and this means there is a variety of possibilities to create your dream home.
Costs:
Walls (made of superadobe earthbags)
Amount of wall = 100 m long x 3 m high x 0,375 m width (size of the bags)
The height of the bags is 0,128 m so we need 3 /0,128 = 23 rows of bags
The length of the bags is 0,509 m so we need 100/0,509 = 196 bags per row
In total, this means we need 23 * 196= 4605 bags. The price per bag is estimated at $0,10 so the material costs are 4605 * 0,10 = $ 437,44
The barbed wire in-between is calculated like this: length of wall (100 m) * amount of rows (23) * 1,15 = 2695 meters. The price per meter is about $0,09 so the material costs for the barbed wire is $242,58
The used sand is paid per ton, and we need about 230 tons. With a price of $3,58 per ton, this means the price will be $824,23.
The total material costs for the walls is $2680,02
Roof (made of clay tiles)
The supporting structure to build the roof and lay the tiles on top is made out of wood. This wood has a length of 300 m, with a price of $6,58 per meter this means: $1973,68.
The roof has a surface of 18 * 13 m = 234 sq m big. The price for a sq meter tile is $0,20 so the price for the tiles is $46,80
Total material costs for the roof is $ 2020,48
Elements
In the design there are several elements:
7 Windows of $25,- each = $175,-
5 Doors of $30,- each = $150,-
2 Toilets of $65,- each= $130,-
2 Washing bin of $32 each = $64,-
1 Shower of $50,- = $50,-
3 Ceiling fans of $10,- = $30,-
1 Kitchen of $800,- = $800,-
Total costs for the elements= $ 1399,-
Labour
The amount of man hour is calculated as 1/3 of the total costs or in other words with the factor 0.33, which is a fare amount according to different references.
1600 hours of man-hour * ($10 / 8 hour per day) = $2000,-
Total: $2680,02 + $ 2020,48 + $ 1399,- +$ 2000 = $6099,50
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 23:22:56 GMT -6
ENTRY # 327779927
  
Kokuromotie House
Design Team: Ben Johnson (California, USA)
No one should have to watch their home crumble to the ground. No one should feel cramped, unsafe, or unhappy. The home is meant to better the individual, the family, and the community before, during and after the construction process. The home is meant to instill cooperation – or kokuromotie – in everyone. The site is situated in Kuntanase, a small town 25 kilometers southeast of Kumasi and 10 kilometers away from Lake Bosomtwe – Ghana’s only natural lake. The house sits within the 30 by 40 feet area on a rammed earth foundation while staying within the allotted 60 by 60 foot plot. Kuntanase, like other regions in Ghana, is filled with cocoa farms – the country’s main cash crop. Over half of the population is employed by crop farms 1, yet there are illegal miners in cocoa farms draining water from the lake to wash soil particles 2. Cocoa production is both helping and harming the Ashanti region and Ghana overall. The Kokuromotie House can become a national symbol to raise awareness of the dilemma and motivate people to improve the status of cocoa farms while promoting contemporary mud design.
The Wall: The cocoa bean is used to produce chocolate, which is where the original design of the wall stems from. Yes. Chocolate. Two, rammed earth walls swirl inward toward one another, representing the merging of materials from two seemingly different worlds: the cocoa beans farmed in Ghana and the cocoa powder and butter made in European countries and the United States. Similar to the ingredients combining to make chocolate, the walls spiral together, pulling people from the outer courtyard and inner rooms toward the center – the hearth – where family and guests can come together to share a meal. Although the walls are made of rammed earth, long strips of caged rocks are inserted within the lower layers of the exterior walls. This allows southwestern air to slip through the kitchen and bedroom walls, rise with the pitched roof, and cool the occupants in the process. Using the free mud and rocks, along with the wire needed for caging, diversifies the tasks needed for construction. Everyone’s help comes together to make a sleek, breathable wall and thus promotes the idea of the house – cooperation.
The Roof: Most places in Ghana rain for about 70% of the year. Although zinc-corrugated roofs are common in many townships, they create loud noises during rainfall and can radiate heat into the home when exposed to the sun, making the space feel cramped, unsafe, or unhappy. Enter: earth reel construction. Earth reel construction uses locally available materials and labor while absorbing the heat from the sun and the sound from the rain. The reels are made by wrapping long grasses with a clay-like soil around a wooden spindle, which are then pressed against each other between timber purlins when still wet. Mud slurry is then poured on top to cover cracks that may have occurred after the reels have dried. The roof structure used would be similar to the successful shelter designed by Karolina and Wayne Switzer, participants of the Nka Foundation’s “10×10 Shelter Challenge”. The roof labor can be divided into several tasks that, in cooperation with everyone else, will yield a sustainable structure families of Ghana can be proud to have built and call their home. Their kokuromotie home.
Budget Foundation + Walling: $1500 Roofing: $2500 Fittings: $200 Miscellaneous: $200
Total: $4400
Sources
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 23:25:45 GMT -6
Design Team: Christopher Mathew and Sharmeen khan (Mumbai, India)
The Mud House project is not merely about designing a shelter for a single-family unit but there is far more to it. The entire design process was critically analyzed as a result of which, cost effectiveness, durability, techniques, materials, sustainability and the bigger picture of how it will benefit the community, were the factors that resulted in our overall design. The idea is to build using simple techniques which resulted in affordable housing.
