A.1.

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
(Option 1) "Good residential design is required for a high quality of life, positive attitude and a sense of community. That architecture is both an art and a strict science. As an art, architecture demands sensitivity to the visual world and a person's perception of their environment through sight, sound and touch. As a science, architecture requires physical surroundings that are safe, efficient and durable. (Option 2) Promoting healthy living and to create a new sustainable community to help ensure that the quality of life for existing and new users would dramatically increase. (Option 3) What matter is what housing does for people rather than what it is."

(Option 4) A building should touch the heart and soul of its users, but also should fulfill its functional purpose and balance. (Option 5) Form follows maximum balance at varying priorities.

A.2. DESIGN GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

To design a structure that includes user participation as a primary ingredient enabling the users to make decisions concerning the design of their own living environment as a stepping stone toward community self-sufficiency.

To design a complete building components and construction methods based upon recyclable, regionally based, indigenous materials that can be utilized under severe economic conditions and respect ecological parameters.

To design a self-sufficient services and utility sub-systems (i.e., energy, water and waste treatment) based upon renewable resources.

To design a structure and its surrounds (at site level) in such a way to avoid it being flooded (e.g. by raising it above flood level, re-siting outside flood risk area etc.)

To design a building in such a way to prevent floodwater entering the building and damaging its fabric.

Develop a master plan for an urban housing development that can be applied to similar areas. Integrate development that addresses the sustainability of the community by understanding the local economic, social, and environmental attributes.

A.3. DESIGN PROBLEMS

1. IMPACT OF INCREASED WIND AND RAIN LOADS The higher wind and rain loads needs to be assessed for the impact on the structure, attachment of cladding elements, and a variety of other issues that are commonly considered in the design and construction of medium-rise buildings.

2. SPECIFIED RATINGS FOR WINDOWS Increased exposure conditions and thus higher loads dictate specification of higher performance levels for windows, both in terms of structural performance and water penetration resistance. In addition to the increase in wind loads, the calculation that is used to determine an appropriate water penetration performance class will also increase by approximately 10% when considering an increase in building height from 4 to 6 storeys. The result of the increase in loading is that some window assemblies that have been used in low rise buildings may not provide adequate performance in taller 5- 6 storey buildings.

3. CUMULATIVE RUN-OFF Water that impacts on the walls and windows during wind driven rain events accumulates as in runs down the building to grade level. Features such as drip flashings encourage water to drip free of the building minimizing the impact of wetting on the components and materials below. However, it is likely that in many circumstances there will be more water accumulating on the lower levels of walls and windows in 6 storey buildings when compared with similar 4 storey buildings. This accumulation of run-off needs to be considered in designing the water shedding surface features of the building envelope. It may also be a factor in the selection of a more robust water penetration control strategy, and in the selection of more moisture tolerant materials. 4. MAINTENANCE AND RENEWAL All buildings will require maintenance and renewals activities to be undertaken over their lifespan. Decisions made during the design stage of a project will impact on the ease and cost of future maintenance and renewal activities

5. SIZE and FORMS Buildings with L, T, E and other similar plan layouts, where the wings have a length greater than the base width should be separated into rectangular building sections that avoid reentrant diaphragm corners (see the sketches provided below).

DIAGRAM # 1: CIRCULAR PLAN

Advantages: 1. Panoramic views of the site from any units of the MRBs 2. Clear separation of space: Center: elevator core Inner Circle: circulation space Outer Circle: supporting space Disadvantages: 1. Limited usage of the site. 2. Higher cost of construction. 3. Custom made furniture may be required to adapt to curving shape.

DIAGRAM # 2: L- SHAPED PLAN

Advantages: Good circulation flow from public to private spaces. Lobby acts as a circulation core distributing the flow of people to either end of the structure. Disadvantages: Limited usage of the space provided by the site. The view from a significant amount of rooms is poor.

DIAGRAM # 3: V- SHAPED PLAN

Advantages: Typical modern layout that has proved efficient in others commercial type of structure Outstanding views can be found in any room. Curving ends of the plan allow for the placement of retail shops with panoramic views.

Disadvantages: Concerns Over desiring the area with too many people. Where are they going to park, will the utilities handle the increase. How many can fit on the site before they exceed the occupancy level of the community. Sharp corners of the MRBs may be difficult to furnish, lowering the efficiency of the design. Southern-facing rooms may require additional cooling and/or sun shading.

Parking How many spaces should I provide for the residents and the business and total?

Economics Will more units at a lower unit price increase the dollars collected or just more checks to collect? Costs Will it be affordable to live in this unit? Who is this benefiting, the owner or the residents? What is the relationship between the unit total and resident total for the new and the existing? Is there a change in the ratio?

Parking Not everyone will have a car and must do not need one. The public transportation in the area is ample for moving about the city. Aiming for one parking space for every three units, about 180 cars will be adequate enough. This includes the commercial spaces too. Parking spaces are to be rented separately to residents.

Space Small units need to be flexible in the arrangement of the furniture so to allow individualization of personal space. By allowing possibilities the units will take on their own life. To have a single open floor plan with only the bathroom, receiving an exemption of an enclosure is a choice.

Multiple Functions The cleaver use of design to serve more than one function. Combining functions saves space. By using the cabinets as steps to the loft eliminates the need for a ladder or stairs, both of which take up a lot of valuable space.

Flexible Space Through the uses of hinged spaces, uses of rooms are able to be converted. By opening or closing doors, areas are transformed. A closed door acts as a partition wall which not only divides the space but allows for a private activity behind. This manipulation of partitions allows a bed to be concealed, a kitchen to be expanded, a living room to grow with a crowd. This also allows for changing requirements of the occupants. When a child moves out, a room can be given back to the common space. In Japan, when a parent moves back, the room can be converted to accommodate them

Additions of new units Are done to break down the vast expanses between buildings. Now when you stand in the middle of the existing parking lot you are lost in scale. The addition of these masses and the creation of two smaller courtyards will break down the scale and make it a more habitable space between the buildings. They will close off the end of the courtyard and will make the center more secure and strengthen the street facades The community spaces Will be positioned between the deep courtyard and further add to the interaction of the residence from different wings of the block. Allowing more natural daylight Into the lower units through the orientation of the other buildings. These angles are balance between function and form. I increased the space between the buildings to allow the light to enter deeper. The angles are to allow day light to stay in the space longer.

Parking One space for every three units Ground Level Parking that is covered, allows a roof deck for a court yard. This maintains the openness and allows for the parking to be concealed. Reorientation of the exterior circulation and addition of more vertical circulation is also important

A.4. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

The relationship between the built and the natural environments - Designing and building to compliment ecological/geological systems and their workings.

Community-regional support systems and functions for development.

Transportation and utility design. (configuration, hierarchy and location)

Community development and growth patterns. (density, capacity, scale, and size)

Design and patterns of open space. (social/natural infrastructure)

Housing and neighborhood design.

Individual and building group design. (configuration and location)

Emergency management function design (preparation, response, and recovery) for egress, access, shelter use and location, and staging areas.

Community facility location and capacity. (hospitals, fire and police stations, and administrative offices)

Utilizing maintenance and rehabilitation management as an important mitigation tool.