eco-village: ideation and iteration

HOLISTIC LIVING FOR THE MODERN INDIVIDUALSUBURBAN ECOVILLAGE:HOLISTIC LIVING FOR THE MODERN INDIVIDUAL

thesis project of Levi Wall/ studio Condia/ spring 2012

This book serves as a narrative for my thesis project during my final semester in Kansas State University’s Master of Architecture program. It shows the inception and evolution of ideas through writing and process, starting with questions, and ending with a “final” architectural conception. It is dedicated to my studio-mates, who shared in the process, and my family, who showed me the value of working hard.

Levi

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Essay: Definition and Design

Process: Site

Process: Village

Process: Building

Final Presentation

Reflection

Appendix I: Imagery

Appendix II: References

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INTRODUCTION Architecture is, in its most basic essence, any human intervention that creates space. Architecture makes place, delineating the made from unmade, becoming the object of the mind against the field of the natural condition. Yet, as much as architecture is the effect of man on its environment, architecture can affect man; this is what distinguishes mere building from Architecture, its ability to transcend its own materiality, and speak to the mind. The modern architectural schools recognized this, abstracting architecture from its tradi-tion and imitation of nature to become something purely in the realm of human expression. Works of modern architecture such as Mies Van De Rohe’s Farm-sworth House, Louis Kahn’s Exeter Library, and Le Corbusier’s Villa Savoye exhibit simplicity, geometric form and a distinct “otherness” against their natu-ral backgrounds. But what about a piece of architecture that becomes part of nature, blurring foreground and background, expressing a symbiosis between man and nature? A century after the birth of modern architecture, energy and resource crises and a burgeoning world population challenge the modern no-tions of traditional architecture. Buzzwords like “green”, “sustainability” and “ecological design” surround the discussion of architecture and designed environment. Architects realize that these words mean things, and their mean-ings are pertinent, but to what end do the ideas they represent critique modern society?

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What’stheorganizationofasocietythatiscapableofdoingecologicaldesign?Whatdoessuchasocietylooklike?...Andwhat’sthepoint,theultimateobject,ofecologicaldesign?It’snotjustabouthousesorwateroranyparticularsystem.Ithastobeabouthowwethink.Theultimateobjectofecologicaldesignisthehumanmind.” (Orr 2004, 190), as quoted by Debbie Van Schyndel Kasper in Redifining Community in the Eco-village The genesis of the ecovillage project lies in my interest in food systems and the modern individual’s disconnection with the food system. In a class I took on urban agriculture, we discussed how small urban farms met the needs and demands of city dwellers where typical industrialized agriculture was found lacking. Some urban farmers grow food for underprivileged individuals with little to no access to fresh, healthy food while others grow specialty produce food for high-end organic restaurants. But the fascinating thing that all these urban farms share in common is that they bring the experience of growing food nearer to the population who consumes it. This experiential aspect increases awareness of, understanding of, and appreciation for the food cycle, and thus precedes the practical aspects of bringing food production closer to the point of consumption. Though food systems were a starting point for the ecovillage project, the theme of experience of systems became paramount to its design, the object of this ecological experience being the human mind. ECOVILLAGE: A DEFINITION

Theecovillage,atermthatcameintocommonusageintheearly1990s,isaspecificformofintentionalcommunity.Effortstowardinten-tionalcommunallivingintheU.S.areasoldasthenationitself.Besidesalongingformeaningfulcommunity,themostcommonimpetusesforintentionalcommunityformationintheU.S.arereligiousmotivations,ayearningforpoliticalandeconomicreform,andadesireforself-fulfillment(Kanter1972).Whileecovillagesmaysharesomeorallofthesegoals,whatsetsthemapartistheirexplicitemphasisonecology,whichsuppliesmanyofthefundamentalprinciplesofdesignandorganization. - Debbie Van Schyndel Kasper in Redifining Community in the Ecovillage

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Most ecovillages are low-density developments located in rural areas, with a large portion of the land dedicated to food production. The typical growth pattern is organic, with a few founding members being joined successively by new mem-bers, in the span of years. Often, members take on the construction of new residences and community buildings. In ad-dition, these communities often rely on sun and wind for power, wells and rain collection for water, and heavy insulation and passive strategies for heat. As a result, the architecture of ecovillages is usually utilitarian and cobbled-together in appearance. Although the ecovillage offers a simpler, more rugged life, the benefits of healthy, home-grown food, energy independence, tight-knit community, and ecological soundness draw many to join. While the traditional ecovillage model is defined by small-scale organic development, there is no reason why a large-scale, master planned ecovillage could not yield the same results, with residents enjoying the same benefits. In fact, a large-scale master planned ecovillage could theoretically cost less per resident due to economy of scale, be more efficient, and enjoy greater architectural consistency. In addition, the location of ecovillages closer to existing infrastruc-ture and amenities would make the communities physically and socially more accessible. All these things would result in greater marketability and thus more widespread adaptation. Therefore, if the idea of the ecovillage could become a new paradigm for low density housing, then it is pertinent to discuss the origins and characteristics of the current low-density housing model: suburbia.