The design fulfills the basic requirement of the family. The house is planned on a grid which offers the flexibility to expand in future. There is a living area, cooking and washing area, sleeping area and utility area. A front porch, is a semi-open space which can be a place for friendly meetings or working during the day. The living area opens to the backyard of the house. Keeping in mind the hierarchy of the spaces and the privacy requirement the living is more or less an open space, therefore the space will always have the potential to transform into any desired space. It will also be well-lit and well-ventilated. The cooking area has an extended semi-open washing area. Since the washing area will always be cooler, it will in turn keep the cooking area cooler as well. The sleeping area is on the farthest part of the house so as to maintain its privacy.
Building Construction
Normally the cost of foundation is about 10 to 15% of the total cost of the building. Using arch foundation can bring down the cost by upto 40% over the normal open foundation. As the requirement of steel is less, the concrete required is also less. Slabs are lighter and thus the load transmitted to the foundation is also less. This type of foundation helps in bridging the loose pockets of soil that occur along the foundation. For the construction purpose, stabilized compressed earth blocks are considered. These blocks are made of mud stabilized with 5% cement/lime and compacted in a block making machine with no burning. A good walling as burnt brick and is economical, stronger, energy saving and simple to manufacture. Unlike conventional methods, abundant use of bricks and mortar can be avoided by using the rat trap bond. This is a normal wall made with invisible cavities that not only saves 20% of bricks and mortar but also the cavities provide an excellent insulation. It allows putting the electricity conduits through the cavities which further helps in reducing the cost. This construction is aesthetically pleasing and hence plastering can be avoided.
The most important feature of our design is the Jali. Jali is one of India’s oldest methods of letting in to a building filtered light and ventilation and at the same time maintains privacy and security. A jail can work as panels or as a complete load bearing wall. Therefore, using jail system diminishes the cost of making windows as well as construction of chajja’s for the house. The main purpose of using bamboo for roofing is that it has no disastrous effect on nature. Compared to the other roofing materials, bamboo is cheap to buy, process and maintain and is easily available. The advantage of using bamboo over timber for trusses is that the cost of wastage and sawing is eliminated. Hence, from the points of view of economy, strength characteristics and environmental acceptability, the use of bamboo can be far more appropriate for building construction than the use of timber. Large bamboo makes great roofing. Splitting vertically and lay alternatively.
Majority of the houses in Ghana use corrugated zinc roof. But we are suggesting an excellent alternative, corrugate bamboo sheets. They are environment friendly and are way better in terms of performance. They are quieter in rain and cooler in the sun than the conventional metal sheets. They are durable with excellent internal bond strength and high resistance to weathering, fire or insect attacks. The corrugated bamboo sheets have long term social impact in terms of income generating opportunities for the communities. They may be involved in all stages of the production. It is labour oriented and develops small-scale industries and therefore could improve the social and cultural conditions of the communities. Weaving bamboo mats (that is one stage of production), in spare time can be a great source of income for women. The environmental benefits of bamboo are beneficial for soil conservation, rehabilitation of degraded land, water regulation and capturing CO2.
We believe the design has a great potential to grow into a community. The methods suggested by us are efficient in every way. This project will give an opportunity to the community to come together and learn new and simple techniques which can be very conveniently used for construction of various other types of built forms. To learn and master the construction style can be a challenge but will be very beneficial in the long run. The design is simple and flexible when developed in to a hamlet will set a beautiful example for the communities because of the big central courtyard created by the single-unit design. This central courtyard will bring the communities together and help them grow.
Costing
Total Carpet Area: 1253 sq.ft
Total Built-up Area: 1443.2 sq.ft
Roofing: Approximately $650
Sanitation & Sewage: $220
Walling using Low-cost CEB @ $.023
Wall area = 2042.5 No. Of Bricks = 17361.25
Therefore, Walling construction= 17361*0.23 = $3993.08
Balance can be counted for labour, cement & sand and machinery
Foundation: $630
Miscellaneous: $200
Total Construction cost: $5693.08
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 23:33:05 GMT -6
ENTRY # # 327654461
SOMA-HOUSE
Design Team: Steven Newton and Zabie Mustafa (New Jersey/New York, USA)
The focus behind this project is to blend the cultural lifestyle of indigenous African culture with modern luxury and sustainability. Formally, the building is created through the study of the courtyard condition found in traditional Asante houses. The interior spaces of the building are separated volumes that are linked together by a central open space. An added challenge of the project is to incorporate the natural lifestyle of the native population in an architecture that both embraces connectivity to nature and evolves in the natural environment. This idea of nature being brought into an enclosed space provided the language necessary to construct the rooms and influence their organization.
The house is comprised of four separated volumes linked by a single roof that provides both sun-shading and protection from rain. The region of Ghana generally receives around 1,270 mm of rainfall annually. The average daily temperature is around 27 degrees Celsius. The roof is separated from the structure of the exterior walls to provide a gap allowing natural ventilation and wind to cool the interior spaces. The rooms are organized into two categories, living space and private space. The living spaces are more open in configuration providing plenty of natural light and air for communal activities. The private spaces are shaded and constructed with more opaque walls to create a more intimate experience. These spaces are all organized around a central open space.
The central courtyard acts as the primary facilitator in the occupant’s connectivity to nature and the main circulation path of the house. The large opening in the ceiling collects rain water and provides an ideal habitat for vegetation to grow below. The open layout of the floor plan encourages outdoor family activity that further increases the occupant’s proximity to nature and provides a communal setting. Family is very important in Ghana and is generally regarded as the primary source of identity, loyalty, and responsibility. Familiar obligations are regarded as the most important of all aspects of life. Several smaller courtyards are also present in the house’s organization.
A secondary courtyard is provided at the entrance to the house. This space creates an ideal environment for private gardening and relaxation. A pergola is constructed adjacent to the kitchen to create natural shade but also provide an ideal space for gardening activities. An extruded earth bench is also present to create a comfortable space beneath the vegetation for reflection.
