Project 'Habitat' 3. Result

Constructive structure of the building – monolith, reinforced concrete outer walls 200mm and 200 and 150mm inner walls.
One column 200x200mm in the middle of living zone supports large span (7500mm) roof construction – timber beam.
Concrete – good material for sculptural purpose and it makes load bearing constructions as thin as possible.

'Slate - a metamorphic rock type that splits easily in one preferred direction and is highly impermeable at
right angles to the cleavage planes' Professor Rob Duck
Slate is the most typical roof material at Kenmore. I used this material to make building fitting in regional context, because of good technical qualities of this material and with sustainable approach – to
use local material.

1. Concrete (recycled) wall
2. Natural and local insulation (hemp wool, sheep wool)
3. Concealed gutter
4. 5. Slate panels for roof and walls
6. Window head panel
7. Window sill panel

The interior of the house is painted in white as contrast to dark gray exterior. White colour makes inner spaces more spacious.
The contrast as way of expression is very important in the design of this house. Contrast between outer - inner, building and local architecture (in same time respect local context) and between inhabitant's lifestyles.
Common feature – clients are strong, individualistic persons. Therefore materials are simple, natural and functional.

Section shows some sustainable solutions, for example:

*‘Massive’ roof and wall’s cover with slate panels provide
good ‘thermal inertia’ - house slowly accumulate heat and
and conduct to inner space.

*Rainwater collecting for reuse.

*Natural ventilation with heat recuperation.

*Windows are located according to views and insolation.

*Heated concrete walls and floors.

*Thermal heat pumps with energy gathering from a lake.

N elevation

E elevation

SW elevation

View from local road over Loch Tay

View from Pier road

Interior view - living room

Interior view - Bella's area

...see more images at STUDY WORKS.

Project 'Habitat' 2. Process

From the very beginning of presence at Kenmore and the first sketches I have thought about relationships between my design and its surroundings – local townscape, the lake and the hills.

In the book ' Thinking Architecture', Peter Zumthor writes, that architecture that is made entirely only from tradition and by dictates of its site is false and without connection to contemporary world. Whereas architectural design speaks only contemporary approach without sense of its site, this design does not fit in its environment and has not found its place.

I found very important to follow this idea and pay close attention to the dialogue between projected house and the environment where it sits and to find a balance between these extremes.

The most important aspect in the process of designing my idea was clients. Their needs, habits and life style is totally different, therefore I decided build my idea on something which represents these contraries. The first sketches shows very ordinary scheme – living volume along the street side and perpendicular volume for common needs. 

In process of sketching crystallises the idea about triangular form of the house's plan with functional argument – individualistic inhabitants need separate space. Each of 3 inhabitants could accommodate another (their own) 'corner' of the house.   
  

For me designing always starts from plans - to locate functions and get notion about scale

Volumetric model: blue colour – Tony, green - Bella, red – Tracy, yellow – common area,
black – garage and technical room.

This is base of further countless transformations in ground floor plan.

Triangular form in a plan is simple and strong and it demands strongly articulated 3^rd dimension - walls, roofs, elevations.

The first sketches had very simple, static and

conventional design.

Triangular form in plan is dynamic – 3 corners pull form each to another direction. It demands dynamic in the 3^rd dimension too.

In process of designing form I worked with models to gain

proportions and dynamic and dialogue with surrounding environment.

The main idea of this solution was getting better insolation in

deep living space simultaneously avoiding over shining.

Insolation in Tracy's and living area

on the SW side of the house

SW elevation 

E elevation

Insolation in Tony's and Bella's area

on the E side of the house

Weak point of this solution is rhythm of openings which makes the

whole volume more fragile and flimsy. 

And then I got final solution - where Tracy's volume get 

analogue form as two storey volume where live Tony and Bella. 

Argument – high space for artist needs.

 

Final stage - two solutions for form and location of openings. 

  

 

More static solution

More dynamic solution








And the winner is... dynamic solution with spontaneously located 

windows.