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A DISCUSSION OF THE SUBURBAN MODEL “Ihavesuggestedthatthesuburbandevelopmentsaremechanismsforprovidingaccesstoageneralizedimageofresidualagrarianlifeandvalues.Paradoxically,manyqualitiesassociatedwiththatlife-close-knitcommunity,deepandspecificconnectiontoaparticularplace,personalinvolvementwithauniquepast,adefiniteidentitypeculiartothelocale-arequalitiesinadmissabletothegeneralizedimage.” from the Written Suburb: An American Site, An Ethnographic Dilemma, John D. Dorst The success of suburbia in America represents a widespread desire to re-create the country in the city (or vice versa), fostered by both the nostalgic view of America’s agrarian past, and its abundance of land and natural resourc-es. But why does this desire to live in some image of the past exist? Why are so many city-dwellers taken with the idyllic imagery of the countryside? Perhaps the way ‘they used to live’ represents a more holistic approach to life, one in which the human being understood his connection to the earth and his fellow human beings. Although farmhouses and agriculture are institutes of mankind just as cities and cars are, the former are intrinsically linked with natural pro-cesses and encourage interdependence: their very purpose is to cultivate the landscape, translating natural elements into human ones. The very existence of suburbia has its roots in America’s agrarian past. A house on a plot of land was once the standard for rural folk, who once made up the majority of the United State’s population, and who got their livelihood from farming, ranching, and other means. But the invention of the car made traveling long distances possible, and thus “commuting” was born. With the ability to work in the city and live in the “country”, many people flocked to the suburbs, experiencing the best of both worlds. The trend of moving to suburbs has only increased: while in 1910, only 7.1 percent of the population lived in suburban areas, in 2000, that percentage had reached 50%. Suburbs are, by definition, less dense and less diversified than urban areas, meaning that grow-ing suburbs have further isolated the city from the country. Combined with the success of industrialized agriculture, the low density of suburbia has increased how far food travels from source to point of consumption. Therefore, although the very idea of suburbia has roots in America’s agrarian past, the current sub-urban model has ironically diminished the populous’ contact with and under-standing of food production.

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In addition, the current suburban model illustrates a shift in society towards individuality as indicated by an analy-sis of form comparing suburban and urban areas. In large cities, density and the high cost of space means transportation is often shared, in the form of bus and rail systems, and taxis. When personal transportation is used, it is expensively stored in designated parking lots and garages. In suburbs, where land is cheaper, two and three car garages dominate the fronts of houses, displaying the prominence of individual automobile ownership contrasted with cities, where open space exists in the form of parks and plazas, which are often shared by thousands of people. In suburban neighbor-hoods parks exist, but most houses also have their own private backyard. Finally and most obvious is housing in cities is often in the form of apartments, condos, and other high-density situations, while suburbs favor single-family residences and other low-density housing types. Although neither cities nor suburbs may foster community in themselves, certainly cities speak to shared experiences, while suburbs encourage individual experiences. To sum up, suburbia delivers the image of America’s agrarian past without any of the substance. While suburban housing evokes rural appearance, dependence on the land and nature for sustenance has been replaced with domina-tion of the landscape by roads for automobile access to sprawling developments. Growing suburbs have increasingly isolated the majority of the population from food production, in conjunction with industrialized agriculture. And the form of suburbia has isolated people from each other, encouraging individualization over collaboration, emphasizing individual experiences and resources over shared experiences and resources. THE PERTINENCE OF THE ECOVILLAGE MODEL As discussed, the benefits of the ecovillage model include energy and resource independence, ecological sus-tainability, and emphasis on community and collaboration. In many ways, the ecovillage model excels where the sub-urban model lacks. Ecovillages illustrate human interdependence with the landscape, and encourage appreciation of resources, as the systems to gather those resources are located on-site. Striving for energy independence, ecovillages become a solution to, instead of a contributor to energy crises. Instead of providing the mere appearance agrarian living, it incorporates food production into everyday life. This means that residents consume healthy, fresh food, and have ac-cess to the experience of growing it, eliminating the isolation from the food system that suburbia has perpetuated. Lastly, ecovillages are intentional communities, meaning they connect, rather than isolate people. Therefore, the ecovillage is pertinent in that it solves many of the problems posed by the current dominant housing model; moreover, ecovillage de-velopment at the same gross density as existing suburban neighborhoods could result in a better, more holistic lifestyle, at a similar long-term cost.

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PROJECT DEFINIITION: My thesis project will focus on creating a prototype housing/multipurpose development that fosters community and ecological connectedness. It will test this notion that a better “suburban” development can exist at the same density as suburban neighborhoods while offering a more holistic lifestyle. It will seek to create authentic experiences, which are necessitated by the search for truth defined by the ecovillage’s rejection of modern life, specifically “the outmoded domi-nant western worldview.” The goal is that in the authenticity of architectural expression, a holistic truth will be revealed about human nature that encompasses physical, mental, spiritual, vocational and ecological dimensions. As a part of this holistic approach, the development will be largely self-sustaining. Unlike the typical isolated ecovillage, the prototype development will be adaptable to modern life. The development will be located in the southern part of Overland Park, a suburb of Kansas City, KS, on the cusp of suburban development and patches of rural remnants. The suburban setting of the eco-village makes a statement about the status quo of modern suburbanites verses the possibilities of quality of life and sustainability. The development will accommodate around 150 residents, the same or greater population density as the surrounding area, while producing a large portion of its own food and energy. The design will focus on fostering authentic experiences of the site, of natural processes, and of human nature. This means the ecovillage will transcend its own form, and become like an artwork for expressing the importance of humans’ relationship to nature and the individual’s relationship to society. MANDATES OF THE ECOVILLAGE “Ecovillagesseethemselvesasholistic,relyingona“three-leggedstool”uponwhichtheybalancepracticaleffortstocreatealifethatissociallyandpersonallysatisfying,andecologicallysound.” - Debbie Van Schyndel Kasper, Redefining Community in the Ecovillage