A smaller courtyard tucked away from the entrance of the children’s bedrooms provides a relaxing space with visibility through small openings in the earth wall. The openings along the façade act as both shading and ventilating elements. They are constructed through the use of hay bales inserted into the rammed earth walls during the construction phase. The bales are then burnt after the earth walls harden and provide further stiffness to the area of the openings. What’s left is a natural means of creating an efficient sun-shading system that also provides interesting lighting projections throughout the day.
“He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature” - Socrates
BUDGET
Excavation: $4.00 cubic yd, 13 cu yd = $52
Sand Aggregate: $100.00 truckload
Sand: $60.00 truckload
Heavy wood beam per linear ft: $2 each = $720.00
Roof joists per linear ft: $1 each = $2,100.00
Cement Bag: $10.00 each, 10 units = $100.00
Doors: $10.00 each, 5 units = $50.00
1 W.C seat: $65.00
Washing Basin: $32.00 each, 2 units = $64.00
Fixture Kitchen Sink: $32.00
Plumbing Misc Fixtures and Equipment: $100.00
1-frame, 8 blade window: $7 each, 4 units = $28.00
Electrical Misc Fixtures and Equipment: $100.00
Hardware Misc Fixtures: $50.00
Louver 5 blade frame: $3.50 each, 4 units = $14.00
Louver Blade: $0.30 each, 20 units = $6.00
Wire Mesh Bundle: $60.00 each, 2 units = $120
Floor Tiles: $7.00 box, 4 boxes = $28.00
Bug Net: $44.00 each, 2 units = $88.00
Corrugated Metal Zinc Roof: $1700.00
Building Material Cost: $5,577.00
LABOR
Skilled Laborer: $10 per day, 1 person, 14 days = $140
Unskilled Laborer: $7 per day, 3 people, 14 days = $294
Community Aid: $0.00
Labor Cost = $434.00
Total Building Cost: $6,011.00
Submission has been priced according to Ghana commodity pricing through our extensive research and to the best of our knowledge.
*This budget is to be verified by a construction expert and subject to change.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 23:41:35 GMT -6
ENTRY # 324034671
Design Team: Patricia Báscones Gutiérrez and Lara Briz Bejerano (Madrid, Spain)
Set in the context of Ghana, nowadays only heavy concrete and cement are the building materials of choice. As an integral part of a wider strategy, this project merges a sustainable mud house prototype along with the vernacular communal courtyard typology. In a proud culture such as Ghana, preaching a new form of building to the construction sector is riddled with problems. This rematerialisation of a construction industry and subsequent demand aims to encourage the physical use of earth in the Ghanaian construction sector, a material with wider ecological benefits. The material properties of earth provide new design opportunities and affords an assembly logic which intends to communicate a parallel understanding of earth’s application beyond the building site.
The house occupies a site in the city of Kumasi, in a middle-class neighbourhood. Surrounded by neighbour plots and with direct access to the street on the front. Kumasi city is characterised by detached, low-rise houses set on a raised platform, and the house owes to the simplicity of a traditional compound house and the concept of an adaptive architecture than any local style. The tropical climate is exploited in the planting of the garden and water harvesting, while the deep overhang of the roof offers protection from the sun and heavy rains.
The configuration of the plan allows a flexible design that can be adapted to different family circumstances, both number of members and occupation. Organised on a single level, the house is positioned so that a private gated entrance leads into the grand internal courtyard, around which a series of earth boxes is articulated. These boxes set the thermal mass and main support for the wooden trusses of the roof structure. Sustainable design principles are at the heart of the architectural approach. The main material used is rammed earth, following the traditional method of construction.
A zinc-roof is designed for optimum natural ventilation, and to collect rainwater for treatment and reuse. Geometric rills cut into the earth walls during construction introduce light and ventilation as allow saving costs in frames; its treatment throughout varies in depth, width and height result in different levels of privacy and therefore define uses for different parts of the house. The main living areas are raised above compressed earth blocks which allow air flow coming from the outside to cool down before entering the room throughout the space between the floor tiles. The central courtyard is surrounded by climbing creepers that also refresh the atmosphere.
Overall, our mud house might be regarded as a mini manifesto for earth architecture, not just in Kumasi but in other parts of the country too. Contrary to the abuse of concrete as a building material, that raises the cost and therefore the poverty of so many expanding communities, it shows how new earthen buildings can be inserted into the existing frame at increased densities, while sustaining traditional building techniques and preserving the natural environment.
Budget in USD
Zinc roof: $2000
Concrete + stablished earth foundations: $1200
Concrete crown beam: $350
Timber: $1200
Plumbing: $147
Compressed clay tiles: $600
Straw roof: $300
Total: $5957
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 3, 2014 23:59:27 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 4, 2014 0:01:31 GMT -6
ENTRY # 306852709
mini-maxi-mud-house-module
Design Team: Maria Doyle (Berlin, Germany)
Our contemporary mud house is a building consisting of modules on a 3 x 3 meter grid (= ca. 9 ft) - the design proposal is independent of a particular plot. The building materials are -wherever possible- sourced locally, the type of building based on traditional methods.
The local benefit is maximised whilst the environmental impact is minimised. Our mud home identifies with the Ashanti way of living and encourages individual usage and the implementation of local building know-how. The modular design allows for a home which can grow along with the needs and means of the owners- the final version (largest module) has an area of 1276 square feet . The design picks up upon local colours, patterns and the many facets of living such as cooking, washing, resting as well as social exchange and trade.
