niu haus . ECO TINY HOUSE PROTOTYPE
/PROJECT BY MAEB 2018-2019
/DEVELOPED AT MAEB-IAAC VALLDAURA LABS
/FACULTY VICENTE GUALLART + DANIEL IBÁÑEZ + MARZIAH ZAD
/LINK BLOGPOST ISSU BROCHURE WEBSITE
niu haus
“recognizing the need is the primary condition for design”- Charles Eames.
TINY ECOHOUSE
In the scenario that we live today, the urgency of taking drastic measures in relation to climate change is one of our biggest concerns.
Tiny living offers a path to a smaller environmental footprint, greater financial freedom and ultimately a self-sufficient life. In a world full of commodities, reducing the clutter can help us focus on what’s important.
Every millimeter of space needs to be accounted for.
+++
THE CONCEPT
Through an interest in developing and understanding the processes involved in tree harvesting optimization and lumber production, we actively traced the complete cycle of forestry. By selecting the trees to cut and tracing them, we have produced boards and beams of pine and oak that will be used to build the structure, components and furniture of the tiny house.
FORM DEVELOPMENT
Starting from a conventional design, we flipped it so that the house grows from inside out, ensuring interior space becomes a major driver in design while responding to exterior conditions.
THE STRUCTURE
The structure consists of two layers: a main frame structure and an adaptable secondary structure. The main one uses pine wood from Valldaura with 150x150mm section creating a rational frame that provides a rectangular space for the interior.
The secondary structure is made of 150 mm thick plywood planks and acts as a waffle system linking the rational interior with the rather curved envelop. The distance between each rib is 615 mm approximately -with slight variations to incorporate different elements- responding to structural requirements while still being a useful module for shaping the interior space.
THE ENVELOPE
The shingles are elements which, overlapped, generate a covering for roofs and walls. They typically acquire flat rectangular shapes laid in course from the bottom edge of the roof up, with each successive course overlapping the joints below. The use of that technique enables the design the possibility to acquire different forms, solving the whole envelope with one same component. Through parametric design the ancient element acquires a more advanced approach, while keeping it local by its materiality: oak wood from Valldaura.
After different studies, the size of the shingles is defined in order to achieve a coherent relation between number of shingles and capacity to adapt to the curved form. We also explored the way these elements interact with the different openings the envelop has, and also how they attach to the purlins which, at the same time, attach to the secondary structure.
THE INTERIOR
The organic form of the exterior (relation to nature) is rationalized in the interior (relation to humans) due to functional requirements. Through a study of the basic functions a house has to integrate, several dimensional and spatial studies were developed bringing us to the decision of taking a vertical module of 225mm which can solve all activities: 225mm is a stair, 450mm becomes a sitting space, 900mm a kitchen countertop…
The other main strategy consists in grouping and separating the wet (shower, water heater, water tanks, sink) and the dry areas (dry toiled, sleeping, sitting, storage).
The combination of both strategies is summarized in an unfolded sections which combines thermodynamics, spatial and metabolic requirements.
The dimensional constraints and preliminary studies took us to the decision of keeping a mostly free interior through positioning the main functions in the boundary and providing a more flexible area for living/eating.
MATERIALS AND ECOLOGY
As a starting point, the main material is locally sourced wood from Valldaura’s forest. That results in a very low footprint and a very easy upcycling. While optimizing the woodcuts available to suit the structure, the leftovers are used for the interior panels and flooring.
Basically everything we know in the world comes from the sun’s energy, so using the concept of emergy we analyzed the two main materials: wood and pv-system. Being sourced on site, wood results in a very low emergy while the pv-systems account for six times the emergy of the wood structure. If this structure would be built entirely with CLT, it would account for three times the emergy, and if it was built in steel it would result in at least nine times the emergy.
As a result, this highlights the key aspect of the project of working with locally sourced materials that have a low impact on the planet.
METABOLIC SYSTEM
The metabolic system incorporates water, energy and information into one whole integrated system that feeds into the overall design. A system-based design allows us to adapt to multiple options as site location and client preferences change.
The prototype is designed to work off-grid with a photovoltaic installation (900 watts) sized to provide enough power for the user and store the excess of energy in batteries in order to allow for 3 days without sun.
As part of the overall concept the metabolic equipment is found between the skin and structure opening up more space for living.
The water system is sized for seven days self-sufficiency counting on reduced water consumption of users due to limited appliances and hot water tank size. Water consumption is also drastically reduced with the use of the compost toilet. Rainwater harvesting is offered as an additional option depending on the amount of water that can be captured. For hot water production, we are working with the electricity from the pv-panels to heat up the tank water.
Every input of this project produces information we can potentially learn and benefit from. We have decided to approach information in multiple ways combining digital and more innate information to help explain the project and allow users to learn and connect with their living place and surroundings. We will have sensors monitoring important information like tank level and battery capacity that inform the users of their state through unobtrusive LEDs. We will also find out the story of this particular piece of wood. Finally, we approach this prototype as a learning opportunity and we will gather data such as weather, functioning of the metabolic equipment, etc to share with the Tiny House Network and access in more detail through an app.