The essence of the ideal ecovillage is expressed by Van Schyndel Kasper as the satisfaction of the person, of society, and obligation to ecology. Meeting these concerns become the mandates for the design of the ecovillage. -Personal satisfaction can’t be determined or truly created by anyone but the individual; however, the architect must sup-port the ability to be personally satisfied. This includes proper programming and good design of more private environ-ments, i.e. residential spaces. -Social satisfaction comes in the creation of true community, and possibly in formal organization constituting “society.” Great social spaces are a necessity for the creation of community, but the posture of individual space towards social space is equally important.

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-Ecological soundness- or sustainability, concerns every human being, as all consume resources and expends energy- everyone is a part of the greater sys-tem of local and then global ecology. As a whole, the house and the city must function as a ecologically-tuned machine that runs efficiently as possible. But experience and awareness are paramount, as these change peoples’ outlook and actions, and make sustainable goals attainable. Therefore, the ecovillage must function as a piece of art, revealing natural systems in a way that increas-es understanding of and passion for ecology. PIENZA AS A MODEL It is often useful to look at older models of development to inform new ones. The kind of ecological interdependence and emphasis on community that the ecovillage strives for can be found in towns and villages of the past. Specifically, the medieval town of Pienza was pertinent to analyze, as its entire-ty would fit within the confines of the site, and the Italian hilltown was based on the idea of self-sufficiency for the purpose of defense. The analysis of Pienza’s form revealed its specifics about its workings, including specific programming meeting dwelling, educational, vocational, societal, and spiritual needs, ef-ficient use of space, and response to context, including solar orientation and shape responding to landscape. DESIGN RESPONSES TO THE MANDATES OF THE ECOVILLAGE: PersonalSatisfaction:Programming Pienza, like other medieval hill towns, included all the services needed for daily life with its walls. Similarly, the suburban ecovillage should be pro-grammed to meet the human individual’s physical, mental, spiritual, vocational and ecological dimensions. The first necessity of the ecovillage is housing. To accommodate the 150 residents, a variety of housing types will be provided, including single-family residences, different arrangements of apartments, and group homes. Some structures will be mixed-use, housing apartments on the second floor and commercial/work spaces on the ground floor. This will allow residents to work “at home” while separating dwelling and vocational needs. These commercial/work spaces could accommodate “home businesses” and

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remote work for other companies, as well as shops run by residents to meet the needs of the community. Often ignored by developments is human’s spiri-tual dimension, and although religion has a different degree of importance to the modern individual than an inhabitant of Pienza, the ecovillage’s program in-cludes a chapel to meet this need. As the ecovillage strives to create a holistic lifestyle, physical well-being is also paramount. As a result, various parks con-nected by a trail system will be included in the design, encouraging residents to stay fit, and increasing their experience of the site. The overall development will be shaped by food production, so the community can provide most of its dietary needs. In addition, individual plots for gardens will allow residents to grow plants to their choosing. PersonalSatisfaction:DesignofPersonalSpace Next to programming, the architect can best meet the needs of the in-dividual through the design of personal space, in this case, residences. Instead of taking a one-size fits all approach, the ecovillage will employ a basic module of house adaptable through customization. Therefore, individuals and families can choose the elements of housing most important to them to include in their residence, and the customized house will be prefabricated off-site and deliv-ered for assembly. This model of housing adapts to the needs and wants of the clientele, instead of forcing residents to adapt to the dictates of the develop-ment. Although housing will be largely customizable, specific characteristics will set the ecovillage housing apart from typical suburban housing. Climate control is essential to good design of personal space. A number of passive systems will help heat, cool, and ventilate residential spaces including passive solar heating via thermal mass floors, radiant floor heating aided by ground source heat pumps, heavy insulated structural insulated panels, and operable windows for natural ventilation. Equally important to performance is control: with operable windows and shading devices, inhabitants gain control over their environment, which helps them feel more comfortable.

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SocialSatisfaction:SocietyasanOperation Architecture can’t create society in itself, but it can create a sense of to-getherness, and make places for society to occur. The design of the ecovillage can architecturalize togetherness by emphasizing community over individuality. This is first displayed in the design of housing, where houses and apartments are joined at the sides, like row housing, emphasizing the whole over the parts. The presence of community rooms down the center of the village shows their importance, and provides space for discussion and collaboration to occur. A piazza becomes the centerpiece of the village, which functions as a circula-tion node, houses outdoor seating, can become overflow parking for events, and can accommodate farmers’ markets and other festivities. A pavilion “barn” becomes the indoor extension of the piazza, providing a covered space for activities. The creation of society requires not only the architectural space for communal functions, but also the impetus for collaboration. . Because of the ecovillage’s social structure, collaboration and cooperation are necessary, and participation in the society helps socially satisfy the individual. The ecovillage as a community will function much like a commune, where decisions are made as a group, and work is shared. Food production requires everyone’s labor and shared input, as does maintenance of public spaces. EcologicalSoundness:TheEcovillageasaSystemandasanArtwork As noted by Van Schyndel Kasper in Redefining Community in the Eco-village, the thing that sets ecovillages apart from other intentional communities is their “explicit emphasis on ecology”. Ecology can relate to natural systems, but the concept of ecology can be applied to architecture and human systems. By approaching the concept ecovillage as an ecological system unto itself, where energy and resources are translated and exchanged, the design of the ecovillage can become intrinsically more sustainable. Specifically, an ecovillage that grows most of its own food and gathers most of its energy and resources on-site can be seen in symbiosis with the landscape, where humans rely on the land and environment for sustenance, and the land and environment rely on human cultivation. This sort of perspective fosters a balance between humans and nature, rather than human dominance of nature.

PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS20,000 ft2 total

PROGRAM/STRUCTURESsingle family homes

apartmentsgroup homes

commercial/work spacecommunity rooms

“barn” events spacedaycare center

cafewater tower/chapel

barn

GARDENS/GREEN SPACE20,000 ft2 total

PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION

AUTO CIRCULATION/PARKING

PLENTH BASE

WATER COLLECTION/FILTRATION SYSTEM

GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS

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Practically, the “ecovillage as a system” expresses itself in economy, in that every architectural and technologi-cal presence is useful, having an exact purpose for which it is fine-tuned. This involves a number of sustainable systems, taking advantages of the site’s access to sun, wind, and earth. First, around a third of the site will be dedicated to grow-ing food, which will provide a majority of the residents’ dietary needs. The farm portion is planned according to organic principles, allowing residents to grow food with minimal ecological impact. Crops are planted with the curves of the landscape, minimizing erosion. Water for irrigation and consumption will be provided by an on-site well and harvested, filtered rainwater. The roofs of buildings, walkways, plazas, and other impervious surfaces in conjunction will comprise the rainwater collection system, so the whole urban plenth essentially becomes a rainwater cachement basin. Roofs will include building-integrated photovoltaic panels, considerably offsetting the village’s electrical demand. The buildings will also utilize solar power in the form of passive solar heating. Ground source heat pumps will temperature condition water used in radiant floor heating, utilizing stable ground temperatures. Vertical wind turbines will take advantage of Kansas’ south wind, further offsetting electrical demand. In essence, the ecovillage takes on the form of a passive energy ma-chine, adapting to and taking advantage of environmental conditions. Architecture distinguishes itself from mere building in that it expresses ideas and concepts, or more plainly, “says something”. In addition to the practical expressions of the ecovillage’s ecological focus, the form of the ecovillage must express this focus and encourage ecological awareness. In essence, it must become a sort of artwork for revealing reali-ties about the site and environment. First, the village’s compact nature will express efficiency, and a yielding to nature and open space. The shape of the urban plinth, terraced exactly with the contour lines on the ground it sits, reveals the physical shape of the site in congruence with lines of ground crops, which also follow the contour lines of the site. Pas-sive solar heating and moveable shading devices make residents more aware of the sun’s location and movement. Four parks located in the corners of the site, connected by a trail system, will encourage residents to move about the site, and encounter a deeper understanding of its ecology. The use of local, recycled materials will connect the buildings to the region and its history, in addition to encouraging the practice of re-use. Every detail of the ecovillage’s architecture must help narrate its use, and reveal its relationship to the ecology of the village and the environment.

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PROCESS

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PROCESS

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SITE

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PERSONAL SATISFACTION

PROGRAM

RESTREST

COOK

GATHER WORK

CLEANSECLEANSE

HOUSING

PATHS/CONNECTIONS

SOCIAL SPACE

FOOD PRODUCTION

GREEN SPACE/PATHS

SITEPhysical Dimension:

Mental Dimension:

Vocational Dimension:

Spiritual Dimension:

Appropriate, High-QualityLiving Situation

Safety and Control ofEnvironment

Ecological Connectedness

[Design of Personal Space]

-Safety -Defensible Space (Oscar Newman)

-Choice + Structure -Flexible layout of spaces

[Maslowʼs Hierarchy ofNeeds]

-Control -Engaging of architectural elements to customize spaces.

Work Space Flexibility

Connection With Land

Chapel Space Site Narrative Personal Space

-Connection with Ecology -Visual Connection -Experiential connection (farming process)

SOCIAL SATISFACTION

SHARED (COMMUNITY) SPACE -multi-purpose gathering

InterdependenceSense of Community Interactive Activities

ʻACTIVITYʼ SPACE -specifically programmed

[Design of Shared Space]

SHARED RESOURCES

-Community “Living Rooms”-Communal Kitchen-Combined Houses?-Shared Gardens

-Organic Farm- Work Sharing-Sustainable Energy Grid

-Central ʻExchange Hubʼ -Market -Cafe-Chapel

Sustainable EnergySystems

-insulation (Passive house)-natural ventillation-site: windbreaks-passive solar heating-solar water heating-geothermal heating

-daylighting-views-optimizing planting plan

-mechanical potential of architecture-machinery+tools housing

-growing food on site-organic farming

-solar panels-windmills

Sustainably Built Development

Participation in Food Production/Natural Systems

HEAT Modularity Experiential Connections

Visual Connections

Architectural Expression of Ideals

Pre-Fabrication

Minimal Site ʻIntrusionʼ

LIGHT

MECHANICAL

METABOLIC

SUPPLEMENTAL

ECOLOGICAL SOUNDNESS [Sustainable Systems and Practices]

PREFAB SIPs

INTEGRATED PV PANELS

‘WRAPPING’

PROGRAM

PREFAB ROOM INSERTS

Ecological Balance

FABRICATION

BUILDING CLUSTER SITE MASSING

CHAPELRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

COMMUNITY CENTERcafe, market, gathering spaces, etc.

