Group Blog –
Monday
Laura Pomfret –
Throughout the duration of the day the group incorporated all of the colleges equally and I feel that we bonded really well and produced some good ideas. Team Dunster were quick to come up with a range of ideas but we also went through the viability and buildability of the alternative ideas which enabled us to move on and decide which ideas which should follow through and which ideas would not be appropriate for this specific project.
After the presentations given by a range of different tutors or professions, we devleoped an initial concept design quickly, which I was surprised about due to just meeting some of our team members as well as working in a group with such a wide range of different ideas and perspectives on ideas. Throughout the course of the day we provided a range of quick sketches, which enabled us to develop the idea quickly, as well as communicating aspects, which could not be sufficiently explained otherwise.
Although we communicated different developments of the design through sketches some members of the team may not have understood which ideas we were going with, and therefore I feel as though there was an aspect of miscommunication with some of the team members at stages of the design. However, once drawing a final sketch at the end and incorporating all of the different ideas, everyone caught up with all of the different components and ideas, which we had decided to use within the structure. During the progression of the day, each individual had ideas and influences to incorporate within the project, which was the main aspect, which made the day successful due to the range of knowledges and initial concept designs.
Aidan Crowder
the first thing that happened was assign the groups. our groups had two students form Chichester collage and one student that came form hasilwick school and three AT students from Brighton University. the task was to make an eco friendly portable cabin home that ran of the grid.
what the group did yesterday was look at what was the most suitable/ user friendly type of portable house that fitted with the description in the brief, which stated that it had to be portable but last a minimum of ten years. we had a lecture who talked to us about container boxes, his name was John Smith. after what we heard form the lecture the group decided on the container box. the purpose that the group chose to use the container box was because they are sturdy and are built to take punishment as they are used for shipping thing around the world. adding to this the group also took in account how much a container cost. what the group found out was that they didn’t cost as mush as other materials. Containers veryred between 1500 and 800 pounds depending on where they from. Moreover they have a special metal that coats the outside of the container which gradually rusts. this rust helps protect the container on the long term. it also eliminated how we where going to build the eco cabin as a container is already pre built. we decided to use a 20 foot container to be the eco cabin. Reasons was that it could only take up about 10 meters of space for just for one cabin. and 20 foot container is about 6.1 meters long which made it more ideal for our cause.
the group went in and had a look at designs that where currently being used on container homes from around the world. by looking at these ideas the group came up with ideas that could work well for the eco cabin / home. however one of the members pointed out that the cabin had to be suitable for people with disablitys (people in wheel chairs mainly). so the everyone went and had a look at how homes where made user friendly for people with disabiltys. they where things such as height of the kitchen tables and cookers.
energy and water supply to the eco cabin was the next stage that the group looked in to. it was decided that the eco cabin was going to use solar panels to generate its energy, but we also looked at heating water solar panels so that the eco cabin would have a supply of hot water running though it. tanks are fitted at the bottom of the cabin one for waste water and one for clean fresh drinking water. they where fitted at the bottom of the cabin this was because firstly they are out sight form the occupants, secondly it reduces the chances of bacteria from growing if the sun contentiously on it. and mainly it is easier to access the tanks if they are at the bottom of the eco cabin.
Kevin Padilla –
At the start of the day AT students worked on the project as a group of three giving out initial ideas for the Eco-cabin. When the students from Chichester & Hazelwick College joined the group they weren’t really confident enough with in the group to share ideas therefore they were listening to us most of the time. However further in the day because the group have spoken and got to know each other so as a group we were working together better than earlier that day. The results of the teamwork were pretty good there are more ideas coming, the development stage was quicker and the rough idea for the Eco-cabin was finalized by the end of the day. On Monday it would’ve been better if we decided what method or we will use to make the Eco-cabin earlier that day for us to have more time to work on it as a group and to make sure everyone is on the same page. As a whole the group did very well with sharing ideas and design development to improve the Eco-cabin. The day was very productive and I think it went well.