Within the modular home grid there is scope to personalise the design through local and individual expressions in the modelling and decoration of the mud walls and built-in furniture. Our design proposal can be seen as a collection of ideas to develop further- a universal grid with examples of elements built into it. Within the limitations set by plot size, building budget, availability of local building materials, individual spatial and functional needs- a suitable combination of modules can be realized. This modular mud house also enables gradual enlargement over time. The basic module (Mini) of 3 x 3 x 3 m, consists of three parts: a kitchen (3 x 3 m), a bathroom (3 x 3 m) and a living space (3 x 3 m).
We have presented the following possible extensions to the basic Mini module:
Miniplus module: Mini module extended with one additional living space (3 x 3 m) and one additional courtyard (2 x 3 x 3 m). Our drawing shows an example of an open courtyard which can provide shade.
Miniplusplus module: Miniplus module extended with one additional living space (3 x 3 m) and one additional courtyard (2 x 3 x 3 m). Our drawing shows an example of a semi-open courtyard which can provide shade.
Maxi module: Miniplusplus module extended with a semi-public zone (3 x 3 x 3 m). Our drawing shows an example of a closed courtyard which can provide shade and the semi-public zone which can have a solid roof.
Maxiplus module: Maxi module extended with an upper level resting or storage zone (2 x 3 x 3 m).
The building materials for our mud house are listed in the costing estimate for Maxiplus below. The sum of 5.000$ can be reached by leaving the courtyard space open, i.e. building less walls to the courtyard or leaving away the roof over the semi-public area. In the costing we have assumed that 10$ is the price of one cement sack of 25 kg.
Cost estimate for MaxiPlus:
Area 126 m2 1276 sq.ft
MATERIAL unit price total
Foundations:
concrete strip on the 3 x 3 m grid 1293 ft3
concrete 215 bag $10 $2.150
sand 1 truck $60 $60
gravel 2 truck $100 $200 $2.410
Groundfloor:
earth filled in between concrete strip foundations 807 ft2 included in labour
floor plastering with earth, water and cement 807 ft2 included in labour
Structural external walls:
rammed earth 5043 ft3 included in labour
mud plastering 3074 ft2 included in labour
Pergola structure:
local wood, e.g. Mangotree 194 ft2 included in labour
Built-in furniture, i.e. resting area, working area kitchen:
earth bags or rammed earth 95 ft3 included in labour
Internal division wall showerroom:
burnt bricks, regional size and mortar 151 ft2 $1,50 $226 $226
External and internal division and shading screen:
local wooden sticks structure with networkof thinner sticks and straws included in labour
Roofstructure:
king trusses of local wood, e.g. Mangotree 289 ft $2,00 $577
ridge beam of local wood, e.g. Mangotree 108 ft $1,00 $108
beam along top of external wall 197 ft $1,00 $197
purlins / braces 532 ft $1,00 $532 $1.414
Roofcovering:
Corrugated steel sheet 861 ft2 $1,00 $861 $861
Loft floor
Timber structure 118 ft $2,00 $236
Plywood floor 172 ft2 $0,25 $43
Steps/Ladder 2 pc $15,00 $30 $309
Screen Wall included in labour
Building Elements
Doors 4 pc $10,00 $40
Window Screens 3 pc $10,00 $30 $70
Wire Mesh 1 pc $60,00 $60
Bug net 1 pc $44,00 $44 $104
WC 1 pc $65,00 $65
Washing basin 1 pc $32,00 $32
Washroom Fittings 1 pc $50,00 $50
Sink 1 pc $32,00 $32 $179
Labour $/day days
2 tradesman 10 40 $800
2 labourers 7 40 $560 $1.360
Total Budget Amount $6.934
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 4, 2014 0:19:28 GMT -6
ENTRY # 321999921
RAMMING VISIONS
Design Team: Celentano Giulia, Marcheggiano Laura and Sémon Pauline, architects (Italy / Austria)
Challenge of the project is the design of a one-family house, as contemporary reinterpretation of disregarded vernacular constructions in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Earthen architecture is based on ancient tradition but exhibits great deficits in its technical and aesthetic development: a strong architectural language combined with skilled technical design is therefore the key to inspiration, renewed interest and trust of local population in this building material. These premises result in the choice of rammed-earth, both as massive technique with structural functions and untreated surface, expressing in its esthetical aspects the way it is executed.
The architectural model chosen for the housing unit with additional upstairs sleeping area, defines two different kind of space: on the north side of the house, rammed earth walls enclose a quite cosy unit (hosting two bedrooms and a bathroom), that generates an intimate and secure atmosphere. The rhythm of the big living room and kitchen is instead beaten by one-direction oriented earth walls, which intentionally establish a strong connection with the outer terrace, the facing street and the garden on the back. This dialog is enhanced by the choice of evenly distributing the living space around a patio, conceived as as semi-private outdoor paved space to be used for cooking or do the laundry, while providing room for storage and for a water tank in case of lack of running water.
The design of the 112 sqm habitable surface is based on achieving the highest level of flexibility: contrasting with the monolithic earth walls, light sliding partitions allow physical changes and generate potential for adaptability to different family needs and activity patterns. For instance, the small bedroom facing east is designed to eventually host a studio, a workshop or to be rent to unrelated, while the patio could be partially closed and be used as a small family run shop.