‘CLOISTER’

COMMUNITY ROOMS

ANIMALS

PARK

N<

PARK

SPICE + HERB GARDEN

VEGETABLES ORCHARD

WINDOW/ MOVEABLE SHADE SYSTEM

SINGLE FAMILY UNIT

POPULATION:18-24 POPULATION:100-150

MODULAR, PREFABRICATED STRUCTURES

APARTMENT BUILDING

‘CLOISTER’

COMMUNITY ROOM

SUBURBAN ECOVILLAGE:OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS

JOHNSON COUNTY

FIGURE/GROUND

EDGE CONDITIONS OF SPACE

SITE MAP SITE vs. PIENZA, ITALY SITE vs. KC LOW DENSITY SUBURB

151st STREET

SITE PHOTOS, FROM 151st ST.

PLANTING

SLOPE

LENEXA

OLATHE

FLAT

MEDIUM SLOPE FLATGENTLE SLOPE

FRUIT TREES

PLANTING NOT IDEAL

WARM PLANTS

COLD PLANTS

LEVI WALL/STUDIO CONDIA/ SPRING 2012

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<SITE LOCATION:151st at Carter Street, Overland Park, KS

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SITE: SUBURBAN/RURAL CONTEXT

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MEDIUM SLOPE FLATGENTLE SLOPE

site

topography

figure/ground

shadow study composite

slope

public vs. private

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SITE DIAGRAMS(PHYSICALITIES)

The 44- acre site had unique qualities which diagramming helped uncover. At the same time, the site’s situation is similar to many in the area: formerly farmland, it is being sold for suburban development. Therefore, the site is ideal to test ideas to be replicated, so this ecovillage design can become a prototype for future developments.

circulation

edge condition of space

slope lines

agricultural usability

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SITE: SCALE COMPARISONS

EXISTING CONDITION

ARCOSANTI PIENZA

HORIZONTAL SKYSCRAPER

SURROUNDING CONDITION

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A useful way of analyzing the site involved overlaying different conditions and structures within the site boundaries, as to discover different notions of scale and function. Overlaying the surrounding condition results in 100-150 residents; this, in part, helped determine the appropriate population for the ecovillage. Arcosanti, another ecologically-minded development, seems small and compact on the site, yet was planned to accomodate up to 500 residents. Pienza, at one time housing over 2000 people, fits snuggly within the site, with room for olive groves and vineyards. Later in the design process, Pienza’s morphology was dissected to inform the shape of the built portion of the ecovillage. Even Steven Holl’s Horizontal Skyscraper (Shenzhen Center) fits within the confines of the site, showing a possibility of how structure and landscape could relate.

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PARTI ITERATIONS

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PARTI ITERATIONS

Partis were developed to test building and site concepts. A variation of distribution,circulation, and organizational patterns were created. The above sketch depicts what a number of the partis tended towards: building development on the north of the site, with food production to the south, and parks and open space dispersed around the lake and to the southwest.

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PARTI REFINEMENT

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SITE: CONCEPT MODEL

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SITE: CONCEPT MODEL

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SITE PLAN:FIRST ITERATION

The first site plan iteration features buildings with hous-ing and program, jutting above burms, which contain services and circulation.

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SITE PLAN:MID-CRIT ITERATION

The mid-crit site plan iteration was more fully realized, incorporating the urban plinth concept (see VILLAGE section) and including twelve acres of food production. The angle of the pinth and farmland are derrived from site slope lines at the north end of the site.

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SITE PLAN:FINAL ITERATION

The final site plan features the final urban plinth design, with the rest of the land highly utilized, including 13 acres of ground planting, 4 acres of orchard, 4 acres of meadow, and 4 acres of park. The planting follows the contours of the landscape, preventing erosion, and providing a more vis-able record of the landscape’s shape. In this way, the farmland becomes both highly functional and artistic, both highly optomized for yield and arranged to reveal characteristics of the site.

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II

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VILLAGE

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VILLAGE NOTION: URBAN PLINTH

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Early in the design process, it was apparent that the space for human activity should sit above the landscape, set on a plinth of sorts. Site planning and parti conceptualization had established the need for a platform for social activities to occur, and some sort of structure to strengthen the notion of “vil-lageness” against the suburban surroundings. As the “urban plinth” concept was more fully realized, more benefits became apparent.

