Thursday, March 21, 2013
new community living idea
Through my research I've learned that many families live in groups of houses together in the same area. They often live in separate houses based on gender or generation. At first I thought my houses could be grouped in a similar way, but now I'm thinking one house can be used for multiple groups using separation of living spaces.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Traditional housing
In rural areas, several round or rectangular mud huts enclosed in an area
comprise a family's homestead. The frame is built by tying vines
around sticks and palm frond stems. A mixture of sand, water, and often
cement is then used to fill in the structure and a grass roof completes
the home. Families often move their homestead to be near their new fields,
or if termites have destroyed their roof. At times, new homes are built on
top of the old field, so that after several years, the newly fertilized
land can be used again. Each hut serves a different purpose: some are for
cooking, others are for storage, and there are guest huts and separate
rooms for the male and female children, who usually sleep on handwoven
raffia mats placed upon the ground. Traditional homesteads are as diverse
as their owners. They may be large or small, extremely clean or left in
neglect.
In the areas surrounding cities, large shantytowns have emerged. Usually the small homes are made of corrugated iron in these areas. Given the extreme heat during most of the year, these homes are often swelteringly hot. In general, the quality of life in the urban shanties is lower than that of the rural areas. In some urban areas, however, better homes or apartments are available for the rich who drive Western automobiles and wear suits. Large government buildings made of modern materials symbolize the wealth of the politically powerful.
In the areas surrounding cities, large shantytowns have emerged. Usually the small homes are made of corrugated iron in these areas. Given the extreme heat during most of the year, these homes are often swelteringly hot. In general, the quality of life in the urban shanties is lower than that of the rural areas. In some urban areas, however, better homes or apartments are available for the rich who drive Western automobiles and wear suits. Large government buildings made of modern materials symbolize the wealth of the politically powerful.
Most rural
Congolese live within a family compound. The compound is a plot of
land where family members build adjoining houses. - See more at:
http://www.endingextremepoverty.org/housing/#sthash.dzH7OyaD.dpuf
Most rural
Congolese live within a family compound. The compound is a plot of
land where family members build adjoining houses. - See more at:
http://www.endingextremepoverty.org/housing/#sthash.dzH7OyaD.dpuf
Most rural
Congolese live within a family compound. The compound is a plot of
land where family members build adjoining houses. -
Thursday, February 28, 2013
More about the atrium house
http://www.arch.mcgill.ca/prof/schoenauer/arch528/lect05/n05alec5.htm
We often use ancient ideas to create new designs. In this case, I needed a water collection system that wouldn't require extra expenses outside building the house itself. The Roman atrium house began as a single story structure with a small opening in the roof. This hole is how the house gets its name. Originally the hole was just a small opening to let smoke out of a hearth below. Over time it developed into a water collection system. Rain would flow down the roof, which was tilted into the center, and into a pool inside the center of the house. That pool would drain into a cistern from which the residents would take their drinking and bathing water.
The design of the water collection system of the atrium house is a good starting point for my design for the DRC house.
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