Design Against The Elements (DATE) - 'Green Design Award' Entry

Multistoreyed Tsunami and Earthquake resistant community, Philippines

Design Against the Elements is a global architectural design competition meant to find a solution to the problems presented by climate change. The challenge is to develop a master plan and detailed design for a socialized housing community - considering the effect of the development towards the community, environment and its biodiversity, develop a high performance structure (energy efficient and optimization of resources) with an extended life cycle and a design that is appropriate to the changing climate to withstand the rigors of the Philippines' typhoons and consequent flooding, made worse by the increasingly alarming effects of climate change. The extended life cycle of the residential dwelling resulting from an excellent physical structure and the social support system offered by a well-planned neighborhood development will not only provide shelter from the elements, ensuring the safety of its residents; it will also give them a sense of security and hope that life can proceed unhindered by the onslaught of natural calamities.

The intention: Links in Regeneration

Sustainability through conservation, use and reuse while being parameters of the design, it is a futuristic survival through re-generation that forms the basic premise of the iteration. The design was sensitised by the naturally sloping terrain and instead of linear standing wall the housing was introverted to promote local communal and social practices. The services and flow of water, due to storm and rain were directed to drain dictating the planning and site of the building. Set along and connected to a swale the design recycles both water and then cultivates both the agri-land and water through fisheries combining socio-eco sensibilities with the demands of economy of life. The resulting physical pattern is a rendering of cultural continuity and humanistic values that are imperative for not merely the survival of life but for the links needed for a present to arrive into the future.

The housing protocol

In its ascent the building is designed as a hybrid structure that goes along the natural forces and not against it. The stilted prototype permits the flow of water amongst its columns breaking the power of ocean through perforated absorptions rather than the creations of barriers. Housing here is seen as shelter and sanctuary. Akin to a tree the roots are nurtured not by technology but by local content. The bamboo, christened as the new steel takes on a new avataar as the material of choice for the innovative design and tectonics for its light weight tensile strength and local idiom. However the core designed defies the flexibility of bamboo and stands steadfast and resolute as the services pivot. Here practicality prevails as it acts both as the refuge and rescue core in the face of disaster.


"After a thorough evaluation and deliberation undertaken by seven international judges last January 13, 2011, the design has been awarded GREEN DESIGN for the Professional/Graduates Category." - DATE secretariat  


competition website : http://www.designagainsttheelements.org/

Design team

Arch. Komal Gupta

Arch. Sakshi Kumar

Arch. Siripurapu Monish Kumar

Arch. Vasanth Packirisamy

Arch. Vikas Sharma

Bullet Dairies 03-01-11

The story goes like this...

As usual, on the night of 1-1-11, I had parked my bike behind my flat in the service lane (in a gated colony)... when I came down in the morning, me and vikas discovered that my bike is missing and the clutch wire... of his bike broken. It was on hour of complete blankness... I tried unfolding thousand folds in my grey matter... nothin convincing... I parked it there, now its not there... guard had left after his night shift... mayb someone tried there hands on vikas bike also, his bike had a handle lock, mine didnt, so its gone... I did the most obvious thing nyone would do, I dailled 100 and lodged a complaint, After 20 mins I recieved a call from amar colony police station that they received the complaint. I went to the police station and after a brief talk, they asked me to check the back yard... its right there parked with a lot of other bikes. A cop pointed out that there are many other bullets too, didnt understand their intention, I was just left guessing... 'My bike is not stolen, but picked by the cops from the colony'... didnt understand the logic why they picked this, nevertheless I was happy to see it again... after 10hrs of drama and running round officials in different police stations, its back on roads now...

moral of the story: GET A HANDLE LOCK!

 

BAD co. motorcycles

Royal Enfield standard, 1984 model. I bought it last year in the month of September. It was in bad shape when I got it. I got it repaired and started riding it from  2 October 2009. Got the shockers, Rims and drum-kit replaced with new parts. After 10k kilometers in 11 months i decided in September to modify the bike. It took two and a half months for it to hit the roads as I have been monitoring the entire process with couple of friends who are as crazy as me about bikes.

I always wanted a classic look yet modified slightly. I replaced the petrol tank with a modified one which has a provision to attach map holder in long trips. the cap is off-centered complimenting the speedometer. Rear mudguard is broadened. The front mudguard was also broadened initially, which was giving a heavy look to the already heavy bike. I decided to go for a 'G2' mudguard which gave a slightly lighter appeal. Seat is made with thin cushion with springs. I was very much doubtful about the thin cushion on the seat.  Its a joy to ride as springs are functioning too good. I will be tested soon it in a long trip once the engine opens up. I had to work on the electrical part of the bike,as i didn't want to see the coil and wires under the seat. I made provision under the tank, with the chasey to hold the necessary plugs. I didn't want the coil and other wires to go into the tool box, as I'm planning to remove the tool boxes and air filter box in future.

I would like to go for a very much lighter look. Rear mudguard is also made longer to avoid the smaller mudguard which comes by default to hold the coil in old bike. removing the coil and wiring from under the seat made it much cleaner and i could avoid the use of wiring plate under the seat. The front head light is best modification in the bike. Though it was slightly expensive to change the old kit . It was worth the buy. This is the magical addition which brought the class I was looking for! I had to cut the 'kaan' and put a 'V' shaped kaan to make the head light more visible. I was completely against using crash rods and rear view mirrors initially. Its the least I can do avoid the First scratch!

Louvers - controlled air flow

This diagram displays the traditional louver mechanism pivoted with a vertical plane. the plane remains vertical at all possible positions of the louver. the air flow and dust can be controlled with simple mechanism. Jaalis work best for the vertical plane (personnel choice),  though plastic or glass can get a modern touch to the facade. Jaali can set diffused light patterns inside. The rhythmic play of light and shadows can set various moods.

RS - Initial stages

North block

East block

West block

 

Bachi's House

SHIFTboston - 'moon capital 2010' competition entry