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“URBAN PLENTH”ʻPIAZZA ON THE PLAINSʼ

PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE

SUN: BUILDINGS SPACE ADEQUATELY FOR SOLAR ACESSEVERY BUILDING EQUIPPED WITH SOLAR PANELSPASSIVE SOLAR HEATING ON GROUND FLOOR

WATERURBAN PLENTH ACTS AS A RAIN CATCHER

CONCRETE STRUCTUREWITH INTEGRATED UTILITIES

PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3

BUILDING ENCLOSUREPREFABRICATED MODULES AND SIP PANELS

COMPLETED UNIT

SYSTEMSINTEGRATED WITH STRUCTURE

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PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE




PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3


COMPLETED UNIT



PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE




PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3


COMPLETED UNIT



PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE




PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3


COMPLETED UNIT



PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE




PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3


COMPLETED UNIT



PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE




PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3


COMPLETED UNIT


URBAN PLINTH: CONCEPTUALIZATION

The urban plinth allows the ecovillage to be settled sequentially, as it provides a solid base structure that prefabricated units can later be added to. In addition, it offers a place to house system chases, and acts as a giant water-collection basin. The plinth creates plazas between buildings, allowing social-ization and activities to occur like they would in a medieval city.

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1 2 3

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URBAN PLINTH: MODEL ITERATIONS

A number of model iterations explored the possibilities of the urban plinth, and the ways two bars of programs could relate and cascade down the landscape. The third iteration (opposite page) shows terracing in-line with topo-graphical lines, a concept which was re-adapted for the final iteration of the urban plenth.

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morphology?

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PIENZA ASA MODEL

A morphological dissection of Pienza revealed the “how/why” of its shape. Three main characteristics adapted for the ecovillage morphology were: -Public programming anchoring the village -Response to context (solar orientation, topographic location -Efficient, specific use of space

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URBAN PLINTH:RE-ITERATION

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PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE




PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3


COMPLETED UNIT


URBAN PLINTH:MORPHOLOGY

urban plinth: mid-crit

resultant shape

two bars of program

pedestrian circulation

bent/split bars: hierarchy of a middle

auto circulation/parking

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>

plinth shape

resultant shape

terracing: response to topography

program

dissection

final massing

A series of diagrams (which were created for the final presentation of the project) show the morphological pro-gression of the urban plinth. The original idea is abstracted, shaped, dissected, and program and circulation are added until the final massing is reached.

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PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS20,000 ft2 total

PROGRAM/STRUCTURESsingle family homes

apartmentsgroup homes

commercial/work spacecommunity rooms

“barn” events spacedaycare center

cafewater tower/chapel

barn

GARDENS/GREEN SPACE20,000 ft2 total

PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION

AUTO CIRCULATION/PARKING

PLENTH BASE

WATER COLLECTION/FILTRATION SYSTEM

GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS

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URBAN PLINTH:FINAL ITERATION

The final iteration of the urban plinth shows how program, form, sys-tems, and landscape are all integrated to house the functions of the ecovillage. In a way, the plinth becomes a machine for the society to live in and relate to the environment.

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III BUILDING

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BUILDING

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BUILDING:EARLY CONCEPTS

Early building concepts consisted of commercial space, expressed as folds of concrete com-ing out of the landscape, topped by wood-clad boxes for housing. On facing page: precedents and inspi-rations. Clockwise from upper left: conceptual sketch, Het Entreehus by Bureau B + B Architects, the Nether-lands; Unite d’Habitation, Le Cor-busier, Marseilles, France; vernacular midwestern barn; Mountain Dwell-ings, BIG architects, Copenhagen, Denmark.

65

BUILDING PRECEDENT:LOBLOLLY HOUSEKIERENTIMBERLAKE ARCHITECTSTAYLOR ISLANDS, MARYLAND

Through projects such as their Loblolly House, as well as writings such as their book Refabricating Architecture, Stephen Kieren and James Timberlake explore the concepts of prefabrication and mass-customization. The Loblolly house stands as proof that a prefabricated, site-assembled house can be simple, functional, aesthetically pleasing, and contextual. Mass customized, prefabricated buildings also have the advantages of reducing on-site waste, displaying a higher quality of construction, and being endlessly adaptable. For these reasons, ideas learned from reading Refabricat-ing Architecture and studying the Loblolly house were integrated into the conceptual mandates of the ecovillage design.

67

BUILDING:EARLY CONCEPTS

68


PROGRAM

RESTREST

COOK

GATHER WORK

CLEANSECLEANSE

HOUSING

PATHS/CONNECTIONS

SOCIAL SPACE

FOOD PRODUCTION

GREEN SPACE/PATHS


Mental Dimension:















SOCIAL SATISFACTION





SHARED RESOURCES













Visual Connections


Pre-Fabrication


LIGHT

MECHANICAL

METABOLIC

SUPPLEMENTAL


PREFAB SIPs


‘WRAPPING’

PROGRAM

PREFAB ROOM INSERTS

Ecological Balance

FABRICATION




‘CLOISTER’

COMMUNITY ROOMS

ANIMALS

PARK

N<

PARK

SPICE + HERB GARDEN

VEGETABLES ORCHARD


SINGLE FAMILY UNIT



APARTMENT BUILDING

‘CLOISTER’

COMMUNITY ROOM

69


PROGRAM

RESTREST

COOK

GATHER WORK

CLEANSECLEANSE

HOUSING

PATHS/CONNECTIONS

SOCIAL SPACE

FOOD PRODUCTION

GREEN SPACE/PATHS


Mental Dimension:















SOCIAL SATISFACTION





SHARED RESOURCES













Visual Connections


Pre-Fabrication


LIGHT

MECHANICAL

METABOLIC

SUPPLEMENTAL


PREFAB SIPs


‘WRAPPING’

PROGRAM

PREFAB ROOM INSERTS

Ecological Balance

FABRICATION




‘CLOISTER’

COMMUNITY ROOMS

ANIMALS

PARK

N<

PARK

SPICE + HERB GARDEN

VEGETABLES ORCHARD


SINGLE FAMILY UNIT



APARTMENT BUILDING

‘CLOISTER’

COMMUNITY ROOM

BUILDING: EARLY CONCEPTS

Early building concepts focused on taking a stripped-down housing program, organizing it, and wrapping it with a skin. The result were funky-looking, gem-like SIP-constructed houses, and larger apartment buildings, that would be arranged in a “cloister” pattern with a yard in the middle. Even this preliminary design considered passive solar heating, photovoltaics, and indoor-outdoor visual connection, themes that would drive the housing design throughout the process.