Rain forest climate implies the choice of a big roof as protection from natural adverse weather conditions. The east facing monopitch roof lays on earth walls, which are the backbone, the cornerstone, the main support of the project. Its construction detail might be read as an upgraded version of the usual local technique: a double wooden framework bears the load of a corrugated zinc sheets roof, thermally and acoustically insulated by an earth-straw filling. The direction of the slope, complemented by the choice of light, breathing eastern and western facades, opens the building to the garden, establishing a strong relationship with outdoor spaces. In order to allow a total recyclability of the earth mixture, avoid unnecessary use of nonlocal and fired cement and have the possibility the retouch eventual damages with the same material, we chose an unstabilised earth mixture. The strength of the walls in fact, results from compaction and interlocking of stones with a homogenous grain size distribution and clay.
Unstabilised Rammed-earth façade requires physical protection from weather; concrete courses are therefore rammed every six layers of earth directly in the formwork: in case of strong driving rain, the courses slow down the flow of water on the façade and consequently reduce the erosion. We deliberately chose to use just one earth construction technique and unfold it in its many different declinations, in order to show its potentials and functions: the parallel running partitions play therefore with extrusions, different thicknesses, perforations, recesses and niches. The staircase construction meaningfully contributes to illustrate the concept: 8cm thick all-wood treads are inserted in lost formworks in the earth wall, which directly supports them, creating a self-standing autonomous structure, core of the living room.
BUDGET
2 skilled workers x 25 gg – $500
2 unskilled workers x 25 gg –$ 350
12 unskilled helpers (workshop/community/household) - 0
1 truck gravel – $80
1 truck sand – $60
Concrete footings – $1000
corrugated zing sheet – $1200
4x8' playwood (mezzanine possible finishing + ceiling inner finishing + sliding partitions etc) – $321
load bearing beams – $618
2x2” timber elements x 3.6m (roofing + mezzanine )– $183
earth (unstabilized load bearing walls + compacted earth floor) – 0
straw/agricultural leftovers (roof insulation)– 0
formwork building material (raw timber) – $80
framing lumber (E/W facade) - $1096
bug net – $40
WC unit – $65
washin basin - $32
toilet facilities – $30
others - $200
TOTAL = $5855
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 4, 2014 0:22:54 GMT -6
Design Team: Ângela Pinto, Catarina Sousa and Joana Lacerda
Materials Description
Foundation: stone and earth;
Floor: cement, wood beams and slabs of raw wood to coat the structure;
Walls: mud bricks made from local earth (mixed with water and whitewash);
Roof: structural wooden beams coated by sheets of corrugated zinc;
Interior walls of the sleeping area: bamboo sticks( which allow a greater ventilation and lighting of the spaces);
Doors: raw wood frame and wood veneer;
Windows: raw wood frames and shutters of bamboo canes;
Living room windows: raw wood shutters with bamboo canes (with metal hinges that allow to open and fully close the façade);
W.C: floor and walls lined with slate boards;
Hennery: adobe bricks and metallic grid;
Budget USD
4 non skilled workers _1260.00$
Mud _ 0.00$
Whitewash_69.76$
Rocks_0.00$
Cement (50kg bags)_80.00$
Wood beams_80.00$
Wooden floor_1500.40$
Adobe bricks_1350.20$
Bamboo canes_800$
Wooden structure (roof)_159.00$
Sheets of corrugated iron_120.00$
Doors frame_80.00$
Windows frame_70.00$
Metallic grid_60.00$
Plywood_60.00$
Slate (wc walls and floor)_264.00$
Washbasin_32$
Toilet_65$
Shower_30$
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 4, 2014 0:37:06 GMT -6
ENTRY # 328 435 285
EJISU EARTH HOUSE
Design Team: Jason Orbe-Smith (Los Angeles, USA)
Ejisu Earth House is a family home that blends contemporary design with Ghana's cultural identity. The home is located in the semi-urban outskirts of the town of Ejisu, Ghana at the edge of the expanding urban streets and the lush native forests. The house presents a possibility for creating structures made out of earth that can be beautiful and modern for a family in contemporary society.
Ejisu Earth House is a contemporary reflection of Ghana’s unique traditional vernacular heritage. A study of historical buildings in Ghana presents a visual tapestry of looming mud castles, dynamic building masses and clustered mud dwellings where public and private lives are enveloped within the thick earthen walls. Evocative paintings and motifs often illustrate the facades of these structures while elaborate carvings and details delight the building's play in shadow and light. Ejisu Earth House takes these traditional ideas and develops them in a contemporary way that engages both technology and the unique contextual elements found in Ghana.
The massing of the home responds to the composition of traditional structures by breaking apart into four smaller components that are built using rammed-earth. These small volumes allow the house to take full advantage of the sunlight, warmth and natural environment found in Ghana. The four components are arranged around a central courtyard that is free and open to the sky. The rooms transition the house through four zones: the public street front and porch, the semi-public living area and kitchen, the semi-private exterior courtyard and the private individual rooms.
Each room has an immediate connection to nature by opening their doors onto an exterior courtyard and allowing the interior living areas to spill out into the site and landscape. The arrangement of the volumes on the site create privacy within the courtyard without creating a dark and heavy box enclosed with walls. The courtyard becomes a quiet and bright sanctuary for the family to enjoy. As the family changes and grows, the building adapts with them as additional rooms can be easily added to the home and connected to the courtyard without affecting the existing structure. This allows the Ejisu Earth House to be constantly evolving and growing along with the family.
The home further draws on Ghana's culture through a visual study of the Adinkra symbols found throughout the Ashanti region. Through a series of contemporary computer abstractions these are introduced into the project as striations and pixelations. The striation becomes a pattern for mixing white paint into the rammed earth walls in order to create a layered, stacked composition. The rammed earth process will also invariably add irregularities to the stripes. The pixelation becomes another layer of texture on the building, creating a pattern for the window openings and indentations that unify the project. In this way the Ejisu Earth House blends both the traditional imagery with current technology without replicating the historical figures. Instead, the project imbues current technology with the idiosyncratic, unusual and playful qualities of the Adinkra paintings.
