PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND INTENT
The Foundation
We are a bunch of intelligent, accomplished, and passionate people engaged in social entrepreneurship.
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We are painting a sustainable future with many stakeholders in an inclusive, living thing.
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Our business is to create!
The Design-in-Progress Lab
Sustainability is the next direction in planning, architecture, interior design and construction. New technologies and standards for building design, materials, energy efficiency, and environmental protection are changing those industries as we know them. The changes are calling for a new type of professional.
In response, we are excited and proud to announce the launch of Design-in-Progress, an evolutionary applied research lab modelled after Auburn University’s Rural Studio. Its mission is to create educational opportunities for the practical application of knowledge, within the earth’s limits. As a sustainable enterprise, it will maintain a philosophical commitment to the core values of self-reliance, innovation, diversity, and environmental stewardship.
The Design-in-Progress innovation aims to be strategically partnered with Humber College to provide a high quality ‘learn-by-doing’ environment. The curriculum combines unique research and lab experiences as part of a rigorous immersion in greening the built-environment. We will be preparing leading edge green building professionals through direct industry engagement, project based learning, and hands-on experiences that extend education beyond paper.
This strategic alliance aims to be endorsed by the CaGBC, Cradle-to-Cradle and alike. It will develop an international presence by advocating a philosophical commitment to constructivist pedagogy and environmental stewardship. It will promote an evidence based design process whereby participants progressively integrate green sensibilities into the design process, technology, and construction.
The intent is to supplement the education current and graduating design students receive through learn-by-doing projects that are small-scale, hands-on, and focused on community outreach. Part design school; part trade school, the program emphasis will be on engaging the student body with industry partners through real life experiences.
The innovation is a formulation of the Foundation for Sustainable Enterprise. The intent is to develop more than just great designers; we want to create business leaders.
The Learning Environment
The manufacturing operation and research lab would be run out of a nearby 44,000 SF vacant and up-to-date industrial building connected to a railway spur line, accessible by GO transit from Toronto and Newmarket.
An Ecological Narrative
The threehouse Net-Zero design-build work is one of several projects intended to embody our vision of sustainability and modern design at an affordable price point. Its green vocabulary elucidates 5 sustainable principles: wise land use, a judicious approach to the earth’s resources, high indoor air quality, attunement to the sun, and high-performance energy efficiency. The building is designed to generate its own energy from renewable sources, harvest rain water and manage its own waste. Its aim is to produce as much energy as it produces while promoting occupant health and environmental responsibility.
This pilot project will occur in the Town of Pefferlaw, located in Georgina Township located in the Lake Simcoe lowlands adjacent to the Black River. The landform is generally flat and is formed on the southerly edge by a steep embankment leading down to the river. This work values its form and ecological role and as intended as a narrative on regionalism, sustainable design, and contemporary building practices. The landscape design focuses on the re-naturalization of the riverbank with native, drought resistant local vegetation. An ecologically functional landscape is proposed that weaves sculptural form and ecological processes together.
The goal is to create a healthy, life-enhancing home in support of collective and independent activities in a modern, clean, and uncluttered composition. Its generous south-facing fenestrations offer brightness and permeability to the spaces, opening on to a variety of outdoor experiences. The low-maintenance, simple design is softened by vegetation within and on the building.
Local context and culture are considered as a means of expressing an evolving regional identity. Rooted in the vernacular, its reduced simple form acknowledges the agricultural and lakeside cottage roots of Georgina Township. The design synthesizes modernity and tradition, reinterpreting historical forms, materials, and construction techniques.
Sustainable Quotient
The green design philosophy is ‘net-zero’. Minimizing the ecological footprint in an attempt to create an ecologically benign home is our goal. We are aiming for a carbon neutral home, devoid of fossil fuels and their associated emissions.
We have formed an integrated design team working in collaboration with few boundaries between disciplines. The process is a celebration of the creative contributions of the client, suppliers, contractors, and tradespersons.
The project deploys both passive and active green design strategies and green materials in creative and energy efficient ways in pursuit of a rigorous LEED gold certification.
Ecologically Developed Site
Holistic approach to existing vegetation – saving mature trees and bird habitat
Cut and fill strategies to maintain soils on site
The modular nature of the building results in construction efficiency and minimal construction waste.
