The day started with a brief introduction about the whole design week for Architectural Technologist before the students of Chichester and Hazelwick College arrive to join the group. Our Group is originally formed of 3 AT students, 1 year 12 from Hazelwick College and 1 on his 2nd year of college from Chichester. When everyone got assigned to their groups we had a little introduction to each other about our own fields to see where we can have an advantage by using what we already know as a group.
We got introduced to the client to start the design week properly he introduces the whole class to the project and talked about the key points for us to focus on for the whole week. As an Architectural Technology student this gave me an idea of what it will be like to be in front of the client in real project situation as this will be happening a lot during my career.
The first presentation was held by John Smith he’s been in this industry professionally for 8 years. The presentation was initially about containers along with its properties and ability to perform to certain conditions needed. It then moved to turning it into a portable cabin or temporary shelter which can possibly be a permanent when it is improved and proven to have a good thermal and overall indoor performance. John showed us some examples of how these shipping containers can turned into functional buildings there are a lot of creative ways it can work.
At 2:00 pm anothe rpresentation is provided by our own University of Brighton lecturer, Noel Painting. The lecture was focus on the containters cost and workability to be used for an architectural purposes. In addition part of Noel’s presentation was about maximixing the containers space for example an external insulation and cladding instead of placing it inside which eliminates some space in the caravan to work with. However interms of transportation Noel recomended that its a deatachable external wall to avoid damage and maintain its properties. Moreover another part of the lecture was how to maintain a self-sufficient eco-cabin and its suntanability as a whole. Some factors given are using wind and solar power, collecting rain water to be cleaned or used as gray water for toilets are only some to improve the performance of the eco-cabin.
Later that day Group Dunster have been sharing ideas to produce designs and possibile features that can be added into the container to give extra space and ipmrove its sustainability. The first feature added was a side opening for windows and door to have natural light and ventilation for the cabin. The external panel will be turned into a canopie which gives additional shelter to work with another reason this is added was to protect the windows and doors being damaged when transported.
During the design development another feature was added to the eco-cabin to add space externally. Decking was added between the foundation that can be pulled out to add external space to use and in when its being transported. In addition there are some developments to the canopie further in sharing ideas with the group. We encoutered a problem with lifting the whole side of the canopie therefore we have decided to be split into three deifference pieces which will allow easy movement and decrease the weight when it being lifted.
By the end of the day we had another development for the cabin to increase lighting and ventilation throughout the whole space. The roof will be lifted up and down to increase lighting and ventilation throughout the whole spcae. After the developing stage we produced a rough layout and external apperance of cabin. The design includes a ramp connected to the decking for disabled access and solar pannels to store electricity and heat solar pannels for heating water. The rain water can easily be collected due to the raised canopie and angled rood which will beused inside the structure.
To conclude todays blog there will be set task for tomorrow will mostly be research for the features with the design, develop sketches and manage the cost already spent for the eco-cabin.