The home is a rammed earth structure and the primary building material is dirt. Simple green roofs improve the longevity of the structure while providing thermal massing for the heat and water circulation for the rain. The home is raised off of the ground to improve flood control and create a delineation between public and private ground. Due to the simple materials with the majority of it being local earth, the building can be built with a modest budget, estimated at $3,500 in materials and $600 in labor.
Ejisu Earth House is a contemporary family home that can serve as an example of a beautiful, ecologically sensitive building that is integrated within its contextual, natural and built environments.
PRELIMINARY BUDGET
BUILDING MATERIALS
12 ft Bamboo Lengths: $0.48 each, 120 Pieces = $57.60
Bug Net: $44.00 each, 3 units = $132.00
Cement Bag: $10.50 each, 8 units = $84.00
Doors: $10.00 each, 14 units = $140.00
Electrical Misc Fixtures and Equipment: $100.00
Fixture Kitchen Sink: $32.00
Fixture WC Seat: $65.00
Fixture Washing Basin: $32.00
Fixture Washroom Fittings: $50.00
Glass Panels in Doors: $8.00 each, 12 units = $96.00
Glass Window Panes: $4.00 each, 18 units = $72.00
Hardware Misc Fixtures: $50.00
Louver 5 Blade Frame: $3.50 each, 3 units = $10.50
Louver Blade: $0.30 each, 15 units = $4.50
Fill Dirt: $4.00 cubic yd, 225 cu yd = $900.00
Floor Tiles: $7.00 box, 4 boxes = $28.00
Framing Lumber: $1.00 per ft, 400 ft = $400.00
Framing Heavy Lumber: $2.00 per ft, 120 ft = $240.00
Paint: $4.00 gallon, 100 gallons = $400.00
Plumbing Misc Fixtures and Equipment: $100.00
Plywood 4’ x 8’: $8.00 each, 26 units = $208.00
Sand: $60.00 truckload
Sand Aggregate: $100.00 truckload
Wire Mesh Bundle: $60.00 each, 2 units = $120.00
Building Material Subtotal: $3,481.60
LABOR
Skilled Labor: 2 people $10.00 per day, 14 days = $280.00
Unskilled Labor: 3 people $7.00 per day, 14 days = $294.00
Family members and Friends = $0.00
Labor Subtotal: $574.00
Total Building Cost: $4,055.00
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 4, 2014 0:50:22 GMT -6
Design Team: Dominic Yik and Shawn Xiaoyun Wang (USA)
The traditional Ashanti buildings, built out of mud, timber and thatched roofs, are a celebration of the authenticity and cultural heritage of the Asante civilization. I am particularly interested in the distinct layers of the houses in relation to their corresponding functions: Red-painted foundations and steps packed with traditional motifs, elevating the white walls above which just sit under a thatched roof ‘hat’.
Few of these houses have survived deterioration caused by high humidity and insect attacks, and one wonders if the traditional house typology can be re-invented by a shift of the different house layers, equipped with modern technologies. The central courtyard of the houses have nurtured a rich mix of cultural festivities which the civilization values greatly.
With reference to the module chapters of Anne Baeyens’s dissertation ‘Kumasi, Ghana’, it is considered that the middle class is in need of a new house module. A middle class family with increasing household income will no longer be satisfied with the settings of the compound houses, craving for space, comfort and security. The ‘villa’ module for the rich however is a bad example, for its defensive formation creates long, dead streets which hinders the development of a healthy residential community. By merging 3 standard 60 x 60 feet house plots from the brief into one shared plot, it opens up a set of new opportunities to each middle class family: A combined central courtyard will have the sufficient capacity for all sorts of festivities to take place. Joined household resources, together with support from local Golden Stool Chieftains can finance initiatives which were considered inviable to one family.
Each 3-house development must adopt one of the three initiatives: Environmental, Business or Cultural. Each single family will provide an equal share of financial / material contribution to the initiative and in return the local Golden Stool Chieftain will also contribute an equal share. The idea behind which is to ensure that the new residential towns have the vital resources to develop sustainably, encourage local business whilst preserve local cultural heritage. The imaginary site is a ‘slummy’ compound house (See Baeyan’s ‘Kumasi, Ghana’, page 62) which is currently derelict. The site will be cleared and developed into the first 3-house plot as an exemplar residential development for the Fumesua town. This development has adopted the Environmental initiative by facilitating rainwater collection systems and a domestic biogas plant.
Estimated Budget
Item Material Quantities Cost ($ USD)
Foundation Concrete (Trenches only) 45 sqm 1500
Walling Rammed Earth 0 (Local material)
Partitioning 0 (Local material)
Roofing Zinc roof 210 sqm 240
Structure rafters and beams 220 m 700
Fittings Doors 4 180
Windows 4 90
Miscellaneous Fixtures (plumbing, electrical, etc.) n/a 500
Local labour (builders) 4 persons for 6 months 2400
Local labour (To be trained as Rammed earth wall instructor) 1 person for 2 months 200
Transport n/a 500
TOTAL 6310
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 4, 2014 1:02:29 GMT -6
SANKOFA HOUSE
Design Team: M.A.M.O.T.H (Manuel Aldeguer, Mathieu Fauve, Kristel Pelliet and Dorian Vauzelle (Montpellier, France)
Reinventing the mud house is a subject that involves rediscovering and reinterpreting symbols, qualities and techniques of traditional Ashanti architecture. Here, contemporary design is inspired by the architecture of Ashanti palace and by the pragmatism of popular house, simple and practical. This particular architecture is recognizable by its thatched steep roofs, its plastered walls, its decorative ornaments and its large base which highlights all. Not only cultural, this typology is a response to the various constraints of a tropical climate. The steep fiber roof minimizes surfaces exposed to sunlight and heat. It also ease discharging heavy rainwater. Ashanti house, like most modern compound houses, are all organized around a courtyard, which offers a private outdoor space and allows natural cross ventilation of the house.