71

BUILDINGS:CONCEPT

SKETCHES Sketches developed the sectional quality of the housing into buildings with gabled roofs, allowing for lofting. Skylights protruded out of the north side of the roof, and a photovoltaic system floated above a roof cachement sys-tem. Circulation was located outside of the main volume during this iteration. Although much more refinement occured after this point, the housing retained the gable roof and loft motif.

72


PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE




PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3


COMPLETED UNIT


BUILDING: MID-CRIT

CONCEPTS

73


PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE



PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3



PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE



PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3



PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE



PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3


These diagrams show the notion of basic house assembly devel-oped for the mid-critique. A structural concrete frame, which also houses systems hook-ups, is engulfed by a SIP shell. Vertical circulation is located on the outside of the main volume. Finestration is both utilitarian and playful, puncturing the boxy massing. The diagram to the left shows how buildings would be added and assembled over time.

75

BUILDING: MID-CRIT

CONCEPTS

77

HOUSING:MODEL ITERATION

A physical model furthered the housing concepts, bringing in the notion of a mediating skin, which on the roof and sides, is a rainscreen system, and in the front of the house, is a frame system, housing shading and panels to define and shade the porch area. Skylights and other daylighting methods were tested using this model.

80

FINAL ITERATION:UNIT ASSEMBLY

81

>

>

83

RECYCLED WOOD CLADDING

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS8”, R-35

ALUMINUM FRAME

PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS

WINDOW/DOOR UNITS

PREFAB FLOOR PANELS

WALL UNITS/ BATHROOM BLOCKS

STAIR UNTIS

SINGLE FAMILY HOME UNITS APARTMENT/MIXED USE UNITS

SITE-BUILT CONCRETE FRAMEintegrated utility chase,

radiant floor heating system

windows are operable fornatural ventillation

integrated operable shading panels,polycarbonate diffusing panels,recycled wood cladding panels

>

84

RECYCLED WOOD CLADDING

STRUCTURAL INSULATED PANELS8”, R-35

ALUMINUM FRAME

PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS

WINDOW/DOOR UNITS

PREFAB FLOOR PANELS

WALL UNITS/ BATHROOM BLOCKS

STAIR UNTIS

SINGLE FAMILY HOME UNITS APARTMENT/MIXED USE UNITS

SITE-BUILT CONCRETE FRAMEintegrated utility chase,


windows are operable fornatural ventillation

integrated operable shading panels,polycarbonate diffusing panels,recycled wood cladding panels

85

APARTMENT VARIATIONS 1/8”=1ʼ

LARGE APARTMENT 1/8”=1ʼ

SINGLE FAMILY HOME 1/8”=1ʼ

First Floor

Second Floor

Loft

First Floor

Second Floor

Loft

GROUP HOME 1/8”=1ʼ

1 2 3

APARTMENT VARIATIONS 1/8”=1ʼ

LARGE APARTMENT 1/8”=1ʼ

SINGLE FAMILY HOME 1/8”=1ʼ

First Floor

Second Floor

Loft

First Floor

Second Floor

Loft

GROUP HOME 1/8”=1ʼ

1 2 3

The final iteration of the building system shows a fully-realized structural system and materiality, as well as functioning shading devices. All parts and modules would be prefabricated off-site and the assembled on-site. The floor plans were also realized, and multiple versions of the apartment and single-family home were created, displaying how the mass-customized approach allows for multiple options.

86

1

2

5

3

4

Track Aluminum FrameAluminum Shutters

Track Nylon RollersAluminum Shutters

1. Shutter Housing, Motor2. Aluminum Shutters3. Photovoltaic Panels4. Recycled Wood Cladding5. Transluscent Polycarbonate Panel

EXTERIOR FACADE ASSEMBLY SHUTTER SYSTEM DETAILS

87

1

2

5

3

4

Track Aluminum FrameAluminum Shutters

Track Nylon RollersAluminum Shutters

1. Shutter Housing, Motor2. Aluminum Shutters3. Photovoltaic Panels4. Recycled Wood Cladding5. Transluscent Polycarbonate Panel

SHUTTER SYSTEM DETAILS SHADOW STUDY

88

FINAL PRESENTATION

89

FINAL PRESENTATION

91-8’-12’

-12’

-16’

PLENTH SITE PLAN

SECTION

Water Tower/Chapel

1/16”=1’

92 Plaza Level: 0’ “Barn” Pavillion-4’

+4’+8’

93

Community Room

SECTION

+12’+16’

TRANSVERSE SECTION THROUGH PLENTH 1/16”=1’