Tuesday
Laura Pomfret –
On Tuesday, all students were at their own individual colleges and therefore we could only communicate via technology. During the duration of the day we used Whatsapp to communicate ideas as well as sending eachother images of the development of sketches as well as receiving images of the progression of the model. Haroon from Hazelwick School had a disadvantage, as he was limited to the amount of time the School had dedicated to the project on this day and therefore it was more difficult for Haroon to progress.
Kevin, Aidan and I were at the University of Brighton for the day and we focused on developing the internal layout of the structure, as well as detailing and the materials used. In my opinion this day was the least successful throughout the whole week as we tackled the limitations of the restricted space within the container. If we did this project again, I would have assigned different tasks to all three Architectural Technology students, rather than all of us focusing on the type of furniture we would use, sourcing this type of furniture and working out the internal layout. Personally I feel like this day could have been utilised better; however we did have the information required for the model-making day on Wednesday.
Aidan Crowder
the AT group from the university went to work on how the house would function these where things such as where the bed, kitchen etc would go and fit. we also started to do drawings scaled down to the size of 1:50 this proved to be very difficult because of the space in the container was so limited. we had to try many times before things started to fit in place that would work. we got most of our insprations form looking at caravans for they have to work with limited space. but we also looked at other containers homes that use the same size container as us. so to save space we decided to have the waste tank stored under the container and the rainwater tank. we also stared to look at prices for materials that where going to be placed in the container. the student from Chichester collage went and started the models main frame which was the containers main frame. the groups main aim was to make the container user friendly, easy to assemble.
Kevin Padilla –
On Tuesday the Chichester & Hazelwick college students stayed in their college to do individual work for the Eco-cabin. The AT students stayed in University of Brighton to do extra research for the features added onto the cabin and initial sketches. During the day we kept contact with the others to keep updates especially with Sam from Chichester because of the model making. As a group we agreed to divide the research with in the AT students and Haroon from Hazelwick to gather information quicker. In addition Tuesday was more of a individual research to help the group to have a faster phase on doing the whole project. I think the day went well in terms of improving the cabin by performance and sustainability which was quicker than we thought this is because of the combined information gathered as a group before the end of the day. I think the day went very well and we worked as a group even though we are not together for the whole day. Tuesday went well because of our great communication skills to one another to keep updates if needed. Overall the day was very productive.
Wednesday
Laura Pomfret –
On Wednesday all students were at Chichester College to assist with the model making. It was so interesting for the students from different colleges to see the wide range of facilities that the college incorporated; the facilities provided enabled a high quality model. In comparison to the modelling studio at the University of Brighton, we wouldn’t have had the space to accommodate all of the students as well as the vast scale (1:5) models; therefore I feel that we were able to produce a better model within an efficient and recourseful college.
In my opinion, I also think that by constructing the models we were able to see a different side to the designing process rather than just the design of our eco-cabin on paper. We were able to physically represent and visualise our structure, which also assisted the presentation of the project to the client and tutors on Friday.
From my perspective, it was also a challenge being at a different college. Due to my unfamiliarity with model making and using timber to make a model to that vast scale, I felt like it was a challenge for me, however I did enjoy it. Due to the short period of time for this project, Aidan and I had to carry on with the costings and drawings of the structure, which I felt a few students from each group staying at the University of Brighton could have benefited our group more, as it would have been more benefitial for me to use the drawings boards and those facilities.
Aidan Crowder
the University of Brighton students went to Chichester collage to see the how the module was progressing. by going to Chichester collage the group could see how the furniture was going to fit in to the building. the module was 1 meter long and half a meter wide. and was made out of timber. as one member worked with one of the Chichester students to try and complete the module. me and a halilwick student went and completed the cost for the accessories that where going to be in the building. the cost had to be under 7000 pounds. the most expensive times where the container itself which came out to be 800 pounds and also the insulation which came to around to about 1000 pounds. but after 7 hours of researching we managed to find materials and items that come out to be 6089 pounds left which was around 1000 pounds.once the cost was figured out the me and the haliwick student went to see how the module was progressing
Kevin Padilla –
Wednesday was suppose to be focused on model making however we were behind with some decisions of materials, methods and costing managements therefore the group decided for some to do the extra research and the others to make the model. The whole day was about catching up with research that we thought was enough and make parts of the model as much as we can. I think day was rushed and it didn’t go as well as we planned. We would’ve had more time and worked on important stuff rather than catching up with stuff we left out. Over all we did well on catching up with some stuff for the project and we didn’t get to finish making the model on the day however it was pretty productive and there are still a lot to do. Therefore before the day end we set task to each other for the next day so when we can get on with it on the start of the day.