Like the Sankofa symbol, meaning «return and get it», the Sankofa House is a reinterpretation of traditional architecture that uses local and affordable materials and local labor. The Sankofa House is a project that promotes a constructive system that meets the climate constraints of Ghana, easy to implement by local workers. The Sankofa House is a single family unit composed of two volumes connected by a courtyard and a «pato» which is an outdoor covered area dedicated to social activities of the family.
Based on the needs and means of the family the house can be built step by step. The owners may decide to build one building or several, connected or not by a double skin roof. Because in classic Ghanaian urbanism, homes are rarely adjoined, the challenge is to work with continuous envelope which unifies the different modules. Adobes walls are insulated from the outside by a timber frame filled with a straw and clay mix. Uprights of the frame create a pattern on the facade that can be plastered with different coatings.
Designed from a traditional heritage with contemporary solutions, the project is designed simple and sustainable promoting local bio-sourced materials and their aesthetic and technical qualities. The traditional typology of courtyard house offers a private outdoor area, shaded and well ventilated. The height under the roof provides good air circulation. The heat is evacuated by a roof rack system.
A double skin roof made of natural fibers provides shadows and acts as a filter. Two metallic gutters are placed between the roofs to collect rainwater which can be easily stocked in a tank in the courtyard.
This element reminds the old traditional Ashanti architecture, creating a remarquable skyline in the Ghanaian landscape.
BUDGET
N° Work designation Units Quantity Unit prices /USD Prices /USD Total prices /USD
FON FOUNDATIONS AND BASES 1546
FON.1 Blinding concrete house A m3 2 60,0 120
FON.1.2 Blinding concrete house B m3 1,7 60,0 102
FON.1.3 Blinding concrete pato m3 0,6 60,0 36
FON.2.1 Foundations and Base made of stones and concrete house A m3 16 30,0 480
FON.2.2 Foundations and Base made of stones and concrete house B m3 17,5 30,0 525
FON.2.3 Foundations and Base made of stones and concrete pato m3 6,5 30,0 195
FON.3.1 Damp Proof Course house A m2 20 2,0 40
FON.3.2 Damp Proof Course house B m2 17,5 2,0 35
FON.3.3 Damp Proof Course pato m2 6,5 2,0 13
FON.LAB 2 WEEKS 0,0
3 LABORER + 1 MASON 0,0
WAL WALLING 3980
MAS.1.1 Masonry of Adobes house A m2 90 15,0 1350
MAS.1.2 Masonry of Adobes house B m2 70 15,0 1050
MAS.1.3 Masonry of Adobes pato m2 25 15,0 375
WAT.2.1 Watlle and daub house A m2 35 20,0 700
WAT.2.2 Watlle and daub house B m2 17,25 20,0 345
WAT.2.3 Watlle and daub pato m2 8 20,0 160
WAL.LAB 4 WEEKS 0,0
4 LABORER + 2 MACON 0,0
ROO ROOFING 2648
ROO.1.1 Insulated corrugated zinc roof house A m2 180 8,0 1440
ROO.1.2 Insulated corrugated zinc roof house B m2 135 8,0 1080
ROO.1.3 Simple corrugated zinc roof pato m2 32 4,0 128
ROO.LAB 3 WEEKS 0,0
2 LABORER + 1 CARPENTER 0,0
SKI DOUBLE SKIN ROOFING 2403
SKI.1.1 double skin thatched roof house A m2 190 7,0 1330
SKI.1.2 double skin thatched roof house B m2 135 7,0 945
SKI.1.3 thatched roof entry m2 32 4,0 128
ROO.LAB 2 WEEKS 0,0
2 LABORER + 1 CARPENTER 0,0
FIT FITTINGS 209
FIT.1.1 WC seat u 1 65,0 65
FIT.1.2 washing basin u 2 32,0 64
FIT.1.3 Shower cubicle u 1 80,0 80
FIT.1.4 Others u 1 50,0 50
FIT.LAB 3 DAYS 0,0
1 LABORER + 1 PLUMBER 0,0
OPE OPENINGS 270,00
OPE.1.1 Doors and windows framing house A u 10 15,0 150
OPE.1.2 Doors and windows framing house B u 8 15,0 120
FIT.LAB 3 DAYS 0,0
1 LABORER + 1 CARPENTER 0,0
COST HOUSE A 5610
COST HOUSE B 4202
COST pato 1035
TOTAL COST 11056
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 4, 2014 1:12:30 GMT -6
Design Team: Lawhal EL CHITOU, Seni DARA and Steve KOTEY
(Cotonou, Benin)
The traditional African habitat is based on the principle that a habitat is built on the model of a human body. It allows to shelter, protect, receive, revive, survive, commune with the gods and ancestors and also agree with the forces of nature. Traditional architecture has with nature a very strong bond. Already, the materials used for construction are: earth, wood and plant fibers. The dwellings, whatever they are, therefore, require constant maintenance. When do occupies more, they break down and return to the earth. In its functionality, this architecture highlights the relationship to the environment: domestic buildings, with few exceptions, are often open to the outside or on a court. This court concentrates most of the daily activities. Life happens outside and domestic buildings are only used for sleeping, receive guests, shelter, protection of wildlife or storing crops.