Erosion and sedimentation control measures
Earth berming at the guest building
Vehicular lawns of permeable porous paving;allow rainwater seepage and percolation to mitigate run-off
Vegetative green roofs reduce storm water run-off
Rainwater is harvested and stored providing all the water necessary for irrigation. A water purification system starts with filtration in a gravel /sand filled bed under the courtyard floor and concludes with the water discharging through a granular filtration system on the riverbank (mimicking the natural path that rain follows when it passes through the ground to a spring)
Landscape planting with Native and drought resistant vegetation
Re-naturalization of the riverbank to restore habitat and mitigate storm water runoff
Planning
The house is oriented with air circulation, views, and solar gain in mind.
The garage is detached for health benefits.
Foundations
High performance insulated concrete foundations (ICF);
High thermal mass straw bale construction at the coach house;
Fly-ash concrete reduces embodied energy related to standard portland cement based concrete
Wood Products
Engineered Structural Grid, Wood Joists and Beams of recycled content
FSC Certified framing lumber and interior woodwork
High performance structural insulated panels (SIP) at exterior walls
Locally harvested lumber where possible
Recycled wood siding materials applied in a rain-screen technique
Roofs
Green roofs over the main volume and guest building
Windows and Doors
Low ‘E’ argon filled thermally efficient windows
South walls to have majority windows
Windows at north facing walls to be triple glazed
Interior Finishes and Materials:
Salvaged, re-used, and recyclable timber products for trim
New formaldehyde free cabinetry and millwork with FSC certified cores
Flooring options of reclaimed plank flooring, bamboo, cork, concrete, and stone
Strategically located natural stone and exposed concrete flooring for thermal mass
Fabrics and window coverings of natural synthetics
Low VOC paints, coatings and water-based lacquers
(Not Used: drywall)
Electrical and Plumbing Systems
Smart house technology
Energy efficient and water saving appliances.
Energy efficient lighting
Water saving plumbing fixtures
Solar powered incinerating toilet or composting toilet (easy access panel to remove ash)
Solar hot water heating of water supply
Water Collection and Water Treatment Systems
Water consumption is reduced by water recycling , composting toilets that require no water to operate, the use of water efficient washing machine and dishwasher, low flow showerheads and taps. (water 80% recycled)
Potable water and grey water recycling are separate systems
Collection of rainwater for irrigation.
Passive Design Strategies – to Attain Energy Efficiency in Heating and Cooling
Ventilation:
Natural ventilation strategies to minimize the need for air conditioning
Natural stack effect draws the air through the courtyard to the roof and drawn out through the ventilating upper windows
Cross ventilation strategies occur when windows are open
Stone thermal chimney for stack effect ventilation
Reverse direction ceiling fans assist in the movement of warm or cool air as necessary
A living wall in the courtyard oxygenates the interior spaces while cleaning and cooling air
Indoor Air Quality
Air is continuously filtered through the living wall to remove pollutants
Off-gassing minimized through no VOV materials and finishes
Building breathes through natural ventilation
Solar Income
Passive solar orientation
Deciduous shade trees at south and evergreens at north as winter wind break
South walls to have most windows, north walls to be triple glazed
Control of sun exposure/ natural light through exterior slats and louvers
Heating and Cooling:
High thermal mass vegetative roof reduces cooling loads and super-insulates during the heating season
Vegetation planted on the perimeter of the house absorbs heat from the sun
Thermal Mass:
Achieved through the green roof, ICF walls, and straw bale walls maintains a stable temperature and reduces air conditioning loads.
Concrete floor slab modulates solar gains
Active Design Strategies to complete Energy Efficiency Needs
Solar Collection
Harvesting sunlight for electricity and water
Photovoltaic panels on the courtyard roof - energy is stored in batteries and converted to usable power through an inverter. Alternatively, the system can be connected to the public utility grid to supply power.
Windows positioned to ensure that the sun’s rays reach deep into the house, and to allow the low rays of the winter sun to warm the interior floors
Heating and Cooling:
Radiant floor and ceiling heating in a closed loop system
Centrally located wood burning fireplace with a non-catalytic burn technology that assures clean, reliable and responsible burning
Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) with HEPA filter to recovers energy from the exhaust air and pre-heat incoming air
Vertical loop geothermal system provides heating and cooling
Wood burning fireplace
Cables and sensors to minimize energy consumption
HRV helps to maintain IAQ
Occupant Involvement
Integrated recycle centre built into kitchen, garage, and into storage bins for road side collection.
Compost area on site for uncooked food waste.
Flexible design / space planning.
Clothes line built into landscape to reduce the need for a clothes dryer.
Living roof potential could provide growing medium for vegetables.