Thursday
Laura Pomfret –
On Thursday we were back at each of our individual colleges, and in my opinion this was one of the most successful and productive days in the week. Sam from Chichester College continued with constructing the model, which he produced to a very high quality. Aidan used the day to complete the sourcing of components and materials as well as costing them, and similarly Kevin utilised the day by providing studies on precedents with similar structures and architectural purposes for containers similar to ours. Similarly to Tuesday, I felt that Haroon had a disadvantage within the project as he had a very limited amount of time within the day to spend on the project.
Personally, this day was the most productive due to the finalisation of details and aspects of the design therefore we could collaboratively bring the research, detailing, development and drawings together to produce presentable materials. As I proposed to make the A1 presentation poster on a Microsoft software, this imposed the problem of one person compiling all of the information and drawings that had been created, therefore I spent most of the evening gathering the information, details and drawings to be able to present it all in a poster format. Other groups had left the creation of their poster until Friday morning before the presentations, however I am glad that the poster was finished before Friday morning to allow for printing and final touches to the model, as well as preparation for our presentation which many other groups did not have time for.
Aidan Crowder
we where back at Brighton. while the Chicester collage students worked on the module trying to complete it for Friday. what the university of Brighton students did was complete the drawings for the presentation for the next day. we where also finalizing the we where most concerned in how much we had used considering that we new that it would not surpass 7000 pounds. regardless we double checked to make sure that everything all added up to what we had
Kevin Padilla –
Thursday is another day where the group is split. The AT students are again focused on research and sketches, Haroon from Hazelwick is also on research team and Sam is working on the model. Thursday was very productive this is because of our team leader. The group was still behind with cost management, research and sketches therefore the group leader took action to assign us with the task and push us for the work to get it done. By the end of the day everything was done this is because we gave extra time to do more work and it was quick but the quality is good. On the same day Sam from Chichester college did a solid model making which he got it done. We would’ve had more time to work and done all the computer stuff as soon as possible so we wouldn’t have rushed everything by the last day before the presentation. The day was a great team effort and especially for team leader.
Friday
Laura Pomfret –
Friday consisted of: printing of the poster, final touches to the model, preperation for presentation, the presentation itself, as well as watching and learning from other groups projects and presentations. This day was very successful from my perspective, the poster was printed quickly and we were the first group to pin our poster up, therefore we had more time to finish the model and prepare for our presentation. Very minor additions were required for the model, such as just adding tracing paper and a couple of timber dowels to allow for the front fascia to be propped open.
Before the presentation we allowed time to make sure each individual within the group had knowledge of all sections of the structure as well as which specific section they felt more comfortable talking about. This was extremely benefitial to our group presentation as personally, I felt like the presentation was very successful and we filled the ten minute designated slot sufficiently with expanding upon eachothers explanations.
Once our presentation was complete, I felt like I learnt a large amount from listening to other groups presentations as well as reading their posters to understand their chosen components and openings. Throughout the whole week I learnt a large amount from my group peers as well as other groups. Due to colleges mizing, we were placed in groups with students that were studying a wide range of courses and therefore everyone had a different perspective to produce throughout the week.
Aidan Crowder
On Friday we had to present our modules and our research work to the other groups and our lecturers. the Haysilwick student came down to Brighton university and also the Chicester collage students. the students form chichester brought down with them the models to Brighton university that where finished. before presenting our work we did some final touch up to modules such as adding on the solar panels to to the roof of the building.
Kevin Padilla –
This day was very successful due to the preparation for the whole presentation, finishing up the model, and learning while listening to other groups presentation. In addition the cooperation of the groups to one another is a great factor to learn with this project which is one of the reason why this day went smooth and as planned. It was great having people in our group coming from different fields to cooperate into one project where you can see different perspective on different angles that you’ve never thought of. I’ve learnt a lot during the design week just by listening and working with other people.