In our proposal we wanted to reinterpret its strengths habitat traditional Asante including decorative motifs and patterns of existing construction. A reinterpretation in a contemporary way of its strengths has been made to meet the lifestyles of today's African populations.
The house that we propose emphasizes local materials, including brick compressed earth. It is a housing unit that extends over an area of 108,94m² and therefore fits into a rectangle of 30x40 feet. To fit into the tight budget of $ 6000, we chose to design a house T3 composed of:
- Two bedrooms (2) 13,29m²
- A living room of 25.54 m²
- Kitchen 8.66 m²
- A shower of 3.06 m²
- A WC
- A terrace entrance of 12m
- A terrace for cooking
To get as close as possible to the way of life of the peoples Ashanti (life around a central courtyard), we planned in house a central patio of nearly 5m². This open space provides good ventilation. Also in this bioclimatic approach, each of the rooms in the house have been designed taking into account the prevailing winds (direction southwest à Northeast). One part of the building also benefits from a dual roof to improve indoor thermal comfort.
The materials used in the design of our work are:
- Earth (compressed earth bricks) for the vertical walls
- Wood for openings (doors and windows). Here, the semi-circular openings have been adopted to more easily integrate into the structure of the building. In addition to wood windows, terraces have sunscreens as claustras earthen
- Coverage of the building is made of zinc. The implementation of this material is easy because the local labor is very accustomed
- The substructure is made of stone blocks
Finally, a high point was on the local culture. We have integrated to building decorations Ashanti. In order to closely match the local tradition, the decorations from the traditional art Ashanti were replicated on the building. At the end of our design, we get a house made of earth but at a reasonable cost of about $ 6,500. Our proposal, although contemporary, is simple execution and implementation by local labor. A proposal based, from the beginning of reflections in a holistic approach to sustainable development with a system of rainwater harvesting.
QUANTITATIVE AND ESTIMATE (Indicative value that can be updated based business)
N° DESIGNATIONS WORKS U QTE PU TTC AMOUNT tax (FCFA) PARTIEL TOTAL
1 Masonry elevation -
1.01 Pebble stone plinth m3 15,66 44 689
1.02 Wall elevation BTC (29.5 * 14 * 10) m2 251,00 12 3 112
Subtotal 1.00 3 801
2 MENUISERIE- WOODEN METAL ALUMINUM
2.01 Supply and installation of flush doors unstratified and hydrophobic type PI 0.80 x2,10 m2 18 50 880
2.02 Supply and installation of window PP 1,30x1,30 m2 12 50 600
Subtotal 2.00 1 480
3 FRAME COVER
3.01 Roof framing wood + zinc coverage m2 116,00 10 1 160
Subtotal 3.00 1 160
Grand total 6 441
|
|
|
|
Post by Nka on Sept 4, 2014 1:21:02 GMT -6
Design Team: Juerg Grunder, Abbas Pitolwala, Pornika Ray, Ambica Ganesh and Zahabai Gandhi (Bangalore, India)
Design Idea : “ASAANE DAN“ comes from Akan, stands for earth house. Exploring the principles of earth architecture lead us to our
solution. The gesture is simple, a sustainable house using local materials, labour, offering its inhabitants self-sufficient living. The concept behind the design of this house was to offer to the inhabitants of Ghana a simple housing typology that is affordable and habitable by a Ghanaian family in an urban context. A single house that adapts to the country’s climate, culture, lifestyle, people and enhances the standard of living.
Settlement Concept
The module developed is designed to allow the same structure and planning concept to be used for varying functions in existing context or an entirely new settlement. Backyards of individual units together becomes a gathering space. Corner plots are opened out to create community centers. Housing units are interlayed with school units to create a diverse land use neighbourhood.
Climatic Aspects
The hut is designed to sustain the hot-humid climate of Ghana by aligning the module along the northwest wind to harness maximum airflow. Openings were located and designed to allow the air to naturally cool the house. Double membranes were used for better insulation against the heat. Porous walls ensure constant airflow. Also, the house rests on a raised platform to protect from floods.
Spatial organization
The kitchen and the toilets are on the west and east respectively creating a buffer for the core. The core consists of the open living space and bedrooms. The basic rectangular module can further be extended to form an L shaped unit.
Flexibility concept
The design takes into consideration the flexibility of functional uses, the possibility for the storage to be converted into a shop and future extension.
Sustainability concept
Aim to promote a self-sufficient living module using local materials and harnessing resources.
Water cycle
Water collected from the roof through the channels is used both in the kitchen and the toilets. Further this wart is reused in the garden
Solar energy
Possibility to mount collectors on the pitched roof suitable for the same, and unit can become independent city energy grid.
Food
Backyards are used to grow vegetables and fruits of the region further making the inhabitants independent and selfsufficient.
II. Material description
The house makes the most of locally available material like mud and bamboo and local labour.
Foundation
Brick footing for columns, bamboo with mud foundation for the rammed earth walls.
Walls
Structure is a combination of load bearing rammed earth walls and hand pressed bricks (columns and porous brick wall)
Roof
Corrugated zinc roofing sheets supported by bamboo trusses for exterior skin and bamboo mats for the interior skin.
Openings
Bamboo shutters and louvers mounted on wooden frames. Opening mounted with mesh contributing to constant airflow through the house for cooling.
III. Budget l in USD (Includes material cost and labour )
Foundation 600
Walls 2000
Roof 2000
Openings 1100
Plumbing 300
Total 6000
|
|