Constructability
The construction process incorporates a modular or panelized system to be factory-built and shipped to the site for assembly. The precision of this process means less construction waste and a tighter, stronger, and more cost effective building. Constructing the modules and panels in a climate-controlled facility helps to prevent warping, mould, and other damage caused by weather. The panels also take less time to raise, reducing on-site construction time and cost.
The modular elements of the threehouse that form the subject of the ‘learn-by-doing’ educational initiative include the following:
Dynamic concrete slab
SIP panels
Heavy timber frame
Other materials, some modular, to be considered in this initiative include:
Rumford fireplace
Recycled interior fitments
Interior partitions and millwork
Interior finishes
Interior millwork
Photovoltaics - TBD
Solar hot water heating – TBD
Dynamic Concrete Slab
The cantilevered reinforced concrete floor slab at the threehouse has been designed to incorporate a majority of the heating and electrical services. The intent is to expose the concrete as a polished finish floor surface, with the option of pigmenting it.
Water fed, or hydronic, tubes will be buried in the concrete to comfortably warm the house with evenly distributed heat, with zone (area or room) controlled individually. An energy efficient gas boiler will provide hot water for this in-floor heating system while providing household water. This radiant floor heating system will be supplemented by reclaiming heat from the boiler and redistributing it in the house.
The thermal mass of the concrete floor will couple with sunshine to passively, and inexpensively, regulate temperature inside. Solar gains will be absorbed by day and released by night. South facing fully glazed fenestrations will be designed to permit solar access during the winter months when the sun is lower, while shielding it to prevent excess heat gains in the summer when the sun is higher.
The radiant floor heating system does double duty in the summer when it’s piping is filled with chilled water. In addition, the house will incorporate several planning and natural ventilation strategies to supplement the in-floor cooling. An air-exchanger will provide the only means of mechanical ventilation in the winter months.
Heating and cooling the house in this manner eliminates the need for a forced-air system thereby reducing energy consumption and improving air quality as no dust or pollutants are being blown around. The heating system will be further supplemented by a central wood burning fireplace.
Electrical conduit will be run through the slab to specified floor mounted receptacle locations serving the ground floor needs. Light boxes will be located at the underside of the slab to provide overhead lighting in the basement.
The Challenge: To design and mock-up this slab in the factory, Working from the structural engineering drawings, the plywood forms and rebar will be placed and coordinated with the radiant piping and electrical conduit. The outcome of the mock-up will be a shop drawing, or in this case an interference drawing, to be reviewed by the structural engineer and municipal building department for approval. All work will be overseen by professional concrete, plumbing, and electrical contractors.
SIP panels
The exterior walls are approximately 50% fully glazed, on the southern side, while the remainder of the walls toward the north utilize rainscreen technology. The rainscreen principle attacks the pressure differential problem by purposely leaving the joints in the façade open. This allows air to move freely between the exterior environment and the interior cavity, with the result is a pressure equalization between the two and minimizing water migration inward.
This rainscreen wall design incorporates a slatted timber screen on the exterior over wood strapping, perfected by an continuous air barrier, secured to stress skin or structural insulated panels (SIP). The SIPs are panels that are pre-manufactured by sandwiching foam insulation between two outer panels of plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), or metal. They possess excellent insulating qualities, strength, minimal waste, and require shorter construction times.
SIPs for this application will be twofold: non-structural panels at the exterior walls and load bearing panels for the flat green roof. The roof panels will be engineered and provided by a recognized manufacturer. The wall panels will be designed and built in the factory. The interior face is intended as ½” douglas fir (or alternate) good-one-side plywood while the exterior face plywood is to be ½” OSB. The total thickness of the panels is 6 ½” (R-28).
The wall panels will be custom designed for the particular use in dimensions of 4’ x 12’, running horizontally at the walls. The will be secured to a rigid heavy timber frame on a 12’ grid with special SIP screws. Horizontal wood purlins will be installed to provide backing every 4’. There will openings created for window fenestrations with wood bucks installed at the perimeter of the openings.
The Challenge: To design, detail, and mock-up the non-load bearing SIP panels in the factory and subsequently secure them to the heavy timber frame. the exterior elevations of the building must be designed to provide framed views, facilitate natural ventilation (high/low), and to conform to OBC requirements for unprotected openings.
Heavy timber frame
The integration of a heavy timber frame in the design pays homage to one of the first prefabricated wooden building types in the region: the timber post and beam barn. The threehouse structure has been designed as a rigid frame allowing for the use on non-load bearing wall skins and expanses of glazing. The structure has been designed using parallam (PSL) columns and beams. As with traditional barns utilizing mortise and tenon connections, nails are not used to construct the frame. This frame is locked together using modern technology: galvanized metal bolts and Simpson Strong-Tie connectors. These connectors provide maximum moment connection and uplift resistance capabilities.