96

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99

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100

GARDEN, PLAZA, AND “BARN” PAVILLION

102

CHAPEL UNDER WATER TOWER

104

MEADOW, WINDSPIRES

109

REFLECTION Design is the bridge between the potential and the actual, and any single iteration is at some point between the two. It’s very exciting to watch as designs unfold, evolving from questions to mandates to concepts to forms, from the initial point of nothing, through the refinement of things, becoming something definite. In this way, the “final” design evoked a feeling of accom-plishment; the questions finally had an answer, and ideas finally had a form. It felt good to solve a specific problem and design something that (presumably) had never existed before. Yet, at what point does the design reach the “actual’? Perhaps, for an academic excercise, actualization doesn’t involve the thing being built, but the idea being fully fleshed-out. If this is true, the eco-village design unfortunately didn’t reach the “actual”. A number of things are left to do before all the issues, even the major ones, are fully thought-through: cost estimates, building designs, specific details, more detailed landscaping, etc.

Then what merit does this prelimary design have? First, a number of new concepts were developed, either as new ways of considering ecologi-cal architecture, or as synthesis of existing ideas. Much of the “design” isn’t really that new, but just combines existing ideas and technologies in new ways; all good design is really a few things added onto a wealth of past knowledge. Second, it offers something, although it may not be the thing that completely answers the original questions about what architecture can do. This something can be built upon; it becomes part of the wealth of knowledge. Third, the unfin-ished nature of the design speaks to the scope of the original questions. This ecovillage design responded to a specific context, but it really questioned how humans live in the broadest terms. An ecovillage is essentially a self-contained society, thus, the design necessarily had to reconcile with all aspects of hu-man existence to some extent, not just one or two activities. In this sense, the design of an ecovillage isn’t merely architectonic, but psychological, sociologi-cal, and ecological, of course, ecological. An ecovillage, with all its moving parts, human, natural, and mechanical, really wouldn’t be finished until it was actualized- built and tested by human activity and time. Although this academic excercise hasn’t been actualized, and remains quite small in respect to the total of human accomplishment, perhaps the questions it attempts to answer are the right ones to be asking, if Architecture is to affect human existence.

112

APPENDIX I:IMAGERY

front/back cover source image: http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html, bing aerial images, overland park, KS

all aerial photography (unless otherwise noted): http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html, bing aerial images

pg.4 http://farmlandgrab.org/5695 Earthworks Urban Farm, Detroit, MI http://cskdetroit.org/EWG/about_us/history

pg.5 Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage, http://www.dancingrabbit.org/

pg. 6 A cul de sac adjoining the site. maps.google.com/streetview (image also on pg. 31)

pg. 10 Pienza, Italy. maps.google.com/streetview (image also on pages 31, 44)

pg. 24 Map and graphs from site brochure, prepared by The Land Source (thelandsource.com)

pg. 52 Images of Pienza from Google Earth, earth.google.com/

pg. 62 Heit Entreehus, http://www.dezeen.com/2010/04/16/het-entreehuis-by-bureau-bb/ Mountain Dwelling, http://www.archdaily.com/15022/mountain-dwellings-big/ pg. 64 Loblolly House, KierenTimberlake Architects, http://kierantimberlake.com/recognition/rec_loblolly

114

APPENDIX II:RESOURCE

BIBLIOGRAPHYREFERENCES:

Baker, Geoffrey H. Le Corbusier: An Analysis of Form. UK: Van Nostrand Reinhold. 1984

Brown, G.Z. and DeKay, Mark. Sun, Wind & Light. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2001

Dorst, John D. The Written Suburb: An American Site, An Ethnographic Dilemma (Contemporary Ethnography)19893

Heidegger, Martin. Poetry, Language and Thought

Hirshfeld, Jane. Nane Gates: Entering the Mind of Poetry: Essays. New York: HarperCollins, 1997. Pring

Kieren, Stephen, and Timberlake, James. Refabricating Architecture: How Manufacturing Methodologies are Poised to Transform Building Construction. McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. 2003. Print

Pallasmaa, Juhani. “An Architecture of the Seven Senses.” Question of Perception: Phenomenology of Architecture.San Francisco, CA: William Stout, 2006. Print.

Van Schyndel Kasper, Debbie. Redifing Community in the Ecovillage. Human Ecology Review, web PDF. http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/bulletins/b1021.pdf

115

WEBSITES:

Precedents:Heit Entreehus, http://www.dezeen.com/2010/04/16/het-entreehuis-by-bureau-bb/Mountain Dwelling, http://www.archdaily.com/15022/mountain-dwellings-big/Loblolly House, KierenTimberlake Architects, http://kierantimberlake.com/recognition/rec_loblolly

Information:Organic Crop Yields: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/Organic/Ecovillage information: http://www.dancingrabbit.org/WindSpire Energy Turbines: windspireenergy.com/Solar Calculator: http://www.findsolar.com/index.php?page=rightformeWater consumption calculator: http://www.csgnetwork.com/waterusagecalc.htmlCommercial rainwater harvesting systems: http://www.csgnetwork.com/waterusagecalc.html

Software/Imagery:Aerial photography, geographic information: arcgis.comGoogle Earth earth.google.com/Google Maps maps.google.com/Google Street View maps.google.com/streetview

CONTACT:

[email protected]/leviwall

leviwalldesign.tumblr.com

eco-village: ideation and iteration

Documents

birth of modern architecture

works of modern architecture

discussion of architecture

abstracting architecture

introduction architecture

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