The Challenge: To design, detail, and mock-up the heavy timber frame with dry connections as detailed.
Planning
Based on the revised conceptual plan, a design concept is required for the central plumbing module in the centre of the house. The module must include a cloak area, stackable washer/dryer, a multipurpose lavoratory to double as a laundry sink, 6’ countertop, vanity, a dual ensuite watercloset room, soaker tub, and walk-in shower.
The master suite is to be designed with a walk-in closet and screen wall creating views to the private courtyard between the house and the coach house.
The studio / guest room is to include a linear desk at the glazed punch-out and a Murphy bed for guest accommodations. This room is to function as a studio but act like a gallery. It is to be accessed by a folding glazed door assembly (similar to Nana wall technology). A living wall is desirable in this area.
The stair to the basement is to be constructed with off-cuts from the parallam heavy timber frame structure. The railings and guards are to be tempered glass.
A central Rumford fireplace of dry laid rubble stone is to be designed as a cooking fireplace addressing the kitchen (see below). It is also to include voids to act as a thermal chimney inducing natural air ventilation.
Power outlets must be located in the floor to accommodate function and meet OBC requirements for spacing. These locations must be coordinated with the dynamic slab mock-up.
The Challenge: To design, draw(CADD) the interior plan and 3D images for the northern portion of the building.
Rumford fireplace
Invented in 1796, the Rumford fireplace burns more efficiently than a traditional fireplace and if constructed properly does not smoke. The inventor, Count Rumford, is credited with establishing the laws of conservation of energy quantified in the late 19th century. In essence, he can be considered as one if the early environmentalists.Out of fashion until recently, the Rumford fireplace has experienced a renewed popularity and can now be purchased as prefabricated inserts. They are tall, widely angled, and shallow to reflect more heat and have streamlined throats to carry away the smoke with little loss of heated room air. The key to the design is the throat.
The Challenge: To design, detail, and specify a rubble stone Rumford cooking fireplace as a central element in the house. The opening will address the kitchen and stone wall will be designed to accept wood storage, utensils, a microwave, and
wall oven.
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Recycled interior fitments
A major factor in the eco-design strategy for the interiors is the direct recycling of materials and components salvaged from other buildings, despite the fact that the recycling process itself consumes energy. In this case, interior fitments and other elements have been salvaged from a high-end house home in the Lawrence Park area of Toronto.
In this case, the recycling strategy utilizes a closed-loop philosophy whereby interior cabinetry, countertops, and shelves are to be mended and re-used as same. The layout of the kitchen must respond to the dimensionality of the recycled elements.
The recycled elements include:
Kitchen Cabinets: Pear Orange Stained Maple Veneer on particleboard
Shelves: Melamine on particleboard
Kitchen Countertop: Black galaxy Granite
Hardware: TBD
Plumbing Fixtures: TBD
Appliances: TBD
The Challenge: To design and detail the kitchen using recycled elements. Mending requirements are to be specified.
Interior partitions
Based on the planning outcomes (above), interior partition typologies are to be designed and detailed.
The Challenge: To design, detail, and mock-up the partitions for the interior plumbing module and master suite.
Interior millwork
Based on the planning outcomes and partition typologies (above) the millwork conditions are to be designed and detailed. The design intent is spare, implying with no casings at doors and openings and minimal baseboard conditions. Consideration must also be given to the wall ceiling connections.
The Challenge: To design, detail, and mock-up millwork details.
Interior finishes
Selecting environmentally friendly materials and using them efficiently are central to the interior finishing strategy. It is not always possible to avoid non-green materials, but with care they can be used minimally in such a way as to enhance the sustainability of the design.
The notion of ‘structure as design’ is integral. The design celebrates the tactile qualities of timber and stone and emphasizes the smooth precision of contemporary materials such as glass, concrete, and metal. The success of the interior environment is dependent on every last detail to enhance the design integrity.
The material palette includes:
Heavy Timber Frame: PSL
Exposed Roof Joists (southern glazed area): PSL
Concealed Roof Joists (northern enclosed areas): Recycled slatted timber over truss joists (TJI)
Exposed SIP panels: Douglas Fir plywood
Ground Floor: polished concrete
Exterior window and door frames: frameless glass and fully glazed natural wood TBD
Interior doors: natural wood veneer, solid core, slab typology
Interior hardware: TBD
Stone Fireplace: dry laid rubble stone
Wood coatings: clear tongue oil (or alternate)
